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Brackenhurst Primary School

Newsletter 6/2020 24 February 2020

Dear Parents,

Quote for the week:

TRAVELLING BOOKSHOP

27 & 28 FEBRUARY 2020

The Travelling Bookshop will be visiting our school again this week. See the advertisement at the end

of this newsletter.

SCHOLAR PATROL

Parents please be more cautious when dropping off

and picking up learners. Scholar Patrol teams of learners are there to help you and your children. Be

considerate and mindful of them.

Please follow road rules carefully for the safety of

our children. Parents who disobey these rules or disrupt scholar patrol activities will be named on

DOJO for their inconsiderateness.

CONDUCT OF LEARNERS AND INFORMATION

FOR PARENTS

A compulsory parent meeting was held on 18 January 2020 for all parents. At this meeting,

information regarding all parents need to

know for the school year was given out. Teachers’ expectations for your child and you

as parents were explained. The discipline code was also given.

Parents were requested to provide their contact details and to sign for this

information.

PLEASE PARENTS, read and follow the information given. This is of vital importance

for your child to have a hassle free enjoyable

education for this year. Use some time to go through this information yourself and with

your children so that everyone is on board

with ensuring your child’s best interests for a quality education.

DISCIPLINE MATTERS

1. We are experiencing issues with regards to cell

phones ringing in class and being used during

contact time. Please read and understand the cell phone policy and note the amendments

(policy can be found on the website and D6 communicator). Confiscated cell phones can be

collected from the office by the parents after 5 working days.

2. Bullying is also an ongoing discipline issue. If any such happens on school premises, teachers

will investigate the matter and respond to

parents as soon as possible. Please note that once the matter is brought to our attention it

takes at least 2 days to get all the information to deal with the allegations properly. Please

bear with us in this regard. If any bullying happens outside of school (like

cyber bullying) it is not possible for the school

to deal with this. Parents must try to handle these issues themselves. They can message

teachers for some ways to deal with this but must work through the matter themselves.

ALSO NOTE THAT ALL INCIDENTS WILL BE REPORTED PROMPTLY TO THE DISTRICT

OFFICE.

SCHOOL TIMES:

Grade 1 – 2: 07:40 – 13:30 every day

Grade 3 – 7: 07:40 – 14:15 every day

GRADE 1 & 2 PARENTS ONLY

Dear Parents, please note the formal school day for

Grades 1 and 2 only ends at 13:30 (this includes

getting to the stands for pick-up in the afternoon). Only enter the school grounds after 13:30 when

learners are seated on the stands and the teachers indicate for the gate to be opened to parents and

transport. This is for the safety of your children. Please ensure you relay this information to your

transport drivers, if you make use of transport.

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OFFICE HOURS: The office will be open from 7:30 am to 2:15 pm

daily for parents.

SCHOOL TERMS 2020

Term 1: 15 January – 20 March Term 2: 31 March – 12 June

Term 3: 7 July – 18 September

Term 4: 29 September – 2 December

School/Public Holidays: 21 March – Human Rights Day

10 April – Good Friday

13 April – Family Day 27 April – Freedom Day

1 May – Workers’ Day 16 June – Youth Day

9 August – National Women’s Day 10 August – Public Holiday

24 September – Heritage Day

16 December – Day of Reconciliation 25 December – Christmas Day

26 December – Day of Goodwill

GR 7 HIGH SCHOOL INFO AFTERNOON

To all our Grade 7 Parents and children, Please note that on the 4th of March there will be a

High School Information Afternoon at Brackenhurst

Primary. More information will follow.

NEWSLETTER

Please note: Should you wish to receive a hard copy of the newsletter, please forward a note to

your child’s register teacher. Hard copies will only be made for parents who have requested them.

SCHOOL FEES

Please make sure all final balances for 2019 school fees are paid up as 2020 fees are now due.

School fees 2020 = R14 300,00

School fees are payable as follows:

OPTION A: R12 155,00 (payable by 31 March 2020 – (15% discount)

OPTION B: (Debit Order) 11 equal monthly payments – R1 300,00 per month, 1 February

– 1 December 2020

OPTION C: Electronic transfer. Copy of proof of any payment by electronic transfer must

be submitted to the bursar, Mrs Linda

Joubert.

