Robert  Carruthers  School

^16th  October 2018

Dear Parents

So, just like this (click of a finger) I find myself in the second week of the last term of a teaching career that started in 1976.  Welcome back to you all – let’s enjoy it together.  Term Four is always an examination term which means it should be a studying term for those who are writing.  But, it is also a term of many functions so for your convenience I publish dates for you to diarise and plan around.

1^st November – Gr R Graduation

6^th November – Gladiator Day

8^th November – FP Prize Giving

13^th November – IP/Senior Prize Giving

16^th November – Final Assembly

19^th November – Gr 4 – 7 Examinations Start (Timetable to follow)

28^th November – School Fee Meeting

11^th and 12^th December – Collect Progress Reports

On a number of occasions this year parents have arrived at school late in the afternoon or early evening looking for children who had not returned home.  In EVERY one of these cases the ‘lost’ child has eventually been found having gone home with someone else because either they missed their transport or the person designated to collect them doesn’t arrive.  Besides the inconvenience such instances cause for staff that period on not knowing where a child is is not something anyone wants to live through.  Panic, worry, desperation and fear are just a few of the emotions parents and staff members go through when a child cannot be accounted for.  In most cases it angers me a great deal because with proper care and organisation the incident could have been avoided.  Please, please, please parents it is YOUR responsibility to instil the following rules into your child.

1. The MINUTE a child realises they have missed their lift they must go to the Administrative Offices and report it.  These offices are open until 15:00 Monday – Thursday and 13:45 on a Friday.  THEY MUST NOT FIRST PLAY WITH FRIENDS ON THE PAVEMENT and then go off with a friend!!!!!
2. If a parent/lift is held up or going to be late the adult MUST telephone the school (0136562247) and tell Aunty Penny who will get a message to the child concerned.
3. Our offices MUST be kept updated when contact numbers change and every parent should provide us with the name and contact details of a person other than a parent to contact in case of an emergency.  Children should KNOW who this person is and what their contact details are.  If they are too young to learn this off-by-heart these details MUST be written down and stuck inside the child’s bag.
4. NO CHILD should leave the property with someone not authorised to take them home.  They must stay put – the Aftercare staff are on duty here until 17:00 and one of our General Workers, Edward, lives on the school property.  You need to know that when you discover your child missing EXACTLY where to go to find him/her.
5. Parents and lifts should be punctual so that the child knows if they haven’t arrived that s/he must contact someone (if they have their own cellphone) or go to the office to report the matter.  Some ‘lift times’ are so erratic that no one knows when it will arrive.  This is just not acceptable.

We certainly do our bit to keep your children safe – you now need to support us so that no RCS child is harmed once school is over for the day.

This week I will not be at school on Wednesday and Thursday as I am required to attend a Circuit Strategic Planning session out of town.  Mrs W Loots will be accompanying me as the planning for 2019 will be up to her.  Mr A Hendricks will be in charge here in our absence.

We are very proud to announce that Ms L Maritz won first place at the recent National Teacher Awards in the category Excellence in Primary School Education.  The good news does not end there – Mrs A Murdoch came second in the same competition.  Two teachers from the same school winning first and second at the District Awards is certainly a feather in our cap as it says a great deal about the quality of teacher we have at RCS.  Ms L Maritz now competes for a position in the Provincial round of this competition.  We all join in congratulating the two ladies and wishing Ms Maritz further success.

At the beginning of the term Ms S Smith joined our staff in the place of Mr C Young.  We welcome her to our team and wish her many happy and successful years at RCS.

Last week three RCS babies entered the world.  Congratulations to Mrs I Potgieter who gave birth to twins Vianné and Zavian.  As they were born prematurely they are still in hospital but getting stronger every day.  We all look forward to getting the news that they are able to go home to be with their new family.

Four days later Mrs S Steenkamp gave birth to Sion – her second son.  Mother and baby are doing well.  Congratulations to both these teachers and their families – a happy and wonderful reason to celebrate.

Thanks and appreciation to everyone who assisted with, contributed to and enjoyed the Colour Fest last term.  In a combined effort between the main and Pre-School we made a whopping R208 679 PROFIT.  What an amazing achievement.  BIG THANKS.

Finally, welcome back for Term 4.  I wish you all a happy and successful term.  Roll up your sleeves and get involved, get your child to study hard and then you and your child will end this year on a positive note.  It’s all up to you.

Yours sincerely

Mrs L J  Bannatyne

Principal

 

 

 

Robert  Carruthers  School

^28th  September  2018

Dear Parents

We all know that the ‘Spring Break’ is never more than a most welcome few days so we are all looking forward to them before we get down to the serious business required in the 4^th Term.  Thank you to parents and children for your wonderful support of the Colour Fest fundraiser.  Watch this space next term when we tell you just how much your hard work and generosity brought in.  Thanks also to our hard working children who knuckled down and did as was expected of them both in and outside of the classroom in Term 3.  Once again our academic results are impressive.  A word of advice to those who have not done as well as they had hoped to – it is not too late.  You can still make big strides and improvements in the last term.  All it needs is hard work.

In my last correspondence with you I mentioned a Whooping Cough ‘outbreak’ in eMalahleni.  We have been reliably told that 6 people from Panorama School, including a staff member, presented with the disease and all were successfully treated.  Although I do not wish to make ligh of this situation I do, once again, wish to reiterate the IMPORTANCE of having your children properly inoculated according to the laid down schedule for such preventative measures.  We DO NOT admit any child whose inoculations are not done on time and up-to-date.  That is to protect everyone.  Please ensure that you keep your own children away from the growing group of people who are choosing not to inoculate.  That is their right but you need to ensure that you keep your own child safe from dangerous childhood illnesses that would be completely eradicated if EVERYONE complied.

o doubt your child told you that in the past two days we have had two demonstrations by the SAPS on how to keep yourself safe in a crime-ridden world.  At the first demonstration the police staged a hijacking and then ‘arrested’ the criminal.  Legacy ambulance service was also here to show the children what they do to assist the citizens of eMalahleni in the event of someone being injured.  In the second demonstration the police dogs charmed us all with their skills at identifying illegal substances and in catching offenders who mug and attack the innocent.  Both these displays demonstrated important messages to the children BUT are totally ineffective without reinforcement of the message, strict household rules and parents teaching children about honesty and responsibility.  On many occasions during the year I stress in my assemblies just how important it is that children are HONEST with their parents and that their parents know exactly where they are AT ALL TIMES.  But, moms and dads, unless you make it possible for children to be honest with you this will never be achieved.  You need to build a relationship of respect, trust and honesty with your child and that entails a bit of give and take on all sides.   If your children are lying to you about their whereabouts they are putting themselves in danger and you need to get to the bottom of the story.  Why?  Are you not interested enough?  Are you too strict?  Have you established effective communication channels between you and your child?  Human trafficking, drug abuse and worse are part and parcel of 21^st Century living EVERYWHERE in the world and as the adults in the lives of our children we need to keep them protected and informed.  We DO NOT need to overreact, dramatise and create general fear but every child needs to have an adult they trust and will confide in.  Let’s work together to ensure this.

Sport

Cricket – our U/9s lost against Taalfees last Wednesday by 7 wickets. At the Interhouse the Cheetahs (89) came first, followed by the Leopards (62), Panthers (61) and Tigers (45).  Well done to all.

Hockey – our two boys’ teams who competed at the Provincial Championships in Ermelo made us proud.  The U/13 boys came 4^th and U/12s came 5^th in the province.  Well done to all on a successful season.

Arts Festival Results

Standstill Poetry – Omphile Masha 5G – 90%; Dramatised Poetry – Nuhaa Saloojee 5G – 90%; Adil Mirza 5S – 86% and Lindokuhle Mkhwanazi 5G – 87%.  Creative Writing – Lethabo Nkambule  7B – 72%; Makau Marutha 7B – 80%; Andiswa Mashibini 7S – 80%; Kaitlyn Burton 7C – 80% and 70%.  We are proud to announce that Kaitlyn is a most deserving joint winner of this category.

Mrs Cilliers Singing Group competed at the Semi-finals of Mpumalanga’s got Talent in Nelspruit.  Kgomotso Sehlako, Andiswa Mashibini and The Hot Chicks Group all got seven ‘yeses’.  Congratulations to them all.  Our Hot Chicks will now compete in the finals next term.

We are proud to announce our 2019 Leader Body.  Congratulations to Lamees Ayob, Nkanyezi Bhembe, Edward Botes, Alodia Brown, Deangelo Campbell, Megan Coetzee, Sifisoesihle Gwambe, Tyra Hamilton, Tinyiko Khube, Thobeka Magagula, Mandisa Mahlangu, Raven Maider, Malik Manafi, Motheo Manzi, Nkosinathi Maphanga, Masego Mashiane, Siyabonga Msipa, Wanga Ndou, Bryce Neveling, Siphesihle Nkosi, Learn Nkunzana, Ntshepeng Ntsheroa, Aiden Ross, Jordun Sachse, Mbali Shabangu, Thembelihle Skhosana, Sibusiso Skosana and Tiyani Usinga. We wish you all a good year serving the school and working as a team.

On Wednesday afternoon I visited Mrs N Nielsen our Media Centre teacher who underwent a back operation last week.  The operation was a success; she is in good spirits and recuperating well.

We sadly take leave on Mr C Young today as he undertakes a new adventure.  He will be moving to Australia to put his teaching skills into practise there.  He has served our school for many, many happy years and he will be greatly missed.  But, we all join in wishing him much happiness and success in this new venture.  When you’re young and talented the world is your oyster and you should go out there and enjoy it.  Stay happy and safe Mr Young, keep in touch and enjoy your new life.   Many thanks for your service to ‘your home from home’.

We really are so fortunate to have parents who are generous and supportive of our school.  Many thanks to the Ebrahim family for donating tennis caps for our team, to Mrs Petro Smith from Sandwich Baron for donating sandwiches for our indigent children to enjoy on a daily basis and to all who came to donate blood on the day.  Your efforts are greatly appreciated.  Thank you.

The last vote of thanks much go to our loyal, hard-working and committed staff without whom RCS could not be ‘the best school in town’.  I applaud them for their efforts, passion and support.  What a formidable team we make.  Enjoy the short holiday, rest and come back recharged ready for a whirlwind final term.  Please respect their privacy and allow them the peace they deserve.

Yours sincerely

Mrs L J  Bannatyne

Principal

 

Robert  Carruthers  School

^13th  September  2018

Dear Parents

The build-up to our Colour Fest on the 27^th September is in full swing.  Our children and staff are preparing themselves for our third term fund raiser which promises to be a fun day for all.  We are asking for unwanted ‘goodies’ that would be suitable for the Tombola or White Elephant stall.  Please send them to your child’s register teacher within the next few days.  Also, we humbly request that you support us in trying to reach our budget targets.  In so doing every child at the school benefits.

Sport

Hockey – we all join in wishing our U/12 and 13 boys and their coaches every success this weekend when they compete at the Provincial Championships in Ermelo.

Cricket – U/11s beat Uitkyk by 7 wickets.  Well done boys and coach.

Vocal Arts Festival Results

Magane Tladi 1J 78%; Basil Moyo 2R 82%; Tshegofatso Sethole 2R 80%, 92%; Lihle Mmadi 2R 92%; Candace van der Merwe 3B 80%; Chantell Mangere 3L 78%; Nontobeko Mkhwanazi 3B 80%; Khumo Mabuza 4J 85%, 86%; Simunikiwe Nkosi 4H 90%; Nobuhle Nkosi 4J 92%, 90%, 85% (first in one category); Bongi Ndlovu 4L 86%; Kgomotso Sehlako 4H 84%, 94%, 90%; Kajubi Magalula 4H 82%; Megan van der Merwe 5A 83%; Lindokuhle Mkhwanazi 5G 80%, 88%; Sihlosokuhle Nkosi 5A 86%; Mpume Moloi 5S 80%; Ntshepeng Ntsheroa 6L 84%; Malik Manafi 6K 92%, 92%, 84% (first in two catogories); Khanyisa Zulu 6H 92%, 82%, 90% (first in one category);  Siyabonga Msipa  6M 89%; Ntuthuko Sikwambane 6L 88%; Kgothatso Moukangwe 6M 88%; Andiswa Mashibini 7S 92%, 95%, 92% (first in two categories); Emma Swart 7Y 87%, 85%, 90%; Makomborero Betsva 7S 85%, 88%, 80%.  Our Senior Singing Group  (Kgomotso Sehlako 4H, Khumo Mabuzo 4J, Nobuhle Nkosi 4J, Simunikiwe Nkosi 4H, Lindokuhle Mkhwanazi 5G, Malik Manafi 6K, Khanyisa Zulu 6H, Andiswa Mashibini 7S, Makomborero Betsva 7S) achieved an AMAZING 98% and our Senior Choir 88%.

And then the best news of all – Andiswa Mashibini 7S was the overall winner of the Primary Schools Vocal section.  Whoop! Whoop!  Congratulations to all our talented children and to Mrs K Cilliers who manages to get the best out of the children she coaches.  Well done to you all!

We all join in wishing Mrs Cilliers and her group every success at the semi-finals of Mpumalanga’s Got Talent In Nelspruit on Saturday.

The Blood Bank will be at school on 19^th September 10:00 – 12:00. Please support this drive if you are able to.

Now that we have gone over to summer uniform please do not forget about our Second-hand Shop run by Aunty Daisy every Monday afternoon from 13:45 – 15:00.  She has lots of stock in excellent condition.

Nag, nag, nag.  Please folk don’t forget to pay your outstanding School Fees – we really need them.

There will be no From the Principal’s Desk next week as we need to leave some news for the issue you will receive in your child’s progress report at the end of the term.

Yours sincerely

Mrs L J  Bannatyne

Principal

Robert  Carruthers  School

^6th  September  2018

Dear Parents

For the first time in recent years we celebrated Spring Day with glorious weather.  We’re hoping you’re all busily getting your child’s summer uniform ready for the 10^th September when we expect everyone to be properly dressed in that uniform.

A big thank you to everyone who spread the news of our pending student and Foundation Phase teacher positions for 2019.  We received well over 165 CVs and will begin the process of organising shortlisting and interviewing shortly.  Obviously, we are going to have to disappoint the majority of applicants but how wonderful it is that we have such a wide choice of candidates.

Sport

Girls Hockey – both our U/13 and U/10 girls won their match against Cambridge 5-0 and 3-1 respectively as well as winning against Curro;  U/13 – 4-0; U/12 3-1; U/11 3-0; U/10 3-1.  U/13 (6-1) and U/11 (1-0) beat Balmoral. Well done coaches and girls.

Tennis – we beat Reyno Rif 32-11 and Cambridge 25-18.  Well done.   Special mention to Mila Makunga 7Y and Faruk Ayodele 7Y for outstanding play.  Way to go, tennis players, coaches and players.

Cricket – U/11 lost by 9 runs against Krielpark, by 3 wickets against Onverwacht and U/9 lost against Curro by 11 wickets.

Cultural

Arts Festival  – Afrikaans

Grade 7 – (Standstill) Thenora Terry  7S 90%; Angel Mashabela 7C 84%

Grade 2 – (Standstill) Ariana Hans 2P 78%; Dreyden Abrahams 2S 82% and Humayra Chhayi 2S 78%.

Singing – Khanyisa Zulu 6H attained the highest mark of the day, 92%, for singing and Mrs Cilliers’s Singing Group obtained 98% last night at Hertzog.  How fantastic is that?  Excellent work Mrs Cilliers and singers.

What a pleasant morning the Gr 7 Entrepreneurs Day on 31^st August turned out to be.  So many new and creative ideas replaced the endless ‘cheap sweets’ stall from the past.  Congratulations to Mrs C Botes and our inspiring business people of the future – you all deserve the money you made.

As she has been doing for a year or two now Mrs Maritz’s has come up with a number of fun ways to celebrate Literacy Week – (10-14 September).  The programme is as follows.  Your child will elaborate.

Monday – Visual literacy day – Let Me See What I Can See.

Tuesday – children may bring a pillow to school as we will spend some of the day relaxing and reading or being read to. (Teachers may do the same if they wish).

Wednesday – Role play – acting out parts of anything they have read.

Thursday – Grade 4 and 5 dress up day.

Friday – Grade 6, 7 and Foundation Phase dress up day.

Please spread the news.  The application period for enrolment 2019 closed at the end of August after the four-month required period set aside by the Department to finalise this process.  We are madly working on our numbers right now so all applicants should have been notified one way or the other by the end of October.  If they have provided their correct address on their self-addressed envelope and their correct telephone numbers, that is.  PRE-SCHOOL PARENTS please take note.  You need to come to our administrative offices to pay for your child’s stationery for 2019 and to complete all documentation.

Yesterday was Photograph Day yet a number of children who said they wanted photographs have not yet paid for them.  Please settle these bills by Wednesday next week in order to secure a photograph for your child.

Please parents – we are appealing to you to check your child’s stationery and replenish it if necessary.  Many children no longer have what they need to effectively participate in their daily lessons either because they have used or lost the stuff you bought them in January.

And, lastly – time is running out for those of you who are in arrears with your school fees.  If you have not yet paid, spoken to the bursar about why you have not paid or been granted an exemption for 2018, you will soon be handed over to our school attorneys for prosecution.  Please see to this ASAP so as not to put us in the unfortunate position of having to do this.

Yours sincerely

Mrs L J  Bannatyne

Principal

Robert  Carruthers  School

^29th  August  2018

Dear Parents

Deciding when to change over from winter uniform is likely, in my experience, to bring on the coldest of cold-fronts as is packing away winter blankets and clothing.  However, despite the shivering cold weather we experienced at the beginning of this week spring is definitely making its presence known.  For the moment, we ask that parents and children use their own discretion in this matter.  If it is hot, children are welcome to wear their summer uniform as long as they wear it in its entirety.  The same applies to the winter uniform.  Our Code of Conduct does not permit a ‘mix ‘n match’ approach but parents be warned – shortly your child will need a full summer uniform AND a swimming costume, swimming cap and towel.  Please start accumulating these items so that your child can be properly equipped and ready to wear the full summer uniform by the 10^th September.

A big thank you to our Foundation Phase teachers, children and parent.  The recently held Art Exhibition was an enjoyable and successful affair which raised a much-needed R11458.32.  Well done to all – especially our young, upcoming FP artists.  We loved seeing your creativity and talent on display.

If you, or anyone you know, is looking for a teaching job in the Foundation Phase or PreSchool, please drop off your CV at our administrative offices.  And, if you know of a youngster wishing to study teaching whilst participating in the RCS Student Teacher programme please get them to drop of their CV as well.  Such a person must have a matric certificate (or be completing matric this year) that entitles them to register at a distant learning institution offering a teaching degree course.  The cut-off date for either position is 5^th September.  If you have not heard from the school by the 12^th September you can consider the application unsuccessful.

Sport

Boys Hockey against Witbank Christian Academy Monday U/11 – 0-0 and U/12 2-1 and U/13 5-0 and against Klipfontein U/11 girls 0-0, U/11 boys 3-0, u/13 girls lost 2-1 and the U/13 boys 2-0. Mixed results – well done.

Cultural

Our very talented Mrs C Cilliers, with her singing group The Hot Chicks and a few solo singers, participated in the Mpumulanga’s Got Talent contest in Nelspruit on Saturday 25^th August.  Congratulations to her and her singers –  Khanyisa Zulu 6H, Kgomotso Sehlako 4H, Simunikiwe Nkosi 4H, Nobuhle Nkosi 4J and Khumo Mabuza 4J, Makomborero Betsva 7S and  Andiswa Mashibini 7S who all went through to the semi-finals.

Arts Festival –Afrikaans Dramatic Poetry Group consisting of Kgabo Makwane 7Y, Chantel Maseko 7Y, Bridget Silubane 7Y, Omphile Mbewe 7S, Michelle Mandigara 7S, Annah Mangere 7Y and Andiswa Mashibini 7S won a gold certificate.  Megan Coetzee 6K 75%; Bryce Neveling 6M 74% Well done – we are proud of you.

Standstill Afrikaans Poetry – Noah Cullen 7C 83%; Omphile Mbewe 7S 82%; Megan Coetzee 6K 82%; Raven Mader 6K 90%; Thandolwethu Mashia 5A – 90%, Asanda Matenchi 5A – 78%;

Cathrijn Davel 4L – 78% Immanuel van Rooyen 4L 78%, Aphelele Dlamini 4J 91%, Siyamthanda Matshika 4H 89%, Deondre Maart 4J 76%, Simunikiwe Nkosi 4H 90%; Anore Engelbrecht 1S 83% and Jayvon Francis 1S 90%.

English Standstill Poetry and Drama – Fuad Ebrahim 7B 89%, Faizaan Ebrahim 3P 87%, Kgalaletso Tselanyane 3L 85%,  Chantell Mangere 3L 91% and Ntlhapeng Manzi 3L 90%; Avuzwa Baraza 1S 88%

English Dramatised Prose – Andiswa Mashibini 7S 90%, Michelle Mandigara 7S 89%.

Mime – Andiswa Mashibini 7S 78%; Duo – Kayla Walker 7S and Cheyanne Ensor 7Y 78% and Anoyola Namba 7Y and Mila Makunga 7Y 77%

An outside activity but undertaken in RCS name Artium Dance – Ballet Thekanang Kubeka 3P – 86% Gold, Thando Skosana 5A – 91% Diploma and Bongi Ndlovu 4L – 96%  Diploma

On Friday, 31^st August our Gr 7s will be participating in an organised Entrepreneurs’ Day which forms part of their EMS curriculum.  This sort of activity is educational for a child as becoming an entrepreneur later in life is most certainly a good option in a country where unemployment is as high as it is in SA.  And, Entrepreneurs’ Day offers a wonderful chance for parent and child to work together for a common cause.  Gr 7 parents please support your child with the endeavour and all other parents please send your child to school with money to buy from our budding ‘business people’.

The Grade 4 Cultural Food Tasting Day, which was held last Friday 24^th August, has probably become one of my favourite RCS functions.  The colours, the stalls, the interesting dishes and the pride written all over the faces of the children, should bring home to us all just how wonderful the different cultural groups in SA are.  The tasters received from so many of the stalls pleased the taste buds and brought home just how rich we are when we all work together.  My personal favourite – the yoghurt cooked curry wrapped in roti and the butter chicken.  Yummy.

The Colour Festival is being planned as I type and this serves as your first reminder that fun is on its way.  The 27^th September is when it will all take place but the run-up starts this Friday (31^st August) when all children are encouraged to wear flowers in their hair WITH YOUR SCHOOL UNIFORM (just do not tell Ms Maritz).  Let’s see your creativity coming out as we know many of you have wonderful imaginations.

How wonderful to see so many of you at the Pre-School concert last night watching our ‘tiny folk’ in action.  Sincere thanks to Ms B Dube and her hard working team of teachers, student teachers, Aunty Leah and Ms M van Niekerk who worked tirelessly to pull it all together; making costumes, finding costumes, choreographing dances, teaching song words and generally encouraging the children to showcase their talent.  Thanks also to the rest of our staff who worked on both nights doing all the behind the scenes jobs.

Yours sincerely

 

Mrs L J  Bannatyne

Principal

 

Robert Carruthers School

^7th  August  2018

Dear Parents

With a long weekend coming up, I bet you are all enjoying the warmer weather.  It’s not that I want to be a damp squib but I’m reliably informed that temperatures are expected to drop quite a bit on Thursday.  Murphy’s Law, I hear a lot of you saying.  But, we all know that cold weather is always easier to cope with when one does not have to go to work.  In light of the upcoming four-day long weekend, please do not forget that school will close at 12 o’clock on Wednesday afternoon and that staff will also be leaving at that time.  Unless your child has been specifically informed of an extraordinary practice, all extramural activities are cancelled for Wednesday afternoon.  Please make effective plans to have your child picked up on time on that day.

Apologies for no newsletter last week – we just didn’t have any news to impart so decided to have an earlier one this week to cover everything that has happened in one and a half weeks since we last sent one out.

Sport

It was really enjoyable for me to spend some time watching our ‘littlies’ in action at the Kragbron Mini Hockey and Cricket Day last Saturday.  The U/7, U/8 and U/9 hockey children and U/7 and U/8 cricket teams did themselves proud and brought home mixed results.  Most pleasing though was to see how many of our parents were there supporting ALL RCS children and not just their own child.  Thanks also to the very kind dad who offered me his comfortable camping chair for an entire game.  Most appreciated.

Tennis – our team lost by one point against Kragbron on Wednesday.

Hockey – U/13 Boys Hockey against Witbank Primary – RCS won 1-0.

But…….against Delmas all our girls teams (U10 – U13) were roundly beaten.  Best to treat that afternoon as a learning curve for all.

Against Kragbron yesterday our boy U/12s were the only winner with a 2-0 score.  Sadly, the U/10s, U/11s and U/13s boys teams lost their games.

Cultural

A number of our Gr 7 children participated in an Afrikaans Literacy day (Geletterdheidsdag – Graad 7) last week in three categories.  About 16 – 24 children from all over the city took part in each category. We are very proud of Andiswa Mashibini 7S – 1^st in Reading; Chantel Maseko 7Y – 1^st in Storytelling; Kgabo Makgwane 7Y – 2^nd in Spelling.

The South African Literacy Association (SALA) hosted a reading competition at Kragbron early in March and we have finally received the results.  50 children took part, reading either English or Afrikaans prepared texts.  Aphelele Dlamini 4J came 1^st in the Grade 4 group.  Well done to her.

The DoE organised a Spelling Bee which took place at RCS on 23^rd July.  Aphelele Dlamini 4J, Tayyibah Ebrahim 5A and Alodia Brown 6L represented Robert Carruthers School against four other schools in the first round.  Sadly, the girls were all knocked out in this round so will not be going further.

Children hanging around our school and periphery in the early mornings and in the afternoons after their last related school activities continue to be a problem.  Please parents, the onus is on you to organise effective, reliable and safe transport to and from home for your children.  They are NOT safe hanging around here on the pavements (or worse playing in the street) in the early morning and late afternoon and unless you are prepared to pay for them to attend an aftercare facility, you need to ensure that they can get home promptly every day.  Please see to this as it is an urgent matter.

In my opinion a day like Women’s Day is a good way to celebrate the contribution women from our past, present and future have made (and will still make) to how our collective history plays/ed out.  But, we should always remember the daily struggle so many women experience everyday just to survive the pressures of 21^st Century living.  It is those women we salute this Thursday as they are most often the people who keep family and home together.  Happy Women’s Day ladies.

Enjoy the long weekend everyone and whatever you do, do safely.

Yours sincerely

 

Mrs L J  Bannatyne

Principal

 

 

Robert Carruthers School

^9th  May  2018

Dear Parents

If you haven’t been following our school on Facebook you have really missed out on a lot.  The photographs, videos and information posted daily, speak volumes of the wonderful opportunities offered here.  More importantly you can see, first hand, exactly how well our children, from the tiniest to the biggest, embrace their own learning and make the most of what we have to offer.  If you have a Facebook account please ‘Like’ our page and get with the trend – making us part of your daily Facebook ‘fix’.

Today we are halfway through our Open Week and what wonderful people we have had here showing an interest in what we do.  In fact, we have been so impressed that we have already accepted children of some of these parents because they have submitted their completed paperwork and comply with our Admission Policy.  What a relief it must be to know in May that your child’s schooling for the following year is finalised.

Sadly though, in this day and age it seems that the majority of parents are content to send their child to a school on the say-so of someone else.  Whilst we understand that many, many of our prospective parents are working and taking time off for such a visit is difficult, we still strongly suggest that as your child’s future will be determined by the primary school you choose for him/her you should make the effort to visit.  Please spread the word – there are only TWO days left for them to take up this opportunity. Thursday 10^th and Friday 11^th 08h00 – 13h00   #schoolofopportunity #ican.

Please also tell interested, prospective parents for 2019 that our enrolment period runs from 2^nd May to 31^st July.  For everyone’s convenience, the offices are open at any time during school hours for parents to collect the forms (they can also be downloaded from our Web Page) but only from 07h30 to 09h30 and again from 13h00 to 14h00 every school day to return completed applications.  Please adhere to these times as our administrative staff have other school work to complete so will not accept applications other than during those time slots.

Sport

Netball U/10 – U/13 A and B teams won against Tasbet Park and achieved mixed results against Kanonkop yesterday.

Congratulation to our two U/12 girls who made it into the Mpumalanga netball Practise Squad.  Wishing you every success Ntshepeng Ntsheroa 6L and Itumeleng Mampuru 6L

Rugby – mixed results against Kriel Park.  The U/9 lost 15-0; U/11 won 21-5; U/13 lost 32-5.  But, the BEST rugby news ever – for the first time, two of our boys have been chosen to go down to White River to compete in the next round of rugby trials.  Congratulations to Wanga Ndou 6H and Elliot Ntuli 6L.  Make us proud boys.

Traditionally our Gr 7s wear clothing depicting what their dream ‘job’ will one day be on Career Day Dress Up for Life Orientation.  Grade 7s – please take note of the dates set aside for your class and make an effort. 7B Thursday 17^th May – Day 6; 7S – Friday 18^th May – Day 1; 7Y – Monday 21^st May – Day 2; 7C – Thursday 24^th May – Day 5.  Parents please support your child in this endeavour.

As the weather has now really turned cold, especially in the early mornings, we would like all children to be in full winter uniform (without additions or omissions) by 21^st May 2018.  Jackets, ties and beenies are available from Mrs Fourie in our administrative offices.  On the subject of school clothing; parents please be vigilant when it comes to your child’s uniform.  We find a number of children either leave bits of it lying around or that some children just pick up the first item they see and do not check that it actually belongs to him/her.  ALL of your child’s belongings MUST be clearly marked and NO NAME should be visible on the outside of the clothing.

Moms and dads – years ago we agreed to have just ONE major fund raiser a term.  We did this so we could keep school fees relatively low and so that we were not perpetually begging you for money.  This term the Spell-a-thon is our major fund raiser but at the moment it is being really badly supported.  To add insult to injury, some of you are returning empty sponsor forms with ‘Not Interested’ written across it.  Seriously?  If the trend leans towards parents not participating in enabling us to meet our budget requirements via fund raisers, we will be left with only two choices – either hike up school fees to cover all our costs or continually beg you for money.  We know times are tight at the moment and that we are all feeling the effect of the rising petrol price and the VAT increase but that applies at RCS as well.  We have costs to meet and need you on board to meet them.  Please, please, please support the Spell-a-thon which will be written on the 15^th May.  And ….. pay your school fees.

To celebrate Mothers’ Day we are inviting mothers and daughters to a special ‘treat’ morning.  The cost is R150 per mother/daughter pair with an extra R50 payable for ‘extra’ daughters.  All sorts of pamper activities have been planned and tasty eats will be provided.  Please remember that no child may attend without being in the company of an adult.  Sadly, I will not be here on the day as I am lucky enough to have been invited to KwaZulu Natal to celebrate Mother’s Day with my son.

Dads – if you are stuck for an idea for what your child can buy for their mother please send money to school with him/her as we are selling Mother’s Day treats during breaks.

Lastly, an apology.  We originally set aside the 30^th May for our AGM.  As our auditors have delayed matters, we are going to have to postpone the AGM until the 21^st June.  The advantage of that date is that we will give you your child’s report on that night if you are here.

We wish all our Muslim families well over their fasting period.  Ramadan starts on Wednesday or Thursday next week, depending on the sighting of the moon.

Moms, if we consider what you do and just how hard it is to get everything you need to do, done we think every day should be Mother’s Day but that is just not possible.  Enjoy your special day on Sunday.  We all hope you are suitably spoiled, acknowledged and treated.  As per our tradition – to honour our mothers, children and staff are encouraged to wear flowers to school on Friday.  A coloured flower if their mom is still alive and a white flower if she has passed on.  A really Happy Mother’s Day to you all.

Yours sincerely

Mrs L J  Bannatyne

Principal

Robert Carruthers School

^26th  April  2018

Dear Parents

It was with a great deal of sadness that I missed the Parent/Child Sleepover for the first time ever.  When the event had to be postponed because of weather last term, it clashed with personal commitments made long ago.  However, Mrs W Loots attended in my place and the event was well attended by a number of other staff members.  I am told that it was well run and enjoyed by those who camped; good to hear and sincere thanks to all our staff whose hard work ensured the success of the evening.  One area of concern – some of our children were there on the night NOT IN THE COMPANY OF A PARENT.  Moms and dads, we are not a dumping ground so you cannot just drop your child off for an event that requires parent attendance and leave the care of that child to someone else and neither can you permit your child to be supervised by an older sibling.  All children were required to be in the company of an adult which didn’t happen.  Next year tighter controls will be in place to ensure that this does not happen again. To those parents who were here; thanks for your support.  Apparently you all enjoyed the evening and a good vibe prevailed.  Thanks to Ms T Grant and Ms L Zwane for convening the event.

Many have asked so please spread the word.  Our Enrolment 2019 enquiry period opens on 2^nd May and closes on 31^st July.  For your convenience, we have again scheduled our times from 07:30 – 09:30 and 13:00 – 14:00 so that you can come before work or during your lunch hour.  You can collect Enrolment Enquiry Forms from the Reception Office or download them from our Web Page but they can only be returned, WITH ALL ACCOMPANYING CERTIFIED DOCUMENTATION during those hours.  A word of warning – we will not accept any application without PROPER proof of residence, an unabridged birth certificate and a Clinic Card.  Foreign national children will not be considered without a STUDY Permit.

A reminder of our Open Week from 7^th – 11^th May where parents or prospective parents can come anytime from 08h00 – 13h00 to see us in action.  We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible even if it’s only to see what the school fees you pay are used for.

A big thank you to the many parents who have ‘Liked’ and shared our Facebook page.  We are hoping that this form of advertising will be effective to not only connect with all of you, but to also attract new parents and children.

Sport

Netball matches against Taalfees – U/10A and U/11A drew, U/13A won and the rest of the teams lost.

Three of our girls are going through to the next round of Netball Trials on 5th May.  We are all holding thumbs for Ntshepeng Ntsheroa 6L, Itumeleng Mampuru 6L and Makomborera Betsva 7S.

Rugby matches against Reyno Rif last week – U/9 lost 15-5; U/10 won 19-15; U/11 won 19-15 and U/13 lost 48-0.

Danone Soccer matches were scheduled to be played last Friday.  Unfortunately the schools had to play against, were disqualified as paperwork was not correct.  However, those who arrived agreed to play friendly matches which we won.  Sadly, our Danone Cup team was knocked out of the tournament yesterday afternoon when they lost against J Kanada 2-0.

Dates to Remember

15^th May – Spell-a-thon tests.  Please support us in this, our big fund raiser for Term 2.  Entrance fee is R100-00 and those who get all their spelling words correct will receive a certificate and there are prizes for the individual and class top achievers.

21^st May – Parent Child Conference.  This is an event both parents and children look forward to as it gives the child the opportunity to show off his/her hard work to his/her parent.  Please be worried if your child does not invite you as s/he is likely hiding something from you.

We all join in wishing you a safe and happy Freedom/Workers’ Day weekend.  School closes on Thursday 26^th April at 12:00 and opens again on 2^nd May.  Whilst enjoying the weekend we, should all reflect on the fact that our freedom did not come cheaply for the many who came before us and who fought long and hard for it.  For some, it was certainly not ‘free’.

There will not be a From the Principal’s Desk next week as we will not have had enough time to generate any news.  Enjoy your long weekend.

Yours sincerely

Mrs L J  Bannatyne

Principal

Robert Carruthers School

^19th  April  2018

Dear Parents

It has been a pleasure visiting classes this week as I do my rounds of ‘Class Visits’.  Every time I’m able to interact with the teachers and children in the classroom I am reminded of the high academic standard we set and that most children attain.  If you have not already done so please ‘Like” our Facebook page and follow our day-to-day activities via posts and photographs.  For those who are not already aware of this page I am informing you that we have started this week with our #enrolment2019, #schoolofopportunity and #Ican campaign and you should make the effort to get involved and informed.

Obviously, we want to attract the best parents and children to our school because we are the best.  We do not want the parent who is just interested in ‘the paperwork’ without knowing one thing about us and who we never see again.  Neither do we want the dishonest parent who provides us with false information on their application form.   We need to get the word about being open for enrolments out there (You will be the first to know the dates when we know) but we feel that an advert in the Witbank News achieves very little other than filling their coffers.  Heavens, do you know what the tiniest little newspaper advert costs these days?

So, after much debate we have decided to appeal to you all to be our advertising agents.   Do you know what it is that sets this school apart from ANY OTHER school in our city (and probably our district)?  If the answer to that is NO you have not been here enough and should rectify that with immediate effect.  The label “School of Opportunity” goes hand-in-hand with our “I can” hashtag.  If you follow us on Facebook you will see how the RCS children get the opportunity to do a whole lot more than just that dictated in the curriculum and/or on an extramural/cultural level.  But, following us and “Liking” our page is not enough.  We ask that you SHARE our page with any parent interested in schooling, in RCS, on your Facebook Friend List.

This year we are also moving away from the ‘old fashioned and tired’ Open Day – yawn.  Instead, as we know the type of parent we want to attract WOULD NEVER just enrol their child in a school they know nothing about.  So, we have put aside an entire week, 7^th – 11^th May, for you or your friends to pop in at any time, 08h00 – 13h00 and see us in action.  Please make use of this opportunity so that you are able to talk about our school positively and with authority.   This IS NOT a week put aside for the enrolment process and we will NOT be permitting enrolment enquiries at this time.  It is the MED who decides on the enrolment period and we have not yet heard anything from them in this regard.  But – watch this space – as soon as we know we’ll let you know.

At our first assembly for the year we handed out Top Ten Badges in each grade in the Intermediate Phase.  The children were called up in no particular order and are listed here the same way.  Congratulations to:

Grade 4 – Sakhumuzi Mafoane 4A; Matjaka Masekoameng  4A; Jayrene Mitchell 4A; Adriel Pillay 4A; Siyamthanda Matshika 4H; Mizelle Rayters 4H; Cathrijn Davel 4L; Amogelang Mmaboki 4L; Aphelele Dlamini 4J and Sizwe Mthimunye 4J.

