SACRED HEART COLLEGE Tel: 011 081 2203 Reception: 011 081 2200 Fax: 011 648 5204 Website: www.sacredheart.co.za
PRE-PRIMARY AND PRIMARY SCHOOL Newsletter Date: 6 June 2018
Dear Pre-Primary and Primary School Parents
General for all parents and guardians Condolences Our condolences go to Laila Richmond (Grade 1P) and her family on the death of her grandfather last week, and to Mrs Menal Pooran and her family on the death of her father-in-law today. We are thinking of and praying for your families.
Parenting Festival Report We had a fun morning in the winter sun with many activities to keep us busy. From our parents listening to interesting speakers, to playing soccer, going on tractor rides and much more, everyone had a great time spending time with friends. We welcomed visitors and some parents even played games with other parents. The high school jazz band entertained us while we sat in the gardens or enjoyed a game of soccer or fun on the jumping castles. Please see our Facebook site for photographs. Visiting During School Hours All visitors, including parents visiting the school during school hours, are to please report to the section office. This is for security reasons and no parents are permitted to go straight their child’s classroom. Please support us in this regard by ensuring that your au pair/driver is aware of this safety rule.
Primary School Is your child’s school bag too heavy? Is your child’s school bag almost as heavy as him/ her? Do you often worry about the load your child carries on his shoulders every day to school? Carrying heavy school bags day after day is one of the most distressing experiences for a school-going child. The school bag is filled with text books, note books, pencils, crayons and other stationery required almost every day. Added to this, are the lunch boxes and water bottles. Long school hours and early morning school often requires the child to carry 1
two separate lunchboxes too. There are several consequences of overburdening their tiny shoulders, back and neck at a young age. Carrying heavy backpacks can lead to muscular and skeletal problems, especially if the child carries the bag on one shoulder, or maintains bad posture while carrying the bag. This could also lead to stunted growth of bones among children. The pain and physical discomfort resulting from carrying a heavy school bag can also result in stress and lack of attentiveness in a child, affecting their learning in the precious formative years. A school bag should always be light and apt. Here are a few ways to maintain a light school bag for your child: 1. Carry only what is essential. Teach your children to follow the timetable and carry only those books required for the day as per the class schedule. Clear the bag every alternate day to remove any excess worksheets, notices, stationery or other miscellaneous items that are not required. 2. Leave some books at school. A lot of schools these days have classrooms with storage facilities for students to keep books and accessories. This is a very thoughtful step being taken by schools, as it prevents children from lugging around every-day essentials. Bring it up with your child’s school if they don’t already have this option. 3. Swear by Light Weight. Be it the school bag, compass boxes or lunch boxes that are carried in it, always make sure you pick up good quality lightweight accessories. Metal compass boxes, for example, are always heavier than their plastic counterparts. Likewise, there are multiple options of light weight lunch boxes in the market these days. 4. Choose an ergonomic bag. While buying a school bag for your child, prioritize ergonomics over looks. A bag with a broad, firm base, which narrows as it goes upwards and has broad, padded shoulder straps evenly distributes weight on the shoulders and back while carrying it. Also, it is good for a bag to have compartments, but too many pockets can make the bag too bulky and cumbersome to carry. 5. Posture while carrying the bag. If your child is leaning forward and his/ her shoulder are rounded while carrying the bag, that indicates the bag is either too heavy or has been packed incorrectly. Ensure you avoid this and encourage your little one to keep the spine straight and shoulders squared, while carrying the school bag. 6. Put the bag down. Teach your kids to put the bag down whenever they can, like while waiting at the bus stop, traveling by school bus, etc. 7. Pack smartly. Train your kids to pack their bag wisely, with heavier books at the bottom and lighter books and accessories on top. Use zip pouches instead of heavy bulky boxes to carry dry snacks, and always clear clutter. Make sure you take care of small details like these in your child’s life to make schooling a joyous and enriching experience for them. https://zenparent.in/easy-tips/7-ways-to-unburden-your-child-from-a-heavy-school-bag Aftercare The Primary School offers an Aftercare Programme, which operates daily from 13:00 – 17:30, catering for learners from Pre-Primary to Grade 6. 2
