College Newsletter - 3 February 2012

31/01/2012

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Dear Boys, Staff and Parents

If you wish to provide feedback regarding any of the items which appear in this week's newsletter, please feel free to email me at head@stbenedicts.co.za

Lessons from David

Everyday – as boys, teachers and parents - we come across situations and obstacle which seem almost impossible to overcome. All of us have two common responses: either we panic or we fight!  There is third, rarer  The third  very rare response will be to calm down and look up to God. This is what David did. In today's reading, I reminded of the example that David set before us all when he valiantly accepted the challenge of defeating Goliath.

David had a very different point of view. He refused to see the crisis as a crisis.  When everyone was unable to see anything beyond Goliath's height, his weapons and his strength, David saw a Philistine who deserved to be killed. Too often at times of crisis, we worry about the size of the problem. By doing this, we let the problem take control of us. God expects us – like David – to control the problem, knowing that He stands together with us. David the shepherd boy was aware that God is alive and strong enough to deliver him out of the hands of the Philistine. God also wants us to remember that He is alive in every situation, and that He can deliver us. No matter how difficult the circumstances, we must not forget that.

Someone said "We are not living in a world of excuses, but in a world of opportunities and challenges". David had no problem tackling an experienced soldier. For him Goliath was a living challenge which he needed to overcome very badly. He used the training he had received practicising his sling-shot every day while guarding his father's sheep. But David also understood that while his skills and knowledge were great, he also needed to place his trust upon God.

Today, we too often attempt to do things on our own strength rather than trusting in God. When we experience a crisis – big or small -  God is there to help us handle it.

Abortion on demand was legalized in South Africa

Correspondence received from the Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference:

Fifteen years have passed since abortion on demand was legalized in South Africa. Since then it is estimated that over one million unborn children were denied the most fundamental of rights, the right to life. We remember those one million babies. Those aborted fifteen years ago would now be in grade 9 or 10, bringing joy to their families and planning their own futures. Those whose lives were ‘terminated' ten years ago would now be playing on the streets of our towns and villages in the evenings and singing and praying with us in our churches on Sunday. We regret that those children of God were denied the right to be born into God's world and to enrich it with their own unique gifts and talents. We will never fully realize what we have missed because the law says 'abortion is fine'.

When the legislation was being discussed those in favour of it said it would save some mothers from the dangers of what has become known as 'back-street abortions'. We question if this has in fact been the case. On almost every electricity pole along the streets of our cities and towns there are advertisements for ‘safe and painless' abortions. They are outside the Head Office of the Department of Health in Pretoria and on the boundary walls of our schools. If the advertising is so public and so widespread, then the demand for those' back-street abortions' must be high.

The position of the Catholic Church on abortion is clear and unambiguous. Just because the law says it is legal does not make it morally right. Each unborn child is created by God, 'knit together in (its) mother's womb' (Ps139.13). That unborn child is a human being with a human life that must be protected. He or she has a right to life, a right that must be respected by the mother and protected by the state.

Another right that must be respected by the state and its agents is that of conscientious objection. Those who believe that abortion is morally wrong have a right to refuse to participate in the medical procedures.

All of us, parents, teachers, members of the Church, must understand what a young girl is going through when she realizes she is pregnant. She needs our love, our support, our understanding and sometimes our forgiveness. We in the Church are committed to helping unmarried pregnant girls and couples tempted to take the abortion route in whatever way we can. We will never condemn, just as Jesus refused to condemn (John8.11)

As we remember the many children who have been aborted since February 1997, we also remember the mothers of these children. Just as we do not condemn a pregnant young girl, we do not condemn her if she made the mistake of procuring an abortion. Only she knows how much she has suffered as a result. She needs help and healing. We invite her to come and speak to one of our priests or counselors so that we can be part of reconciling her to God and bringing about healing.

