HIGH SCHOOL – Mrs Pat Fitzsimons

“Most people give up just when they are about to achieve success. They quit on the one yard line. They give up at the last minute of the game, one foot from the winning touch down.  (H. Ross Perot)

ACADEMICS

It is that time in the term and even the year when in many cases we start to think our efforts are not paying off. Mid-term is around the corner and exams are almost upon us, the pressure is mounting and we think it’s all too much.   I have heard many comments in the past few weeks about too much sport, too many assignments and too many tests.  It is amazing that as soon as we feel a little pressure on our time we start looking around for excuses and some one to blame. We are all guilty of this. I do it when I’ve got, marking to do, meetings to attend and newsletters to write.   We then procrastinate, we spend more time, or should I say waste time, complaining and looking around for ways out of doing what we know we have to do and what we know was quite achievable, if we had planned properly.  Our boys are masters at this. They have had assessment timetables, they have been given weeks to do assignments and now because some have left things to the last minute they look around for some one or some thing to blame.  I know that everyone needs relaxation time but, ask yourself, how much time  you spent doing school work as compared to the time you spend, surfing the net, chatting on face book or on your cell phone,  watching  T.V. or just lying around listening to your music.   Don’t allow yourself to give up, if you have not planned properly, yes, there is going to be some pressure to get things done but they can be done. What you do and achieve now makes what you wish to achieve in the future so much easier to attain.  [The boys in Years 8, 9, 10 and 11 were given their Examination Timetables this week.]  To the matrics—your year is so much shorter, that your run up to final exams has already begun. In many cases syllabus is 2 thirds completed and Prelim Exams will be upon you before you know it.  We have said it to you before, there are no holidays this year until your matric holiday in December. Parents please encourage your sons to manage their time well; we have given them all the tools, but cannot be at home with them to make sure they are consolidating their work. If they are not doing at least 3 hrs of study\homework per night at this stage, then they are not preparing themselves properly. Also please be aware that the last week of the August holiday will be used for Winter School so please do not plan to be away. This is really the last minute of the game for you. Don’t quit!

SCIENCE EXPO

Today every boy doing science in the high school will be taking part in the Science Expo. I thank their teachers for organizing this and allowing them to showcase their skills. I look forward to seeing the presentations and know that all of their efforts will be very worthwhile and that the work will be of a high quality.  Congratulations to the following boys who were awarded Academic Quills for Term 1—

Year 8 (85% > overall average)

Marco Caldeira, Ryan Carter, Dylan Bayley.

Year 9 (85% > overall average)

Jacques Celliers.

Year 10 (80% > overall average)

Edward dos Santos, Marko Micic, Juan-Jacques Aupiais, Hugh Bezemer,  Byron Lindeque.

Year 11 (80% > overall average)

Paul dos Santos , Claude Kershaw, Michael Forner.

Year 12 (80% > overall average)

Luke Rokebrand

Brandon Purves

SPORT AND SUPPORT

Thank you to all who have attended and supported at 1^st team games thus far.  There is only one more home game on a Saturday and that is on the 21^st June, I am sure we will see the best support yet at this game.  After mid-term break there are no more fixtures and therefore the sport periods on a Monday and Wednesday will fall away, giving more time for revision for exams. [This is from the week beginning 7^th July.]  To Marco Marques congratulations on being chosen for the Easterns U16A Provincial squash team.  To  Michael Forner, Calin Williams and Shaun Sutherland, congratulation on being selected for the Easterns Under 19 Squash team, and to  Gabriel Gordon for being selected to the Under 14 team.  Congratulations to our 1^st Team Tennis side that has won all matches this term and have ended up at the top of their league. The team consists of Jason Gilbertson (Captain), Darren Liebenberg, Clayton Gilbertson, Theo van Niekerk and Jason Harris.  These boys are the East Gauteng Super League Champions. 

COLOURS AWARDS

Well done to the following boys who have been awarded Colours this term—

Dean Fernandes (Year 12) - Cultural Colours.

Tyrone Kanagan (Year 12) - Service Colours.

Douglas Erasmus (Year 11) - Sports Colours.

