13/01/2012
Dear Parents, Staff and boys,
Welcome to the 2012 academic year. It was indeed a great joy to welcome all boys to school yesterday. We especially welcome all Grade 4 boys and new boys to St Benedict’s. We trust that you will be very happy with us and enjoy being part of the St Benedict’s family.
A new year is a truly blessed opportunity to embrace the energy and optimism of a new start. My wish and prayer for all boys, staff and members of the St Benedict’s family is that this year will truly be a happy and successful one for you.
WELCOME TO NEW STAFF
A number of new staff members have joined the Prep School. We extend a warm and sincere welcome to each one and trust that your association with our school will be professionally rewarding and that your association with our school will be a long and happy one.
Mrs. Maaren will be teaching Maths in Grade 4. A decision was taken for Mrs. Bissict to teach another class towards the end of last year.
Mrs. Mattheus joins us in Grade 6 and will be teaching Afrikaans and Geography. Interestingly, Mrs. Mattheus taught at St Benedict’s some ten years ago prior to her husband being transferred to White River and it is good to have her back with us again.
Mr Rupondo joins the Prep School sports department.
Miss Isherwood, an intern teacher also joins the Prep school and will be mainly associated with the Grade 7’s.
THE TERM PLANNER
Please note that the full term planner will be issued during the course of next week.
In the meantime, however, please diarise the following important dates:
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Tuesday
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17 January
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Pre-season swimming commences
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Friday
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20 January
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Academic Mass at 09:30 and dedication of Grade 7 Leaders and Captains
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Saturday
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21 January
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Cricket vs St David’s
U11 basketball at Sacred HeartU12 and U13 basketball at St Peter’s
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Monday
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23 January
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Full afternoon programme commences
Prep School AGM and grade information meetings
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Wednesday
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25 January
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Invitational swimming gala at St Benedict’s
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Friday
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27 January
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A and B team swimming galas
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Saturday
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28 January
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Grade 7 leaders camp
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Sunday
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29 January
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Grade 7 leaders camp
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SPORT ARRANGEMENTS FOR TERM 1
All 3 boys will have received the detailed term 1 sports brochure today. Parents and boys are urged to read this document carefully, noting sports arrangements, dress codes, codes of conduct and the contact details of the sports coaches.
PREP AGM AND GRADE INFORMATION EVENINGS
The Prep School AGM will take place at 18:00 on Monday, 23 January in the College Hall. Parents are urged to attend the AGM which is expected to be approximately 30-40 minutes in duration. Directly after the AGM, parents are invited to attend grade information meetings. The purpose of these grade meetings is to provide parents with all the necessary information and daily details as they pertain to that grade. These meetings will prove to be informative and parents are strongly urged to attend.
FULL AFTERNOON PROGRAMME
The full afternoon programme commences on Monday, 23 January. A document will be provided next Friday outlining the times and details of each activity.
REGISTRATION DOCUMENTATION FOR 2012
All boys were issued with a registration pack on arrival at school yesterday. It is necessary for parents to please complete the registration documents in full. Please refer to the instructions on the cover page of your son’s registration pack. Parents are requested to complete and return all the documents to your son’s register teacher by no later than Friday, 20 January. Thank you for your co-operation in this important administrative process.
ACADEMIC MASS
The annual academic Mass for boys from Grade 3-12 takes place on Friday, 20 January. The Mass, which will include the blessing of the Grade 7 leaders, will commence at 09:30 in the cricket centre and parents are most welcome to attend. Please note that all boys must be dressed in full summer uniform with their blazers on this day.
CONGRATULATIONS
As a school community, we wish to congratulate Mr Chalmers on his ordination as an Anglican Priest over the December period. We trust that God will bless you and greatly use your talents to serve Him and continue His work.
Well done to Mr Reed, Mr. Strijdom, Mr Flude and Mrs Pietersen (aftercare) for passing their exams. We wish them well with their continued studies this year.
Congratulations to Marco Giuricich and Daniele Esposito, members of the South African Under 13 Moroka Swallows team who won the South African Volkswagen Junior Masters U13 Tournament. The winning team (Moroka Swallows) will now go through to Warsaw Poland at the end of May this year to compete against the winning teams throughout the world to determine the World Volkswagen Masters U13 Champion. Both played in the final. Daniele scored one of the winning goals in the final.
NEW AFTERCARE FACILITY OPENS
After nearly a year of building and renovating, there was a great deal of excitement and anticipation as the aftercare boys moved in their newly built and refurbished facility yesterday. The aftercare boys now have the use of a facility second to none and I wish to thank Mr Oosthuysen and the Board of Governors for making the resources available for the building and equipping of this facility for our boys. What an incredible improvement on the old aftercare. The official opening and blessing will take place at 17:00 on Friday, 10 February. Parents and boys will receive information of this event shortly.
Confident Kids Speech & Drama
Commences on Monday 23 January all Grade 4 – 7 boys. Enrolment forms may still be handed in before 20 January 2012. Please contact Mandy on 083 375 8817 or jeanette@confidentkids.co.za for any queries
My very best wishes are extended to you for the year ahead.
Yours Sincerely,
G. Edwards
Headmaster