Grade 5 – Ubuhle Malinga 5S; Engelbrecht Mangere 5S; Courtney Khosa 5S; Malehlogonolo Taje 5S; Syed Masood 5G; Nuhaa Saloojee 5G; Annabelle Davel 5G; Tshegofatso Phukuntsi 5T; Tayyibah Ebrahim 5A; Thandolwethu Mashia 5A;

Grade 6 – Alodia Brown 6L; Nobuhle Mkhonta 6L; Ntshepeng Ntsheroa 6L; Khwezi Nkoane 6M; Michael Mitchell 6M; Motheo Manzi 6H; Thobeka Magagula 6H; Learn Nkunzana 6H; Raven Maider 6K; Tinyiko Khube 6K

Grade 7 – Laquille Maart 7B; Lethabo Nkambule 7B; Tirhani Usinga 7C; Monde Sibiya 7C; Andiswa Mashibini 7S; Michelle Mandigara 7S; Makomborero Betsva 7S; Chantel Maseko 7Y; Annah Mangere 7Y; Kgabo Makgwane 7Y

Congratulations also go to Aphelele Dhlamini 4J.  She took 1^st place in her age group at the Mpumalanga Reading Festival.  Way to go, Aphelele.

Sport

Danone Cup Soccer – Matches on Friday 20^th April at 14:00 sharp, against Mmagobana Primary and one of the schools from Klarinet (they still need to play the deciding match).  Please come and support if you are around.

Rugby – the friendly matches (is there such a thing in rugby?) played this past Saturday were enjoyed by players and supporters.  And….. congratulations to Mihlali Ngetu 7Y, who made it through to the next round of trials.  We hope he goes a whole lot further in this endeavour.

Dates to Remember

20/21^st April.  Parent/Child Sleepover.  R60-00 per adult and R40-00 per child.

25^th April – Leader Cupcake Sale – R5-00 per cup cake.  Please come armed with enough cash to buy at least ONE.

27^th April – 1^st May – The Freedom/Workers’ Day long weekend.  School will close at 12 noon on the 26^th April.  Please make appropriate transport arrangements.

7^th – 11^th May.  Open Week at the best school in town.  Hope to see many of you here.

Lastly, the weather reminds us every day that winter is on its way.  Please ensure that your child is properly equipped with the FULL, CORRECT winter uniform; which includes A TIE (on sale at the front office).  Usually, the cold weather surprises us all by arriving in full force when it is least expected.  Let’s be prepared.  We have many, many previously used uniforms in our Second Hand Uniform Shop.  Why not pay us a visit and see what you can find.

Yours sincerely

Mrs L J  Bannatyne

Principal

Robert Carruthers School

^11th  April 2018

Dear Parents

On this chilly and wet morning a warm welcome back to you all for our 2^nd Term, after what can only be described as an interlude of a holiday.  But, I shall not look a gift horse in the mouth – a holiday is a holiday no matter how short it is so I hope you all enjoyed it.  Thanks to all who attended our Parents’ Evening on 27^th March – it was good to catch up with so many of you and to see all the friendly and familiar faces.  We had a wonderful turnout as usual.  It is pleasing that so many of our children have interested and involved parents.

Whilst thanking you, I need to thank and congratulate ALL parents who contributed to our end of term Cake ‘n Candy sale.  How generous you were!  Heavens, we had so much to sell and you made it possible by supporting this traditional fund raiser.  Every cent we raise helps us meet our budgetary targets and those who sent goodies made that possible.  Thanks again.

Thanks also to parents who supported our Enviro Club at the end of last term making it possible for them to visit the SPCA bearing gifts of pet food and other pet-friendly goodies.  Ms T Jamieson and her group had a successful afternoon assisting those who are unable to help themselves – our furry friends.

Great fun was had by all (but mostly by the children) when they swapped teachers on 27^th March.  Many interesting lesson were planned but I bet that many teachers went to bed earlier than usual that night – especially those who landed up teaching children younger than those they are used to.  Some of the extreme changes were Mr J Myburgh teaching Grade 1s, Mrs I Potgieter teaching Grade 4s, Miss M Spottiswood teaching Grade 3s and Mrs J Olivier teaching Grade 2s!   I was so pleased to see how much effort and preparation all involved put into their new age-group challenge.  Well done teachers; well-deserved children.

Apologies – in the last newsletter I forgot to inform you all that we sadly took leave of two teachers at the end of last term.  Mrs N Longueira has gone off to WH de Klerk School to follow her passion for teaching children with special needs.  We all join in wishing her every success in this new career path even though we will miss her immensely.  She played a big role at RCS in the four years she was here, both in the classroom and as Head of our PreSchool, and left behind big shoes to fill.  We were fortunate though, that Ms B Dube was just the right fit for those shoes and has taken over the job as PreSchool Head; a job she will no doubt be very successful at.

Mrs A Visage also moved on after her short tenure at RCS.  Her husband was transferred to a job in Centurion and she naturally followed him.  We will miss her invaluable contribution to RCS music and wish her contentment in her new city.  However, we most fortunately welcomed Mrs M van Niekerk back into our music department and look forward to once again making the most of her amazing musical talents.

The due date for April’s school fees fell during the school holidays.  That does not mean that you do not have to pay them.  Please, parents don’t fall behind with this important financial responsibility.  Come in and bring your account up to date as soon as possible.  Remember we now have a card machine for your convenience so just arrive and swipe.  You’ll sleep better at night if you do.

Yesterday I spoke to all the children about winter uniforms.  At this time of the year the weather is more unpredictable than usual so children have been told that until we know that it has turned cold on a more permanent basis they can choose to wear their winter uniform on any cold day (today is a cold day as far as I’m concerned) as long as they wear it in its entirety.  We do not permit a mix and match of summer and winter uniforms.  I also noted that many of the children are not abiding by school regulations relating to hairstyles.  Please remember that we are an academic institution and not a sport or social club.  As such ‘fancy’ hairstyles are not permitted, boys need to wear their hair short and no hairstyle that cannot fit into a swimming cap, that is painful and distracting to the wearer or that prevents any other child a clear view of the board, is permitted.

In preparation for the approaching cold weather beenies are already on sale at school at R60,00, as are school ties (compulsory for  boys and girls) at R80 and school jackets starting at R240 for size 61 and rising by R10 per size.

In the holidays Mrs C Cilliers and her talented singing group now called the ‘Hot Chicks’ once again proved their worth at the Talent Africa competition.  Congratulation to Mrs Cilliers and group members Kgomotso Sehlako 4H – gold medal, Nobuhle Nkosi 4J – 2 silver medals, Khumo Mabuza 4J – one silver and one bronze medal, Khanyisa Zulu 6H – silver medaland Simunikiwe Nkosi 4H who did not sing a solo.  As a group they earned a special award and a gold medal for being the best in the junior section.

Please take note that the postponed Parent/Child sleepover will now take place on 20/21 April.  We look forward to seeing many of you there.

Extramural activities begin this week for all the winter sports – netball, soccer, rugby and tennis.  Children are also encouraged to participate in Stacking Cups, Marimbas, EnviroClub and Audi Blocks (Gr 1 and 2 only) which will also be offered this term.  Please be on the lookout for the extramural programme coming your way soon.

Last year one of our Gr 7 pupils, Lethu Khumalo, was accepted into the Oprah Winfrey Academy for Girls.  This term she is back with us for a few days performing her required community service at RCS  We are delighted to welcome her ‘home’ again and so pleased she is giving back to her old alma mater.

May this be a successful and happy term for you all.  It is a particularly important one for our Gr 7s because it is this term’s progress report that needs to be submitted, along with any application, to the high schools of their choice.   It is essential that everyone from Gr 1 – 7 remember the reason for being at school and as such, work consistently throughout the term.  Everyone in these classes will be writing mid-year examinations in June.  Remember also that everything (comments and recorded marks) on a child’s progress report has been earned by the child so in order to get a good report the child needs to work to the best of his/her ability, participate in extramural activities, be well behaved and have good manners.  Parents please insist that your child brings home the best report s/he is capable of.

Yours sincerely

Mrs L J  Bannatyne

Principal

 

Robert Carruthers School

^14th  March 2018

Dear Parents

Getting up in the dark and feeling the chill in the air is a stark reminder to us all that we are rapidly approaching winter.  But, it is also a reminder that the first term is almost done and that the March/April holidays are just around the corner.  Whoop, whoop!  School closes on the 28^th March at 11 o’clock for the holidays, so please start making appropriate arrangements for your child’s early transport home on that day.

And, as you all know this time next week we will be at home celebrating Human Rights Day.  School will close at normal time on Tuesday 20^th March and open as usual on the 22^nd March.  Perhaps we should all spend some time reflecting on how many billions of people world-wide are still living through the most awful human rights abuses and be grateful for what we have in South Africa.

Sport

Athletics – this afternoon our three athletes,  Owami Nkosi, Makomborero Betsva and Cheyanne Ensor along with Mrs W Loots, Mrs J Nel and Ms A Ruysschaert are leaving for Paarl to compete (and work) at the National Athletic Championships.  We all join in wishing them safe travels and successful pursuits as they represent RCS, the Region and our Province on the athletics track.   Watch this space for the outcome in the next newsletter.

Swimming – we are so proud of our swimming team and our new coaches as they have achieved wonderful results this season.  Congratulations to Samantha Schultz 6K who participated in the Swimming South Africa Gala Level 1 in Nelspruit this past Saturday. Samantha achieved a gold medal in the 200m Individual Medley and in the 50m Backstroke, a silver medal in the 50m Freestyle and in 50m Butterfly and a bronze in 50m Breaststroke.  Impressive and well done!

A Netball and Rugby Tournament was played at Taalfees on Friday and Saturday 9^th and 10^th March.  It was sponsored by Spur Steakhouse.  The children played a number of matches against other schools and had a fun time.  Mixed results were achieved.

Congratulations to our Pre-School and student teachers.  The Fun Day this past Saturday was indeed fun despite the weather trying its level best to put a damper on the day.  How wonderful it was to catch up with so many of our Pre-School parents and to watch them in action as they participated in a number of the activities on offer.  But, the cuteness of the children outshone everything else.  So many talented little people hula-hooping, playing soccer and believe it or not playing on the waterslide leaving no doubt that fun was had by all.  The only activity that wasn’t well supported was the mud pool proving most emphatically that we have the cleverest tots in the town!  Thanks for all your hard work on the day RCS staff – we appreciate your efforts.

For those who do not already know, please ‘check out’ our new Facebook page.  You will be well pleased when you see how good a job Ms L Maritz has done on setting it up and getting it up and running.  Well done also to all staff members who contribute regular content to be posted on this page.  If you wish to be kept up-to-date on all things RCS (and to see photographic evidence of activities) please go to www.facebook.com/robertcarruthersschool/ and ‘like’ the page.  We do hope that you will all use this media with the right spirit and not use it to rant and rave or vent about anyone connected to the school.  We still run an Open Door school and you are all most welcome to make an appointment to meet with the appropriate person to have your concerns or problems heard.

Dates to Remember

16^th March – Gladiator Day.  The entrance fee of R80-00 must be paid to the class teacher and food tickets can be purchased from Mrs Fourie at R5-00 per ticket.   Children are more than welcome to bring a packed lunch and something to drink (preferably water) with them on the morning if they do not wish to support the Gr 4 tuckshop.  As we are hoping for a sunny day, children should not forget to apply sunblock before they arrive and perhaps bring some with them for a second or third application during the morning.

Saturday 17^th March, SALA (South African Literacy Association) will be hosting a reading festival at Kragbron.  51 of our children in Grades 4,5,6 and 7 have entered the English and Afrikaans prepared reading section of the competition.  All details relating to this event  have been given to the participants.

23^rd and 24^th March – Parent/Child Sleepover.  This event has been moved from the last term to this one in the hope that the weather will be better.  Please be on the lookout for the circular giving all details regarding this event.  But, in the meantime, look forward to setting up camp at 16h00, soccer, cricket, netball, swimming and touch rugby events being organised for the children and a braai later in the evening for everyone.  The cost: – R60 per adult and R40 per child.  For that, the school will provide pap, sous, rolls and marshmallows, with quiche and rusks for breakfast.  If that’s not value for money in this expensive day and age, I don’t know what is.  Parents are required to provide sleeping equipment, chairs, braai meat, utensils and refreshments for themselves and their child/ren.  We are hoping the circular with a reply slip reaches you by tomorrow and that you return the slip by Tuesday 20^th March so we know how many people to cater for.  I look forward to seeing many of you there on the night.

27^th March – Parent’s Evening (17h00 -18h30) for parents to chat to their child’s teacher and collect their child’s 1^st Term Progress Report.

Yours sincerely

Mrs L J  Bannatyne

Principal

Robert Carruthers School

^8th  March 2018

Dear Parents

So much has happened since our last correspondence.  Apologies that I’ve not managed a Newsletter in two weeks.  Firstly, I was struck down with the worst middle-ear infection which kept me bed bound and then not long thereafter, I caught the horrible stomach bug/flu doing its rounds at school.  Talk about being in the wars!  And then, by complete contrast I had to rush through to Pretoria on Monday as my fifth grandchild made a two and a half week early appearance.

The best thing that has happened since we last communicated is that 310 of our loyal and supportive parents – you – took the time to support this year’s SGB Elections on the 1^st March.  Thank you so much.  Getting a quorum is such an important part of ensuring democracy in such matters.

Congratulations to our new SGB.  Immediately after the election we held our first and ‘handover’ meeting where we elected an Executive Committee and filled our portfolio positions on the SGB Sub-Committee.  The results are as follows:

Chairperson – Mr Zebilon Mashiane, Vice Chairperson- Ms Yvette Shibambo, Treasurer – Mrs T Davel, Secretary– Mr Ismail Cassim.  The other two parent members are Mrs P Lesese and Mr N Gwambe.  Mrs W Loots, Mr A Hendricks and Ms L Maritz are our teacher representatives on the SGB and Mrs J Lamb our non-teaching staff representative.  As principal, I am automatically on the body and all Sub-Committees.  For the sake of continuity and training, Mr D Sibiya and Mr I Makgwane were co-opted onto the SGB until the end of the year when their last child leaves our school.  We also said a sad goodbye and thank you to Mr J Myburgh who has served on the board for many years and has made a valuable contribution on the SGB.   

Subcommittees

FinCom – Davel, Lamb, Loots, Lesese, Makgwane; Academic Matters – Shibambo, Loots, Lesese; Buildings and Grounds – Hendricks, Mashiane, Cassim, Gwambe; Disciplinary – Maritz, Davel; Interviews – All members as needed; Student Teacher Learnerships – Shibambo, Davel, Makgwane; PR – Sibiya, Maritz; QLTC – Loots, Maritz; Safety and Security  – Hendricks, Sibiya, Gwambe; Sports  – Loots, Cassim, Davel; Uniform – Lamb, Lesese Maritz; IT – Mashiane, Makgwane, Gwambe; HR – Lamb, Mashiane, Sibiya.

Sport

Wonderful news and congratulations to Owami Nkosi 7C (3^rd in the 200m), Cheyanne Ensor 7Y (2^nd in High Jump) and Makomborero Betsva 7s 1^st in 1500 walk) who made it through to the South African Championships which will be held in Paarl in two weeks’ time.   A proud moment for their coaches, team members and parents.  We all join in wishing them every success in the next leg of this competition.   This season, Mr Tau and all athletic coaches have worked really hard in preparing our athletes and we all join in thanking and applauding them all for their efforts.

Swimming – at the gala this past Saturday in Middelburg at Kees Taljaard Stadium our swimmers achieved the following results.  200m Individual Medley – Cathrijn Davel 4L – Silver; Annabelle Davel 5G – Gold; Samantha Schultz 6K – Silver.  100m Breaststroke – Annabelle Davel 5G – Gold. 200m Breaststroke – Annabelle Davel 5G – Bronze. 200m Freestyle – Annabelle Davel 5G – Silver; 100m Backstroke – Annabelle Davel 5G – Bronze; Cathrijn Davel 4L – Gold. 50m Butterfly – Cathrijn Davel 4L – Bronze; Samantha Schultz 6K – Silver; 50m Backstroke – Samantha Schultz 6K – Gold; Candace van der Merwe 3B – Bronze; Megan van der Merwe 5A – Bronze; Mila Makunga 7Y – Gold; Jarrid Godfrey 7C – Bronze. 50m Freestyle – Samantha Schultz 6K – Silver; Mila Makunga 7Y – Gold. 50m Breaststroke – Samantha Schultz 6K – Gold, Mila Makunga 7Y – Gold. We really have had a wonderful swimming season.  Congratulations to all swimmers, their parents and our dedicated coaches.  Mrs S Steenkamp needs special mention.  She took on the role of swimmer convenor and ran with it.  Thanks Mrs Steenkamp, you have revived RCS swimming and put us on the map – with the help of all your team.

Academic Matters – First Term Assessment Timetable Term 1 2018 Grades 1 – 7

DATE	GRADES 1 – 3	GRADES 4 – 6	GRADE 7
9 MARCHFRIDAY		Natural Science & Technology	Natural Science & Technology
12 MARCHMONDAY	Life Skills	Life Skills	Life Orientation
13 MARCHTUESDAY	Maths	Maths	Maths
14 MARCHWEDNESDAY	Afrikaans (FAL)	Afrikaans (FAL)	Afrikaans (FAL)
15 MARCHTHURSDAY	English (HL)	English (HL)	English (HL)

It’s that time of year again folks – Gladiator Day on the 16^th March.  Refer to the circular you received at the beginning of the term and please do not forget to pay R80 to your class teacher by 14^th March if you want to participate.

We have sadly had another resignation.  Mrs A Visage, our most talented FP music teacher, is leaving us because her husband has been transferred to Pretoria.  If there are any parents out there who are musically talented and/or qualified and who would be able to teach Marimbas we would appreciate it if you handed your CV in at our front office.  Next week we will advertise this position in the Witbank News.

Please don’t forget that we are still collecting Bread Tags so we can provide a needy person with a wheelchair.   They can be dropped off at our reception.

The Blood Bank is coming on Thursday 8^th March, between 09:00 and 12:00 for any parents who wish to donate blood.

It’s good to be in touch with you all again – have a happy week.

Yours sincerely

Mrs L J  Bannatyne

Principal

Robert Carruthers School

^14th  February 2018

Dear Parents

A Happy Valentines’ Day to you all.  Or at least to those of you who buy into this commercial ‘love ceremony’.  We certainly hope your lives are filled with more than just symbols of love on only one day a year.

As the weeks speed by we get closer and closer to that one day in three years that we need you most – the SGB Elections.  Why?  Simply because the law states that without a quorum of parents (a minimum attendance determined by our enrolment numbers) this event cannot take place.  There are many, many misconceptions relating to SGB elections and space here does not allow me to deal with them all so I will cover the few prevailing matters.

1. At RCS your child’s achievements and attainments relate ONLY to what your child does here.  Being on the SGB does NOT influence ANY vote, discussion or calculation when we decide on Leaders, Head Prefects, academic achievements, sporting attainments.  Sorry to disappoint those who work so hard for the school, hoping it will give their child an advantage.  The ONLY dignified way of rewarding children is to let them rise or fall on their OWN input.  Many, many parents have served on our SGB and their children were not even invited to Prize Giving.
2. The SGB is a Governance Body.  That’s their job.  They do not ever discuss their individual problems or children, as that is not their mandate.  People you vote on this body need to have the skills necessary to maintain our over-a-hundred-year tradition and high standards and you need to trust them enough to represent YOU on this body.
3. There is NO status, remuneration or social benefit awarded to any SGB member.  These parents are there to serve and not to be served.
4. The registration form your child brings home is only so that we can ensure that we have your correct details on our Voters’ Roll.  You can safely fill it in.  We are NOT asking you to stand for election onto the SGB.  We only need six parents on the SGB – NOT six hundred.

Please, please put aside the 1^st March (17h30) to assist our school; we need you here!

On that note let me thank our present SGB who have served your interest brilliantly and well over the past 3 years.  You only have to come to school at any time of the day and night to see their hard work and influence.  They insured a 93% school fee collection last year (stop for a big round of applause), the security at our school is reassuring to us all, your children are taught by wonderful teachers and coaches EVERY DAY of the academic calendar and we keep up with technological developments so that your child is not held back in this rapidly changing world.  That, and a whole lot of other wonderful inputs, sums up what we gain by having a skilled, committed and forward thinking group of men and women serving you on the SGB.

Please parents – there are still too many children arriving late for school every day.  We do keep a latecomers’ register and from now onwards any child whose name appears in the register more than twice will be placed on detention.  You really do have an obligation to make it possible for your child to abide by the Schools’ Code of Conduct, so you need to make appropriate transport arrangements or set your alarm clock 15 minutes earlier in the mornings.  The same applies to ensuring that your child is collected on time in the afternoons – you need to make a plan to have them off the property and surrounds within 30 minutes of their last SCHOOL related activity.

Sport

Athletics – Circuit Athletics Meeting on Friday 9^th February

SPRINTS – Imani Musenwa 1S, Ntoambe Motubatse 1S, Letsena Ramushu 1S, Akeela Nkosi 3B. Unathi Nkosi 3L, Kutenda Moyo 4J, Rethabile Kubyana 5G, Tshegofatso Phukuntsi 5T, Andile Nkosi 4L, Nkanyezi Bhembe 6H, Lifa Mkhatshwa 6M, Wanga Ndou 6H and Owami Nkosi 7C.

LONG JUMP – Sibahle Mpofu 4A, Jaydn Cartucho 4J, Tinyiko Silowu 4A, Andile Nkosi 4L, Learn Nkunzana 6H, Siphesihle Nkosi 6K  and Cheyanne Ensor 7Y.

SHOT PUT – Sibahle Mpofu 4A and Cheyanne Ensor 7Y.

LONG DISTANCE/WALK – Makomborero Betsva 7S.

HIGH JUMP – Bongi Ndlovu 4L, Ubuhle Malinga 5S, Cheyanne Ensor 7Y and Lemohang Seatle 7B.

HURDLES – Sibahle Mpofu 4A, Siphahle Sotyato 4A, Khutumelo Khumo 5G, Andile Nkosi 4L, Thandeka Mnguni 6M, Nkanyezi Bhembe 6H, Boikanyo Kutumela 5G, Lifa Mkhatshwa 6M and Owami Nkosi 7C.

Well done to all the children mentioned above – they came first or second in their event/s and will be representing our school at the Sub Region Meeting on Saturday 17^th February at Kragbron.  We all join in wishing them success at that meeting.

Swimming – Nkangala League Gala was held at Middelburg Primary on Thursday 8^th February.

200M INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY – Cathrijn Davel 4L Gold; 50M. BACKSTROKE – Mila Makunga 7Y Bronze; Cathrijn Davel 4L Bronze; Jarrid Godfrey 7C Gold; Samantha Schultz 6K Silver; Annabel Davel 5G Bronze; 25M BACKSTROKE – Candace van der Merwe 3B Bronze; 25M BREASTSTROKE – Cathrijn Davel 4L Bronze; Annabel Davel 5G Bronze; Samantha Schultz 6K Bronze; Mila Makunga 7Y Bronze; Jarrid Godfrey 7C Silver; 25M BUTTERFLY – Cathrijn Davel 4L Bronze; Samantha Schultz 6K Silver; 50m Freestyle – Cathrijn Davel 4L Gold; Annabel Davel 5G Bronze; Samantha Schultz 6K Silver; Mila Makunga 7Y Silver and Jarrid Godfrey 7C Gold.

Well done swimmers and your coaches.  We are all very proud of your achievements!

School Uniform Tender – our SGB is asking any company or person interested in submitting a tender to become RCS uniform suppliers to send contact details to Mrs N Beere before 28^th February so the SGB can invite you to a meeting for that purpose.

Please also spread the word about the General Workers position we have available at the school – CVs should be handed to our receptionist by this Friday – 16^th February.

We look forward to seeing you all at our PARENT/CHILD CONFERENCE tomorrow evening from 17:30 for Gr 1 – 7 and then to meeting our Gr 7 parents and children in our school hall at 18:00 for a compulsory opportunity to have local high schools explain the process of enrolment for 2019.  You will also be afforded the opportunity to ask any questions you may have for the various schools at that meeting.

Tomorrow evening – 15^th February – our finance office will be open for your convenience so that you can bring your school fee payments up-to-date.  Hint, hint.

See you all tomorrow evening.

Yours sincerely

Mrs L J  Bannatyne

Principal

 

 

Robert Carruthers School

^8th  February 2018

Dear Parents

Wow – don’t we live in interesting times?  Especially with reference to the events of this week. What with the postponement of SONA and the continued bad news coming from the Cape relating to the drought.   I hope, that like me, seeing those parched dams and the struggle of the people queuing for water down south, you have had a bit of a mind-set change when it comes to all things relating to water in South Africa – a water-scarce country.  The first thing we should all be cognisant of, is that sadly, queuing for water and/or walking great distances to get it, is still the reality for millions of our people.  We should never take the privilege of having tapped water (when all systems are working properly in this city) coming directly into our homes, for granted.  And secondly, we should all be water-aware enough to ensure that we never waste this valuable resource.   Please, moms and dads, teach your children to be water-wise by setting the right example.  Fix leaking taps; never permit litres and litres of water to run down the drain whilst cleaning your teeth; use a broom instead of the hosepipe to clean your driveway and only water your garden early in the morning or in the late evening, amongst many other good practices.  If we all make small changes to our lifestyles, we can make a difference – something we all need to do.  We never know when we will have to live in drought conditions.

Sport

Athletics:-

at Klipfontein.  A number of athletes were placed at this meeting – well done to them all.  First places – Andile Nkosi 4L – 1^st in 100m hurdles; Tshegofatso Phukuntsi 5T – 1^st in 70m hurdles; Nkanyezi Bhembe 6H –  1^st in 150m hurdles; Lifa Mkhatshwa 6M – 1^st in 150m hurdles; Ubuhle Malinga 5S – 1^st in High Jump; Makomborero Betsva 7S – 1^st in 800m and 1500m; Bongi Ndlovu 4L – 1^st in High Jump; Kutenda Moyo 4J – 1^st in 80m; Rethabile Kubyana 5G – 1^st in 80m and 1^st in 100m; Cheyanne Ensor 7Y – 1^st in Shot Put; Letsena Ramushu 1S – 1^st in 60m and 80m; Unathi Nkosi 3B – 1^st in 80m; Rethabile Kubyana 5G – 1^st in 100m and Wanga Ndou 6H – 1^st in 100m.

Two athletes set new records  – Cheyanne Ensor 7Y – High Jump 1,54m and Learn Nkunzana 6H – Long Jump 4,34m.  Congratulations to them both.

Swimming We are proud of the results achieved by our team at the Nkangala Regional Gala inMiddelburg this past Friday and Saturday.  Well done to coaches and swimmers.  Samantha Schultz 6K – 50m Freestyle – Bronze; 100m Butterfly – Gold; 50m Backstroke – Gold; 50m Breaststroke – Silver; Jarrid Godfrey 7C – 50m Freestyle – Bronze; 50m Backstroke – Silver and 50m Breaststroke – Silver; Mila Makunga 7Y – 50m Freestyle – Bronze; Annabelle Davel 5G – 200m Breaststroke – Silver; 100m Freestyle – Silver; 200m Individual Medley – Gold and 200m Backstroke – Silver, Catrijn Davel – 4L – 50m Freestyle – Bronze; 100m Breaststroke – Gold; 100m Freestyle – Silver; 50m Breaststroke – Bronze; 100m Backstroke – Silver and 50m Backstroke – Bronze.

Well done all and thanks to parents for their support.

Our team will be attending a Nkangala School League Gala on Thursday 8^th February at Middelburg Primary School.

Netball  There will be a Netball Clinic for our children 10 – 13 years on Friday 23^rd February and for the 7 – 9 years on Wednesday 21^st February.  Please ask your child for the circular if you have not yet received it.

Singing Group Khanyisa Zulu 6H, Kgomotso Sehlako 4H, Nobuhle Nkosi 4J, Simunikiwe Nkosi 4H and Khumo Mabuza 4J took part in the regional leg of Talent Africa in Middelburg on Saturday 3^rd February. We are proud to announce that ALL five singers qualified to go through to the Nationals which will be held in April in Roodepoort.

Dates to Remember:

8^th February – Leader Valentine Day fund raiser starts.

9^th February – Circuit 1 Athletics Meeting –children who are not athletes must stay at home.

15^th February –Parent/Child Conference at 17:30 (Gr 1 – 7).

15^th February – compulsory Gr 7 Parent/Child Meeting in the school hall with principals of local high school at 18:00.

1^st March 2018 – SGB Elections.  Please support us at this important event as we need a quorum in order not to have to have a rerun of these elections

Accompanying this letter is a Consent Form from the Integrated School Health Programme.  Please read it carefully and return the signed copy to school by Wednesday 14^th February.  We were delighted to see that this programme is being revived at school as many years ago these services were common for SA school children and played a vital role in ensuring the health of our younger generation.

We got the sad news that Mrs K Bowker, a longstanding teacher at RCS (Gr 7 English) will be leaving us at the end of Term 2.  She recently underwent an operation and during that time personal considerations necessitated her bringing her original retirement date forward from her intended end-of-the-year retirement date.  After a great deal of consultation with the school’s English Department we have decided that we will make the changes to classrooms and teachers now instead of in the middle of the year.  That means that Mrs L Maritz will now move into Gr 7 English and Art, Mr G Olivier will move into Gr 6 English and Mrs K Bowker and Mr A Rauschenbaum into Gr 5 English.

Please spread the word – we have a male general worker position (gardening, painting, and general maintenance) available at school.  Please encourage interested parties to hand a CV into the school by 16^th February.   Please also advise them that if they have not heard from us by 1^st March their application was unsuccessful.

We look forward to a successful day on Friday and to seeing many of our athletes’ parents here to support us and their child.

Yours sincerely

Mrs L J  Bannatyne

Principal

 

Robert Carruthers School

^1st  February 2018

Dear Parents

By now you should have received our Extra Mural term programme and the Term Planner and they should both be hanging on your fridge.  Please consult them regularly so that you know what is coming up at school.  Extra murals are in full swing – so much so, that since our last correspondence we’ve lots of good news from the sporting front to share with you.

Sport

FP Athletics Day – Thursday 18^th January.  What a lot of fun this day was and I’m pleased to say that I was able to spend a lot of the morning watching our eager beaver juniors battling it out on the field and track.  Congratulations to Mrs J Nel and her team of hard working teacher coaches for the enthusiasm and energy you put into this day.

Interhouse Friday 19^th January.  House results – Cheetahs 1^st, Panthers 2^nd, followed by Leopards and Tigers.  On that day a number of records were broken.  Congratulations to

Makomborero Betsva 7S; G u/13 – 1500m and G u/13 800m;  Cheyanne Ensor 7Y; G u/13 High Jump 1,48; Owami Nkosi 7C; G u/13 75m Hurdles.

Best Girl Field Athlete– Cheyanne Ensor 7Y; Best Girl Track Athlete – Owami Nkosi 7C; Best Boy Field Athlete – Andile Nkosi 4L and Best Boy Track Athlete – Lifa Mkhatshwa 6M.

Mr P Tau and our hard working athletic coaches once again proved that they have the energy and heart to get the best out of our athletes.  Thanks to you all.

Taalfees 26^th January – At this friendly meeting our athletes achieved 20 first places.  Owami Nkosi was the best girl field and track athlete.

Kragbron 27^th January – RCS achieved 22 first places. Bongi Ndlovu G u/10 set a new high jump record.  Congratulations to her.

Thanks again to our coaches who worked so hard on both days and for the many parents who supported their children.   At the time of typing, we had not yet received results for the meeting at Reyno Rif on 31^st January so those are not recorded here.

Please take note – on the 9^th February RCS and Taalfees will be hosting the Circuit Athletics’ meeting on our two grounds.  That means that our school will be CLOSED on that day for ALL children other than our team athletes and identified leaders/monitors.  Please make appropriate arrangements for your child to stay at home next Friday.  Parents of athletes are welcome to join us on the day but will be charged an entrance fee at the gate.   Those children attending must make proper arrangements to get home after this event, which is expected to finish at our usual school closing time – 13:45.  There will be no staff on duty on that afternoon so ALL children must have left the school and surrounds immediately.

Swimming

Our season kicks off with us participating in the Nkangala Region gala on 2^nd and 3^rd February –at Kees Taljaard Swimming Pool in Middelburg.  Mrs S Steenkamp has taken over as our swimming convenor.  We all join in wishing her and Annabel Davel, Cathrijn Davel, Jarrid Godfrey, Mila Makunga and Samantha Schultz success this weekend.  Watch this space.

This year we once again introduce Speedstacks as an extra mural.  This is a wonderful way for children to develop a number of ‘reaction’ skills and teach their brains to plan and predict – all skills that improve learning.   Order forms will go out to children wishing to buy their own stacking cups.

School uniforms are expensive but our Second Hand Shop has a lot of clothing for sale which is in excellent condition for sale.  Please come and see Auntie Daisy on Mondays between 13:45 and 14:45 before you decide to buy a new item.  Some of this clothing has hardly been worn.

Dates to Remember

7^th Feb – Pre-School parents meeting and picnic and an SGB Meeting

8^th February – Leader Valentine Day fund raiser starts.

15^th February – Parent/Child Conference at 17:30 (Gr 1 – 7) Gr 7 compulsory Parent/Child Meeting at at 18:00

Sporting dates will be given to those children involved.

Have a good week.

Yours sincerely

Mrs L J  Bannatyne

Principal

Robert Carruthers School

^25th  January 2018

Dear Parents

Each year there are arguments in the media about when the cut-off time is to stop wishing people a ‘Happy New Year’.   Some say the 5^th, whilst other say the end of January is appropriate.  At RCS it seems that we were listening to firecrackers being let off and watching celebrations on the telly months ago.  However, that doesn’t diminish our sincere desire for you all to have a happy 2018.  We hope the year is kind to us all and that levels of political upheaval and disruptions are kept to a minimum.

A warm welcome to all our new families whom I was pleased to address on the first school day and a ‘good to have you back’ to all the familiar faces and families.  On that first day, a number of parents complimented us on the fact that teaching and learning started immediately.  That is a testament to our hard working staff who spent a lot of holiday time preparing and planning for the new academic year.

For your interest, I include in this letter a list of all our staff.  Please get to know your child’s teacher and bring any concern or query you may have to the relevant person’s attention – immediately.  We are confident that we can solve most problems.  But, please, please do us the courtesy of coming to us first before you consult with parents on the school pavements or your different social groups.  Please also follow the chain of command so that your problem is effectively sorted out.  1. Teacher or Sports/Cultural Coach, 2. Grade Head, 3. Phase Head or Sport/Cultural Convenor, 4. Deputy Principal, 5. Principal.

General Workers  Factotum Mr B Korff; Ms M Choma; Ms I Ndou; Ms P Madonsela; Ms L Magagula; Mr J Seopela; Mr P Diago; Mr E Mokwena (who lives on the school grounds); Ms S Scotland and Mr M Masha.

Administrative Staff Bursar Mrs N Beere (Admin Head); Mrs J Lamb (Bursar); Mrs H Fourie (Accounts and Finance); Mrs P van Blerck (Receptionist); Mrs S Stander (General Admin, Stock Control and First Aid) and Mrs D Nkosi (General Admin, Sick Bay and Second Hand Uniform Shop).

Pre-School RL Mrs N Longueira  (Grade Head);  RR Mrs C Whitter; RP Ms P Smith;  RS Mrs A Smart; RD Mrs B Dube;  RB Mrs A Botes.

Grade 1 1B Mrs M Badenhorst (Grade Head);  1S Ms J Schutte; 1D Mrs D Brits; 1J Mrs C Jamare; 1M Mrs M Minnaar.

 Grade 2 2P Mrs I Potgieter (Grade Head);  2R Ms A Ruysschaert; 2S Mrs S Steenkamp; 2N Mrs J Nel.

Grade 3  3P Mrs S Pearson (Foundation Phase Head);  3G Mrs G Basson (Grade Head); 3H Ms J Harmse;  3L Mrs L Vermaak.

Grade 4  4A  Mrs L  Jordaan (Grade Head) – Gr 4 – Geography, History, Ns & Tech, Personal Well Being;  4D Mrs D Heyns GR 4 – English HL, Personal Well Being; 4L Mrs U Lamprecht GR 4 –  Mathematics, Personal Well Being; 4J Mrs J Olivier GR 4  – Afrikaans FAL, Art, Personal Well Being

 Grade 5  5G Mr G Olivier  (Grade Head) GR 5 – English HL;  Mrs U Zeelie (HOD: Guidance) GR 5 –  Mathematics; 5S Ms M Spottiswoode  GR 5-6 Personal Well Being, Gr 7 Life Orientation, Gr 7 Technology; 5A Mrs A Murdoch Gr 5-6  Natural Science and Technology; 5T Mr P Tau (Sports Convenor),  Gr 5-6 History, Phys Ed;

Grade 6 6H Mr A Hendricks (Intermediate Phase Head) Gr 6 – Mathematics; 6L Ms L Maritz                           (Grade Head) (English HL Subject Head) Gr 6 – English HL; 6K Ms R Korff Gr 5-6 – Art, Gr 5 – Afrikaans FAL; 6M Mr J Myburgh Gr 6 – Afrikaans FAL, Geography.

Grade 7 7S Ms M Snyman (Grade Head) Gr 7 Mathematics, Computers; 7B Mrs K Bowker GR 7 – Art, English HL; 7C Mrs C Botes GR 7 – (Afrikaans Subject Head) – Afrikaans FAL and EMS; 7Y Mr C Young (HOD: Maths, Science and Technology) GR 7 – Geography, History, Natural Sciences.

GR 1- 3 Music    Mrs A Visagie; Gr 4 – 7 Music Mrs C Cilliers; Media Centre Mrs N Nielsen Gr 1-7

Media and Gr 5 Geography.

Student Teachers Ms C Sithole;  Ms T Jamieson; Ms T Grant; Mr K Dorfling; Ms L Zwane; Mr A Ruschenbaum; Ms G Nkonyane; Ms A Mulder.

