Applewood Weekly Newsletter 13 June 2017
“When you’re surrounded by people who share a passionate commitment around a common purpose, anything is possible.” Howard Schultz, Executive Chairman of Starbucks
All of us have an inherent need to belong, and all of us have the desire to be accepted and to feel included. Multiple studies have shown that the feelings of being included and accepted directly impact our psychological and our physical health, and that mental and health problems are more common among people who lack social attachments. Looking a person in the eye and greeting sends out a message that they are acknowledged and they are included. The value of a simple greeting is immeasurable.
A simple, genuine greeting costs you absolutely nothing but can transform a person’s day and, perhaps their life. I would like our Applewood children to be the very best at this. We will be concentrating on this life skill over the next two weeks. It starts by simply encouraging children to greet people properly and we would really appreciate your support in this regard. A few salient points to consider:
• First impressions are lasting. The manner in which you greet a person determines the quality of the connection made. Teach children to make eye contact and smile while delivering a greeting.
• The most wonderful sound for any human being is the sound of their own name. It is generally the most common sound they hear in their first years. It is remarkable how people will warm to you if you simply use their name in a conversation. Teach your child to greet people by name.
• Children will readily forget to greet – you will need to remind them constantly to greet. Practice with them when you are driving and give them a game plan.
• Practice greeting people in your day to day life and especially in business. Greeting a new person every day will potentially connect you to 365 new contacts in a year. Consider the opportunities and good will that this could generate.
With a collective effort in this common purpose, I hope that Applewood will become renown for greeting and making people feel valued and included.
The events of the past week have gone a long way to putting things into perspective for me. The storm we experienced and the raging fires in the Knysna area have made me re-evaluate my priorities somewhat and it has certainly highlighted all that I have to be grateful for. I have been astounded by public reaction to the disaster. I have heard of so many heartwarming stories of people, even in our community, getting involved and offering support. A great example of unconditional kindness.
In the third term our boys will be playing 7’s rugby. It is an exciting sport which the boys love. It can be quite demanding on school shirts so we have decided to introduce an Applewood rugby jersey for the boys to practice and play in. These jerseys will be available from the uniform shop from the beginning of next term.
Please watch your email account for a parent survey that will go out later this week. I would like you to consider your responses carefully and return the survey as soon as you can. We value your opinion and will use your input to improve our practice.
The swimming pool project has made a great deal of ground. We are currently looking at a final costing for the project. Since we have opened a dedicated swimming pool bank account we have had a number of people coming forward to offer financial contributions. I am very grateful for the interest shown and the very generous contributions made so far. I would like to remind you that if you wish to make a contribution to please contact Mrs Kruger for further details. The potential is there for us to become a centre of excellence in swimming.
Thank you to everyone who was involved in Grandparents Day last week. As always, your children performed beautifully and I hope all who attended were made to feel extra special.
Keep warm and have a wonderful week.
Almal van ons het die begeerte om te behoort oorgeërf en almal van ons het ’n behoefte om aanvaarding en om ingesluit of deel te voel. Vele studies het reeds bewys dat die gevoel om ingesluit en aanvaar te word ‘n direkte impak op ons fisiologiese en fiesise gesondheid het, en dat probleme rondom verstandelike gesondheid meer algemeen voorkom by mense met gebrekkige sosiale bande. Om iemand in die oë te kyk en te groet stuur ‘n duidelike boodskap van erkenning en inklusiwiteit. Die waarde van ‘n eenvoudige groet kan nie gemeet word; opgeweeg word.
‘n Eenvoudige, outentieke groet kos jou absoluut niks nie maar kan iemand se dag maak. Ek sal wil sien dat ons Applewood-kinders baie goed hiermee raak. Ons sal gedurende die volgende twee weke op hierdie lewensvaardigheid fokus. Dit begin eenvoudig daarby om kinders aan te moedig om mense behoorlik te groet en ons sal werklik u ondersteuning in hierdie verband hoog op prys stel. ‘n Paar voordiehandliggende belangrike punte om in ag te neem:
• Eerste indrukke is blywend. Die wyse waarop jy iemand groet bepaal die kwaliteit van die bande wat gesmee sal word. Leer kinders om oogkontak te maak en vriendelik te glimlag wanneer hulle groet.
