CrawfordTimes 53

SPRING - OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, HEADER HERE DECEMBER 2017

THE

SECRET ISSUE

Every child a masterpiece |1 NO SECRETS! LET’S TALK ABOUT SOME HARD-HITTING ISSUES!

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The last time they were vaccinated they were probably learning to talk

Vaccines are not just for babies. need to be vaccinated to sustain their protection1,2. + Without up to date vaccinations, children become vulnerable to acquiring vaccine preventable diseases1,2 + Ensure that your child is vaccinated with the 4-in-1 booster vaccine for protection against Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis and Polio References: 1. Centre for Disease Control. Measles, Mumps and Rubella – Vaccine use and strategies for elimination of Measles, Rubella and Congenital Rubella Syndrome and Control of Mumps: Recommendations of the advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR, May 1998:47. 2. European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control Guidance. Scientific Panel on Childhood Immunisation Schedule: Diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP) vaccination. Available at www.ecdc.europa.eu accessed 30 November 2012.

Sanofi Pasteur, Division of Sanofi South Africa (Pty) Ltd. 2 Bond Street, Grand Central Ext 1. Midrand , 1685. Private Bag X207, Midrand 1683. Company Registration No: 1996/010381/07

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CONTENTS 03 | SPOTLIGHT NEWS: Teacher Test 08 | FEATURE: 8 Secrets that stood the test of time 13 | HOT TOPIC: Sleepovers, do we or don’t we?

17 | CRAWFORD CATCH-UP: School news 56 | ALUMNUS: Ramona Kasavan

SECRET SECTION 82 | Secrets families should and shouldn’t keep 86 | 13 Reasons why kids kill themselves 95 | The Birds and the Bees

56 | KIDS PAGES

98 | South Africa’s Big 5 Drugs

62 | STATS, FACTS AND FUNNIES

102| Frenemies

67 | TRAVEL: Rolling Down the River

106| Secret Addictions

75 | COOL STUFF: Spy Gadgets

112| Mirror Mirror – The Body Talk

Published by: Contact Media Publishers: Donna Verrydt/Sean Press Editorial Director: Shelley Carroll (ADvTECH) Editorial Manager: Christelle Wolmarans (ADvTECH) Editorial Assistant: Kumari Lewis (ADvTECH) Editor: Donna Verrydt (Contact Media) Head of Finance: Lesley Fox (Contact Media)

Design Director: Candice Masson Copy Editor: Angie Snyman Production Coordinator: Gwen Sebogodi Writers / Contributors: Barbara Eaton, Lynda Eagle Damian Murphy, Dominique Wolf, Donna Verrydt, Margot Bertelsmann, Melissa van Achterbergh Repro & Print: Theta Print & Graphics Every child a masterpiece | 1

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| SPOTLIGHT NEWS |

THE CRAWFORD PRINCIPAL TEST! Technology, and social media in particular, is a fast-moving sector of our society and there are no people more on top of this space than our youth. Kids are speaking a ‘tech language’ to each other and, if you think you know what’s going on because you know what ‘LOL’ means, think again...

We asked some of our Principals to take our little spot quiz to see how in touch they are with the latest social speak.

They were great sports!

Question1: What does ‘BRB’ stand for?

Question 6: What does ‘On fleek’ mean?

Be right back

On point or perfect

Question 2: What does ‘POS’ stand for?

Parent over shoulder

Question 7: What does ‘Salty’ mean?

Getting or giving the cold shoulder

Question 3: What does ‘WYD’ stand for?

Question 8: What does ‘Sips tea’ mean?

What you doing?

Watching drama unfold

Question 4: What does ‘BCNUL8R’ stand for?

Question 9: What does ‘Sus’ mean?

Be seeing you later

Suspect or dodgy

Question 5: What does ‘Noob’ stand for?

Question 10. What does ‘TBH’ stand for?

New person to the group

To be honest TOTAL MARKS OUT OF 10

CRAWFORD COLLEGE PRETORIA: ANDRÉ BOTHA 1. Be rational buddy 2. Pick on sibling 3. What you doing?

(CORRECT) 4. Be seeing you later (CORRECT) 5. Definitely no body 6. Opposite of off fleek 7. Taste you get in your mouth when the Wi-Fi drops you 8. The tea is hot 9. To sus[s] something out 10. To bury the hatchet

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CRAWFORD PREPARATORY PRETORIA: IAN MCLEOD

1. Next round 2. Please offer service 3. Wide angle 4. Binoculars 5. Nope 6. Flipside 7. Cracks 8. Enjoy a cuppa 9. Sister 10. Togetherness

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| SPOTLIGHT HEADERNEWS HERE | CRAWFORD PRE-PRIMARY PRETORIA: SALOCHNEE NAIR 1. Be right back (CORRECT) 2. Please back off 3. What you doing?

(CORRECT) 4. Speak later 5. Hopeless 6. To be the best (CORRECT) 7. Somethings not right 8. Going to take a break 9. Find out 10. To be hot

CRAWFORD COLLEGE LONEHILL: INGO VOGT 1. Bring Raybans 2. Pretty Australian 3. What you doing?(CORRECT) 4. Be seeing you later (CORRECT) 5. Boon 6. Trendy, cool 7. Sweet 8. Drinks alcohol 9. Check out 10. To be heard

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CRAWFORD COLLEGE NORTH COAST: ANDRÉ LOOTS 1. Be right back (CORRECT) Note: Inapproriate answer 2. Eds Piece of s#@* 3. What you doing?

(CORRECT) 4. Be seeing you later (CORRECT) 5. None of our business 6. Really good (HALF A MARK) 7. Bad mood 8. There’s drama/gossip (CORRECT) 9. Shady (CORRECT) 10. To be honest (CORRECT)

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CRAWFORD PREPARATORY NORTH COAST: SALLY-ANNE HENEGAN 1. Be right back (CORRECT) 2. Parent over your shoulder (CORRECT) 3. What you doing?

(CORRECT) 4. See you later (HALF A MARK) 5. Newbie (CORRECT) 6. Oh freak!!

7. Not so nice 8. Gossip-talking (HALF A MARK) 9. Work it out 10. To be honest (CORRECT)

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ROS TRUELOCK 1. Be right back (CORRECT) 2. No idea 3. What you doing? (CORRECT) 4. No idea 5. Someone bad at video games 6. No idea Winner of the 7. Angry most “no ideas!”

8. No idea 9. No idea 10. No idea

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OWEN KUYPER 1. Be right back (CORRECT) 2. Principal on standby 3. What you doing?

(CORRECT) 4. Have no clue 5. Noo boet 6. In a movie 7. Swim in the sea 8. It’s hot 9. Check it out 10. To be heard

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CRAWFORD NORTH COAST: PRE-PRIMARY ROSE HUMPHRIES 1. Be right back (CORRECT) 2. Parent over shoulder (CORRECT) 3. What you doing? (CORRECT) 4. See you later (HALF A MARK) 5. No idea 6. You’re smart 7. Come from the beach 8. Meet you later 9. Sister 10. To be heard

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| SPOTLIGHT NEWS | CRAWFORD COLLEGE SANDTON: MORAG REES

CRAWFORD PRE-PRIMARY SANDTON: DIANE DAWES

All answers exactly like the answer sheet...mmmmm

1. Be right back (CORRECT) 2. No clue 3. What you doing?

(CORRECT) 4. Bye now... See you later (HALF A MARK) 5. Newbie (CORRECT) 6. On point (CORRECT) 7. Difficult, bed tempered or offish 8. No idea! I prefer coffee 9. Suspicious or dodgy (CORRECT) 10. To be honest (CORRECT)

1. Be right back (CORRECT) 2. Parent over shoulder (CORRECT) 3. What you doing? (CORRECT) 4. Be seeing you later (CORRECT) 5. New person in the group (CORRECT) 6. On point (CORRECT) 7. Giving the cold shoulder (CORRECT) 8. Watch the drama unfold (CORRECT) 9. Dodgy (CORRECT) 10. To be honest (CORRECT)

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CRAWFORD PREPARATORY SANDTON: GORDON EWEN 1. Be right back (CORRECT) 2. No idea 3. What you doing?

(CORRECT) 4. Be seeing you later (CORRECT) 5. No idea 6. No idea 7. Being off to someone 8. No idea 9. Dodgy (CORRECT) 10. To be honest (CORRECT)

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CRAWFORD PREPARATORY ITALIA: JILL MEINTJES

CRAWFORD PRE-PRIMARY VILLAGE: CHANTAL SWANEPOEL

1. Be right back (CORRECT) 2. Parents on standby 3. Whatever you do 4. Be seeing you later (CORRECT) 5. Clever person 6. Smart 7. Defensive/aggressive 8. Well mannered 9. Check out a situation 10. To be happening

1. Be right back (CORRECT) 2. Protect your stuff 3. What are you doing? (CORRECT) 4. Binocular 5. Friend 6. On time 7. I’m cool 8. Drinking tea/eating 9. Check it out 10. To be hot

CRAWFORD PREPARATORY FOURWAYS: IAN ROTHMAN

Non-dodgy high scorer

1. Be right back (CORRECT) 2. Parent over shoulder (CORRECT) 3. What you doing? (CORRECT) 4. Be seeing you later (CORRECT) 5. Newbie (CORRECT) 6. On point (CORRECT) 7. Give you ‘cold shoulder’ (CORRECT) 8. Diss someone 9. Suspect (CORRECT) 10. To be honest (CORRECT) 6 | Crawford Times

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CRAWFORD PRE-PRIMARY FOURWAYS: BARBRA KILLIAN 1. Be right back (CORRECT) 2. Positive 3. What you doing? (CORRECT) 4. Be seeing you later (CORRECT) 5. Newbie 6. On form (CORRECT) 7. Not great 8. Does nothing 9. So u see 10. To be honest (CORRECT)

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CONCLUSION From these tests we have come to two conclusions: 1. We have a few creatives among us; and 2. We have no idea what today’s kids are talking about on social media!

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| FEATURE ARTICLE |

8 SECRETS

that stood the test of time

By Margot Bertelsmann re a dying breed. We call it the democratisation t’s not a good time to be a secret, that’s for sure. They’ detractors. Nuclear codes, where the US’s oil fields of information, and like any trend, it has its fans and ard cloak-and-dagger spy fare – impenetrable are, and who’s spying on who: this used to be the stand Wikileaks, Anonymous and, closer to home, info closely guarded by dangerous men. But thanks to keep hidden are increasingly becoming public #GuptaLeaks, activities the ruling classes would rather up our privacy in exchange for information and knowledge. Meanwhile, in the personal sphere, we offer enable geolocation on our smartphones. What entertainment every time we fill in a Facebook quiz or these eight, for starters… secrets could possibly withstand such assaults? Well,

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The Kruger millions

s It’s the stuff of any boy’s treasure-hunting fantasy: billion nds diamo and and billions of rands’ worth of gold hidden in a secret location somewhere in South Africa. When Boer and English settlers were at war between 1899 and 1902, President Paul Kruger made arrangements that, should the British invade Pretoria, the national bank’s reserves should be emptied and physically moved to safety by ox wagons. Kruger was forced to flee Pretoria in 1900, and died in Switzerland four years later, taking the secret location to his grave.

Anybody else who might have known where the treasure was buried died in the war.

Treasure hunters have been seeking the vast fortune ever since. Most believe it is buried somewhere on the Lowveld. In 2001, the Mpumalanga town of Ermelo was the subject of much interest as some Kruger coins were found on a farm. Sabie and Machadodorp are also mooted as strong candidates, but the big stash has yet to be found. Time to invest in a metal detector and take the kids hiking!

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The Amber Room

From 1701 onwards, German and Danish sculptors and amber craftsmen worked together to create the Eighth Wonder of the World: the Amber Room of the Catherine Palace, given by Prussian King Frederick William I to Tsar Peter the Great of the Russian Empire in 1716. Literally a 55-square metre room made of six tonnes of amber, gold leaf and mirrors, it would seem impervious to “disappearing”. Yet 200-odd years later, by which time Germany and Russia’s friendship had properly soured (think WWII), the Nazi army, invading St Petersburg, looted and dismantled the entire room so that it could be rebuilt in Germany. It apparently stood in the Konigsberg Castle between 1941 and 1945, but after the war it r was never seen again. The mystery of the missing Ambe eyey dictor Room has never been solved, with contra witness reports suggesting it was loaded onto a ship which was shot down, but others saying it remained standing while the town was under heavy fire in the last days of the war. In 2003, after much collaboration between Germany and Russia that spanned decades, a replica was finished and installed in the palace.

Coca-Cola and Kentucky Fried Chicken

What’s your poison? The unique taste of the bestselling soda of all time, or a bite of chicken coated in the Colonel’s 11, distinctive herbs and spices? Whichever you choose, you won’t be able to recreate the flavour in your own home... ever! Coke and KFC executives have made sure that the ultra, super-secret recipes will remain so forever. KFC’s original recipe is written in pencil on a piece of paper that’s kept in a vault under heavy human and electronic guard at another, before being the company’s headquarters in Louisville. Half the recipe is made by one factory and half by mix. combined at a third location, so that even employees will not be able to imitate the exact s know the secret formula A similar level of paranoia reigns over at Coke HQ. The company says only two executive understand). When at any one time, and they may not travel together (in case they are killed in an accident, you chooses is itself also a one dies, the remaining executive will choose a successor to keep the secret – and who he drink contained an secret. What we do know is that, apart from sugar, carbonated water and caffeine, the original a has not Coca-Col extract from the coca plant, which is more famously used to manufacture cocaine – don’t worry, s which container contained cocaine since 1903! Coke ships its syrupy ingredients to its factories in nine separate are then mixed together, so that, once again, even employees don’t know what’s in the bag.

The results of the Oscars Hollywood’s biggest annual event, the Academy Awards, keeps things totally lo-fi. Paper votes are manually counted by a team of PricewaterhouseCoopers accountants over three days so that results are not kept electronically and therefore cannot be hacked. When the cards with the winners’ names are taken to the printers, the losers are also printed out on fake “winning” cards – so that nobody from the printers can leak the secret.

On Oscar night, two officials take one briefcase filled with the winners’ cards each and drive to the venue separately, using different routes.

Still, human error can scupper even the best-laid plans: who can forget the bunfight for the golden statue between Moonlight and La La Land in this year’s ceremony, when after all. the wrong card was handed to the presenter? We suspect a computer may be the way to go,

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| FEATURE ARTICLE |

The subject of the song You’re So Vain

“You’re so vain you probably think this song is about you.”

With this line, Carly Simon ensured that her 1972 album would fuel speculation about who it was written about, and also that the protagonist would emerge from a reveal looking worse than even The Bachelor’s most square-jawed love rat.

Carly has enjoyed the public’s frenzied puzzling over the years, and has dropped clues as to the man’s identity, such as that his (full) name contained the letters A, E and R. Mick Jagger, Cat Stevens, David Bowie, David Cassidy, Warren Beatty (who did think it was about him, the vain thing). But in 2003 Carly Simon auctioned off the revealing of the identity of the man to the highest bidder for $50 000, and so told NBC Sports TV channel president Dick Ebersol, on condition he did not tell it on. This year, Carly sang a previously unheard fourth verse of the song for the first time, and added the snippet that the man in the song knows it refers to him, and was very pleased about it, too. Of course he was!

Your own medical history

The US is not exactly known for its spirited defence of workers’ rights – you can be dismissed by a boss without notice, for instance, and it remains one of the very few First-World countries with no mandated maternity leave at all. But if you get an embarrassing disease, rest assured that your diagnosis will follow you to the grave, unless you disclose it on a reality TV show, of course.

The reason? US doctors take their Hippocratic Oath very, very seriously. One upside of living in such a litigious society is that professionals live in fear of losing their jobs over malpractice claims. And the biggest threat to our personal secrets? Electronic records, of course, as they are prone to being hacked. UK citizens are particularly concerned about parting with personal information, refusing to accept the idea of carrying ID cards. They are also contesting the NHS’s proposal to data capture medical records. Over in SA, meanwhile, electronic health records sound like an unattainable idyll… #FirstWorldProblems.

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The Hapsburg napkin fold

problem The world’s most ridiculous national secret, or a geometrical can be g foldin in Napk day? this that has mathematicians arguing to e, Empir arian -Hung Austro the in ty both! During the Hapsburg Dynas folded rately elabo an with ted guests at state events were presen became napkin with bread rolls nestled inside its loops. The shape legend… of stuff the into moved it it, popular, others wanted to imitate al origin the know now ls officia and museums. Only two government imitate to seem can y nobod And method of the imperial napkin fold. but it! You might end up with something that resembles the fold, how can you be sure it’s right? Meanwhile, over in the serious corner, mathematicians have been arguing over the Margulis napkin problem for years – it explores whether you can fold a napkin into a shape that can increase its perimeter. Gripping stuff.

Is there life after death?

Oh yes, we’re ending on the biggie! And, despite our faith, hopes, fears or intuitions, all we know for sure about this one is, every single one of us WILL find out the answer, sooner or later.

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| HOT TOPIC |

PARENTING DEBATES WE’VE HAD AROUND THE DINNER TABLE

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C I P O T T HO

SLEEPOVERS, DO WE OR DON’T WE?

by Candice Appel - ADvTECH Parent

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greement or disagreement around whether or not a child is allowed to sleep over at a friend’s house is essentially a decision that parents make based on previous experience/s, so the reference point is either a positive or negative one. As parents need to respect the decisions made by various families and to teach our kids to understand the difference between “what I am allowed” vs “what my friend is allowed”.

Author of Why my family doesn’t do sleepovers, Tim Challies removed the idea of sleepovers from the table completely – not to be a difficult parent but to rather remove the expectation and explanation. As his children got older, however, they relaxed the rule slightly based on specific circumstances.

In an ADvTECH parenting forum, a sleepover checklist was discussed, which we share here with you: 1. Get to know the parents: Arrange to “pop by” their home (with your child) for coffee before the sleepover, so you can get to know the other parents, and also to understand what other family members live in their home (older siblings, extended family members, etc).

2. Location, location, location: By “popping by” you’ll see where the family lives and ascertain how comfortable you and your child are with the

environment. For instance, some parents will only permit sleepovers if the home is situated in a secure estate. If the home is not, be mindful of what security measures the family has in place.

3. Communication: As technology evolves, the opportunity to be in ‘safe’ contact with your child is a reality. Many kids have cellphones and GPS watches, but if you have decided against these types of devices, then your child needs to know your cellphone number and from where they can contact you – even at 10 p.m. when sleeping out is not such a good idea anymore.

4. Plans: Know the plans! If your teen (for example) is accompanying their friend as their ‘plus 1’, know exactly where they’re going, what they’re doing there, what the transport arrangements are, what time they will be back, and who will be there too. Parents hosting your child should be in direct contact with you and should provide this information upfront.

5. Listen to your gut: If you feel uncomfortable or uncertain of anything at any time, then cancel the sleepover immediately. Upsetting the other child or the family is not your intention, but looking after your child is your responsibility, so make good decisions.