Deputy Principal Mrs W Loots (Head of Academics); Principal Mrs L Bannatyne.

SGB Members Mr Z Mashiane (Parent Member) Chairperson – Buildings and Grounds and HR;  Mr D Sibiya (Parent Member) Vice Chairperson – Academic, Interview and Learnership (Student Teachers); Mrs T Davel (Parent Member) Treasurer –FinCom, Sport and Discipline; Mr I Makgwane (Parent Member)  FinCom, Interviews and Discipline; Ms P Lesese (Parent Member)  FinCom and School Uniform; Mr I Cassim (Parent Member)  FinCom, Sport, Buildings and Grounds, Safety and Security; Mr N Gwambe (Parent Member)  Sport and Buildings and Grounds; Mrs L J Bannatyne Principal (ex Officio Member) – FinCom and Learnership and QLTC; Mrs W Loots (Teacher Member)  Academic and Sport, FinCom, PR; Mrs J Lamb (Support Staff Member) FinCom, Uniform and HR;  Mr A Hendricks  (Teacher Member)  Academic, and Discipline and Safety and Security; Mr J Myburgh (Teacher Member)   Safety and Security and Buildings and Grounds; Mrs N Beere Scribe

Please make a note of our school’s contact details.  Physical Address 1 Pierneef Ave, Witbank, Emalahleni, 1035; Postal Address Postnet P148, Private Bag X7260, Witbank 1035; Telephone number 0136562247; email address rcsadmin@mweb.co.za and web page www.robertcarruthers.co.za.

Please also remember that Robert Carruthers School is a Quintile 5 school and as such school fees are compulsory.  We cannot maintain our high standards and provide for the needs of your child without these fees, so please ensure that you pay them promptly; no later than the 7^th of every month.  If, for any reason, you are unable to pay your fees, you need to make an appointment with the School Bursar.  You cannot just ignore the problem as we do hand fee defaulters over to our school attorneys for prosecution.  If that happens, you will be liable for the lawyer AND school fees as and you could find yourself blacklisted.  If you feel you qualify for a school fee exemption, it is your responsibility to make an appointment with the school bursar to discuss the matter.  Please understand that we use predetermined criteria stipulated by law relating to the granting of exemptions.  So, making application does not guarantee that you will be granted an exemption.  If you do not qualify, you need to pay school fees.

Fees are: Pre-School  R11310.20 per child per annum.  A 10% discount is offered to any child whose fees are paid in full by the end of February 2018 – a saving of 1131.02.  Parents may pay R1028.20 over 11 months January to November.  Gr 1 – 7  R8056 per annum.  The 10% discount if fees are paid in full by the end of February offers a saving of R805.60.  Parents may pay R807 per month over 10 months January to October or R733 per month January to November.

 Parents, there are many times during the year that we need your support.  Please make EVERY effort to get involved with activities and meetings at school and please also ensure that you support your child.  Attend Parents’ Meetings, watch your child playing sport and read all school correspondence and return any reply slips on time.  In recent times, our Parents’ Committee has battled to find people prepared to assist.  There will be a committee meeting at school on Tuesday 30^th January at 12:30 in the school staff room.  If at all possible please attend this meeting.  Getting involved means that you set a good example for your child.  You also get to know your child’s friends and their parents.  It will be fun for you too.  Many of my closest friends were made when I served on the Parent Association and SGB as a young RCS mother.  We are also looking for volunteers to assist for 30 minutes a week to assist with our reading programme.  If you are able to do this for us, please talk to Aunty Penny or your child’s teacher.

As you no doubt know, this is a SGB election year and we need as many parents here as possible so that we make up our quorum.  Please – make an effort: not an excuse.

We will be having our first Parent/Child Conference of the year on 15^th February from 17:30 – 18:30.  This year we are planning two of them so that you get the chance to see your child’s books and address any concerns you may have with the teacher.  On that same evening (school hall at 18:00) we will have a compulsory parent/Gr 7 child meeting with a number of high schools in our city.  At this meeting Gr 7 parents will be addressed by the high schools regarding the procedure and requirements for enrolment 2019.

Parents please make sure that your child is at school before 07:25 each day.  The gates are locked at 07:30 and then all children must enter at the Admin Gate.  Children must not be late.

Unfortunately, we still have parents who have not made appropriate transport arrangements for their child/ren to abide by our school times.  Children MAY NOT be dropped off at school before the gates open at 7 o’clock in the morning and MUST be collected within 30 minutes of their last school-related activity.  Children from Gr 1 – 7 may enter the school via the administrative office at 6:45 as Aunty Penny is here early.

Another issue that is making teaching and learning difficult is that some children are coming to school UNPREPARED!  Every child MUST have the required stationery and their Phys Ed, media and extra mural requirements when needed.  We cannot teach children who are not properly prepared.

Congratulations to Moses Masha, one of our general workers.  He applied for, and was appointed by the departmental at our school.  We are most proud of him.

Our special thanks go to Mrs Petro Smith (from the Sandwich Baron) for her continued generosity.  Each day she provides sandwiches for some of our children who don’t come to school with a packed lunch.

Lastly, welcome back to all our staff, including Mrs M Minnaar and Mr J Myburgh, who both underwent back operations at the end of 2017.  I wish them all a happy and successful 2018.

Yours sincerely

Mrs L J  Bannatyne

Principal

Robert Carruthers School

^3rd November 2017

Dear Parents

The proposed changes to SASA and the Employment of Educators Act are most worrying to everyone involved at a public school because in effect they leave the SGB powerless to make the best decisions for the children at the school, based upon you, the parents’ wishes and educational needs for your child.  These proposed changes also take away your democratic right to decide how your AFTER TAX MONEY is spent.  Please remember the following as it relates to these changes:

1. As a taxpayer you have already contributed financially to education in the country – in fact a huge percentage of the national budget is dedicated to education.
2. The SGB is democratically elected to represent you and to make choices based on what is in the best interest of the majority of people at the school.
3. The SGB uses your school fee money to ensure that ALL children at our school are treated fairly and that they get a high standard of education.
4. The moment the choice of who gets appointed in promotion posts, what a school’s LOLT should be and who should have access to the school’s facilities and assets (which you paid for with after tax money through school fees) the door for corruption and political manipulation is opened and your choices go out the window.

Our SGB is against these proposed changes as they believe that it will have a negative impact on the type of school we presently have and that it removes all our democratic rights.  If you agree with us we ask that you complete the reply slip attached with this letter and return it to school no later than Wednesday 8^th November so our school can collectively register our objections to the changes to the ACTS.  If you wish to read the proposed amendments on this matter you can go to https://www.gov.za/documents/basic-education-laws-amendment-bill-draft-13-oct-2017-0000 or you can go onto the internet and read up on what the experts in education are saying about it.

We are really proud of our latest mathematic achievements.  Mr Hendricks and Miss Snyman took four of our Grade 6 ‘mathematicians’ to Machadodorp on Saturday to compete in a provincial competition.  Kesivan Naidoo 6M came 2^nd in Mpumalanga and Annah Mangere 6M shared 3^rd place.   At the same time, our school received the trophies for the children who won in 2016 (no comment about how effectively mathematics is used by those in charge to improve time management).  Engelbrecht Mangere now 4H came 2^nd last year in Grade 3 and Joseph Pereira now 7C came 1^st last year, with Refilwe Mokone 7C coming  3^rd Londeka Mbokane 4^th.  Well done to you all – these are impressive results.

Another Murphy’s Law that always amazes us is how often the worst of all storms breaks five minutes before home time.  Please assist us in such an event because it is NOT SAFE for any person to be outside in lightening.  Therefore, we will dismiss children earlier IF PARENTS OR TRANSPORT is here by 13:30.  So, if you see a storm coming or get notification of one coming, please try to get here earlier to pick up your child.  (No we will not permit early leaving for other reasons).  However, if you do get here as the storm breaks please exercise a bit of patience as we may have to keep your child safely in the classroom until it is safe for him or her ‘to run for it’.  You are as safe in your vehicle as your child is in the classroom so you should stay put until the teachers decide that it is safe for your child to be dismissed.   Friday’s storm left us with 54 broken windows (at a cost of over R26000 to repair)which just shows how violent it was.

Congratulations to all our 2017 graduating Gr R children and their parents.  In a lovely ceremony on Tuesday evening, we honoured them all.  Thanks to our parents who were patient and understanding of our ‘sound’ glitches and well done to our Pre-School staff on another successful year.  We look forward to seeing these children on this side of the road next year, in uniform.

Our other successes were highlighted at the Foundation Phase Prize Giving last night.  It is not possible to be in the audience at this event without getting a lump in the throat watching the pride and joy on the faces of the prize winners.  It is these faces that make a year of hard work worth every second.  The children who present the ‘stage item’ seem to get better and better each year and always stun their audience, as they have learned and delivered what is often a ‘mouthful’ using words that not always to pronounce.   As usual many awards were handed out and sadly, as usual, we cannot mention every child who was honoured as space does not allow.

80 were handed out which just highlights the success of our ‘little people’ over the year.

Junior Sportsman of the Year went to Zaiyaan Gani 3H and Junior Sportswoman of the Year to Sibahle Mpofu 3H.  The Kersten Stanley Floating Trophy for the child who took part in the most items at the Artium Arts Festival and who achieved the highest results went to Kgomotso Sehlako 3L.  The Johan Woest Trophy for the Highest Academic Achievement in Grade 1 went to Zamazizi Mngomezulu 1M; The Felicity du Plessis Trophy for the Highest Academic Achievement in Grade 2 went to Siyanda Mbokani 2S and The Debi Rolfe Trophy for the Highest Academic Achievement in Grade 3 went to  Sheldon van Castle 3P

Congratulations to all recipients and well done to Mrs S Pearson and the entire Foundation Phase on another successful year.  We are taking our children into the future thanks to your collective hard work.

Lastly, thank you to Mr and Mrs J Pereira for yet again donating sweets, chips and icies for the Gladiator Day.  Their generosity has been greatly appreciated over the years.

Yours sincerely

Mrs L J  Bannatyne

Principal

Please cut off and return to school by the 8^th November.

I                                                                                                               , a parent of a child attending RCS do not agree with the proposed changes to the South African School’s Act and the Employment of Educators Act as I feel many of these changes take away my democratic right to decide upon the standard and quality of education my child gets, paid for by me with after tax money, and on who manages and leads the school my child attends.

 

Signature

Contact Phone Number

 

Robert Carruthers School

^26th October 2017

Dear Parents

The theme for our Circuit Strategic Planning last week was ‘Adapt or Die’.  I’m, not so sure about the die part but I do know for sure that we all need to acknowledge that we are living in times of great change and if we are not able to adapt both our thinking and our attitudes, we will not succeed nor be happy in our communities and jobs.

At a wonderful ‘Teachers’ Day’ assembly presented by a few of our Leaders I noticed that some children have become somewhat ‘creative’ with their interpretation of what an acceptable school hairstyle is.  Moms and dads we are asking your cooperation as two things were very apparent to me.  No 1. Some of our children are wearing what in anyone’s language would be deemed ‘fancy hairstyles’.  In our opinion, a primary school child should not be making his/her hairstyle the main focus point of their day.  Any hairstyle that requires the wearer to run to the mirror every five minutes to ensure the style is still looking its best, or any style that requires some sort of hair product to keep it looking ‘pristine’ is not suitable for a primary school child.  Let’s concentrate on other aspects of our schooling and social life and leave this sort of thing for high school and when we are older.  No 2.  I definitely saw two girls wearing styles which would certainly make it impossible for anyone sitting behind them from seeing the board.  Come on folk – how inconsiderate is that?  Everyone has the right to make the most of the opportunities presented in every lesson and that includes being able to see all presentations without being hampered by someone’s hairstyle.  Over and above those two issues, I did notice a few children who are really long overdue for a cut and some with hair hanging in their eyes (for some this has a lot to do with the type of hair they have – it is just untameable).  Please parents make a plan!  Sadly, haircuts and finding appropriate ways of tying up long hair is just part of the primary school experience.

The same applies to the school uniform.  It should not be necessary to remind everyone that not wearing the school uniform correctly and in its entirety is a breach of the school’s Code of Conduct and that parents need to make it possible for children to abide by that code’s rules.  Please also remember to write a note to the class teacher if there is a reason for your child not wearing the correct uniform properly and to rectify the problem within three school days.

Congratulations to Asanda Matenchi 4H; Natalie Murhawa 5G; Wandile Dube 6H and Nompumelelo Mnisi 7B who won R200.00 in the Colour Fest lucky draw and to  Shakeel Gani 4L who won R500-00 for collecting the most money in IP.

A reminder to all our Pre-School parents – you need to make a plan to come to school BEFORE THE END OF OCTOBER to pay for your child’s stationery requirements for 2018 and to complete all necessary paperwork.

Sport

At the gala at Middelburg Primary on 19^th October the following result were attained.  Well done to:-

Candace van der Merwe 2P – 4^th in backstroke, 7^th in freestyle and 3^rd in breaststroke; Cathrijn Davel 3P – 3^rd in backstroke, 1^st in breaststroke, 1^st in butterfly and 1^st in freestyle; Annabelle Davel 4L – 3^rd in Individual Medley, 3^rd in backstroke, 3^rd in breaststroke, 3^rd in butterfly and 3^rd in freestyle; Samantha Schultz 5G – 1^st in backstroke, 2^nd in breaststroke, 1^st in butterfly and 2^nd in freestyle; Alyssa Nel 7B 3^rd in backstroke, 4^th in breaststroke and 7^th in freestyle; Megan van der Merwe 4H – 6^th in breaststroke, 6^th in backstroke and 7^th in freestyle; Mila Makunga – 2^nd in breaststroke and 2^nd in freestyle; Jarrid Godfrey 6H – 3^rd in backstroke and 3^rd in freestyle; Daniel Range 7S – 4^th in backstroke, 3^rd in butterfly and 4^th in freestyle; Chad Hartley 5^th in backstroke, 4^th in butterfly and 5^th in freestyle.   Altogether we had a combined score of 475 points which put us in 5^th place.

The Gr Rs are madly practising for their Graduation Celebration on the 31^st October.  We look forward to seeing all involved parents at this mile-stone evening.  And then, just two days later, we are again honouring a group of achievers at the Foundation Phase Prize Giving on the 2^nd November.  Please remember that seats for either of these functions are allocated on a first come first served basis.   And…… just because we have nothing else on, we will again see some of you on the 3^rd November when you come to the Camp Out with your child/ren.  Whew!  What a busy week next week has turned into.

Please do not forget about Gladiator Day on the 1^st November at R75-00 per child.  A tuckshop will be open selling hotdogs (R10), cool drinks (R5), chips (R5) and sweets (R5 per packet).  R5 tickets can be bought from your child’s class teacher as of today although they will only be issued on the day to prevent loss.  Please try to plan for your needs properly, as we will not be refunding money for tickets.  The teachers will also have tickets for sale on the day.

Just a friendly reminder that we are still collecting bread tags and non-perishable food for World Food Day.   Both can be sent to Mr Young in the Science Laboratory.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to stock up on cool drinks for the long hot summer months.  We are selling bulk Twizza drinks at bulk prices for those who are interested.  Just refer back to the circular that went out this week advertising this opportunity.

If any parent is interested in buying the used roof sheeting we took off our Gr 4 block when we replaced it, please submit a written offer for it to Ms J Lamb, our bursar, by 3^rd November.

Well done everyone and Mr Young!  We once again were awarded the top prize for our Eco School File.  A Diamond Certificate.  Wow.

How proud we are of Londeka Mbokane 7C for her marvellous success at the Artium Winners concert last week.  She walked off with the trophy for the best primary school child, the Victrix Artium Award and the best primary school vocalist.   Wow – well done Londeka.

Another achievement worthy of our recognition.  Congratulations and praise to Ms L Maritz.  She won the Best Teacher in the District Award and came 2^nd in the province in the same category.  Well done Ms Maritz!  We are all proud of you.

Yours sincerely

Mrs L J  Bannatyne

Principal

Robert Carruthers School

^12th October 2017

Dear Parents

Welcome back everyone.  The last quarter promises to be hectic, interesting and to fly by faster than any of the previous quarters.  We have to pack a huge amount into this term, not least of all, two Prize Giving Ceremonies, a Gr R Graduation Ceremony, Gr 7 Final Assembly, SMT Strategic Planning, Gladiator Day, our School Fee and Budget Meeting and of course final examinations.  Whew!  Take a breath now whilst you still can because this term is going to make you stronger and more resilient.  Please take note of the Dates to Remember at the end of this letter and diarise them so that you are not caught unawares.

Thank you, thank you and thank you again.  As a result of your support, generosity and assistance, our Colour Festival managed to raise an incredible R146 000 PROFIT.  How cool is that?  Wow!  Well done children – you did it!  Thanks also go to Ms Grant and her team of hard working, committed staff members who ensured the fund raiser’s success.

In recent times two of our staff members, Mrs M Minnaar and Mr J Myburgh have undergone major spinal surgery which will keep them off school for at least four months.  We are pleased to announce that both these teachers are doing extremely well and are now facing the long hard, arduous route or rebuilding their walking and sitting strength.   Both their classes have been sorted out, so none of the children will suffer academically as a result of their absence.  We all join in wishing them well for a speedy and as pain free as possible recuperation.

As I am required to be away from school for a two day Circuit Strategic Planning Meeting there will not be a newsletter next week.  If there is a need to send home important information, it will go out in the form of a Circular.

Sport

We are proud to announce that our U/13 and U/11 cricket boys came 2^nd in the league this year.  Well done to them and their coaches.

The Hockey Interhouse matches will be played on Wednesday 18^th October in the afternoon, on the big field, and will be followed by a pool party and braai for which players must pay R20 to their coaches. ALL players are expected to wear their house T-shirt for these matches which are still available at R50-00.

Swimming and athletics start next week.  Please be on the lookout for the extra-mural timetable.

Our team swimmers will be participating in a gala at Middleburg Primary on the 19^th October.  The children involved will be given details in a separate circular.

Dates to Remember – for your interest the following are the most important events planned for this term.  However you will still need to consult your Term Planner – included with this letter – for the entire term’s programme.

13^th October – Gr R Colour Festival.  This event is planned only for our Pre-School so will not affect the rest of the school.  It will take place entirely on the Pre-School grounds.  Parents attending need to enter through their entrance gates.

16^th October – Artium Winners Concert HTS.  Any interested person may attend this event but it is primarily for those of our children who won their respective categories at the Arts Festival.

31^st October – Gr R Graduation – in the main school hall at 18h00.  This function is only for the parents of the children graduating.

1^st November – Gladiator Day – the last fund raiser for the year.  In light of the pressures we put on parents and children last term, we are only charging R75 per child and we will run a tuckshop on the day.  However, parents are more than welcome to send their child to school on that day with something to eat and drink.

2^nd November – Foundation Phase Prize Giving Ceremony. (by invitation only).  This function takes place in our school hall and starts at 18h00  Sadly, our facilities limit invitations to only two adults per child.  These invitations will be sent to you via your child.

3^rd November – Parent Child Camp Out – on our big field.  Details to follow in a separate circular.

7^th November – Senior Prize Giving Ceremony.  This is our most prestigious function of the year and is by invitation only for Gr 4 – 7 children and is also limited to TWO adults per child.  The 2018 Leaders are expected to attend a function in our Pre-School hall at 17h15.  These children and their parents will join the rest of the parents in the hall for the award ceremony which starts at 18h00.  We do book seats for the Leader parents as they are unable to reserve seats for themselves whilst at the other function.

13^th November – Final Assembly.  The Gr 7 parents are invited to this function which takes place in the school hall at 10h00

14^th November – Gr 7 examinations begin

15^th November  – Gr 4 – 6 examinations begin

22^nd November – Gr 1 – 3 examinations begin

23^rd November – Budget and School Fee Meeting.  Starts at 18h00 in the school hall.  The SGB will present the 2018 Budget for approval by the parents.  It is this budget that determines the school fees for the following year.

30^th November – Gr 7 Farewell (by invitation only)

1^st December – Leader and Scholar Patrol Farewell (by invitation only)

5^th – 6^th December – last chance to pay outstanding school fee accounts, to pay for lost or damaged media or text books and the collection of reports.

6^th December – School Closes for Pupils

8^th December – School Closes for Administrative and Teaching Staff

As a service to parents as we approach the festive season, we will be selling cool drinks in bulk at a very reasonable price.  Please be on the lookout for the circular in this regard if you want to make use of this offer.

Lastly, moms and dads, please be considerate and let us know if your child is not coming back to RCS next year so we can offer his/her seat to someone else.

Yours sincerely

Mrs L J  Bannatyne

Principal

Robert Carruthers School

^14th September 2017

Dear Parents

Apologies for the gremlins that crept into last week’s newsletter.  A direct quote ‘You can be assured that any extra you pay this year will be debited to your 2018 school fee account.’  Of course it should have read that your account would be credited because we have NOT decided to become corrupt or to run the sneakiest fundraiser ever.  We absolutely promise …… if you pay school fees this year for next year we will deduct any amount paid over from the amount owed for 2018’s fees.

Last week saw a number of ‘strange’ people walking around our school grounds.  Congratulations to Mrs L Maritz and the English Department for celebrated Literacy Week by encouraging children to dress-up like their favourite character or super-hero from a book.  The week ended with an assembly on World Literacy Day which was on Friday.  We tried to get it through to the children involved that being illiterate is a life-sentence which in the case of the children at RCS is self-inflicted.  There are just too many children these days, (and I suspect parents as well) who think it’s a bonus that the law insists that a child may only repeat once in a Phase and thereafter needs to be pushed through.  Really?  A bonus?  Eikona!  Think about this.  It is perfectly feasible for a child to reach Gr 7 and not be able to read or write his/her own name – all that is required is that that child spend 8 years at school Gr 1 – 6.  Is that what you pay school fees for, parents? Is that what you want for your child?  Children – is that what you want for yourself?  It’s like buying a drivers’ licence believing that, that makes you competent to drive.

Children attend primary school for a number of reasons, one of them being to ensure that they are literate when they go off to high school.   Sadly, it is very obvious whenever teachers mark tests or examinations that some children don’t think they need to study or prepare for these assessments.  We used to punish this lazy bunch by making them sit in the hall and learn during break, but we don’t bother anymore because no matter what punishment we impose, we cannot punish them as severely as they punish themselves.  The success or otherwise of a person’s life is in part dependent upon the choices made.  Children who do not embrace the academic opportunities offered at RCS discriminate against themselves, and parents who permit it, exacerbate the problem.

As most things quieten down during test week, not a great deal has happened since the last newsletter.

Congratulations to Mrs M Badenhorst and Ms A Ruyschaert for convening a successful photograph day last week.  Single photographs of children who were absent last week and some team photographs were taken today, so the process is now over.  We can all now look forward to getting the photographs we paid for.

We all join in wishing Mrs J Nel a speedy recovery.  She had to undergo an emergency appendectomy last week and so has been absent.

Sport

Hockey – girls against Balmoral – U/11 won 3-0; U/13 won 8-0.  Boys against Taalfees – U/11 won 4-0; U/13 won 2-1.

We are very proud of our U/12 and U/13 boys who are playing in the provincial play offs at the Hockey Farm this weekend.  We wish them success and congratulate them and their coaches for an amazing season.  Special thanks to Mrs N Neilsen, the hockey convenor, for organising the season and the weekend.

Cricket – U/13 against Onverwacht.  RCS won by 9 wickets.  They say it took them longer to travel there and back than to play the game.

Arts Festival

Afrikaans Creative Writing Grade 7s.  Well done to the following children for producing such good results in this category.  Unathi Kambonani – Gold; Mokholwe Motubatse – Gold; Kiran Ponnen – Gold; Londeka Mbokane – Silver; Nomaswazi Ndimande – Silver; Philisiwe Skosana – Silver; Nokutula Thema – Silver.

Congratulations to Mrs C Botes and her team of wannabe Grade 7 businesspersons.  Last Friday’s Entrepreneurs Day was a great success.  The children learned about the business process, had fun and most of them made a profit.  I was pleased to see how many parents supported their children and how many different business ideas were tried this year.  We had more than just a gazillion sweet stalls.  Well done to you all.

The Grade 2s went To Pienaar’s Dam yesterday.  The children and teachers enjoyed playing boeresports, horse riding, the game drive and a delicious lunch of burgers and chips.  They were back at school in time to take their normal transport home.  Talk about packing a lot into a morning!  Well done, teachers – this was a successful and educational outing.

A reminder to our Gr R parents – you need to visit the school during September or October if you wish to enrol your child in Grade 1 next year as there is a lot of paperwork to finalise and you need to pay for your child’s stationery needs.

There seems to be a great deal of contention around the opening time of the school gates.  Please take note.  NO GATE OTHER THAN THE MAIN SCHOOL GATE AT THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES will be opened before 7 o’clock in the morning and THAT gate will only be opened at 06:45.  All other gates will only be opened once there is a staff member on duty at 07:00.  This is a safety requirement to protect both the staff and the children at school for the 15 minutes before the pedestrian gates officially open in the morning.

It’s getting closer!  Our Colour Fest.  Please don’t delay.  Pay your R130 so as not to miss out.  After all life is so much more fun in colour.

Yours sincerely

Mrs L J  Bannatyne

Principal

 

Robert Carruthers School

^7th September 2017

Dear Parents

A thousand apologies to all in Gr 4 who were involved with the Cultural Day two weeks ago – parents, relatives, teachers and children.  Somehow the news of the day did not make it into last week’s newsletter.  I was lucky enough to walk from stall to stall and taste a number of different cuisines from the many different cultures we have at RCS – even though some stalls dished enormous portions for one.  Besides the fabulous taste of every dish I savoured, I was impressed with the tremendous effort children and parents had put in to making their stalls interesting and inviting.  Well done everyone! Seeing our diversity on display, as it was two Fridays ago, should be a reminder to us all to be proud of RCS.  Special thanks to Mrs J Olivier and the rest of the Gr 4 teachers for their ideas and organisation.

Congratulations also go to the Pre-School and Mrs A Visage on the wonderful concert staged last week.  When I welcomed everyone on the opening night I likened it to getting …. 4 and 5 year olds on stage at the right time, in costume, singing and dancing to herding cats!  And it certainly seems that way to me.  The concert was fabulous; the children looked wonderful in the costumes the staff worked so hard at making and the music, singing and dancing enthralled us all.    As an audience member, I am always interested to see how it is possible to tell the different personalities of the children the moment they step onto the stage.  They all flourish and enjoy the experience.  You can immediately pick out the extrovert; the bossy-boots; the introvert; the one with rhythm and the one without but one thing is common to them all.  Immediately they get into their positions they start looking for that special person they have in the audience and you can see on their faces the moment they locate that person.      When I had children at school it was the parents’ job to MAKE the costumes; yet I believe that the teachers did all that work themselves this year with a few helping hands from parents in Gr RR.  Well done Mrs N Longueira and team.  After an enormous amount of work, you put on wonderful show which was the highlight of many children’s 2017.

We have a suggestion to all who are paying their school fees monthly.  Knowing how financially difficult January is for most people; why not pay an extra month this year so that you can be let off the hook?  Certainly that would make financial sense to me.  You can be assured that any extra you pay this year will be debited to your 2018 school fee account.  A suggestion to all who have NOT paid school fees thus far this year or who are behind with their payments; you have only a VERY SHORT period of time left to rectify this, or to visit the school bursar to make a plan or apply for exemption.  We start handing over school fee defaulters in a couple of weeks’ time and if you are handed over, you will owe us AND the school’s attorney, money.  Why make your problems worse?  Make a plan – pay or make an appointment with the school bursar – you cannot just ignore this problem and think it will go away.  But ….. please do not forget just because you apply for exemption it does not mean you qualify for one, in the eyes of the law.

By now most children are already in their summer uniforms.  Just a reminder that our Clothing Bank (ex Swap Shop) has a number of very good second hand uniforms in stock so if you need anything in that line, you should visit the shop on a Monday from 13h35 – 14h30.

It has come to our attention that a few children have come to school with head lice and/or ringworm.  Please DO NOT send your children to school with these conditions; they are highly contagious and you need to medicate them and sort out the problem BEFORE sending them here to infect other children.

Arts Festival Results

Gr 7 Afrikaans Spreekkoor 88%;  Lusanda Mlotshwa 7C 78% Poësie; Londeka Mbokane 7C.  Gedig – Zoeyael Louw 4A 81%; Annabelle Davel 4L 78%; Katlego Moela 4J 76%.  FP Afrikaans Drama – Nobuhle Dhladhla 2R 90%; Courage Hlabangwane 3L 78%; Mlungisi Chibi 3P 84%.  Afrikaans Drama – Noah Cullen 6M 83%; Omphile Mbewe 6L 78%; Thenora Terry 6L 84%; Michelle Mandigara 6K 90%. Creative Writing – Andiswa Mashibini 6L Essay Silver; Lethabo Nkambule 6K  Essay Silver; Kellelo Ramoroka 6H  Essay Silver, Poem Gold; Michelle Mandigara  6K Essay Silver, Essay Silver; Kaitlyn Burton 6H  Essay Silver, Poem Gold, Essay Silver; Londeka Mbokane 7C Essay Gold.  Stilstaan  Megan Coetzee 5T  88%; Bryce Neveling 84%; Raven Maider 78%.

Our Gr 1s had a wonderful trip to the Pretoria Zoo yesterday.  They were disappointed not to see the lions but are pleased to announce that all the other animals looked healthy and told them they were really happy.  The children were well behaved and good ambassadors for RCS and left only their footprints behind them.  Well done Gr 1s.

We say a temporary goodbye and ‘get well soon’ to Mrs M Minnaar who goes into hospital this coming Tuesday for a back operation.  We will all be thinking of her and hope that all goes well.  Look after yourself Mrs Minnaar – we will miss you.

It’s Colour Festival month folks.  Please do not forget to pay your R130 so that you don’t miss out on the fun.  Hope to see you all there.

Yours sincerely

Mrs L J  Bannatyne

Principal

 

 

Robert Carruthers School

^31stAugust 2017

Dear Parents

You cannot have failed to notice that spring is in the air!  What a wonderful time of the year it is but despite the blossom, new buds and flowers it is a very difficult time of the year to get ‘dressing appropriately’ for the weather 100% right.  It’s often really cold in the morning and then by midday everyone has peeled off their clothing layers.  Children may start wearing their summer uniform (in its entirety) and all should have swapped over by Monday 11^th September.  But….. the cold weather is NOT yet over.  As always happens, we still need to suffer at least one cold front (it’s snowed in SA in October before) and in such circumstances know that it may be appropriate for your children to wear their winter uniform (in its entirety) for a few days, so do not pack it away just yet.

For a long time now all suburban primary schools have hosted weekend Mini Festivals in order to give the Foundation Phase children sporting opportunities against their peers from other schools.  This past Saturday RCS attended a Mini Hockey/Cricket Festival at Taalfees.  What a disappointment it was!  Many children just did not arrive, so in order for the games to go ahead coaches were forced to fill their teams with children from opposition teams!  And, many arrived late having missed their first games.  Parents, this completely defeats the object of the exercise, forcing us to review our approach.  There were so few parent supporters at the Taalfees festival that it is apparent that a Saturday is just as hard for most parents to attend as any weekday afternoon.

Next weekend we host a mini festival and it will probably be our last.  We have decided that from now onwards, we will organise games for our children during the week because then at least we will have all the children present.

Sport

Hockey – the U/7 girls played 3 matches.  They lost to Kragbron 2-1; lost to Taalfes 1-0 and beat Panorama 5-0. The U/8 girls played 3 matches; losing to Kragbron 0-1; beat Taalfees 2-1 and beat Panorama 4-1.  The U/9 girls played 3 matches.  They beat Taalfees 6-0; lost to Panorama 1-2 and beat Kragbron 4-1.

Our U/11 and U/13 boys drew their matches against Cambridge and against Kragbron produced varied results.  U/10 lost 1-3; U/11 lost 2 – 3; U/12 lost 0 – 1 and U/13 won 1 – 0.

By and large a good week for hockey – thanks to all coaches and players.

Arts Festival – Afrikaans

Congratulations to the following children for achieving such good results this week.  Drama  Caleb Hans 1D drama 78%; Devan Marrie 1M 78%; Roysten Marshall 2W 78%; Sphiweukulunga Zulu 2P 78%; Cathrijn Davel 3P 78%.  Stillstaande Prosa  Tyra Hamilton 5T 80%; Ntsepeng Ntsheroa 78%.    Stillstaan Deangelo Campbell 5Gcame in 2^nd with 92% and Siphesihle Nkosi 5Sachieved 3^rd place with 90%.  Mimiek    Kiran Ponnen  7B and Alyssa Nel 7B 87%.    Lemar Vengelsamy 7S 84%; Joseph Pereira 7C 87%.  Gedramatiseerde Poësie  Kiran Ponnen 7B 84%; Nathan Wray 7B 78%.  A big thank you also goes to all the teachers who coached these children so well.  Results to be proud of.

Term Three Test Week – 5^th September

• Gr 4 – 7 pupils begin their test on Tuesday 5 September 2017.  (See attached copy of timetable)
• Kindly make sure that your child is well prepared for these tests.  During the test period, ALL children are expected to be at school by 07h30.  Grade 4 – 7 will be writing their tests in their allocated classrooms.
• No irregularities will be permitted during the test period.  ANY child found conducting him/herself in a dishonest or disruptive manner will be removed from the test venue.
• If your child is ill and not able to attend school during the test period, a doctor’s certificate must be given to the class teacher.
• It is very important that your child eats a healthy, substantial breakfast during this period.
• No child will be permitted to bring anything other than stationery into test venues.  All games or any toys or good luck charms, etc. are strictly prohibited.
• The examination period will continue until Friday 15 September 2017.

Parents, please be advised of the following:

• All children are expected to learn and thoroughly prepare for ALL tests according to the work required in each subject (as explained by the individual subject teachers)

Dates to Remember

5^th September – Grade 1s will be visiting the Pretoria Zoo.

6^th September – Photograph Day.  R105-00 for the pack which includes a class photo.  All children to wear their summer uniform for photographs

12^th September – Grade 2s will visit Pienaar’s Dam.

27^th September – THE BEST FUN YOU’LL HAVE FOR A LONG TIME – OUR COLOUR FEST.  Please don’t hesitate to pay your R130 so that you don’t miss out.

Yours sincerely

Mrs L J  Bannatyne

Principal

DATE	SUBJECTS
	GRADE 4 – 6	GRADE 7
5 SEPTEMBER TUESDAY		EMS
7 SEPTEMBER THURSDAY		LO
8 SEPTEMBER FRIDAY	MATHS	MATHS
11 SEPTEMBER MONDAY	ENGLISH	ENGLISH
12 SEPTEMBER TUESDAY	GEOGRAPHY	GEOGRAPHY
13 SEPTEMBER WEDNESDAY	AFRIKAANS	AFRIKAANS
14 SEPTEMBER THURSDAY	NS/TECH	NS TECH
15 SEPTEMBER FRIDAY	HISTORY	HISTORY

 

Robert Carruthers School

^24th August 2017

Dear Parents

What troubling times we live in.  Although we have practised our numerous evacuation programmes this year, we realised last Friday that we had not thought of a plan of action should it not be possible for our children from Schoongezicht and the townships to get back into these areas if roads were blocked and/or should the taxis not be running.  As a result we have devised another evacuation plan but in order for it to work effectively, and in order for us to be able to evacuate the school as QUICKLY as possible, we will need the co-operation of EVERY parent at the school.  As they say – Plan for the Worst, Hope for the Best.

With that in mind we ask that every parent complete the attached return slips with ALL sections filled in.  These details are needed in the event of:

1. Your child’s normal transport arrangements not being available as a result of road/highway closures or protest action.
2. You being out of town or unavailable at the time we need to evacuate children from school.

What we require from you ALL, are the FULL details of at least TWO (preferably three) different people, who live in the suburbs of eMalahleni and who have their own transport, who we can contact to collect your child/ren from school quickly and keep them safe in their home until such time as you are able to collect them.

Our prime consideration when evacuating is to ensure the safety of all concerned – including our staff.  This needs to happen effectively and quickly.  We cannot have a situation where a handful of children cannot be collected because we cannot contact their parents.  We also cannot expect staff to stay here endlessly whilst their own children are in possible danger.  Please, please, please, parents co-operate with us on this issue.  Friday was a good learning curve for us as we decided to evacuate our township children when we were told the N4 was going to be closed again at lunchtime on that day.   The staff and children involved all need to be congratulated for the calm and smooth way in which the process happened, as do all parents who reacte quickly and effectively – without fuss and bother.  As it turned out, the N4 was not blocked and most of the taxis were here to fetch those still here at home time but we were not to know that – especially when neighbouring schools evacuated.

We have been told that a number of our children were directly caught up in last week’s violence by being physically thrown off taxis or been forced to go home.  Such incidents are traumatic for a primary school child (for anyone really) and we would like, if possible, to prevent it happening to any of our children.  Please do not let your children come to school if there is any danger but please also make an informed decision based on fact and not on hype and ‘false news’.  It is not in a child’s best interest if the adults in his/her life overreact to any situation, let alone one where they may be in danger.  We have been told that in one instance a child living in Die Heuwel was kept at home because of the unrest in the township.  Totally unnecessary.

It has come to my attention that a number of children are arriving at their extramural afternoon practise session completely inappropriately dressed.  Some in clothing that would be best suited for a wedding reception, some in see-through tops and pants where underwear (and body parts) is completely exposed and some in clothing that makes it impossible for the child to run, never mind catch or hit a ball.  For that reason all children taking part in sports activities will from now onwards be required to wear a pair of black or navy shorts or appropriate leggings and their coloured house T-shirt.  These shirts are on sale at the front office (R50 each) and should already have been bought so it should only be new children who need to get one.