SCHOOL FEE EXEMPTIONS – 2020

Applications for school fee Exemptions for 2020 are NOW open. Please note application forms may be

collected and signed for by one of the parents or official guardians at the Reception. (Application

forms will not be handed to the children).

Please read information and instructions attached

to the application very carefully. Exemption applications will not be considered without ALL

requested documentation. The onus is on the applicant to ensure all required information is

submitted.

Please continue to make regular monthly payments

towards school fees pending a decision on your Exemption application, as you may not qualify for

100% and will be liable for payment of the

remaining fees.

Closing date for applications will be the end of April 2020. Should you have any queries, please

contact Mrs L Joubert on (011) 900 1000.

E-LEARNING LICENCING FEE

At the Annual General Meeting held on 12

November 2019, a resolution was passed regarding the E-Learning Licencing Fee. The fees for 2020

are as follows:

E-Learning Licencing Fee for Grades 4 – 7 is

R350,00. Please try to pay this fee as soon as possible so that learners can be allocated and be

able to load necessary software.

An annual licence fees of R250,00 per child for

learners Grade 1 – 3 should be paid AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. This will cover the cost of the trolley

solution with tablets we have purchased for our Foundation Phase learners.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: IF YOU PAY THE R350,00 (INTERSEN

PHASE) OR R250,00 (FOUNDATION PHASE)

VIA EFT, REFERENCE TO BE USED IS YOUR CHILD’S NAME AND SURNAME AND E-LEVY.

DO NOT PAY THIS AMOUNT WITH YOUR

SCHOOL FEES. IT MUST BE A SEPARATE PAYMENT. IF YOU

PUT THE PAYMENT THROUGH WITH SCHOOL FEES IT WILL NOT BE TRANSFERRED TO E-

LEVY.

INTERACTIVE WHITEBOARD FEE

A fee of R100,00 per child per year is payable for the maintenance of interactive whiteboards

during the course of 2020.

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Please send the money as soon as possible in a

clearly marked envelope “WHITEBOARD FEE” and your child’s name and hand it in to your child’s

register teacher.

PLEASE, PLEASE DO NOT DO AN EFT FOR THE

WHITEBOARD FEE. EVEN AFTER NUMEROUS REQUESTS PARENTS ARE STILL PAYING THE

WHITEBOARD FEE INTO THE BANK ACCOUNT.

PLEASE MAKE USE OF THE SCHOOL

COMMUNICATOR

This software programme App will ensure reliable and up to date communication with you, the

parent/guardian. This is a very simple and easy to

use programme and can be installed on your home and/or work computer/s. This will allow us to keep

up to date on a daily basis as to what is happening at school. This will include the newsletter, photos,

sporting fixtures, contact details, etc. The

Communicator updates itself via your internet connection.

To download, you can make use of one of the

following options: 1. Download the software directly from the

Website using the following URL

www.schoolcommunicator.com/downloads OR

2. Download the App D6 Communicator and follow the instructions.

3. The address is:

http://mobi.d6communicator.com Should you have any queries, please contact Mr

Fabel or Mrs Roets on (011) 900 1000.

ACADEMIC

CYCLE DAYS –TERM 1

DAY DATE

6 Monday, 24 February

7 Tuesday, 25 February

1 Wednesday, 26 February

2 Thursday, 27 February

3 Friday, 28 February

0 Monday, 2 March

4 Tuesday, 3 March

5 Wednesday, 4 March

6 Thursday, 5 March

7 Friday, 6 March

CYCLE TESTS

Date Subject

Monday 24/02 Gr 4 – 7 Mathematics

Tuesday 25/02 Gr 7 EMS

Wednesday 26/02 G4 4 – 7 Geography

Thursday 27/02 Gr 7 Technology

Friday 28/02 Gr 4 – 7 History

CULTURAL

Brackenhurst Academy of Music

If your child would like to play an instrument, please

visit the music room (M4) or contact Mrs. M.

Lawrenz on melaniel@brackenprim.co.za.