Mr Zondo, the Aftercare Supervisor has asked that we highlight the following rules/processes pertaining to Aftercare: 1. Parents must advise the Aftercare Supervisor on 081 802 0412 or nathanielz@sacredheart.co.za if alternative arrangements have been made with regard to the collection of learners. Learners will not be allowed to leave the school unless these arrangements have been finalised with the Aftercare staff. 2. Under no circumstances may children in Aftercare be collected by their siblings from the High School. Only a responsible adult may collect a child. 3. All children not collected by 15:00 must attend Aftercare. Children are not allowed to wait for their parents/guardians or lift clubs in the quads, at the extra co-curricular venues, in the parking area or in the High School. Aftercare is compulsory for all children who are on the premises, and who are not involved in an activity. Please do not instruct your child to disobey this rule, as it is there for your child’s safety and your convenience. If, for any reason, you arrive later than you had anticipated, you need only to proceed to Aftercare, and you should find your child playing safely and happily under supervision. Billing: Pre-Primary School from 14:00 - Monday to Friday, for Playgroup to Grade R Primary School from 15:00 - Monday to Thursday and from 14:00 on Fridays Parents are charged a late fee if they pick up their child after 17:30. Queries on aftercare can only be checked as far back as 3 months Uber policy 1. If parents are using Uber to collect a Primary School child, the parent/guardian needs to send the request in writing by email to the section secretary before 15:00. 2. When the Uber is ordered, a picture of the driver, and details of the car including the registration number needs to be emailed to the section secretary before 15:00. 3. If a child is collected from Aftercare or Homework Class by an Uber driver, the parent/guardian must send a SMS including a picture of the driver, and details of the car including the registration number, to the Aftercare Supervisor on 081 802 0412. (This can be done by using a screen shot.) 4. Parents who use Uber and have children in both Primary and High School need to ensure that the Uber driver signs out the child at Aftercare. High School learners are not allowed to sign out Primary School learners from Aftercare. Safety Tips for using Uber 1. Verify the identity of the driver and their car before you get in. 2. Wait inside for your ride to come. 3. Keep in touch with friends or family. 4. Take note of the driver’s rating on the app. Revised Timetable 1. Thank you for everyone’s input on the new timetable. The new timetable will kick in on 11 June 2018. 3
2. Unfortunately we cannot change everything in one go. BUT we have tried hard to ensure that there is enough time to play in the school day. This is very important in children’s development in the primary school. 3. Our actual teaching time will start at 7:40. So please get your children to school by 7:30 so that they can gather and settle. 4. Teachers who meet children in the first period will start with a short prayer and announcements (check prayer cards). Foundation Phase teachers will have their circle time at that time. 5. Foundation Phase (FP) Extra murals will run from: 13:00 to 14:00. 6. Intermediate Phase (IP) Extra murals will run from: 14:00 to 15:00. 7. Friday close for the Intermediate will be 13:30. 8. Staff meetings and planning will take place on Fridays from 13:30 to 14:30. 9. The total time allocation: Gr 1 to 3 - 24.5 hours. Intermediate - 27 hours.
From the Sports and Culturals Desk SPORT FIXTURES DATE
SPORT
Wednesday
6
Thursday Friday
7 8
Saturday Monday Tuesday
Netball
DETAILS v Leeuwenhof; U10-11 Away, U12-13 Home Inter-house Soccer and Netball U12 and U14 v Orange Grove
Girls Soccer Mini Soccer v Reddam and Netball Grade 3 v St Columba’s, St Dunstan’s, Netball Knight’s Prep & Bishop Bavin Soccer and 9 Netball (Gr 1- FP Catholic Schools’ Festival 3 only) 11 Cross country St Dunstan’s Prep v Marist Brother's Linmeyer: 12 Netball U10-11 Home, U12 Away
START TIME 13:20/ 14:00
FINISH TIME 15:30/ 16:00
H?
14:00
15:00
H
14:00
15:00
H
14:00
15:00
13:00 13:15/ 14:00
16:30 15:30/ 16:00
VENUE H&A
H A H&A
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No co-curricular tennis until further notice: We are currently looking for a new tennis coach. Please can children choose another activity. We apologise for the inconvenience.
Programme for Champagnat Day 07:40 09:30 09:50 10:00
Mass in Macartin Centre. Matrics lead in Grade 1s Break Line up in parking lot Big Walk to Observatory (sponsorship either per kilometre/ a flat donation) Grade 5s leave at 10:00 accompanied by Gr 5 monitors Gr 2s at 10:05 accompanied by Gr1 & 2 monitors and Catering committee Gr 3s at 10:15 accompanied by Gr 3 monitors and First Aid committee Gr4s at 10:20 Accompanied by Gr 4 monitors and Grade 6 monitors Refreshment on Observatory koppie (water, as goodies will be on sale later at the inter-house) Grade 1s and Rs at school with Play Afrika 11:30 Everyone back by 11:30 Gr 2-6 play Inter-house soccer and netball
School Closing time on Champagnat Day School will close at 13:30 and parents are allowed to fetch children early on Champagnat Day. There will be inter-house soccer and netball during the school day for Gr 2-6 on Champagnat Day (Thursday, 7 June). There will also be no co-curriculars after school on Champagnat Day.
Calendar Plan ahead 7 June 9 June 15-22 June 22-29 June 25 July
Champagnat Day Inter Catholic Sports Day at Sacred Heart Grade 4 to 6 Test Week Mid-term break Sacred Heart’s Got Talent
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