The WHPS Newsletter

FROM THE HEADMASTER’S DESK

Winter Term 2020

Term 2, Issue 7

Dear WHPS Family

Over the past few weeks, our school has seen a return to normality, albeit a

different, new normal. Schoolboy chatter and laughter now outweighs the

deafening silence of the previous three months.

By the time we close for the Mid Term break, on Friday 26 June, our Grade 0 – 7

boys will be well into their stride. Whether they have been onsite or online, full

credit must go to all the boys, for displaying resilience and enthusiasm and for their

newfound energy. Our boys represent a slice of a young generation who will learn

to conquer, adapt and evolve, and this gives our country and the world, a great

deal of hope.

We are eagerly awaiting legislation which will allow our Whippets to return to the

Pre-Prep, and we commend our little boys and girls for continuing with their

learning on our WOTL platform. Thank you to our parents for your ongoing support.

WHPS is taking every precaution to mitigate the spread of this virus. The protocols

that have been put in place are continuously scrutinised and evaluated in order

to achieve maximum efficacy. While we are hopeful that our WHPS community

remains healthy, we also need to be prepared for the possibility of someone

taking ill, as a result of contracting COVID-19. To this end, I would like to draw your

attention to some very important information. This is in addition to our official WHPS

COVID-19 Protocol Policy, which can be found on the D6.

1. Absenteeism

A doctor’s note is required for all pupils who are absent for two days or longer,

in order to certify that the child is fit to return to school. Children will not be

permitted back without this medical letter.

A doctor’s note in not necessarily relevant for children who may need to go

home because of an injury. (Although a parent would likely seek medical

attention for such an injury)

It does not apply to boys who have elected to work online during the Lock-

down and then decide to return to onsite learning at a later stage.

Continues….

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

From the Headmaster…...............1-3

Headmasters’ Announcements…….4

Checking in with the Junior Prep...5

Keeping up with Sport Dep………....5

Real Life 4 Kids—Auction….………..6

Habit #5………………….………………...7

Birthdays & MySchool………………..8

School Shop & Lunch Menu…….....9

2 2

2. Arrival and Departure Times

Please adhere to the specific arrival and departure times for your son’s grade.

It is important for children to arrive on time, and for them to be collected directly after their school day.

A great deal of anxiety is often felt by children who aren’t fetched from school on time.

3. Protocol for a WHPS Pupil who tests Positive for COVID-19

Step 1: Inform the school

If your child tests positive, you will need to inform the school immediately. Please contact Ryan

Sweetlove on 0824551018 or email ryans@whps.co.za

COVID-19 is now a communicable disease, and while patient/doctor confidentiality must be respected,

full disclosure of a confirmed case is vital, without naming the individual.

The school will respect the privacy of the child in question.

The school will initiate the Protocol for a confirmed case.

Ryan Sweetlove or Rob Neilson will contact the parents of the boy/girl involved, and they will ask for a

copy of the positive lab result. If they do not have a copy of the report, their doctor should be able to

provide this.

The parents will be advised that they should expect a call from a health official who will interview their

child. It is important that parents speak to their child and encourage him/her to provide as much detail

as possible.

During the interview, the child will be asked about whether he/she maintained social distancing

throughout their time at school, and they will be asked if, or when, they removed their mask.

They will be asked to name the friends with whom they have been in close contact, in the week

leading up to the diagnosis. (They will be asked who was within a 1.5m distance during specific times,

such as break and lunch). In the case of younger children, the teacher may also have to be inter-

viewed.

The parents will be asked to send the school a copy of the list of names they provide to the Department

of Health. The school needs to have the details ready, before the Department of Health requests these.

This list of names will expedite the process and will also be kept for the school’s records.

Step 2: Notifying the Tshwane Department of Health

The school will contact the Department of Health (DOH)

The school will send the following to the DOH:

The positive test results of the child

The contact details of the parent/guardian

A copy of the list of names that the parent/s provided to the DOH.