PARENTS, WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Do you let your kids sleep out? What are your rules surrounding this? We want to hear from you. Email your thoughts to us: Crawfordreporter@contactmedia.co.za Every child a masterpiece | 13

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CRAWFORD

CATCH UP

Every child a masterpiece | 17

FOURWAYS PREPARATORY F

ourways had such a full term – student teachers, academics, sport, art, charity, a tea party, a wedding and the birth of a baby, and we are still standing.

After the Stop Hunger project, the management decided to support the Clothes2Good initiative.

Parents donated adult and children’s clothing to the organisation who, in turn, empowers members of the community to start their own businesses to support their families.

The Grade 5s held a tea party for special people in their lives as part of the ‘Dream, Innovate Yourself’ subject. They had to plan and make the decorations, prepare entertainment for the guests, serve tea and then clean up.

Grade 1s playing ‘Who am I?’

The Grade 7s had an early morning in the car park as they wished all their mums a happy Women’s Day. The children were given the opportunity to listen to Matthew da Silva, a physically and emotionally challenged young man who conveyed his message of NEVER GIVE UP – STAY FOCUSED – STAY POSITIVE – STAY STRONG.

Khumo and Rivan making wooden clothes pegs aeroplanes in the Art class.

The Grade 3s learnt about planets and the world and presented a beautiful poem called Planet Roll Call at an assembly. They also used Oreos to depict the various phases of the moon.

The Grade 4 boys and girls learnt to sew aprons and bake and ice cupcakes in the ‘Dream, Innovate Yourself’ lessons.

We had a very successful and fun-filled Interhouse Athletics day. The pupils ran at the speed of lightning, and the parents also had the opportunity to show off their athletic skills.

We also had a successful hockey season.

Pupils received karate, soccer, golf and swimming awards.

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Tiya and Nikolai having fun learning about measurement.

Natasha and Ashen at the Regional World Robotics Olympiad.

Alex, Greg and Ethan were selected for participation in the Northern Suburbs Saturday School Cricket.

Jenna, waiting the table at the Gr 5 Tea Party.

Bhavani and Keira enjoying the Art class.

Itumeleng Malatsi, the adjudicator, Mrs Van Tonder and Mr Rothman, and the winners of the Public Speaking Competition, Sonia and Ruqayya.

Jessica, beautiful and serene on Spring Day

Full concentration as Nathan finishes his race.

Tunde showing off his captivating smile on Women’s Day.

Phases of the moon in Oreos – yummy!

Daniel taking time out to read at the peaceful fountain.

Mini Hockey Team

Glory, Joshua, Katelyn and Edwin, Senior and Junior Victrix and Victor Ludorum and the House Captains and cheerleaders of Cameron that won the Spirit Trophy.

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FOURWAYS PRE-PRIMARY

Teacher Moniccah’s Playgroup children had an exciting morning when the fire engine came to our school. They enjoyed interacting with the firefighters and exploring the fire engine.

Walking on stepping stones, learning how to balance and alternate our steps on a slope.

The bike track is a firm favourite

Practising building momentum to swing ourselves.

A fun morning. Exploring the garden with magnifying glasses to search for insects.

Grade 000 Challenging physical activities build confidence, strength, self-control, poise, kinesthetic awareness, co-ordination and much, much more. Grade 000 children are privileged to have a large and beautiful playground in which to exercise these skills. Here they are also able to experience and investigate nature.

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Grade 00 “The secret of your future is hidden in your daily routine.” – Mike Murdock What better way to discover hidden talents and future interests than through our playful school routine!

Everyone has their own hidden talents. For some, it’s having green fingers! Our Gr 00s show us their wonderful gardening skills as they apply what they learnt in class to keep our flowers healthy and growing!

The Gr 00s are practising their dancing and freestyle moves outside to improve their balance!

Upper body strength is very important and strengthening activities must be practised every day!

The Gr 00s show off their communication and problem-solving skills as they bend, twist and crawl to get through a sly spider’s web, showing us all their hidden moves to outsmart Mr Spider in the classroom.

Lego plays an important role in helping children to plan, organise and execute all critical thinking skills.

A well-kept secret... Ssssh! The Grade 0s have discovered that the treehouse in the garden is a perfect place to quietly read a story.

A perfect balancing act! The Grade 0s discovered that weighing activities do not need to involve a scale. Through practise they learnt that the lid has to be in the centre in order to balance it effectively. They then found classroom objects and tried to make each side weigh the same.

Which do you think weighed more... the Pritt or the dinosaur?

The children are using the iPads, as well as Reading Eggs, to extend their knowledge of phonemic awareness; and to enhance their understanding of how to blend and segment sounds.

The Grade 0s had great fun learning various ways in which they can measure how long certain objects are, without using a measuring tape. The items used to measure all had to be the same size, such as using chairs or Lego pieces.

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ITALIA T

hrough the centuries mankind has always been in pursuit of that one hidden treasure that will set a person apart. That one chest of gold that will make them wealthy. Napoleon Bonaparte said: “Riches do not consist in the possession of treasures, but in the use made of them”, and Paulo Coelho, author of The Alchemist, wrote “If you come here, you will find a treasure”. Both these men must have known about the treasure concealed in Bedfordview, called Crawford Italia. This unique school has within its name, Italia, the qualities which make it special.

Italian

Teacher Carmen with the Gr 5 dancers at CAF

Crawford Italia Team led by Ariana and Jack during the opening ceremony of the Sport and Technology Festival.

“Buongiorno” is the way we greet each other at Crawford Italia. Hearing the children singing Il Canto Art degli Italiani (The Song of the Italians; also called Fratelli d’Italiá meaning, Brothers of Italy) or known as The Italian Anthem, reminds you that we live in a global village where learning a foreign language is second nature. The vibrant Italian culture, delicious food and interesting history is incorporated into the curriculum. In the Foundation Phase, conversational Italian, and in Grade 4 to 6 option Italian, is taught by two true Italians, Signora Caterina Gerin and Maestra Chiara Venturin.

Tatum van Breda Gr 6C

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Crawford Italia’s Technology Team

Zayana Mia Gr 2R

eamwork Together we are stronger than as individuals, is one of the universal truths that cannot be denied. When the U10 Soccer Team played their first match in the Discovery Cup, we could not in our wildest dreams imagine that they would get so far... As they progressed from round to round, they had to rely on each other. No longer did the individuals count, they became a welloiled machine with a common goal – to win the trophy.

They came close, making it to the semi-finals!

sign the children enjoy visiting the Atelier. Seeing them in that beautiful space, engaged in an art project reminds one of the importance of allowing children to express creativity in a constructive way. Hidden within each sheet of blank paper or ball of clay is an artwork waiting to be set free under the guidance of Mrs Cousins. Being inspired by the masters like Van Gogh, or working on a new design, every child at Italia takes part in the annual Art exhibition.

The Grade 5 dance squad were entered into CAF. They were awarded an Honours in the contemporary dance section. Khumo and the girls looked professional in their costumes and the well-rehearsed dance was enjoyed by the audience.

Learning never stops in this school. Walking in the passages you can hear the children being engaged.

Mrs Terry Pretorius and her Grade 5 class are the masters of Kagan structures. Sitting around their tables, with their shoulder or face partners, they find answers to the tricky questions.

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Learning

The annual Italia Master Chef event in Grade 3, offers the opportunity to see how skilful these nine

Gr 1 and 2 Hockey girls with Coach Caylee

Gr 6s supervising the new building.

Gr 1C loading the bakkie for Baby Angel Sanctuary.

Coach Peter with the U10 Soccer Team.

Gr 5 and 6s getting ready for the obstacle course at Klein Kariba.

Bus karaoke as part of

Gr 3C using the NumberSense #CrawfordUnplugged with the Gr 5 Class app.

year olds can be in the kitchen. Keagan Crombie was crowned as the winner after three rounds of competition.

Innovation

Teaching children in the 21st century calls for a new way of looking at education. The skills required are no longer about passing a test by recalling facts. Incorporating Core Skills into the classroom and guiding children to think and reason independently will ensure that children can cope in the real world.

The continuous search for well-designed learning spaces, with WoWo desks and alternative seating, enhances learning. Sensory integration in Grade 0 is done in fun ways to help the children decode the loud and busy world we live in. Building on the Lego walls and designing and testing cars that use kinetic energy are some of the activities you will see at Italia

Mrs B, Marina Macrolpulos, Mrs Meintjes and Miss Macropulos packing food for Mandela Day.

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Oratile, Mokgadi and Bree having breakfast after the SleepOut

Alecia, Logan and Lerato looking for the hearts in the daisies.

Gr 2C, Gabriel showing us that there is always time for a chocolate milkshake during their assembly.

ltruism The dictionary defines altruism as ‘the principle of selfless concern for the devotion to the welfare of others’. Finding the compassion to help those in need is evident at Crawford Italia.

The Grade 4 to 6 children took part in the annual Schools SleepOut in aid of Baby Angels Sanctuary. Spending a night in the middle of winter, in the piazza, proved to not be so difficult. Understanding what homeless people have to endure was a valuable lesson learned. Delivering the baby products and seeing the need of those less privileged served as a lesson in gratitude for all.

Spoil yourself to an Italia assembly on a Friday morning! You can be assured of learning valuable lessons about daisies, making friendship soup, being positive or managing your time, and many others.

“A ogni uccello il suo nido è bello”, translated as “there is no place like home”, is what you’ll find at this hidden treasure of the Crawford group. Ciao!

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LA LUCIA COLLEGE

Our students celebrated Spring Day with a picnic and a civvies day, a Spring Day quiz and an interclass Art competition.

Students showcasing their talent in the performing arts.

Here are some of the performers at the dance production, The Forgotten.

The newly appointed Student Executives embarked on a two-day adventure at Roselands. It was a trip which allowed them to bond and “make a family� of their executive team.

As part of the Crawford College La Lucia Outreach and Life Orientation programmes, the Grade 8s worked in small groups to throw themed parties, which the little Grade R and Grade 1 students of Waterloo are likely to remember with delight for a long time to come.

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Some of the athletes who participated in the Inter-house Athletics Days. It was lovely to see such enthusiastic participation.

The 5th edition of Crawford College La Lucia Rugby Sevens Festival took place on Friday the 28th and Saturday the 29th of July. It was attended by some of the top rugby-playing schools in the province in support of the Ryan Walker Foundation.

There were, without doubt, some players on display that will be donning the Blitz Bokke jersey in the near future! Pictured on the right: Lyell Wylie

Grade 12s practising a titration investigation before their final Chemistry practical assessment. This is a common laboratory method of quantitative chemical analysis that is used to determine the unknown concentration of an identified analyte.

Crawford La Lucia Drumline was victorious in the first annual Drumline competition hosted at Durban High School. This team of drummers whose passion for ‘all things rhythmic’ has brought them together to both explore and develop the exciting world of drumming. With sticks in hand, this Drumline is committed to asking the question “what if?” always seeking to combine traditional Drumline approaches with modern styles and sounds.

A sneak peek of what goes on in the classroom, Grade 11 circuits investigation.

Our extremely talented vocalist, Marianthe Panas performing at this year’s classical Soiree.

Outreach Each of the grades undertook various services: sandwichmaking, collecting foodstuffs and educational materials for a number of outreach projects. It was a noble team effort and a productive day for the students, so 67 minutes well spent. 480 loaves of bread were collected as well as veggies, which were used to make soups at the shelters. These were delivered to two shelters for the homeless, Ekuthuleni Crèche and to a home for the elderly.

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LA LUCIA PREPARATORY

Situated in arguably the most motivational venue for training, Trident Fitness allows the pupils to train within a functional training gym.

Practical lessons and continual assessments aid us in improving general fitness and conditioning in the Sports Option group.

Weien Amy Luo (9) and Xizhi Aiden Luo (6) performed their piano concertos at our Musical Soiree. They also performed these concertos with the Gauteng Philharmonic Orchestra at the Brooklyn Theatre in Pretoria in the Cool Kids Concerto Festival. This is an outstanding achievement for both pupils.

Auditions for this event were open to all musicians in South Africa.

Pupils can explore their own interests and creative potential through STEAM education, and are exposed to cutting-edge technologies.

Through 21st century educational tools, GoLab is able to tap into the powerful educative potential of a young enquiring mind to encourage creativity and innovation, and to ensure that pupils develop a modernised and relevant skillset.

The pupils and staff of Crawford Preparatory La Lucia celebrated the first day of spring with their annual Spring Day Picnic and collection of flowers for the elderly.

The Foundation Phase Department at Crawford Preparatory La Lucia is incredibly fortunate to have a Reading Room where pupils have access to an individualised, graded reading programme. A bank of computers in the Reading Room allows a group of children to work on the Reading Eggs programme while the teacher supervises groups working on different reading and language activities.

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Pupils dressed to celebrate spring day.

The Eco Club consists of a group of dedicated Grade 3 pupils who are passionate about the environment and focus on fun. They created colourful bird feeders and planters by recycling colddrink bottles and milk cartons. The garden is an ongoing project, beautifying our school and spreading knowledge on issues related to the conservation of the environment of our school. A highlight this term has been the creation of an Upcycle garden using recycled materials. The children have had lots of fun and it will be developed as the year progresses.

Providing some early morning entertainment on the Umhlanga Promenade before the start of the Park Run.

During conservancy week, our pupils learned about the importance of protecting our environment. They learned about the care of small pets with Dr Kerry, protecting our environment from air pollution, and the preservation of bees.

Our pupils love to dance. They have specific dance classes in the afternoon which are part of the extramural programme. Here they stretch, refine their skills and most importantly‌ DANCE!

Grade 7 pupils are learning about hydraulics and pneumatics in Technology. They had to design and make a model of a Jaws of Life rescue tool.

Our Crawford Music Festival offers our musicians an opportunity to be evaluated by an outstanding adjudicator, Dr LiezlAnton Nip Timothy Wium Maret Jacobs. The following trophies were awarded: Back row: Gabrielle Aromin, Vicky Chen and Dristhi Ramsumer Front: Jason Warren and Weien Amy Luo Kirano Hiralal

The Grade 1s at Crawford Preparatory La Lucia are exploring a STEAM unit this term. This unit investigates elements of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics. Our young engineers have thoroughly enjoyed discovering the mechanics and workings of various appliances.

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LA LUCIA PRE-PRIMARY THE HIDDEN GEMS OF CRAWFORD LET’S MAKE OUR LEARNING VISIBLE!

Playgroup and Grade 000 The Grade 000 children are ready to shine during their small-group work!

It is here that each group is assigned a specific task to complete. This learning strategy allows children to become actively engaged in their learning while they develop their collaborative and communication skills.

Different ideas are discussed and negotiated as the children learn from and teach each other. Some of the tasks involve teamwork which creates opportunities to practise social skills, problem-solving and decision-making.

The teacher facilitates the learning and often creates an opportunity for the quieter child to demonstrate an idea, or encourages a child to persevere.

GRADE 00 The Grade 00 children practised their Core Skills when tasked with a project relating to the theme of Transport.

The children had to use their COMMUNICATION SKILLS and discuss with their parents the homework instruction from their teacher: At home, design with mom and dad a form of transport out of anti-waste. Build it with mom and dad, then dismantle it and bring all the pieces to school to reassemble in the classroom.

In COLLABORATION with their parents, the children used their THINKING SKILLS to decide what mode of transport they were going to create and build, and RESEARCHED what items of anti-waste would serve best as each part of their design. Using the best TEAMWORK, the parent-child partnership completed the homework task and the children arrived back at school ready to reassemble their model.

The teachers were amazed at the children’s ability to recall the steps in recreating their design as they worked with care using PROBLEM-SOLVING skills to attach wings, engines, sails and design patterns.

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Each class invited their neighbouring class to view the final products. And, the task did not stop here! The children spent time afterwards engaged in imaginary play creating their own small world stories using the best toys ever, their own home-made transport!

HUEYS Our Grade 00 pupils were enthralled as Mrs Berry shared a P4C (Philosophy for Children) story with them called The Hueys in the New Jumper! In the story, the Hueys are all the same until Rupert knits himself a jumper. His friend likes the jumper and knits one too and soon all the Hueys are the same again. The Big Ideas that come out of the story are based on individuality, self-growth and identity, being a leader, and change in thinking. As our pupils are all unique gems, this learning experience encouraged the thinking, collaborating and communicating of the Big Ideas and they were then tasked with creating a Huey that was different to its friends and could sparkle in its individuality. The final result was an array of delightful, differently designed Hueys!

CREATIVE ARTS Box construction and group projects are a firm favourite in the Art Room. Pupils share ideas, laugh, collaborate and problem-solve while creating the most amazing imaginative projects!

GRADE 0 The pupils start with matching the individual sound of the letter to its written form. The next step is writing the letter GRADE 0 using the correct formation. The pupils “A precious gem represents an outstanding person.” then put 3 letter sounds together and realise…. I CAN READ and WRITE Our precious gems, the Grade 0s, excitedly participated in the Crawford REAL WORDS! Preparatory Fun Morning this term. The pupils were put into different groups and During the morning, a group of girls worked with peers that they may not have worked with before. Their collaboration skills were put to the test as they played various games, needing both physical and delighted in writing their words, drawing a picture to match the word and then teamwork skills. What a joy it was to witness hidden talents being displayed all relating the story they had created. Every morning! The pupils who had perhaps not played hockey before, bravely picked morning the pupils ask for a piece of up a stick and wholeheartedly participated in this exciting game. The sack races paper to stick on their vertical board so provided an opportunity for the pupils to show off their jumping and co-ordination skills. It was both fascinating and rewarding to watch our precious gems, completely they can continue making their words come alive in a story! relax and show off their sporting talents!

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LONEHILL COLLEGE 16 CCL students were accompanied by Mrs Muller and Ms van Rooyen on a recent school tour to the USA. They visited San Francisco, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Las Vegas and New York. The skywalk over the edge of the Grand Canyon was truly breathtaking.

At the Alumni Sports Festival held recently, our CCL 1st Team Hockey boys played against our Alumni Hockey boys (and a few staff). For the first time, the score was even at 2-2.

The Grade 10s with Mrs Visser testing green leaves to determine the presence of starch.

CCL Water Polo boys spent three weeks in California during the June/July holidays where they were trained by a number of top coaches including five-time Olympian Tony Azevedo (back middle), who is considered to be one of the best American Water Polo players in recent times.

Grade 12 students showing full concentration in their recent VCAA Life Sciences practical exam.

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CCL cares and our ever-selfless community Outreach team visited 4Paws animal shelter where the team played with the animals, cleaned their living area, took them for walks, but most importantly gave them a human to love for a few hours.

Our Junior and Senior Water Polo players were privileged to be coached for two weeks

by Eric van de Mortel from the USA.

Assembly with a difference. The ‘lonely school on the hill’ in their epic #CrawfordUnplugged Carpool Karaoke Skype Challenge against Crawford Sandton. The Expresso Show on SABC 3 picked up on this and it appeared on the morning show.

