Prep Newsletter No 12 2011

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25 November 2011

St Johns Preparatory SchoolSt Johns Preparatory SchoolHoughton

Tel: 011 645 3100/ 087 550473 Newsletter Number 12

29/11 Prep School Gala

30/11 Prize Giving - Linder Auditorium

01/12 Valedictory Chapel Service

UIII Leavers Breakfast

02/12 Final Assembly

Break up for December Holidays

Reminders from theDiary

From the Headmaster

At Prize Giving on Wednesday night, I talkedabout success and taking success and makingit significant. It made me think how we asparents and teachers embrace success when itcomes to our children. So as you all go onholiday, I wonder if you would take some time

to think about this.

Through 30 years of research, Professor Dweckof Stanford found that the key to success in aschool is the belief that intelligence isdeveloped rather than simply inborn and fixed.Did you know that 85% of parents think thattelling their children theyre clever builds theirself-confidence? And yet, praising children fortheir intelligence, rather than their effort, saps

their motivation. Believing that intelligence isfixed leads to a desire to look clever. People who think intelligence is inborn often avoidchallenges, fearing theyll be proved not to beclever. They tend to feel threatened by thesuccess of others, to give up easily and toignore useful feedback. As a result, they mayplateau early and achieve less than their fullpotential over time.

People who believe that intelligence is

developed through cultivating skills tend tomake a greater effort to learn, regardless oftheir talent. They tend to embrace challenges,to persist in the face of setbacks, and to seeeffort as the pathway to mastery. When peopleview intelligence as a learned skill, they welcome feedback and find inspiration in thesuccess of others. They have a greater sense offree will and accomplishment. As a result,such people tend to reach ever-higher levels of

achievement.

Let me use the example of sport. Dowe give praise when a player tries, or when he or she succeeds? Now behonest! Do you praise the goal scorerwhen things go right and he scores, or

do you praise the creative player whenhe tries and fails? Think about theimplications of those two situations,and the message that is sent. Aplayer who is encouraged when heachieves that learning focus quicklymight think that when he doesntachieve it quickly, he has failed andhe is not talented. In contrast, aplayer who is encouraged for effort willtry harder, and practice is something

every coach and parent shouldpromote. Creating players who believethey have talent, rather than theability to build skill, can be

dangerous.


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Page 2 St Johns Preparatory School

Often when you hear or read about a players background or rise to fame, you hearabout the success. How many goals? At what age? You dont always hear about thethousands of hours of purposeful practice and dedication which created thatplayer. Players who make it to the top level are determined, focused and have that

intrinsic motivation to master the game, but above all, they work hard. Lionel Messisaid, With hard work, anything is possible and David Beckham said, My secret ispractice. I have always believed that if you want to achieve anything special in life you

have to work, work and then work some more.

I would suggest that most football environments praise success top goal-scorer, goalof the season, etc. rather than effort or most improved performance. We need to thinkabout the message this sends to the children. If we encourage and praise players foreffort, we will create more players with the growth mindset.

May I wish you all a blessed Christmas and festive season. Cherish the time you havewith your families and thank you all for the support you give your sons and the Prep

school.

Patrick Lees

Headmaster

iCareThe iCare box, which has been located in the Library Bag Room for the last few weeks,has proved successful in providing our boys with another means of making theirconcerns heard. Whilst we continue to monitor the iCare box, we now invite boys toshare their concerns with us electronically too. The iCare box can now be found in twolocations the Library Book Room and at [email protected] The Pastoral Careteam hopes that the boys will make use of these initiatives to highlight anything that

they CARE about at St Johns Prep.

The aim is to provide the boys with an alternative avenue to voice their feelings around

hatever may be on their minds. This extends beyond the reporting of just peerdifficulties (such as bullying) aims to further enhance the quality of the St Johnsexperience for all the boys. All notes placed in the box or sent via email will be treatedconfidentially and action taken where possible.

We ask that you encourage your son to make use of the iCare initiative so that we can

make his day all that he hopes it can be.

Hugo Meirim

Clinical Psychologist

Head of Pastoral Care

[email protected]


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How do you make an idiot laugh on boxing day ?

Tell him a joke on Christmas Eve !

Spending Quality Time with Your ChildrenQuality time is time spent doing an activity that is meaningful to the parent and child.It is time when family members really get to know each other. Quality time is spentfocusing attention on the other person and sharing thoughts and feelings. It is a simpleunderstanding but do we actually focus more on the other person, or do we see qualitytime as more about ourselves?

