Applewood Weekly Newsletter 16 May 2017
“A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make trees.” – Amelia Earhart
Yesterday, during assembly, children were reminded that kindness begins with them and that their kindness adds colour to the lives of others. I have encouraged them all to look for small ways in which to show kindness to one another. I challenge you to do the same.
Founders Day took place last Friday. It was a joyous celebration that warmed the soul. Thank you to the large number of parents who attended. The morning began with an assembly to celebrate Applewood’s 20th birthday. The ceremony was decorated with music pieces from three different choirs who performed with gusto. Time was taken to remember the remarkable people who had the vision to establish our school. These folk, led by the late Tiens Kruger, had a measure of courage, drive and enthusiasm that we can all learn from. Applewood officially opened in January 1998 with 27 children and 4 teachers and has grown into the place you see today with a staff compliment in excess of 20 and a total of 180 children. A remarkable success story.
Applewood’s motto – “Good roots produce good fruits” helps keep Applewood and all its people focused on what really matters – the good growing of our children. A school, just like an apple tree, is measured in so many ways, but perhaps the most accurate measure is in the fruit that it bears. A good example of this was when Lucy McDonald, one of our past pupils who is now in Matric at Somerset College, read out the letter which she wrote when she was in Grade 7. She showed amazing poise and maturity. The message I hear is that Applewood kids are well grounded, adaptable and simply nice children – delicious and nutritious fruit. New items were placed in the time vault and the keeper of the key was inducted. This honour has been bestowed on Rosie House for the next twelve months.
The Apple Blossom class was officially opened and the Grade 7 class laid their names in stone at the entrance of the school building. This was followed by the driveway dash. What an exciting tradition which was tightly contested by both the girls and the boys. The girls winner this year was Tshiamo Moroke and Enzo Sulivan was honoured to win the boys dash for the second year in a row. Such strong traditions are important for a school and contribute significantly to the warm and friendly ethos that we experience each day.
Friday afternoon saw the teachers attending a workshop focusing on creating a hurt free school. We had a good look at our school and have a plan to implement more of these ideas into the daily life of the school. Following this theme, our focus this week remains kindness. We have invited Mr Simon Weaver to address the parent body on ways in which to deal with hurtful behaviour. We will confirm the date with a formal invitation.
On Friday afternoon, Saturday morning and Monday afternoon our teachers will be attending a cooperative learning workshop. Aftercare will continue as normal on Friday afternoon and although there will be no sport on Monday afternoon, there will be aftercare. The cooperative learning approach looks to enhance learning in a classroom and maximise participation. We look forward to an inspirational learning experience.
This will be another busy week. I encourage you to sync your calendars and I wish you a productive week further.
Gedurende gister se saalbyeenkoms het ons die leerders herhinner dat vriendelikheid met hulle begin, en dat hul vriendelikheid kleur aan ander se lewens verleen. Ek het hulle aangemoedig om te soek na al die wyses waarop hulle vriendelikheid aan ander kan bewys, dit maak nie saak hoe klein of hoe groot hierdie gebaar is nie. Ek moedig u aan om self hierdie uitdaging te aanvaar.
Verlede Vrydag het ons Applewood se Stigtersdag gevier. Dit was 'n vreugdevolle geleentheid wat die siel aangeraak het. Baie dankie aan die groot getal ouers wat hierdie dag bygewoon het. Die oggend het afgeskop met 'n saalbyeenkoms waar ons Applewood se 20ste verjaarsdag gevier het. Die seremonie is musikaal versier met drie verskillende koorstukke wat ons kinders geesdriftig opgevoer het. Ons het teruggedink aan die merkwaardige persone wie se visie gely het tot die ontstaan van ons skool. Hierdie individue, onder leiding van die oorlede Tiens Kruger, het 'n mate van moed, determinasie en entoesiasme ten toon gestel waaruit ons almal kan leer. Applewood het offisieël sy deure in Januarie 1998 geopen met 27 kinders en 4 onderwysers en het gegroei in die skool wat u vandag sien met 'n personeel van meer as 20 en 180 kinders. 'n Merkwaardige suksesverhaal.
Applewood se leuse - "Goeie wortels produseer goeie vrugte" help om Applewood en al sy mense gefokus te hou op dit wat werklik saak maak - die positiewe groei van ons kinders. 'n Skool, net soos 'n appelboom, kan gemeet word op verskeie maniere, maar die akkuraatste manier is dalk in die vrugte wat die boom werp. 'n Goeie voorbeeld was toe Lucy McDonald, een van ons voormalige studente wat nou 'n matrikulant aan Somerset College is, haar brief wat sy in Graad 7 geskryf het aan ons almal voorgelees het. Sy het met selfvertroue en volwassenheid ons almal toegespreek. Die boodskap wat ek gehoor het is dat Applewood kinders gegrond en aanpasbaar is, en sommer doodeenvoudige vriendelike kinders is - heerlike gesonde vrugte. Nuwe items is in ons tyd kluis geplaas en die nuwe bewaarder van die sleutel is ingelyf. Hierdie eer het aan Rosie House gegaan vir die volgende twaalf maande. Die Appel Bloeisels (Apple Blossoms) klas was ook Vrydag offisieël geopen en die Graad 7's het hulle name in stene verewig by die ingang van die skoolgebou. Hierna het ons die oprit wedren gehad wat 'n opwindende tradisie is en baie mededingend onder die kinders uitgelok het. Tshiamo Moroke was ons wenner vir die meisies en Enzo Sullivan het onder die seuns geseëvier vir die tweede jaar in 'n ry. Hierdie tradisies is belangrik vir 'n skool en dra by tot die warm, vriendelike etos wat ons daagliks ervaar.
Vrydagmiddag het die onderwysers 'n werkswinkel bygewoon met die fokus daarop om 'n seer vrye skool daar te stel. Ons het 'n deeglike kyk na ons skool se beleid geneem en het 'n plan om meer van hierdie idees in ons daaglikse lewe by die skool te implementeer. Na aanleiding van hierdie tema is ons fokus vir hierdie week vriendelikheid. Ons het Mnr. Simon Weaver genooi om die ouers toe te spreuk oor die maniere wat ons kwetsende gedrag kan aanspreek. Ons sal die datum bevestig deur ‘n formele uitnodiging vir u te stuur
Eerskomende Vrydagmiddag, Saterdagoggend en Maandagmiddag sal ons onderwysers 'n werkswinkel bywoon wat handel oor groepswerk. Nasorg sal soos gewoonlik aangaan Vrydag en Maandag, maar daar sal geen sport wees Maandagmiddag nie. Die samewerkende onderrig benadering kyk daarna om die leer proses in die klas te verbeter en die maksimum deelname te bewerkstellig. Ons sien uit na hierdie geleentheid en dink dit sal inspirerend wees.
Hierdie sal nog 'n besige week wees. Ek moedig u aan om u kalenders te sinkroniseer en ek wens u 'n produktiewe week toe.
Netball at Reddham
A big congratulations to our mix u8/u9 and u11 netball teams on winning their first netball matches against Reddam last week. What a wonderful way to start the new season.
Grade 1 Outing - 2 Oceans Aquarium
Most of our Grade 6 girls recently had a successful tour to Knysna where they competed in 11 matches over a three day period. Even though the focus of this tour was to gain experience and improve on-court skills, the results were surprising. Some very close scores and a couple of wins (even against u13 teams) set a good foundation for this season. With more to collect than just points, the girls formed lasting memories during this amazing experience. Keep a look out for an invitation to come and watch the full Netball Tour Movie, soon to be presented in Assembly.