Archbishop Buti  Tlhagale, OMI,
On behalf of the Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference
30th January 2012

St Benedict's Community responds to Hoedspruit Flood Disaster

Mr Matthew Gill flanked by some of the leaders and boys of St Benedict's College who helped collect items for the Hoedspruit Flood Disaster. The donations included cash as well as hundreds of litres of bottled water, non-perishable food items and clothes. The school's motto of 'Truth in Charity' is something taken very seriously. The boys are taught to have a greater sense of social awareness which includes not only monetary donations but also the donation of goods. As well as this, the boys all have to complete a minimum of 20 hours community service per year. Many of the boys complete well in excess of 100 hours.

The goods collected here were sent to Jacaranda 94.2, from where they were to be transported to Limpopo in association with the Red Cross. St Benedict's College was proud to be associated with this project.

Drug Testing - 2011 Report

Over the course of 2011, the College conducted 138 drug tests. The tests were conducted fortnightly and for the most part comprise a random selection of boys. As per the College's drug policy, we reserve the right to test '… if in the opinion of the relevant Headmaster, such tests are indicated as being necessary to confirm or disprove the use of steroids, drugs or other substances prohibited by law'.

Of the boys test, 3 tested positive. All three boys were senior boys who were immediately removed from the College.

Our first random tests for steroids conducted at the start of Term 3 last year, yielded no positive results.

The majority of the tests conducted are for marijuana only. A small percentage of the sample tests for a broader spectrum of drugs including amphetamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, cocaine, methamphetamines and opiates.

Immigrant Status

In a Government Gazette published towards the end of last year, the existing definition of an immigrant candidate was amended. The new, amended definition reads as follows:

An immigrant candidate is:
(i)	A child or a dependent of a diplomatic representative of a foreign government accredited in South Africa; or
(ii)	a person who
	(aa)	First enrolled at and entered a South African school in Grade 7 or a more senior year, or
	(bb)	having begun his or her schooling at a school in South Africa, has attended school outside South Africa for two or more consecutive years after Grade 3 or its equivalent and before Grade 9 or its equivalent, and has subsequently returned to South Africa.

Parents who suspect that their son's immigrant status has shifted as a result of this amended definition are requested to contact Mrs U Smith via email - smithu@stbenedicts.co.za. Parents are reminded that as a school, we do not have the right to classify a candidate as an immigrant. We are, however, required to submit an application to the IEB who will grant or deny immigrant status.

Accomodations

If your son has a learning disability which has compromised his academic achievement throughout his school career, it is possible to apply for a number of accomodations (ie extra time, spelling etc)  which will enable him to cope in the final matric examinations. The application is processed by the school and submitted to the IEB on the candidate's behalf. Parents who attempt to deal directly with the IEB are turned away. 
 
To apply for these accomodations, it is necessary for the school to have a complete recent assessment  by a psychologist as well as all the necessary  historical evidence. The school is required to supply additional documented evidence to support the application.

The person responsible for these applications at St Benedict’s is Mrs Ute Smith.  smithU@stbenedicts.co.za
 
Extracts from IEB Policy regarding Accomodations
 
In accordance with the Constitution and policy guiding education, learners with certain permanent or temporary physical difficulties or intrinsic specific learning difficulties may apply for accommodations.
 
Barriers to learning are significant long term disabilities which compromise examination performance.
 
Accommodations must not give a candidate an advantage over other candidates.
 
Any supporting reports such as occupational therapy, speech therapy, remedial programme reports or any other medical documents should be included to support the accommodation application. The most recent school report must be submitted as well as any other recent relevant
school reports. Examples of work which support the consideration of the accommodation being applied for should be submitted. At least three pertinent subject teacher comments should be included with the application.
 
The school should submit this application form and the relevant attached documents to the IEB between January of Grade 8 and 31 October of the Grade 11 year. Applications outside of these time frames are not favourably received.

Security at St Benedict's

Unfortunately we have not been able to issue boys with security tickets as promised in last week's newsletter. The security company do not currently have the required amount in stock. I am hoping that the stickers will be available during the course of next week.

Each family at the school will be issued with two 24-7 Security Entrance Tickets: one for Mom's and one for Dad's car. Parents are requested to display these tickets on their car's windscreen (left-hand side) to gain easy, unrestricted access to the school grounds. Once all boys have been issued with these tickets, drivers of cars which do not display the appropriate sticker will be required to sign in at the gate to gain access to the campus.