SPORTS

Athletics training

Sprints:

Monday and Wednesday: U/9 – U/13 2:30 – 3:30

Sport Practice Schedule

Sport Mon Tue Wed Thu

Netball U/7-8 (13:30 – 14:30)

U/9-13 (14:30 – 15:30)

U/7 U/8

U/9

U/12

U/7

U/11

U/9

U/10 U/12

U/8

U/10 U/11

Soccer U/7-8 (13:30 – 14:30) U/9-13 (14:30 – 15:30)

U/9 U/12

U/13

U/7

U/8 U/10

U/11

U/9 U/12

U/13

U/7

U/8 U/10

U/11

No practice for U/13 Netball this week due

to cycle tests. Practice will resume after

tests.

Karate

Karate has started again.

Contact details: Sensei Laurent 082 494 2704

Chess

Practice times:

Gr 3 – 7: Mondays @ 2:30 – 3:30 in the Multipurpose Room

Gr 1 – 2: Tuesdays @ 1:45 – 2:30 in G17

PE Uniform

Brackenhurst Primary PE Uniforms are on sale at the Sports Office every Monday and Wednesday

morning from 07:00 – 07:30. Learners may also buy the uniform any day during their breaks.

House Shirts

Please note the house shirts will only be used for this term and term 4 of 2020. They will not be used

from 2021. Please consult the information brochure with regards to the wearing of this house shirt.

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PLEASE NOTE: Only the house T-shirt with the

school PE short/skort may be worn on Fridays. NO OTHER SHIRTS WILL BE ALLOWED.

The division for the houses is according to the

month in which you were born:

MARS (Red): January, February, March, April JUPITER (Yellow): May, June, July, August

VENUS (Blue): September, October, November, December

There are two suppliers for the house shirts.

Details as follows:

1) Mrs. Moyo – Cell: 061 469-4094 Costs per shirt is R120 children’s sizes and R150

adult sizes. 2) Alice Lombard – Cell: 083 397 5705

Costs per shirt is R75 children’s sizes and R90

Adult sizes.

FUNDRAISING FOR TERM 1 2020

Kaskar Derby – 18 March 2020

Letters have been sent out. A draw will be done

every cycle for each phase for the learners that have brought back a full form of R250,00.

Learners who bring back more than one full form will be entered into a draw to win R500, 00.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Check the Dojo school story regularly for community news and opportunities.

Are your soccer boots too

small for you but still usable?

Do you have a pair of

trainers/tekkies that could be

used again?

Brackenhurst Primary School is collecting soccer

boots and tekkies/trainers that are still in a good

condition for the aspiring young soccer and netball

stars in the Jackson’s Drift Squatter Camp.

We will collect these during Term 1 and Term 2

Juniors – drop off by Mrs Downs (G41)

Seniors – drop off by the Sports Office

Be a star and share your sole

Collections Term 1 & 2 – Easter Eggs and

Chocolates, Toiletries, Babies Behind Bars

SPCA Please send pet food and blankets to Mrs Robinson.

The SPCA are no longer collecting newspapers,

these can still be brought for Ronnie Recycling.

Please show your class teacher and place in the

Ronnie bin.

Coins Please collect lots in your class daily and send on

Fridays to:

Seniors – Miss Palm and Juniors – Miss Tambellini

This donation is for:

Term 1 – TLC Term 2 – Council of the Blind

Term 3 – TEARS Foundation

Term 4 – St. Mary’s Orphanage

Care Packages – Civvies Day – 13 March We are putting together items for BPS pupils in

need:

Grade 1 – Soap Grade 2 & 3 – Bath sponges / face cloths

Grade 4 – Toothpaste Grade 5 – Toothbrushes

Grade 6 – Girls’ deodorant Grade 7 – Boys’ deodorant

Please hand to your class teacher.

Children can dress up as their favourite book character on this day.

Bread Tags and Bottle Tops

Please take these to Mrs Robinson for wheelchairs.

We have already collected for and donated 17 wheelchairs!

Hidden Treasures

All second-hand items: Clothes, appliances, shoes,

stationery, bedding, toys, etc. All sold to support 270 orphans. Shop: 15 Voortrekker Rd, Alberton

Please send to Mrs Premdutt.

