Vuleka St Mark’s Annual Report 2018 ‘ForeveryonebornofGodovercomestheworld.Thisisthevictorythathasovercomethe

world,evenourfaith’.–1John5:4

Year2018willberememberedasoneofthebestyearsatVulekaStMark’s.Welaidstrongfoundationsuponwhichahappyschoolwasbuilt.WebecameknownasaschoolofPride,Love,Happiness,HonestyandHardwork.

Thevisionofourschoolistoeducatepupilswhoaregoingtoberesponsibleglobalcitizenstomakemeaningfulcontributionstothecountryandtherestoftheworld.Asweprepareour pupils for the 21st century education, we identified four important skills, CriticalThinking, Communication, Creativity andCollaboration.However,wenever neglected theemotionalandspiritualbeingofeverypupilinourschool.

1. PupilDevelopment

LearnerSurvey

WeconductedasmallsurveyintheGrade7classandrequestedourclient(children)togiveusfeedback,telluswhattheylikeandnotlikeabouttheschool,andweaskedthemtogiveussuggestions.Whatagreatfeedbackwegotfromthosepupils!

Implementation:

1. Educationaloutingswereorganized.2. Healthyrelationsbetweenstaffandpupils3. Morefunactivitiesinclass.4. LadumaSoccerprogramwaslaunchedinterm2.5. Privatemusiclessonsarehappening.

HappyMoments:

1. RACAFestival:OurschoolchoirwonthePlatinumAward(94%)2. WehadthePositiveSpiritinalltheVulekasportingevents.3. SchoolConcert:AroundTheWorld.4. PlantingflowersonSpringDay.5. Valentine’sDaycelebrations:BalloonsandmessagesonHyperionRd.6. Honouringstaffandpupilsonspecialdays.7. StaffTenPinBowling@MonteCasino8. Teacherschangingtheschoolenvironment:decoratingthestaffroomandotherpartsof

theschool.9. Pupilsbringinginlostmoneytotheoffice.WehavecollectedalmostR300andthathas

promotedthecultureofhonesty.10. Umalusi:Wehad a fullUmalusi inspection and theywere so impressedbywhat they

saw.

Academics

OurpupilstookpartintheConquestaexam(external)andsomeofourgradesdidverywell,especiallythegrade1classwhoobtainedanaverageof71%inMathematics.

- WeintroducedtheThinkingHatsconcepttothewholeschool.Ourteachersreceivedtrainingandstartedapplyingtheconceptinclassandinconflictsituations.

2.StaffNews

VisionaryTeam

Asaschool,wesatdownatthebeginningoftheyear(twodaysbeforetheofficialDay1)andhadconversationsonhowwewant tomake the schoolbetter.We focusedon threeimportantvalues,Professionalism,PrideandExcellence.

StaffReflection

Atthebeginningofterm2,wesatdownandhadaseriousS.W.O.T.analysis.Welookedatour Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Strengths. We felt we needed to buildhealthyrelationsamongststaffandwedecidedtoorganiseteambuildingeventssuchas,braai,TenPinBowling@MonteCasino,StaffShoutOutNoticeBoard inthestaff lounge-staffenjoywritingeachothermessages.

Wehadtheseworkshopsforstaff:

1. Diversity(StanleyBongwe)2. ThinkingHats3. ReadingforFoundationPhase4. TeamBuilding:TenPinBowlingatMonteCasino&staffbraais

3.Parents

We started looking at howwe could involve our parents andmake them believe in ourproduct.

PWC–ParentsWhoCaregroupwasformedtogetparentsinvolvedintheschoolactivities.

GreenfieldProject:Weidentifiedthemainfieldasthefirstprojectthatourparentscouldfocuson.Theydonatedmoneytobuygrassandallthosepatchyareaswerecovered.

Teacher – Parent Whatsapp Groups: We use such platforms to inform and inspire ourparents.Wepostbestlessonsandoutsideclassactivities,andthathasimprovedrelationsbetweentheschoolandparentbody.

Study SkillsWorkshop:Weorganized the study skillsworkshopwhichwas runbyKerrynGiles(educationalpsychologist)anditwaswell-receivedbythosewhoattended.

Toast Masters Program: We have introduced the Toast Masters program, focusing onleadership and communication skills. Some of our parents have joined the club and areravingaboutit.

4.FinancialSustainabilityandcapacitybuilding

Church

WehavebuilthealthyrelationswiththeStMark’schurchandthatwasevidentwhentheRevShonaFlemingorganizedsponsorshipwithHot91.9FMandtheypaidfullschoolfeesfor two of our families. The church volunteers and the neighbours are supporting andfeedingsomeofourpupilsonadailybasis.

In-houseMarketing/Promotion

Weused the staffWhatsApp group tomarket and promote the schoolwithin the schoolcommunity.Wechangedthenoticeboardsonaregularbasis tobuildthatSenseofPrideandLovefortheschool.(Facebookpage:VulekaStMark’s)

FinancialSustainability

Withallthesechangesthatwerehappening,theparenttrustfortheschoolwasrenewed.Theystartedpayingschoolfeesandgettingmoreinvolvedinourfundraisingprojects.

Newinitiatives

1. Karri App:We have just launched the Karri app for the parents to use to pay forevents such as Cake N Candy, Civvies, Photos etc. Our parents are enjoying thisbrilliantapp.

2. TermPlanner:Wesendthetermplannerbooklettoallourparentsbeginningofthenewterm.Thebooklethasalltheimportantdatesandeventsfortheterm,andtheteachersemailaddresses.

3. Homework Planner:We send the homework planner everyMonday. The plannerhashomework for theweek and that helps thepupils toplan theirweek andnothave toomuch homework in one afternoon. (we can only give homework of twosubjectsinoneafternoonandnotmorethanthat)

4. TeacherOrganizer:It’sa12pagedocumentthatguidesstafffromday1tothelastdayofterm.Ithasalltheimportantdates,breakduties,birthdays,meetings,clustermeetings, and their one on one meetings with the school head. The teacherorganizerispreparedduringholidaysandgiventostaffatthebeginningofthenewterm.

5. Dropbox:Oursecretarycreatedthedrop-boxforustostoreallthefilesandbeabletoaccessthemwhenthey’reneeded.

6. TeachersNameplates(professionallydone):Wemadenameplatesforteachersandthey’re up on the walls outside their classrooms. Teachers can feel that sense ofbelongingandbeingrecognized.

Enrolments :194 pupils in the school andwewould have liked to get to 200 butwe canachievethatnextyear.

I would like to thank the Vuleka council, Melanie Sharland (the outgoing ManagingDirector), Central Office, Vuleka colleagues, St Mark’s staff, parents and pupils for thesupport that they have given me as the head of St Mark’s and I have full trust in Mrs.LushendrieGovender (newheadofStMark’s), she isgoingtotaketheschool tothenextlevel.

‘BeTheChangeYouWishToSeeInTheWorld’-M.Gandhi

MrSaneleMajola(Headmaster)