Step 3: Initiate deep cleaning

The school will initiate deep cleaning in all areas where the child was present throughout the last school

week. (Classroom, lunch area and bathroom)

The buildings identified will be closed for the next 48 hours.

The boys in that class will revert to online teaching for the next 48 hours.

All relevant parents will be notified in this regard.

3 3

Step 4: Send class lists to the Gauteng Department of Health

The school will communicate with the Department of Health, via email, regarding the

following details:

Another copy of the positive lab result.

A small description of the history of the child, e.g. progression of the onset of symptoms, including the

days leading up to the positive result, the dates when the child was at school and when he/she stayed

at home.

The total number of children present at school when the child was there. (within one school week)

The total number of children in the child’s grade, present at school, when the child was there. (within

one school week)

The names of the children who were in class with the boy or girl in question, along with their parents'

contact details.

The names and contact details of the teachers who taught the child.

The names of the children and the contact details of the parent/guardian, of the children who had

direct contact, as identified by the boy/girl in question during their interview.

Step 5: Notify the community:

The school will notify the community that there is a confirmed positive case and that health officials will

communicate with those who have been in direct contact with the child.

The teachers who taught the child will be notified, and they will be contacted by a health official, if

they are at risk.

Step 6: Support of those identified as close contacts:

The identified close contacts will need to remain in quarantine for the next 14 days.

If they do not display any symptoms throughout this time, they may return to work/school after the 14-

day period.

If they develop any symptoms during this 14-day period, they will have to undergo testing.

4. Protocol for a member of the WHPS Community (Staff member, Parent, WHPS boy/girl, Relative) who has

contact with a person, outside of the school, who has tested positive for COVID-19

Alert the school immediately. Please contact Ryan Sweetlove on 0824551018 or email

ryans@whps.co.za

Initiate self-isolation.

If you display symptoms within 9 - 10 days, seek a COVID-19 test.

If you test positive, continue self-isolating for a further 5 days and seek medical attention.

If you display no symptoms after 9 – 10 days, you may return to school.

Thank you for your ongoing support of these processes. Please feel free to contact me should you have

any further queries or concerns about the additions to our protocols. While they are often difficult to

remember and not always easy to adhere to, they will ultimately ensure that we all remain safe and

healthy. Until we meet face to face once again, stay safe, keep warm and remain ever hopeful.

Ryan Sweetlove / Deputy Head - Pupil Affairs

4 4

OUR SOCIAL

MEDIA PLATFORMS

@workhardplaystraight

YouTube:

Waterkloof House Prep School

@WaterkloofHousePrepSchool

Arrival

Drop-off Time Grade

Start of

School

End of School

Monday - Thursday

Collection Time

End of School

Friday

Collection Time

07:00 - 07:25

7 07:30 14:30 13:30

6 07:30 14:30 13:00

07:30 – 07:55

5 08:00 14:00 14:00

4 08:00 14:00 14:00

07:30 – 07:55 3 08:00 13:30 13:30

08:00 – 08:25 2 08:30 13:00 13:00

08:00 – 08:25 1 08:30 13:00 12:30

08:00 – 08:25 0 08:30 12:30 12:30

Date / Grade 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

Mon 22 June 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

Tue 23 June 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

Wed 24 June 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

Thur 25 June 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

Fri 26 June 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

Mid-term

STARTS: End of school day on Friday, 26 June 2020

ENDS: Sunday, 5 July 2020. School resumes Monday,

6 July 2020

Reminder: School Days, Drop-off and Collection Times

Please take note of these

important announcements

HEADMASTER’S ANNOUNCEMENTS

We look forward to welcoming all our Grade 0 - 6 boys back who have

elected to return to the school campus on Monday 22 June 2020.

Please assist with the flow of traffic. Please don’t stop at the pedestrian

gate as this causes congestion. Stop in areas allocated to drop-off.