Boarding

One day when I am rich and famous, I want to eat like the boys in our Boarding School: see the next week's Boarding School Menu.

Assessment Plans

Term 1 Assessment Plans have been loaded onto the website. Boys and parents may view them at the following link: Assessment Plans.

Academic Support Lessons

Parents and boys are advised of the following schedule which is in place for "extra" lessons in critical subjects.

GRADE	AFRIKAANS	MATHEMATICS	AP MATHS	PHYSICAL SCIENCE
GRADE 8	Thursdays 15:00 - 16:00 Mrs Coetzee	Tuesdays 15:00 - 15:50 Mrs Eckert
GRADE 8 BOARDERS	Mondays 16:00 - 17:00 Mrs Coetzee	Mr C Kohler Details to follow
GRADE 9	Thursdays 15:00 - 16:00 Mrs Lourens	Tuesdays 15:00 - 16:00 Mrs Cook
GRADE 9 BOARDERS	Thursdays 16:00 - 17:00 Mrs Lourens	Mr C Kohler Details to follow
GRADE 10	Mondays 15:00 - 16:00 Mrs Stothard	Mondays 15:00 - 16:00 Ms Will	Tuesdays 15:00 - 16:00 Mrs Park-Dobell
GRADE 11	Mondays 15:00 - 16:00 Mrs Ashworth	Mondays 15:00 - 16:00 Mrs S Peatfield	Tuesdays 06:30 - 07:20 Mrs Park-Dobell	Mondays 15:00 - 16:00 Mrs Esterhuizen	Tuesdays 16:00 - 17:00 Mrs Holpert
GRADE 12	Mondays 16:00 - 17:00 Mrs Coetzee Wednesdays 13:15 - 14:15 Mrs Smith & Thursdays by prior arrangement	Mondays 15:00 - 16:00 Mrs Povall	Mondays 06:30 - 07:20 Mrs Park-Dobell	Mondays 16:00 - 17:00 Mrs Esterhuizen	Tuesdays 15:00 - 16:00 Mrs Holpert
GRADE 12 BOARDERS & OTHER MATRICS	Mondays 16:00 - 17:00 Ms Coetzee

Extra English Lessons for Boarders

Grade 8, 9 and 10: Mr de Reuck and Mr Roff will conduct extra lessons on a Monday evening from 19:00 - 20:00 from the beginning of March
Grade 11 and 12 lessons will be facilitated by Mrs Oosthuysen on a Thursday afternoon from 16:00 - 17:00

Grade 12 Parents Evening

All Grade 12 Parents are invited to attend a very important which will be held on Monday, 13 February 2012. The meeting will take place in the College Auditorium and has been scheduled to start at 19:00. Parents are encouraged to attend.

Cricket

DATES	FORMAT
Age Groups U14 U15 U16 Opens Dates Thurs, 9 Feb Fri, 10 Feb Thurs, 16 Feb Fri, 17 March Times 15:30 - 21:00 15:00 - 20:30 15:30 - 21:00 15:00 - 20:30	1. 8 players per squad. (Any 5 bowl, 1 keeper, any 5 bat) 2. 5 overs per side bowled from same end. 1 over of 8 balls per bowler. 3. Wide = 5 runs. NOT rebowled. 4. Batsmen retire on 50. May return if the rest are all out. 5. Side bowling 2nd bowls from opposite end, 6. A six = 10 runs; A four = 5 runs. Last Man Stands.
SCHEDULE - U14 & U16	SCHEDULE - U15 & OPEN
15:30 - 16:00 Allard vs Erasme 18:00 - 18:30 Bishop G vs Allard 16:00 - 16:30 Bishop G vs Mazenod 18:30 - 19:00 Mazenod vs Erasme 16:30 - 17:00 O'Leary vs Allard 19:00 - 19:30 O'Leary vs Bishop G 17:00 - 17:30 Erasme vs Bishop G 19:30 - 20:00 Allard vs Mazenod 17:30 - 18:00 Mazenod vs O'Leary 20:00 - 20:30 Erasme vs O'Leary 20:30 - 21:00 FINAL versus FINAL	15:00 - 15:30 Allard vs Erasme 17:30 - 18:00 Bishop G vs Allard 15:30 - 16:00 Bishop G vs Mazenod 18:00 - 18:30 Mazenod vs Erasme 16:00 - 16:30 O'Leary vs Allard 18:30 - 19:00 O'Leary vs Bishop G 16:30 - 17:00 Erasme vs Bishop G 19:00 - 19:30 Allard vs Mazenod 17:00 - 17:30 Mazenod vs O'Leary 19:30- 20:00 Erasme vs O'Leary 20:00 - 20:30 FINAL versus FINAL

