27/07/2012
Dear Parents, Staff and Boys
Olympic Spirit
The school is a bee hive of activity this morning with everybody dressed in the colours of the country they support at this year’s Olympics. Today marks the start of the 2012 London Olympics. We will all be following the trials and tribulations of the athletes participating in the games.
It is inspiring to know that the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic mascots were created with young people in mind. The aim of the mascots is to connect young people with sport and tell the story of London’s Olympic and Paralympic history. By linking young people to the values of sport, Wenlock and Mandeville hope to inspire kids to strive to be the best they can be. Wenlock’s name is inspired by the Shropshire village of Much Wenlock, which helped inspire the founder of the modern Olympic movement, Baron Pierre de Coubertin. Mandeville, the Paralympic mascot's name is inspired by Stoke Mandeville in Buckinghamshire. The Stoke Mandeville Games is widely recognised as a forerunner of the modern Paralympic movement and were first held at the hospital there. An animated film, based on a story by children's author Michael Morpurgo, shows how Wenlock and Mandeville were created from the last drops of steel left over from the construction of the final support beam for the Olympic Stadium. These figures are able to reflect and adapt to their surroundings.
These mascots are a starting point for us to explore the different facets of the Olympic games with our children. There is the competitiveness in sport as well as the many sacrifices made by the athletes to achieve the highest accolade in sport. Our own Oscar Pistorius is a point in case. Oscar’s road to the Olympics has been a trying one, but he overcame all adversity to reach his ultimate dream. He will line up in the 400 x 400-metre relay and the individual event to represent South Africa. His inclusion in the SA team surely epitomises the spirit of the games.
The Olympic motto "Citius, Altius, Fortius" meaning "Swifter, Higher, Stronger” emphasises the importance of being the best you can be. The motto doesn’t say “Swiftest, Fastest, Strongest”. So being the best isn’t given the same importance as taking part. The real competition isn’t against the other sportsmen, it is against yourself. We should encourage our boys:
• To work hard and do their best in anything they do
• To constantly challenge themselves
• To look for ways of improving and
• To make the best of whatever circumstances they find themselves in
Let us be inspired and let us inspire those around us to live each day and make it BETTER than the previous day by trying our best and in time we too will achieve our own medals in life.
THE WEEK AHEAD
| Today |
27 July
|
Hockey Tour departs to KZN
|
| Saturday |
28 July
|
HockeyTour day 2
|
| Sunday |
29 July
|
Hockey Tour day 3
|
| Monday |
30 July
|
Hockey Tour returns
Travelling Bookman |
| Tuesday |
31 July
|
Travelling Bookman
Drugwise Talk 3 (Grade 7's)
|
| Thursday |
2 August
|
18h30 Evensong and farewell to Mr Chalmers
|
| Friday |
3 August
|
Grade 7 Blue entry assembly
Last day of afternoon activities
|
SMIKE CONCERT PHOTOS AND CD
SMIKE concert photos are now available in reception to view and order at R5 each. There is also a CD of ALL the photos that one may purchase at R40 per CD. Order forms are available in reception with Mrs Stoltz.
CRICKET SUPPORT GROUP FUN FAMILY EVENING
On 28 September in the form of a Quiz for the whole family. Remember to book your table of 10 by 20 September with Mrs Mowatt.
THE TRAVELLING BOOK MAN
The Travelling book man/store is coming to St Benedict's on Monday 30 July until 4:00 p.m. and on Tuesday 31 July until 2:00 p.m. The travelling book store's books are very reasonably priced between R40 and R60. Prep school boys are encouraged to shop for themselves and donate a book to the Prep school library.
NATIONAL EISTEDDFOD CREATIVE WORK
Themes for 2012 are "My Dream"or Ïmagine if...."or Ön tour in SA"or "Go Green". All work entered into this section should be within the broad framework of these themes. All new compositions/poems, dramas, paintings etc must be handed to your class teacher by 8 August. A performance of the work is not required. Entry forms are available from Mrs Stoltz in reception,
LOST AND FOUND
A black Adidas Clima 365 bag has been found and handed in at reception. If you are missing yours please check with Mrs Stoltz.