• Die wonderlikste ding vir enigeen om te hoor, is hul eie naam. Dit is normaalweg die mees algemene woord (klanke) wat hulle in die vormingsjare hoor. Dit is ongelooflike hoe aangetrokke mense tot jou gesprek sal voel met die blote gebruik van hul naam. Leer u kind om mense op hulle name te groet.
• Kinders sal geredelik vergeet om te groet – u sal hulle voortdurend daaraan moet herinner. Oefen met hulle terwyl julle ry en gee aan hulle ‘n plan van aksie.
• Oefen om mense op ‘n dag tot dag basis te groet, veral in besigheid. Om ‘n nuwe persoon elke dag te groet kan potensieël 365 nuwe kontakte ‘n jaar bewerkstellig. Oorweeg die geleenthede en wewillendheid wat dit te weeg kan bring.
Met ‘n spanpoging in hierdie gemeenskaplike doel, hoop ek Applewood sal bekend word vir die wyse waarop mense waardeer, ingesluit en gegroet word.
Die afgelope week se gebeure het vir my meer perspektief aan dinge gegee. Die storm wat ons beleef het en die verwoestende brande in die Knysna-area het my weer na prioriteite laat kyk en, sonder twyfel, my weer laat dink aan alles waarvoor ek dankbaar moet wees. Ek is stomgeslaan deur die publiek se respons tydens hierdie ramp. Ek het van so baie hartroerende stories van mense, selfs in ons eie gemeenskap, wat betrokke geraak het gehoor. Wat ‘n goeie voorbeeld van onvoorwaarlike welwillendheid en vriendelikheid.
Ons seuns sal in die derde kwartaal Sewes Rugby speel. Dit is ‘n opwindende spel en die seuns geniet dit. Dit kan egter sy tol op duursame skoolhemde eis so, ons het dienooreenkomstig besluit om ‘n Applewood rugbytrui bekend te stel waarin die seuns kan oefen en wedstryde kan speel.
Hou asseblief u eposse dop vir ‘n ouer opname wat later hierdie week uitgestuur sal word. Ek vra u om goed na te dink voordat u die opname so gou as moontlik voltooi en terugstuur. Ons heg waarde aan u opinie om sodoende te verbeter op dit wat ons doen.
Die swembadprojek het reeds ‘n ver pad gekom. Ons kyk tans na die finale kostebepaling vir hierdie projek. Sedert ons ‘n bankrekening ter ondersteuning van hierdie projek geopen het, het ons ‘n hele aantal mense gehad wat na vore gekom het om finansiële bydraes te maak. Ek is baie dankbaar vir die belangstelling wat dit ontlok het en vir die skenkings wat gemaak is. Ek herinner u graag daaraan dat u gerus met Mev. Kruger in verbinding kan tree indien u sou belangstel om meer te wete te kom oor die proses vir enige verdere skenkings.
Dankie aan almal wat verlede week betrokke was by die Oupa en Ouma-dag. Soos altyd, het u kinders pragtig opgevoer en ek hoop dat almal wat ons besoek het, ekstra spesiaal gevoel het.
Bly warm en geniet ‘n wonderlike week.
Knysna Fire - how can you help?
If you are able to help and donate the following items, then please drop it at reception by latest Monday, 19 June. Di Kilpin will be collecting all the donated goods and taking it to a central point in Strand. The following items have been requested:
• Blankets, toiletries, baby and adult clothes, nappies and formula.
Looking for temporary storage for a small yacht on trailer.
Please contact Allen Hart at: 0822168565.
COTTAGE FOR SINGLE PERSON TO RENT
On farm 4km from Grabouw. 2 Room cottage next to main house. R3500 pm incl. water & electricity.
Ability to house sit dogs and horses now and then.
Contact Bert 082 877 3550
Looking for someone to share a house with me. Professional person between the ages of 28 and 35. Must love animals as I have 3 dogs but unfortunately no pets allowed.
Please contact Charmaine on 0848700809 or charmaine06@live.co.za