Children need to be loved unconditionally. That does not mean that you have toapprove of everything the child does. What it does mean is that even though the childmisbehaves, you still love and accept the child and provide support.

The goal of parenting is to help your child become a responsible adult. To achieve thisgoal, parents help children learn about life and living in today's society. The time aparent spends with a child is critically important. The activity does need not be costly,but rather one that satisfies both the parent and the child.

Talk With Your Child

Spend time talking with your child. Talk about any topic of interest to both of you. Talkabout the day's events and the child's feelings about them. This may seemstraightforward, but do we have two way communication with our children?

Through observation and interaction with parents, children learn how tocommunicate. Children learn to express their needs. They learn to listen. They learn tounderstand nonverbal clues.

Life's Lessons

Children learn about families from the time they spend in their own families. They learnabout marriage and relationships by watching their mothers and fathers interact. Byliving in a family, children learn to share, how to stand up for their own rights, andhow to love another person.

Building Self-EsteemParents help children develop positive self-esteem by communicating the value they feelfor the child. Words ofencouragement and love help provide children with the courageto try new things without worrying excessively about not being able to do them. This issomething I feel is of absolute value. We, as parents, owe it to our children to buildtheir confidence and make them feel good about themselves. We need to raise childrenwith significance.

Give Guidance

Parents help children learn to be more responsible when they help children learn tocontrol their own behaviour. A disciplined person has the ability to decide what

appropriate behaviour is and to act accordingly. Parents use discipline to help guidetheir children as they become responsible adults.


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Allow Yourself To Have Fun! If you've forgotten how, you have the perfect teacher inyour child. Let your child guide you through his world of fun. Something he likes willre-ignite that child in you; and then, just go with it! Plan for fun times together byscheduling and enjoying the planning and anticipation of a fun family activity.When the time comes, put all of your obligations out of your mind, relax, and have a

good time

Take Time During The Day If your job allows, take an early afternoon off work once amonth, and treat your child and yourself to a special outing together. If you don't havethis kind of flexibility, find ways to let your child know you are thinking about himduring the day. You can do lunchbox notes or check in by phone each day. The key isto find ways to spend fun times together, to laugh and play and reconnect with yourchild.

But, most of all, just find ways to relax and enjoy spending time with your child on aregular basis. You'll find that feeling of balance in your family life and have fun at the

same time.

Adapted fromwww.childparenting.about.com andwww.ehealthyparenting.com

I trust that you and your families will have a most wonderful Christmas season. Please

travel safely and I look forward to spending time with your son in 2012.

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in allyour ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."

Proverbs 3:5-6

Kind regards

Craig Verdal-Austin

Second Master

011 645 3116

[email protected]

What do you have in December that you don't have in any other month ?

The letter "D" !


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I have just had the privilege of attending the Grade 0 Nativity Play. It was wonderful tosee the full panoply of angels and animals, soldiers and shepherds all recounting

together (in parts of about one sentence per character surely takes a lot of work fromthe teachers) the story of Christmas. One could see the boys personalities emergingand some of them, only just turned 6, manning-up to say their line out loud in front of

a big audience of adults.

Earlier in the term, when talking to boys in Upper II about the Christmas story, muchof it is framed in the context of their Nativity Play five years (almost half a lifetime forthem) earlier. They still remember the parts they played and their role in the story.And so they know about Mary and Joseph, shepherds and angels, wise men, Herod,cribs, stables and a baby.

Looking around the shops, all decked out with lights and holly and trees and gifts andreindeer and Father Christmas (or is he Santa Claus these days?); I am struck by howlittle of the Christmas Story is on display. We are slowly moving into a festival that hasno context and no purpose, other than profit, feasting and getting. How important it isto keep the link to the foundation of the celebration; to keep our boys aware that werejoice because God loves us, we give because Jesus was given to us, we share with oneanother and help the less fortunate because all people are the focus of the story

whether kings or shepherds.

I encourage you, wherever you may over the Christmas period, to find a church and goto their Christmas service so that in each of our lives, the root of what we do isnourished and grows year by year. And may you be ever more aware in your own life of

the abundant Love of God displayed in this story.

On behalf of the St Johns Chaplains, I pray that each of you may know the rich

blessings of God in your life at this time of joy and celebration, and in the year ahead.

