Circular 1

Circular 1/2010                                                                                      13 January 2010

Dear Parent

A warm welcome to everyone and in particular, to those who have joined us for the first time.  May “Our Own” become a second home and a place, where your dreams, my dreams and that of our children, will be fulfilled.

“God’s greatest gifts to us are not the things, but the opportunities” (Alice W. Rollins).  May He give us the strength to accept all the opportunities offered to us in 2009.

Included in this circular is our school’s annual programme (Addendum A).  It will, once again, be a busy year where the focus is on the holistic approach.  We invite you to join the staff, the Governing Body and Durbie Action 2009 committee to create a milieu in which we are all happy.

SEVEN DAY ROSTER

Since 2007  we were compelled to change to a seven day roster in order to accommodate all the class groups in the computer-, art and technology venues.  This year we continue with this arrangement.

This roster has been planned for the whole year, in order to accommodate the needs of all role players and we will not deviate from this.  Should an academic day be lost because of unforeseen circumstances, the roster will not be changed.

The roster planning for 2010 is contained in Addendum A.  It is also indicated in the pupils’ diary.  On Wednesday 20 January 2010 (second week of the first term) the seven day roster will commence with Day 1 roster. 

EXAMINATION ARRANGEMENTS

We are aware of the fact, that many parents make their holiday arrangements well in advance and we, therefore, share the following with you:

Term 1:  Test week from 1 March to 12 March 2010. 

Term 2:  June examination from Monday 31 May to Tuesday 8 June 2010.  School closes on Friday 9 June 2010 at 11:00.  Reports will be handed out on Thursday 15 July 2010 (first week of the third term).

Term 3:  Test weeks : 30 August to 10 September 2010.  November examination will be from Monday 22 November to Wednesday 1 December 2010.  School closes on Friday 10 December 2010.

The motivation for the above-mentioned is as follows:

• The academic year is continually shortened and the educators struggle to cover all the outcomes.  Important skills are not properly practised as time becomes a factor.  The above-mentioned arrangements allow maximum tuition time.

• Examination writing is a skill which we would like to expose our learners to, without losing three weeks of tuition time.

• Many learners leave the school directly after the examination and with approximately 60 learners in certain grade groups absent, the educator cannot continue with new academic work.

• It thus becomes very difficult to keep the remaining learners constructively busy, while their friends are already on holiday.  It is also unfair to waste the time of those learners who are present.  This scenario is a source of frustration for both the educators and the learners.

• There should also be fewer clashes between academic, cultural and sports programmes.

NATIONAL CURRICULUM STATEMENT

The National Curriculum Statement requires each learner to have proof of achievements at the end of the year when promotions are done.  Learners are requested to keep these portfolios updated at all times.  We also request our parents/guardians to support their child(ren) in this regard.  Educators sometimes experience great difficulty with some learners who lose their notes and tasks.

TEXT BOOKS

According to legislation (Amendment Act Education Laws No 24 of 2005) schools are compelled to supply learners with text books.  Text books must be handled with care and covered in plastic, as the text books are on loan and not the property of the learners.  Lost text books must be replaced by a new one.

The text books are used in addition to the modules.  The modules keep their present format.  The cover page, work schedule, lesson plan and assessment plan indicates exactly which work/skills will be taught.  The formal assessments are used to determine the final quarterly progress mark.

You are welcome to approach the class educator for more information at the information evenings.

ATHLETICS

Please see Addendum B.

Durbanville greetings

J.C. Swart

PRINCIPAL

ADDENDUM B

ATHLETICS 2010

1.                   AIM

The aim of the athletics meeting is mass participation, creating competitive spirit and exposure of learners to various athletics items.  Mass participation in teams (also on the pavilion) is thus a priority.  In this way a positive team spirit is created at the beginning of the year, which we believe, will be reflected in all the activities in 2010.

2.                   MEETINGS

            Field events meeting (selected athletes) : Monday 25 January 2010

            Track events meeting (all learners) : Tuesday 26 January 2010

            District 7A Athletics Meeting, team athletes : Saturday 6 February 2010.  Learners receive notification after the athletics meeting.  First and second places automatically qualify for the 7A meeting.

3.                   GENERAL RULES

            The sorting of the age groups U/11 to U/13 athletes for the interhouse athletics meeting (field and track) was done in the fourth term of 2009.  Learners who qualify have been notified.  Any newly enrolled children must be at the practice session on 21 January 2010.

            Mass participation

Every learner who participates, gains points for his/her team.  Non-participation will, therefore, not be in the best interest of his/her team.

The following items are for mass participation:

U/10 and U/11         80 m sprints

U/12                       150 m sprints

U/13                       200 m sprints

            Items for selected athletes (Learners were identified during the fourth term 2009)

            Hurdles:  ± 12 athletes per item (4 per colour group/house)

            Long distance (800 m, 1200 m en 1500 m):  ± 15 athletes (5 per colour group/house)

            100 m sprints:  18 athletes (two heats), thus. 6 athletes per colour group/house

            Field events:  ± 12 athletes per item (4 per colour group/house)

4.                   PROGRAMME (13 January to 6 February 2010)

(Mrs.) B. van Dyk                       A. Winterbach                                       J.C. Swart

ORGANISER                             HEAD OF DEPARTEMENT : SPORT       PRINCIPAL

1 December 2009