HOUSE REPORTS

Edmund  (Mr Barnett)

The boys are honing their acting skills in preparation for the Cultural Evening on Thursday 26 June.

Congratulations to the following boys—

*  Michael Forner, who was awarded full Provincial Colours for Squash (Under 19).  He will be playing in the SA Championships in July.

*  Marco di Matteo, who achieved third place for Karate at the Commonwealth Games in Scotland .  He has Protea Colours.

Thank you to the boys who are contributing daily to the charity collection.  Now that it is so bitterly cold, our soup kitchen is in great demand.

Aquinas  (Mr Rindfleisch)

Congratulations to the following boys who were the top points earners for Aquinas in the first term—Dylan Bayley (158 points), Jared Vorster (155), Hugh Bezemer (151), Dino Araujo (101) and Ryno Blom (98).

Marco Marques has been chosen to represent Easterns Junior Squash in the Boys’ Under 16A team.  He will participate in the South African Championships.  Well done!  It’s pleasing to notice the enthusiasm of the boys for the upcoming cultural evening.  Any boys who would still like to participate, but are not yet involved, please get your names to Miss Kennedy.

Founders  (Mr Muller)

Can you believe it?  We are already half way through Term 2!  There are now only 3 teaching weeks left before the exams for Grades 8—11.  We are nearly finished with the sporting season and we are looking forward to the mid-term break.  The teachers are in the process of compiling the mid-term reports that will be handed out on 20 June.    I have said in the past, time waits for no man.  Those boys who said that they will work harder in class and focus more on their academics, I hope you have done so.  I hope all boys have stuck to their new term’s resolutions.  The house is now preparing for the cultural evening to be held on 26 June.  Good luck to everybody participating and thank you very much for your efforts.

Thank you to all the boys and parents who supported Founders by doing what should be done.  To those boys who work hard, trying to get as many points as possible, to those parents supporting their boys in academics and sports and driving to different venues to support their children, thank you very much.

Revill  (Mr Phiri)

Winter has set in and our daily routines have changed somewhat.  I see some boys are arriving late for school and this is unacceptable because tutor groups start at 07h40.  My biggest concern at the moment is the number of demerits accrued by some boys for not doing homework, and as a result they end up on detention.  It is imperative that boys manage their time wisely and ensure that all their work is up to date.  I do realize, on the other hand, that we are fortunate enough to have many gentlemen in the house.  These are men of character, gentlemen with a keen sense of honour.  These gentlemen value their character and they have respect for others.   I commend all of those that portray these qualities and continue to practice the general etiquette of gentlemanliness.  Lastly, the second assessments are in progress at the moment and in some cases have been completed.  It is my sincere hope that all boys have given these assessments their best and will achieve their set goals at the end of the term.  Good luck to all the boys taking part in the Science Expo this Thursday.  Kenny Ansubel writes, “Each of us has a spark of life inside us, and our highest endeavour ought to be to set off that spark in one another”.

DATES TO REMEMBER

PREPARATORY SCHOOL – Mr Stephen Bryan

2009 ENTRANCE ASSESSMENTS

These assessments officially take place on Saturday 19 July.  Please remind relatives and friends to apply beforehand through the College Receptionist, Mrs Johnson.

YEAR 7 WORKSHOP

Well done on the good turnout to Saturday’s workshop.  Thanks to Mr Connell and Mrs Fitzsimons on their presentation of High School expectations, as well as to Mr Flood for his discussion on the Education on Love programme.  Thanks to Mrs Cooley for organizing the workshop.

YEAR 7 LEADERSHIP EXCHANGE PROGRAMME

A total of 12 boys have been selected to represent us at CBC schools in Cape Town , Kimberley , Bloemfontein and Pretoria from 2—9 August.  In turn, we will be hosting these schools in Boksburg from 20—27 September.

ACADEMICS

Mid-Term Assessments will be handed out on Thursday 19 June.  Reply slips are due back on Monday 23 June.  Exams will be written from 23—27 June according to the timetable that has been give to all the boys.  Parents need to encourage their sons to start preparing in advance over the next 2 weeks for the forthcoming exams.   Continuous assessment of all other work will continue until the end of term when the reports are handed out on Friday 25 July.

