7th May 2010
Newsletter 12/2010
Dear Parents
We are now into the month of May and all the public holidays are over, and it is now flat out to the end of this term. This week we celebrated the Feast of Blessed Edmund Rice, our Founder. We, here at this College have so much to be grateful for and we need to take this time to give thanks.
I would like to thank all the staff who were involved in giving up their time to go on the various tours last week. We know that most of the children enjoyed the tours but this does cut into the personal time of the staff and I’m sure you all will join me in showing our appreciation to them.
Our sympathies are expressed to a number of families in our College who have suffered the loss of a close member of their family. Mrs Myburgh’s father passed away last week Thursday after a long illness. Kagiso Mogotsi in Grade 10 lost her mom very suddenly last week as well. I’m also aware of a number of Grandparents who have died recently and to those families we express our sympathies as well. Perhaps the celebration of the Grandparents Mass today is particularly important for these children.
All pupils should have changed into Winter Uniforms by now. With the weather we have been having, most of the pupils seem to be in them already. This has the greatest impact on the girls. Please remember girls are allowed to wear trousers, but they must be tailored. Please do not buy your daughters “boys trousers”. Furthermore please remember jackets or “beanies” are not part of the school uniform and these will be confiscated.
While we are allowing Bafana Fridays, please note these are not “civvies days”. Should your child be cold they may wear a school jersey and a school tracksuit top. The shirt has to be an international shirt of one of the participating countries, jeans (without holes in them) and track shoes. Intermediate Phase pupils may wear complete track suits. The idea is to support our National Team, and not to outdo each other in the latest fashions.
Pupils will know that their teachers are applying a lot of pressure with regards to the academic work. Grade 11 and 12 pupils need to understand that Universities take particular interest in the June exams of both years when making their selection. They are only interested in students who work consistently rather than those that make a last ditch effort at the end of the year.
This Saturday we will be hosting, what potentially could be up to 5000 people, for the Anti Human Trafficking Mass. Cardinal Wilfred Napier will be the main celebrant together with about 5 other bishops and 60 priests. The Mass will take place on the Oval and starts at 10:00. Everyone is welcome, but please bring your own chair or blanket.
As we approach the end of term and the start of what is going to be a very long holiday, we understand that this situation is going to be difficult for parents. Unfortunately we are not in a position to run any type of holiday school to look after children during that time. There are various churches that we are aware of that will be running morning sessions. As and when we get notification of these we will pass them on to parents. Please note we have no way of knowing how suitable these are, so we cannot endorse them.
The other problem the Finance Committee is concerned about is the fees. The holiday months are normally months in which we experience a drop in fee payments. Please be aware that there are two payments due during this time. Please make arrangements to pay fees by the due dates.
“Live Jesus in hearts today” – Blessed Edmund Rice
God Bless
PR ROSS
HEADMASTER