We were privileged and honoured to have a visit from Professor Jonathan Jansen to meet the College staff. From left to right: Mr Anwar Karrim (MD CrawfordSchools™ and Abbotts College), Mr Vogt, Mrs Truelock, Professor Jansen, Mr Kuyper and Horace Mpanza (Assistant General Manager)

Grade tutors have an extra important role in our students’ lives. Ms van Rooyen was surprised by her Grade 10 students for her birthday!

Mrs Visser with her Grade 10 Life Sciences pupils. What’s not to love about analysing bone dissection?

Grade 9 Art students completing their painted crumpled portrait task on circular boards which are designed to be hung up from the ceiling at the upcoming Art exhibition.

Grade 9 Life Sciences pupils carefully preparing Grade 8 Technology students their lung models. researched and designed educational activities from recycled material. The students provided instructions for the activities and placed their work in beautifully decorated boxes that were sent to Refilwe Crèche.

The Junior Soccer girls dominated at the Dainfern tournament scoring 6 goals in 5 matches. Taryn Meyer (seated middle) won Player of the Tournament. This team is currently unbeaten in the league.

Mrs Emma Storm’s Grade 9s in the middle of a Movement class which forms part of Option Drama.

Welcome to our new Exec 2018. We celebrated these new appointments at a wonderful informal cocktail evening with all their parents.

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LONEHILL PREPARATORY A

t Crawford Preparatory Lonehill we know that the best way for our pupils to learn is by playing and having fun while working hands-on with their peers and teachers. All too often we see photographs of children, heads down and frowning at their books in class. That is a sight that won’t be seen at Crawford Preparatory Lonehill, where learning is more than just academics and children are taught in a holistic way that encourages participation to bring even the shyest of children out of their shell.

Natural Science Are all solids soluble in water? You can ask our Grade 6s that question and they would be able to tell you exactly how these things work.

Here’s a “behind-the-scenes” look at what Crawford Preparatory Lonehill’s pupils get up to behind closed (academic) doors.

Fractions In Grade 3A we learned that our lunch is not just for eating. And even though our moms told us not to play with our food, we just couldn’t resist chopping up bananas to help us learn more about fractions.

History lessons in Grade 4 Who needs a time machine when you can just be in Grade 4? The Grade 4s had to bring objects to school that are more than 20 years old for one of their recent History lessons. They were asked to collect information about their specific objects and share it with the rest of the class. The classroom was transformed into a wonderful museum for the day!

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Chromatography Experiments in Grade 7 According to Wikipedia, “Chromatography is a physical method of separation that distributes components to separate between two phases, one stationary (stationary phase), the other (the mobile phase) moving in a definite direction. The eluate is the mobile phase leaving the column.” If that sounds very complicated to you, why not come and ask some of our Grade 7s, who did their own experiments, to explain it in Grade 7 terms.

Etiquette We could never send our precious Grade 7s out into the world without them knowing that you should always use your eating utensils from the outside inwards. Bringing up beautiful ladies and handsome gentlemen is high up on our priority list here at Crawford Preparatory Lonehill!

FP Dr Seuss Week Our FP pupils are keen readers and they know every story that Dr Seuss has ever written. But more than that, they know the lessons that are hidden in the stories.

One of their favourite lessons is: “Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.” Dissecting Grasshoppers We know what they look like from the outside, but what’s going on, on their insides? Abby McIlree will be the first to tell you that dissecting grasshoppers in Grade 7 Science class is not nearly as gross as we thought it would be.

Drama On any normal school day, you should be able to find our Drama pupils with only one glance across the campus. Jip, they are the ones running around the school in costumes and stage make-up, reciting lines and working on their improvisation. After all, life is one big stage and we are the actors!

Teamwork makes the dream work!

The Grade 4 pupils had to collaborate with their peers and find information on any animal shelter of their choice. They then had to design and collect all the Music Lessons materials needed to build What would life be without a song? What their own animal shelter at would Crawford Preparatory Lonehill be without its songbirds? Mrs Alison Kapp’s piano school. Architects with big hearts, our Grade 4s! sets the score to which our pupils sing their hearts out.

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LONEHILL PRE-PRIMARY T

Left-right: Anwar Karrim (MD CrawfordSchools™), Owen Kuyper (back), Professor Jonathan Jansen, Ros Truelock, Horace Mpanza and Ingo Vogt

erm three has come and gone in a blink! It’s been a rollercoaster for the entire school as we have had so many activities at our new school and have settled in well.

Amongst other events, we are bidding farewell to our longstanding Principal, Mrs Ros Truelock. Mrs Truelock has been the anchor of this school for the past 17 years. Although we are unhappy to let her go, we are grateful for the years spent with her and all the hard work she has invested in the development of the school. We wish her the best for her retirement; may it be one that is filled with many adventures!

We had the pleasure of hosting Professor Jansen who paid a visit to all the Crawford Lonehill campuses. The professor spent time in the classrooms observing our school’s teaching methods.

He was accompanied by the heads of the Lonehill campuses, Anwar Karrim (Managing Director CrawfordSchools™) as well as Horace Mpanza (Assistant GM for ADvTECH Academies). He also took photos with the children on the playground. We are honoured to have welcomed such a prestigious member of our country to our schools.

It was Dr Seuss who said “The more you read, the more things you will know... the more that you learn, the more places you’ll go”.

This is why our library lessons are most looked forward to by the

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Tanika Naicker chose the colour blue for her spring outfit.

The Ducklings – Grade 00F

children. Teacher Tanya took photos of her class – Grade 0W during their lesson as she was particularly proud of how they had each found a comfortable place to sit and quietly peruse a book of their choice. They all seemed content in this beautiful and quiet space. Teacher Rosie, our Librarian, asked the children to sit in a circle. They sang and counted in Zulu for the remainder of the lesson.

We were all excited to celebrate Spring Hat Day, where we had the most creative display of handmade hats. All the children came in their different designs; it was a bright and colourful day. Teachers also wore their hats but the children took all the glory with their amazing creations. Every

year we look forward to this day as it marks the beginning of a new season and more playtime on the playgrounds.

We had our Colour Run race in August, where parents, friends and family were invited to enjoy the day with us. It was the first time the event happened at our school. All the children dressed in white and ran through the various colour stations, and parents also took part in the race and had just as much fun.

As we say goodbye to yet another productive and fun term, we cannot wait to embark on the next and its new adventures!

Gennavieve Dos Santos, Emily Harrison and Reagan Truscott

Front row (L-R): Lethu Majola, (Clockwise): Jade Woolett, Ava Engelke, Jashin Moodley, Chahil Vittoria Nelson, Jordan Peringuey and Holdsworth and Awonke Nxumalo Kimon Robinson Back row (L-R): Erin Oosthuizen, Abby Williams, Ros Truelock and Professor Jonathan Jansen

Left-right: Angelo Neophythou, Vittoria Nelson, Ava Engelke and Cherize Pobe

Mrs Ros Truelock

The Bird class – Grade 0A displaying their creativity in the garden.

Colourful hand art The runners before the Colour Run race. They were Lenhle Fakude (centre) and all singing and chanting for each other.

Homolemo Ludidi (right) with Lenhle’s little brother (left) after the race

Left-right: Angelo Neophythou, Bryce Edinberry and Simran Naicker

L-R: Jamie Busansky, Wyatt Lopes, Vonai Gavure and The boys from the Wild Animals class – Grade 0C Sienna Mc Mullan Every child a masterpiece | 35

NORTH COAST COLLEGE

CUTTING THE BIRTHDAY CAKE The Crawford North Coast Principals led the celebrations with a ceremonial cutting of the campus birthday cake. The Principals are Mrs Rose Humphries (Pre-Primary), Mrs Sally-Anne Henegan (Preparatory) and Mr André Loots (College).

BEAUTY AND MICHAEL Well-known actor and performer Ben Voss enhanced the 20-year celebrations as he entertained the college students with his hilarious alter-ego character of Beauty Ramapelepele, joined here by Executive student Michael Waberski.

20-YEAR BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION Crawford North Coast celebrated their 20-year success story with a memorable birthday bash that included aerial photography of the students’ formation on the field, dance and musical performances.

CALDEN GIBBS DANCES HIS WAY TO FAME Calden Gibbs (Grade 11) enjoyed representing SA at the World Championships of Performing Arts in Long Beach, California, USA. He won gold medals for Contemporary Solo and Lyrical Solo Dance and a silver for the SA Team Production Dance.

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ALUMNI CAMI RENCKEN, CLASS OF 2013 Cami Rencken has gone on to become a prestigious Alumni as she attained Summa Cum Laude at Maria Carrillo High School in California, before completing a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of California, specialising in Global Diseases.

WORLD POLE SPORTS CHAMPIONSHIP Kyra Ayling (Grade 11) was the only junior representative in the SA Team competing at the World Pole Sports Championship, held in the Netherlands. She achieved a proud 6th place in the overall world rankings.

STUDENT EXECUTIVE 2017/2018 The newly elected Student Executive leader group benefited from a leadership development weekend away in the Natal Midlands organised by their mentors Ms Vanessa Neyt and Mrs Debbie Hill. Pictured here (back row L-R): Michael Waberski, Ismaeel Ismail, Simlindile Mfolozi, Kelly Olivier and Revania Naidoo. (Front row L-R) Dhiresh Thakor Vallabh, Junior Muoe, Karley Lotz, Jessica Broom, Sharon Sarmento and Adéle Botha.

GINA EASTWOOD HIGH-STEPPING THE BALL Gina Eastwood (Grade 10) showed great skill in controlling the ball in one of 180 matches played at the CCNC 12th annual Girls’ 6-a-side Soccer Festival, an event that has become renowned for its camaraderie and sportsmanship.

SURFER GIRLS, OLIVIA AND GABRIELLA Olivia Izzard and Gabriella Lailvaux (both Grade 10) are proving their surfing talents on the circuit as they tied for 5th place in the Junior Ballito Pro Competition. Gabriella went on to earn bronze in the Jordy Smith Invitational.

JULIA VISITS ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER ARTS COLLEGE IN LONDON Julia Durant (Grade 11) gained valuable insight into her future career opportunities by attending a Musical Theatre course at the Andrew Lloyd Webber Arts College in London.

(L-R) Sasson Govender, Sarah Turner, Kajal Singh and Sachin Naidoo

(L-R) Pumie Khanyile, Lebohang Mohlomi, Alexia Morais and Cameron Ensor-Smith

A NIGHT UNDER THE STARS The Class of 2017 enjoyed “A Night Under the Stars” of glamorous entertainment as they celebrated their social highlight at the Collisheen Estate.

MATHS BOFFIN NEWS Sachin Naidoo and Saneshan Narainsamy (both Grade 12) earned their places to compete in the South African Mathematics Olympiad final round, where they get to earn their place in the Top 100 young mathematicians in the country.

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NORTH COAST PREPARATORY Congratulations to our Gr 6 and 7 pupils for achieving Merit Awards and Colours for Academics. They have worked exceptionally hard and are deserving of their achievement.

Damian Naidoo and Mia Maurel were acknowledged for their Academic Achievement at our Academic Award Ceremony.

Sudhiti Rupee, Elizabeth Pillay and Tyler Psiloyenis were very proud of their Academic Achievement at the Academic Award Ceremony for Gr 6 and 7 pupils.

Gr 3 pupils working hard on their mosaic that will be placed in our school gardens. This was part of their Crawford campus birthday celebrations.

Crawford North Coast Campus celebrated its 20th birthday and everyone gathered on the college field on the special occasion. All three schools formed a giant 20 as part of the event.

Crawford Online. Our birthday celebrations theme was Outreach and giving to those who are less fortunate.

Each pupil donated clothes and displayed them on a very big line.

Gr 5R using Kagan’s Round Robin game – “Uses for an ice-cube” and “Things that Roll”.

Some of our Gr 7 boys: Daniel and Prahlad watch as Thorollo braais boerewors for our ground staff and cleaners.

Matthew Scholtz enjoying himself and making every moment count at the Crawford Colour Fest.

Founding staff members Jenny Bamber, Kim Harding, Kate Muller, Bongi Mngadi and Petrus Dlamini, were invited to our birthday celebrations.

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Gr 2 pupils enjoying a lesson on their devices and being helped by Mrs Nunes. They also helped each other and learnt about coding.

Gr 1 pupils are busy learning all about bugs.

They impressed us with their creative writing and their drawings.

Our Gr 1 pupils led the way for our Nidah participated eagerly and Outreach Day by making sandwiches couldn’t wait to find someone to wear for those less fortunate than us. The rest her orange powder. of the school each had their turn during the course of the morning.

Our Foundation Phase pupils were stars and donated many items of clothing for the Crawford Online Venture.

Three of our current and previous Crawford Preparatory North Coast’s principals together at our 20th birthday celebrations: Owen Kuyper, Sally-Anne Henegan and Bjorn Teunissen.

Our ground staff and cleaners were treated to a Gr 7 braai as part of our birthday celebrations.

The Gr 4 pupils collected books from their shelves at home and donated them to a local school’s library.

Our North Coast Choir recently took part in a festival where they performed alongside many school choirs from the Dolphin Coast.

We ended our birthday celebrations on a very colourful note. All pupils took part in a North Coast Colour Fest.

Richard enjoyed the colourful festivities and ensured that he had just as much colour on him as everybody else.

Foundation Phase production, The Jungle Book, was a great success. Our pupils took their parts seriously and enjoyed their moment on stage.

Our musicians represented Crawford Preparatory North Coast at the prestigious Hilton Festival in September. This exposed our pupils to an unforgettable music experience.

Our elephants were an enormous success and it will be a moment they won’t forget.

Crawford Preparatory North Coast is involved with helping those who are less fortunate than us. We are working alongside Wandile Mthiyane whose brainchild is Buy a Brick, Build a Home.

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NORTH COAST PRE-PRIMARY CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE @ CRAWFORD NORTH COAST

Michael waiting eagerly for popcorn.

On Thursday, 10 August 2017, Crawford North Coast celebrated its 20th birthday!

The Pre-Primary, Preparatory and College pupils formed a big 20 on the field and the celebration started with the College dancers performing with pompoms to the song Celebration. Mr Loots welcomed the invited guests and Mr Kuyper, former Principal of Crawford Preparatory North Coast, reminisced on the school’s early days and the highlights of Crawford North Coast’s history. The Preparatory dancers entertained the invited guests Tristan hanging up his donated clothes. and the Choir sang Stevie Wonder’s version of Happy Birthday while the three North Coast Principals and pupils from all the schools had an official photograph taken with the birthday cake.

The children were invited to celebrate Crawford North Coast’s birthday by giving back to the community in the form of donating good, second-hand clothing in support of the North Coast Courier Orphan Fund. The children pegged their donations onto the washing line that ran along the road from the Preparatory to the Pre-Primary school, and then waved to the drone as it flew overhead to record this day in the history of the North Coast campus.

The Pre-Primary pupils were treated to a ‘Fun Day’ Raegans face painted with a the following day and the minute they arrived at pretty flower. the school front door they knew it was going to be a special day! Balloons, bubbles, happy birthday bunting, ribbons, music and staff in party hats, created a festive entrance and a happy start to the day.

Lilly and Flynn arriving at school for our special birthday!

The excitement mounted as the children waited for free-play time and were allowed into the playground where the smell of popcorn wafted through the air and a variety of fun activities had been set out for them to choose from. Magnetic fishing, slime, sack races, icing Marie biscuits, pin the tail on the donkey, skittles, sand tray treasure hunt… and the hit of the day, rides around the train track on the hired kiddies’ train. What fun... we’re all looking forward to Crawford’s 30th birthday celebration in 2027!

Tahil enjoying being the train driver.

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Playgroup Messy and sensory play activity is important in a child’s development. This form of play focuses on exploring and experimenting with different materials without any end goal. It allows young children to make their own discoveries using their senses, curiosity and knowledge. Messy or sensory play is all about exploring so, there’s no right or wrong. The Playgroup pupils enjoyed participating in sociable sensory activities, sharing their discoveries and building their vocabulary while describing sensations and textures.

Grade 00 Grade 0 visit to Crocodile Creek The Grade 00 pupils have The Grade 0 pupils enjoyed a happy and been learning about sorting fun-filled outing to Crocodile Creek. On and classifying. Working in arrival at the crocodile farm, they were groups they were set a task of warmly welcomed by their guide, Shaun. sorting objects into things that Shaun used his witty sense of humour and have 2, 4 or no legs. Using a extensive knowledge to share interesting Kagan’s consensus placemat, facts and information about these fascinating they learned to take turns, reptiles. The pupils had the opportunity to and interesting discussions hold a young croc as well as a Burmese and lots of counting took python and watched some of the resident place. The pupils then crocs enjoying a meaty snack. The bus ride recorded their findings by back to school was quiet, with exhausted placing the objects onto a parents and sleepy, but contented children. It graph. A discussion followed was an exciting and memorable experience involving the whole class, to and everybody left with the new-found see which group had the most knowledge of these ancient creatures and or least objects. their handlers.

Grade 000 The Grade 000 pupils thoroughly loved exploring the theme, Dinosaurs, which we linked to Volcanoes. So we headed for the sandpit where the pupils worked collaboratively in groups to make a “mountain” out of the sand. They created their “volcanoes” using bicarbonate of soda and vinegar and watched in awe as a fizz of orange, red and yellow “lava” overflowed.

The pupils used their Blue Thinking Hat to reflect on their volcanoes, comparing similarities and differences to that of a real one.

Kayla and Cecilia creating a Spring picture.

Yandisa, Tahil and Zoey decorating a Spring leaf.

Tyler, Rhyder, Kyle and Jaanvi with their completed picture of an animal farm.

Newton and Callum painting a backdrop for our Language of Maths wall mural.

Caylee, Nyishe and Colbie printing shapes and patterns.

Kaya, Zenkosi, Juliet and Neha working together on the life cycle of the butterfly.

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PRETORIA COLLEGE The 16th Concerto Festival Every year the students from the Music Department perform, as soloists, with professional musicians on a public platform. At this year’s Concerto Festival the students performed works by Haydn, Beethoven, Binge, Shostakovich, Ernst Schoonraad (Grade 9) Grieg, Mozart, Vivaldi and Shaiman, accompanied by the Johannesburg Symphony Orchestra and conducted by Eric Rycroft.

The Johannesburg Symphony Orchestra and our soloists

Kerys Trathen (Grade 12) and Mrs Trathen

Nikita van Heerden (Grade 10)

Ross Jüterbock (Grade 10)

Leo Huan (Grade 8)

Tyler van Heerden (Grade 11)

Tamara Kumbula (Grade 12)

The soloists with conductor Eric Rycroft

Rekord Sports Equipment Drive Mrs Leilani Coetzee with the upside-down Faaira Theba (Grade 10) surrounded by pupils posters in her Afrikaans class. from Uoane Primary School 40 Days Celebration The Grade 12s decorated the floor of Mrs Katie Charalambous’ Mathematics class with polystyrene cups.

Romario de Oliviera (Grade 10) with students from Lethabile High School 42 | Crawford Times

Alumni student and Sportsman of the Year 2016, Steven Walgenbach, came to greet Mr André Botha before his departure to study in the USA on a scholarship.

Grade 12 Visual Arts project

Executive 2018: Grade 11 students’ profiles on display for the voting process.