Thank you for your continued kindness, generosity and compassion.

GENERAL

‘HELP-U’ ADVERTISER

The ‘Help-U’ advertiser is published once a month

at the beginning of the month. The cost of a business card size ad is R50,00 monthly. No pictures – just wording. The cost of an A5 colour ad with pictures is R100,00 monthly. If you

would like to advertise in the ‘Help-U’ Advertiser, please pay cash at the front office and forward your

ad to Colette Kruger admin@brackenprim.co.za.

Tuck Shop

Attached to the newsletter is the full Tuckshop

Menu.

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PARENTS’ CORNER

WHY PARENTS DON’T RESPECT TEACHERS

By Richard Worzel

PART 2

Some children are ornaments for their parents egos. Children are sometimes seen as another

possession, like the flash car, or the glitzy vacation, or the upgrade cellphone, and you certainly

wouldn’t allow someone to trash your car or your cellphone. How much worse then that a teacher

would dare to diss your child, who is after all a

manifestation of your very being and a showcase for the superiority of your genes? In many ways,

we feel sorry for the children of such parents who have to behave like good little ornaments. Or

rather, we would feel bad for them if they weren’t

typically such pains-in-the-neck, because the same lack of time and ego manifestation also causes

parents to fail in their duty to discipline their children.

Another issue is the fact that the parents are often

spoiled children themselves, used to having their

own way and not understanding why the world won’t just organise itself for their convenience.

These people are rude, demanding, hostile to service people, and unfortunately, they view

teachers as servants whose primary responsibility is

to act as a nanny, and, oh yes, also teach something along the way. These parents will often blame

teachers for the children’s lack of manners or discipline, completely ignoring the fact that this is

their responsibility, not the teacher’s. The result, of

course, is that the children of such parents wind up being the spoiled children of spoiled children – a

bad combination.

The system works against teachers. Two generations ago, discipline could mean some form

of humiliation (“Go and stand in the corner”), a

smack on the hand with a ruler, or even being sent to the principal for punishment. Today, all of these

are considered Dark Age remedies, and teachers are almost powerless in matters of discipline.

Worse, they often fear repercussions of even a mild

rebuke. Since such repercussions can be anything from a verbal confrontation with an irate parent, to

physical assault from the parent, threats of a lawsuit or charges of assault, the risks are high and

the payoff is minimal. This means that the motivation for teachers to discipline at all

approaches zero, and, perversely, the lack or desire

to discipline counts against teachers, for they are perceicved as being weak, irresolute and shirking

their jobs.

How will all of this play out in the future? Not well.

First, as successive generations start families later and later, the ability of women in their 30s or even

40s to get pregnant for the first time will decline. The result will be fewer and fewer chidren, who will

be seen as even more precious, and will develop the kind of “Little Emperor” syndrome regarding the

lonely-only children in China. This will exacerbate

all of the problems above.

Next, as competition increases for jobs and economic survival, and education is seen as a

requirement and not an achievement, the value

placed on education will decline in the eyes of the public, particularly below the college or university

level. We do not expect people, in this more competitive environment, to become more patient

and spend more time understanding issues at school. Tomorrow’s parents are more likely to have

less patience, be more frazzled, and less interested

in their child’s issues – making them even worse as parents.

Schools and teachers should become proactive in

describing the responsibilities of all parties,

including, especially the parents. They should have a clear set of guidelines about what constitutes

acceptable behaviour, what are the disciplinary consequences for unacceptable behaviour.

Remember, the work that teachers do is critical to the success of society, whether or not parents

understand or acknowledge it. Teachers should enjoy as much satisfaction as they can from the

accomplishments of the learners they do reach because it is highly unlikely that a society or a given

set of parents will ever take the time to show

appreciation.

So, on behalf of all the ill-mannered parents who don’t know any better or don’t bother to take the

time to say what they should, but probably won’t:

Thank you, for all you do..” Teachers make their living by teaching, but their profession is humanity.

And finally

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Regards,

MRS C SING PRINCIPAL

FUNDRAISING FOR TERM 1 2020

5) All of you stand in a straight circle

6) I have two daughter both are girls.

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