Talking of colour; we launched our 2017 Colour Fest programme yesterday at assembly.  All grades learnt a bit about the history of colour and their teachers picked a colour to represent each grade.  The children were very excited to see all the things they will get for their R130 and we are hoping that all children will be able to participate.  We are appealing to you all; if you are able to, to sponsor, either fully or partially, a child whose parents are unable to afford to pay the entry price.  It would be a real shame if some children were to miss the excitement of the day.  If, for some reason, you do not want your child to participate, please address this wish in writing to your child’s class/tutor teacher.

There seems to be a misconception amongst some parents that once school fees have been paid their financial responsibility towards the school is over.  Sadly, if that were true we would need to triple our fees just to meet our expenses and we would also deprive our children of a fun day every now and again.

In the run-up to the day we will have a number of fun activities happening at school (each colour also has a theme song) so watch this space as the fun has begun.  The colours per grade are Grade 1 – Orange;  Grade 2 – Green; Grade 3 – Purple; Grade 4 – Pink;  Grade 5 – Blue; Grade 6 – Yellow and

Grade 7 – Red.

Sport

Cricket – U/10 & U/11 won against Curro by 1 run in a nail-biting match.  Training to be future Protea players I see.  And the U/9s beat St Thomas by 9 wickets.

On Saturday our mini-cricket enjoyed the two games (no scores are kept) against Kragbron.

Tennis – the girl team

beat St Thomas by 36 -7 and the boys lost by 1 point.

Hockey – our girls did well against Klipfontein.  The U/10s won 5-0; the U/11s drew 0-0; the U/12s drew 1-1 and the U/13s won 2-0.  Well done to all – especially the U/10s and U/13s who have not yet been beaten.  Hope I’ve not just jinxed that!

The boys did equally well against Curro when the U/11s won 1-0 and the U/13 drew 1-1.

They seemingly do keep score in mini hockey matches and our teams returned mixed results at Kragbron on Saturday with the U/7 boys winning all 4 of their matches; the U/8 boys won 2, drew 1 and lost 1; the U/9 boys won 2 and lost 2. And the U/7 girls won their two games.

A good sporting week – well done to all involved.

Please take note – there are a few of our Gr 7 boys playing cricket for the high school they will be attending next year.   This is only acceptable if these matches do NOT interfere with our academic programme.  No boy may leave school early to go and play a match for another school.

Arts Festival

Good results were achieved this past week.  Congratulations to Sibusiso Skhosana 5S 85%,  Kgotatso Moukangwe 86%; Faruk Ayodele 6K (Dramatic Prose) 89%;  Njabulo Vilakazi 6K (Dramatic Poetry) 85%; Daison Ngwenya  6K 87%;  Sicelo Malibe 4L 87%;  Annabelle Davel 4L 88%;  Nuhaa Saloojee 4J 89%; Syed Masood 4J 89%, Kieran Ponnen 7B 89%; Daniel Range 7S 85% and Londeka Mbokane 7C 86%.

We are busy planning and collecting for next year and ask that if you have any empty 2l ice-cream containers, small, rectangular margarine tubs or old magazines (child appropriate) lying around that you declutter and send them to school.  We will make good use of them for sure.

Please complete the reply slip attached below and return to school by Tuesday 29^th August – your child’s safety depends on it.

Yours sincerely

Mrs L J  Bannatyne

Principal

 

In the event of me not being able to fetch my child immediately if it becomes necessary for RCS to evacuate the school or if it is not possible for my child to get safely home because of road closures, strikes or protest marches I give the school consent to contact any of the following people who will collect my child and take them off the school property to their own home until I am able to fetch him/her from there.  Please PRINT clearly.

Name of your own child                                                                                                                Grade

Mother’s name and contact number

Father’s name and contact number

 

	Contact One	Contact Two	Contact Three
Full names of the adult the school may contact
Relationship between myself and the person mentioned above
Address
Cell Phone Number
Other contact telephone number

Signed                                                                                                                                   Date

 

Robert Carruthers School

^17th August 2017

Dear Parents

So much has happened in our country in this Women’s Day month that flies in the face of what the commemorative day is all about that we should all give thought to how we are raising our sons and daughters.  Sad, but many young girls still find a ‘possessive and jealous’ boyfriend ‘flattering’ and many of our boys are taught, overtly  or covertly, that it is not ‘macho’ or manly to display any form of weakness or kindness.  In my opinion we had little to celebrate in this regard this year other than revering those brave 1956 woman.  But, I hope you all enjoyed the day none-the-less.

The Grade 1s have had an exciting time since I last wrote.  On Thursday 10^th August the Legacy Ambulance paid them a visit and on Friday the 11^th they visited the Police Station.  We are pleased to announce that none of our children or staff we required to ‘stay’ at the police station.  One of our little tots asked the policeman whether they sell the prisoners and whether the prisoners are fed KFC over weekends.   Another asked the ambulance driver whether he could fix a broken heart.  Let’s hope not hers.

We were proud to get positive feedback from the Willem Prinsloo Museum which was visited by our Gr 3s yesterday.  Not only did the children find the visit interesting but the staff of the museum complimented them all on their excellent behaviour and for being such good ambassadors for RCS.  High praise indeed.

We are busy working through all the paperwork received for Enrolment 2018.  It is a long and arduous job and we ask that applicants be patient.  You will be the first to know once we have finalised everything and phoning the front office repeatedly will not make the process happen any faster.  This year we have to work through 628 forms for 145 seats available.

Sport (since the last newsletter)

Cricket – against Panorama – the U/9 beat them by 52 runs, U/11s beat Panorama by 80 runs.  Shakeel Gani 4L made 114 runs.  Well done to him.

The U/9s lost to Kragbron and the U/13s beat Duvha Park by 9 wickets.

Congratulations to Siyabonga Msipha 5G who has made it through the first round of cricket trials and will be competing in the next round at Klipfontein this Friday.  We all wish him well.

Hockey – at the Taalfees Tournament our U/10 and U/13 girls and our U/11, U/12 and U/13 boys all came away as winners.

Against Curro our girls had mixed results.  The U/10s beat them 5-1, the U/11s lost 0-1 and the U/13s won 3-1.  Our mini players also had mixed results.  The U/9s won 5-1, the U/8s drew 1-1 and the U/7s drew 2-2.

Against Witbank Christian Academy our U/11 and 12 boys drew 0-0.

All our boy teams beat Klipfontein – the U/10s – 7-0, the U/11s – 1-0, the U/12s -3-0 and the U/13 – 1-0.

Tennis – our boys won and our girls lost against Kragbron.

A successful sporting two weeks overall.  Well done to all players, coaches and convenors – it really is good to bring home winning results.

Arts Festival – well done to the following children on their excellent results in this competition.

Nathan Wray 7B 83%; Philisiwe Skosana 7Y 90%; Curstan Roestoff 7B 90%; Kiran Ponnen 7B 90%;

Sibusiso Skhosana 5S 86%; Wanga Ndou 5T 84%; Lamees Ayob 5G 88%

Dates to remember

25^th August – the Gr 4 Cultural Day.

30^th and 31^st August.  Our Pre-School concert in the school hall.  There are still some tickets available at R40 each.

5^th September – Gr 1s visit the Pretoria Zoo.

6^th September – official photograph day.  The package which includes the individual and class photo costs R110.  Team photographs are R40.

7^th September – the Grade 7 Entrepreneurs’ Day.  It was necessary to postpone this day due to clashes on the term planner.

12^th September – Gr 2s visit Pienaar’s Dam.

And…….. excitement of all excitement.

28^th September – THE COLOUR FESTIVAL with sooooooo much on offer.  Entry fee R130 per child. 

Yours sincerely

Mrs L J  Bannatyne

Principal

 

 

Robert Carruthers School

^3rd August 2017

Dear Parents

What a lovely day we had this past Friday.  Thanks to all who supported our most pleasant 67 Minutes for Mandela.  The Pre-School children and the Gr 4s combined their efforts and took Care Packets to the Children’s Ward at Witbank Hospital; the Gr 1s made Care Packages for Victim Support; the Gr 2s took socks filled with sweets to the Police Station which charmed them all; Gr 3s delighted Potterbakker’s House with Care Packages for those poor children who have been removed from their families and are now living there; the Gr 5s made soup for and donated lots of vegetables to Bambanani Orphanage, Gr 6s ran a wonderful ‘pay it forward’ project for the RCS children, the Gr 7s went out and picked up litter in the streets and the Leaders and Mrs Cilliers’ Singing Group went to the Moth Cottages and treated the senior citizens by massaging their hands and feet, chatting and singing to them.  All in all a wonderful morning where probably the ‘givers’ got as much out of it as the people they were giving to.

On the subject of litter.  A personal word of thanks to the many parents who drop their litter on our pavements.  We know it’s you because first thing every morning we clean up our pavements and then once the bell rings and there are no longer people parked on our pavements we have to do it all over again.  Really?  Let’s develop a pride in our school and surrounds.

Then last night we had another opportunity to enjoy the calibre and friendliness of many of our parents and children.  What a good vibe there was here and how delighted most of you looked as you were going through your child’s books.  I hope you noticed the sense of pride s/he felt as you were looking at their work.  Of course there were one or two children who were in a bit of trouble with mom or dad for not doing their best of what was expected of them.  In such cases we know that if attitudes change immediately, it should not have a negative effect on the end-of-the-year results or progress to the next grade.

Sport

Hockey – our U/13 boys and girls played in a tournament at Middelburg Primary this past Saturday.  The girls ended 2^nd overall and the boys 4^th.

On Tuesday the girls played against Taalfees – U/10 and U/13 won their matches and U/11 and U/12 were not that lucky.

Yesterday our boys played against St Thomas – the U/11s won 4-0 and U/13s won 2-0.

There seems to be some confusion with the Colour Fest Forms.  This year the Form given to your child with his/her name on has to be returned to the school with R130 which is the entrance fee to the Festival and which allows your child the goodies listed on the form.  That form will then also be put in a lucky draw and the name pulled out will win R500 cash prize.  We will notify parents if their child wins the money so you can decide how it is to be spent.

Please note that if your child arrives late in the morning s/he will have his/her name entered into the ‘Late Register’ which is frequently asked for by the Education Department.  Pre-School children who are late MUST come to the main school reception office and will be escorted from there to the Pre-School block.  They will not open the gate for anyone in the mornings in the safety of your child.

We celebrate Woman’s Day next Wednesday (9^th August) and wish all our grans, moms, aunts, teachers a happy day off reflecting on all your achievements.  School will close at the normal time on Tuesday afternoon.  As I have a family commitment and will not be at school on the Thursday and Friday there will not be a newsletter next week.   Mrs Loots, our deputy will be here should you have any problems.

Our week started off in a most worrying fashion.  At just before 20h00 on Monday evening I got a message from one of our staff members saying one of our Foundation Phase children was ‘missing’ and that the parents were at the police station opening a missing person case.  That is probably the most frightening message I have ever received in my tenure as principal.  I immediately posted the details of the child on our staff WhatsApp group and was told that the child had been at hockey until 15:00.  This sadly turned out to be incorrect information because this child is called by a different name at home to what is on his birth certificate (the official name we use at school) so the coaches mixed him up with another child with the same name but in a lower grade.  Once we established who the child was, we realised that he had in fact been at cricket practice which ended at 16:00.  All these messages were flying back and forth whilst I tried, unsuccessfully, to get hold of the gentleman who lives on our school grounds to ask him to check every room at the school to ensure the child had not been inadvertently locked inside one of them.  In the meantime many, many of our staff members offered to come to the school to assist with the search.  I phoned Secure Access and asked them to go to the school immediately to assist with checking of classrooms but also to ensure that our staff leaving their homes from all over eMalahleni had some security.  This school is very dark and scary at night when no-one is here.

As I was in my pyjamas and had to change (as were many of my colleagues) and live out of town, I was one of the last people to arrive at school where I was met by the father of the child, who was understandably in a complete state, Secure Access, NINE staff members (some with husbands), friends of the family of the ‘missing’ child and the lady who had originally alerted us to the problem.  At the other side of town two other staff members were assisting the mother of the ‘missing’ child with the search and going to the police station.

I had not been at school longer than 7 or 8 minutes when the message came through that the child had been found.  Relief all around.  Apparently, when his ‘lift’ didn’t arrive he had walked with an older child whose name he didn’t know to Witbank High.  Unfortunately, the parent of this ‘new friend’ was in a meeting so could not immediately attend to the problem of getting the child home.  After investigation that night and the following day we found:-

1. The person who was supposed to fetch the child was over an hour late!!!!!  How many times do we have to discuss this, moms and dads?  IT IS NOT SAFE FOR YOU TO LEAVE YOUR CHILD ON OUR PAVEMENT AFTER HOURS – ALL children MUST be collected on time!!!!!!
2. The child concerned DID NOT have his Personal Detail Form in his suitcase (as required by our Code of Conduct) and did not know either of his parents’ phone numbers.
3. On a number of occasions this child has not been picked up on time but in those instances the child asked a staff member, who stays near his home, to give him a lift home.   That staff member was at school on that afternoon until after 17:00 so the child could have gone to her.

Moms and dads – this could have turned out really badly and although we are all relieved that it didn’t, I am left wondering how many times I need to tell you to collect your children on time or to make appropriate transport arrangements.  Do we have to wait for a tragedy before some of you take me seriously?  Your children are your responsibility half an hour after their last official school activity and even that ‘window’ is too long unless in the case of emergency.  Another thing, we beg and plead about, is for you to notify us of any change of contact details yet many, many people still do not do that.  We need to be able to get hold of you immediately at all times of the day and night and your child needs to have evidence of where s/he lives and your contact details on him/her at all times – ergo The Personal Detail Form.

Today I ask that you take out your child’s Personal Detail Form and check the information on it.  If your contact details are wrong you need to urgently update the form AND notify us of the changes by tomorrow morning.  You also need to talk to your child about going off with someone else.   In the case of a real missing person, time is of an essence so you need to know where your child is supposed to be all the times and at what time s/he is picked up.  By the time we realised that this child may have been missing, almost four hours had gone by – plenty of time for someone with ill intent to be almost across the South African border.  Come on everyone; PLEASE do everything in your power to keep your own children safe.  Please also understand just how traumatic this incident was for our staff.  We care about the children in our care and would HATE to see something horrible happen to any of them.  It is really not a pleasant experience coming back to school on a cold winter’s night to search for a child.

We have reminded your child of what our Code of Conduct requires them to do if they miss their transport or if they are not collected on time.  They are IMMEDIATELY to report to our front office if it is still open.  If it is after 15:00 they are to find an RCS staff member on the property and tell them.  Our staff all knows what to do in such instances.

Furthermore, in the safety of all, we will, from now onwards take any child not collected on time to the Police station in Louise St where they can sit and wait for you.  We are now desperate and don’t know what more to do for you to take responsibility for collecting your child ON TIME.

Yours sincerely

Mrs L J  Bannatyne

Principal

Please complete this reply slip and send it back to school by 8^th August.

I, _____________________________ parent of ____________________________ in Grade _______

have read the newsletter dated 3^rd August and I understand that it is my responsibility to ensure that my child is collected promptly from school.  I also understand that in the interests of my child’s safety I have to ensure that my contact details are always up-to-date on my child’s Personal Detail Form and at the school and that the Personal Detail Form is always in my child’s school bag.

I also understand that if my child is not collected on time s/he will be taken to the Police Station in Louise Street to wait for me.

Signed _________________________________  Dated ___________________

 

Robert Carruthers School

^30th June 2017

Dear Parents

Wasn’t it just the other day that I wished you all a happy Easter holiday?  The old adage ‘time flies’ or as the ancient Romans would have said tempus fugit is certainly proving true right now.  Before we know it we will be closing for the December break.

This past term probably flew past so quickly because it was such a busy one.  We achieved a great deal both in and outside the classroom and by and large the majority of children in our care have grown, advanced academically and emotionally and have mastered the skills taught.  We are proud of them and their achievements.

A big thank you to all the parents/grandparents/guardians (reading mommies and others) who have helped us so diligently and effectively this term.  Your efforts certainly make a big difference in the lives of the children who need it.  We hope you have a wonderful three week break, spent with family, friends and loved ones just recharging batteries and making the most of the stress-free days.

Sport

Hockey – we hope all players attending the Hockey Clinic at Curro from 17 – 19 July enjoy the experience and learn a great deal.

Also during these holidays our players who made the provincial sides will be playing tournaments at various venues around the country.  The U/12A boys (Ashton Mathebula, Deangelo Campbell accompanied by Mrs G Basson) and our U/12 B team (Piece Ntuli, Dante Marrie, Monde Sibiya and Thatego Mogane) are playing in Pietermaritzburg and Krugersdorp respectively, the U/12 girl Kelello Ramoroka in Johannesburg, the U/13A girls and boys Aisha Vilakazi and Lemare Vengelsamy in Potchefstroom, the U/13B girls and boys Nomaswazi Ndimande and Nkosinathi Khumalo at the Hockey Farm, the U/14 boy Kevin Qiu in Durban.

Netball – Lelethu Goqa U/13A is playing in a provincial tournament in Johannesburg and by Mrs Nel, Ms Ruysschaert and Mr Olivier aregoing as team managers or coaches of the provincial teams.

We all join in wishing all of the above safe travels and a successful and enjoyable time.

A friendly reminder:-

1. School Fees are due on 7^th of July which is during the holiday.  Please make sure they are paid by that date.
2. A new stock of Winter Jackets has arrived which can be bought at the Office from Mrs Fourie.

A big thank you to all children, parents and teachers for their hard work and financial contribution towards the Sum-a-thon.  We managed to raise a whopping R90680.80.  Yeeha.  Well done. And well done to Mrs U Zeelie who was the moving force behind this fundraiser.  Congratulations also go to the children in 4L as their class brought in the most money and to Breeonna Amirudin who brought in the most money – R820.  All in all an excellent effort on everyone’s part.

Praise goes to Mrs S Pearson and the team of hard working teachers and children who pulled off a most delightful concert.  Well done to all involved – it was a joy to watch.

At the end of this term we bid goodbye to Mr A Snyman who has taken a transfer to another primary school in town.  We wish him every success and thank him for his many years’ service at RCS.

Two of our teachers are lucky enough to be leaving our shores during these holidays.  Mrs N Nielsen is visiting her mother in Italy and Mrs Pearson is celebrating a special wedding anniversary in Mauritius.  How can you not enjoy such trips?  But, although we are green with envy, we wish you happy and safe holidays.

Big thanks also go to our SGB and FinCom who have worked so hard this term to get the audit finalised, presented and sent off to the department.  It gives me great pleasure to announce the co-option of two new parent members onto this hardworking body.  We all join in wishing Petrus Gwambe and Ismael Cassim a successful, productive and interesting tenure as members.

Once again the biggest thanks and appreciation must go to the RCS staff.  This has not been an easy term, and certainly the last three weeks have been the most taxing, yet these men and women got the job done and by and large ended the term with a smile on their faces.  They have all really earned this holiday and I wish them all many hours of rest and relaxation as well as the opportunity to see family and friends neglected during term time.  Make the most of three weeks of idyllic bliss all of you – we make an amazing team.

Yours sincerely

Mrs L J  Bannatyne

Principal

 

Robert Carruthers School

^23rd June 2017

Dear Parents

What a busy week next week is going to be what with finishing off examinations, staging a Foundation Phase concert and wrapping up assessments and progress reports for the second term.

We all join in wishing our Muslim families Eid Mubarak for Monday and hope they have a happy feast day.  On that note the tuckshop will be closed on Monday so please ensure that if you usually send money with your child to buy lunch, please send a packed lunch on Monday instead.

Beautiful sounds and excited voices are coming from the hall these days.  Concerts are always such exciting affairs.  Please, mom and dad, ensure you buy tickets in advance because there will be very few available for sale on the night and we will not be permitting anyone without a ticket into our hall area.  Instead of being disappointed, make a plan and buy tickets in advance at R40 each from Mrs H Fourie in the financial office.  Curtains open at 18h00 (with or without you and your child) and we expect to be finished by 19h30.  All children are in the finale so no child will be permitted to leave before the final curtain.

The donations received for those who suffered such devastating losses at the hands of the Garden Route fire are coming in well – thanks to everyone who has made the effort and donated.   We will ensure that all donations make it to the right place and assist the victims in need.

On Monday, 26^th June, the Department of Health is inoculating all Pre-School children against measles if parents have signed the consent form and if the child has not already had the inoculation injection.  Please ensure that you return the signed form if you want your child to make use of this service and that you send your child’s Clinic Card to school on the day so that it can be stamped and updated.

There are still a number of hockey players who have not yet paid for the Curro Clinic in the holidays – please ensure that this payment (R420) is paid before the end of the term if you want your child to attend.

Once we get back to school for the third term, there will only be one week left for parents wishing to complete an Enrolment 2018 Enquiry form as we close this process on the 31^st July.  Please spread the word as we will not be accepting late applications.

Next Friday we break up at 11:00.  Please make sure your child is collected on time.  Reports will be given to the children at the end of the day on Friday 30th June.

As is customary we will end the term with a Cake and Candy next Friday.  Please support us by donating the following items per grade and if you are able to assist with the sorting and selling on the day, please be at school by 7h45.  We thank you for your generosity in advance.

Grades R – 2            Sweets

Grades 3 – 6            Iced Cup cakes

Grade 7s                   Popcorn and Biscuits

Enjoy the last week of the term – the last examination will be written on Monday so thereafter children can enjoy their afternoons by doing something they prefer over studying.

Yours sincerely

Mrs L J  Bannatyne

Principal

 

Robert Carruthers School

^13th June 2017

Dear Parents

It is with a great deal of sadness that I inform you all that as a school community we have experienced two deaths very close to home since my last letter.  In the early hours of Saturday morning, our Gr 2 Head and Teacher, Mrs I Potgieter’s husband, Riaan, was killed in a motorcar accident.  He was 29 and is survived by Mrs Potgieter and her two young daughters.  Our thoughts and prayers are with her and her family at this very difficult time.

Then, yesterday we got the sad news that Mr Gawie Wessels, our school factotum for 8 years passed away.  He was 72 and left us at the end of 2016 due to ill health.  He is survived by 1 son, 3 daughters and 9 grandchildren and will be greatly missed by our staff.  His friendly face is imprinted in our minds and we all join in wishing his family strength at this sad time.

Just a reminder to you all about our collection for those poor people who were left destitute by the fires on the Garden Route.  Box (or put in a packet) all those things you can spare because some people are literally left only with the clothes on their back.  Many did not have insurance policies and have to start again, from scratch.   There is also the option of making a monetary contribution but if you go that route you should be very careful.  Sadly, there are many fraudsters out there who are ‘cashing’ in on other people’s tragedies.  I chose the Gift of the Givers and the Knysna Animal Welfare Society – both genuine and hard working groups assisting with relief for those affected by the fires.

Please don’t leave booking your tickets for the Foundation Phase Concert until the last minute.  Every child on stage deserves to have someone looking at just him/her on at least one night.  Tickets can be bought from our administrative offices at R40 each.   The children and their teachers are practising hard at the moment and excitement levels are high.  Every child is expected to participate on Friday 23^rd June, which is the dress rehearsal and on all three nights, 27^th – 29^th June.  Children are expected to be at school by 17h30 for the evening performances as the curtains open at 18h00.  The concert will finish by 19h30 so it will not be a late night for anyone.  We look forward to seeing you all there, as an appreciative audience.

Sport

Soccer – our Open Team played in a tournament at the Lynnville Stadium this past Saturday but was knocked out in the semi-finals.  Well played boys and well done Mr Tau.  Soccer Interhouse matches were played yesterday.  Thanks to all participants and coaches concerned.  Congratulations to the Cheetahs who came out first, followed by the Leopards, Tigers and Panthers.

Netball – U/13A girls, who played in Mpumalanga finals in Nelspruit this past Friday and Saturday, ended 5^th in the province.  Well done to Ms L Maritz and her team – we are proud of this outcome.  Congratulations to Mr G Olivier who organised the tournament and thanks to Mrs J Nel who umpired and accompanied our girls for the weekend and to Ms R Korff who drove the school bus and got everyone there and back safely.

Hockey – if you have not yet paid the R420 for your child to attend the Hockey Clinic in the July holidays please do so as soon as possible.

There is a lot of lost property in Aunty Daisy’s office.  Please, please send your child there before assuming any item has been stolen.  Or, you can come and look yourself, on a Monday afternoon.  Children need to be taught to take responsibility for their own belongings and you need to ensure that all your child’s belongings are clearly marked with your child’s name to avoid items going missing.

Please do not forget that Friday is Youth Day so school will close at midday on Thursday, 15^th June.  Please make the appropriate transport arrangements and if you are going away for the long weekend travel safely.  In order to accommodate the number of staff members who want to attend Mrs Potgieter’s husband’s funeral which is being held at 10 o’clock on Thursday morning, our children from Gr 1 – 6 will have a YOUTH DAY PICNIC on our big field. At all times they will be supervised by the teachers and staff who remain behind.  Please pack a picnic basket with treats and something to drink and a picnic blanket so that your child can enjoy the morning with his/her friends.

The Gr 7s will NOT be picnicking as they start their mid-year examinations tomorrow (English) and write TWO papers on Thursday – Afrikaans Paper 2 and Geography.

Enjoy your long weekend.

Yours sincerely

 

Mrs L J  Bannatyne

Principal

Robert Carruthers School

^8th June 2017

What a wonderful turnout at the AGM last night.  Thanks so much to the 236 parents who were here – it was good to spend some of the evening with you.  Thanks also to our auditors Pricewaterhouse Coopers who presented the audit and who informed all parents that once again RCS received an unqualified audit – in other words a clean audit.   Thanks to our own financial staff and SGB FinCom for the meticulous and honest work they do in this regard.  We handle public monies and as such need to be extra vigilant with financial controls and policies.  A few questions were raised at the meeting last night that had nothing to do with the purpose of the meeting.  With that in mind, it may be relevant for me to let you all know the reasons for the various meetings we have over the year so you can see what each is about and ensure you are at the relevant meeting if you have specific concerns.

The first parent meeting of the year is always held on the first school day and only parents of children attending the school for the first time are invited to that.  It is an introductory and orientation meeting.

The first general meeting of the year is held within the first two weeks of the new term.  The purpose of this meeting is to give all parents an opportunity to meet their child’s new teacher, to hear what the academic, extramural and grade dos and don’ts are and to orientate yourself and your child regarding the requirements of the academic year.

In the first term we hold a special meeting for all Gr 7 children and their parents.  At that meeting we discuss the enrolment of their child into a high school for the following year and we introduce the parents to a number of the principals or staff of local high schools.

Depending on timeframes and needs we may or may not have, a general parents’ meeting on the second last evening of the first term where we issue reports and in the second or third term we have a Parent/Child Conference where all parents get the opportunity to sit with their child and go through the child’s books.

Sometimes it is necessary for us to invite specific parents to meetings dealing with discipline or poor academic performance on the part of their child and it would be in every invited parents best interest to attend such a meeting as it is informative and assists the parents to assist their own child.

In the last term we always hold our School Fee/Budget Meeting.  At this meeting the SGB presents the parents with the budget for the following year which, of course, includes a determination on what the school fees will be.  Also presented are all relevant resolutions, expenditure, income, staffing costs, school fee exemptions and bad debts.  There the SGB is available to answer any question relating to the documentation presented.  It is at this meeting that the budget and school fees for the following year are approved by the parents who are there.  No quorum is needed for a Budget/School Fee meeting.

In the second term of every year the school holds its Annual General Meeting (AGM).  The sole purpose of this meeting is for our school’s EXTERNAL AUDITORS to present the audit to the parent body as required by law.  At that meeting the previous year’s SGB Chairperson is required to present a report on the SGB’s previous year’s activities and accomplishments.  The principal of the school does the same; reports back to parents on the academic and extramural programme and any other matter that pertains to the running of the school.  At this meeting parents are entitled to ask questions relating to the financial statements presented and the SGB/Principal reports.

From time to time we hold meetings relating to specific topics – uniforms, discipline, language, curriculum etc but in such instances we will state the purpose of the meeting so you can decide whether or not the meeting concerns you.

I hope this is of help to you all and clears up any misunderstandings relating to what is and isn’t pertinent in each meeting.  At no time do we wish to not answer questions but we also need to ensure that the business of the day, for which we called the meeting, is covered.

Sport

7s Rugby at Hertzog last Friday was enjoyed by all.  Our team won two matches and lost two.

Soccer – our U/13 boys are playing in a Soccer Tournament at Lynnville Stadium on Saturday.  Please support them if you are able to.

Hockey – please remember to return slips and make payments for the Hockey Clinic/Workshop at Curro Bankenveld during the July holidays.  All hockey teams are required to attend.

Netball – we all join in wishing Ms L Maritz and her U/13A girls clear heads and good passing skills when they compete in the Provincial  Championships in Nelspruit this coming weekend.

Thanks so much to all parents and children who have supported our Sum-a-thon; so far we have raised R71 204-20.  Wow!  What stars you all are.  Please remember that ALL forms must be returned even if they are empty.

Not to end on a negative note but just a friendly reminder that exams start on 14^th June for our Grade 7s and 19^th June for Grades 4 – 6 and that exams actually mean studying and preparing.  Just saying.

Yours sincerely

 

Mrs L J  Bannatyne

Principal

 

Robert Carruthers School

^1st June 2017

Dear Parents

Although Ramadan started this past Saturday we all join in wishing our Muslim families Ramadan Mubarak.  Hope all goes well over your fast.

Although we are aware of various pickets and protests and understand that in some cases this sort of action can lead to children arriving late, it cannot be used as an excuse for tardiness every day or two or three times a week.  Come on parents – it is your duty to ensure that your child is able to abide by the Code of Conduct and your child arriving late for school is an infringement of that code.  Time to pull up your socks and make a transport plan that gets your child to school on time EVERY day.

Sports News

Netball – we all join in wishing our U/13A who participated at Regional Championships last weekend and are now going to the Mpumalanga Championships in Nelspruit next weekend.  Hope all goes well girls and coaches.

Rugby – it was not a good rugby week.  RCS lost all their matches against Middleburg Primary and soccer didn’t fare any better.

Soccer yesterday against Duvha Park – U/10 lost, U/11 lost U/12 drew 2-2 and U/13 lost.

Danone Cup – Mr Tau and his team were really unlucky this past Saturday.  I’m not one to believe in luck but everything was in place for them to win the day.  They all slept at school on the Friday night to build the ‘gees’ and then managed to hold their own in all their games as is demonstrated by the fact that every game they played ended in penalty playoffs.  Sadly, they lost their last game that way and in so doing their chances of going further.  What a horrible way to be booted out of the running.  We all feel your pain but none-the-less are proud that you got as far as you did.

Thanks to all coaches, players and parents who supported the Mini Festival on Saturday 27^th May at CR Swart.  It was a fun morning and all our children played well.

This has not been much of a news-generating week so I end with a reminder of tickets being on sale at the Admin office at R40-00 each for our Foundation Phase Pantomime for Tuesday 27^th, Wednesday 28^th and Thursday 29^th June.  And remind you all that we are looking forward to seeing you at our AGM on Wednesday 7^th June at 18h00.  See agenda on the back of this letter.

Yours sincerely

 

Mrs L J  Bannatyne

Principal

 

ROBERT CARRUTHERS SCHOOL

Annual General Meeting – Wednesday 7 June 2017

Agenda

1. Safety and Security
2. Welcome and Attendance Registers
3. Reading and Approval of the 2016 AGM Minutes
4. Audit: PWC Auditors

 

5. Principal’s report
6. SGB Chairman’s report

Thank you and invite to tea in the staffroom

Robert Carruthers School

^25th May 2017

Dear Parents

Depending on how communicative your child is, you may or may not have heard about our recent ‘evacuation’ practices.  Although we are not expecting to have to use any of our plans, common sense dictates that in order for them to be effective they have to be practised from time-to-time, by the children at the school.  Last term we practised our ‘Take Cover’ (children and teachers lock themselves in the classroom, close all the windows and get under the desks).  This plan would be implemented in the unlikely event of a person/people coming onto the school property with ill intentions.  In case of a fire all children are taught to evacuate to their demarcated spot – the big field, or a spot on the school grounds furthest away from the buildings but closest to their classroom.

In the event of political unrest we have two plans in place.  The first is put into operation should we get prior warning of any such problem.  We will then evacuate the children to ‘exit’ points depending on the transport they use to get home.  Children who are collected by parents will evacuate through the big motor gate in Pierneef Ave; those going home by bus or taxi will be evacuated via the two gates in Alexander Avenue.  PLEASE KEEP THE GATE AT THE FRONT OFFICE CLEAR FOR AN EMERGENCY EXIT.  We will assess the situation before we permit any child to walk home and if we think there is the chance of any danger to the child, the parent will be phoned to collect them from the school at our front offices.

In the event of unannounced political unrest ALL children from Gr 1 – 7 will be evacuated to our school hall, Media Centre and Administrative quad.  The Pre-School children with older siblings will be brought to the main school building for collection with the sibling.  Children without siblings will remain at the Pre-School and will be evacuated from there – Alexander Str gate.  Parents will then be sent a WhatsApp by the teacher and will be required to collect the child or mobilise their own child’s public transport service provider.

This week we sorted all the children out into their ‘mode of transport’ groups and we know exactly who travels with whom.  In 2010 When we had teacher strikes and had to evacuate, the biggest problem we faced was parents panicking and as such spreading panic.  Panicking crowds are always more dangerous than any striker.  Please trust us and do as expected of you without drama and causing confusion but please also ensure that WE HAVE YOUR CORRECT CONTACT DETAILS AT ALL TIMES.

More horrifying to me was that on the day we sorted the children, we realised how many of our children go home each day ON DANGEROUSLY OVERCROWDED TAXIS.  I have been told that children are sometimes threatened by the taxi driver and told NOT to tell their parents about the number of children on their ride.  Please, please, please investigate this yourself and if you are unable to get to the bottom of how safe your child’s taxi is, you can phone the school and we will tell you.  Yesterday afternoon I counted 22 children piling into a taxi!!!!  Let’s not forget what happened a few weeks ago outside Bronkhorstspruit.

At the same time yesterday, I chased the hawkers plying their trade on our pavement.  I have appealed to you all to speak to your children about NOT supporting these vendors.  Number one, you have no idea exactly what it is your child is being sold and number two, the crowds around these tables often cause children to miss their transport or to be pushed onto the road.

Please also speak to your children about picking up ‘things’ from the pavements and putting them in their mouths.  This is extremely dangerous and you need to ensure that your child gets the message.  We do it from our side – you need to reinforce the point at home.

Sadly, we will be postponing our Parent/Child Conference scheduled on the Term Planner for Monday 29^th May.  We will not have it on that day but will notify you of the new date once we have it set.

Sport

Rugby at Kanonkop yesterday.  U/9, U/10 and U/11 lost their matches.

Netball – our two B teams were knocked out of the Regional Finals this past Saturday.  The A teams compete this Saturday so we are pinning our hopes on success from them.

Soccer – against Curro yesterday – U/10 drew 1-1; U/11 won 1-0; U/13 won 2-0.  If you are able to support our Danone Cup combined U/11&12 players on Saturday please do so.  Venue – Themba Senamela Stadium, Middleburg at 10h00.

Hockey – Curro Bankenveld is hosting a clinic from 17-19 July.  The clinic will be hosted by Nedstar Hockey under the leadership of Omari Pienaar (S.A. under 21)  It will focus on individual skills and team tactics in the morning and matches and set pieces will be played in the afternoons.  The cost is R420-00 per player.  Hockey teams from U/10 to U/13 boys and girls will be required to attend this clinic.  Additional information will be given to all players.

Our ‘babies’ are playing in a Mini Day Festival at CR Swart on Saturday.  Buses will be going through to Middelburg from RCS.  If your child is involved you will receive a circular and a programme so you know all the details.

Children playing in any RCS sporting team are provided with a snack and a bottle of water before a game by the SGB.

Please do not forget to support our Sum-a-thon – we badly need to keep our cash flow healthy in these hard times and we cannot do it without your help.

Whilst on the subject of funds – a friendly reminder; school fees are due by the 7^th of every month – even those that fall in the school holidays.  7^th July is in the holidays so please ensure you make a plan to pay prior to that or set up a debit order.  Don’t forget, for your convenience, we have a Card Machine at school now making paying so much easier.

After you have supported the Sum-a-thon, if you still have spare cash or are feeling charitable please don’t forget to support Takkie Tax on Friday.

Yours sincerely

Mrs L J  Bannatyne

Principal

Robert Carruthers School

^11th May 2017

Dear Parents

What a wonderful sight our Gr 7 recycling projects are.  Congratulations to Mrs C Botes and her EMS students for their ingenuity, creativity and entrepreneurial approach in turning ‘junk’ into useable and practical items.  We could all learn from them and in so doing take a step towards saving our planet.  Hopefully some of these projects will be on display with the Science Expo projects later in the year.

Our FinCom and auditors are finalising our annual audit which will be presented to the full SGB for ratification later this month.  They will be presenting it to you all on Wednesday 7^th June at our AGM.  Please make every effort to attend so that you can see first-hand that our SGB uses your school fees effectively and honestly.  I will be presenting ‘a-new-and-improved-slide-show’ which will be a lot shorter than it’s been in the past but which will give you a good photographic oversight of RCS in 2016.  We look forward to seeing you all on that night.

Sport

Netball – we are all very proud of Lelethu Goqa U/13 who has been selected for the Mpumalanga Team.  Congratulations and our best wishes for a successful season go to her.

Soccer – our teams did well against St Thomas earlier this week – U/10 – 3-1; U/11 3-1; U/12 5-1; U/13 2-1 and our mini teams were just as successful against Cambridge yesterday –  U/7 2-1, U/8 2-0, U/9 3-3.  Well done boys – we hope you are able to keep it up for the rest of the season.

Our U/12 boys, playing for the Danone Cup provided supporters with an exciting afternoon of soccer yesterday when they won against Victor Khanye Primary 2-0; Buhlebuzile Primary School 1-0 and Dumelani Primary School 2-0.  Our vociferous and animated group of parent supporters were amazing with their encouragement from the side-line and played a big role in these victories.  We hope for an even bigger supporter group when they play the next round in Middelburg on 27^th May.  Boys, we are all behind you and hope you and Mr Tau will realise your dream of winning and going off to New York. Well done!