Father Ian Stevens

Note from Father Ian


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What do you call a letter sent up the chimney on Christmas Eve ?Black mail !

For those who will be in Johannesburg over the holidays, some of the churches close

to the school have the following services. Im certain theyd all love you to join them.

St Johns Parish, Houghton; (meeting in the schools Crypt chapel)

Sunday 5th 09h00 Carol Service

(Followed by a Christmas Party with St Christophers Home)

Christmas 09h00 Christmas Eucharist

St Augustines, Orange Grove; 83 9th Street

Friday 24th 23h00 Midnight Mass


St Lukes, Orchards; 18 High Road

Sunday 18th 19h00 Carol Service

Saturday 24th 16h00 Childrens Service

23h30 Midnight Eucharist

Christmas 06h00 Christmas Eucharist (said)

07h30 Christmas Eucharist


St Martins, Rosebank; 43 Cradock Ave, Dunkeld

Friday 24th 17h00 Childrens Service



St Georges, Parktown; 7 Sherbourne Rd, Parktown

Friday 24th 23h00 Christmas Carols and Midnight Mass

Christmas 07h00 Christmas Eucharist (Said)09h00 Christmas Eucharist (Sung)


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From the Eagles study...

Study tip #5

Now that the pressure is off, and the exams are done and dusted, it is time to reflect onthe process. This final step in the learning process is just as important as the planningand revising for exams, as many valuable lessons can be learned. It is also importantfor your son to be honest with himself as to how he reallyprepared and managed theexams, as he is the only one who will benefit from any insights. It may be difficult forhim to do this activity on his own, as most of us find it hard to reflect on somethingthat has already been done. So, a calm and rational discussion with you, guided by thequestions below, will help him take a serious look at strategies that worked and thosethat did not. Bear in mind that your son will have subjects that he really enjoys andtherefore will do well in, and others where he may battle with concepts or skills that are

different to where his strengths lie. It may well be that the marks he gets in thesesubjects are the best he can do at this time of his school life. This is where being honestplays a big part he needs to know where he really put in a significant effort and where

he didnt really try very hard.

Break the process down into different sections, like this:

General:

What was the hardest thing about starting to study for exams? Getting started?

Breaking down the subjects? Knowing what to learn?

What did I find easy about getting started?

Did I do as well as I had thought I had?

If yes, I did things right. What exactly DID I do right?

If not, where did I go wrong?

Did I not leave enough time to study?

Was I as organised as I could have been?

Did I only read through my notes the night before and hope for the

best?

What can I do to improve this situation next time?

Individual subjects

Why is Santa like a bear on Christmas Eve ?Because he's Sooty !

Did I do as well in this subject as I could have?

Did I spend enough time on this subject?

Do I usually find this subject hard?

What is it that I find hard? The concepts? The terminology? The skills needed?The procedures needed? The interpretations needed? The amount of informationneeded to be learned?


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Exam strategies

These are only a few suggestions. What you are trying to do is to help your son thinkabout his thinking. Not only is it important to understand what went wrong, but also tounderstand what went right, and so build on these strengths and strategies. It alsohelps your son understand where his strengths lie and where he has done as much ashe possibly can. Not all subjects are equally easy to learn for everyone. Byunderstanding what is required of each subject, what the skills are that he needs inorder to learn the subject, and what sort of questions the examiner will ask, your son

will be able to use his strengths to support the areas he finds hard.

This is not something that happens overnight. It needs to be practised. The perfect timewould be in all assessments and projects (and homework) you son needs to completeduring the year. Then, come exam time, he will be better prepared to tackle the exams.It requires constant attention, patience and practice.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a happy, safe and relaxingDecember break. Take time to enjoy your children they truly are the most precious of

gifts, and we have them for such a short time.

Caroline Rimmer

What does Father Christmas suffer from if he gets stuck in a chimney ?Santa Claustrophobia !

Do I find it really hard to recall facts and information, even though I learned as

hard as I could?

If I found this easy, WHY did I find it easy? Can I use these same strategies to help

me learn the difficult subjects?

What did I do that made it easy? Did I use mind maps? Which ones? Did I usecolour or highlighters? Did I make good summaries? Did I ask someone to test me?

Did I learn more from talking things over with a friend or my teacher?

Did I use any strategies to help me in the subjects I find hard? If yes, which ones?

Can I use them in other subjects too? If no, I must find some strategies to help me.


