Dear Parents
We have made it! It almost feels like we have achieved the impossible and got to the end of the 2020 school year.
On behalf of the Epworth Staff, I would like to thank all our Prep School parents for the wonderful support you have given us during this very trying year. Your support has meant the world to the staff and carried us when things were very difficult and constantly changing. To the Prep School staff, you really have been super heroes without capes. You certainly deserve this rest and hopefully you will get some time to just relax and BE!
It has come to that very sad time of the year when we have to say goodbye to staff. Mrs Moira (Mops) St Leger and Mrs Joan Lindegger, who have been at Epworth for 24 and 28 years re- spectively, will both be retiring at the end of this year. We would like to take this opportunity to thank them for the many years of loyal service they have given to the Epworth community. Personally, I would like to thank them for their wisdom and amazing support over the last few years. They have both provided a wonderful fountain of knowledge from which to draw.
We also bid farewell to Mrs Melissa van Rooyen who has been with us for the last eight years as our Grade 7 Maths specialist. Melissa has been a dedicated member of our staff and has served Epworth Prep with amazing loyalty. Her presence at the Grade 7 hike will be sorely missed by all. We wish her and her family all the best for their new adventure in Plettenberg Bay.
Anele Esterhuyse (intern) leaves us to join her fiancé in Gauteng. We wish them all the best for the future.
Lastly, we would like to wish our Epworth families a wonderful holiday and hope that you get to spend lots of quality time together enjoying the festive season.
Stay Safe
FAITH COMPASSION COURAGE
Grade Teacher Position Intern Teacher Assistant
Mr Reynard White Principal
RRR - R Mrs Debbie Burt Pre-Primary School HOD
RRR Mrs Sam Maharaj Mrs Ntokozo Zondi
RR Mrs Kim Gouweloos
RR Mrs Taryn Norton
R Ms Amy Scott
R Mrs Michelle Starr
1 N Mrs Tarynne Noel Ms Tyla Camp
1 L Mrs Tamlyn Liefeldt Foundation Phase HOD Ms Charlene van Dam
2 S Mrs Dani Stewart Ms Sinayo Mkhize
2 K Ms Zama Kanyile Ms Julia Lind
3 B Mrs Sharon Banche Ms Samantha Dibben
3 H Mrs Lauren Harrison Ms Amoree Clayton
4 R Ms Symone Rungasamy Ms Zama Ndlela
4 P Mrs Jennie Pennefather
5 P Mrs Solly Peckett Ms Nokuzotha Sosibo
5 W Mrs Sam Williams
6 B Mrs Nicola Blomeyer Ms Sarah Stead
6 D Mr Thando Dlamini
7 D Mrs Heather Domleo
Mr Khanya Langa 7 VT
Mr Jan Hendrik van Tonder
Intermediate and Senior Phase HOD
School Secretaries Prep School Secretary Mrs Katherine Botha
Pre-Primary School Secretary Mrs Caryn Martin
Specialist Teachers IsiZulu Ms Ntombifuthi Mngoma (Senior Grades) and
Mrs Bona Magosa (Junior Grades)
Grade 7 Maths Ms Tiffany Pointer
Learning Support Mrs Brenda Hathorn and Ms Kristy le Roux
Computers Mr Patrick Makkink
Drama Mrs Sandra Henning Head of Performing Arts (Whole School)
Music Ms Anne Duthie and Mrs Lorette Codrington
Sport Ms Faye Cooper and Mr Bruce Roberts
Library Mrs Karen Maher
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School Calendar
A copy of the Preparatory School important dates will be placed on the d6 School Communicator. Parents are to please check the Whole School Calendar on the d6 and Epworth website for further details regarding school events and fixtures.
You are reminded that only events that can be determined at this early stage are included on the calendar. These might also change due to unforeseen circumstances (Covid-19 protocol changes) that develop as the first term gets under way. You will be informed, as usual, by way of notices on the d6 of any additions or alterations to events.