Sports Results

The College enjoyed a most successful outing at a range of fixtures against Pretoria Boys last weekend. See the highlights of a great sporting weekend for St Benedicts.

Rowing Results

Rowing results from our last two regattas were as follows:

Age Group St Andrew's VLC Mens B4x n/a Field: 1st Mens B8+ n/a Prospero: 1st U15A 2x Holden: 1st n/a U15A 8x Paulo: 2nd Hamlett: 5th Paulo: 1st Hamlett: 5th U15A 1x Holden: 1st Sequeira: 4th Busato: 5th Simonetti: 6th n/a U15A 4x Sequeira: 1st Paulo: 4th Sequeira: 1st Paulo: 4th U14A 1x Kilian: 2nd Julicher: 3rd Sorour: 4th n/a U14A 8+ Kilian: 4th Kilian: 2nd Heard: 7th U14A 4x Kilian - 3rd Kilian: 2nd Heard: 7th See this video of the closing moments of the U15 8x race: U15 Octuple

Tennis News

Follow this link to see our latest Tennis results.

Bennies and Saints share the spoils

The annual St Benedict's College Invitational Tennis Tournament was held on 28 and 29 January 2012. There was a fantastic selection of good tennis school competing. The singles matches were decided over the best of three sets and the doubles matches were decided over one Pro Set.

In the Quarter Finals, played on Saturday afternoon, St Stithians beat St David's (3-1), Waterkloof beat St John's (4-0) and St Benedict's overcame KES (5-0). Rain, unfortunately, caused these matches not to be completed. The match between HTS Middelburg and Cornwall Hill was very evenly poised and, both, teams were called in to complete this match at 6h00 on Sunday morning. The tie ended up 3-all in matches and 6-all in sets, resulting in games won having to be counted, with HTS Middelburg going through to the Semi Final, by 51 games to 50.

In the first Semi Final, St Stithians hammered HTS Middelburg (6-0), winning all four singles matches and both doubles matches. The second Semi Final, between the hosts and Waterkloof, ended up 3-all in matches, but Bennies went through by virtue of winning one extra set against a very feisty Waterkloof team. In the Backdraw Semi Finals, St David's did well to beat Cornwall Hill (5-1) and KES beat St John's (4-0). The KES/St John's tie was keenly contested, with the final score not doing St John's any justice.

In the 7th/8th Playoff, Cornwall Hill were 2-1 up against St John's, in the 5th/6th Playoff, KES were 2-0 up against St David's and in the 3rd/4th Playoff, Waterkloof were 2-0 up against HTS Middelburg, when the heavens opened, at about 15h00, resulting in no further play being possible.

The Final between the two top seeds was an absolute humdinger. In the battle of the number 1s, Bennies' Ryan Laubser came back from being 6-2, 5-2 down against Saints' Ivan Briechle to win an exciting and high quality, match 2-6, 7-5, 10-7 (Champions Tiebreaker). The singles match between Craig Fieldgate (Saints) and Joshua Roberts (Bennies), the respective number 2 players, ended up with Craig Fieldgate winning a very close match 3-6, 6-2, 14-12 (Champions Tiebreaker). The respective number 3 and 4 players were busy with their first sets, when the heavens opened putting an end to all further play. Saints and Bennies were declared joint winners and shared the trophy. Bennies' Ryan Laubser was announced as the Player of the Tournament.

The St Benedict's and St Stithian's Tennis players (from left to right):
Ivan Briechle, Craig Fieldgate, Nick Duke, Joshua Roberts, Nicky Hammann (Tournament Organiser),
Stuart Taylor, Ryan Laubser, Mason Greeff and Brandon Laubser.