Did I have a strategy for English comprehension? For English literature? ForMaths? For Science? For Afrikaans / isiZulu? For Geography? For History? For

spelling?

If yes, did this strategy work? If yes, I can use it again. If no, I must think of

something else.

If I had no strategies, I must develop some.

Do I have problems with writing fast enough?

Do I find it hard to manage my time during exams?

Do I know the content, but my mind goes blank under pressure?



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1st November 2011

PARENT INFORMATION EVENINGS

Whilst we have run some very successful Parent Information Evenings

this year and have some ideas for topics for next year, we would also

appreciate parents input into this process. By letting us know possible

topics that would interest you, you provide us with the opportunity to

cater to your needs.

Topics over the past two years have included, for example: The

importance of nutrition and diet; Sex Education; Drug Awareness;

Sport; and Self-Esteem.

We welcome your ideas and ask that you email any suggestions to

[email protected]. Although we may not be able to

accommodate all requests, these ideas will be collated and will assist us

in putting together a programme for 2012 and for the years to come.

Hugo Meirim

Clinical Psychologist

Head of Pastoral Care

What do you call a letter sent up the chimney on Christmas Eve ?Black mail !


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4CTea


9th November

Great Improvement in Reading and Hard WorkRussell Browne Joshua Sansom

Hard Work and Excellent Manners

Travis Arlow Derin Demir

Nicholas Thiel Thato Nthoarane

Thuba Bulunga Wade Omisore

Cricket:

50 and 100 runs

Calum Harding

Hard Work and Reaching their Goals

Dian Broodwyk James Wetselaar

16th November

U11A Cricket Team Outstanding Ambassadors for St Johns

M Mackie B Thomas G McPherson

E Chilvers B Vermeulen L Whitehouse

S Jacobs B Dunbar T Grubb

C James N Lansdown T Bouwer

23rd November

Maths

Lukha de Jesus Hlumelo Mtshali Jack Gnodde Daniel Stevens

Matthew Robinson Justin Koevort Connor Dooley

Helping at Chess Outstanding Spelling

Stuart Omand Dylan Wong

Who delivers cat's Christmas presents ?

Santa Paws !


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Sports Results

Cricket

VersusKEPS Result IndividualPerformancesU10C won KGovind40,JRumsey25U10DU11C lost AOHanlon26U11D4ths lost5ths lost

VersusPridwin Result IndividualPerformancesU11A won1sts won CHarding26,FHaffejee 62VersusJapari Result IndividualPerformancesU11B won2nds won RHardham32notout

VersusSkeen Result IndividualPerformancesU10A

won

3rds lost RLane3for23VersusStBenedicts Result IndividualPerformancesU9A wonU9B lostU10A lostU10B lost SMorrison4for3,MDurandt3for11U11B won3rds drew4ths lost2nds lost MGouveia29,MStephen41,DHarrold341sts lostU11ATourtoMpumalangavsUplands won TBouwer26*,BVermeulen37*vsPenryn won EChilvers56*vsBirchcroft won CJames40


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Cricket U11A Tour to Mpumalanga

UIIA with Birchcraft Prep in Dullstroom


13/27


Janovin Scholtz in Lower IIZ competed in the Crossfit competition. It is a charity eventthat is held worldwide every year. Janovin was the only child who took part in theevent, and he had to work very hard. Although his weights were adjusted according tohis body weight ratio, he had to do the same workout. Janovin came first in his section

(novice level). Well done, Janovin!

After the U11 cricket matches the boys managed to fit in a visit to the Birds of PreyCentre in Dullstroom

Crossfit competition


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Music


Swimming

Aidan Quinn competed in the Gauteng Aquatics gala. He won a first in his age group(Level 2) for 200m Individual Medley, a second in his age group (Level 2) for the 400m

Freestyle and a 3rd in his age group (Level 2) 200m Breaststroke. Well done, Aidan!

Mitchel Sinclair recently competed in the CGA Lion Swim held at Florida Lake on 6thNovember, 2011. He came 2nd in the 13 and Under age group and finished 14th over-

all. Well done, Mitchel!

Harry Myburgh performed in theYAMAHA Key performers of NoteCompetition. He competed againstmuch older pianists, even againststudents at the University. He wasawarded 4th place, for the two pieces

that he presented. Well done, Harry!