Thanks to all involved in the enjoyable Mini Day at Kragbron last Saturday at the netball and Pumaki rugby.  The support and efforts of the players and coaches is greatly appreciated.

Another big appeal – please support sum-a-thon.  It’s only R100 per child but will make a big difference to the value we are able to add to your child’s schooling.  Please, please, please.

You are all no doubt aware that there has been an outbreak of measles in Gauteng, which originated from a family who had NOT had their child immunised against this disease.   Please, parents – you need to understand that as this is a government school we MAY NOT admit any child who is not up-to-date with his/her inoculations as we have a duty to protect all children at the school from infection.  There are still some of our Gr 1 children who have not yet had their required 6 year-old injections.  If this applies to your child please get it done ASAP.  In order to make sure that every child is up-to-date with this injection, we ask that EVERY parent of a Gr 1 child send us a certified copy of their child’s latest Clinic Card records before the end of May.

Dates to Remember and Diarise

All re-registration forms need to be returned to school by 12^th May if you wish to secure a seat for your child in 2018.  Don’t delay and then cry if you have to home school your child next year.

Our junior choir will be  singing at Hertzog High School on 16^th May.  Please support them if your child is involved.

Sadly, we have decided to postpone our Mini Netball and Pumaki Rugby Festival originally planned for this coming Saturday.  The weather for the day looks abysmal with 100% rain predicted for the entire day accompanied by freezing cold winds.  We do not want to take the chance of ordering tuckshop and catering stock and having it all go to waste, so we have made arrangements for these games to be played on Thursday 18^th May at 13:00.  We do hope you will be able to join us.  Please ensure that you do not drop your child at school on Saturday 13^th May as there will be no-one here.

AGM – 7^th June.

Please remember that June examinations are coming up.  Look out for the revised examination timetable as the Department has made some changes you need to be aware of.

Please help us spread the word about the enrolment 2018 enquiry period running from 2^nd May to 31^st July.  Don’t delay; if you know of anyone who wishes to have their child considered for placement in 2018, get them to come to the school as soon as possible to complete the required paperwork.  They can also download forms from our school’s web page rcschool.co.za

We welcome Ms J Alfonso and Ms S Marsay to RCS.  Both are student teachers enrolled at universities and as part of their course they are required to complete a term’s teaching practical at a school.  We hope their time here is educational, productive, interesting and enjoyable.

Miss M Snyman graduated yesterday having completed her honours degree.  We are all most proud of this accomplishment.

There is only one more day for children to buy goodies for Mothers’ Day and please do not forget the R5 Civvies or Fancy Dress Day and Raffle tomorrow.  As per our normal tradition, we encourage all at RCS to honour their mothers tomorrow by wearing a coloured flower if their mom is still alive and a white one if she has passed on.  We also all join in wishing all our moms (and those doing the job of moms) a happy day on Sunday – hopefully being suitably spoiled by your children.

Lastly, we wish our Muslim families a blessed evening this evening when they commemorate Shabe Baraat Mubarak.

Yours sincerely

Mrs L J  Bannatyne

Principal

Robert Carruthers School

^5th May 2017

Dear Parents

Brace yourselves – as of next week we are all going to have to get used to a five-day week again.  Getting back to reality is not easy but, sadly, there always comes a time for the party to be over.  Enjoy normality folks – we have eight weeks left in this term with only one disruptive week.

As you already know, we opened for 2018 Enrolment Enquiries on the 2^nd May and will continue with the process until July 31 at 14h00.  Those who are interested, or who know someone who is interested in applying at RCS for 2018, will save themselves a great deal of trouble and expense if they arrive with ALL the required certified documentation.  No form will be accepted without it, no matter what your story is, and that includes the unabridged birth certificate AND the Clinic Card showing that your child’s immunisation vaccines are up-to-date.  Please note:  the Enrolment Enquiry forms can be downloaded from our web page www.rcschool.co.za.

Our own children from Gr 1 to Gr 6 are getting a Re-registration Form today which has to be returned completed to school by no later than 12^th May 2017.  The Pre-School children will get the same form on Monday 8^th May.  However, if there is documentation missing from your child’s file you will receive a letter in place of the Re-registration Form asking you to send the required documentation to school before your child can be re-registered.  Pre-School parents please take this seriously!  We will not automatically enrol your child for 2018 and we certainly will not do it if your documentation is not up-to-date.

It has become necessary to change the dates of our Foundation Phase pantomime.  Please take note that the new dates are 27^th, 28^th and 29^th June and tickets will be on sale as of 29^th May at our administrative offices.

In order to ensure that our children are given the opportunity to spoil their moms on Mothers’ Day (14^th May) we will be selling goodies to spoil mom as of Monday.  We will also have a raffle and a Fancy Dress Competition – theme – oumas and oupas.  In each phase the lucky winner will have their portrait taken and printed.  The raffle tickets are R3 each, and R5 enables children to come to school dressed in the theme for the fancy dress or to just simply wear civvies.

Sport

Netball – on 1^st May our girls played trials in Standerton.  Congratulations to  Lelethu Goqa U/13 and Aisha Vilakazi U/13 who were chosen for the practice squad and as such will be playing in the final round of trials.

Against Kanonkop – U/10A 5-4; U/10B 2-10; U/11A 4-5; U/11A 4-5; U/11B 7-4; U12A 12-6; U12B6-2; U/13A 12-11; U/13B 7-10.

Two of our coaches obtained Mpumalanga School’s Netball Provincial Umpire Grading.  We are proud of Mrs J Nel and Mrs L Jordaan and congratulate them on this achievement.

Soccer – against Carissa yesterday.  The results were – U/10 drew 2-2, U/11 drew 2-2, U/12 lost 4-0 and U/13 drew 2-2.  Our U/10 – U/13 teams will be participating at a Soccer Festival on 13^th May at Curro.  Please diarise this date if it involves your child and make every effort to support him.

The next U/12 Danone Cup soccer match is being played on the 10^th May.  Please give our boys support as they have their eyes New York, if they make it through all rounds.

The Mini Soccer Festival planned for Cambridge on Saturday 6^th May has been postponed to Wednesday 10^th May for our U/7 – U/9 teams.  Please support if your child is involved.

Rugby – Lindelwa Thabede has made it through to the final round of the Mpumalanga Trials – we wish him well and hope he does well enough to go all the way.  Congratulations to Ms P Smith who passed her practical grading as a rugby referee.  We all look forward to seeing her in action.

Hockey – Kevin Qui has been chosen for the U/14A Mpumalanga team.  Well done, Kevin!

Festivals – on 6^th May our Mini Netball and Pumaki Rugby teams will play at Kragbron and the week after, will play at our own school’s festival.  Murphy’s Law – every year, the only date available for our own festival is when, due to family commitments, Iam not able to attend.  Fortunately, Mrs W Loots will be here and is more than capable of deputising for me.  It’s sad because I do enjoy seeing our children in action and catching up with all of you.

At present we are experiencing two problems that we need parents to address immediately.  The first is that many, many of our FP children are losing their belongings.  Moms and dads; please clamp down on your children. They need to learn to be responsible for looking after their own belongings.  The second problem is a more serious one.  You, as parents of a school child, are OBLIGED to ensure that your child arrives at school EVERY morning on time and is collected punctually in the afternoons.  I say this often – we do not wait for your child.  When the bell rings in the mornings, classes start, with or without your child.  Similarly, we are not a baby-sitting service and have duties to do in the afternoons which do not include looking after your child.  Please make changes immediately to ensure that this tardiness ceases.

Please, please, please parents:  the Sum-a-thon (closing date is 7^th June) is our main fundraiser for this term and we need your assistance and co-operation in supporting it.  I would hate to see us resorting back to all the little fundraisers that drive you all crazy in order to meet budget.

Our social responsibility project for this term is Tekkie Tax day on the 26^th May.  If you are going to support this initiative please do it through the school – more info to follow.

Those looking for school ties are in luck – we have replenished our stock so you can now buy a tie for R80 from our administrative offices.

Yours sincerely

Mrs L J  Bannatyne

Principal

Robert Carruthers School

30^th March  2017

Dear Parents

The end of the term is a good time to reflect.  It has been a busy but successful period, both academically and on the sports field.  We have accomplished much and have managed to tick off a number of SGB projects approved when our budget was approved.  All in all, I am comfortable that we have all made the most of this first term.

Many changes were made to our academic programme – all for the better.  We have discussed, endlessly, the benefit of homework and a number of teachers have decided that it has little value so no longer prescribe it.  However, this has been done on the understanding that certain things are NOT homework but prerequisites for any person to advance academically and scholastically.  ALL children should read DAILY and the younger ones should read and be read to.  ALL children MUST know their phonics, their times tables, number bonds and these should be learned and practised until they are second nature to all children.  Knowing ones times table is just so necessary in ALL fields of life, including successful shopping, as is being able to read with understanding.  The old hackneyed saying “if you think education is expensive try ignorance” is a truism but one we should NEVER forget.

Our academic report is showing great improvements since the implementation of a more Inclusive approach to teaching methods and I am proud of how our teachers have embraced this change.  No doubt all children will benefit and that, after all, is why we are here.

From a SGB project perspective we have finalised a number of big projects:

1. The interactive white boards have been installed in all identified classrooms and are up and running.
2. We have successfully swapped over to a new administrative programme which automatically stores everything in the cloud.  Not only does it offer a far bigger range of functions but it is fast and effective.  Once the few hitches experienced with all new software are sorted out, we will be smiling.
3. The electricity in the hall has been updated and lights changed to use power-saver globes.
4. All classrooms have had film fitted to the windows so that presentations and lesson on the interactive white boards are clearer and so that no one can see into any classroom – thus increasing our security.
5. The hall curtains which look beautiful (I hope you will be impressed).
6. Replaced some of the worst sections of the roof.

Thanks to Mr C Young and our teachers for doing something with all the children in recognition of Earth Hour last week.  We spend a lot of time trying to make our children environmentally conscious and we would love you to back us in these endeavours.

From a sporting perspective we have also achieved a great deal.

Athletics

Mr P Tau, Ms J Weir, Ms A Ruysschaert and Mrs W Loots accompanied our three provincial athletes to the SA Champions in Potchefstroom last week.  Sadly, all three girls were knocked out of the competition thus were not placed but all three and their coaches learned a great deal and enjoyed the experience.

Netball

Three of our teachers have been selected as Provincial Netball officials.  Congratulations to Mr G Olivier U/16 A1; Miss J Weir U/14 A1 and Miss A Ruysschaert Manager U/12.  We are very proud of you all and hope you all have a good season.

Soccer

The second round of the Danone Soccer Tournament was played here this past Monday.  Our U/12 soccer boys played against Alex Mampana and drew 1 – 1 and then played against St Thomas and won 5 – 0, so we now represent Circuit 1 in the next round.

Rugby

Ms R Korff and Ms P Smith accompanied our U/10 Rugby boys to a rugby training programme this past weekend.  All learned a great deal and all enjoyed it.  Thanks to everyone involved.

Pre-School

Our Pre-School had a wonderful Sports Day last Friday.  Three schools, Farmyard Tots, Little Blessings and Praise Nursery School competed against our own cuties.  The day was enjoyed by all.  Thanks to the help of our teachers, student teachers and the parents who got involved.

A Matter of Great Concern

Moms, dads, guardians: we teach the children ‘when it roars come indoors’ in an attempt to keep them safe during our often violent electrical storms like the one we had last Friday.  Yet, despite our staff making every attempt possible to get all the children indoors at the end of that day some parents were very rude to the teachers because they had to come into the school to fetch their children.  At that stage all parents should NOT have been walking around in the lightning either and should just have remained in their cars for the short time it took for the storm to abate a bit.  I rode around the periphery of the school grounds and saw WAY TOO MANY children taking shelter under the trees on our pavements.  That is probably one of the most dangerous things to during a storm.  Please, parents you do need to teach your children how to keep themselves safe in many different situations – including storms.

Please do not forget that April’s school fees become due during the school holidays – 7^th April.  Our offices will be open until 11h00 on Friday 31^st March (when we close for the holidays) so if you wish to make use of our card machine you can come in before that.  If you choose to make an EFT payment (Bank Details – ABSA Bank, Witbank Branch Code 503 750, Account No: 136 015 0549) please use your child’s name and class as your reference number.

What fun we had yesterday at our Gladiator Day.  The weather was wonderful; there were a number of ‘new’ attractions and the staff and children enjoyed the thrill they provided.  Thanks to Mrs W Loots for organising such an enjoyable day; to the teachers who made up the food parcels; the RCS families who supported this fundraiser and to Tony’s Open Market for their generous donation towards the food for the day.

We are often told that a child has had some item of clothing ‘stolen’.  If you label your child’s clothing effectively you go a long way towards making ‘stealing’ an item of clothing unattractive to a would-be ‘thief’. And, if your child comes home with anything belonging to someone else, you must make sure the item is returned the next day.  Children often inadvertently pick up someone else’s belongings mistaking them for their own so in most cases the ‘theft’ is accidental.  Please also make sure that before you accuse anyone, you check in Aunty Daisy’s lost property box because more often than not, that is where such items end up.

We sadly take leave of Mrs M van Niekerk who leaves us at the end of this term.  She has made a big difference to our music department and will be sorely missed.  We all wish her well in her new career path.  Congratulations go to Ms J Weir who is getting married during the holidays and to Mrs Lamprecht and Mrs Zeelie whose own children are tying the knot.  No doubt you will all enjoy these celebrations and that you will make a beautiful bride Ms Weir.

On behalf of us all we wish all our Christian families a Happy Easter and a happy and relaxed holiday to everyone.  If you are travelling please adhere to the rules of the road as we would like to see everyone back, relaxed and safe on the 18^th April.  A big vote of thanks to the RCS staff for their hard work and commitment throughout this term.  They have all earned this holiday so I ask that you leave them in peace to enjoy it.  See you on the 18^th April.

Yours sincerely

Mrs L J  Bannatyne

Principal

Robert Carruthers School

16^th March  2017

Dear Parents

This will be my last correspondence until the end-of-term From the Principal’s Desk accompanying your child’s first term progress report.  In order to give everyone the opportunity to meet their child’s teacher and get his/her progress report in person we will have a Parents’ Evening on the evening of the 30^th March from 17h00 – 18h30.  Please make every effort to attend.  If you feel up to it bring a blanket and a picnic basket and enjoy one of the last evenings this season we will be able to comfortably sit outside.

Sports News

Rugby

Our boys (and their coaches) have played in two different tournaments in the past week and on both occasions our opposition were surprised (and I think a bit wary of) how much our standard has improved.  We were complimented on both the standard of our play and the good manners our boys have.  Well done to all concerned.  At the Spur Tournament at Taalfees on Friday and Saturday last week good results were achieved.  Our u/9s were beaten by Kanonkop 22/0 but beat Panorama 7/0; our u/10s beat Taalfees 32/5 and Kragbron 12/0; our u/11s beat Panorama 12/10 but were wiped out by Klipfontein; our u/13s beat Taalfees 10/5 and Kragbron 12/5.  From these results you can see how far our teams have come.  Well done to Mr P Tau and Ms R Korff for the passion you bring to your coaching – it is really paying off.

At the 7s tournament at Kragron our u/13s made it through to the semi-finals and came away with a bronze medal.  I enjoyed the game I watched and take my hat off to this team and coaches.  7s is a fast game and our boys never once looked as if they were out of their league.

Netball

Sadly, at the same Spur Tournament our girls did not fare as well as our rugby players did.  We look forward to better results next time, girls.

During the course of this term Ms A Ruyschaert, Ms K Nortjie, Ms L Zwane and Ms M Spottiswood achieved their grading as netball umpires.  Well done to them.

Soccer

The first game of Danone Cup was played yesterday afternoon and again I was impressed by the skill, dexterity and team work of the u/12 team.  Well done on beating Carrissa Primary 4-0, boys.  We are proud of you and your coach Mr P Tau.

Athletics

We all join in wishing Ubuhle Malinga, Nkanyesi Bhembe and  Nkateko Nkosi every success at the South African Championships in Potchefstroom on  23^rd – 25^th March.   We are so proud that you are off to represent RCS at this high level.  Wow!

Dates to remember:

29^th March – Gladiator Day.  R100 with a food parcel and R75 without.

17^th March – school closes at 11 o’clock for the Human Rights Day long weekend as Monday 20^th March is a school holiday.  Therefore the school will be closed until Wednesday 22^nd March.  If you are going away please behave safely on our roads.  For those of us going to ‘Remainere’ enjoy the rest and peace.

30^th March – Parents’ Evening

31^st March – school closes for the Easter holidays so we will close at 11:00.

Cake ‘n Candy Appeal – 31^st March

As has become customary we will be ending the term with our traditional Cake ‘n Candy sale.  Please support us in this endeavour.  We ask that you provide goodies according to the grade divisions stipulated below and that you let Aunty Penny know if you are able to help with the selling on the day.

Grades 1, RR and R                          Sweets

Grades 2, 3 and 4                             Cup Cakes

Grades 6 and 7                                  Biscuits, Popcorn and Fudge

Then, just so the whole affair is a success, please also provide your child with money so s/he can buy all these treats back.

Once again two perennial problems are rearing their ugly heads.  There are still WAY TOO MANY children being left here in the afternoons.  Come on parents who are doing this – you are not playing the game AND you are contravening the Admission Contract you signed with us.  Besides the fact that it is unsafe for your child to be left here unattended, it is also not good for your child.  How would you like to hang around waiting for transport for hours on end?  It is just plainly inconsiderate and unfair.  The second problem is the number of parents who pop in during the morning to bring the stuff their child left at home.  How on earth are you going to teach them to be less of a scatterbrain and to become more organised it you continually run around after them?  Let them get into trouble for their poor planning in the hope that they will learn a lesson from it.

A big thank you to the parents who responded to our appeal for assistance with the Foundation Phase reading programme.  Welcome to the fold – we really appreciate your involvement and hope you get a kick out of assisting a child gain the grounding needed in becoming literate.

Enjoy your Human Rights Day long weekend.

Yours sincerely

Mrs L J  Bannatyne

Principal

 

Robert Carruthers School

9^th March  2017

Dear Parents

Whilst we are all adjusting to getting up in the dark these days, let’s not forget that in the blink of an eye, the weather is going to turn and children are going to need their winter clothing.  It really is time for you to dig out your child’s last year’s winter uniform to check what still fits and what doesn’t.  Don’t be caught napping; buy the jacket now before your child has to come to school wrapped in a blanket on the first cold day of the year.  And, if you are wondering what the problem with a blanket is, the answer is nothing other than it not being part of our school uniform policy.

The jackets range in price according to size from R230-00 – R240-00, the beanies are R50-00 and the ties are R80-00.  All are available from Mrs Fourie in the front Finance Office.

Our swipe machine should be here in the next few days enabling you to use your debit or credit cards to pay any school expenses including school fees.

We have had to deal with a few worrying incidents in the last little while.  As we are in the child business we’ve dealt with most things that children get up to but we will NEVER get our heads around just how many of you have NO IDEA whatsoever where your child is, sometimes late into the afternoon or evening.  Really?  How can you not know where your child is ALL the time?  For the sake of your child’s wellbeing and safety, you MUST make appropriate transport arrangements for him/her to be off the school grounds and surrounds within half-an-hour of his/her last activity.

Sporting Results

Athletics – congratulations to the nine athletes who gave of their best this past Saturday.  Sadly, for some, it was just not their day and they came away disappointed having given their best.   Ubuhle Malinga – 4H –  u/10 G  -2^nd in High Jump 1,20m;  Nkanyesi Bhembe – 5T – u/11 G – 3^rd in 80m;  Nkateko Nkosi – 7Y – u/13 G – 3^rd in Shot Put 10,25m had a really good morning so are now off to the South African Championships.  Wow!  We are really proud of the three of you and join in wishing you every success in Potchefstroom in two weeks’ time.  Watch this space – we are hoping they are going to fill it.   This last athletics meeting brings the season to an end.  Well done to all the boys and girls who participated and have given of their best since the beginning of the year.  We are proud of your achievements and commitment to the sport.  Congratulations to Mr Tau and his team of dedicated teacher coaches.  You too, have had a good season and have put in many long hours to get our children to where they are.

Rugby – our boys participated in the Reyno Rif 7s tournament this past Saturday and won three out of four matches.  Well done boys and Mr Snyman!  You can be proud of your bronze medals.

Tennis – good news indeed – Mila Makunga 6H has been chosen for the Mpumalanga Tennis Team.  What a great achievement!

Please don’t forget our Gladiator Day on 29^th March; R100 per person including a lunch pack or R75 if you want to bring your own food.  We are all looking forward to ending this term with a fun activity.

Sadly, our appeal for moms and dads to come forward to assist with the reading programme in the Foundation Phase did not produce ONE response.  Please, please, for the sake of our children, reconsider and volunteer an hour of your time a week.

The Good News

Human Rights Day is coming up so we will be closing school at 12 o’clock on Friday 17^th March and we will not be returning until Wednesday 22^nd March as the Monday is a school holiday.

And…….. our very own, most competent Ms M Snyman just completed and passed (impressively well by the way) her post graduate honours degree.  We are all in awe of her achievement and congratulate her on this success.

Yours sincerely

Mrs L J  Bannatyne

Principal

Robert Carruthers School

2^nd March  2017

Dear Parents

How silly I feel.  Last week I encouraged you all to attend the meeting planned to discuss Emalahleni’s municipal problems scheduled to take place that night at the Puma Stadium.  But, that was before I discovered that not too many people knew what was going on regarding the meeting.  I telephoned a number of people who told me the meeting was only to elect a committee to represent the citizens of our city and was therefore not for the general public.  Little did I know that one had to be a member of the Witbank News Facebook page or the Emalahleni Residents against Emalahleni Municipality FB page to know what was going on regarding that meeting.  Apologies to any parent who went to the Puma Stadium last week only to find the meeting was being held somewhere else.  I was not at the meeting simply because I did know it was still happening.

As you know, we emphasise the importance of reading at RCS because without the ability to read the attainment of an education is severely hampered.  For that reason we try all means possible in the Foundation Phase to assist children to read properly and to love doing it.  A big thank you to all parents who are coming in diligently every week to assist with our reading programme – it benefits the children greatly and they thoroughly enjoy the ‘one-on-one’ opportunity.  Please, please, please folk consider making the RCS Reading Project your community service; volunteer to come in once or twice (or more) per week for about an hour to assist us.  Contact Aunty Penny if you are willing to assist. And, unless you create a culture of reading in your own home, you are severely disadvantaging your own child.  EVERY day you and your child should be reading for pleasure.  Remember what the child sees s/he will be.  And then, a couple of times a week your child should have the opportunity to read to you and you should definitely read to your child – preferably in an exciting manner from an even more exciting source.

Exiciting news – nine of our athletes made it through to the Mpumalanga leg of this season’s athletics meetings so will be going to Secunda this Saturday – 4^th March to compete for a place in the team going to the National Championships.  Big thanks to all the coaches and parents who have supported these children in their athletic endeavours and congratulations to the children on their successes thus far.  We will all be holding thumbs for you on Saturday.

Kutenda Moyo 3H – u/9 G – 4^th in 80m;  Cheyanne Ensor 6K – u/12 G – 1^st in High Jump with a new record, 3^rd in Long Jump and 3^rd in Shot Put;  Ubuhle Malinga 4H – u/10 G – 3^rd in High Jump;  Andile Nkosi 3B – u/10 B – 4^th in 80m (also going for 70mH from the previous meeting’s results);  Gift Sibanyoni 7S – u/13 B – 3^rd in 100m, 3^rd in 200m (also going for 80mH from the previous meeting’s results);  Owami Nkosi 6M – u/12 G – 2^nd in Long Jump (also going for 150mH from the previous meeting’s results);  Makomborero Betsva 6K – u/12 G – 2^nd in 1200m;  Nkateko Nkosi 7Y – u/13 G – 1^st in Shot Put, 3^rd in Javelin; Rhulani Mkhabela 7B – u/13 B – 4^th in Shot Put; Nkanyesi Bhembe 5T – u/11 G – 3^rd in 80m.

After months of investigation as to which speed point payment system would be most cost effective for the school and ‘user friendly’ for our parents, we finally settled on a Nedbank Point of Sale Device (you may know it as a debit or credit machine) when Mr Brown, one of our parents gave us a fantastic rate.  So, to those of you who have always wanted to pay your school fees (or any other monies at the school) this way, it will be up and running by the middle of March.  We hope this is a more convenient way of paying for many of you.

Please don’t forget to start saving or paying for Gladiator Day (29 March).  R100 per person if you want to get a lunch pack and R75 if you just want to have the fun and bring your refreshments from home.

Yours sincerely

Mrs L J  Bannatyne

Principal

Robert Carruthers School

23^rd February  2017

Dear Parents

It seems that talking about winter in last week’s newsletter brought it on early.  Wow, it’s been unseasonably cold but we all smile through it because the rain has been wonderful.  The only downside is that our fields are saturated so by and large no outside extramural activities have been possible this week.  We are still waiting to hear what the decision regarding the district athletics meeting scheduled for this coming Saturday (25^th February) will be.  Congratulations to the following children who qualified for this round – we will let you know what is happening as soon as we know.  Kutenda Moyo 3H – U/9G – 2^nd in 80m;  Cheyanne Ensor 6K – U/12G – 1^st High Jump with a new record of 1,49m; 1^st in Long Jump and 2^nd in Shot Put;  Ubuhle Malinga 4H – U/10G – 1^st in High Jump; Andile Nkosi 3B – U/10B – 1^st in 70m Hurdles, 4^th in 80m; Gift Sibanyoni 7S – U/13B – 4^th in 80m Hurdles, 4^th in 100m, 1^st in 200m; Owami Nkosi 6M – U/12G – 4^th in Long Jump, 4^th in 150m Hurdles; Makomborero Betsva 6K – U/12G – 2^nd in 1200m; Nkateko Nkosi 7Y – U/13G – 3^rd in Shot Put, 4^th in Javelin; Rhulani Mkhabela 7B – U/13B – 1^st in Shot Put; Nkanyesi Bhembe 5T – U/11G – 2^nd in 80m.

 

Dates to Remember:

28^th February – the last day you can pay school fees in full to make us of the 10% discount.

3^rd March – First Term Test Week begins.  It is imperative that all concerned children prepare thoroughly for these tests (by that we mean LEARN) as very often laziness and apathy in the first term leading to poor results makes it impossible for a child to catch up enough in the following terms in order to achieve the minimum pass requirement.  Preparing properly for tests and examinations is homework, so please ensure your child does the necessary work.

8th March – Gr 4 Girl Parents only – as is the case every year the Department of Health immunises all Gr 4 girls WHOSE PARENT HAS SIGNED THE CONSENT FORM against HPV virus (which causes cervical cancer).  Please ensure your daughter gives it to you and return to school signed if you wish to make use of this free service.

29^th March – Gladiator Day – one of the children’s favourite days.  Cost R75 per child without a lunch pack.  R100 per child with a lunch pack.

Before the 7^th of every month – school fees become due – please do not forget to pay.

Last week we were visited by a delegation of masters and boys from Pretoria Boys High School recruiting boys for their 2018 intake.  If your Gr 7 son has not already told you about it please ask him and if you are interested in this sort of high schooling for your boy, please make application timeously.

We took a sad ‘leave’ from ‘Oom Gawie’ last Friday who has now officially left RCS.  We all join in wishing him a happy and restful time in his golden years.

You cannot have been a resident of eMalahleni in recent times and not be frustrated.  Despite the fact that we are all no doubt elated not to have had our power cut-off last night and this morning we would be kidding ourselves if we thought the problem has miraculously gone away.  Sadly, our frustrations are not caused only by the ‘power-interruptions’.   Some families have been without water for days on end.  In some areas telephones are down and stay down for weeks and weeks.  As I type we have no internet at school and in past weeks when we have had a connection it is so slow that one forgets what one wanted to do by the time the page loads.  It astounds me that seemingly neither Eskom nor the powers-that-be in our municipality foresaw that when the electricity goes off so do the water pumps.   It astounds me that people who loyally pay their accounts on time (and we KNOW it is not ALL our parents – those with connections inside the municipal offices have been living on free power for years and years) have to be punished this way.  Why am I bringing this up?  Simply because, as hackneyed as it is, if we are not part of the solution we become part of the problem.  For that reason I urge all parents who are fed-up and would like to see our town run properly, to attend the meeting scheduled at the Puma Stadium this evening – if it is still on.  Even if it is cold and wet.

Yours sincerely

Mrs L J  Bannatyne

Principal

Robert Carruthers School

16^th February  2017

Dear Parents

Early morning and evening there is a decided nip in the air and if like me, you are up at 5 in the morning, you will have noticed that it is now dark at that time.  Of course we have to have winter so I suppose we may as well start preparing for it properly, as it is on its way.  Does your child have a school jacket?  A beanie?   A winter uniform?  A sports T-Shirt? If the answer to any of these questions is no, you need to get cracking and rectify that situation.  We are heading into the cold cycle of the year.  And, as I type, we are being told by the weather bureau that Cyclone Dineo is fast approaching.  A friend of mine’s Gr 1 child has also been listening to the news and informed his family that ‘a cyclist named Dineo is on his way from Mozambique’.  That’s why we love kids.

 

We are certainly living in trying times what with the regular and seemingly threatening service delivery strikes and now having our power cut every day; twice a day.  For three days now, some of our staff and children have not been able to make it to school by starting time and in some cases not at all.  We are working around the problem and ask that all parents do what is necessary at this time, to keep their children safe.  Let’s hope we are not left in the dark for too long because power cuts will certainly affect us all far worse in the colder, darker weather.  Let’s also hope that those responsible for this debacle are made to pay for what they have done to the honest and upright citizens in eMalahleni.

 

We had a most enjoyable Leader Picnic last night.  It was a great evening weather-wise and a good turnout.  Thank you so much to all who attended.  How impressive most of our Leader Mommies are – they played a game of part netball part touch rugby that most of our children battled to keep up with.  Wow – so good to see you all so involved and energetic.  And, that is not their only talent!  Thanks to you all and to the hard work of Mrs K Bowker and Mr G Olivier, a whopping R27004 was made during the Leader Valentine Week Fundraiser.  What a wonderful achievement – maybe there is truth in the adage that you can’t buy love but based on this figure it seems all its frills and tokens can certainly be sold.

 

RCS athletes did very well at the Circuit Athletics meeting we hosted jointly thanks to the excellent organisational efforts of Mrs W Loots and the wonderful coaching provided by Mr Tau and his experienced team of coaches.  On the day Taalfees came first and we came in second with 248 points.  Not bad out of 24 schools.  We now have 14 athletes going through to the next round.   Congratulations to:  Akeela Nkosi 2S – U/8G – 1^st in 400m with a new record of 1:24,57 and 2^nd in 80m.  Siphosethu Sindane 2W – U/9B – 1^st in 80m and 2^nd in 60m.  Kutenda Moyo 3H – U/9G – 2^nd in 80m.  Cheyanne Ensor 6K – U/12G – 1^st in High Jump with a new record of 1,43m; 1^st in Long Jump and 2^nd in Shot Put.  She was also the Best Female Field Athlete of the Day.  Ubuhle Malinga 4H – U/10G – 1^st in Long Jump, 1^st in High Jump with a new record of 1,20m, 1^st in 100m.  Andile Nkosi 3B – U/10B – 1^st in Long Jump, 1^st in 70m Hurdles and 1^st in 80m.  Gift Sibanyoni 7S – U/13B – 1^st in 80m Hurdles, 1^st in 100m, 1^st in 200m Hurdles, 1^st in Long Jump and 2^nd in 200m.  Owami Nkosi 6M – U/12G – 2^nd in 75m Hurdles, 2^nd in Long Jump, 1^st in 100m, 1^st in 150m Hurdles, 1^st in 150m.  Makomborero Betsva 6K – U/12G – 1^st in 1200m.   Boikanyo Kutumela 4H – U/11B – 2^nd in Long Jump,  Nkateko Nkosi 7Y – U/13G – 1^st in Shot Put and 2^nd in Javelin.  Rhulani Mkhabela 7B – U/13B – 2^nd in Shot Put.  Katlego Moela 4J – U/10B – 2^nd in 80m and 2^nd in 100m.  Nkanyesi Bhembe 5T – U/11G – 1^st in 80m and 1^st in 100m.

 

Congratulations to the following Gr 4 children who did so well in the Valentines’ Day Colouring in competition:  Kavisha Singh 4J; Noluthando Skosana 4J; Zoeyael Louw 4A; Amogelang Mashinini 4A; Gail Phillips 4H; Kavish Singh 4H; Luyanda Mbuli 4L and Phiwokuhle Mkhize 4L.

 

Two things I wish to bring to the attention of all our Muslim parents whose children leave early for Friday Prayers.  1)  Some of your children are coming up to the office as early as 11:40 and spending at least forty minutes hanging around waiting for you.  Not your fault – theirs, as they tell the teachers they have to go early.  2) Some Muslim children are NOT catching up the work they miss as was agreed, and are falling further and further behind academically.  With this letter the Muslim children will be given a Reply Slip where you must state exactly what time you will be fetching your child.  In accordance with that, your child will only be permitted to come up to the office TWO minutes before being collected.

 

A friendly reminder to the u/10 and First team rugby boys – do not forget that your rugby tour money must be paid in before the end of March, as this tour takes place in the school holiday.  And, those wishing to go on hockey tour should not forget their R200 deposit to book a place on the tour.

May you keep yourself and your family safe if Cyclone Dineo ever materialises and if these service delivery strikes continue.  Highly recommended during the Eskom evening ‘lights-out’ – READ!

 

Yours sincerely

Mrs L J  Bannatyne

Principal

Robert Carruthers School

8^th February  2017

Dear Parents

It has come to my attention that a few children in the school have a Q50 (or other type of SmartWatch) which allows the child to ‘phone home’ in case of an emergency.  We are now finding children phoning their parents during class time!!!  Please be advised – your child is safe at RCS and if there is ever an emergency our qualified teachers or First Aid Officials will contact you immediately.  As these watches are becoming a distraction they will be dealt with in the same way as a cellphone ie – they will need to be handed in to the teacher or the administrative office early in the morning before class, and then collected again in the afternoon, just before home time.  As is the case with the cellphone the parent MUST write a letter to the school saying that the child will have such a watch on him/her but that s/he will hand it in.  Any child not complying with these regulations will have the Smart Watch confiscated until the end of the year, as is the case with a cellphone not handed in.   Furthermore, the school will not be responsible for the safety of such a watch.  Unless you are sending your child to and from school with a dangerous driver or permitting your child to hang around in dangerous areas after school (both practices need to be changed if that is the case) your child is probably in more danger having a valuable watch or cellphone on him or her.  People have been mugged for far less.

 

Parents, please – we appeal to you often about this – make sure the transport you are paying for, for your child, is safe.  In other words make sure the vehicle your child travels on is roadworthy; that the driver has a valid driver’s licence and that, if a taxi, it is registered with the Taxi Association.  Also make sure that the number of passengers the vehicle is registered to transport, is not exceeded.  You do not want to put your child’s life in danger!

 

Our Pre-School children have started swimming.  Parents this activity is COMPULSORY so please make sure that you make it possible for your child to participate every week.  You will need to look at your child’s timetable as swimming does not happen on the same day each week and then, on a swimming day, ensure that your child has a school regulated swimming costume, swimming cap and towel all clearly marked with your child’s name.  Please ensure that you pack these items for your child to bring to school on a swimming day.  It is difficult to get items to children from the front office and by continually dropping things off for your child, you are training them not to take responsibility for their own school needs.

 

Please also remember that we have a very strict policy relating to medicines and medication for children.  NO medication should be sent to school without a letter from the prescribing doctor clearly explaining times and dosage requirements and ALL medication MUST be given to the teacher immediately the child arrives at school.  No child may self-medicate whilst at school and no teacher will administer ANY medication.  The only things we will do for your child if s/he is ‘injured’ is provide a comforting voice, provide an Elastoplast (amazing how effectively these work) or phone you if your child needs more treatment than just described.  If we cannot get hold of you we will phone an ambulance. (You will be liable for the cost).   Please make sure we have your correct contact details and that we are able to get hold of you at all times.

 

A friendly reminder – if your child still does not have his/her ‘house’ T-shirt you need to buy one from Aunty Penny at reception.  They are R50 each.

 

Date to Remember:

Monday 13^th February – the Enviro Club (Grade 4 – 7) pupils will be visiting the SPCA.  If you have old newspapers, towels or blankets or dog food to donate please drop if off at the office or send it to school with your child before Monday afternoon.

 

Tuesday 14^th February – a Movie Day to celebrate Valentines’ Day – popcorn, a movie and civvies for R15 per child.  Please support this fundraiser.

13^th May – we will be hosting a Mini Rugby and Netball Festival so if your child is involved please keep this day open so you can support him/her.

July 2017 – Hockey Tour.  The cost of this tour will be ±R1200-00 per player.  Parents of hockey players are advised to pay R200-00 to the office every month towards this tour so your child can go.  All age groups are attending.  Details will follow closer to the event.

We look forward to seeing some of you at school on Friday supporting your child if s/he is in our athletics team.  Those of you whose children are not involved please ensure that the arrangements you make for your child to stay at home are appropriate and safe.  As you have been repeatedly been told, school will be closed on Friday for all children other than our athletes and notified helpers, as we are all working at the Athletics Meeting we are co-hosting with Taalfees for 23 schools in our Circuit.  We look forward to your cooperation in this regard and wish you all a happy long weekend.   A reminder to all parents of participating children – please ensure your child is covered in sunblock and has some with him/her to reapply during the event and ensure your child has water and food or money to buy what is needed from the various food stalls available on the day.

Watch this space – we have high hopes for good results on Monday.

Yours sincerely

Mrs L J  Bannatyne

Principal

Robert Carruthers School

 

^2nd February 2017

Dear Parents

So often I am reminded just how unique, supportive and interesting our RCS parent community is.  Last night was another reminder of that.  Thanks to all who attended and who made it possible for us to run a fair and democratic SGB By-Election.  Your time and effort is appreciated and we are again reminded just how ‘powerful’ your children are – certainly some of you were here because of their nagging.  A big thank you to Mrs Y Ebrahim and her group of parents from the Parents’ Committee who assisted by phoning to remind parents to remind them about the elections and to our Deputy Mrs W Loots, whose hard work and efforts ensured a smooth process.