The Grade 11s putting Economy into practice.

Public Speaking Domique Binns and Masego Sewela Crawford teacher dedication displaying their gold medals with Mrs Dr Glenda Nixon, teaching Mathematics in spite of an injury.

Yvonne Reddy.

Dance teacher Mr Sidney Agnew showing a Grade 11 Dance student the moves.

Contemporary Dance practice

Inter-house 2017: fun and games!

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PRETORIA PREPARATORY Our winning U13 Girls Chess Team.

Inter-school Sport and Technology Festival: Netball Team

Mr Ian Mcleod, Preparatory Principal, showing a pupil from Uoane Primary how to use the cricket bat that was donated in the Sports Equipment Drive.

Inter-school Sport and Technology Festival: Cricket Team with coach, Mr Ryan Houbert

Inter-school Sport and Technology Festival: Mrs Janet Bekker with her Technology Team

Mr Ian Mcleod, Preparatory Principal, and a pupil handing flowers to Aunt Dora, 102 years old, from Jaffa The handover at Lethabile High School: the Crawford and Rekord Retirement Home. newspaper Sports Equipment Drive was very successful.

Miss Mourinho and the dance pupils having fun at rehearsals.

The Choir singing to patients of Groenkloof Life Hospital on Spring Day. 44 | Crawford Times

The pupils taking German as a subject performed in an assembly as part of the Culture Assemblies programme.

Sepedi pupils highlighted the songs, traditions food and games of the Sepedi culture during their Culture Assembly.

The Pakistan High Commission celebrated their 70th year of Independence in one of our assemblies.

The Gr 7 Toastmasters 2017

Samuel Studer was the general for the evening.

Foundation pupils enjoying Spring Day with a picnic in the quarter.

Benjamin Du, Gr 1 pupil from Foundation Phase, playing a solo at the 16th Concerto Festival.

Dance teachers Beth Dutton and Michaela Mourinho have put a fantastic dance show together. The dancers of Bedtime Stories

Celebrating close friendships on International Friendship Day. Every child a masterpiece | 45

PRETORIA PRE-PRIMARY

The pupils were learning about forces and were required to use Thinking Hats to determine how to get the balloon to move along the wool tied between the chairs, from one end to the other. They then had to decide which type of force was used to accomplish this task.

The Grade 0s worked collaboratively, to determine practically whether the items in their bag require a push, pull or both forces to work. They then placed the cards accordingly to record their findings.

After doing experiments using push and pull forces the pupils got to explore Maizena clay at the Art table. They created an art piece using push and pull forces.

Kite-flying morning: parents and children bring their kites every year in August to make use of the windy season to try out their lovely kites.

During construction play, the children worked collaboratively to build roads on various Thinking is a vital part of levels. They discussed and Science. Professor Ziggle Wiggle experimented using various forces encouraged the pupils to think and determined which forces using their various thinking hats. were required to drive their cars Using the Blue Hat encourages up and down their elaborate them to think about new ideas, construction. the Black Hat encourages them to think about what could go wrong (predictions). After they Philosophy for Children: performed their own experiment explaining their opinion they put on the White Thinking of how good or bad a Hat to determine what the facts of decision Little Red Hen the experiment landed up being. made in not sharing her bread.

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Critical Thinking Science lesson: the Grade 0s had to predict what would happen to the celery stalks if left overnight in food colouring.

Communication: sharing weekend news with face partners (focusing on speaking clearly, keeping eye contact, listening and asking follow-up questions).

iPad Technology: an integrated Mathematics lesson. The pupils were solving addition sums on the iPads using counters.

Collaboratively using the wooden blocks to build a creative construction.

Collaborative Art: the class was divided into small groups with four pupils per group, and were involved in a conversation, where everyone had a turn to add their creative expression to the artwork.

It is going up!

Food Technology: learning all about measurement when making their very own cinnamon and raisin buns. They discussed the properties of flour and what happens to it when it is placed in a heated oven.

Pupils chose the category that they would like to sort. By sorting, pupils understand that some things are alike and some are different. Items can be organised into certain groups. Collaboration was a big part of this activity as they had to work together in sorting, cutting and pasting.

Collaboratively communicating with their shoulder buddy using a mask or hand puppet.

Science experiment: conducting an experiment on the level of absorption of a variety of materials in the classroom.

We love animal shadow art! We were learning about the Big Five animals and decided to outline the shadows of each animal

Teacher Lichane du Preez with her Grade 000s.

We made beautiful hats and wore them on Spring Day.

Pyjama Day: parents, teachers and children wore their pyjamas and enjoyed a cup of hot chocolate on a cold morning.

Even our fathers wore their pyjamas and brought teddies!

Art is messy fun!

Spring Day is Posy Day: look at all our beautiful flowers!

Every child a masterpiece | 47

SANDTON COLLEGE For a Youth Day performance at the Soweto Theatre, the Sandton College Poetry Club expressed what freedom means to them – knowing that at that moment, decades ago and just streets away, students were marching for a better future.

Team Diella was selected as one of the Top 20 finalists for the 2017 CFO Junior Case Study Competition. The team consists of Grade 11 students, Diella Dean, Cameron Coetzee, Sean Mkethwa and Nailla Kasseyet.

At an assembly in term 3, we were privileged to have renowned performer, Laurie Levine entertain our students with a mini-concert. Laurie, an alumnus of Crawford College Sandton, is a student from our Class of ’07 and it was wonderful to welcome her back into the Crawford family.

Grade 9s were guided through making their “big decision” at the annual Grade 9 Sandton College Subject Choice Conference at Varsity College. Speakers from universities and specialists informed them on what to consider when choosing subjects for Grade 12.

An Eye for Art…. On Friday 4 August, the Grade 10 and 11 Visual Art students embarked on an outing to the Art Eye Studio in New Doornfontein.

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The Grade 11s hosted a magical fairytale Matric Dance for Fidelitas Comprehensive School. They decorated the venue, served a three-course meal and organised professional photographers and DJs.

On the US tour in July, Ms Rees, Ms Purkiss and Mr Pillay met up with CCS alumni in New York City.

The U14 Boys Basketball Team had an amazing win versus Michael Mount for the first time in a number of years.

Well done, boys!

The following students were selected to participate this year in The Maccabi Games, the world’s largest Jewish athletic competition: Aiden Swartzberg, Dylan Ephron, Jordan Swartzberg, Matthew Townshend, Savanna Hodes, Julia-Rose Platt, Alona Bahat, Ethan Lewis, Itai Melnik, Daniel Hack, Sean Terespolsky and Benjamin Hack.

Congratulations to Maya Bortz (Grade 12) who was awarded a White Honours Blazer for Senior Full Colours in Public Speaking, Service and Dramatic Arts.

On the evening, Grade 11s welcomed the Fidelitas Matrics as they arrived at the dance. #MakingADifference

For project-based learning (PBL), the Grade 8s learnt about structures and they had to build the highest tower possible using only spaghetti and marshmallows.

Congratulations to Ms Myburgh! Our IT and STEAM teacher, Ms Marina Myburgh submitted a project for the 2017 ISPA Super Teacher Competition, and she won the competition! Ms Myburgh has always been an exceptional teacher and we are thrilled that she has been recognised as the Tech Teacher of the Year!

Milani Notshe was awarded the highest award a student can receive, a White Honours Blazer in term 3. She received it for Senior Full Colours in A group of students went on the US College Service, Touch Rugby and Tour during the July holidays, and here we see Public Speaking. them at George Washington University.

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SANDTON PREPARATORY Be prepared when the man ‘Minsk’ steals your ideas and employees.

“Crawfordians against Bullying”, staying true to the pledge.

Opening a book… discovering new worlds and letting your imagination run wild.

Our U10 Soccer champions, joint winners of this year’s Discovery Cup.

Waiting for Walt at the station during our annual production, The Life of Walt Disney.

A Mad Hatters’ party at the Gr 3 Cake and Candy.

Finding the best spice mix is a tasty exercise and doing it together makes it more fun!

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Our theme for Readathon 2017: So many books, so little time. Encouraging our pupils to make time to read more.

Sima meets Chef Barry in preparation for the Food Fair and Spices of the World, our theme for the Gr 6 Food Fair. gets some valuable tips for her meal preparation.

Boris Daley and Justin Sher, share the Victor Ludorum.

Matsheba, Sereshia and Samiya take on the Ghostbusters in our Gr 3 play.

Clarise Bard, our Junior Victrix Ludorium at this year’s Inter-house Athletics.

Luigi Mankwe, the Senior Victor Ludorum

Alexis Banducci, the Senior Victrix Ludorum

Ladson wins the day.

Mr Ewen with Ladson’s captains – Elle ButlerWhite & Luigi Mankwe

Jurassic Park comes alive at Sandton Preparatory during our Grade 3’s concert.

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SANDTON PRE-PRIMARY September – wow! Spring, already? No way! How can it be? Where has the time gone?

Just nine short months ago little cherubs started in our classes. Look how they have blossomed into bouncing beautiful busy little bees!

Our children find amazing opportunities to wander and explore in all fields of learning. They bake marvellous creations in the fully equipped “kitchen” mud patch. They participate in nail-biting world-class motor bike racing around a complex race track.

They create wonderful masterpieces in the classroom environment, and they still find the time to welcome a new season with a bang. It was goodbye winter and hello spring... And boy oh boy, you have been missed! Even the teachers joined in the grand Spring Fling affair as the children picnicked under the sun in their home-made spring hats. Oh, what a wonderful celebration it was. A day filled with sunshine, smiles, laughter, flowers, delicious food and most of all, special friendships. Even though this was just a one-day event, the words below should encourage us to ponder to looking for little treasures in our everyday life.

Cooking for our friends from our sandpit “restaurant” is always such fun!

Speeding around the bike track, racing our friends to see who is the fastest.

“Whenever we have a special event we can almost guarantee we will find hidden gems that have been overlooked in times left behind.

Discovering these little gems sends us back to a time as we search to remind ourselves of the moments in our memory, all sublime.

These little gems found bring a smile to us once more as they remind us of our special talents we’ve used with others many times before.

Crawford, Sandton encourages difference, encourages questioning and promotes tolerance.

For all of these qualities and so much more, our school is a treasure chest of gems galore.”

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“The boys” hanging out and exploring the garden on new adventures.

Dressing up and pretending to be characters unlike our usual selves is an exciting venture.

Spring Day celebrated with beautiful hats, fun in the sun and laughs with friends young and old.

Being the Baker Man is such an enjoyable responsibility and we love seeing our friends so happy when they receive our baked goods.

Exploring new techniques of playing with equipment in the classroom.

Building bigger and better. Thinking outside of the box.

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VILLAGE PRE-PRIMARY An, Isla, Shayla and Reagile create their Body Image with delicious treats. What fun!

C

rawford Village has been abuzz with “Hidden Gems” this term!

Our Teddy group (Grade 000) used the Red Thinking Hat to reinforce and discuss different types of feelings that we may experience, which came out after reading Marvin Gets Mad, a book which has lovely examples of a variety of different emotions. In the Duck and Bunny classes (Grade 000), children introduced pictures of their families to their classmates.

They then discussed these with their friends in pairs, as well as in bigger groups, chatting about who is in the picture, and what the different family members do. The Yellow group (Grade 000) children created Body Image pictures using different food types. They were encouraged to create their pictures using whichever resources they preferred, and then chatted to their friends about what they had made and why they felt that these specific shapes were most appropriate to the form which they were being used to represent.

During our Jack and Beanstalk theme, the Light Green children used Cooperative Learning techniques to create a picture of the story in their allocated groups. They had to discuss how the picture would be drawn, whether the giant’s house is bigger than Jack’s house and the number of characters that had to be drawn. The activity concluded with incorporating de Bono’s Thinking Hats. The pupils had to speak about how working in their team made them feel when presented with the Red Thinking Hat (the feeling hat), what facts were included in the story for the White

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Toad-in-a-hole – the Orange group had such fun cooking!

Livash pours an egg into a toasting slice of bread. Yum yum!

Zoey prepares the bread for a delicious cooking activity.

The Bunny class presents their family photos. The Bunny group ask Tehya questions Well done Chutong, Arin and Nina! about her family.

Thinking Hat and lastly, what they could’ve done differently for the Green Thinking Hat. Critical, higher-order thinking and reflection were important skills that had to be put to use. The Red group had a surprise visit from a special giant, who dropped off a secret letter with clues! He also left his very big footprints behind! The children then used various items such as Unifix, Planx and their feet to measure the footprint. The pupils learnt to document their findings by drawing their items and writing the number of items they used, as well as finding the correct numeral and placing it next to their items. This activity used numeracy skills such as

measuring and number identification.

Pupils learnt the value of planning and following instructions, while being interested and having lots of fun. The Orange group indulged in a wonderful olfactory activity when they cooked Toads-in-a-hole. Pupils used sequencing skills to follow the steps of the recipe. Nutrition and food safety were covered as well as cooking skills such as stirring, beating, pouring and measuring.

This cooking experience also builds children’s knowledge and skills in science, math, reading and communication. Most of all they have an enjoyable experience with their friends!

Octavia, Qi Hang, Seyon, Shandu, Onako, Joshua and Nilay present their projects to their classmates.

Shine, Kelechi and Allen use Planx to measure the giant’s very big footprint!

Liah, Mike, Josiah, Abhay, Liam and Shavika create a detailed drawing of Jack and the Beanstalk. What wonderful teamwork!

Kalaysha’s creative drawing of her elephant named Tashmika.

During a Philosophy for Children activity, the Dark Green group was read a story about mischievous animal characters attending a party.

The pupils were then asked whether they wanted to be an elephant or a lion! The carpet was divided into two, with the “elephants” on one side, and the “lions” on the other. Once the children voted by moving to the correct area, they were asked to explain and justify their choices. Pupils were encouraged to interact and listen to each other. Their minds, thoughts and ideas were stretched and challenged by hearing a variety of opinions and ideas and, in turn,

Hamza’s drawing of Zebra the Elephant.

The Light Green children showcase their drawings after an activity using de Bono’s Thinking Hats.

Leah drew a beautiful elephant named Roger.

they were compelled to look at various perspectives and reasons that they had possibly overlooked.

After much discussion and debate, the children were given a variety of materials and resources with which to create and illustrate their own elephant in the wild with zebra stripes. They had to give their elephant a name, decide on its age, where it lives and who its best friend in the wild was. This activity assisted pupils to practise and develop skilful thinking, questioning and the lesson promoted the fact that everyone has the right to speak, to be heard and have a personal viewpoint.

Reflection, critical thinking and expression were used during our Thinking Hats exercise.

The Grade 0s had lots of fun finding out about South African animals and presenting their information to the rest of the class with a poster and a verbal presentation. They learnt that they can find out information from the Internet and other sources, put this information into a written and pictorial form, and then use this as a reference to speak about the knowledge they had gathered. Once they had presented their project in a loud, confident voice, their class friends could ask questions relating to the project presented. They were all super excited and couldn’t wait for their turn to present. Well done to all our confident Grade 0 children. You did a wonderful job!

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| ALUMNUS |

IT’S A CHALLENGE,

PERIOD! Name: Ramona Kasavan Alumnus Year: 2003 Crawford School: Crawford College North Coast Current career: Social Entrepreneur

Ramona, you have a triple major in Media, Marketing and Communications, as well as an Honours Degree in Brand Leadership and Strategic Marketing, and certification in Social Entrepreneurship and today you work with… sanitary pads!

Yes, it’s been an interesting journey. I was exposed to business at a young age when I started working in our family businesses. Then when I finished Matric I started selling denim jeans. I was responsible for money through my teens and young adult life and as I grew older, I realised I was not handling my finances to the best of my ability. I did extensive research and found that thousands of women in South Africa were in debt and managing finances poorly. So, under my business Mimi, I created the Pads & Cents programme, for aspiring female entrepreneurs, to offer them the necessary tools to build a thriving business of their own.

Wow, that’s inspirational! Tell us more about what Pads & Cents does?

Pads & Cents helps women, with little to no formal education, to enhance their business ideas and to bring them to life. The ladies are taught about core business documents and about building their business through well

56 | Crawford Times

thought out strategic plans. After they’ve completed the course, the women are able to present their businesses to potential investors.

What impact has your organisation had?

Our business, Mimi, has just turned four years old – a huge milestone for us. We started because more than 50 days of school per year were being missed because of the lack of sanitary pads. I know the personal struggles these girls go through because I grew up in a rural area in KwaZulu-Natal; I wanted to make a difference. To date, we’ve distributed more than 1.5 million sanitary pads in nine provinces and throughout four African countries. We also have an arm of the business that allows women to sell sanitary pads in their communities to create income which in turn creates economic opportunities for unemployed women.

Why do you think menstrual cycles are such a taboo topic, even in this modern day and age?

In the non-white culture, menstruation is generally taught through someone else’s experience and not from a physiological perspective. Young boys are never taught what periods are, which then reflects when they’re older and happen to come across it. Mindsets are hard to change.

You have created your very own sanitary pad, called Mimi. What does your design have that other sanitary pads don’t have?

Mimi is a cotton top pad, which is unscented and has no gel. It’s created for all body types and has wings that make sure it stays secure always. The brand design makes Mimi relatable to many women. It embraces the imperfections of women and teaches confidence.

You’re currently working on getting sanitary towel vending machines into public places.

How’s that going?

We’re trying to get our vending machines into schools and corporates, but to be honest we’re facing a few challenges due to the protocol processes being lengthy.

However, we’ve had very positive meetings with corporates who will hopefully partner with us soon.

What has been the greatest challenge you’ve faced in your life?

The greatest challenge I faced growing up was not fitting into the “cool crowd”. I always walked to the beat of my own drum, which was not “cool” when I was young but which has made me a successful entrepreneur today. I have accepted that if you love yourself, life is very peaceful What has been the greatest reward?

The thousands of little girls I’ve assisted through school, by giving them access to sanitary pads. I know that I’ve assisted the future leaders of tomorrow.

What makes you good at what you do?

I’m a global thinker to start with. I focus on my strengths and have pursued my education with great determination.

I’m always reading or researching new trends and ideas in the world. I’ve also learnt to be very straightforward and address my views head-on.

What did you love about Crawford?

My parents chose Crawford for us as it was the only private high school that offered isiZulu as a second language. Passing isiZulu in matric has fostered great relationships within the media and business, which has been invaluable to my success. I still call my isiZulu teacher, Mr Ricky Nyasulu, to thank him and tell him about the influential meetings I’ve had and how powerful people admire my understanding of the language.

What type of student were you?

I was not the smartest kid at school but that wasn’t an issue at Crawford! I was taught to be confident and do subjects that I was good at. I was part of the Executive

Every child a masterpiece | 57

| ALUMNUS | subjects that I was good at. I was part of the Executive Committee and founder of the Hindu Society during my Grade 11 and 12 years.

What is a typical day like for you?

No day is ever the same. I have meetings with corporates and stakeholders, I travel a lot for business, I do admin on the move and I meet fellow entrepreneurs for brainstorm sessions. And some days I just go crazy and drive to the airport and fly to Durban to see my family.

What did you do straight after school?