SPORT

The rugby and soccer seasons are drawing to a close.  Hockey will commence from next week on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  Well done to our Under 11A rugby team on winning their league.  The boys will be playing in the semi-final playoffs this week.     Well done to our unbeaten squash team on their league victories.  Parents are reminded of the upcoming tours to Bloemfontein (25—27 July) for Under 11A and Open A soccer teams, and the Winter Festival in Pretoria (31 July—2 August) for the Open A soccer and Open A and B hockey teams.

SCHOOLBOYS OF THE WEEK

CULTURALS

On Wednesday 4 June Marciano Teixeira, Matthew Lavis, Mitchele Azevedo and Joshua Smith took part in the annual Spelling Bee at Bishop Bavin.  They faced some challenging words and all did very well, with Marciano finishing in 4th place.  Well done to all of you!  Our two Chess stars, Callan Brombacher and Charldon Viljoen, did exceptionally well at the Chess Festival on Saturday.  Callan won 5 out of 7 games and Charldon 6 out of 7 at Laërskool Rynfield.  The Grahamstown Cultural Trip from 28 June—2 July is fully booked with boys being accompanied by Mrs Luiz and Mr Croukamp.  All are looking forward to their participation in the famous Grahamstown Arts’ Festival. 

MARKING OF POSSESSIONS

A reminder that all items of clothing need to be clearly  marked so as to avoid confusion about being lost or misplaced.  Class inspection will take place next week from 17—20 June.

DATES TO REMEMBER

PRIMARY SCHOOL – Mr Henry Moolman

Our Pre-Grades and their teachers are about to enter a very busy time as they begin to prepare for their annual concert.  The amount of effort that is required to prepare our little charges to perform even the most simple of routines is enormous.  We have endeavoured to keep costs to the minimum, especially in the light of the current economic climate we all have to contend with.  I wish to thank each family for their willing support and involvement in this most worthwhile event.  I’m confident that Mrs Diesel and her team will once again delight us all with a memorable production.    For the rest of the primary school, Eisteddfod preparations by Mrs Kassel and Mrs Cooley is at an advanced stage, and is an eagerly anticipated happening by the pupils.

STAFF

We pray that Mr Maree will enjoy a speedy recovery after having spent the last few days in hospital.  May you be restored to full strength in the near future.

SCHOOL UNIFORM

Parents, please don’t allow your boy to wear a beanie to school as it does not form part of the official uniform.  A full sleeve thermal vest underneath the other garments will be adequate for most of the cool weather we may have to endure this winter.  The boys have discovered that wearing their school caps with the hood of their windbreaker pulled up over it provides effective protection for their heads in cold weather!  Add  a school scarf and gloves and even arctic conditions cannot dampen the spirit of such a boy!

MOTHERS’ AND FATHERS’ DAY CELEBRATIONS

It was encouraging to have many parents enjoy this special day with us.  Time spent together doing and playing, of which there was an abundance last Friday, enriched all involved.  Thank you for your attendance.

EXTRA-MURALS

Rugby practices will only be held once a week, every Tuesday, for the rest of the term.

EYE TESTS

All the Year 0’s and Year 1’s whose parents requested it, should have had an eye test carried out on them.  If there has been an oversight, and this is not the case, please contact your son’s class teacher so it can be carried out.

SPECIAL AWARDS

Congratulations to the following boys on their achievements.

SPORTS REPORT

Please see Mr Maree’s report on page 8.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

“In teaching you cannot see the fruit of a day’s work.  It is invisible and remains so, maybe for twenty years.”

SPORT – High School

CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations to Brian Teeling who was placed 2nd in the junior category of the Krematart Cycle Race in Louis Trichardt last weekend.  He finished 10th place overall and completed 175km in 4 hours 14 minutes, only 2 minutes behind the winner!  Well done Brian.                                                                                          

TENNIS RESULTS

Congratulations to the following boys in the “A” team on winning the Gauteng East Super League this term—Jason Gilbertson (Captain), Darren Liebenberg, Clayton Gilbertson, Theo van Niekerk and Jason Harris.  The team was undefeated this term.

RUGBY RESULTS