A Canon flash has been handed in at reception. It was left in the hall after one of the concert performances. Please see Mrs Schnelle,
THE MERITS OF THE WEEK
Grade 4S
|
Julian Morais
|
For his super exam results and his positive attitude
|
| Grade 4M |
Regan Gay
|
For working like a super star this week. Totally focused and eager to learn. |
| Grade 4C |
Jaryd White
|
For his excellent manners and diligent work. A true Bennies boy !
|
| Grade 4L |
Reagan McAslin
|
For his excellent outfit and make up for SMIKE
|
| Grade 5K |
Andrew Smith
|
For always working hard and having super manners
|
| Grade 5W |
Dilano Teixeira
|
For always trying hard and for a super creative writing exam.
|
| Grade 5G |
Karl Etsebeth
|
For always being a perfect gentleman and for always working so hard. |
| Grade 5Z |
Kian Bedford
|
For working very hard and diligently throughout the term. |
| Bissict |
Miguel Rebelo
|
For an excellent Mathematics Assessment test result. Well done Miguel!
|
| Grade 6V |
Dylan Hoffman
|
For being helpful, kind and very well mannered. |
| Grade 6M |
Andrew Pingo
|
For being such an efficient 'banker
|
| Grade 6E |
Daniel Teanby
|
For a super Afrikaans Taal exam. Well done.
|
| Grade 6S |
Dylan Young
|
For always being such a gentleman |
| Grade 7P |
Matthew Sham
|
For working hard during the exams. Keep it up.
|
| Grade 7M |
Anandt Van Rensburg
|
For an outstanding Afrikaans exam result.
|
| Grade 7R |
Keenan Lalla |
For an improvement in his attitude to his work. |
| Grade 7E |
Grant O'Donoghue
|
For always putting in his best. A true Bennies boy !
|
EVENSONG
All parents are invited to Evensong which takes place in the School Chapel on Thursday, 02 August at 18:30. Evensong will be followed by a farewell function for Mr Chalmers. For catering purposes, booking is essential for this function. To do so, please reply to Mrs Schnelle (schnellem@stbenedicts.co.za) by Monday, 30 July at the latest.
CHOIR PRACTICE
All choir boys are required for a practice on Monday 30 July from 13h30 - 14h30 in preparation for the Evensong. This practice will be 15 minutes longer than usual as we really need the time. The rehearsal will be in the Chapel.
RUGBY – LET’S CELEBRATE
All rugby playing boys in all teams and in all age groups as well as those who think they might like to play rugby and their parents and families are invited to the celebratory braai and get together on Friday, 3 August. The function will be in the form of a bring and braai and boys will receive an invitation. We’ve had a fantastic season with great achievements, let’s celebrate this!
SOUP DONATION
Thank you for the donations of soup packets to our soup drive for Healdtown College. We are still accepting donations of soup until the end of term.
OUTREACH
The National Casual Day theme for 2012 is “I’m on Board”. We encourage you all to support this campaign by buying a Casual Day sticker from the front desk in the office. Stickers sell at R10. This initiative is in support of the Talitha Stimulation Centre. The Centre was established in 2000 by Ms. Veronica Flemmer, who manages it with the help of 10 full-time volunteers and a driver.
The objective is to help mentally and physically handicapped children from an impoverished background to become mentally and physically more dependent. You may gladly visit the centre’s web page for more information at www.talithacentre.co.za.
ROBOTICS
lego olympics - stbenedicts.pdf
BACK TO THE 80'S PRODUCTION
Back to the 80s Production.pdf
SPORTS NEWSLETTER
Newsletter 28 July 2012 - 03 August 2012.pdf
Best wishes for the week ahead
G Edwards
Headmaster