After high school, I studied a Bachelor of Social Science at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. I then went to Vega, school of brand leadership, where I did my Honours in Marketing Strategy. All these degrees eventually led to a career on 94.7 Highveld Stereo, East Coast Radio and the popular TV show Eastern Mosaic. I eventually left my media career to take a break and focus on my sanitary pad brand and how I was going to change the lives of girls.

What has been the greatest lesson you have learned in your life?

It’s very simple: never give up and always have the courage to ask for what you desire! You never know who might say yes.

Who is your greatest inspiration?

My greatest inspiration is my father. His story of challenges and failures always gives me insight into life and business. My other inspirational figures are my business mentors; all successful professionals that have headed up and started amazing brands.

What makes Crawford such an amazing school?

Crawford gives you the permission to find your strengths and focus on who you are. They produce balanced

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individuals by incorporating education and sports, and give students important lessons in how to succeed.

Why should more people choose entrepreneurship for social good over a corporate career?

Being an entrepreneur is a calling. To create a product or solution and then see it change lives is something worth working for. Entrepreneurship is stressful and demanding, yet fulfilling work. I think if you know you’re a rebel and crazy enough to write your own rules, you will succeed!

What life advice would you give the current Grade 12s, who are finishing their finals?

Put in the work to produce the results. If you’re diligent and focus on your studies, you’re guaranteed to succeed. The one thing that no-one can ever take away from you is your academics. These exams are everything to your next job, career move and interviews.

Do you still keep contact with your Crawford friends?

Yes, I have a few people that I still talk to from Crawford and I speak to them regularly! We’re all around the world, but we keep up with each other’s stories.

Where do you see yourself and your business in 10 year’s time?

For my business, I see Mimi as a local African story with global brand presence. I believe it will have a significant presence internationally and will create change through employment opportunities and advocating for women’s wellness. For me personally, maybe an MBA, a husband and some kids; I also see a venture capital fund that invests purely in start-ups in Africa, and possibly a talk show around women and balance… that would be lovely!

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MAHATMA G ANDHI, S TRATEGI ST

GOOD STRATEGY LIBERATES NATIONS. NOTHING’S CHANGED. Passion, when paired with critical thinking, can change history. At Vega, we not only teach timeless skills that will set you up for an unforgettable and meaningful career, but the kind of thinking that can change the world.

Whether your passion lies in design, brand or business, come to a Vega Open Day and find your purpose.

V E G A O P E N DAY

28 OCTOBER | 9:00 - 13:00

GRAPHIC DESIGN

MULTIMEDIA DESIGN

COPYWRITING

GAME DESIGN

PHOTOGRAPHY

FASHION DESIGN

INTERIOR DESIGN

DIGITAL MARKETING

BRAND COMMUNICATION

BRAND MANAGEMENT

veg a sch ool .co m Vega is an educational brand of The Independent Institute of Education (Pty) Ltd which is registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training as a private higher education institution under the Higher Education Act, 1997 (reg. no. 2007/HE07/002). Company registration number: 1987/004754/07

Every child a masterpiece | 59

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Rubik’s Tower Rubik’s Build It Solve It

Rubik’s Void Cube

Rubik’s 3x3 Cube

Rubik’s Race

Rubik’s Speed Cube Rubik’s Junior Cube

@Prima Toys www.primatoys.co.za

60 | Crawford Times

Rubik® and Rubik’s Cube® copyrights and trademarks are owned, protected and enforced by Rubik’s Brand Ltd. Rubik’s toys available at leading retail outlets nationwide.

Did you know?

Over 400 million Rubik’s Cubes have been sold worldwide – making it the best selling toy of all time.

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THE GOOD

LIFE

Every child a masterpiece | 61

| KIDS’ PAGES |

FIND IT...

s e g a P Ki ds’

If you want to be a super-sleuth, you have to be able to find a needle in a haystack. Put your eye into training and find the things in the heap that Mr 007 and Miss 008 are thinking about.

Hiding numbers

They’re hoping you won’t spot them, but you’re smarter than that! Do the maths, find the numbers... be super cool!

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| KIDS’ PAGES |

Crack the secret code!

It’s tricky but by using the clues you can crack the code!

Finger maze Everbody’s fingerprints are different.

Find out who the culprit is by completing the maze.

Unlock the secrets!

Use the right key to unlock all the secrets.!

ANSWER: B Every child a masterpiece | 63

| STATS, FACTS AND FUNNIES |

The Top Real versus Fictional Spies of All Time THE MATA HARI, GERMAN SPY

REAL

Possibly one of the most famous spies of all time, Mata Hari was an exotic dancer and courtesan in Paris who spied for Germany during World War 1. In 1917, she was convicted of espionage and executed by firing squad in France.

INSPECTOR CLOUSEAU The Pink Panther is a series of comedy-mystery films featuring the useless French police detective, Inspector Jacques Clouseau. The series began in 1963 and Peter Sellers was the actor most wellknown for his portrayal of the hilarious Inspector.

N FICTIO

GIACOMO CASANOVA

REAL

The original Casanova was a Venetian spy who wrote a tell-all book detailing his romantic affairs with powerful women, and how he served as a spy for the Venetian Inquisitors of the State. In 1782 he was exiled for spreading rumours.

JAMES BOND

N

FICTIO

In 1953, Author, Ian Fleming, created James Bond, the fictional British Secret Service agent who featured in twelve novels and two short-story collections.

Seven actors have portrayed Bond in the films, including Sean Connery, David Niven, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig.

JAMES ARMISTEAD LAFAYETTE A slave of William Armistead of REAL Virginia, Lafayette was granted permission to volunteer in the army in 1781. His missions included spying on the Brigadier General Benedict Arnold, and his reports were vital in helping defeat the British forces during the American revolution.

INSPECTOR GADGET

Inspector Gadget was a bumbling, animated detective in the 80s, who needed much luck to solve cases. His malfunctioning “high-tech” gadgets that were hidden in his jacket, up his sleeve, down his back and in his shoes often made more trouble for the Inspector, but he always solved the cases in the end.

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N

FICTIO

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Every child a masterpiece | 65

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WORLD TRAVEL It’s a family affair

Our GENERATIONS PROGRAM features specially-priced cruises planned around breaks from school, is filled with exclusive activities for kids from 4 to 17 years old and includes dedicated Family Hosts.

Enjoy the same industry-leading service, accommodations and itineraries that you can always expect from Uniworld, with additional programs, events and excursions for your travellers in training.

UNIWORLD BOUTIQUE RIVER CRUISES ARE OFFERING 50% OFF THE CRUISE-ONLY FARE FOR YOUNG TRAVELLERS 4 – 17 YEARS OLD WHEN TRAVELLING WITH AN ADULT - Kid-friendly menus and unlimited beverages onboard - Dedicated Family Hosts for junior cruisers and teen cruisers - Additional family focussed programs, events and excursions

UNIWORLD.COM | CALL 011 280 8450 OR CONTACT YOUR TRAVEL AGENT

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HEADER HERE | TRAVEL |

Rolling on the river! ...finding hidden gems

Every child a masterpiece | 67

| TRAVEL |

F

amilies often choose fixed resorts in pretty locations, where they remain the entire week because just the thought of exploring a country with kids can be traumatic! It’s packing bags every day, navigating various types of transport (often in a foreign language), searching for hotels, scavenging for food and then there’s the toilet situation: kids always need one, when there ain’t one!

towns and even cities, so there are so many more places, cultural sites, historic architecture and experiences for you and your kids to explore.

Cruising, on any body of water, is an amazing way to travel with your family because you simply unpack everything once, go to sleep in the same bed every night and wake up in a different location every morning! Perfect. When considering which body of water to cruise on, look no further than river cruises!

Multigenerational Uniworld’s multigenerational journeys provide unforgettable and in-depth experiences for people of all ages. Over and above the standard two onshore activities offered per day on a standard cruise, an additional multi-generational option is on offer for families. The local guides are sensitive to the different needs of young children and teens and are trained to accommodate shorter attention spans, always making excursions as active and entertaining as possible.

Uniworld offers family memories on the world’s most legendary rivers. And besides magnificent boats, unbelievable destinations, fantastic service and food, they also cater specifically for families with kids of all ages by tailor-making programmes, events and excursions for young travellers in training.

Family Host Uniworld’s Generations programme features specially-priced cruises for families that are planned around school holidays. Activities are created for kids aged 4 to 17 and each family is assigned a Family Host.

Some good reasons to roll on a river:

Kids Culinary Programme Culinary adventures are big with kids these days and Uniworld provides hands-on experiences such as baking strudels, making mini pizzas, and even foraging for mussels. They also offer tailored menus for every kid’s tastes.

Inner City Experiences River cruising with kids allows even well-travelled grown-ups to explore Europe in a new way. Rivers wind themselves inland and through many villages, 68 | Crawford Times

| TRAVEL |

On Board Activities The ships have playrooms for kids, which are kitted out with a Playstations, TVs, toys and games. Onboard activities include waffle making and decorating, kids and teenage discos, popcorn and movie nights and even mocktail evenings. Kids will never be bored and even make great international friends for life. Kids are given the option of dining with their parents or with their assigned childminder at their own table.

Behind-the-scenes tours Families can get an insiders view of life on board the ship with a guided tour of the vessel including the kitchen, guided by the head chef and the Wheelhouse, guided by the Captain who will introduce all the mechanics of the ship.

A Special Experience...

Christmas Markets What better time to discover villages with fairy-tale houses and a friendly, festive atmosphere, than in the December holidays. Share traditional holiday goodies with the people who made them. Watch as modern children abandon their usual electronics and discover the enchantment of hand-carved wooden toys, as scents of cinnamon and roasting nuts fill the air. Experience the quintessential magic of the holidays while shopping for one-of-a kind treasures and discovering the legends behind some of our most popular holiday traditions. Share the magic of a European holiday with the special young people in your life on Uniworld’s generations “Classic Christmas Markets� cruise filled with lots of family holiday merrymaking.

Every child a masterpiece | 69

| TRAVEL |

Personal Account Gail Gilbert recently enjoyed the seven-night Castles Along the Rhine cruise from Amsterdam to Basel aboard the River Empress, with her husband and two children, Ross (7) and Erin (11). Here is her personal account!

Day 1: River Empress After boarding the River Empress in Amsterdam, we settled into our luxury cabin and then spent time exploring the ship with guidance from the crew.

in Germany that has never been destroyed. With swords and shields in hand, the younger visitors were transported into yesteryear; sneaking through chambers, navigating cobblestone pathways, exploring the armour room and discovering everyone’s favourite… the torture chamber!

For those more athletically inclined, the 22km, easy bike ride along the Rhine River from Koblenz to Boppard looked like fun.

Day 2: Cologne, Germany We embarked on our first tour of Cologne.

We were treated to a guided walking tour through the narrow lanes of the Old Town with a walk inside the UNESCO-designated Gothic Cathedral. This was followed by a cable car ride over the Rhine River, which offered amazing panoramic views of the city.

Day 2: Koblenz, Germany With a key focus on military history, we embarked on a morning cable car ride over the Rhine to explore Fortress Ehrenbreitstein. Kids could also discover the city with a fun scavenger hunt for the younger crowd and a Geocaching challenge for teens.

In the afternoon, we embarked on an exciting tour of the famous Marksburg Castle, the only hilly castle 70 | Crawford Times

Day 3: Boppard & Rudesheim, Germany We got an early start and made our way on to the deck to discover exactly why this cruise is called Castles along the Rhine. We delighted in 65 kilometres of breath-taking, castle-dotted landscapes! Each twist in the river afforded new delights; steep riverbanks, sloping vineyards and picturesque towns. We were treated to a traditional German meal (a variety of sausage, sauerkraut and local beer) to enhance the local feel.

The afternoon offered a mini train ride into town and a musical visit to Siegfried’s Mechanical Instrument Museum.

Our family was treated to a private guided hike down the spectacular slopes of the Riesling Wine Valley into the gorgeous town of Rudesheim.

| TRAVEL | Day 4: Speyer, Germany Whilst Mom enjoyed a slow paced guided walking tour to discover the history of Speyer, Dad took the kids to the climbing forest adventure park. The 200 platforms and 15,000 metres of steel cable transformed this sevenhectare woodland site into a climbing paradise.

Day 6: Breisach, France We discovered the evolution of the local lifestyle with a visit to the Alsatian Ethnological Museum. With ethnological collections, art and popular traditions, the Alsatian Museum presents the testimonies of traditional Alsatian life from the seventeenth to the twentieth century.

The afternoon was probably the highlight of the trip for the kids as we explored Speyer’s extensive Technical Museum. Collections of vehicles, an original jumbo jet, a submarine and a sea rescue cruiser was explored enthusiastically. In the halls you will find the largest space flight exhibition in Europe, offering the Russian space shuttle BURAN, an original Moonstone, space suits and a Soyuz landing capsule.

Day 7: Basel, Switzerland We disembarked shortly after breakfast and enjoyed the day walking around the quaint town of Basel. A highlight was a visit to the Natural History Museum, with a heritage dating back 300 years! We explored fields of zoology, entomology, mineralogy, anthropology, osteology and palaeontology.

Day 5: Strasbourg, France We hopped on board a glass-top canal boat for a unique discovery of this historic city centre. Strasbourg offers a delightful combination of old and new as well as French and German characteristics. Walking the narrow alleys and streets from the cathedral and onwards to one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen, Petit France with its abundant flower boxes, arched bridges and tudor-style buildings. Uniworld offered a number of cycles on board the ship, so we cycled with the children from the ship, through the villages, local parks and along the Rhine.

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WELCOME TO A NEW CRUISE EXPERIENCE.

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The dedicated crew and guest-friendly smart technology on board will make every day special.

Find out more on msccruises.co.za or call 087 075 0852

72 | Crawford Times

| TRAVEL |

Top 5 Reasons to Cruise with Your Kids!

If you’re a lover of the ocean, want to unpack once and then float from country to country, then there’s no cruising like MSC cruising.

1) It’s so easy!

You unpack once and sleep in the same bed yet see different destinations.

Everything you need is on board including a variety of restaurants, onboard entertainment, laundry service, a business centre, shopping, and fantastic staff to help!

2) It’s cheaper than you think Cruising offers great value. The cost includes accommodation, on land transport, all food and drinks, and onboard entertainment. MSC offers Fly Cruise Packages and kids under 12 travel free.

3) Oh the places you’ll see Cruising offers you the chance to add a few ticks to your bucket list, all at once! Highly recommended family cruises are the Mediterranean Cruise (from Italy to the Greek Isles) and the Desert Cruise (United Arab Emirates).

For those willing to travel a little further, the Caribbean Cruise offers popular white sandy beaches and azure blue waters.

4) Exciting excursions Exciting shore excursions, that are relevant to your destination, are on offer and can include: archaeological site visits, monument tours, food and flavour experiences, architectural talks, beach picnics, snorkelling off coral reefs and bicycle tours of towns and villages.

5) Onboard entertainment Onboard MSC you’ll never be bored! There are kids’ clubs, play areas (sponsored by Chicco and Lego), swimming pools, water slides, game consoles (PS3, Xbox and Nintendo Wii), Virtual World and 4D Cinemas.

For mom and dad, there are yoga classes, rock climbing, workshops, culinary classes, a casino, a disco, movies, Broadway-style shows, spas and relaxation.

Call MSC on 087 075 0850 to book your family cruise today, or visit www.msccruises.co.za

Every child a masterpiece | 73

| GADGETS |

Secret Spy Gadgets

By Damian Murphy

Simtoo Dragonfly 4K Camera Drone The Simtoo Dragonfly drone is without a doubt one of the coolest looking camera drones around. This beginner-friendly drone has an innovative folding design allowing it to fit easily in your backpack, and thanks to the foldaway arms can pack down to 22.5 x 18.5 x 6.5cm.

It weighs a mere 1.25kg, including the battery, gimbal and camera, and comes in a plush hardshell case for easy transportation.

R12 999

The Simtoo Dragonfly drone has built-in GPS for intelligent flying functions and with a maximum speed of 20m/s, it can keep pace with all your outdoor activities.

It comes with a comprehensive user manual although it’s hardly needed as this sleek quadcopter is a cinch to put together, and everything just clips into place or screws on with ease. It’s easy to fly, operate and easily connects to your phone for the ultimate spy experience. www.spytekonline.co.za

Spy Camera Glasses HD Never miss a moment of the action with real-time recording through these incredible spy glasses. They shoot high-definition video, take high-quality photos and record crystal-clear audio. They’re easy to use and have an extended memory slot for a Micro SD card. They seamlessly connect to your PC or laptop without clunky cables and their design is sleek and elegant, which suits both men and women, girls and boys. These are perfect for budding journalists and travel bloggers. www.takealot.com

R599

Gimmicks & Gizmos Security Spy Camera Worried about leaving the house and returning to a nasty surprise? Then look no further because this multipurpose spy security camera is the perfect tool to watch over your things. This nifty gadget, from Gimmicks & Gizmos, helps you keep an eye on anything you want, by simply downloading the app that connects to your spy camera. It’s compact, lightweight, portable and packed with loads of useful features. www.takealot.com

R950

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| GADGETS |

Spy Science

My First Robot by Tinkerbots

From invisible ink to listening devices, to super projects for playing spy. This is the book that shows kids how science is involved in the fascinating field of espionage. Spy Science contains 40 scientifically sound activities kids can do to explore the world of spies, from building a periscope to learning Morse Code. The book even visits the CIA’s home page on the Internet. Whether you’re mastering spy tricks and techniques, making special spy gadgets or sending secret messages, kids will have fun learning science.

All activities are safe, easy to do, and require only common household materials. The book includes tons of delightful illustrations and dozens of ideas to show kids how the science they’ve learned is used in real life. www.takealot.com

In this our Secret Spy themed gadgets, there’s no better way to prepare your child for spyhood than to offer them the My First Robot kit from Tinkerbots® – where coding robotics and gamification come together for the first time! Children from 5 years old and up can build their very own robot friend (or ally) and playfully experience technology at its best.

The small robot is learnable and controllable with the free app via smartphone or tablet.

Now with a new double motor, the robot can move freely around any room and experience even more exciting adventures. Thanks to the separately available Tinkerbots® extensions and the compatibility with LEGO®, My First Robot can also be built again and again with other exciting functions.