Car Discs for access onto the Epworth campus
Please note that Epworth Access Discs will be handed to the oldest sibling in the school on their first day of school next year. We have allocated two stickers per family. PLEASE replace your current disc as soon as you receive your new 2021 one.
Campus Closure
The campus will be closed from 15 December 2020 to 6 January 2021. Please see the d6 for information regarding access onto the Epworth campus during the following period: 30 November 2020 to 14 December 2020.
Commencement of School
The first term of 2021 commences on Tuesday, 19 January with the Prep starting at 07:40 and the Pre- Primary at 08:00. Please note that we have a staggered intake at the Pre-Primary and parents must check the date allocated to their child.
Please note: We will continue to do the staggered drop-off and collection times as per Covid-19 protocols until further notice.
Important Term 1 information
Please refer to d6 for the following:
• Stationery lists • 1st term calendar will be published in January once we have confirmed regulations • Term 1 co-curricular programme
Consent and Indemnity Forms
Grades RRR - 7 Please note that this is an annual requirement that has to be done to fulfil regulations. This form will be emailed to all parents at the beginning of 2021. It is very important for all parents to complete this form and return it to your class teacher by Friday 22 January 2021. Should your medical aid details or main member’s details change, please provide us with a front and back copy of the medical aid card and a copy of the main member’s I.D. Medical information provided on these forms is important for your child’s care. If we do not have this information, pupils will not be allowed to attend class trips.
Change of address or contact details
Please inform Mrs Katherine Botha (Primary School) or Mrs Caryn Martin (Pre-Primary) of any change in address or contact details via email by the start of school in 2021.
d6 School Communicator
Parents, you are reminded that you will need to update your areas of interest on the d6. Please also remember to tick the grade in which your child will be for 2021.
FAITH COMPASSION COURAGE
Parent Information Morning - Saturday, 23 January 2021
We will be holding our Parent Information Morning and AGM on the same day. Please note that due to current Covid-19 regulations we are requesting that only one parent per child attends. We will send out more detailed information at the start of next year as to venues and any other specifics for each grade.
Format:
08:00 - 09:00 Prep School (Grades RRR - 7) parents to meet in venues TBC (Nomination of class representatives will take place) 09:00 - 09:30 Tea on the Haley Hall verandah 09:30 - 10:30 AGM (Venue: TBC)
Pre-Primary Christmas fun
nie the Pooh picnic. They had to follow a
map with instructions on how to find the
secret location of their picnic site.
The Pre-Primary pupils have been very busy these last few weeks with their Grade R Christmas concert,
Christmas arts and crafts and exploring the beautiful Epworth campus on the gorgeous summer days we
have been having. They had a few special treats during this last week of the school year, including a very
delicious orange ice-cream.
Bringing a little Christmas Cheer to Epworth
We are overwhelmed by the very generous donations of shoes from our Epworth families. Thank you so
much! These shoes will be given to a local outreach organisation, Youth for Christ, who will distribute
them to families in need.
We thought it would be fun to give our parents and pupils a little Christmas cheer to celebrate the last
week of the school year. Ms Bekker, Head of School, Mr Zeelie, Business Manager and Mr White and his
team, dressed as Christmas helpers, loved handing out the very delicious Wedgewood nougat to all the
Epworth families as they drove into school on Monday.
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Milestones and Unique Creativity in Grade 2
It has been such a busy year in Grade 2. The boys and girls recently completed all their cursive letters and
have advanced on to writing words – this is a very exciting milestone in Grade 2. They have also been
learning all about the life cycle of a frog. They had great fun moulding frogs out of clay and added features
and textures using simple tools. It was so exciting to work in 3D for a change. Each frog is
beautifully created and so unique.
Sport Achievements
It has been wonderful to see our pupils venture out and achieve great things in different sports events that have been held recently.
Chelsey Cameron, Britney Cameron, Paige Williams and Emma Williams all competed in the PSI Midlands Stallions Regional 2020 Indoor Hockey Tournament – all did exceptionally well. Chelsey, Britney and Paige were all awarded merit certificates. Britney was also awarded a medal for the most improved player of the tournament (U9 and U10 age group). Emma was chosen to join the PSI Midlands Stallions Team and will be competing in the Indoor National Tournament in Gauteng in December.
