Applewood Newsletter 28 March 2018
“Live your life each day as you would climb a mountain. An occasional glance toward the summit keeps the goal in mind, but many beautiful scenes are to be observed from each new vantage point.” Unknown
Friday saw our first multisport for the year. Every boy and girl in the school took part in a run ride event, specific to his or her age group. The Pre-Primary event was ablaze with colour and enthusiasm. The Junior Primary took on a run-ride-run format which was fast and furious. The Senior Primary distances were challenging to all, and produced some fantastic displays of Grit and sheer determination. This is the first leg of the multisport Iron Man and Iron Lady Challenge. Well done to every boy and girl who participated in this event and earned themselves a house point for their efforts. Each term, in the Senior Primary, the results of these events will be recorded and points will be awarded for positions. Each child’s best three finishes will count toward the awarding of a Junior and Senior Iron Man and Iron Lady award at the end of the year.
I am very pleased with the revised discipline policy that has been developed at Applewood. Debate with teachers, learners and some parents has formed this very progressive document. The contents of the document has been explained to learners and hundreds of questions were asked and answered. The focus is on a restorative approach to discipline. The policy will be posted on the Applewood website and will come into effect from the first day of the second term.
Kyk-Net has approached our school to take part in the Uitblinkers programme this year. This involves a day of filming at our school and gives us an opportunity to showcase our school. We look forward to making the most of this wonderful opportunity.
We have had a very good look at aftercare and have come up with a plan which we believe will be far more efficient. In the second term aftercare will be split into the three phases. Each venue will be monitored by at least two staff members and specific activities will be arranged. The revised policy in this regard will also be posted on the school website.
The Harvest Festival takes place on 5 May. Thank you to the PA and external organisers who have covered so much ground already. We look forward to an even bigger and better event this year.
The first term has been exceptionally busy. The highlights have been regular and varied. To see the year start on over 200 children, certainly stood out for me. I have appreciated the positive vibe and kindness that I have experienced from the school community. The Wacky Walk, multisport and the Applerockers were very successful events. Margie Odell’s visit has left a lasting impression on all of the teachers. Her affinity for children, learning and ideas are inspiring. I realise how blessed we are to be a part of the Applewood family – we are certainly on the path to Great.
Miss Ilne Pretorious will return to school next term as Mrs Nel. We wish her and Stanley a magical wedding day and all the very best for their lives together. Marshley Garnad also marries during the holidays - congratulations and may you both be blessed as you join as one.
I would like to wish each of you a peaceful Easter holiday. Take time to be in the moment with your children these holidays – before you know it they will no longer be children. I am reminded of the adage - Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
Thank you to Alastair Kilpin for taking the photos.
Liewe Applewood Familie
Ons het Vrydag ons eerste multi-sport byeenkoms van die jaar gehad. Elke seun en dogter in die skool het ouderdom spesifiek aan beide hardloop en fietsry deelgeneem. Die Pre-Primêre deelname was een van kleur en entoesiasme. Die Junior Primêr se deelname het ‘n vinnige en vurige hardloop-ry-hardloop formaat aangeneem. Die Senior Primêre afstande was ‘n uitdaging vir ‘n ieder en ‘n elk en het fantastiese voorbeelde van uithouvermoë en deursettingsvermoë gelewer. Hierdie was die eerste fase van die multi-sport Ysterman en Ystervrou Uitdaging. Welgedaan aan elke seun en dogter wat aan hierdie byeenkoms deelgeneem het en in die proses spanpunte vir onderskeidelik hul Royal en Golden spanne verdien het. In die Senior Primêr sal hierdie punte op ‘n kwartaallikse basis bymekaargetel word vir posisies. Elke deelnemer se beste drie plekke sal in ag geneem word vir die uiteindelike toekenning van die Junior en Senior Ysterman en Ystervrou toekenning aan die einde van die jaar.
Ek is baie in my skik met die hersiene skoolbeleid oor dissipline wat by Applewood die lig gesien het. Onderwysers, kinders en sommige ouers het almal gedebatteer aan hierdie progressiewe beleid. Die inhoud van die dokument is aan die kinders verduidelik en honderde vrae is gevra en beantwoord. Die fokus is op ‘n herstellende en opbouende benadering tot dissipline. Die dokument sal op die Applewood webtuiste geplaas word en sal van die eerste dag van die tweede kwartaal in werking tree.