Note: For Tinkerbots My First Robot, you will need an Android 5.0+ or iOS 7 and Bluetooth 4.0. www.deftech.co

R205

R1 975

Lock Pick Set and Book This is the bestselling lock pick toolkit, along with the beginners lock-picking guide, Easy Pickings. Many students have picked their first lock in under an hour simply by following the text and diagrams! Easy Pickings is a selfteaching manual in the technique of lock picking, and it’s the most simple-to-understand beginners’ guide on the market. This lock pick toolkit contains everything you need to compromise most pin tumbler locks. Opens deadbolts, doorknob locks, most auto locks and padlocks. The kit includes nine picks, a broken key extractor, four tension tools, nine slip-on vinyl sleeves, and a free top-grain, snapover leather case. www.spytekonline.co.za

R1 699 Every child a masterpiece | 77

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BMW SELECT. DYNAMIC FINANCE FOR ULTIMATE CONTROL. There are countless ways to tailor your payment plan through BMW Select. This is just one example: Model price R438 400

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Cnr Rivonia Road & Daisy Street, Sandown, Tel. 011 676 6600, www.bmw-sandtonauto.co.za

BMW Select offer available through BMW Financial Services (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd., an Authorised Financial Services and Registered Credit Provider NCRCP2341. Total cost includes initiation fee and monthly service fees (R68.40 p/m) and excludes licence and registration. Residual may apply subject to deal structure. Offer valid until 30 September 2017 and subject to stock availability. Rate may vary if price differs from the example displayed in this advert. Not available in conjunction with any other BMW 1 Series offer. Model shown with optional extras not included in pricing. Terms & conditions apply.

78 | Crawford Times

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SPEC-TACULAR. SPEC-TACULAR. SPEC-TACULAR. DRIVE ASPECCED SPECCED MINI COOPERS S5 DOOR HATCH FOR R5 999 DRIVE AA SPECCED MINI COOPER DOOR HATCH FOR R5 999 DRIVE MINI COOPER S 55 DOOR HATCH FOR R5 999P/M. P/M. We have a limited number of differently specced MINI Cooper 5 Door Hatch modelsininour ourshowroom. showroom.

WeWe have a limited number of differently specced MINI Cooper S 5SSDoor Hatch models have a limited number of differently specced MINI Cooper 5 Door Hatch models in our showroom.

Each one is selling at same the same price of just R5 999 P/M with a 10% deposit.

Each one is selling at the price of just R5 999 P/M with a 10% deposit.

Each one is selling at the same price of just R5 999 P/M with a 10% deposit.

Which means the quicker you come in, the better your chance of getting the MINI you’ve always wanted.

Which means thethe quicker youyou come in, the better your chance of getting thethe MINI you’ve always wanted.

Which means quicker come in, the better your chance of getting MINI you’ve always wanted.

There are countless ways to tailor your plan through MINI Select. This is just one of them.

There areare countless ways to tailor your plan through MINI Select.

This is just oneone of them.

There countless ways to tailor your plan through MINI Select.

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Model price Model price Model price R450 626 R450 626626 R450

Deposit Deposit Deposit 10.00% 10.00% 10.00%

No. of instalments No.No. of instalments of instalments 57 57 57

Interest rate Interest rate Interest rate 8.63% linked 8.63% linked 8.63% linked

GFV GFV GFV500 R202 R202 500500 R202

Total cost Total cost Total R381 111cost R381 111111 R381

Visit www.MINISelect.co.za to view this offer.

Visit www.MINISelect.co.za to view thisthis offer.

Visit www.MINISelect.co.za to view offer.

Sandton Auto Sandton Auto Cnr Rivonia Road & Daisy Street, Sandown Sandton Auto Tel. 011Road 676 6600 CnrCnr Rivonia & Daisy Street, Sandown Rivonia Road & Daisy Street, Sandown www.MINI-sandtonauto.co.za Tel.Tel. 011 676676 6600 011 6600 www.MINI-sandtonauto.co.za www.MINI-sandtonauto.co.za

MINI SELECT. YOUR MINI. YOUR WAY. MINI SELECT. MINI SELECT. YOUR MINI. YOUR WAY. YOUR MINI. YOUR WAY. Offer available through MINI Financial Services, whose operating entity is BMW Financial Services (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd., an Authorised Financial Services & Registered Credit Provider NCRCP2341. Total cost includes an initiation fee and monthly service fee (R68.40 p/m) and excludes licence and registration. Residual may apply subject to deal structure. Linked to current Prime Rate. Above offer is calculated based on 57 instalments and a 96 000 km contract limit. Valid until 30 September 2017 and subject to stock availability. Rate may vary if price differs from the example displayed in this advert. Not available in conjunction with any other MINI Cooper S 5 Door Hatch offer. Model shown with optional extras not included in pricing. Terms and conditions apply.

Offer available through MINI Financial Services, whose whose operating entity is BMW Services (South (South Africa)Africa) (Pty) Ltd., Authorised Financial Services & Registered Credit Credit Provider NCRCP2341.

Total cost includes an initiation fee andfee monthly serviceservice fee (R68.40 p/m) and excludes licencelicence and registration.

Residual Offer available through MINI Financial Services, operating entity is Financial BMW Financial Services (Pty)anLtd., an Authorised Financial Services & Registered Provider NCRCP2341.

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Every child a masterpiece | 79

R252 R280 L

ESS 10

Identify your school stationery and clothing items with your personalised quality labels & tags

%

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Price valid till 30 June 2018. *Includes 10% discount.

2 Easy ways to order

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Code: Crawford

1. Visit www.mytowerlabels.co.za select school label pack. When checking out/making payment enter the 10% discount code: ‘Crawford’ as above.

OR 2. Complete the order form below & fax, email or post with PROOF OF PAYMENT. Orders cannot be processed without payment. Bank: FNB; Account No: 5027 002 2342; Branch Code: 200-409 Child/Children’s Name & Surname (please write in capital letters)

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80 | Crawford Times

mytowerlabels@pyrotec.co.za

mytowerlabels.com

postal address Private Bag X1 Capricorn Square, Muizenberg

SEC

SEC

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IMPORTANT NOTE FOR THE PARENTS: At CrawfordSchools™, we believe in education extending beyond the classroom. In the section that follows, we have touched on some sensitive topics in the hope that this could assist the caregivers of our children to engage in dialogue, allowing for those teachable moments.

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SECRETS

FAMILIES SHOULD (AND SHOULDN’T) KEEP

By Margot Bertelsmann - Research Journalist

C

ould any phrase be more chilling to a parent’s ear than “it’s our little secret”? Thanks to antichild abuse awareness, we shudder as we see in our mind’s eye children being groomed by paedophiles. But it’s also the zeitgeist: we are starting to distrust all secrets. It may have been our grandparents’ instinct to sweep all things unpleasant under the carpet and hope that by ignoring them, they would go away. They weren’t called the Silent Generation for nothing! But subsequent generations have swung the lever back – and we do mean all the way back – to tell-all TV reality shows, public confessionals and oversharing online in blogs and on social media. We have moved from being upset when someone reads our diary, to being upset when someone doesn’t…

Is the indiscriminate intimacy of today healthy, or were our grandparents only partly wrong in their approach? Are some secrets good?

Privacy vs. secrets

Safe Secrets

Dr Imber-Black makes the distinction between privacy and secrets, saying that the former is not enmeshed with shame and fear. For instance, a wheelchair user may snub an intrusive question about their paralysis from a stranger, uncomfortable with the overexposure of having a part of their life story visible on their body. Such “secretiveness” is privacy. An introvert does not enjoy speaking about their childhood in a group therapy session but is more comfortable with a therapist or close friend. This, too, is bettercalled privacy.

Then there are safe, harmless secrets: keeping your sister’s birthday gift a surprise until her big day. Be careful with the words you use, though, as they can be confusing to small children: explain to pre-teens that they don’t ever need to keep a “secret” that an adult asks them to keep, and especially not if it feels uncomfortable for any reason; but they may keep a “safe surprise” such as a trip to the beach from their younger sister for a day or two. The difference is that a surprise is temporary and brings joy when it’s disclosed.

It is a slippery slope, she concedes. Generally, the more shame and fear is felt, the further the bar moves to the “secret” side of the continuum.

82 | Crawford Times

Secrets are rooted in shame, and what a family keeps secret reflects something about our culture and current morality. So says Dr Evan Imber-Black, an academic, psychologist and author of The Secret Life of Families (1988), who adds that families might be ashamed about domestic violence, sexual abuse, poverty or bankruptcy, or criminal activity. (In previous decades, families may have been more embarrassed by homosexuality, addiction, divorce, mental illness, unmarried pregnancies and adoption than today.)

And the impulse to protect young children from unpleasant realities is understandable.

Essential Secrets

Partners, too, have intimacies between each other which they do not share with others in the family – these Dr Imber-Black calls “essential secrets” as they are a part of an individual’s identity in the partnership.

Toxic Secrets

“Toxic” secrecy is another ball game entirely. These are jealously guarded areas of silence in families, usually taken from the list above, that have a knock-on effect on others in the family. The reasons for colluding and agreeing to keep these secrets should be carefully investigated.

Dangerous Secrets

And lastly, what Dr Imber-Black calls “dangerous” secrets, such as drug and sexual abuse, require immediate action when revealed.

Good Secrets The aim of a “good” secret is to protect others, especially children, from traumatic knowledge. A child may be told that her father is working abroad for a year when he is, in fact, serving jail time for fraud. On the face of it, it may seem as if the secret is being kept solely for the child’s benefit: so that she needn’t sully her admiration for her father. But it might be more honest to admit that the adults who agree to keep the secret are at least in part also invested in the secrecy – to shield them from shame. Additionally, the censorship means that there is a part of her father’s story this child doesn’t know. To know her father fully, warts and all, the secret needs to be sensitively revealed to her at some stage.

Spotlight The overwhelming majority of family secrets have the potential to affect family life through generations; the majority of secrets – even if they are not freely spoken about publicly – should not be kept from children forever. We may think we are managing to remain emotionally neutral around a topic – a paedophile in the family, for instance – but we significantly overestimate ourselves in this regard. Where there is an area of silence in a family, there is also usually a child who intuits more than the adults suspect. And when there is silence, and uncomfortable adults, then asking for help is very difficult. That alone should be a motivator for overcoming our reluctance. Shine a spotlight, so that perpetrators cannot hide in the shadows.

(A note on child abuse: it is a criminal offense to do nothing if you know that child abuse is being committed. When a child is being harmed you have an ethical but also a legal duty to disclose that to authorities who will help.)

Emily* recalls that secrets were a part of growing up for her and her brother. Her stay-at-home mother feared her overbearing, angry father, who would query her financial Every child a masterpiece | 83

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management of the house in detail. “Hiding purchases from dad became the norm,” she says, a habit she found hard to break even into her own adult relationships, when she felt a need to explain her own purchases, made with her own money, to boyfriends. Dr Imber-Black says parents who need children to keep secrets from other adults have less power in the marriage. But colluding with children in this way places an unfair emotional burden on them, and can in fact “freeze” children into developmental stages, so that they struggle to move their relationships forward, to find meaningful work, or to move out of home, for instance.

Remember: we keep secrets when the truth isn’t safe. If this is the case for a secret you are keeping, or you demand that your children keep, you owe it to yourself to explore why the truth isn’t safe, and whether it wouldn’t be safer if the secret were out.

When to tell?

Suzanne Handler, the author of The Secrets They Kept: The True Story of a Mercy Killing That Shocked a Town and Shamed a Family, says in a blog post: “In the case of very young children, they need not know the details of long-held secrets that don’t directly involve them until they are capable of understanding exactly what they are being told. By adolescence, some family secrets can safely be revealed, depending on the maturity level of the young person in question. And certainly, by the time children reach adulthood, they are entitled to know most of the family secrets that have been kept from them, yet influenced their lives in ways both known and unknown.”

She adds: “Filling in the missing puzzle pieces of a family’s history, current or past, is an adult responsibility and one that should not be taken lightly. All of us long to feel whole, to understand why we are the way we are. Secrets that fester, unspoken and misunderstood, can erode the very foundation of a family, sometimes beyond repair.”

Secrets that harm

“My parents discussed whether they were going to get divorced in front of my brother and me. They didn’t realise we already understood that much English. Now we knew something terrible, but we couldn’t discuss it with them because we weren’t supposed to know.” – Zinzile* “My grandmother committed suicide. I know this because my mother told me, as the eldest, in confidence when she was worried I was showing signs of depression, the illness that claimed her own mother. But I wasn’t allowed to tell the other children. For years, until I stopped keeping her secret, I was weighed down by the load of the responsibility of this unshared, unsafe knowledge which I had to carry all alone. I don’t think it was fair. The first person I told was my therapist, who helped me to see that I could decide who to unburden myself to.” – Marelize*

The Ungame Developed in 1972 by a mother who was forced not to speak for some months due to a medical condition, this non-competitive board game poses 200 open-ended questions and encourages family members to listen to the answers. It’s a great way to gently prise open areas of silence in families, and encourage openness and respect in general. It comes in a range of versions, for kids, teens, Christians, couples, families, and so on. Available in South Africa from Amazon. *Names have been changed

Blast open secrets

If you feel the time is ripe to blast open some “zones of silence” in your family, bear the following in mind: 1. Tell a therapist or good friend first. It helps if you have the initial, confusing feelings about the secret clear in your own mind, and it will help you persist through any resistance from your family.

2. Avoid holidays, birthdays, important anniversaries or other occasions where emotions are already running high.

3. Allow the good secrets to stay. We are all entitled to some mystique, some individuality. Adolescents, in particular, are busy on the project of figuring themselves out and need time and lassitude to keep some things to themselves. Just make sure you stress that you are approachable if the teen in your life does want to talk… which does occasionally happen.

4. Know why you wish to open up an old secret. Be ready, in your own mind, with the answer to this question: Who will benefit from telling?

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13 REASONS WHY... kids kill themselves

by Donna Verrydt “Smash-hit”, doesn’t adequately describe the popularity of the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why. If you haven’t seen it (unlikely), the series centres around high school girl Hannah Baker, an emo-teenager who commits suicide after she sends audio tapes to the 13 people who had a hand in her death. Aimed at teen audiences, the show was criticised for what many mental health professionals saw as a glamorization of major depression and suicide, both of which are on the rise among teens. On the other hand, though, the show has also been hailed for opening the conversation about teen suicide and what reasons teens have to take their own lives.

Let’s look at the 13 most prominent reasons why teenagers take their own lives and understand what we can do about it.

1. Peer pressure & bullying Although bullying is now spoken about more than ever, it is still on the increase. Most teens are scared of being bullied further so never bring up what’s happening to them to their teachers or parents. These things often go unnoticed for years. Kids in their early teens, entering high school, are particularly susceptible to bullying which ranges from simple pranks, name-calling and being left out, to more serious physical abuse and damage of property. Teens who are bullied feel completely helpless, which leads to them feeling worthless and weak.

2. Mental disorders

Tyla didn’t fit in. She had nothing in common with her peers. She often found herself alone at break, and was never invited to parties… not that she would have gone anyway. She just didn’t share the same outlook on life. She felt she was dead inside. Eventually, her parents homeschooled her but the problem wasn’t the school. The problem was inside Tyla.

Many teens with mental disorders don’t feel like they belong in society and consider themselves outcasts.

Depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and other disorders cause the brain to function differently and so frustration, with themselves and society, builds.

Mental disorders are not something that will go away on their own, they need to be treated by a medical professional, and sometimes even then it’s not enough.

It’s heartbreaking to watch.

86 | Crawford Times

3. Sexual orientation Erin went to a party at a friend’s house, where she met Savannah, a pretty girl from another school. Soon Erin and Savannah hit it off and spent the night laughing and chatting with only each other. At the end of the party, Erin surprised herself when she kissed Savannah.

Was she a lesbian now? Erin wanted to keep the kiss a secret because her parents wouldn’t approve, but some people saw… they laughed, they judged and they talked.

It’s in the teenage years that kids come to terms with their sexuality. At this time, some kids realise that they may be gay, lesbian or bisexual. This can be very confusing and some set out to hide the truth from parents, friends and even themselves. When a teen realises their sexual orientation, they may worry about how they will be perceived by the school, the family, the church and society as a whole. This can be stressful and can eventually lead to depression.

They may conclude that life is simply not worth living, especially if they can’t be who they really are or love who they really love.

4. Domestic abuse Tiaan’s dad drank heavily for all of Tiaan’s childhood and when he was drunk he became angry. As a little boy, Tiaan’s mother used to hide him under the bed or in the cupboard when his dad drank. Often Tiaan could hear his dad hitting his mom. When Tiaan became a teenager, he could no longer hide. He hated his dad and the drinking, and when his dad became violent he stepped in to help his mom. More often than not, Tiaan ended with a black eye or broken ribs. He didn’t want to leave his mom alone with his dad, but he just couldn’t take it anymore.

Some teens are victims of domestic abuse. Over the years they’ve been physically and mentally abused by one or some members of their family. This has a long-lasting damaging effect. Sometimes if they are not victims themselves then they are witnesses to acts of domestic violence, which has an equally damaging effect. A lot of the time the abusers blame the teens for their behaviour which can lead to low self-esteem. Some teens survive to have healthy adult lives, some go on to experience more violence in their own marriages, but for others ending their lives seems like the only way to end the abuse.

5. Drug and alcohol abuse Mia was new to the school. She made friends quickly and spent weekends at the mall, hanging out with her new group.

When Simon offered Mia some ecstasy, Mia didn’t want to say no and be outcast, so she took the pill. Soon Mia and her friends were not hanging out together unless they were getting wasted. Mia tried to stop, but her body craved the drug and her emotions craved the acceptance.

In the teen years, what starts out as just experimentation can lead to a full addiction. Being young and impressionable, teens who are pressured by their friends find it hard to stop once they have started. Sometimes teens can go overboard, which often leads to an overdose and some don’t survive. Others become dependent on alcohol, which is readily available in some homes, to help them cope with other tough situations in their lives. Both drugs and alcohol are key elements in many teen suicides.

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6. Divorce Manny’s parents finally divorced, but the fighting had been terrible. Both parents had said that if it wasn’t for Manny, they would never have gotten married. They both said too that if it wasn’t for Manny, they would never have stayed together. Manny felt responsible for the breakdown of his own family. If he was such a bad person then maybe he should rather bow out.

Teens can be sensitive and often have a tendency to believe that they are the cause of everything that is going wrong in the life of a loved one, especially if they actually hear this. When parents are divorcing kids are sometimes made to believe that they are the cause of it, or sometimes they come to this conclusion on their own.

They may assume that if they take their own life, then everyone around them would be happier.

8. Sexual abuse Matthew was a brilliant soccer player and had a bright sporting future ahead of him. But, every day after his training, his coach would corner him in the boys’ change room. He would touch him inappropriately and demand that Matthew do the same to him. The coach said that if he ever told anyone, he would be dropped from the team and kicked out of the school. Matthew would never tell because of how ashamed and embarrassed he felt. Matthew quit soccer, and eventually life.

Many teens grow up being sexually abused, some even as late as their late teens. Not only can sexual abuse inflict long-lasting physical damage, it’s extremely emotionally damaging as well. The unimaginable pain the person is going through can lead them to take their own life in frustration and despair. In places like India, young rape victims also become the communities’ outcasts. Being raped is already extremely damaging, and no child then needs the added baggage of society’s hypocrisy. Sexual abuse is not only carried out by an adult to a child, it can be between peers too.

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7. Emotional neglect Unlike her sister, Caitlyn wasn’t a great sportsperson.

She didn’t make the teams, she didn’t get awards and she certainly didn’t make her sport-loving parents proud. They spent most of their time with the sporty sister and subsequently showed no interest in Caitlyn or her activities. When it came to spending time with Caitlyn, her parents always seemed to be too busy – no time to talk or do things together. She felt like she was a liability, that she didn’t really exist – and then one day she didn’t.