Five parents were nominated:  Mrs T Davel, Mr H Ebrahim, Mrs P Lesese, Mr T Mafutsana and Mr L Zulu.  All were strong candidates and we appreciate their commitment to the school and their children.  As this was a By-Election we were only electing two parents so naturally three had to fall out of contention.  Congratulations to Mrs T Davel and Mrs P Lesese on being elected.  We all join in wishing you happiness and success on this body.

At the elective SGB meeting after the election Mr Z Mashiane was voted in as the new Chairman, Mr D Sibiya as Vice Chairman, Mrs T Davel as Treasurer and Mr G Hartley as Secretary.  All portfolios remain the same.

Sport

Swimming: our swimmers did well this week at the gala at STAS although some still need practise with technique.  Congratulations to Catrijn Davel 3P:  1^st in 200m individual medley, 1^st in breaststroke, 3^rd in butterfly and 1^st in freestyle; Annabelle Davel 4L; 2^nd in 200m individual medley, 2^nd in 50m backstroke, 1^st 50m breaststroke, 2^nd in 25m butterfly and 1^st 50m freestyle; Samantha Schultz 5T; 3^rd in 50m backstroke, 2^nd in 50m breaststroke, 3^rd in 50 m freestyle and 1^st in 25m butterfly; Tracey de Kock 6L;  1^st in 50m backstroke; Mila Makunga 6H; 3^rd in 50m breaststroke, Chad Hartley 7Y: 3^rd in 200m individual medley; Jarrid Godfrey 6H; 3^rd in 50m butterfly;  Daniel Range 7S; 3^rd in butterfly, 3^rd in 50m backstroke.

Athletics: our team is hard at work preparing for the Circuit Meeting next Friday – 10^th February.  We have a number of very promising athletes so we are hoping for a few new records and many ‘wins’ on the day.  Please do not forget that only the athletes in the school team and the identified Leaders/Monitors are to be here on that day.  We wish the rest of you a happy long weekend.  Please make sure that you have made safe arrangements for your child’s care on that day (s/he MAY NOT come to school) and that proper arrangements have been made for the transport home of all children expected here on the day.

Moms and dads, we are getting more and more worried about the transport arrangements some of you have made for your children.  We had a VERY unfortunate incident yesterday: a taxi transporting RCS children jumped a red robot, hit a pedestrian and injured him badly.  This traumatised the children passengers as they witnessed the entire accident, but they were also traumatised by the fact that the taxi just rode away from the scene.  On further investigation we discovered that the taxi concerned was not registered, had missing number plates and was driving recklessly.  Please look into the transport arrangements you have made for your child – you pay good money for this transport and it needs to be safe and punctual.

Pre-School parents please do not forget that as of yesterday, all our little tots will come out of school at 13h45. Gates open 7h00 – 7h30 and 13h15 – 14h00.  At any other time parents need to access this facility through our main administrative offices.

Please also remember that in order to keep all children at RCS safe NO CHILD may leave the school property during tuition time UNLESS a parent has signed that child out at the front office.  We cannot have parents calling their children at the fences and then trying to get them out of the gates for obvious reasons.  Please assist us with this initiative for the safety of yours and everyone else’s child.

At the By-Election last night most of the candidates made reference of the high standard of discipline at RCS and said it should be maintained.  We heartily agree with that and work very hard to make this an educationally sound environment for EVERYONE.  At present we have a fairly large group of Gr 7s who think they come to school each day to laze around (we woke one up this morning from a really deep sleep), to be the class clown or to disrupt each and every lesson.  Little or no work is done and their level of apathy is astounding.  We will be dealing with them in the firmest of ways but if their attitude and behaviour does not improve we will have no choice other than to get the parents involved.  EVERYONE has the right to an education – not just your child.  Please ensure you know what s/he gets up to every morning.

On a positive note we are pleased to announce the appointment of a new factotum at the school.  Mr B Korff started yesterday and we all join in wishing him a long and successful employment at RCS.

Yours sincerely

Mrs L J  Bannatyne

Principal

Robert Carruthers School

^19th January 2017

Dear Parents

Erratum:  in last week’s newsletter I neglected to mention that the HoD English is Mrs A Murdoch.  Apologies to all concerned.  In the same correspondence I welcomed a new teacher into Gr 1 – Ms S Mbola.  She was with us for exactly four days and then just didn’t come back.  When I finally got hold of her she said didn’t think she would ever cope in a school like ours.

As you can imagine when a teacher leaves – especially at such short notice – immediate changes become necessary.  If your child was affected we hope that by now s/he has settled and is now comfortable with a new teacher.

Congratulations, to Ms J Weir and her team of FP coaches for organising such an enjoyable fun athletics morning this past Friday.  It is always heart-warming to see our younger children trying their best on the sports field.  And also to see how proud those children who are lucky enough to have parents watching them.  Thanks for the support those of you who were here.

On Tuesday, at our Interhouse Athletics Meeting the emphasis was on competition, trying to improve individual attainment and supporting ‘your’ team.  But, we also had fun – despite the freezing cold morning.  If the depth of talent we saw on the morning manages to retain form we should have a successful and exciting athletics season.

Three records were broken on the day – Owami Nkosi; U/12 150m hurdles in a time of 25,49, Cheyanne Ensor; U/12 high jump with a height of 1,42m and Nkateko Nkosi; U/13 shot put with a throw of 9.37m.  Can’t help but notice that these are all girls.  Boys, where are you?

Thanks and congratulations go to Mr P Tau and his team of assistants and a word of appreciation goes to the many parents who were here to offer support on the day.  Cheetahs won with 389 points, followed by Leopards with 346, then Panthers with 315 points and Tigers with 260 points.

The T-shirts in the colours of the different houses looked wonderful on the stands.  I’ve no doubt that those of you who have already bought one of these shirts have been impressed by their good quality.  For R50 you are getting a bargain.  As January is often a ‘lean’ month we are giving each child until the end of February to have a shirt.  Other than at sporting events, the shirts can be worn every week at Phys Ed.  Thanks Mrs N Nielsen for organising them – they are really worth the money and look impressive.

On Monday 23^rd January at 17:30 our Pre-School is having a ‘Meet and Greet’ picnic on their field.  Please join us, Pre-School parents.  Not only will it be a wonderful opportunity for you to meet other parents in your child’s class but it will also give you the chance to chat to the teacher if you want to.  If you are clever, you will bring along a blanket (or chairs), or both, some wet wipes, a scrumptious picnic, (other-wise-known-as-Monday-night-dinner), paper plates, serviettes and something to drink.  With proper planning there will be very little for you to do to get your child into bed when you get home.  No cooking or dishes!   What a good way to start off the week!

On that note – we are looking forward to meeting all the new parents and catching up with all the ‘old’ parents this evening at our Gr 1 – 7 Parents’ Evening at 17:30 for Gr 1 – 6 and 18:00 for Gr 7.  Parents should go to their child’s register class and Gr 7 parents and children should meet in the school hall.

Please do not forget to put aside the 1st February.  We really need your support at our SGB By-Election.  It is important that you come and vote so that we are able to maintain and retain our high standards and ethos into the future by having hardworking and able parents representing you on this important body.  We need trustworthy, forward-thinking parents with skills and ‘get-up-and-go’ to take RCS into the future.  Empty barrels make the most noise and I think that at this stage people are sick and tired of hearing false promises!  What they want is to have people who will roll up their sleeves and get the job of SGB member done.  If you do not come and exercise your vote, you will have to live with the choices made by others – whether you like them or not.

Yours sincerely

Mrs L J  Bannatyne

Principal

 

Robert Carruthers School

^5th December  2016

Dear Parents

Finally, after a busy, eventful and successful year we can all relax, recharge and spend quality time with friends and loved ones.   2016 has been a ‘trying’ year and probably the best thing we can say about it is that it flew by – mercifully fast.  We all come to the end of it knowing we are survivors.  Many of us had a lot on our plates this year and look forward to a relaxing and stress-free holiday.

A big thank you to all parents who attended our School Fee Meeting on 24^th November.  Our FinCom (Mr I Makgwane, Mrs P Lesese and Mrs T Davel) , under the excellent chairmanship of Mr Mohammed Arbee presented the budget and school fee increase for 2017.  Both were accepted, as were all the other resolutions, so we end the year with good news – there will only be a 2% school fee increase from Pre-School to Gr 7 next year.  Wow!  This was done as a measure of goodwill and empathy so that parents can begin to recover financially from all the burdens 2016 threw at them.  This means that fees increase from R10450 to R10670 per annum in the Pre-School (an increase of R220 for the year) and R7450 to R7600 per annum from Gr 1 – 7 (an increase of R150 per child per year).

As usual we will be offering the normal discounts.  Parents who pay in full by 31^st December 2016 qualify for a 12% discount on the annual fee whilst those who pay in full by 28^th February 2017 qualify for a 10% discount on their annual school fees.

Parents are also reminded that their first payment for 2017 is due on 7^th January – just because the school is closed at that time doesn’t mean that you do not have to pay fees in January.  Please make the appropriate financial arrangements as December can be a financially stressful month.  Please also note that parents with children in Gr 1 – 7 can, if they choose to, pay over 11 months – January to November.

Please also note that it is every parent’s responsibility to ensure that their child looks after, and keeps in good condition, the text books given to the child.  Even if the book your child receives is a second hand book – if it is lost or damaged, you will be billed R200 to replace that book.  This transaction should be fairly obvious as we cannot work with incomplete sets of books.  The same applies if your child loses or damages a Media Centre book: that book must be replaced.

The results of the 2016 Quintathlon were impressive.  Congratulations to all involved.  We are proud of you all but special mention must be made of the following children who came 1^st, 2^nd or 3^rd in their grade.

Gr 2 – Adriel Pillay (Gold), Kamogelo Maabane (Silver) and Muhammed Ebrahim (Silver)

Gr 3 – Angela Talane (Bronze), Malehlogonolo Taje (Bronze) and tied in third place Nkosinathi Skosana, Tayyibah Ebrahim and Nuhaa Salojee (Bronze)

Gr 4 – Alina da Silva (Gold), Nobuhle Mkhonta (High Silver) and Thobeka Magagula (Silver)

Gr 5 – Musawenkosi Masilela (Gold) Kgabo Makgwane (High Silver) and Noah Cullen (High Silver)

Gr 6 – Londeka Mbokane (Silver), Azaahyo Mashego and Curstan Roestoff tied for second (Bronze) and Nkosinathi Khumalo in third (Bronze)

Gr 7 – Mikateko Muthimba (Gold), Yasmeen Mahomed (High Silver) and Madian Bates (Silver)

 

Big thanks to all families who contributed most generously to our World Food Day collection.  A number of food parcels were made up and have been distributed to those in need.

As of January 2017, ALL children will be required to own a T-shirt in the colour of their house as we can no longer permit the hodgepodge of clothing many children come to school with for Phys Ed and Interhouse matches and functions.  Please DO NOT be tempted to buy your own shirts.  We have sourced really good quality Ts, in the four house colours and will be selling them at the very reasonable price of R50 per shirt.  They will be on sale from the first school day and we expect ALL children to have bought one on or before the beginning of February 2017.  Please start saving for this item now.

All athletes taking part in the Interhouse athletics meeting in early in January must wear the correct T-shirt and black shorts.

Congratulations to the following children who made it through to the Mpumalanga Hockey teams.

Girls – U/12 (Kiwis)            Buhle Mpofu, Lethabo Nkambule and Kelello Ramoroka

Boys U/12 A                         Deangelo Campbell and Ashton Mathebula

Boys U/12 (Falcons)           Dante Marrie, Thatego Mogane and Piece Ntuli

Girls U/13 A                         Aisha Vilakazi

Girls U/13 C                         Nomaswazi Ndimande

Boys U/13 A                         Lemare Vengelsamy

Boys U/13 B                         Nkosinathi Khumalo and Joel van Rooyen

 

Lastly, from me and all staff at RCS we wish you a happy, safe and enjoyable holiday.  To our Christian families we hope you have a wonderful Christmas and that Father Christmas rewards you for your good behaviour this past year.  Let’s cross our fingers and hold our thumbs that 2017 is a less hectic and slower year and that we all get a chance of a breather throughout the year.  Please use the holiday wisely – catch up with your nearest and dearest, recharge your batteries and just get some ‘me’ time.

We are sad to see our Gr 7 children leave us this year – they have been a good group and we will miss them a lot.  From us all we wish them every success for their future and hope to see them from time to time.  Go well all of you. xx

We also thank our FinCom Chairman Mr Mohammed Arbee for all his support over the years.  Sadly, he leaves us now as his son is in Gr 7.  We will miss you Mohammed but wish you well for whatever your next endeavour may be,

The men and women at RCS who have served your children well this past year need special mention and thanks.  In my opinion there is not a harder working or committed group of people in any organisation I can think of and I thank them most sincerely for adding value to the lives of the children who pass through their hands and for giving so much more than is expected.  Please do not disturb their holidays (unless in the case of extreme emergency) as they really need the break.

Whatever you are all doing please make your own and your family’s safety your number one priority and bonding and enjoying each other your second.  We look forward to seeing you all safely back on the 11^th January 2017.

Yours sincerely

 

Mrs L J  Bannatyne

Principal

Robert Carruthers School

10^th November  2016

Dear Parents

Since my last correspondence sooooo much has happened that it’s difficult to believe only a week has passed.   We had a most surprising, but most welcome, donation of R10 000 voucher for petrol from Caltex – Witbank Motors.  The head leaders and I were invited to their opening ceremony and accepted the donation most gratefully.

Then, thanks to your ongoing generosity our Gladiator Day made R44 429,85 profit!  Thank you for your continued support in these difficult financial times with a special thanks going to the moms who helped pack the lunch packs.  At this stage, we have been able to complete a number of our most pressing budgeted for ‘cash-flow-dependent’ maintenance items.  As I type we are renovating one Foundation Phase toilet block – new toilets, basins, fittings and tiles.  No doubt this renovation will please our younger children needing the bathroom.  The other blocks have been prioritised as urgent for early in the new year.   We have also completely upgraded the lighting in our hall and on stage.  Not only will this improvement save us as we have only used power-saving equipment, but we are revelling in the brightness and lighting on the stage.

We are also spreading topsoil and fertiliser on our hockey field and other areas in the school in an attempt to level and repair, and in the hope of making the most of the rain we are hoping will fall.

Of course, the highlight of this past week was our Senior Prize Giving.  Space does not permit mention of all children who were awarded last night but not seeing your name in print here does not mean that your achievement is not recognised or is of lesser importance to someone mentioned here.  All our award winners can be very proud of their achievements.  It was a pleasure to honour you last night.  Congratulations to everyone who attended – both children and parents.  A list of some of the awards follows:

Sporting/Cultural/Special Awards

Junior Victrix Ludorum – Cheyanne Ensor; Senior Victrix Ludorum (shared) – Ntando Nkosi and Nkateko Nkosi, Senior Victor Ludorum – Xadrian Hattingh, TheBenic Trophy for Sportsman of the Year – Gift Sibanyoni, The Jackie Stott Trophy for the 2016 Sportswoman of the Year – Ntando Nkosi, The Christopher Rolfe Trophy for the Best All Rounder in Grade 6 – Curstan Roestoff, The Lesley Cup for Loyalty and Integrity towards the School since Grade 1- Chad Hartley, The McCarthy Mine Machinery Trophy for the Best Environmentalist – Ulender  Shabangu, The Stock Family Trophy for International Achievement (shared) – Londeka Mbokane and Andiswa Mashibini, The van Tonder Award for Service above Self – Shadrian Greaver, The Goodman Cup for Perseverance – Cassandra Tonge, The Thonno Marshall Cup for Diligence – Sehlope Makgwane, The Fellowship Cup for Personality of the Year – Musa Sibanyoni, The Griffiths Cup for the Most Enquiring Mind – Liam Murdoch, The Lorna Bannatyne Cup for Loyalty and Integrity in Grade 7 – Thandulwazi Sibiya.

 

 

Leader Awards

The McKechnie Cup for the Best Boy and Girl Leaders – Adriaan van den Heever and Omolemo Molefe, The Lavagna Plate for the Most Outstanding Leader in 2016 – Megan van der Merwe, The Glenda Schmoll Cup for the Highest Academic Achievement in Grade 4 – Motheo Manzi, The Curtain Dream Trophy for the Highest Academic Achiever in Grade 5 – Kgabo Makgwane, The Rain Cane Trophy for the Highest Academic Achiever in Grade 6 – Londeka Mbokane, The Dux Scholar for 2016 – Mikateko Muthimba.

2017 Leader Awards: The Deputy Head Leaders – Curstan Roestoff and Joey Mqhayi. Head Leaders – Maria Madisha and Joseph Pereira.

A friendly reminder – if you have school fees outstanding you will have to fetch your child’s report from our administrative office on the last school day.  What usually happens is that we have really long queues on that day so you are advised, in order to make things easier for yourself, to pay ALL outstanding moneys BEFORE the end of this month.  This includes payments due for lost or damaged text/readers or Media Centre books.  Of course, easiest of all in this instance, is to FIND the book and return it but if you’d prefer you can just send R200 to school with your child who will then be able to collect his/her report from his/her class teacher.

Dates to remember

Final Assembly – Friday 11^th November.

As of Monday 14^th November school will closes at 12:00.  Children must be collected at that time.  NO children, other than those whose parents pay for Aftercare may be on the property in the afternoons.

Exams start on 14^th November and continue until 23^rd November.

School Fee Meeting –24^th November at 18h00

Gr R Graduation – 23^rd November (Gr R parents only).

Yesterday we experienced a rather worrying incident – one of our girls had her cellphone snatched from her when she was walking home, talking on it.  Please teach your children to be vigilant and to not blatantly display ANY possessions, including cellphones.   Thanks to Mr B Wienand who tackled the thief, brought him to the ground and managed to get the cellphone back.

Lastly, this will be the second last From the Principals Desk – the last one will be included in your child’s end-of-year report.  We look forward to a peaceful and successful examination period and ‘wind-down’ to the year.

Yours sincerely

 

Mrs L J  Bannatyne

Principal

Robert Carruthers School

3^rd November  2016

Dear Parents

On Tuesday evening we spent a most pleasant couple of hours at the FP Prize Giving.  What a pleasure it is to see the joy and happiness on the faces of all recipients, the obvious determination to do the best they possibly could from all with ‘stage’ parts in either the Bible Reading and Prayer, the wonderful parody of Cinderella, the choir and soloist.  Well done to all involved and thanks to Mrs S Pearson and her team for presenting us all with such a well organised and enjoyable evening.  Big thanks also go to our loyal and hardworking SGB members who were here – Mr D Sibiya, Mr M Arbee, Mr G Hartley, Mr I Mashiane and Mrs T Davel.

For obvious reasons we highlight only some of the awards presented on Tuesday evening.

Sporting Awards

Athletics – The Maritz Trophy for the Best Junior Athlete – Andile Nkosi

Cricket – The Westley Floating Trophy for the Most Improved Player – Siyanda Mahlangu

The Westley Floating Trophy for the Best Cricket Player – Mnotho Dludla

Boys Hockey – The Pearson Trophy for the Most Improved Player – Nkosinathi Skosana

The Pearson Trophy for the Best Player – Tumelo Mabuza

Girls Hockey – The Freeme Hockey Trophy for the Most Improved Player – Phetho Mokoo

The Trebble Hockey Trophy for the Best Player – Courtney Khosa

Netball – The Westley Trophy for the Most Improved Player – Boitumelo Monamodi

The Westley Floating Trophy for the Best Player – Lethabo Sirakalala

Rammetjie Rugby – The Dave Tippett Rugby Trophy for the Most Improved Player – Amahle Nzimande

Rugby – The Hills Rugby Floating Trophy for the Best Player – Mnotho Dludla

Soccer – The Westley Floating Trophy for the Most Improved Player – Unathi   Nkabinde

The Westley Floating Trophy for the Best Player – Nkosinathi Skosana

Swimming – The Carmen Cant Trophy for Most Improved Girl Swimmer – Megan van der Merwe

The Tippett Trophy for Best Girl Swimmer – Annabelle Davel

The Westley Floating Trophy for the Sportsman of the Year – Mnotho Dludla

The Westley Floating Trophy for the Sportswoman of the Year– Annabelle Davel

 Cultural Award

Kersten Stanley Floating Trophy for the child who took part in the most school related cultural competitions and who participated in the most items at the Artium Arts Festival and who achieved the highest results in all – Lindokuhle Mkhwanazi

Highest Academic Achievements

Johan Woest Trophy for the Highest Academic Achievement in Grade 1 – Khanyisile Hlatshwayo

Felicity du Plessis Trophy for the Highest Academic Achievement in Grade 2 – Kamogelo Maabane

Debi Rolfe Trophy for the Highest Academic Achievement in Grade 3 – Tayyibah Ebrahim

 

We look forward to seeing all invited parents and children at the IP Prize Giving on the 9^th November at 18h30.

The following players have been selected for the Mpumalanga Schools Hockey Provincial Squad – 2017

U/12 girls – Lethabo Nkambule, Kelello Ramoroka and Buhle Mpofu.

U/12 boys – Ashton Mathebula, Piece Ntuli, Dante Marrie, Deangelo Campbell, Monde Sibiya, Joshua Wainaina and Thatego Mogane.

U/13 girls – Aisha Vilakazi and Nomaswazi Ndimande

U/13 boys – Lemare Vengelsamy, Joel van Rooyen and Nkosinathi Khumalo

Congratulations to them all – we are proud of you.  A warning to the parents of all players chosen – please read the letter from the organisers of these trials very carefully as it is a costly tournament to participate in and the school does not pay for it.

School Fees

Nag, nag, nag – some of you are behind with school fees.  Please sort this out immediately.

Dates to Remember

Gladiator Day on Tuesday 8^th November.  Please pay your child’s R70 before then.  If you have not already paid for a lunch pack, you will need to send lunch with your child as that ship has already sailed.

Exams start on 14^th November.  The school day ends at 12h00 from that date until school closes.  Please make safe and appropriate plans for your child to be off the school property and surrounds by no later than 12h15.

Please assist us with administrative planning for 2017 and let us know if your child will not be returning to RCS in 2017.

Finally, an apology to all our Hindu families.  Diwali came and went without any word from us (hang my head in shame).  I know it’s now like closing the stable door after the horse has bolted but we all join in hoping that you and your loved ones enjoyed your day on Sunday for your Festival of Lights.

Yours sincerely

 

Mrs L J  Bannatyne

Principal

 

Robert Carruthers School

28^th October  2016

Dear Parents

Yeeha – we have an SGB approved budget.  At our SGB meeting last night the FinCom presented the 2017 budget to the full SGB and it was approved.  It means that you can come and take a peek at it, if you wish, before the School Fee Meeting on the 24^th November.  We will NOT be distributing or providing hard copies for obvious reasons.  Thanks again to our FinCom and our parent members for their hard work in this regard.  (Mr M Arbee, Mr I Makgwane, Mrs T Davel and Mrs P Lesese) A job well done!

Please remember that ALL outstanding school fees need to be paid by the end of November at the latest.

Please do not forget to put in your orders for a food pack on Gladiator Day on 8^th November (R70-00 to participate and R100-00 for the pack and participation) BEFORE the 3^rd November to give the teachers preparing it, a chance to order what they need.  Halaal packets are available.

As soon as an examination has been written your child’s text book will be collected.  Parents please check the condition of these books and ensure that your child has every book issued.  If any school issued book is lost or damaged you will be charged R200 per book.

Well done to Lindokuhle Mkwanazi 3L who came 3^rd in the finals of the Reading Competition held at Duvha Park on Wednesday.

Please take note that the IP Prize Giving Ceremony has been rescheduled for the 9^th November (18h15 for 18h30) for logistical problems.  Sadly, our original date clashes with a function at our neighbouring school and as parking here is a nightmare when only one of us has a function, we decided to spare you all the stress of having to park blocks away by moving the date.

As you know RCS (and probably all of you) has experienced many, many water problems in 2016.  One that will forever be implanted in my mind is when we were without water here for an entire week.  That’s just not funny with 1157 children and over 60 staff members having ‘bathroom’ needs during the morning.  It was for that reason that the SGB decided that we needed our own borehole as a matter of urgency.  And, so began a really stressful few days.  The truck arrived and drilled and drilled with many of us biting our nails on the side lines because finding water is never a guarantee.  I doubt if even the biggest oil mogul in Middle East was as excited as we were when we ‘struck gold’.  We now hope to never be without water again.

Our Ladies’ and Gentleman’s Club will be hosting their first meeting on the 3^rd November for all interested children in the IP.

It is a sad day for us today as we take leave of Ms Z Mtsweni, who starts her maternity leave and is also relocating to the Midrand.  She has been an asset from the time she was a school girl here herself.  She is an excellent teacher and coach and her departure will leave a huge void.  We wish her well and hope her and her small family have a lifetime of happiness together.  She goes with our love and blessing but we hope that if she ever finds herself back in our city she returns to RCS.

Please make appropriate transport arrangements for your child during the examination time as school will be closing at 12 o’clock from Monday 14^th November.  There will be NO staff members on duty from 12h30 as they will be busy with marking and end-of-year duties.

See some of you at the Camp Out tonight and hopefully the rest of you at any one of our upcoming Award Ceremonies.  Have a happy weekend.

Yours sincerely

Mrs L J  Bannatyne

Principal

 

 

Robert Carruthers School

19^th October  2016

Dear Parents

At last – rain.  Surely this now means that tempers will calm, allergies will disappear and our grass, flowers and trees will have a new lease of life.  We have a lot to be grateful for but this rain probably tops that list.  We are all holding thumbs that this is the beginning of the rainy season so have put Plan B into place to accommodate arrivals in the rain.  On the odd occasion that a child arrives before the gates are open and IF it is raining the child may enter the school through the main office only.  Please do not see this as encouragement to drop your child off early – it is a really long day for a primary school child to arrive before 7 in the morning.  On days that it is not raining the gates will open at our normal times.

In the last few weeks we have experienced TWO breeches of security and have heard, from neighbouring schools that they too have been burgled by strangers entering their property illegally.  For that reason we have put extra security measures in place and ask that you all abide by them so as to assist us in keeping your child and his/her property safe and so as to protect school property.  From now onwards NO parent/visitor may enter the school grounds in the afternoon without going through the front office.  We will have staff members on duty at our Pierneef Ave and Alexander St gates to prevent any entry.

Last week some of our readers took part in the Walton’s Reading Competition and did very well.   Congratulations to Lindokuhle Mkhwanazi who came 1^st in the Grade 3 group and Londeka Mbokane and Kiran Pollen who came 1^st and 2^nd respectfully in Grade 6 group.  We look forward to hearing of further success when they go through to the next round.

Sport

Swimming – we are most proud of Annabelle Davel 3P (3^rd place in butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and 100m Individual Medley) and Catrijn Davel 2P (1^st place in butterfly, 2^nd in breaststroke, back and freestyle) at the Nkangala School League Gala this past Monday.  Good going girls.

Hockey  – we are holding thumbs for our players going to Trials in Nelspruit this coming Saturday – we are expecting good things from all of you.

Please do not forget about the Interhouse hockey matches and end of season celebration tomorrow afternoon.  If you put your name down you need to ensure that you are here to play your match.

Dates to Remember

28^th October – last day for photograph payments.  Please parents take this ‘cut-off’ seriously.  If you haven’t paid by this date your child will not be getting photographs.

28^th October – the Camp Out.  By now you should have received a circular telling you all about it.  We are hoping that you are busy making arrangements to attend and that you have already got your camping equipment out and aired.  We would love to see you here!

1^st November – Foundation Phase Prize Giving

3^rd November – Intermediate Phase Prize Giving

8^th November – Gladiator Day.

24^th November – School Fee Meeting.  The SGB FinCom has already met and I’m pleased to say that besides one or two tiny adjustments, the 2017 budget it ready for tabling with the SGB.  This will happen on the 27^th October.  Thereafter, it will be available as of the 7^th November for perusal in the Bursar’s office by parents who wish to see it before the School Fees Meeting on the 24^th.  Thanks are due to Mr M Arbee (FinCom) Chairman and his team of knowledgeable and hard working parent members – Mr I Makgwane, Mrs T Davel and Mrs P Lesese for their input and assistance with this process.

By now you should have received the Term Planner which contains the year-end examination timetable.   Please, please, please – stand over your child to ensure that s/he is well prepared for these assessments.  In other words make sure s/he STUDIES for every assessment.

A big thank you to our Leader Parents who spoiled the staff this past Friday and to our Leaders themselves who conducted an assembly to honour our teachers for World Teachers’ Day.  Both were greatly appreciated.

Lastly, congratulations to the following boys and girls who were elected as our 2017 Leaders.  Almaas Ayob, Lelethu Goqa, Ntokozo Hlabangwane, Nosikhumbuzo Jali, Nkosinathi Khumalo, Melkishuah Mabhena, Maria, Madisha, Thokozani Mahlangu, Azaahyo Mashego, Londeka Mbokane, Nompumelelo Mnisi, Refilwe Mokone, Thobile Moroape, Joey Mqhayi, Alyssa Nel, Celokuhle Nhlapo, Joseph Pereira,  Kiran Ponnen, Theme Ramushu, Curstan Roestoff, Gift Sibanyoni, Philisiwe Skosana, Lemare Vengelsamy and Nathan Wray.  We wish them all a happy and successful year.

Yours sincerely

Mrs L J  Bannatyne

Principal

 

 

Robert Carruthers School

13^th October  2016

Dear Parents

We hit the ground running on the first day of the final term of the academic year and when I see the term planner and what we have to fit into this shortish term I realise it’s going to be run, run until the very end.

Please parents, your biggest responsibility this term is to ensure that your child prepares properly for the end-of-year examinations so that they pass.  In each grade in the IP, this final examination counts a great deal towards a child being promoted or not.  For example, in Gr 7 this examination counts 60% towards the final promotion mark.  Every year we get children who fail the examination abysmally simply because they have not opened a book.

Towards the end of last term, I had a query from a parent relating to the Ladies’/Gentlemen Clubs we are forming at school.  As you all know we are required to have a Quality, Learning and Teaching Committee (QLTC) made up of members of our community – someone from the health sector, our Adopt-a-Cop, someone from the business sector etc.  We have found that there is a great need for some children at RCS to have an adult, not connected to the school, to confide in if needs be.  Mr G Cooper and Ms M Harding (from Victim Support) volunteered in these roles but it was also decided at our last meeting that it would be great to form a ‘Ladies’ and Gentlemen Club’ based on a Code of Conduct (based on common values) which was circulated to all children.  The idea being that boys and girls can discuss aspects of this Code of Conduct (eg Respect) so that everyone has the opportunity to voice their ideas as to what these values mean to them.  I did an assembly on this and introduced the committee to the IP but clearly, from the query I had, some children did not give their parents the full story (maybe they just didn’t understand it).  Here’s the deal.  Both of these clubs are ENTIRELY voluntary and both are designed to assist the children.  Mrs A Arbee and Mrs A Gani will run the Ladies Club and Mr G Cooper will run the Gentlemans Club.

Official school photographs were taken yesterday and today.  We have been asked to give parents an extension until the end of October to pay for these photos which is perfectly feasible.  However, if you have not paid by the end of the month, we cannot give a further extension as the professional company doing this job for us, needs time to have the photographs printed and returned to school before the end of the year.

It has been reported that some parents cannot open the Yearbook DVD sent to you with your child’s third term report.  Apparently, some parents are choosing the DVD option on their laptop.  This will not work.  Just double click on the link and wait – it is a big folder so needs time to load.  A return slip was provided with my last newsletter.   Please complete it and return it to school before the end of the week if you wish to have a say in how we do this in the future.

Congratulations to Megan van der Merwe  7Y  (Creative Writing) and Londeka Mbokane 6H (Vocals) who have been invited to the Artium Festival Concert on 18^th October as they are both trophy winners.

 

Dates to Remember

14^th October – Gr R Colour Festival.  We would really appreciate parental help on the day.  Please volunteer if you are able to assist.

20^th October – Hockey Braai –Interhouse games, swimming and braaiing. Just for players.

Camp-Out – 28^th October.  This year moms and dads or just moms or just dads are permitted to accompany their children.  please be on the lookout for the circular in this regard.

1^st November – FP Prize Giving Ceremony – by invitation

3^rd November – Senior Prize Giving – by invitation

8^th November – Gladiator Day.  Cost R70 per child without a food pack and R100 per child with a food pack.  The food pack will be made up of a hotdog, a bottle of water, a packet of crisps, some sort of sweet or icy and a fruit.  Halal packs will be available on request.

11th November – Final Assembly – Intermediate Phase

14^th November – Examinations start

Please do not forget to pay your school fees.  It is at this stage that we start handing defaulters over to our attorneys for processing.

I end with excellent news.  Thanks to the hard work of our staff and the Parent Committee and of course to the generosity of you, our parents, we were able to make R131 269, 69 at our Colour Festival.  An impressive return indeed.  A lot of fun was had by all and the Gr 4s walked away with the prize for winning the dress-up competition.  Well done to everyone involved and big, big thanks.

We look forward to a having a good term with you all.

Yours sincerely

 

Mrs L J  Bannatyne

Principal

 

 

Robert Carruthers School

30^th September  2016

Dear Parents

Now that we’ve got three quarters of the year under our belts, we reflect on what we have achieved and what we still need to do.  Scary stuff, when we think about how much we need to cram into the last term before we can claim to be finished for the year.  Looking back, I’m pleased to say that we have achieved all our goals and are on track.  Please study this progress report closely and take to heart the teacher’s comment so that you can assist your child to achieve success in his/her final examinations; which will be upon us sooner than we imagine.  As you know the final progress report only states whether the child has progressed or needs to repeat the grade.

Please take note of what still needs to be achieved before we break for the long summer holiday – two (FP and IP) Prize Giving Ceremonies, a Pre-School Graduation Ceremony, an SGB By-Election, a School Fee and Budget Meeting and all the administrative jobs required to ensure we are ready to start teaching in the first day in 2017.

We have finished the first draft of our 2017 Budget and will be meeting with our FinCom parents Mr M Arbee, Mr I Makgwane, Mrs T Davel and Ms P Lesese in the first week of the new term to put the finishing touches to it.  As stated earlier, we are cutting costs to the bone as we are still not certain of the economic future but, of course, we also need to ensure that we have the wherewithal to meet our needs and maintain our standards.  Please be on the lookout for the School Fee/Budget Meeting date.  Your term planner will be issued early in Term 4.

Congratulations our Gr 3 and 6 ‘mathematicians’ who did so well in a Maths Advancement Competition two weeks ago.  Grade 3s – 1^st Engelbrecht Mangere 88% and 2^nd Adil Mirza 84%.  Grade 6 – 1^st Refilwe Mokone 93%, 2^nd Joseph Pereira 90% and 3^rd Londeka Mbokane 80% sharing with four children from other schools.

The Gr 2s enjoyed their outing to Pienaar’s Dam two weeks ago where they got the opportunity to go on a game drive, feed the white lions, ride a pony, build their own hothouse, participate in Boeresports and decorate their own cupcake.  Thanks to all who made it possible.

Sport

Hockey: Twenty of our players attending the field trials in Nelspruit on Saturday 22^nd October will have a separate information letter included with their report.  Please respond to it if your child was one of the chosen players and ensure you return all the necessary documentary to school in the first week of Term 4.  Congratulations also go to Jayden Swart who has been selected for the Pro Series Indoor (PSI) Mpumalanga Mambas Team and will be playing in Cape Town on 8^th December 2016.

Cricket:  Congratulations to the Tigers who came out tops in the Interhouse matches played this week, followed by the Cheetahs, Leopards and the Panthers.

After a real battle we are finally able to distribute our 2015 Yearbook DVD – included with the progress report of the oldest and only child enrolled at RCS who was at the school in 2015.  As you know getting to this point has been an uphill battle because we were messed around considerably by the people who printed our 2014 Yearbook.  They missed deadlines, had their computer struck by lightning, lost all our data and photographs and then, believe it or not, did it again.  We eventually realised that we were not going to get any service from them, so we were not going to get a printed copy of a Yearbook for either 2015 or 2016.  So, went back to the drawing board and discussed the matter with our SGB.  At that level, it was decided to go the DVD route for last year and this one.    After that, we will be guided by our parents.  Attached to this newsletter is a 2017 survey form.  We want to know from you all whether you would like us to revert back to a printed copy of a Yearbook which is going to cost us (really you) about R100 000 to produce or whether we should henceforth proceed with an annual DVD which will end up costing about R10 000 to produce.  We are budgeting at the moment and are trying our level best to keep costs for you as low as possible.

Please return the reply slip below (to indicate your preference) and return it to school before the end of term.

Please also take note.  This DVD contains a great deal of data so once you click on the link you need to be PATIENT and give it enough time to load.  We hope you all enjoy it.

This holiday is so short that if you blink once too often you will miss it.  Make the most of it to recharge your batteries and to spend quality time with your family because once the fourth term starts it will be run, run, run.  Thanks to each and everyone one of you who made term three a successful and happy one and thanks again to our hardworking staff for the value they add to RCS Their hard work and commitment to teaching and learning makes this school what it is – the best primary school in Mpumalanga.

See you all in October.

Yours sincerely

 

Mrs L J  Bannatyne

Principal

DVD/YEARBOOK 2017 REPLY SLIP – return before the end of term

 

I,                                                                                             parent of                                                                             , would prefer (tick which is applicable).

 

A printed Yearbook in 2017

A DVD depicting 2017

 

I understand that a Yearbook will cost me a great deal more than a DVD will.