The following boys completed theirAssociated Board of the Royal Schoolsof Music practical exams in October

2011:Claudio di Giacomo Piano

Zach Muldoon Piano

William Kerr-Phillips Flute

Daniel Louw Recorder

Taylor Williamson Recorder

Ryan Stopforth passed his ABRSM Grade 5 Practical Piano Exam. Well done, Ryan!

The following boys wrote and passed their Associated Board of the Royal Schools, of

Music theory exam. Well done, boys!

Andrew Lund Adilson de Oliveira Christopher Pieterse

Zach Muldoon Adrian Ionescu Jordan Williamson

Max Baard Matthew Nelson David McAlpine

Aidan Bellingan Merlin Love Claudio di Giacomo

Ramaano Ramokgopa Neil Gultig Daniel Stevens

Connor Williamson Gabriel Baard Jason Batzofin

Marc Eliottt Calum Harding Tristan Klement

Music


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SACS U13 Water Polo Tour

Adrian IonescuAidan Quinn

The Team

The Team 2 The Team 3


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Max Baard

MuizenbergCape Point

Mitchel Sinclair

Rhodes Memorial


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Upper I Play

The Upper I play was a resounding success. The production was an adaptation of threeMax Lucado stories. The boys thoroughly enjoyed the performance, but most of all, the

process leading up to it. It has been amazing to observe how much they learned andthe extent to which they immersed themselves in their different roles. A huge thanks

to all involved for their help and support.

Natalie Brummer and Anita Rossouw


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Grade 2 & Lower III Interact Day

On 1st of November the Grade 2 boys joined the Prep for a day of fun


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21/27


Lower IIZ Onomatopoeia

Just One Bag

Jordan van der Walt received the Helping Hand

Trophy. The trophy was donated by Sue Lubbe(Human Rites Activist) for his Just One Bag

initiative. Well done, Jordan!


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Why does Father Christmas go down the chimney ?

Because it soot's him !


Lower II

Thato Nthoroane and Andrew de Lange joking with Mrs van der Merwe

after fetching books from her car!

Note to Mrs De Oliveira from Matthew Monteith inside a copy ofThe Last Sushi by Zapiro


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Notices



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St Johns Preparatory SchoolPage 26

Notices

Art club and extra classes

From the beginning of next term, Mr Poco is starting an Art Club (for LIII and UIII boys) and extra art classes for juniorboys. Senior boys are encouraged to join the Art Club on Tuesdays from 14h00 -15h00 or Thursdays from 15h00-

16h00. Juniors may arrange extra art lessons with Mr Poco at alternative times and on alternative days.

We hope to see the senior boys joining the Art Club to create various exciting art works with mediums they do notnormally use in class, such as print making, photography, oil painting and many more. This will be a fantastic opportunity

for any boy who wishes to develop his art skills.

For further information e-mail Bruno Poco on [email protected]

ItalianLanguage

LessonsSmall age appropriate classes and individual tuition

offered outside school hours at St Johns.

Experienced mother-tongue graduate teacher usingcommunicative method of conversation, maintaining

cultural ties for solid IEB foundation.

Contact Lisabetta on 082 682 2859 or

[email protected]

EXTRA ZULU

LESSONS

Lower III and Upper III boys.

Every Thursday 13h45

Upper III Mrs Mashele

All Welcome - No Charge!

EXTRA MATHS

LESSONSLower III & Upper III boys in

Mrs Jean Clarences classroom

Every Thursday 13h45 All Welcome

No Charge

Extra Math Lessons

Individual tuition offered

Mrs M Hauptfleisch

Call 011 442 1854

083 256 7714


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The Fright before Christmas

What does Father Christmas suffer from if he gets stuck in achimney ?

Santa Claustrophobia !

Dear Father Christmas

This year please bring me

A pet rhinoc

Rhisoser

Rhinisus

Rhinsiocerus

Rhisky hoperus

Rhibsiopoperus

Er

Ive changed my mind

Bring me a rabbit instead

Curse of the MistletoeI stand beneath the mistletoe

And dream of kissing Mary

But all I get is Gran

And her nostrils

The Snowman

Once there was a snowman stood outside the door

Thought hed like to come inside and run around the floor;

Thought hed like to warm himself by the firelight red;

Thought hed like to climb up on that big white bed ;

So he called the North Wind, Help me now, I pray,

Im completely frozen, standing here all day.

So the North wind came along and blew him in the door, and now theres nothing leftof him but a puddle on the floor!

Anon

Documents

Prep Newsletter No 12 2011