Congratulations to our amazing swimmers:
(Pictured on the right): Mahle Cilakati, Amylee Holtzhausen, Emma Williams, Alexa Tifflin, Elizabeth Ross, Kacy Calitz, Abby Clayton, Micah Soden and Rhys Purves who all swam in the Capital K held recently at Midmar Dam.
Emma Williams competed in the KZN Open Water Championships held at Midmar Dam. She came 11th in the under 13 age group.
(Pictured on the left): Paige Jansen van Vuuren, Jessica Jansen van Vuuren, Paige Williams, Emma Williams (The four Funky Fruit Flies) Caitlyn Meyer, Tyla Lavery, Gemma Jansen van Vuuren, Amylee Holtzhausen (Funky Medley), Rhys Purves, Micah Soden, Roxanne van Zyl and Abbey Hackland all swam in the Pink Drive Swimathon recently and raised funds for their chosen charities.
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Design and Technology Fun Designing and making shoes out of
recycled materials What will shoes in the future look like? What
will they be made of? The Grade 7s were tasked
with creating a pair of shoes from recycled ma-
terials – cardboard, plastic, rubber, anything!
What fun they had parading the shoes through
the school!
Farewells The end of a year always brings goodbyes – this
year is particularly sad as we have had to say
goodbye to a number of staff, including three very
special ladies: Ms Bekker (Head of School),
Mrs St Leger and Mrs Lindegger. As a school, we
have given thanks to these ladies who have all
played a significant role. Our Prep School pupils
have sent messages that have been included in a
tribute video to Ms Bekker, and we held a lovely
assembly where the Prep School paid tribute to
Mrs St Leger and Mrs Lindegger. It was wonderful
to have members of their family present to
witness this special event.
FAITH COMPASSION COURAGE
gift of a bench that you have given the
Prep School
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Please click on the social media links above to follow our pages
Staff Appreciation Service
Christmas Carol Service
out the scenes of In search of the
Christ-Child, our whole school Christmas
Carol Service. If you have not yet had a
chance to watch the service, it is available
on the Epworth YouTube link below.
The Prep School children sing the
beautiful hymn, Longing for Light in the
service. It truly is a very special service that
has been produced during these very
challenging times. A heartfelt thank you
must go to Mrs Sandra Henning and
Mrs Rebecca Schultz for the time they put
into creating this beautiful service for the
Epworth community.
FAITH COMPASSION COURAGE
all the pupils (from Grades RRR to 12) at
Epworth arranged a very special chapel
service to say thank you to the amazing
team of support staff that we have at
Epworth. Our pupils are aware that our
school would not be able to run as
smoothly as it does, and especially this
year, if it was not for the efforts and
dedication of every single staff member
at Epworth.
special service that was dedicated to
them and the delicious tea afterwards.
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07:40 Pupils return 08:00 Assembly
Saturday 23rd Saturday School + Swimming Trials for Grades 3 - 7 08:00 - 09:00 Parent Information morning 09:00 - 09:30 Tea (HH) 09:30 - 10:30 AGM (Venue TBC)
Monday 25th
17:00 Gr 7 Braai (Swimming Pool) and parent talk (TBC)
February
Wednesday 3rd
Thursday 4th
Friday 12th
Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th
Midmar Mile
Wednesday 17th
Ash Wednesday
Thursday 18th
12:00 Half-term (no lunch programme, Aftercare as normal) CHOC Civvies Day Dusi Day 1
February continued
Friday 19th
Monday 22nd
Thursday 25th
Friday 26th
Friday 12th
Friday 19th
Epworth Grade 7 (girls) Fun Afternoon at the High School
Monday 22nd
Tuesday 23rd
Wednesday 24th
Friday 26th
12:00 School closes for Easter Holidays (no lunch programme, Aftercare as normal)
Please note: Sport events and fixtures will be available on the whole school