 

Signed                                                                                                                  Date

 

 

Robert Carruthers School

22^nd September  2016

Dear Parents

If you were not at the Pre-School concert last night or if you are not getting the opportunity to see it tonight you will have missed out on a charming display of what our youngest children are capable of.  For me the most interesting part of observing children on stage is how easy it is to spot the different personalities, interests and characteristics.  In every item the audience was privy to watching the child version of ‘the stage director’, ‘the leading lady/man’, ‘the showgirl/man’, the extrovert, the introvert and the ‘I’m-hating-every-minute-of this’.  The value of such a production cannot be overlooked because even at this young age we will have planted a seed in a few young minds for later employment opportunities.  Congratulations to our hardworking Pre-School staff who always adopt Mrs M van Niekerk to assist.  Mrs Longueira, you and your team have done our school proud; you provided a memorable and wonderful opportunity for every Pre-School child, you showcased our wonderful teachers’ talents and you offered parents an enjoyable evening’s entertainment.  Thanks to you all and to all other staff who assisted you.

Pre-School parents:  we remind you that if you want your child to return to RCS in 2017 either into Gr R or Gr 1 you need to visit our Administrative Offices and complete your enrolment.  This must be done before the end of September.  Thereafter we will be assigning your child’s seat to an outsider who has applied for enrolment.

Whilst on the topic of our Pre-School, a most worrying ‘occurrence’ has been brought to my attention and I urge parents to make every possible arrangement not to drop their child off too early in the mornings.  All sorts of undesirable ‘litter’ is left on our Pre-School pavement, some of it generated by illicit nocturnal activities, and although our cleaning staff cleans up the area every morning they are not on duty until 7:30.  I am told, that children who are here before the staff are playing with some of the pavement litter.  This is unhealthy and dangerous and all children should be discouraged from doing this.  We talk to them about it on our side – please do the same at home.

Please start saving – we will have a professional photographer at school early next term to take class, team and individual photos.  Look out for the photograph circular which will be sent home with your child’s report.

We will be handing out reports to all children after the Colour Festival on the 29^th September.  Please parents, keep it safe, read it and return it signed on the first day of next term.

Sport

Hockey – our U/11 boys played in the Mpumalanga Primary School Hockey Tournament on Saturday, 17^th September.  I was fortunate to watch three of their games and can confidently say that in my totally unbiased opinion, our boys were not outclassed by any other team.  But, it was stressful – heavens, there were times when I thought my heart wouldn’t be able to take the pressure.  And then, after playing their hearts out they missed the chance to go for first or second place after a penalty shoot-out.  How cruel is that?  Long story short, they ended third in the province and we are all very proud of them.  Thanks to the many parents who were there supporting their sons and to Mr P Tau and Mrs N Nielsen for all their hard work with this team throughout the season.

Arts Festival

Afrikaans Creative Writing – Abdullah Arbee, Andiswa Mahlangu and Adriaan van den Heever received Gold certificates and Nokulunga Markhams earned a Bronze.  Well done to them all.

We are having a lot of problem with children who are not adhering to our prescribed school times.  Moms and dads you are REQUIRED to make it possible for your child to be at school ON TIME each day AND you have to make appropriate arrangements so as to ensure that your child is not hanging around our school grounds in the afternoons as well.  You are required by law, to make it possible for your child to abide by our school’s Code of Conduct which includes him/her abiding by prescribed school times.

To end with good news.  Finally our 2015 Yearbook DVD has arrived.  Every oldest and only child who was at RCS in 2015 will be given a copy of it with their progress report next week.  Something to look forward to.

Yours sincerely

Mrs L J  Bannatyne

Principal

 

Robert Carruthers School

14^th September  2016

Dear Parents

This has not been an easy week.  Being without water for the third day now is a complete nightmare and is totally unacceptable.  Although we make plans with dustbins filled with swimming pool water, small buckets and our cleaning ladies scrubbing blocks after each break, having no water is still not an easy situation to manage – despite our best efforts.  To add insult to injury many children were not able to get to school on Monday because of the service delivery strikes in Tasbet Park (how I sympathise with them) so alternative arrangements had to be made relating to the writing of the prescribed tests.

Please parents, it is hot and without water children can easily dehydrate.  Children should be sent to school with bottles of water.

It seems that a number of parents have expressed concerns relating to sporting fixtures continuing during our test week.  Unfortunately, it is not possible to have our test week after league matches because, according to Departmental Policy, every child needs to get a progress report EVERY term and in order to leave enough time for marking, entering marks into the school’s data base, schedule meetings, checking of reports and me signing every single one of them (1138) we need to plan appropriately.  Neither is it possible for us to just drop out of our league commitments at the end of the season.  All children and parents receive a Term Planner (with the Test Week clearly marked) and a list of hockey and cricket matches scheduled for this term, so proper planning should have happened weeks ago.  Being properly prepared for any test or examination does not mean studying madly on the day before a test or examination.  It means doing ALL homework set throughout the ENTIRE term and revising new concepts daily.  If that is done every child should be properly prepared for any test or examination – even the surprise ones.

It is worrying to see just how many children we have in our classes, who do not commit themselves effectively to their attainment of an education.  In many cases the teachers put way more work into the progress report than the children do.  Parents today are going to be judged harshly on how little they expected from their children.  And on how happy they are to accept a mediocre input from them on every level.   A fact of life – ALL children are going to grow up and then they  will be expected to compete on ALL levels for the few jobs available.  Unless they are taught, at this age, that in life they get out what they put in, they are going to be left floundering.

It should be noted that most of our extramural activities have finished for the term yet many children are still hanging around until late in the afternoon.  ALL children not involved in any sporting activity, remedial classes or who are not enrolled in the Aftercare facility MUST be off the property by the latest 14:15.  The gates will be locked after that time as there will be no teachers on duty after that time.

Another disturbing tendency is showing its ugly head at the moment.  As you all know we do NOT permit any sort of bullying but in recent times we have noticed that there are some children here who think that that rule does not apply to them.  A friendly reminder – under NO CIRCUMSTANCES WHATSOEVER will we permit bullying and if incidences of such occur we will deal with them harshly.  Such children will lose all privileges, including breaks, until such time as they are able to act in a more socially acceptable manner.

After the hullabaloo in our media in recent times about school hairstyles and uniforms we spoke to all children from Gr 5 – 7 about the matter.  I was in the meeting with the girls and was really impressed with the mature way in which they debated the issues and in their input and questions.  I believe the same happened in the meeting with the boys.  Well done.  One thing worried me though and that was the question about why children are not permitted to dye their hair.  Parents please speak to your children about child-appropriate activities and point out to them that if they start dying their hair at this tender age their hair will look 70 when they are only 24.

Sport

Hockey U/13 boys lost against Witbank Primary.  Our U/11 boys ended 1^st in Witbank so will be participating in the playoffs this coming Friday and Saturday at the Hockey Farm.  We wish them every success on both days.

Cricket U/10 and 11 lost against Middelburg Laer and U/11.

Yesterday, 151 of our Gr 1 children, accompanied by 8 staff members, visited the Pretoria Zoo.  There were initial concerns about the safety of taking the N4 but after prior investigation found there to be no unsafe problems so the trip took place much to the delight of all.  Everyone reported that an enjoyable and educational day was had by all – even the animals who studied our children carefully.  We hope that the Gr 2trip to Pienaar’s Dam tomorrow is just as enjoyable.

Dates to Remember

20^th and 21^st September – Pre-School concert.  Tickets available from the Pre-School teachers.

23^rd September  – the winning class for the Colour Fest will be selected.  All children know what their grade’s colour and theme is.

26^th September we are encouraging ALL children to come to school dressed in appropriate costumes depicting their own Heritage.

29^th September – the Colour Fest – please parents this event is replacing our Big Walk as a fundraiser  so ALL children are encouraged to participate.  Please make this possible for your child by sending him/her to school with the R100 so that ALL children can participate in the fun.

I end by asking forgiveness from all our Muslim families as I did not wish you all a happy Eid Mubarak in my last letter.  I cannot even blame ignorance because I certainly knew about it.  I shall blame a blonde moment because a senior moment is not something that I’m comfortable with?  My sincere apologies.  We all join in hoping that you had enjoyable celebrations with your loved ones this past Monday.

Yours sincerely

Mrs L J  Bannatyne

Principal

Robert Carruthers School

7^th September  2016

Dear Parents

Recent protests plaguing schools, universities and other centres of learning are somewhat worrying because of their intensity and aggression.  I can’t help wondering whether the frustration obviously felt by so many of our country’s youth isn’t partly the fault of the education system itself.  Could it be that many children actually go through school and get admitted to tertiary education centres without putting in too much effort along the way and then find themselves out on a limb when they actually need to put in the hard work required to pass at that level?  I raise this issue because as you know our third term test period starts tomorrow and I know, without any doubt at all, that a percentage of our children will neither prepare for these tests nor achieve what they are capable of achieving when they write them.  What a pity that is.   Should we not all be expecting children to work hard and study thoroughly in order to achieve the highest academic standard they are capable of?  Should we not be preparing children for the future by teaching them the joy of achieving the best they can – by teaching them that wonderful feeling of self-worth one gets when one has worked hard to achieve something?

As things stand in the world today we need to work together in guiding and assisting children to set goals and to stick to them.  Surely the reality is that the vast majority of children will need to be self-employed as adults in order to put food on the table?  And in order to be successful as a business owner a great deal of self-discipline is needed.  We need to teach the importance of self-discipline at a young age.

It is unlikely that the majority of RCS children regard the upcoming tests (and preparing for them) as one of their most favourite things but we all need to do things we don’t like.  Please assist your child by insisting that s/he study properly and then accept nothing other than the result your child is capable of achieving.

Our Cultural Evening last night, once again showcased the diversity at RCS.  How heart-warming it was to see so many children excelling culturally.  Those of you who were not lucky enough to be here really missed an enjoyable hour watching our talented soloists, choirs, speech choirs and marimba players entertaining us all.  A big thanks to those who were there – there is nothing children enjoy more than performing in front of an appreciative audience.   Thanks to Mrs M van Niekerk, Mrs C Cilliers, Mrs M Badenhorst, Miss K Nortje and Mrs C Botes for their hard work in making such and evening possible.  Thanks to Mr Charles Sihlangu, a friend of our school, for adding the extra touch with the Djembe Drum.  Thanks also to Mr D Sibiya (SGB Chairman), Mr I Makgwane (SGB FinCom), Mr G Hartley (SGB Secretary), Mrs T Davel (SGB FinCom) and Mrs P Lesese (SGB FinCom) for enjoying the evening with us.  It is our SGB, who through proper financial management, make such events possible.

Mrs Yumna Ebrahim and Mrs Chantel Gakis from our Parents’ Committee, sold refreshments before and after the performance and many staff members attended and worked in one way or another  for which we are most grateful.  Thank you all.

Sport

Cricket:  U/12 against Klipfontein lost by 44 runs, U/11 beat C R Swart by 13 runs.  U/10 boys lost against C R Swart.

Fourteen children from various schools in the area competed in the last round of an Afrikaans Spelling Competition.  Congratulations to two of our Gr 7 girls Le-Zyjuan Louw who came 3^rd   and Cassandra Tonge 6^{th .}and to their mentor Mrs C Botes.  Tomorrow Maria Madisa is going through to the Mpumalanga Finals of the English section of this competition.  We all join in wishing her success.

Dates to remember

8^th September:  Third Term tests begin – please consult your Term Planner for specifics.

21^st and 22^nd September:  Pre-School Concert in our school hall at 18:00.  Tickets are R30 per seat and it is recommended that you buy your tickets early so as to avoid disappointment.

29^th September:  Gr 1 – 7 Colour Festival at school.

We were shocked and horrified when we got word of the shenanigans that took place at Witbank Dam this past Saturday and even more horrified when we heard about how many of our children were actually there!  Children as young as 8 drinking and drunk, nudity, underage sex, drugs – the nightmare continues.  My question – why would parents take their children to such an event?  And, how many of our children were there without their parents knowing it?  Moms and dads – you need to know where your children are at all times.  They are still underage and should be behaving as such.   What you see is what you’ll be.  Never forget that!

We end by congratulating Miss D Esterhuizen who made a beautiful bride this past weekend and returned to school as Mrs D Heyns.  We all join in wishing her and Anton a lifetime of happiness together.

Yours sincerely

 

Mrs L J  Bannatyne

Principal

Robert Carruthers School

1^st September  2016

Dear Parents

On the way to school today I was listening to the Aerosmith song Living on the Edge which was a hit in the early 1990s.  The opening line ‘there’s something wrong with the world today’ probably sums up how many of us are feeling in these rather uncertain times.  Since my last correspondence, many troubling incidents have been brought to my office – raising the question for me – do all parents actually know what their children are getting up to?  We’ve dealt with children who go missing from home (on purpose) for weeks on end, to those who test positive for drugs, to those who think it’s OK to steal and/or bully and to those who stand up for the wrongdoing of a friend or team member.

Once again I remind everyone that under no circumstances will we permit criminal behaviour of any nature and that any child committing a criminal offense will be severely dealt with.  And, in the same vein, we will not tolerate any type of bullying.  A friendly reminder – you are the primary caregiver and solely responsible for ensuring that your child acts in an honourable, honest and socially acceptable way.  If you don’t know what your child is up to ALL the time, you are not being a responsible parent.

A big thank you to Mrs T Davel for her endless help in such matters – how lucky we are to have a lawyer on our SGB.

Having said that, let me reassure the vast majority of you; you have wonderful children who add value to our school, who we are very proud of and who, we know, will grow to be honourable, committed and worthy adults.  Thanks to those of you who work so closely with us when things go wrong to ensure that we achieve our mandate – to guide, teach and assist the children to learn the right way.

Onto something more positive.  Although I was called away from school last Friday, I was back in time to see the ‘tail-end’ of the Gr 4 Cultural Day.  What fun!   The children (with the help of their parents and teachers) put on such a good show.  The culturally different food for the most part, looked tasty, interesting and very well presented.  I’m not a brave culinary ‘somebody’ so was not tempted to try the Mopani worms or the tripe but could have gone back for seconds or thirds for the malva pudding.  Yum!  The cultural outfits, so colourful and beautiful, made the day, and the music coming from some stalls added an authentic touch to it all.

As per Mrs C Botes and her EMS Gr 7 classes’ high standard, the Entrepreneurs’ Day was a huge success.  The stalls were well supported and sold a range of homemade and bought products.  At this stage in our country’s history it seems that being ‘self-employed’ is a most viable option for many, so learning young is most advantageous.  Well done to all concerned.

Sport

Hockey Girls against Klipfontein: U/10 won 1-0, U/11 won 2-1, U/12 won 2-0.   Boys against Cambridge U/8 won 7-3, U/9 won 8-1, U/11 won 2-0, U/12 lost 3-0, U/13 won 2-0.

We wish all our boy and girl hockey players every success at the trials this weekend at The Hockey Farm.

Our ‘littlies’ played really well at the Mini-Festival (hockey and cricket) at Kragbron this past Saturday.  U/7 girls beat Kragbron 7-1, U/8 boys lost 3-1 to Kragbron and won 8-0 to Tasbet.  U/9 hockey boys came away undefeated – beat Curro 5-0, Kragbron 7-2 and Tasbet 5-0 and the U/8 girls drew all their matches.

It has been a while since I appealed to parents who wish to volunteer in assisting with sport to talk to Mr P Tau or Ms I Potgieter about it.  We would really appreciate any help we can get.

Arts Festival – English Dramatised Poetry: Gr 4 – Deangelo Campbell 86%, Lamees Ayob 88%,  Tinyiko Khube 85%, Edward Botes 82%.  Gr 5 – Fuad Ebrahim 89%, Kagiso Ndou 80%.  Gr 7 – Omolemo Molefe 90%, Nokulunga Markhams 95%.

English Dramatic Poetry:  Gr 7 – Liam Murdoch, Yasmeen Mohamed 84%, Naledi Mogola 82%.

English Monologue: Gr 7 – Letladi Maswikaneng 78%, Zinhle Mhlope 90%, Cassandra Tonge 86%

Congratulations to Maria Madisha who made it through to the next round of the Spelling B and to our Astro Quiz team who were placed 7^th in Mpumalanga this past week.

It has been brought to our attention that the pockets and hood of our official school jackets are of inferior quality.  We will be in touch with the manufacturers about this but in the meantime please take note of the washing instructions – as awful as it is to contemplate, these jackets need to be washed by hand in cold water.

1. Apologies to any Gr R parent whom I inconvenienced by misquoting the ticket price in my last letter.  The tickets are R30 per seat irrespective of the age of the person occupying it.

Happy Spring  seems a bit inappropriate at the moment as we seem to have gone full steam straight into summer and a heat wave.  All children may start wearing their summer uniforms (in its entirety) as of the 1^st September but we warn that you should not pack that winter uniform away just yet – we are bound to have another cold snap or two before spring/summer settles in.

In heat like this, it is vital that everyone remains well hydrated.   We have had two children, on two different days, collapsing so we need to take care and drink lots of fluids.

Yours sincerely

Mrs L J  Bannatyne

Principal

 

Robert Carruthers School

^25th August 2016

Dear Parents

 

This past week we have had to deal with TWO incidents where Foundation Phase children ‘went missing’.  Parents, please assist us with this matter.  We have rules in place regarding leaving school and procedures to follow if transport is missed or doesn’t arrive, but unless children adhere to those rules we will never be able to keep them safe.  Please instil in your child the need to IMMEDIATELY report to the front office in such instances and please reinforce your own expectations of getting home, with your child.  One child went off with a friend and the other stayed and watched sport on the Gr R playground completely oblivious to the fact that her parents and our teachers were frantically looking for her.  To make matters worse I have been trying to contact that parent since Tuesday – to no avail – as the telephone details they have provided us with, are no longer relevant.  Moms and dads – I cannot stress strongly enough just how dangerous this is for your child.  WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO GET HOLD OF YOU!!!!! By not updating your details with us you are putting your child’s life in danger should an emergency occur.   The Gr 1 visit to the Fire Station was somewhat disappointing.  The teachers report that they were not ready for them although they had confirmed the visit and that they did not, as in past years, take them through the building showing them ‘the fireman’s pole’ and other areas of interest.  Let’s hope that their visit to the Pretoria Zoo on 13^th September is more rewarding.   Congratulations are due to the following children/classes:

 

• Londeka Mbokane 6H and Maria Madishe 6M who made it through to the next round of the English Spelling Bee.
• Le-Zyjuan Louw and Casandra Tonge are going through to the next round in the Afrikaans leg of the same competition.
• Gr 4L for raising the most money in the Sum-a-thon (R4 513.50) and the child who raised the most –  Noluthando Nkambule 4L (R1 730-00)
• To everyone who supported the Sum-a-thon – we raised R61 981.00. Thanks to the convenor Mrs Zeelie and teachers who drove this fundraiser.

 

  Artium Arts Festival We are delighted with the high marks our children are earning in this event.  Congratulations to the following children and the teachers who coached them for the Standstill Poetry item.

 

• Andiswa Mashibini 5S – 82%, Zetah Hendricks 5S – 82%, Kgabo Makgwane 5G – 78%.
• Tshehla Mofokeng 6L – 78%, Celokuhle Nhlapo 6H – 77%, Curstan Roestoff 6L 78%, and Kiran Ponnen 6L – 80%.
• Teegan Ross 7Y – 78%, Sehlope Makgwane 7S – 78%, Omolemo Molefe 7S  – 90% and Nokulunga Markhams 7C 95%.

 

Grade 1 English Poetry – Faizaan Ebrahim 1B Gold, Jayden van Jaarsveld 1A – Silver, Maseeha Bhamjee 1A – Diploma, and Leshego Manzi 1J Gold.   Sport Some of our Gr 7 boys, accompanied by Mr P Tau and Mr B Wienand, went to Rustenburg this past weekend to take part in a 7s rugby tournament.  Our team was one of fifteen participating schools and made it through to the Bowl Finals.  Well done to all. Hockey Girls against Cambridge – U/10 won 4-1. U/11 drew 0-0, U/12 lost 1-0 and U/13 lost 2-1.  Boys against Curro – U/13 won 3-1, U/11 won 5-0.   Third Term Tests Please consult your Term Planner for the end-of-term test timetable and please assist your child by insisting that s/he prepare properly.  These assessments are very important as they are the beginning of proper preparation for the end-of-year examinations.

8 September – Grade 7 EMS

9 September Grade 4 – 7 Maths

12 September – Grade 4 – 7 English

13 September      Grade 4 – 7 Geography

14 September – Grade 4 – 7 Afrikaans

15 September – Grade 4 – 6 NS/Tech

Grade 7 – NS

Grade 7 Tech

16 September – Grade 4 – 7 History

Dates to remember:

• Mini Hockey and Mini Cricket Festival at Kragbron on Saturday 27^th August.
• The Junior Choir will be performing at St Thomas Aquinas School on 30^th August.
• We will be hosting a Cultural Evening on 6^th September where the Junior Choir, Senior Choir and Grade R Choirs will perform.
• Grade R and RR Concert – 21^st and 22^nd September.  Tickets will be on sale from Monday 29^th August at R30 per adult and R10 for non-participating children and may be bought at the Pre-School.  Our Grade Rs will not be taking part in the Colour Festival but will have their own in 1^st week of the new term.

Within a short time we will be interviewing for prospective student teachers for 2017.  If you know of any person wanting to study teaching whilst working at RCS as a student teacher please get them to submit a CV to Mrs Beere before the end of September. At present we are finalising our 2017 enrolment.  Please return the tear-off slip attached at the bottom of this letter so as to assist us with our planning and return it to school no later than the 29^th August (tomorrow would be better).

 Yours sincerely

 

Mrs L J  Bannatyne Principal___________________________________________________________________________________Children Leaving RCS and not returning in 2017.   Is your child returning to RCS in 2017 ___________________________

 

Name of child  _________________________  Gr    ________________ Is this child being placed in another school in eMalahleni in 2017?  If yes please name the school. ________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Robert Carruthers School

 

17^th August 2016

Dear Parents

What a busy week it’s been and it’s only Wednesday!  It started with us welcoming members from our QLTC (Quality, Learning and Teaching Committee) Adopt-a-Cop Ms T Mamarega, Mrs A Gani and Ms M Harding to our ‘It takes a Village to Raise a Child’ IP assembly which stressed the number of people who support and assist the children at RCS ‘in the background’.  This committee has a number of initiatives planned in the next little while to support and guide the children at the school.  Watch this space – we will keep you posted.   A big thank you to all ‘the outsiders’ who attended and who support our school so loyally.

Our Gr 1s walked to the Police Station yesterday and had a great morning.  The teachers were shown the cells (maybe the police noticed something about them that we don’t see) and the experience scared the daylights out of them.  Just to round off their lessons, on People who help us in the Community they will be walking to the Fire Station next week which is also always an enjoyable experience.

At the same time our Gr 3s boarded buses for an ‘adventure’ to visit the Willem Prinsloo Museum. This outing is designed specifically to take folk back in time to an age before technology.  Children learned how things used to be done – by the sweat of the brow and by rolling up sleeves.  Although they enjoyed the experience, most left very pleased they were products of the 21^st century. 

Sport

Cricket

Tennis – sadly the team was defeated by Taalfees on Monday.

Good news – Mohamed Gani, Xadrian Hattingh, Kevin Qiu, (U13),Chad Hartley and Thabiso Mahlango (U12) made it through to the next round of cricket trials.  We all join in congratulating them and wishing them success, a level head and a good eye in the next leg of the competition.

Yesterday U/11 cricket beat Middelburg Primary by 56 runs whilst the U/10 lost by 4 wickets.

Hockey

Congratulations to the U/11 hockey boys who are, thus far, unbeaten this season.  They won against St Thomas 5-0; WCA 2-0 and Klipfontein 1-0.  We are most impressed – well done Mr Tau and team.

On Monday against Klipfontein the boys achieved varied results.   U/10 won 2-0; U/11 won 2-1; U/12 lost 1-0 and U/13 lost 2-1.

On Saturday our Mini Cricket players (U/7 and U/8) and Mini Hockey girls (U/7, U/8 and U/9) will be competing at the Taalfees Mini Festival.  Unfortunately, I will not be there to cheer them on as my youngest granddaughter is celebrating her first birthday on that morning but I know many of our coaches and parents will be there supporting our teams.

Many parents are phoning about reregistering for their child to return to RCS in 2017.  These calls tell us that your child is NOT giving you our circulars and correspondence and you need to row with him/her about that; but you also need to dig in their bag and look for these things yourself.   We sent reregistration forms home in MAY – so you either need to find the form and return it completed or you need to drop a line to Aunty Penny asking for a new one.

It is with regret that I inform you all that at this stage it looks like we will not be able to have our Big Walk this year because we need to find another venue.  Some weeks ago we made enquiries at the municipality and Witbank Nature Reserve regarding their ‘new’ regulations and charges (if you were at the Big Walk last year you may remember the fuss they caused) and we heard this week that they will not budge and permit schools that are fundraising, cheaper rates.   That means that, in effect, we will be putting most of our efforts into raising funds for them because they insist that we pay the following BEFORE they permit us to use the facilities:

Per child R3,50 = 800 children x 3.5 = R2800; Per Adult (including staff WORKING) R19,90 = 150 parents and 50 staff members = 200 x R3980.  Total R6780 before we’ve spent one cent on prizes, chips and water – sadly making it out of our reach.  This is an appeal to any of you who can get that amount reduced – even if you can get them to let our staff go in to work for nothing – to do so.  The RCS Big Walk goes back many decades and it would be a shame to stop doing it. 

 

The good news is that we have another, exciting fundraiser planned to take its place.

Yours sincerely

 

 

 

Mrs L J  Bannatyne

Principal

Robert Carruthers School

11^th August 2016

Dear Parents

What a lot has happened since my last newsletter!  The municipal elections are behind us and South Africans did not disappoint by behaving badly at the polls.  No violence was reported and despite ‘rumours’ attesting to problems, these elections went off well.  Olympians from around the world have been entertaining and amazing us on a daily basis (sorry about Chad le Clos) and the Women’s Day long weekend has come and gone.  Happily, what is most noticeable is that Spring seems to be on its way.

Many thanks to all who contributed money towards a gift for Florence Masilela who, as you know, left us after serving RCS for 40 years.  On Friday we gave her a send-off fit for the fabulous person she is.  We will miss her but wish her a long and happy retirement.  Thanks to your generosity, we were able to buy her a washing machine, wrist watch and a gift voucher so that she remembers her days here with fondness, on a daily basis.    Most fitting is that we took leave of her at the beginning of the Women’s Day weekend because her dignity, loyalty, gentleness and friendly approach to all things epitomises so many South African women.  Big thanks to all staff and children who added to the festivities on the field and to Mrs T Davel who represented the SGB on the day.

Interviews for the General Worker’s position were conducted last week (thanks for spreading the word) and an appointment has been made.  Watch this space – I will introduce you all to the successful candidate in the next letter.

It’s that time of the year again!  Budgets!  They are so difficult to juggle so that we maintain our standards but also so that we do not make the costs to parents exorbitant.  Last year we put forward a ‘bare-bones’ projection and this year we will be doing the same.  Meeting all our financial commitments in such difficult financial times is not easy and we rely heavily on our SGB for assistance with these matters.  Mr M Arbee, as our FinCom Chairman and his team, Mrs C Davies, Ms P Lesese and Mrs T Davel (as well as staff members) will be spending many long hours pondering over the budget before submitting it to the SGB for ratification.  Unlike many schools, we are really fortunate to have parents on the SGB with the knowledge, skills and experience needed in all matters financial.  I’m sure you rest easily at night knowing that our funds are so effectively and well managed.

Besides being budget time, it is also that time of the year when so many of our talented children participate in the Artium Arts Festival.  Congratulations to the following children on their results.

Afrikaans Poetry

Grade 1: Ivan van Blerck 1B 72%; Maseeha Bhamjee 1A 82%; Quwaeyb Louw 1A 85%. Grade 2: Deondre Maart 2P 80%; Cathrijn Davel 2P 80%; Mizelle Rayters 2W 80%.  Grade 3: Emitia Kockott 3L 80%; Annabel Davel 3P 88%. Grade 4: Tyra Hamilton 4L 83%; Lerato Lebyane 4L 78%.  Grade 5: Michelle Mandigara 5S 90%; Omphile Mbewe 5S 90%; Thenora Terry 5Z 82%; Noah Cullen 5F 85%.  Grade 6: Cheneal van Castle 6E  80%; Lemare Vengelsamy 6L 84%; Nathan Wray 6L 80%; Alyssa Nel 6M 88%; Curstan Roestoff 6L 80%; Kiran Ponen 6L 91%.  Grade 7: Muhammad Gani 7Y 90%; Stephen Hendricks 7B 92%; Milandre Isaacs 7C 78%; Charlene Booysens 7B 78%; Caitlyn Botha 7B 82%; Tebatso Mabula  7Y 88%.

Speech Choirs

Grade 5Z 92% and Grade 7C 90%.

Sport

Girls and Boys Hockey

Girls – U/12 won 1-0 and U/13 won 2-0 against Balmoral on 28^th July.  U/10 lost, U/11 drew, U/12 lost and U/13 drew against Kragbron on 4^th August.

Boys – U/11 boys won 5-0 and U/13 boys 5-0 against STAS on 27^th July.  U/11 won their match against Witbank Christian Academy on 1^st August, 2-0 and U/13 won 2-1.  U/7; U/8 and U/9 won their matches at Hockey Farm on 6^th August.

Cricket

U/10 won their match against Taalfees on 2^nd August. U/7, U/8 and U/9 played matches against Greendale on 4^th August and won their matches.

Many thanks to all parents, children and staff who worked together to make our Mini Cricket and Hockey morning such a big success.  The younger children, sadly, do not get any games at all during the season unless schools organise festivals which require many teachers throughout the town giving up their Saturday mornings for the sake of the children.

Our Open Day saw many quality, prospective new parents taking the opportunity to walk around and see what we have to offer and in that same week many of our own parents took the time to come and see the high quality Science Expo projects submitted.  Well done to all – our science department, our children and our long suffering parents who assisted with these projects.

Please do not forget that school fees are due and payable by the 7^th of every month.  We are now in the process of handing over defaulters to our attorneys for collection.  Please, if you have not paid up-to-date, you cannot just ignore the problem in the hope that it will go away.  It will not – it will just get bigger because, once at the attorneys, you will be liable for the schools fees AND the attorney fees.

 

Tomorrow marks THE LAST DAY of our Enrolment Enquiry 2017 period and from 2 o’clock we WILL NOT accept any new enquiries.  We expect it to be a VERY busy morning so ask all Muslim parents fetching children for Friday prayers to collect them at the small pedestrian gate in Pierneef St; opposite the Gr 4 classrooms.   Please remember, if you come to school to submit enrolment forms they will not be accepted without ALL certified supporting documents.

 

Yours sincerely

Mrs L J  Bannatyne

Principal

 

21^st July 2016

Dear Parents

Although we’ve only been back at school for four days, we have rather a lot of news today.  Simply because so many of our staff worked during the holidays for the benefit of the RCS children.

Sport

Hockey – four different groups went on tour during this time.  Our U/13 boys and girls represented Mpumalanga at the SA Winter Games in Durban from 10^th – 15^th July preceded by a training camp at the Hockey Farm for three 2 hour practice sessions with Mrs S Pearson and Mr P Fourie. 

Everyone enjoyed their tour, learned a lot and did their best.  Our boys finished 6^th nationally and our girls 9^th.  Congratulations and thanks to the accompanying coaches Ms S Pearson, Ms Mtsweni, Mr P Fourie and Mr Wienand who gave up much of their July holidays to help the children.

During the first week of the holidays U/11 boys (the girls from 26^th – 29^th July) attended a training camp in White River.  All report that it was an enjoyable, worthwhile exercise from which they benefited greatly.  Our players were complimented on their good behaviour, excellent manners and eagerness to learn.  Well done boys and girls – you make us proud.  Thanks to Mr P Tau, Ms M Spottiswoode, Ms G Basson, Ms R Korff and Ms T Grant who accompanied the teams. Also big thanks to Ms N Nielsen for coordinating all the tours.

Cricket

Thanks to the efforts of Mr Snyman, Miss Jamieson, Miss Smith and Miss Korff a successful holiday clinic was held on our own grounds from 4^th – 7^th July.  They managed to entice a couple of Mpumalanga coaches to assist – adding further value to the whole exercise.  Our players worked hard at improving their skills, were committed and enthusiastic.  We are hoping to see the same dedication and effort applied in the upcoming cricket season.

 

As mentioned in a previous newsletter Londeka Mbokane Gr 6, Andiswa Mashibini Gr 5 and Khanyisa Zulu Gr 4 were chosen to compete in New York in the Talent America singing competition after they achieved golds at Talent Africa.  Sadly, this trip of a life-time has come and gone but no doubt the memories of their travel opportunity and SUCCESS will last forever.  All three girls obtained a first position – Londeka Mbokane and Andiswa Mashibini for their duet ‘Deep in Africa’ and Khanyisa Zulu for her solo ‘I will always love you’.  We are overwhelmed by their achievements – wow!  Who would have thought that three young ladies from platteland eMalahleni could leave their mark on a world stage?  We are so proud of you all and of course, of Mrs C Cilliers, whose talent in this field always gets the best out of our singers.

Mandela Day

As you know, we returned to school on Mandela Day and despite our best efforts to send a ‘reminder’ SMS to all parents for the Blood Drive scheduled for that day, no message went out as our phone lines were down.  We were a bit apprehensive about how many parents would remember their pledge to donate blood three weeks prior to that date, and although we did not get the number of donations expected we are chuffed with the 43 units of blood we did manage.  A BIG thank you to all who donated as part of their 67 minutes for Mandela contribution – you will be happy to know that collectively, we potentially saved 129 lives that day.  As promised all children who managed to get a person here on the morning will receive a certificate of recognition from the Blood Bank.

On the same day the Grade 4s visited Witbank Hospital armed with sweet packages to hand out to patients, nurses and doctors.  Initially our children were reluctant to interact with the children patients because they found their wounds (especially burns) heart breaking.  However, they eventually did go into the wards and came away a lot more aware of the need to be careful around boiling water, candles, stoves and heaters.  The perfect 67 Minutes projects – both the givers and the receivers benefitted from the exercise.  Our children were very well behaved and came away acknowledging that we all need to be more conscience of all we have to be grateful for.

The Gr 5 group remained at school and made ‘Positive Posters’ to inspire teachers and peers.  They will be laminated and displayed around the school.

The Gr 6 group wrote messages of hope on helium-filled balloons which were released on the day.

And the rest of the Gr 7 group built a Masonite crossword puzzle depicting, through words, the ethos of RCS.

As you know the FP will be doing their 67 Minutes for Mandela tomorrow so watch this space for the report-back next week.

Dates to Diarise

23^rd July – Pre-School Open Day from 9:00 – 11:00 on their grounds.  Please spread the word and get parents interested in enrolment for 2017, to come along and see what we do.

30^th July – Cricket and Hockey Mini Day (programme to accompany next newsletter).  We’d like to see as many parents as possible here on that day support their own child and our school.  An entrance fee of R5 will be charged for spectators.

12^th August – the enrolment period for 2017 closes.  If you are hoping to make application for next year you only have a short time left to complete the paperwork.

Please also remember that school fees for this month were due on the 7^th July.

It was with great sadness that we said goodbye to Ms E Louw who has moved to Pretoria.  She served our school well, was liked by one and all and we will miss her.  Ms R Korff has taken over her classes and we wish her all the best for the remainder of the year.

Finally, we wish all parents and children a happy and successful third term.   Compared to the first half of the year it is a shorter quarter so everyone should already have knuckled down to hard work.  We look forward to great parental support this term.

 

Yours sincerely

Mrs L J  Bannatyne

Principal

 

5^th May 2016

Dear Parents

 

Although last week was one of the saddest we’ve experienced in years, the spirit and generosity of our parents, especially those in 5Z, provided the shining light for us all to focus on.  A huge thank you to Mrs Zeelie, Yumna Ebrahim and all the ‘giving’ parents for making the tea and eats after the school’s Memorial Service possible.  Although heartbroken the Castro family expressed their gratitude to all for their condolences, acts of kindness and support.

 

Believe it or not but it’s THAT time of the year again.  MeD Circular No 27 lays down 16^th May 2016 to 12^th August 2016 as being the time period parents seeking enrolment for a child at RCS for 2017 should make application.  Please spread the word but when doing so, remember to tell interested applicants to take note of the following:

 

1. ALL Gr R children need to complete a new set of Enrolment Enquiry Forms (EEF) as attendance at our Pre-School does not automatically guarantee placement in Gr 1 for the following year.
2. EVERY CHILD, at RCS, from Gr 1 – Gr 6 needs to complete the re-enrolment form your child will be provided with.  This form has to be returned to the school no later than the 13^th May 2016.  If you do not return this completed form we will assume that your child is NOT RETURNING to RCS in 2017 and we will allocate his/her seat to another applicant.  If you are not sure about your plans for 2017 – err on the side of caution by re-enrolling your child anyway to ensure his/her seat is booked.  Once you know for certain what your plans are, please let us know immediately – we do not want to keep seats for children who are not returning in 2017.
3.  The EEF can be downloaded from the school’s web page as of the 16^th May or parents may collect them from the school’s administrative offices.  Parents with children at the school may, ask for one, in writing, via their own child.
4. ALL EEF must be completed fully BEFORE being returned to the school.  NO EEF will be accepted at school unless:
   • It is FULLY completed and signed BY THE BIOLOGICAL PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN making application.
   • ALL required supporting documents are CERTIFIED (no later than three months prior to the date of submission) and attached.  A list of supporting documents will accompany every EEF but can also be downloaded from our web page.  We WILL NOT accept any EEF if it is not complete and accompanied with ALL supporting documents.
5. The school has a comprehensive Admission Policy which is strictly adhered to when determining who will or will not be admitted.
6. As RCS gets at least four hundred more Enrolment Enquiries than we have places for, prospective parents are REQUIRED to make application at more than one school in eMalahleni.  A list of neighbouring schools will be provided with EEF. 
7. In order to accommodate parents we are making our administrative offices open for enrolments at times most convenient for parents.  Thus our offices will be open as of 16^th May 2016 from 07h30 until 09h30 and again at 13h00 14h00 every school day until 12^th August 2016.  Sadly, in order to get on with school business we will be unable to assist you during any other time. 
8. We also request, most humbly, that you do not leave making application until the last moment.  You have been given plenty of warning about these upcoming dates and the time period allowed for enrolments is a lengthy one so every parent wanting to complete an EEF needs to do it timeously.  We will not accept any EEF after 14h00 on 12^th August 2016.