Parents often live through their children, and so identify with the child in which they most see themselves. They can also become overly involved in one sibling’s life, or their own lives, with little concern for the other child (/children) with whom they have fewer interests in common. In doing this, sometimes the signs of suicide can be missed. Emotional neglect leads to a teen feeling forgotten and alone. They may feel like their existence makes no real difference and, if they were to end their life, no one would even notice their absence.

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References: 1. Covarex Athlete’s approved package insert. August 2007. 2. Covarex product monograph. Data on file Meyerzal Laboratories. 3. Crucè LC, Assunção BF, Medawar LG, et al. Toliclate versus miconazole, a double-blind trial in patients with dermatomycosis. J Int Med Res 1980;8(2):144-147. 4. Saunders JCJ, Davis HJ, Coetzee L, et al. A Nobel Skin Penetration Enhancer: Evaluation By Membrane Diffusion And Confocal Microscopy. J Pharm Pharmaceut Sci. 1999;2(3):99-107.

S1 Covarex Cream. Fungicide, containing Miconazole nitrate 2 g/100 g, with imidurea 0,2 % m/m, methylparaben 0,15 % m/m, sodium propylparaben 0,15 % m/m preservatives and an anti-oxidant butyl hydroxytoluene 0,02 % m/m. Reg. No. 33/13.9.2/0124. See COVAREX package insert for full prescribing information.

Glenmark Pharmaceuticals South Africa (Pty) Ltd. 34 Monte Carlo Crescent, Kyalami Park, Midrand, 1684. Tel: +27 (0) 11 564 3900. www.glenmarkpharma.co.za. COV006/09/2017 LEPETTA 082 382 4645 7547J

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ing llying bully berbu Cyber 9. Cy 9.

Emma liked Noah. Noah asked Emma to send him a picture of her in just her underwear. Emma trusted Noah and did it. Noah shared the picture with all his classmates, who in turn shared it with all their mates. Mocking cyber messages and hurtful memes bombarded her. People she didn’t know said rude things and harassed her constantly. Emma knew she made a big mistake and hoped the situation would eventually blow over, but it just got worse. Emma saw no other way to escape the humiliation.

Many teens are made fun of and mocked online for various reasons, including what they like and dislike, what music they listen to, and what pictures they post. Because the digital age means things can go viral very quickly, it opens up the opportunity for more people to bully. After repeatedly being told how worthless, stupid and ugly they are, they may start to believe it (causing them to have low self-esteem), and often it’s a downhill battle from there.

10. Stress Michelle was always the top student in her grade. Every time academic awards were handed out, all the kids in assembly called out her name before she was even announced because it was expected.

The stress Emily felt to remain at the top was wearing her down. She wondered what would happen if she didn’t get top marks. She was afraid that she would be embarrassed in front of her peers and would let her parents down. The stress was too much, and Michelle needed to escape.

These days kids feel immense pressure to perform or compete. They have to do well on the sports field, achieve in the classroom, prepare for a career at a young age, make friends, be nice… teens can become agitated by all this and it may just seem too much for them after a certain point. Maintaining and delivering is not always easy and when the pressure gets too much, many teens decide to take the pressure off, once and for all.

11. Heartbreak Nkosi felt there was no point going on with life. Things had been tough since his mom died. His dad was working two jobs and seemed angry all the time. He also found out that he’d failed a Math test, and was afraid of how his dad would react.

In the past, he always talked things over with his girlfriend, who really understood him; but now she had broken up with him and he felt he had nowhere to turn.

Teen suicides are based on emotion, and the level of emotional distress in each teenager is dependent on the situation and how the teen is able to cope with their emotions. A severe breakup or losing a loved one can be very difficult to manage, but heartache alone does not lead to suicide and is rather a huge destabilising factor. It’s often the tough situations that follow heartbreak that become too much to handle.

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12. Fear Emily’s mom recently got remarried. Emily wanted to go with her mom, but her stepdad wasn’t keen to have her come along to live with them. Her dad was not in a good financial place and wanted her to go and live with her mom. Emily was afraid because she felt that nobody wanted her. She feared being abandoned and having no place to go. She thought it would just be “better” for everyone if she wasn’t around anymore.

What’s important to remember is that teens attempt or commit suicide not because they actually want to die, but rather because they want to escape a situation – one that causes them great fear or painful feelings. This can include exams, being bullied daily or being abused by an adult consistently, for example. It’s very rare that a single event will lead to suicide, it is often a series of events or a consistent event that creates such fear.

13. Learning problems Travis always got bad marks. He couldn’t do Maths, he battled with English and his History teacher had given up on him a long time ago. Travis didn’t know why school was so difficult for him and so easy for others. His peers taunted him and called him stupid, but more than this Travis felt stupid. He knew that the teachers looked on with disfavour and he felt worthless. He didn’t want to go to school, he didn’t want to take the test, he didn’t want to breathe anymore.

Up until five years ago, very little information was available about the emotional well-being of teens that have learning disabilities.

Research on self-concept, attributions, anxiety and depression found that most teens with learning problems experience negative emotional development and ran a high risk of severe depression and suicide. Kids who battle with learning challenges need to be counselled and placed at a school where they can be taught alongside other teens with the same challenges.

WARNING SIGNS There are often signs that someone may be thinking about or planning a suicide. Here are some of them: • Talking about suicide or death in general; • Talking about “going away”; • Referring to things they “won’t be needing”, and giving away possessions; • Talking about feeling hopeless or guilty; • Pulling away from friends or family and losing the desire to go out; • Having no desire to take part in favourite activities; • Having trouble concentrating or thinking clearly; • Experiencing changes in eating or sleeping habits; and • Engaging in self-destructive behaviour (drinking alcohol, taking drugs, or cutting, for example).

What if you suspect suicidal tendencies?

Whether it’s you, or you suspect a friend or family member is having suicidal thoughts, you need to get help immediately. You can’t wait and hope that the mood might improve because depression is powerful and can destroy your life. When a person has been feeling down for a long time, it’s hard to step back and be objective. This is when intervention is needed.

Talk to someone you trust or call SADAG for help: For a suicidal emergency call on 0800 567 567 For the 24-hour helpline call 0800 12 13 14 For counselling queries email: zane1@medport.co.za

The information in this article has been compiled from various mental health and kids health sources and has been formulated for this article.

Information sourced from: South African Depression and Anxiety Group: www.sadag.org American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: www AACAP.org American Psychological Association: www.apa.org Lead South Africa: www.leadsa.co.za

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To contact a counsellor between 8am-8pm, Monday to Sunday, call 011 234 4837; or you can SMS 31393 and they will call you back.

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THE BIRDS S E E B E H T &

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by Barbara Eaton and Lynda Eagle.

ADvTECH Academic Development Coordinators for ADvTECH Schools.

Sex education is more than the facts of life, it is about character and the values you hold and believe in.

E

ven in our ‘enlightened society’, teaching our children about sex, when the media bombards even little children with provocative images, is something most parents shy away from as it can feel awkward and uncomfortable.

There are also cultural and religious constraints that further confuse in the 21st Century of IVF, IUI, surrogacy, transgender and same sex marriages. Most parents vow to do the job better than their parents did, but when the time comes, the task is put off “until she/he’s a bit older”.

What has to be realised is that if parents don’t do the teaching, peers in the playground will – usually accompanied by obscenity, slang and all the wrong facts. What should be a meaningful and intimate conversation becomes a freak show that can negatively influence future relationships. It is so important to remove anxiety from these conversations so parents must examine their own feelings, values, and anxieties before embarking on the “big talk”.

Babies and toddlers

Three to five-year-olds

Babies and toddlers explore private parts as much as they do any other part of their body and this should not be met with shame or punishment. If it is excessive, the child needs to be told firmly that that is for when you are in your bedroom.

These little ones are intensely curious about bodies and may notice differences, which they will openly question, for instance: they notice the difference between a boy and a girl’s private parts and even notice circumcised versus noncircumcised penises. When you are questioned, answer honestly and in sufficient detail to satisfy.

Naming private parts correctly from the start will save a great deal of embarrassment later.

We don’t give cute names for noses and eyes, why for private parts? To remove anxiety from these conversations, parents must examine their own feelings, values, and anxieties before embarking on the “big talk”.

Showering with a child this age is not recommended as their eye level is on your private parts and this can cause distress or envy.

”Doctor- doctor” games are common and this is the time to teach children that private parts, those covered by your swimming costume, must not be touched by anyone but parents or the doctor.

Teach your child to yell loudly, run away and tell someone if this should happen. Sadly, the facts prove that those in or close to the family perpetrate the most abuse, so parents must always be alert to this. Always keep bedroom doors open when they play and offer ice cream as a distraction if the doctor games look intense.

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Nine to twelve-year-olds.

Let the child’s curiosity be your guide and answer honestly and factually but briefly. Stress that sex is only for adults in a permanent, loving relationship. If in doubt, there are many excellent books and videos to help you. Rather do the talking now, when children don’t giggle and squirm. Use your family photos to talk about how you and your partner met, loved and respected each other and decided to have a baby.

Go through all the child’s baby photos to stress the love and care a baby needs. Use small teachable moments on a need to know basis.

Tweens are embarrassed about talk of bodies and sex. They think it’s “gross”, but they do need to know the changes that will occur to their bodies and emotions so that nothing comes as a shock. Shielding this age group from inappropriate material on TV and the internet becomes crucial. Horrifically, the incidence of addiction to pornography, which can be accessed by accident, is high from the age of 12, and sometimes younger.

Use anything that is seen as a teaching moment. Be firm in saying that there is a difference between film and real life. Most adults do not behave like that.

Some questions may shock you but try to answer honestly. An angry refusal may shut down further conversations and you need your child to feel free to ask or tell you anything.

Thirteen to eighteen-year-olds Sex play is becoming common in this age group so stress that you can become pregnant the first time you try it, or you can catch STDs and HIV. Teenagers who lack a loving, secure and supportive environment may seek affection elsewhere. Don’t stop the hugs, kisses, and words of affection.

Teenagers are under both media and peer pressure to have sex and the government supplies condoms in public schools and toilets. Hormonal changes create drives they do not understand, so they need support, guidance, and boundaries. Well-informed teenagers are statistically more likely to delay sexual activity. They need to know how to say no, how to avoid dangerous situations, how to take responsibility for their actions and, most of all, how to respect their own and the opposite sex.

This is where you stress that others may have different values, that must be respected, but you do not need to embrace them, or be bullied into them.

Bibliography:

The New Speaking about Sex by Meg Hickling. Published by Northstone Boys, Girls and Body Science by Meg Hickling. Published by Harbour

Focus on the Family.

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SOUTH AFRICA’S

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by Melissa van Achterbergh – Research Journalist

B

efore we delve into the five most dangerous drugs on the South African market, let’s touch on a few drugs that are also dangerous in terms of accessibility. These drugs are called ‘gateway’ drugs – a term you probably know. Why? Because you either do those drugs yourself, or you unashamedly accept them in your own social or family circles.

GATEWAY DRUGS After consulting with various rehabilitation centres around the country, common examples of gateway drugs are alcohol, cigarettes, Ritalin, Concerta and Cannabis. These may not be the most instantly destructive of all the drugs, but they are certainly the most widely accepted – and are at the heart of most cases taken on by rehabilitation centres these days. Whether these drugs are prescribed or not, the reason they are called ‘gateway’ drugs is that they could possibly open doors to a way more serious drug addiction for you, your friends and even your children, and they should be considered and handled with care.

BIG FIVE DRUGS 1. DAGGA (HARD AND GATEWAY DRUG) Clinical name: Cannabis Nicknames: Marijuana, Mary Jane, Zol, Weed, Ganja How it’s being abused: • A seven or nine-point leaf bush that produces “heads” or “buds” of sticky green and brown leaves, which are dried and shredded and then sold in plastic bags, also known as ‘bankies’ • Buds are smoked usually out of a water pipe, also known as a ‘bong’ or out of a rolled cigarette, known as a ‘jiggy’ or a ‘splif’.

• The leaves are also used like a herb when cooking or can be part of the ingredients to make brownies also known as ‘space brownies’ or ‘space muffins’.

• The leaves can also be brewed into a tea known as ‘daisy’.

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Symptoms of Cannabis abuse: • Bloodshot eyes • Dry mouth • Loss of concentration • Unnatural hunger/ “munchies” Why do people use and/or get addicted to Cannabis? Cannabis brings a sense of calm and temporarily relieves symptoms of anxiety or stress.

The problem? Although the drug may cause relief of certain symptoms and an escape from reality, the long-term damage far outweighs the temporary sensation and can lead to chronic depression and anxiety disorders.

Affordability: $$ (R40 – R150 per 5 grams)

2. COCAINE Clinical name: Benzoylmethylecgonine Nicknames: Snow, Blow, Line, Rail.

How it’s being abused: • Snorted up the nose (crystalline white powder) • Smoked (crystal chips, rocks or chunks aka crack) • Dissolved in water and injected.

Symptoms of Cocaine abuse: • Depression • Agitation • Exhaustion • Long periods of sleep • Dilated pupils • Track marks on inner arms • Nosebleeds Why do people use and/or get addicted to Cocaine: • Cocaine brings instant feelings of pleasure or euphoria.

• Users tend to feel better about themselves and have more confidence, and are therefore more sociable.

• Users have more energy.

The problem? Cocaine is one of the most highly addictive drugs available – and after prolonged use, the initial experience of cocaine does a 180-degree flip. Users become depressed and emotionless, withdrawing themselves from social situations. The ‘come down’ phase is characterised by feelings of intense cravings, weakness, physical illness and even hallucinations.

Affordability: $$$$$ (On average R300 – R700 per gram)

3. METH Clinical name: Amphetamines Nicknames: Crystal Meth, Glass, Crank, Ice, Speed How it’s being abused: • Snorted (white powder form) • Ingested (in a pill form) • Smoked (glass-like fragments of white rock) • Injected once dissolved in water.

Symptoms of Methamphetamine abuse: • Do not sleep for long periods of time • Loss of appetite • Severe weight loss • Unusually active • Nervous or anxious behaviour Why do people use and/or get addicted to Meth: The initial meth “rush” stage lasts up to 30 minutes, before finally reaching the meth “high” stage, where the user feels confident and dominant.

The problem? Once the high starts to wear off, the user begins to binge, taking higher doses of the drug until the effect is no longer significant or recognisable by the user. This results in feelings of emptiness, depression and loss of identity.

Hallucinations leading to self-inflicted injury are also common.

Affordability: $$$$ (on average R200 to R350 per gram for the pure form)

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4. WHOONGA Clinical name: Nyaope Nicknames: Sugars How it’s being abused: • Smoked in the form of a rolled cigarette filled with a cocktail of dirty white powder/ heroin and sometimes mixed with shredded cannabis leaves, rat poison and Anti-Retroviral Drugs (Yes, you heard that right, ARV’s and rat poison!)

• Injected once diluted in water.

Symptoms of Nyaope abuse: • Bloodshot eyes and abnormally sized pupils • Sudden weight loss/weight gain • Deteriorated physical appearance • Unusual-smelling breath or clothing • Slurred speech • Trouble with concentration Why do people use and/or get addicted to Nyaope: The presence of heroin, rat poison, ARVs and cannabis brings an intense feeling of euphoria, relaxation and complete satisfaction. The concoction can quickly mask feelings of hunger, anger and can even make a user that is cold, feel warm.

The problem? Nyaope is the most addictive drug on the streets at the moment, getting users addicted after only one try.

The user usually continues to take the drug throughout the day to combat harsh ‘coming down’ symptoms such as severe pain and cravings.

Affordability: $ (on average R20- R30 per 5 grams)

5. ECSTASY Clinical name: Psychedelic Drugs Nicknames: MDMA, Beans, Molly, Disco Biscuits, E. How it’s being abused: • Ingested in capsule or pill form (different colours) • Snorted in crystalline powder form • Smoked in crystal form Symptoms of Ecstasy abuse: • Sweating • Dry mouth (user usually carries water and chews gum) • Clenched jaw and grinding teeth • Dilated pupils • Unusual levels of energy and friendliness Why do people use and/or get addicted to Ecstasy: As the name suggests, users feel highly exhilarated.

They also feel sensual because their sense of touch is heightened. “Ravers” or partygoers use the drug to give them increased energy.

If you, your friends or your family members are battling drugs, help is available to you.

SANCA (South African National Council of Alcohol & Drug Abuse) Tel: 011 836 2460 | Mail: sancacentral@mweb.co.za Houghton House Contact our 24-hour helpline on +27 79 770 7532 www.houghtonhouse.co.za ToughLove The Head Office helpline is 0861 868 445 (0861 TOUGHL). www.toughlove.org.za

The problem? One pill can cause symptoms that last up to a week. These symptoms include irritability and aggression, depression and anxiety, and memory and attention loss. Longterm use causes the body to become intolerant, forcing the user to either increase their intake, which can be fatal or to move on to a stronger drug, such as cocaine.

Affordability: $$$ (R80 to R200 per pill) The information in this article has been compiled from various mental health and kids health sources and has been formulated for this article.

Information sourced from: South African Depression and Anxiety Group: www.sadag.org American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: www AACAP.org American Psychological Association: www.apa.org Lead South Africa: www.leadsa.co.za

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Frenemies

by Donna Verrydt

N

obody likes to admit that they, or their children, have “friend problems”. Parents want their children to be liked and happy, and kids want to be accepted and popular. But sometimes the desire to be accepted can lead to your kids being emotionally manipulated by the people closest to them... their friends!

Jealousy is a natural human emotion, one that we tell our children, from an early age, not to have. Children shouldn’t be taught to feel bad about being jealous or made to feel weak for showing their emotions, but rather how to effectively manage them. However, when

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your child’s natural emotions, including jealousy, are exploited by their “friends” – well then, that’s a whole other ball game! We’ve discussed bullying at great length and it will always remain an ongoing issue.

But bullying isn’t just confined to name-calling, rumourspreading or physical abuse by a child’s corridor enemy.

The manipulation and exploitation of a child’s raw emotions are also forms of bullying, and most of the time it’s done by the person or people closest to them – usually their friends! This gives rise to the term ‘frenemy’ – a friend/enemy or a toxic friendship! And at the heart of most toxic friendships lies jealousy.

Frenemy!

For schoolgoing kids, friendships offer a powerful and necessary sense of belonging. We want our kids to feel accepted, respected and loved by their peers, but never to be used as pawns in someone else’s popularity game.

And never for one moment doubt that this is a game. It is the social survival game of life. To dominate the social hierarchy, sometimes jealousy is promoted, through mean behaviours such as leaving a child out of a conversation or not inviting one child from a group to a party.

Children on the receiving end of this type of behaviour, experience a rise of jealousy that compromises their feelings of adequacy and acceptance. These children need to be taught how to express their feelings with assertive communication skills and confidence. Children should be able to say things to their peers like, “I don’t like the way you are treating me right now and I feel angry about what you just said/did/pretended not to do,” and, “I’m not going to let you treat me that way again.” As parents, we can only try to teach our kids how to manage jealousy and how to build confidence; with confidence, they can walk away from toxic friendships and end jealousy for good.