The Importance of Daily Home Screening – Please refer to the letter

posted on the D6 Communicator today regarding this vital aspect.

Mid-Term break begins on Friday 26

June at the end of the normal

school day.

5

CHECKING IN WITH THE JUNIOR PREP

How exciting it has been to have our

boys back at school. It was so

wonderful to see our JP boys walk

through the WHPS gates last week and

greet the teachers with great big smiles

(under their masks). We have missed

the chatter in the classrooms as well as

the screams of glee on the playground.

The boys have been absolutely

amazing with regard to their positive

attitudes that they have brought to

school and their mindfulness with

regard to social distancing and hand

washing. The teachers are so happy to

be able to see you and interact with

you face-to-face in the classroom. Our

JP quad is alive again!

The boys who are working at home

have continued to work diligently

online and it has been wonderful for

their class teachers to connect with

them and catch up on Zoom lessons.

We cannot wait to see you all back at

school. Keep up the great work you are

doing online! You have been working

super hard boys and we really

appreciate it.

The Junior Prep boys will soon receive

their reports where you will be able to

see in which areas your son has done

well and in which areas he still requires

assistance. We wish you all a happy,

restful weekend. Stay safe and healthy.

Delaille Sass / HOD Junior Prep

KEEPING UP WITH THE SPORT DEPARTMENT

Over the past few weeks it has been wonderful to welcome more grades back

on to the WHPS campus. It has been particularly enjoyable to see Herringer and

Pops Fields full of boys involved in some sort of physical activity, albeit very

different to the normal lessons they would have had. Before and after each

lesson all equipment must be sanitised. The boys must also wash their hands

before and after each lesson, and cones need to be appropriately spaced out

to allow for social distancing. We have had to accept that much of the fun has

been taken out of sport, as we come to terms with the fact that no games may

be played which do not adhere to the laws of social distancing. This has allowed

us to focus on improving the boys’ fitness, strength and mobility. It is evident that

the boys need work in these areas and we encourage them to give their all

during PE lessons. During this time of fitness and strength training our boys

continue to learn perseverance, self-discipline and to push through, even when

one feels like they can do no more.

This weekend it was wonderful to see live sport return, with the start of the New

Zealand Super Rugby Aotearoa League. I am sure a lot of people have also

enjoyed the start of The Premier League this week, and let’s hope Liverpool can

go on and win the league. It’s great that sport is returning and we hold thumbs

that it won’t be too long until WHPS is once again involved in our weekend derby

days.

Garth Turvey / Deputy Head of Extra Murals

6

REAL LIFE 4 KIDS - AUCTION

The game is ‘hotting’ up with the much awaited auction being held this week.

The boys were both excited and nervous about how much money they were

going to bid for their desired piece of land.

Auction hype was created by our auctioneer, Mr Sean Page, who quickly raised

prices as the boys became more comfortable with the bidding process. The

Covid-19 pandemic did not stop the action, even boys at home took part in the

auction on Zoom.

Some of the boys held back until they realised the time was right and there was

a lull in the buyers’ market. They managed to scoop some valuable plots for very

reasonable prices. Other boys spent a fortune on a plot in Slimy Park, but they

were not too upset as they have a view of the ‘Game Reserve’. They all have 24

hours after the day of the auction to make an EFT transfer for the cost of their

land including a 10% transfer fee to the Deeds Office.

The next phase of the game includes designing and building homes according

to the rules and regulations set for each suburb.

Brigitte Theunissen / Deputy Head- Academics

7

HABIT # 5 - THINK ABOUT YOUR THINKING AK.A. METACOGNITION

“To read without reflecting is like eating without

digesting.” - Edmund Burke

“When the mind is thinking, it is talking to itself.” – Plato

Intelligent people plan for, reflect on, and evaluate the quality of their own

thinking skills and strategies.