Sporting News

Hockey U/13 girls and boys won the play offs at the Hockey Farm on Friday 22^nd April and will represent Mpumulanga at the Winter Games later this term.

Soccer The U/10 drew 2-2 and U/12 won 5-0 against Cambridge on 25^th April.

Rugby matches against Panorama on 21st April – U/9 won 20-0, U/10 lost 5-10, U/11 drew 5-5 and 1^st team drew 15-15. Against Krielpark on 28^th April – U/9 drew, U/11 lost and 1^st team won 24-0 even though the match was stopped because of lightening.

Netball against Klipfontein on 26^th April – U/10 and U/12 B teams won and they did the same on 3^rd May against Duvha Park.

 

Congratulations to our AstroQuiz team who, under the guidance of Mr C Young, tied for first place in round 1 – competing against 33 other schools.  Thanks also to Mr Young and our enthusiastic teaching staff: we celebrated World Earth Day by planting trees around the school and celebrating the day via art and projects.

 

A big thank you to all who spread the word regarding the administrative post available at RCS.  We received sixty-seven applications which we shortlisted down to nine; who were interviewed on 3^rd May 2016.  Thanks to our SGB Interview Committee for their assistance with this process – Mr D Sibiya, Mr G Hartley and Mr I Makgwane.  An appointment has been made and as soon as the contract has been signed we will let you know who that person is.  Please let any applicants, you told about the position know that if they have not heard from the school by now their application was not successful: although all interviewed candidates will be contacted personally.

Lastly, a happy and memorable Mothers’ Day to all our special mothers on Sunday 8^th May.  Internationally, Mothers’ Day is often commemorated by people wearing white carnations on their lapels if their mother is still alive and a coloured one if she has passed on.  We started this tradition at RCS but have changed it slightly because it is not that easy to get hold of carnations, in SA, in May.  Children should wear a flower (white or coloured as explained above) on Friday 6^th in honour of the mothers who do so much for us all.

Yours sincerely

Mrs L J  Bannatyne

Principal

 

14^th April 2016

Dear Parents

 

The old English saying ‘the best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry’ applies to last week’s From the Principal’s Desk.  Apologies for not getting it done and for welcoming you all back at this late stage but last week seemed to run away with me and I just didn’t get it done.  Term 2 is the longest term of the school calendar and it is during this term that winter arrives with all her problems.  We have already had a taste of what she has up her sleeve for us so a friendly reminder – don’t be caught napping – order your child a winter tie (R80), jacket (R230 – R260) and beanie (R35) now before it is too late.  Although we have dates for ‘change of uniform’ we do trust that parents will make an executive decision if we experience unseasonal cold (or hot) weather  and send their child to school appropriately dressed.  Appropriately dressed means either THE FULL summer or winter uniform – never a combination of both with additions or omissions.  This year we expect ALL children to have swapped into winter uniform by no later than the 3^rd May.

 

Many of you may already have heard, via your child, that RCS now has its very own IRON MAN – Mr P Fourie.  His efforts at this famous triathlon kept us all biting nails all day on Sunday because having to swim (in the OCEAN) 3,8 km, then cycle  180,2 km and then run 42,2 km is a feat most of us cannot fathom.  We are all truly proud of his accomplishment competing in 14:40:21 hours) and have huge respect for the tenacity, determination and hours of training he put into crossing this ‘dream’ off his bucket list.  Well done Mr Fourie.

 

A morning reading remedial programme has been introduced from Gr 1 – 7 in an attempt to improve literacy levels.  Children requiring this assistance identified themselves when they did not perform well in the reading tests administered last term.  We feel that most children will perform far better in all aspects of the curriculum if reading abilities can be improved so we are hoping for good results in this regard.

 

We received good news in the holidays.  Mrs C Cilliers and her accomplished group of five singers performed excellently at the Talent Africa competition and returned with results (certificates and medals) to be proud of.  Andiswa Mashibini 5S, 1 gold, 1 silver; Makomborero Betsva 5F, 1 gold, 1 silver; Khanyisa Zulu 4D, 1 gold, 1 silver; Londeka Mbokane 6H, 1 gold, 1 silver; Lindokuhle Makhwanazi 3L, 1 silver, 1 bronze. We are prouder still of Mrs C Cilliers who was also awarded gold.  Being awarded gold means that the participant has been selected to represent South Africa in New York later this year.  How exciting is that?

 

Please parents – an appeal.  You really are obliged to write a letter addressed to the class teacher if your child is absent for fewer than three days and if s/he is away for three days or more you are required to provide the school with a medical doctor’s certificate.  This is regulation and NOT optional.  Furthermore, if you know your child is going to be away in advance (emergencies only) you need to address a letter to me in that regard and find out from your child’s teacher/s what work will be missed and make a plan to assist your child in catching up that work.  On this topic I remind our Pre-School parents that we are NOT running a playschool.  Ours is a proper school, governed by gazetted school times and hours and you may not pick and choose days to send your child to school or the hours.

 

It is also regulatory that ALL children be collected from school within 30 minutes of their last school-related activity.  Many of our Pre-School parents are guilty of leaving their tiny children at school late in the afternoons.  Please be advised – you are responsible for your child and you need to make appropriate and effective transport arrangements for your child as it is not safe for him/her to be at school, or surrounds, when staff are no longer on duty.  If the trend continues we will have no option other than to ban children whose parents are unable to make proper transport arrangements from extramural activities.

 

Please also remember that our uniform rules apply after hours.  Children leaving after extramurals must either leave in their sports clothing (NOT a swimming costume) or their FULL school uniform – without addition or subtraction.

 

Congratulations to Le-Zyjuan Louw on becoming a Leader, to Chad Hartley who has made the U/12 Nkangala Squad for cricket, to Sthembiso Mabuza, Xadrian Hattingh and Kwazi Ncongwane who made it to the next round for acceptance into the U/13 Nkangala Rugby Team.  Shakeel Gani 3L has been chosen to play tennis for Western Mpumalanga U/11 team. We are proud of you all.

 

Our combined under 11/12 soccer team beat all opposition in the Danone Cup to become the winners of our Circuit – well done to them and Mr P Tau.  We all wish them every success as they take on players in the other two Circuits in our city.  Yesterday our soccer teams returned mixed results: U/7 lost 3 – 1; U/8 won 2-1 and U/9 won 1-0 against Curro.

 

A friendly reminder to all parents of hockey players: a clinic will take place during the July holidays in White River.  Those parents who are paying R200 per month are reminded to keep up with the payments as no child will be permitted to attend this training clinic unless all fees are paid in full.  School fees also need to be paid up to qualify for attendance.

Please keep Michaela Castro 5Z in your thoughts and prayers – at present she is fighting for her life in hospital as she has lymph cancer.  What a brave little girl she is.

To end on a positive note.  To the 417 people who attended our AGM a big, big thank you.  I know that my presentation was probably longer than you expected but I do feel obliged to give you a proper report relating to all activities from the previous year and boy, as you could gather, 2015 was a very busy year.  Thanks so much to our ENTIRE SGB who attended and who have worked so hard, including our two new co-opted members Ms Tanja Davel and Ms Praise Lesese, for the skill, talent and work-ethic they bring to the body.  Thanks to Mr Zebilon Mashiane our deputy chairperson and Mr Daniel Sibiya for the role they played last night and to our FinCom for all their hard work in getting our books audited.

See you all in your pyjamas tomorrow – well done kids – we had an excellent turnout last night.

Yours sincerely

 

Mrs L J  Bannatyne

Principal

 

25th February 2016

Dear Parents

Whew – what a busy week. Seemingly February is rushing to finish and is pulling us all along in its hurry. Yesterday many of our SMT members presented an important workshop on Inclusive Education to all other SMT members in our Circuit. It was a big deal and I’m proud to announce that it went very well and we received many compliments for it. Many, many after-hours went into its preparation so we all feel good that it went well, was appreciated and effective.

Our athletes once again didn’t disappoint at the Regional Meeting this past Saturday. Congratulations to all the boys and girls who are now going through to the Provincial Championships in Secunda this coming Saturday – we know you will do your best and hope that you are all successful because if you make it through you will be going to the NATIONALS in Port Elizabeth in March. No pressure. Boys 13 – Xadrian Hattingh – 7B 1st Javelin; Girls 13 – Thandeka Mkhatshwa – 7Y 2nd 200mH; Girls 12 – Ntando Nkosi – 6E 1st Javelin, 2nd Shotput; Nkateko Nkosi – 6E 1st Discus, 1st Shotput; Boys 12 – Gift Sibanyoni – 6M 4th 150m; Girls 11 – Owami Nkosi – 5F, 2nd 100m, 2nd Long Jump; Cheyanne Ensor – 5Z 1st Long Jump, 1st Shot Put and 1st High Jump. And, again, Cheyanne set a new record of 1,38m – wow!

Clearly ‘love’ pays. Congrats to our hardworking Leaders (and their parents) who managed to raise over R24 500 in the Valentine Week initiative. Njabulo Ngele 2P won the Big Teddy Bear in the Junior raffle and Adriaan van den Heever 7Y won the Gift Hamper. We know you both gave these gifts to your mothers – wink, wink.

Our swimmers also did us proud at a gala in Middleburg on 24th February. Congrats to Samantha Schultz – 4J 1st Individual Medley, 2nd freestyle, 2nd breaststroke, 1st backstroke, 1st butterfly; Daniel Range – 6E 3rd Individual Medley and 3rd backstroke; Erin Davies – 6L 1st freestyle, 1st breaststroke, 1st backstroke; Alyssa Nel – 6M 2nd backstroke; Tracey de Kock – 5F 2nd freestyle; Megan van der Merwe – 7Y 2nd breaststroke, Annebelle Davel – 3P 3rd breaststroke; and Cathrijn Davel – 2P 1st freestyle, 1st breaststroke, 1st backstroke and 1st butterfly – we are very proud of your achievements. Thanks to all coaches who accompanied our team whilst the rest of us were presenting our workshop. We are looking forward to further success at the RCS Interschool Gala on the 8th March. Please diarise this date as it was not stipulated on the Term Planner and we would love to see you there.

A letter relating to the proposed hockey clinic to be held in White River in the July school holidays has been given to all U/10, U/11, U/12 and U/13 boys and girls. Please look out for it because it gives you the option of paying in instalments should you want your child to attend. Unfortunately no player will be permitted to go to the clinic if the full amount has not been paid by the end of May.

We are still having trouble with some Pre-School parents arriving late, with their child, in the morning and some who insist upon walking their child to the classroom. Please ensure that you drop your child off at the gate each morning to allow your child to make his/her own way to the classroom.
The Spell-a-thon (our biggest fund raiser this term) will be written on 3rd March but incentives (bribes if you like) are being offered. The FP and IP class that brings in the most money will be rewarded with a hamburger for each class member and the child in both phases who brings in the most money will receive R500. Every child who participates will receive a certificate. Please support us once again – not only will you be assisting in swelling our coffers but you will be ensuring that your child learns to spell.

Well done Grade 2P; Grade 5G; Grade 4L – your 50c Monster Bottles were the hungriest this week.

Yours sincerely

Mrs L J Bannatyne
Principal

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11th February 2016

Dear Parents

The big news since my last correspondence was our successful Circuit Athletics Meeting hosted by RCS and Taalfees. Although it was touch and go with the weather we all managed to ‘man up’ and put up with the freezing cold in the early part of the day and pretend the intermittent rain was not happening; thus enabling us to finish – albeit later than expected. Mrs W Loots and Mr P Tau are to be praised and congratulated for their hard work in ensuring a successful and enjoyable meeting. Thanks also to our hardworking coaches whose hard work with our athletes led to 23 of our children being selected to compete in the Sub-Region Meeting this coming Saturday. Thanks also to all staff that rolled up their sleeves and got the job done to ensure a positive outcome for all. Last, but certainly not least, we owe a debt of gratitude to Yoemna Ebrahim and her team of hardworking parents who worked tirelessly all morning providing ‘eats and treats’ for all visitors – at a cost of course.

Our parents also need thanking. We greatly appreciate you supporting us by making a plan to keep all non-athlete children at home on the day. We know this often causes inconvenience but non-the-less you did what needed doing – thank you. Thanks also to one of our parents, Mr Gerrie Davel from Rubicon, Mr P Henn from Witcons and Mr F Erasmus from WEES for their generous donations of cool drink and water and to General Hertzog School for providing lunch packs for all officials on the day.

However, the stars of the show were our athletes. How well you all performed – well done. There were times when we felt desperately sorry for you as our athletics togs are really skimpy and the weather really turned nasty. Some children were shivering so much they battled to give their names to the recorders. You have all put in a great deal of work to get as far as you have and we congratulate you collectively for your achievements. Well done boys and girls.

Congratulations to the following athletes who will be representing us on Saturday. Girls u/7 400m and 80m – Akeela Nkosi; Girls u/9 60m – Tshegofatso Phukuntsi; 80m – Nokubonga Masondo; Boys u/9 60m and 80m – Katlego Moela; Girls u/10 Shotput – Lirhandzu Mkhabela; Boys u/10 Long Jump- Learn Nkunzana; Girls u/11 1200m – Makomborero Betsva; Long Jump, 80m, 100m – Owami Nkosi; Shot Put, Long Jump, High Jump – Cheyanne Ensor. Cheyanne set a new record at the Circuit Meeting – 1,35m in High Jump and was the best athlete in the field events on the day. A wonderful achievement and we are proud of her. Girls u/12 High Jump – Omolemo Molefe; Long Jump – Lungelo Mathebula; Javelin and Shotput – Ntando Nkosi; Shotput and Discus – Nkateko Nkosi; Boys 12 100m – Hangwani Ndou; 150m – Gift Sibanyoni; Shotput – Rhulani Mkhabela; Long Jump – Musa Mashiane; Girls u/13 200m Hurdles, 100m and 200m –Thandeka Mkhatshwa. Thandeka also did us proud by becoming the Best Track Athlete on Friday – well done to her. Boys u/13 200m Hurdles – Muhle Masilela; High Jump – Senatsi Sehlako; Javelin – Xadrian Hattingh.

Mrs Cilliers and her young singing group participated in the Talent Africa Singing Competition this past Saturday and were so successful that they have made it through to National Level. Congratulations to Andiswa Mashibini; Emma Swart; Makomborero Betsva; Lindokuhle Mkhwanazi and Londeka Mbokane.

Please take note: – On Wednesday 17th February ALL extra-murals will be cancelled as our entire staff is attending a compulsory workshop that afternoon. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause but we stress, unconditionally, that ALL children from Pre-School through to Gr 7 need to be OFF our school property and surrounds by no later than 14h00 unless s/he is enrolled in the Aftercare facility. Please make the necessary transport arrangement so that your child is collected on time. The school gates will all be locked at 14h00 and no one will be on duty after that time.

As you all know one of our cleaners, Julia Monareng¸ retired at the end of last year. Interviews were conducted and Maccaroni Choma was recently appointed in her place. We all join in wishing her a long, productive and happy stay at RCS

So far so good. Our 50c project is really doing well – thanks for all the support. Please continue to raid your wallets and pockets for any of these coins to feed our very hungry class ‘characters’.

On Monday 15th February I will be doing my morning assembly for all children from Gr 4 – 7 on study techniques because our 1st Term test period starts on the 18th and runs until 29th February. Your child needs to prepare thoroughly for these assessments so please support us and your child in ensuring that s/he does everything necessary to come to school ready for the test of the day.
Thursday 18th Feb – Gr 4 – 7 English Friday 19th Feb – Gr 4 – 7 History
Monday 22nd Feb – Gr 4 – 7 Geography Tuesday 23rd Feb – Gr 4 – 7 Afrikaans
Wednesday 24th Feb – Gr 4 – 6 NS and Tech Wednesday 24th Feb – Gr 7 NS
Thursday 25th Feb – Gr 4 – 7 Mathematics Friday 26th Feb – Gr 7 EMS
Monday 29th Feb – Gr 7 – Technology

If getting your contribution towards our water collection is a problem for you, you are more than welcome to contribute money (put it in an envelope addressed to Mrs S Stander and labelled ‘Water Collection Project’) and we will buy water on your behalf. Thanks to all who have contributed and to all who are still intending to do so.

Yours sincerely

Mrs L J Bannatyne
Principal

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3rd February 2016

Dear Parents

We have finally received the results for the Quintathlon Logical Thinking Challenge and I am very proud to say that RCS did extremely well. RCS did better, in each grade, than the national average for participating schools.
Grade 1: RCS average 70% National average for Grade 1: 67%
Grade 2: RCS average 71% National average for Grade 2: 68%
Grade 3: RCS average 61% National average for Grade 3: 60%
Grade 4: RCS average 66% National average for Grade 4: 54%
Grade 5: RCS average 66% National average for Grade 5: 59%
Grade 6: RCS average 72% National average for Grade 6: 59%
Grade 7: RCS average 69% National average for Grade 7: 58%
Special mention must go to the children who achieved the top results in each grade. Grade1 – Kamogelo Maabane (86%), Aphelele Dlamini and Tanzin Potgieter (80%); Grade 2 – Abdullah Amod (85%), Jovan Sarovic (82%) and Malehlogonolo Taje (80%); Grade 3 – Nobuhle Mkhonta (78%), Maider Raven (77%) and Alina Da Silva (72%); Grade 4 – Noah Cullen and Laquille Maart (77%), Tirhani Usinga (76%), Lethabo Nkambule and Joshua Wainaina (75%); Grade 5 – Kiran Ponnen (78%), Azaahyo Mashego(76%) and Milos Sarovic (74%); Grade 6 – Mikateko Muthimba (85%), Zinhle Mhlope (81%) and Le-Zyjuan Louw (77%) and Grade 7 – Dezhane Adams (88%), Kutlwano Mashiane and Lydia Wilsenach (85%) and Ameera Gani (80%). Congratulations to you. Anyone who wants to know their own individual results should make an appointment to see Mr C Young.
Water Project:
Last week Danica Behr in Grade 4 brought in 125l water, SP Oosthuizen in Grade 6 brought in 200l water and challenged everyone to meet or beat that. Mrs Sharmilla Khan from the Tuckshop donated 500l to the cause. Although we are delighted and thankful for their contributions we are also most disheartened by how many children at our school have not bothered donating ONE DROP to this cause. Is it a case of ‘I’m alright Jack?’ Please folk – so many of our countrymen are suffering badly from the drought and it would be great if we ALL assisted with this project. As I said last week – it doesn’t have to cost you ONE CENT – just recycle a bottle and turn on your own tap to assist someone less fortunate than you. On that note – we are appealing to any parent who is able to assist with transporting this water to the drop-off point at the Jackaroo Plots. If you are able to help us please contact Aunty Penny and she will give you the details.

As you all know we are hosting a Circuit Athletics Meeting on Friday for the 21 schools in our area. That will necessitate us closing the school for all children who are not participating or working on the day. Please make appropriate arrangements for your child to stay at home on Friday if s/he is neither an athlete nor a worker. Athletes please be here on time and properly prepared for a day of competition – which should include money to buy refreshments (or a proper packed lunch with lots of water so you stay hydrated), sunblock, the proper togs and a hat. We look forward to a successful meeting – if last Saturday is anything to go by our athletes should do well. We achieved 18 – 1st places, 13- 2nd places and 23 – 3rd places when we competed against 5 schools. We hope to see some of you here supporting RCS and your child.
Many thanks to all children and parents who attended our Preschool Picnic and our Gr 7 Parents’ Evening – we were delighted that 98% of Gr 7 parents and their children were able to be here. Both evenings were a great success and a friendly and happy atmosphere prevailed – with this in mind we look forward to a good year in both these grades.
I still have to phone parents of children left here after 14:00 in the afternoon. And, we are still dealing with latecomers in the morning – especially amongst our Preschool children. Our starting and closing times are set in stone and you may not ignore them. Please remember that by not abiding by our punctuality rules a child is in breach of our School Code of Conduct. Parents you have a duty to ensure that it is possible for your child to abide by this code as it is binding.
Valentines’ Day is fast approaching and our Leaders will be selling all sorts of goodies to make the day special. Please support this fundraiser.
Don’t forget that school fees are due and payable by the end of this week and that if you want to qualify for the discount you need to pay, in full, before the end of February.
Many parents have, as yet, not provided the school with their child’s unabridged birth certificate – please see to this immediately.
Lastly, please diarise and start saving for our first Gladiator Day of the year to be held on the 16th March. Those who want a ticket that includes a lunch pack will be charged R100 per child and those who wish to bring their own lunch will be charged R70. Your children love this day and it provides great value for money, so please make every effort to make it possible for your child to participate. Every year, before Gladiator Day, some parents offer to pay for a deserving child whose parents are not able to do so. If you wish to do that please contact Mrs Loots.
Enjoy the rest of the first week in February. Ladies, remember that this is a Leap Year which makes it perfectly acceptable for you to propose to the man of your dreams on the 29th February. If you let this chance slip by you will have to wait another FOUR years so don’t be caught napping.
Yours sincerely

Mrs L J Bannatyne
Principal

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27th January 2016

Dear Parents

The 10th school day has come and gone so we can now hopefully concentrate on getting on with day-to-day school business instead of devoting a great deal of time dealing with hopeful parents seeking enrolment. There seems to be a few common misconceptions out there, and in an attempt to make the 2016-for-2017 process more hassle free for prospective parents, I list them here so that you can spread the word before our enrolment period opens in the second term.
1. Schools do not HAVE TO ADMIT EVERY APPLICANT. We have a capacity and once that has been reached we cannot accommodate anyone else.
2. The people who live in our feeder area are given preference because, by law, parents should send their child to the school closest to their residential or work address.
a. Proof of both ARE MANDATORY and no application form will be accepted without it.
b. We check ALL documents handed to us and those found to be ‘suspicious’ are handed to a private detective for checking. Our policy clearly says that if any prospective parent provides the school with false information the application form will be rejected and will NEVER BE CONSIDERED AGAIN. We are funny that way – we prefer dealing with honest people.
3. We advertise our enrolment period extensively and will only take applications during the dates and times stipulated.
4. Any prospective applicant needs to provide us with an unabridged birth certificate for every child being applied for. This process takes up to three months so parents hoping for enrolment in 2017 should start applying for one now.
5. We do not lose or mislay application forms – if we do not have it it was not handed in.
Space in suburban schools is at a premium so hopeful parents should ensure that they make application on time, provide ALL the documentation required and complete the application forms honestly.

We welcome three new student teachers to our staff in 2016 and wish Ms T Grant, Mr B Weinand and Mr A Ruschenbaum a long, productive and happy experience at RCS. We look forward to making effective and passionate teachers out of you all.

On Saturday I spent some time watching our athletes at Curro School and was impressed by the number of parent supporters we had there and by the quality of our athletes. This coming Saturday our athletic team will participate at Kragbron School where the competition will be a whole lot tougher but we are confident that we can beat the best of the best. Sadly, I have other weekend plans so will not be able to be there but I most certainly will be told all about it when I return on Monday. A big thank you, in advance, to Mr P Tau, Ms I Potgieter and all our enthusiastic and competent coaches who give up so many hours and ‘after-hours’ to ensure our athletes are ready and prepared for the season.

There are still way too many children hanging around the school grounds after hours. We know that siblings waiting for a brother or sister participating in an extra-mural activity cannot reasonably be expected to be collected before the brother or sister has finished so we have made alternative arrangements for those siblings. Any child NOT participating in an extra-mural activity or enrolled in the aftercare facility will, henceforth, be expected to sit on the school pavilion and do homework or read a book. No more running around, playing and disturbing others will be permitted. Parents are once again reminded that it is mandatory for them to ensure their child/ren is/are collected on time and any child not able to leave school punctually (because parents have not made suitable transport arrangements) will unfortunately be banned from all extra-mural activities. Please consult your child’s extra-mural timetable and act according to the times stipulated there.

As you know many areas in our country are experiencing severe drought conditions so as a school we are going to be involved in providing water for those who have none. Please support this institutive by sending 5ls of water to school in the next couple of weeks. This need not cost you a cent – just fill a clean bottle with water from your tap, borehole or water supply. If you drink the water please mark the bottle with a DW (drinking water) but if the water you provide isn’t clean for drinking please mark the bottle with SW so the recipients know they can use the water for flushing loos etc.

Please send us ALL your 50c pieces. Every class in the school has a little ‘creature or character’ that has been decorated and designed from a 2l bottle and they are all SO hungry but sadly only eat 50c pieces. The race is on – please support us if you can. We’d hate to see your class’s character starve to death.

Thanks to Yoemna Ebrahim and all the enthusiastic moms who support her (and the school) at the first meeting of our Parents’ Committee for 2016. Judging from the turn-up yesterday we are in for a productive and successful year. Thank you all. How about some of our dads getting involved?

Thanks also to the many parents who attended our Parents’ Evening last week. It was great to see you all again, and to meet some of you for the first time. We had a wonderful turnout and a happy and encouraging vibe here, on the evening. I look forward to catching-up with all our PRESCHOOL and GRADE 7 parents and children tonight at our special meetings planned for your grades. Our Gr RR and R parents and children should go to the preschool grounds with their picnic ingredients including blankets, chairs, food, crockery and cutlery at 17h30 and the Gr 7 parents and children should be in the school hall by 18:00. Please make sure you sign the class list-registers so we know you were here.

Enjoy the last week of January with us – shew this year is already flying by.

Yours sincerely

Mrs L J Bannatyne
Principal

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20th January 2016

Dear Parents

There should be a cut-off date for when it is appropriate to wish someone a Happy New Year and I suspect, if it existed, it would fall before the 20th day in January. However, in light of there not being such a protocol I wish you all a happy 2016, filled with interest, excitement (not too much) and hope that you all make decisions that do not come back to haunt you at a later time. We are prepared for the year with the many challenges we think it may hold and hope you are as well. A warm word of welcome to our ‘new’ families – we hope we spend many happy years together.

An incident which left rather a bitter taste in my mouth occurred on that first day in a Gr R classroom. A teacher’s cell phone was removed from the desk at a time when there were only parents in the room. I’m not thereby saying that it would be OK if a child had taken the phone but certainly I do expect that our RCS adults act honestly and honourably and stealing a teacher’s cell phone does NOT fall into that description. May whoever took that phone feel bad about it forever.

To kick off the year we have scheduled two different Parents’ Evening Meetings in order for you to meet the teachers, get information on what is expected in your grade and interact with the other parents in your child’s class/grade. The first is set for ALL Gr 1 – 6 parents at 17h00 tomorrow evening (21/01/2016). Please make every effort to attend this very important introductory meeting. Each grade will meet at a different venue as listed below. If you have more than one child you will have to decide which group’s meeting to attend – or if mom and dad are here each should support a different grade. Please also ensure that you sign the attendance register because this information is entered on your child’s Portfolio which follows him/her throughout his/her school career.
Venues
Gr 1 – on the grass outside the Gr 1 classes
Gr 2 – please go to your child’s register classroom
Gr 3 – please go to your child’s register classroom
Gr 4 – in the school hall
Gr 5 – in the Media Centre
Gr 6 – please go to your child’s register classroom

On 27th January we are having a COMPULSORY Grade 7 child AND parent meeting in our school hall at 18h00. Besides dealing with what is expected of you and your child this year we will also deal with how to go about enrolling your child into a high school in 2017. Representatives from Witbank High School, Hertzog School, Witbank Technical High School and Patriot High School will be here to address you and answer any questions you may have.

On the same day – 27th January – but on our Preschool grounds our Gr RR and R parents are invited to a picnic/Parent Evening at 17h30. You will get further notification of this via you child.

Last week I met with the chairlady of our Parents’ Committee, Mrs Yoemna Ebrahim, who would like to hold her first meeting in the school staffroom on Tuesday 26th January at 13h00. She is on a huge recruitment drive as this committee would like to get involved with all aspects of school life and asks that if you are able to give up a little bit of time for your child’s school that you volunteer to serve on this committee. Why not come along to the first meeting to hear what it is all about?

We are having ENDLESS problems with the printers of our Yearbook – they seem to fall into that category of people who have a ready excuse for every eventuality. Please do not despair – we have not forgotten about our promise to get this book to every RCS family – it will happen – just not when we originally expected it to.

Just a reminder – our Lost Property Office is open every Monday from 13h30 until 14h30. Please contact Aunty Daisy at this time for any of your school uniform needs or if your child has lost an item of clothing. A BIG thank you to all those parents who DO NOT mark their child’s uniform, sporting gear, stationery and other belongings. We make a lot of money selling items that are not/cannot be claimed or identified because they are not marked. When you are marking your child’s uniform please ensure that you do so on THE INSIDE of the garment (and not with a pen that seeps through to the right side) as it is quite dangerous for your child to be easily identified by a stranger.

By now you will have received your Term Planner – please attach it to your fridge and refer to it often.

For your information here is the list of Grade Heads and School Management Team Members so that you know who to ask for if you have a problem of any sort. Please just be advised that no teacher at RCS will be called out of class during teaching time for an appointment or a telephone call. You need to phone the front office to see any teachers at a time that suits them – AFTER HOURS.

Grade Heads
PreSchool – Mrs N Longueria Gr 1 – Mrs M Badenhorst Gr 2 – Mrs I Potgieter
Gr 3 – Mrs G Basson Gr 4 – Mrs U Lamprecht Gr 5 – Mr P Fourie
Gr 6 – Mrs E Louw Gr 7 – Ms M Snyman

School Management Team Members
Principal – Mrs L Bannatyne; Deputy Principal and Academics – Mrs W Loots; Intermediate Phase Head – Mr A Hendricks; Foundation Phase Head Mrs S Pearson; HoD Guidance Mrs U Zeelie; Safety and Security and Transport Mr Myburgh; FP Discipline, Children with Special Needs and English Mrs A Murdoch; HoD Maths, Science and Technology and IP Discipline Mr C Young; Leaders and Detention Mrs K Bowker; Sport and Extra Murals Mrs I Potgieter; Public Relations and School Uniform Mrs L Maritz; Life Orientation and Leaders Mr G Olivier and Grade Heads; Staff Liaison and Homework Ms M Snyman

We look forward to a successful First Term with your support and co-operation.

Yours sincerely
Mrs L J Bannatyne
Principal

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17th September 2015

Dear Parents

It has come to our attention that there are a number of children who have either lost or damaged the textbook and/or library book given to them by the school. Please remember that you will be required to either pay for the missing book or ensure that your child finds the book and brings it back to school. In these instances the end-of-term progress report will not be given to your child – you may collect it on the last school day from the school’s finance office.

A friendly reminder to our Gr 2 and 7 children and parents to support our composting project by bringing biodegradable materials to school before the 22nd September. Please also continue supporting our ‘bread tag’ collection which is still ongoing and provides wheelchairs to folk who cannot afford them.

Congratulations to Mrs C Botes and her group of Gr 7 Entrepreneurs who held a most successful and interesting Market Day on the 11th September. It is through projects like this that children learn the value of money, how difficult it can be to make money and that running your own business can be an effective employment option. Thanks to the many parents who were here supporting and assisting their child.

Sporting Results

Hockey
Sadly, our U/12 boys lost both their matches played at the Hockey Farm last Saturday so were knocked out of the competition and ended up being placed 8th in Mpumalanga. Thank you for a good season boys and coach, Mr Fourie. I enjoyed watching you in action and know that you could have beaten any of the teams you came across – the moment was just too big at the time.

Cricket
Sadly, the u/9 lost by 3 wickets against Taalfees, the U/10s lost by 3 wickets and U/11 lost by 60 runs against Klipfontein. As an SMT we have discussed the state of our cricket at RCS and will be implementing changes to practicing and skill training before next year’s season.

Artium Arts Festival
Last week I mentioned how well Madian Bates 6M had done in this competition by becoming the overall winner in the Creative Writing section by earning 93% for her written piece. We have since heard that Andiswa Mashibini Grade 4E was placed an overall first in the Vocal Category and Chaisit Bunyen Grade 7Y won the Music Category. Congratulations to them all. On 19th October all three will take part in a Winners’ Concert (High and Primary Schools) to be held at Witbank Technical High School at 18:00. You are all encouraged to attend this event as it promises to be most entertaining.

School Code of Conduct
Parents and children are reminded that every child attending any public school is, by law, required to adhere to the School’s Code of Conduct. We are finding many rules being broken at the moment and in many instances parents are responsible for this. Mom and dad you HAVE to make it possible for your child to adhere to the school rules. The following behaviours will no longer be tolerated:-
1. Children are still on the school property and surrounds later than THIRTY MINUTES after their last school related activity. Very few extra-murals are on the go at the moment so if your child has told you s/he is playing sport or involved in a cultural activity I would like you to phone Aunty Penny to check whether this is indeed so (0136562247). You need to make PROPER and appropriate transport arrangements for your child to be off this property and surrounds by no later than 14:15 EVERY day as no staff will be on duty after that and gates will be locked. Children who are hanging around after this time will be taken to the Police Station in Louise St. It is unacceptable that this situation has arisen.
2. All children are expected to be in the PROPER school uniform. Please ensure this is done.
3. No child or adult connected to RCS is permitted to litter. Please parents – set a good example in this regard and do not litter yourself. Each morning our pavement looks like a local tip and we know a lot of it comes from people who park on our pavement waiting for their children.

Next week I will be conducting a special Heritage Day Assembly for the IP and on the 23rd September all children are encouraged to wear clothing depicting their own heritage and culture. School closes on the 23rd September at 12h00 and as ALL staff members will be participating in a seminar immediately after school no staff member will be on duty after 12h15. Please make appropriate transport arrangements to have your child collected before that time.

Lastly, as the Rugby World Cup starts this weekend we are encouraging all children to wear rugby shirts or items of clothing in the colours of the South African Flag to school tomorrow at a cost of R5 per child. This is a ‘to be paid for’ Civvies Day whilst the Heritage Day Civvies will be ‘free’.

On behalf of the staff I wish you all a happy and enjoyable Heritage Day weekend as there will not be a ‘From the Principal’s Desk’ next week. If you are going away please travel safely and if you are staying home enjoy the peace and quiet. School will be closed next Thursday and Friday.

Yours sincerely

 

Mrs L J Bannatyne
Principal

 

20th August 2015

 

Dear Parents

Friday is never a good day to send out circulars and newsletter but sadly this week (and last) just ran away with us so I am only getting to write it now.

On a personal level the most exciting thing happened in my life when my second granddaughter and third grandchild was born on Tuesday. It seems she is going to be a most considerate little girl as she only made an appearance at 14:30 so I did not have to take time off work.

Another thing that held up the writing of this correspondence was a very long meeting, on Wednesday, with the Circuit and District, about enrolments 2016. You cannot have lived in this city for long not to know what a huge problem ‘space’ at suburban schools is. It is for that reason that I have regularly reminded parents of Gr 7 and pre-school children that they need to make application as soon as possible. Sadly, if you have neglected to apply for your child in Gr RR or R to be readmitted next year – whether to Gr R or Gr 1 – or your Gr 7 child seeking placement at a local high school you only have one more week to finalise this procedure as the process closes at 12 o’clock on Friday 28th August – which as you know is next Friday. Please understand that we will not accept ANY late applications as we have given everyone plenty of time to get the required paperwork done.

Still on this matter – all parents of already enrolled children – Gr 1 – 7 – were sent a circular about your plans for your child/ren relating to schooling in 2016. Please return it by 26th August as we need to correlate our figures in order to know how many children, in each grade, we can admit in 2016. We cannot allow a situation to arise where we do not ‘replace’ children who leave us with those so desperate to get into RCS. I do realise that it is still early in the year for many of you to know accurately whether or not you will be leaving eMalahleni or transferring your child to another school but I also know that many of you already know so please let us know ASAP. The same applies to those of you who made application for your child at a number of high schools and have now heard that more than one of those schools has accepted your child. If you have decided on one school please let the other schools know immediately so that the seat they are reserving for your child can be given to another deserving candidate.

Sport
Hockey
14th August – Girls – U/7 lost 4-0 against Panorama and drew 0-0 against Taalfees.; U/8 won 9-0 against Tasbet; U/9 won 3-0 against Panorama and Klipfontein 3-0
Boys – U/7 won against Kragbron 3-0 and Curro 3-0; U/8 won against Kragbron 3-0 and Tasbet 5-0 and lost against Ermelo 3-2.

18th August – Girls – U/10 drew 0-0; U/11 won 4-1; U/12 won 5-0 against Onverwacht.

Boys – U/12 won 5-0 and U/13 won 4-0 against Alex Mampane

19th August – Boys – U/13 lost 3-1; U/12 won 2-0 and U/11 lost 1-0 against St Thomas Aquinas.

20th August – Girls – U/11 drew 0-0; U/12 lost 3-0 and U/13 lost 4-0 against Kragbron.

Tennis
19th August our team beat St Thomas Aquinas 37-6.
Cricket
14th August our U/9 team lost against Kragbron
18th August our U/11 team lost by 9 wickets against Cambridge.
20th August our U/13 cricket lost against Cambridge

Mini Cricket
Our teams participated in two matches at the Kragbron mini-festival where the emphasis was on skill development and enjoyment. Thanks to all parents who supported their child and his/her team.

Once again our Robert Carruthers School Junior Choir surpassed themselves and impressed the audience with their high level of attainment on the 14th August at the St Thomas Aquinas Choir Festival. Congratulations to these talented boys and girls and once again to Mrs van Niekerk and Mrs M Badenhorst for their immense dedication and hard work with this group and to all staff and teachers who supported them on the night.

Arts Festival – Instrumental – 18th August
Welcome Nkosi – Grade 7S – Piano 93% and Chaisit Bunyen – Grade 7Y – Piano 98%, 98%, 100%, 100%.

Please do not forget that our third term tests start on Monday and will be written on prescribed days for the next four weeks – please consult your child’s Term Planner and remember that all children are expected to prepare properly for these tests.

Yours sincerely
Mrs L J Bannatyne
Principal