External jealousy

The world of kids, especially girls, always begins as such a happy place. They make friends easily, they pick flowers for their teachers, they draw pictures for their parents, they laugh from the heart. Then, seemingly overnight, their sweetness becomes less brown sugar and more saccharine and sarcastic. For example, once a young girl said, “Oh I love your hair like that!” and meant it, now she says, “Nice hair!” and it drips with sarcasm, and is accompanied by vicious giggles. Yesterday’s birthday parties suddenly become today’s tool of exclusion. Invitations are the enforcer of social hierarchies, and a reason for your child’s green-eyed monster to emerge.

When to helicopter

So what do you do as a parent? We understand that all you want to do is drive over to the school and kick some pre-teen behind, but often when it comes to your kid’s friendship problems, being a helicopter parent (hovering over them and fixing problems) is the less-effective option. Now, we’re not saying that a child should go through emotional pain, of any kind, alone. Kids need adult support and guidance when it comes to navigating jealousy and anger.

The root of the green-eyed monster The thing that makes jealousy hard to deal with is that it often takes root in the under-the-radar behaviour of others. Teaching your child to establish whether their jealousy is internal (natural emotion) or external (motivated through the actions of others) is a good place to start.

Make your kids aware of, and teach them how to recognise, these external jealousy-promoting factors: • Not getting invited to parties and play dates.

• When parties and play dates are talked about in front of kids who are not invited.

• Being given the “silent treatment” or being excluded from conversations.

• When a friend is “stolen” and the new friendship flaunted.

• “Forgetting” to save a seat for a friend or leaving a kid out by “saving a seat” for someone else.

• Being “unfriended” or “removed” from social media groups.

• When “happy pictures” having “so much fun” are posted all over social media, when specific people were left out.

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First and most importantly, teach your kids that jealousy, sadness and anger are not “bad” emotions or a sign of weakness. It’s perfectly normal to feel those things and that they can talk to you, or a teacher, about the way they feel without being criticised or judged. Kids need to have a safe place to be vulnerable – to vent, to talk about their friendship frustrations, and even to cry.

However, when it comes to facing jealousy, anger and sadness with their peers, there’s a whole other strategy.

You need to teach your children unwavering strength!

Now, we’re not talking about the strength that involves fighting back – physically or verbally – which could lead to further hostilities, but rather strength of character. This includes being able to assess a situation for what it really is, using defence tactics to deflect hurtful behaviour, and having the confidence to defend themselves.

Humour is king!

If your child is in a situation where their feelings are being disrespected, a simple burst of humour could literally flip the situation on its head! If your child was not invited to the party, but the party was being discussed in front of him/her, they could say something like, “Ah guys, I would have come to your party, but I’ve got something on!” Another example if a “funny” story is being told about what they all did on the weekend (without your child), your child could say, “Oh, look at the time, I’ve got to make like a banana and split.”

Humour is a simple and powerful way to signal that you are in control of your jealousy and that you will not allow yourself to be treated poorly. If humour is difficult for your child, then suggest a simple but firm response, such as, “Cut it out guys!” or, “Stop what you’re doing!”

Frenemy Game

Around the dinner table, during morning trips to school or any time when the mood is right, play the Frenemy Game with your kids to teach them how to recognise true friendship. Start off by asking: A real friend is someone who...

Hopefully, the end of your child’s sentence will sound something like:

• Includes me • Will look after my secrets • Says nice things and means it • Listens to my opinion or ideas • Shares with me

• Helps me when I need it • Understands how I feel • Stands up for me • Is fun to be with

Conclusion: When kids understand what a healthy friendship should be like and how it should feel, they’re best equipped to remove themselves from friendships that are toxic and which contribute to feelings of jealousy, anger and sadness.

This article has been formulated from information and research conducted and presented by psychology lecturer and author, Dr Tim Lomas, and school counsellor and author, Signe Whitson.

When is jealousy good?

Jealousy, or envy, is rife these days thanks largely to social media. All of us are constantly bombarded with other people’s supposedly perfect lives – even though logically we know the images and videos we see are highly selective, if not edited. At our core though, we react to what we see and naturally become jealous of people who seem to have more money, longer overseas trips and better-looking spouses!

So clearly envy is a bad thing! But there is some good in all the bad. There have been suggestions that there are two forms on envy: vicious and simulative. Vicious envy is, as it sounds, hostile and destructive. It is the simple build up of resentment towards another person which can lead to passiveaggressive behaviour, altercations and discontent.

On the other end of the jealousy scale is simulative envy. This involves feelings of admiration, respect and inspiration. If used wisely, this kind of positive envy can encourage us to set our own goals and drive us forward to achieve them.

When jealousy first stirs within us, it is poised on a knife’s edge and can go either way. The bad news is that it is human nature for us to choose the wrong side. The good news is that the power to overcome this human nature and to look for a positive alternative also lies within us. We can – and must – make a conscious decision to choose simulative envy. There are two main ways to do this: 1) Focus on ourselves, rather than on the target of our envy. Instead of obsessing over their good fortune, we can work out how to attain our own.

2) Set realistic goals. You’re probably not going to beat Michael Phelps in the next Olympics, but there are many goals to achieve that will positively impact your life. These goals should be realistic and meaningful, such as achieving a better relationship, finishing that book, getting fit or making new friends.

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SECRET ADDICTIONS Internet, gaming, social media – the drugs of the digital world Information supplied by Kaspersky Lab.

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nternet addiction and game addiction are pathological conditions that parents around the world are becoming increasingly more concerned about. Not only are children spending more and more time online, often the content they are consuming is excessively violent and pornographic – totally inappropriate for children! Gambling sites and online stores also capitalise on kids and their desire for instant gratification. Teenagers, in particular, are living increasingly virtual lives, escaping more and more from reality. Sounds horrible, doesn’t it?

When considering all of this, it’s important to note that there is a difference between a medical condition, or addiction, and an enjoyed form of entertainment.

In terms of gaming, the industry is developing at a rapid rate and is constantly recruiting large numbers of teenage gamers. The fact that the number of players simultaneously online on the Steam gaming platform has long exceeded 10 million is an indicator of just how popular gaming has become. This doesn’t necessarily mean that we have in excess of 10 million gaming addicts; some teenagers spend relatively short periods playing online games.

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Internet addiction Remember, just because you think your child seems to spend too much time online doesn’t necessarily mean that they have an addiction. If you think your son or daughter may be developing an Internet addiction, there are a few signs you can watch out for, including: • The proportion of time: if your child is so absorbed on the Internet that they cannot tear themselves away.

Monitor the time your child spends online vs. the time they spend on other activities.

• Moods: if your child is calm, happy or excited when online, and irritated, aggressive, agitated or lethargic when offline.

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Video game addiction • Suffering schoolwork: if your child used to get good marks at school, but marks have now plummeted.

• Relationships: if your child is experiencing a cooling of relations with real-life friends.

• Excessive reactions to trivial online events (such as the number of likes or comments): if your child becomes very emotional, monitors or tries to control what is happening online, becomes happy when there’s a reaction to their online activity and/or disappointed when the level of reaction is less than expected.

• Physical symptoms: headaches, backaches, dry eyes, sleeping disorders, reduced physical activity, inertia, and pallid countenance.

• Neglecting their basic needs: such as personal hygiene, sleep, meals, and a lack of appetite.

• Antisocial behaviour: lying, being offensive or physically aggressive to others who try to prevent them from going online.

Remember that none of the above factors alone (with the exception of aggression) is indicative of a developing addiction. For example, if your child has several hobbies, blogs about them, and gets upset about not receiving very many likes, this doesn’t necessarily mean they have an Internet addiction; it is more likely that they are simply engrossed in that activity. What you should be looking out for is a combination of several of the above factors.

If your child has developed an addiction, you should consult a professional. If you are concerned that your child is at risk of becoming addicted and would like to take preventative measures, try using dedicated software, such as Kaspersky Safe Kids – which allows you to control how much time your child spends using a device.

You shouldn’t get overly concerned if your child sometimes becomes absorbed in a video game and you find it difficult to get their attention. In the same way that reading books at bedtime or watching their favourite cartoons can be engrossing, so can gaming. You should understand that a video game is a large artistic creation that your child wants to experience in its entirety, from the beginning to the end, and while a cartoon may take around 90 minutes to watch, a game could take 10, 20 or even 50 hours to complete.

Fifty hours may sound quite worrying, but in fact, it only means your child will spend more time playing that game instead of constantly returning to the adventures of their favourite heroes in creations that take less time to complete.

It’s a bit like reading a fantasy trilogy or War and Peace

by Tolstoy instead of four or five single-volume books in the space of a month.

“Flow” is a term that describes the experience of becoming truly engrossed in anything, including a game. Video game developers use the term and, from their point of view, this is exactly what they want to produce in a player. In this condition a player doesn’t notice how time passes, they may fail to react to external stimuli, and they get irritated if they are distracted from their game. If a game succeeds at this, it means it’s a good game that the player finds interesting; this is not unlike the state that book lovers find themselves in while reading a good book.

Your child plays video games to tell you or their friends about how many levels they have completed, and because they are interested in what happens to the heroes next; it’s a hobby, an interest, a topic for discussion. This is not an addiction.

Addiction is when a child carries out virtual raids after school or even during school time, when real-life friends are replaced by virtual companions in trade guilds, and when a child loses all interest in real life and socialising with others. The most dramatic example that is usually cited when discussing video game addiction is that of a gamer who died of exhaustion after she played World of Warcraft nonstop for several days!

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MMORPGs World of Warcraft is a massively multiplayer online roleplaying game (MMORPG) in which players take on the role of one of the heroes living in a virtual world. MMORPGs are a major risk when it comes to gaming addictions. The nature of these games means the player keeps returning to play: the in-game content is infinite and is continuously expanded by the developers, the player continuously develops their character, working to reach achievements for their account; players also form social bonds during the game, which attaches them even more firmly to the virtual world.

In order to prevent your child becoming addicted to a video game, the same dedicated software for children’s online safety will also help – such software helps control the time your child spends on their device.

However, be careful when using this sort of software in conjunction with MMORPGs – it’s difficult to limit the time your child spends playing such games because the timer not only stops the game process it also stops interactions with in-game friends, and this can be difficult for teenagers to accept. It might be a viable option to ban such games altogether for some time – this can also be done with the help of software such as Kaspersky Safe Kids. All you need to do is add this type of video game to the list of blocked software.

Moreover, by using components that restrict the launch of games or content based on age ratings, this sort of security software can help make sure your child chooses ageappropriate games.

KASPERSKY TOTAL SECURITY

We help you to protect all your family – on all their devices – so they can shop, surf, socialise & stream more safely.

How to restrict online shopping, gambling and other adult content With the help of the Internet, children can now not only gain access to undesirable adult content but also become addicted to gambling or online shopping on pages that are easily accessible. Trying to teach your child how to behave properly online may not be enough to protect them from their own behaviour, including accessing adult content and making impulse purchases.

Again, specialised software will be able to help you select the categories of web pages that you want to prevent your child from visiting. By default, these are the most dangerous categories, such as pornography, violence and drugs; however, parents can add other categories, such as online shops if they like.

What we are going through with our kids today is relatively uncharted waters; our parents never had to deal with digital parenting. What we do need to realise though is that this digital addiction is one of the most dangerous kinds of addictions because we live in a digital world and in order for us to navigate our careers, our kids, our diaries and our lives, we need to consume digital media to some extent. Unlike drugs or alcohol which can and must be cut out completely, digital addiction is much like food addiction, where consumption is needed for survival, but over-consumption can be lethal. Where’s the line?

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MIRROR MIRROR!

k l a T y d o B e h T -

by Dominique Wolf – The Style Coach

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t’s a constant battle, being a teenager! Not only are you worried about fitting in with the rest of the crowd, you also have a strong desire to stand out as an individual! At this time of your life, what you think about yourself, and what you want others to think about you, rests heavily on your physical appearance. So, what do you see when you look in the mirror?

Negative body image

When you look in the mirror, do you hear yourself saying things like: I’m too fat; my legs have no shape; my hair is too curly; my eyes are too dark; my boobs are too small; my arms are too skinny? Are you constantly criticising your body and comparing it to other bodies? This is a sign of a ‘negative body image’. At the very least, a negative body image is associated with shyness, social awkwardness and self-exclusion and at the most, leads to eating disorders, self-mutilation and even suicide.

‘Body image’ is what you believe about your own appearance. It’s how you feel about your body, including your height, shape and weight. It’s also how you sense and control your body movement and how you feel in your own skin. People with a positive body image appreciate their natural body and value its uniqueness. They also feel confident and comfortable and have high self-esteem. People who accept their physical appearance and “wear it” with confidence, also encourage others to respect themselves and their bodies, too.

Media, both traditional and social, play a big role in body image formation in teens. At this age, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other social media platforms are the main means of communicating with the world. But, seeing the world through a filter is not only unhealthy, it’s also unrealistic! It’s time to cut the fake crap. It’s time to get real about your body and to stand up for yourself against yourself.

Dominique Wolf - The Style Coach Personal stylist, corporate image consultant, commercial stylist and speaker. www.thestylecoach.co.za 083 448 2321 110 | Crawford Times

Plastic surgery Why did Kylie Jenner lie about getting plastic surgery?

Perhaps she wanted the world to think that her looks are natural and that she has superior DNA; or, maybe she knows that as a role model to young people her actions would attract criticism because she didn’t inspire others to accept and love themselves and, instead, encouraged change over self-acceptance. Annoyingly for Kylie, she has one thing working against her in this “Did she? Didn’t she?” debate – the Internet! It’s all out there; plenty of pictures and footage featuring the thinner-lipped, wider-jawed, flatter-chested Kylie – and she was beautiful even then, even if she didn’t think so.

There are undoubtedly sincere and reasonable reasons to have plastic surgery during teenage years, for instance: girls who have very large breasts that limit their physical activity, or boys with male breast development, or a nose deformity causing significant breathing problems, or anything else that has significant psychological and physical advantages.

These need to be seen as exceptions, not as an excuse to go under the knife. Having plastic surgery to “fit in” or to look like a celebrity (who has probably been air-brushed anyway) is not a good reason to have plastic surgery.

Yes, Kylie seems happy and regularly shows off her new look on social media, but we have to wonder whether she is really at peace with herself now? If anything, it would appear that Kylie’s plastic surgery has enhanced her obsession with appearance. Her life on social media is centred around

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beautification, posing, make-up, hair, curves, clothes, contouring and … is that real life? Living up to her own expectations must be exhausting and unsustainable. What happens when she gets older? Will she like and appreciate herself then?

The reality of teenagers having plastic surgery is that, emotionally, you don’t really know yourself yet and you’re influenced largely by the world around you. Physically, operating on someone who hasn’t developed fully can seriously affect the cosmetic outcome, not always immediately but certainly as growth and development unfold.

Now we’re not saying that you should never have plastic surgery; what we are saying though is that it’s a decision to be made by a fully developed adult and for the right reasons.

Bottom line: if you can’t accept yourself for who you are right now, then no amount of outer change will ever make the inside love itself.

Tattoos and piercings Expressing yourself through your body can be fun – it can represent freedom, self-expression and independence! But it does also represent forever, and ever, so never make decisions in haste.

Try to imagine yourself 20 years in the future. What will you be doing at that time? You might be a crazy teenager now, but in 20 years you may be a successful lawyer and a tattoo of a hot stuff devil on your earlobe may not do you any favours. And just so you know, having a tattoo removed in the future will entail either laser treatment, excision (surgery) or dermabrasion (sanding), all of which are extremely uncomfortable, even painful, and very expensive! Besides permanency, there are also health risks of tattoos and piercings.

A belly button piercing, for instance, can get severely infected and can cause terrible scarring. Skin heals after piercings by forming a layer of cells called epithelial cells along the inside of the piercing to protect the body from the foreign object. The epithelial cells form a tube-like layer of skin along the inside of the piercing. The process takes at least six to eight weeks, although most body piercings require at least six months to a year before the jewellery

can be removed for any length of time without the risk of the hole closing.

If you are considering a piercing, then it would be wise to take note that the most tricky piercing can be one near or on the mouth. The mouth is constantly filled with bacteria, which means it’s impossible to sterilise the mouth completely and so the area is particularly prone to infection.

If you want to go ahead and have a piercing, discuss the matter with your parents and think carefully about the health implications. If you still want to go ahead, do so responsibly.

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Eating disorders/extreme exercise – striving for the “perfect body” For some teenagers, weight can become an unhealthy obsession. Anorexia nervosa, where sufferers simply refuse to eat at all and can starve to death, is, unfortunately, a common chronic illness with 1% of teenagers worldwide battling the disease. Bulimia nervosa is another eating disorder with a destructive pattern of overeating followed by vomiting or “purging” to control weight. Approximately 3% of teenagers suffer from this.

In trying to understand the causes of eating disorders, scientists have studied the personalities, genetics, environments and biochemistry of people with these illnesses. Although there is a clear correlation between the portrayal of the “ideal” body in the media and eating disorders, it is not clear why some “at-risk” individuals develop eating disorders and others do not.

The consequences of eating disorders can be severe. One in 10 cases lead to death by starvation and all eating disorders can cause cardiac arrest. On top of that, those who suffer an eating disorder are more likely to attempt suicide.

Most people with eating disorders refuse to admit they have a problem and don’t get treatment. Family and friends can help recognise a problem and encourage the affected person to seek help.

It’s normal for teenagers to worry about weight, and in this case, it’s important to allow yourself to be in an environment that’s loving and accepting, whether it be with family or friends. A family, as a whole, should practice healthy eating habits and set a good example for each other.

Extreme exercise in order to slim down or bulk up also seems to be a fad these days. Your body is still developing if you’re under the age of 16. If you stress your skeletal frame by lifting too much weight or lifting weight incorrectly, it can cause massive injury. If you pair too much weight lifting with a restricted diet and nutritional supplements or steroids, it can result in serious health complications with long-lasting consequences. Stay away from common fitness supplements, especially steroids that alter your hormones. Using steroids can raise your risk of heart disease and liver damage.

Besides all the glaringly obvious physical problems and complications that come with dieting, body modification and plastic surgery in teenagers, the psychological impact can become even more serious. As adults, parents and teachers, we understand that the pressure you feel as a teenager is very real.

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We want you to try and focus on things about yourself that are not just physical, like your talents, your kindness, your bravery, your entrepreneurial skills, your humour, your sport, your social skills, etc.

If, however, you feel like you are slipping, know that there is lots of help out there for you.

You can get help from your parents, your teachers and The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) www.sadag.org; 24-hour helpline 0800 12 13 14, SMS 31393 (and they will call you back), or find them on Facebook and Twitter

LEPETTA 082 382 4645 7530J

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Glenmark Pharmaceuticals South Africa (Pty) Ltd. 34 Monte Carlo Crescent, Kyalami Park, Midrand, 1684. Tel: +27 (0) 11 564 3900. www.glenmarkpharma.co.za. DEM0069/09/2017

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