Probably the major components of metacognition are developing a plan of

action, maintaining that plan in mind over a period of time, then reflecting

back on and evaluating the plan upon its completion.

Metacognition means becoming increasingly aware of one’s actions and

the effect of those actions on others and on the environment.

Our children often do not take the time to wonder why we are doing what

we are doing. They seldom question themselves about their own learning

strategies or evaluate the efficiency of their own performance. Some

children virtually have no idea of what they should do when they confront a

problem and are often unable to explain their strategies of decision making.

When children become conscious of their thinking, they can become

aware of their strengths and the strategies that are useful to their own

learning.

Here is a novel way of teaching children to think about their thinking: It is the

compass points of thinking! East, West, North, South.

E = Excited

What excites you about this idea or proposition? What’s the upside?

W = Worrisome

What do you find worrisome about this idea or proposition? What’s the

downside?

N = Need to Know

What else do you need to know or find out about this idea or proposition?

What additional information would help you to evaluate things?

S = Stance or Suggestion for Moving Forward

What is your current opinion on the idea or proposition? How might you

move forward in your evaluation of this idea or proposition?

Brigitte Theunissen / Deputy Head Academics

8

BIRTHDAYS

MY SCHOOL CARDS

Tlotliso Tseki 00J 14 June 5

Dihaan Bhoola 4D

Lulo Bundwini 2S

15 June

10

8

Harry Gough 0B

Jed Härtel 4D

Handro van den Bergh 00L

Michael Shai

Brett Whitelaw

16 June

6

10

5

Bokang Mosola 0H 18 June 6

Connor Pattenden 5W

Christian Shepperson 7U

19 June

11

13

Matthew Joubert 20 June

9

SCHOOL UNIFORM SHOP - OPERATING PROTOCOLS

The Covid-19 protocols implemented by the school includes important protocols

relating to the general operations of the School Uniform Shop.

From 1 June 2020 the Shop will be operational in line with the following protocols:

We encourage parents to make use of the online ordering platform for all

purchases of new items. Please click here to order online. Arrangements for

online order collections will be confirmed with parents as soon as the order

has been packed.

The Shop will be open strictly by appointment for second hand purchases

only. Please send an email to shop@whps.co.za to book an appointment.

There will be no walk-in customers until further notice.

Only one family will be assisted in the Shop at any time and by appointment

only.

Boys will unfortunately not be allowed to fit uniform but exchanges will be

permitted.

Exchanges are to be done within 48 hours of date of purchase. Items must be

in their original packaging and condition.

Exchanged items will be steamed and kept aside for a minimum of 48 hours

before being returned to the stock available for sale.

All items purchased need to be washed before wearing. Please ensure the

correct sizing as washed items can’t be returned for exchange.

Proof of your appointment or online purchase confirmation will be required by

our security personnel to gain access to the campus.

Your cooperation and support with regard to these measures will be much

appreciated.

LUNCH MENU - WEEK 8

Wednesday Thursday Friday Tuesday Monday

Sweet and sour pork

with mango slices.

Savoury rice.

Courgettes with sweet

chili relish.

Carrots in melted

cumin butter.

Lettuce, tomato,

cucumber and

mange tout.

Indian butter chicken

(Mild) served with rice.

Creamed spinach.

Pumpkin.

Chopped up salad

served with yoghurt.

Banana.

Beef burgers with

burger relish,

Caramelised onions,

gherkins, sliced

tomato, lettuce, sliced

cucumber.

Chips

Minced Buffalo and

tomato Ragu` with

Fusilli noodles.

Vegetable lasagna.

Sauteed cabbage

and kale.

Cut corn with

baby carrots.

Crisp garden fresh

tossed salad

Dessert: Chocolate

Brownie Cake

Orange, honey and

garlic roasted

chicken thighs.

Savoury Cous Cous.

Roast Butternut.

Creamed spinach.

Mixed Salad.

Fresh fruit.