Other Sports Results

Basketball vs Pretoria Boys
14A won 72-5
14B won 14-4
14C won 6-5
15A won 29-25
15B lost 9-26
16A won 40-25
16B lost 17-23
2ND  lost9-19
1ST team lost 21-50

Basketball vs St John’s
14A won 38-3
14B lost 12-18
15A won 34-14
15B won 16-13
16A won 24-18
16B won 26-25
2ND lost 26-31
1ST team lost 52-76

Cricket vs Pretoria Boys
14A lost by 7 wickets
14B lost by 62 runs
14C lost 198 runs
15A lost by 58 runs
15B lost by 9 wickets
15C lost by 10 wickets
16A Draw/Washed Out
16B lost by 10 wickets
16C lost by 9 wickets
4th  lost by 9 wickets
3RD lost by 9 wickets
2ND lost by 177 runs
1ST team won by 6 wickets

Golf
SBC A and SBC B teams
KES         55
SBC A     49
SBC B     44
Saints B 43

SBC C team
St John’s C  43
Saints D       38
Rand Park   38
SBC C            32

SBC C team
St John’s     43
Parktown   27
SBC C           23
St Dunstan’s 23

Swimming
A team Gala
St Benedict’s   497
St David’s         484
AFFIES               410
Parktown         289
CBC Boksburg 221

Tennis
‘D’ team lost 31-68 vs Leewenhof
‘F’ team won 64-35 vs Parktown

Waterpolo vs Pretoria Boys
14A won 20-0
14B 6-5
15A won 5-4
15B lost 5-7
16A lost 3-6
16B lost 2-10
4th  lost 2-10
3rd lost 6-8
2nd won 8-5
1ST team won 9-3

Sports Fixtures for the Week Ahead

Fri, 3 Fev	Golf	15:00	A team at Wanderers GC
			B team at Glendower GC
	Tennis	15:00	A team vs St David's	Home
			B team vs St Stithian's	Away
Sat, 4 Feb	Basketball	08:00	14A , 15B vs St Stithian's	Home
		09:00	15A 14B vs vs St Stithian's
		10:00	2nd, 16B vs St Stithian's
		11:00	16A, 14C vs St Stithian's
		12:00	1st team vs vs St Stithian's
	Cricket	09:00	15A ,15B, 14B vs St Stithian's	Home
		09:00	14A, 3rd, 2nd, 1st team	Away
	Rowing	07:00	Senior Crews at Roodeplaat: St Georges Regatta
	Waterpolo	08:00	3rd St Benedict's vs St Johns	St Johns
		08:30	2nd St Benedict's vs St Johns
		09:05	1st St Benedict's vs St Johns
		09:45	3rd St Benedict's vs St Stithian's
		10:15	2nd St Benedict's vs St Stithian's
		10:50	1st St John's vs St Stithian's
		11:35	3rd St John's vs St Stithian's
		12:05	2nd St John's vs St Stithian's
		12:40	1st St John's vs St Stithian's
		08:00 - 13:00	4th, U14 A/B/C, U15 A/B/C, U16A/B - see fixture schedule	Home
Mon, 6 Feb	Tennis	15:00	D team vs Maritz Brother's	Home
			F team vs Yeshiva	Home
Wed, 8 Feb	Cricket	14:30	5th, 15C, 14 D vs KES	Home
		14:30	16B ,14C, 15B vs KES	Away
	Swimming		A - League friendly at St Davids	Away
Thurs, 9 Feb	Cricket	14:00	3rd, 4th vs KES	Away
Fri, 10 Feb	Golf	15:00	A team at Randpark
			B team at Killarney
			C team at Glendower
	Tennis	15:00	A team vs St Stithian's	Home
			B Team vs St David's	Home
Sat, 11 Feb	Basketball		vs KES - to be confirmed	Home
	Cricket	09:00	2nd, 16A, 14B, 16C vs KES	Home
			1st, 14A, 15 A vs KES	Away
	Rowing	08:00	Regatta at Roodeplaat (All Crews)

To God be the Glory

 

A C Oosthuysen
Executive Headmaster