Snippets 13 August 2010

News from the Headmistress

With our Term 2 parent interviews taking place on 17 and 18 August, I thought that the article below may be of interest to our parents.

Successful Meetings with your Child’s Teacher

Parents often tell us that they want to speak to their child’s teacher but are very concerned that they may antagonize the teacher and make the situation worse. Knowing how to approach the school can make it far easier – often the parents’ attitude can make the difference between developing a very successful working relationship, or not.

Realistic Expectations

When approaching your child’s school teacher, it’s most important to be realistic in your expectations of the teacher. She is not a miracle worker. Remember that she has a class of children and each one has individual needs which she must try to meet. In addition she probably has several learners who may need as much attention as your child (if not more).

Keep in mind that, like any other person, she has weaknesses and strong points, good days and bad days and that trying to teach an impulsive, disruptive and inattentive learner is not easy. There are no simple solutions. She also needs time-out to recover!

Problem-Solving Opportunity

When setting up the meeting, make sure that it is just as convenient for the teacher as it is for you. Don’t confront them with your concerns in the pool, cinema, mall, church or if they are hurrying to another meeting. Bear in mind that you cannot solve a serious problem over the phone.

At the meeting it’s best to keep a cool head, and show you are willing to listen to the teacher’s point of view. When concerned about our children it’s so easy to become emotional or defensive. Often we blame the teacher for all the difficulties, or even ourselves. This doesn’t really help. Also avoid constantly referring to last year’s teacher that was so excellent.

Try to regard the meeting as a problem solving opportunity – one in which both parties are working together to find the best solution. You could ask the teacher what the most difficult problem is they have with your child at school, and try to help them solve this problem. If she comes up with reasonable suggestions, be prepared to try them.

Easy Communication

Our expectations are realistic, we’ve set up a meeting, and have solutions. To keep things running smoothly, we need easy communication between parent and teacher.

Both parents and teacher should agree on the form of communication to be used. Examples are notes in the diary, or a note in the child’s lunch box. At all times try to keep an open mind to suggestions and do your best to support the teacher. If something is really not working, discuss it with him or her, without any implied criticism and work together to find another solution. Make sure to send positive notes to school. Acknowledging the teacher’s support of the learner will build the relationship.

Take advantage of the chance to talk with your child’s teacher during arrival time (but only if she is comfortably able to do so). Keep the teacher updated on positive developments or of any problems of which she should be aware. Try to make these chats brief and positive as this can help to build relationships of trust.

The educator has specialised knowledge and understanding of child development and education, the parents have in-depth knowledge of their own individual child and circumstances. By cooperating, educators and parents bring together two important parts of the child’s world.

Taken from a presentation by

Danie Lodewyckx,

ADHASA Vaal Area

Regional Coordinator

Regards

Cathy Fry

Cultural

NEWS FROM THE MUSIC DEPARTMENT

On Tuesday 3 August, the Junior School was entertained by our talented musicians during the second Music Assembly of the term. The concert began with the three Grade 2 violin groups. These girls have had the opportunity to learn the violin for a term, with a view to some of them continuing with private lessons in the future. This programme has been running for over 10 years and we are seeing its benefit right through to the Senior School, where we have girls who started the violin on this programme now taking music as a subject. We then heard solo performances from Pearl Kim, Carol Li, Donne Moodie, Georgina Tregoning, Thato Radebe, Katherine Tregoning, Maithili Shome and Anqi Qu.

The informal music concerts were held on Thursday 5^th August and it was wonderful to hear performances from over 100 girls from Grade 0-7.

Learning a musical instrument takes time and dedication and we are so proud of the high standard set by the girls who performed at these two events.

Sport

Next week’s fixtures:

Wednesday

18 August

Hockey

Gr. 7A team vs. Umhlanga College during school day (TBC)

Thursday

19 August

Inter-House Cross-Country

8:30 – 10:00 Cross-Country @ St Stithians U9 – Open Team

Hockey:

Results: 6 August vs. Brescia.

Grade 6A	Lost	0 – 4
Grade 6B	Lost	0 – 1
Grade 7A	Lost	1 - 2
Grade 7B	Drew	0 - 0

Inter-House Hockey:

Gr. 4 Results: Gr. 6 Results:

4^th Athlone 4^th Milner

3^rd Farrar 3^rd Farrar

2^nd Milner 2^nd Athlone

1^st Selborne 1^st Selborne

Gr. 5 Results: Gr. 7 Results

4^th Athlone 4^th Athlone

3^rd Farrar 3^rd Selborne

2^nd Selborne 2^nd Farrar

1^st Milner 1^st Milner

Overall results:

4^th Athlone 10 points

3^rd Farrar 14 points

2^nd Milner 15 points

1^st Selborne 16 points

Cross-Country:

Results: 5 August @ St Peter’s

Tayla Sinclair came 14^th out of 94 U9 girls
Emma Carrington came 7^th out of 63 U11 girls
Katie Hugo came 9^th out of 34 Open girls

Athletics:

Please note that an Athletics Clinic will be held at school from Monday 30 August to Friday 3 September from 9:00 – 10:00. This will be at no extra cost and any girl interested in doing athletics in term 3 is welcome to join the practices. The Clinic will continue on Monday 6 September to Thursday 9 September at 14:45 – 15:45.

Forthcoming Events

Monday

16 August 2010

Report Collection from Class Teachers at the times below:

13:00	Grade 0
13:30	Grade 1 – 3
14:30	Grade 4 – 7

Tuesday

Parent Interviews:

13:30 – 18:00	Grade 0 – 3
15:00 – 18:00	Grade 4 - 7

Wednesday

18 August 2010

Parent Interviews:

13:30 – 18:00	Grade 0 – 3
15:00 – 18:00	Grade 4 - 7

Thursday

19 August 2010

Interhouse Cross Country

Friday

20 August 2010

School closes at 11:00

Wednesday

8 September 2010

School opens at 07:30

Lost Property

Unclaimed items this week

1 Yellow Hertz mug
Black zip purse with keys on lanyard
1 St Andrew’s insulated mug
1 recorder
Assortment beanies / peaks / scarves / jerseys
1 right school shoe
1 school blanket marked ‘Thembz’

Any queries contact Mrs Terry Room 7

General Notices

School closes at 11:00 on Friday 20 August 2010. The will NOT be any Aftercare, Prep or Extra-mural Activities on that afternoon. ALL children MUST be collected by 12:00 as there will be no staff on duty after that.

Can you help with organizing a food stall for Spring Expo – we need a South African/Braai Shop. Please contact Jeanette on 084 864 8144 if you can.

Thanks

Cathy

Dear Parents,

Our soup collection was once again a huge success. Thanks to your assistance we collected in excess of 8000 packets of soup. This soup will be given to the Salvation Army (Children’s Home) and 3 other charities. Thank you.

We have an opportunity to clean up and paint murals on the walls of a day care centre run for children at a shelter for woman and children in Johannesburg. This shelter is a partnership between Government and the Private sector. To do this we require a number of tins (small, 1 lt or less) of different colours of paints. These paints must be able to be used on enamel painted walls. If anyone can assist or know where we can get this paint at a reduced price please would you contact me. See attached pictures of what we have done in the past.

Regards,

Jonathan

Johannesburg Mini Council