KykNET het ons skool genader om vanjaar deel te neem aan die Uitblinkers-reeks. Dit behels ‘n dag van verfilming by ons skool en gee ons die geleentheid om ons skool ten toon te stel. Ons sien daarna uit om die meeste van hierdie wonderlike geleentheid te maak.
Nadat die huidige nasorg struktuur goed bekyk is, het ons met ‘n plan voorendag gekom wat waarskynlik baie meer effektief sal wees. In die tweede kwartaal sal nasorg in drie fases verdeel word. Elke groep sal deur ten minste twee personeellede gemonitor word en spesifieke aktiwiteite sal aangebied word. Die hersiene beleid in hierdie verband sal ook op die skool se webwerf geplaas word.
Die Oesfees sal op 5 Mei plaasvind. Ons dank aan die OV en die eksterne organiseerders wat alreeds so baie in hierdie verband vermag het. Ons sien vanjaar uit na ‘n selfs groter en beter byeenkoms.
Die eerste kwartaal was besonders besig. Daar was gereelde en ‘n variasie van hoogtepunte. Die feit dat die jaar met oor die 200 kinders afgeskop het, het definitief vir my bo alles uitgestaan. Ek het die positiewe en vriendelike gesindheid wat ek vanuit die skoolgemeenskap ervaar het, waardeer. Die Wacky Walk, multi-sport en die Applerockers was baie suksesvolle byeenkomste. Margie Odell se besoek aan die skool het blywende indrukke by al die onderwysers gelaat. Haar affiniteit teenoor kinders en idees oor leer is inspirerend. Ek besef hoe bevoorreg ons is om deel van hierdie Applewood-gesin te wees – ons is verseker op die pad na Uitnemendheid.
Mej. Ilne Pretorius sal aanstaande kwartaal terugkeer as Mev. Nel. Ons wens haar en Stanley 'n betowerende troudag en alles van die beste vir hulle lewenspad saam toe. Marschley Garnad trou ook gedurende die vakansie - baie geluk en mag julle twee beide geseënd wees in julle verbintenis aan mekaar.
Mag u almal ‘n vreedsame Paasvakansie ervaar. Neem tyd om gedurende hierdie vakansie in die oomblik saam met u kinders te wees – voor ons, ons oë uitvee, sal hulle nie meer kinders wees nie. Ek dink weer aan die alombekende spreekwoord – Die lewe word nie gemeet aan hoeveel keer ons ‘n teug asem skep nie, maar hoeveel keer ons asems weggeslaan word.
Apple Blossoms working on their fine motor skills.
Enjoying their story with Mrs Steyn.
The busy bees learnt all about colours. They mixed primary colours to create secondary colours.
Sensory activity, practising their letters in foam and making patterns.
Mrs Hamman very kindly guided us on our 8km ‘We Walk2gether’ hike. What stood out amongst the children was kindness, helpfulness and friendship. A most enjoyable morning.
On the 14th of March, the Grade 4 class went on a hike in the beautiful Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve. They had a lesson about Ecosystems, a hike in the fynbos as well as a picnic at the Palmiet river. What an amazing way to learn.
Stage performers showing off their roles in one of the dramas recently done in class.
On Thursday last week the boys started their hike at the Country Club into the Groenlandberg mountains. Apart from having a great time enjoying the beauty of nature they also learnt how to identify the main different types of fynbos.
On Friday the boys went to Trail's End to learn about bike maintenance and how to ride their bikes for optimum performance. They went on the pump track and also tackled a fairly challenging single track route in the mountains. They also did a fun obstacle course. Thank you to Pieter Silberbauer and Chad Gordon for their expertise.
HOCKEY TOUR - GRADE 6-7 GIRLS
Last week the Grade 6 and 7 Girls went on Hockey Tour to Knysna. They played 13 matches over three days, and in the process learnt a great deal about hockey and made huge improvements to their skills. The girls displayed wonderful sportsmanship and tenacity. Thank you girls for your contagious spirit, and to Mr Hamman for the excellent umpiring and coaching!