St Johns Preparatory School

St Johns Preparatory School Houghton Tel: 011 645 3100/ 087 550473 10 June 2011 Newsletter Number 6

From the Headmaster

Introduction Communication 101 I cannot stress the importance of healthy relationships and good communication skills between parents, sons and teachers alike. A break in any of these links more often than not leads to a boy experiencing difficulties in his environment be it in the school setting or in his home surroundings. Our study skills evenings held a couple of weeks ago emphasised the need for parents to try and understand how best their children learn and for this to be effective, there has to be good communication between the parent and son, as well as between the teacher and boy, and in turn, the teacher and the parent.

Reminders from the Diary

14/06 Hair Inspection Football vs St Benedicts Jan Cilliers Music Evening 15/06 Extraordinary Evening 16/06 Public Holiday - No School 17/06 School Holiday 21/06 Senior Inter-House Quiz 23/06 Tennis vs The Ridge 24/06 UIII Music Concert GSL Primary School Competition History Assessment LIII - UIII 27/06 LIII Music Concert 28/06 UII Music Concert 29/06 LII Music Concert

What is the key to creating these relationships? Rugby vs WHPS We all like to think we are excellent parents and teachers, but do we really know and love our 30/06 Grahamstown Arts Festival Tour Departs boys in the right way and do we really know how UI Music Concert to connect with them? Are we blinded by the notion of how we expect them to behave, what Tennis vs Pridwin results we want them to get, what team we want Sports Quiz them to make or are we more interested in the 01/07 Geography Assessment UIII - LIII outcome and forget about the process? Do we Hist/Geog/Sci Assessment LII - UII know what they are doing on their cell phones, It is with great sadness that we have to inform you that Jill Arnold died peacefully on Sunday June 5th. We extend our sympathies to Father Michael Arnold, Sarah-Anne and Jonathan. We are saddened by her death, yet inspired by her courage and remain forever grateful for her significant contribution both professionally and personally in the lives of many staff and boys in our community. A Requiem Mass for Jill Arnold will take place on Monday (13th June) afternoon at 14h30 in the Memorial Chapel.

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blackberrys and computers in school and after hours? This is the time when we need to lay solid foundations for good and open relationships and positive communication skills. Spotty, hormonal teenagers are just a short way away, and these channels are not put in place while our boys are young, a long and difficult journey for all parties concerned might lie ahead. I believe that we have to get down to the level of our boys and communicate with them, not talk to them. The quality of our communication makes a difference. Good communication helps our boys shape positive attitudes about themselves, allows a parent a window into their sons thinking and actions and quite naturally progresses into good relationships. Here are some ideas that may be of interest:

Meals are great social occasions more than just refuelling stops. They provide a wonderful opportunity for families to get together and talk. Talk about each others day the highlights and the lowlights. Share your own day with your children. If you have a conversational clam in your family, try talking over a snack, or while doing an activity. Boys, in particular, tend to open up more while their hands are busy. Relax, go for a walk and watch how their tongues loosen up. If nah or yep are the only responses you get from your son, consider asking questions that begin with What? Where? How? or Why? Ask interesting questions that will spark more than a one-word response. Talk with your son on his turf. Many boys will open up in the privacy of their own bedroom, particularly when they are relaxed and feel secure. Respect your sons boundaries. There are times when a good listener will know when to keep quiet. Boys will often divulge information when they are ready.

Some turn-offs for boys: Lecturing children: When I was young

Shouting: Using a quiet voice is a more effective way to get a point across than using a raised voice. Put-downs: They lower boys self-confidence and they turn boys off listening to you.

Good luck and like most things that require a bit of effort on our part, its so worth it! I trust you all have a wonderful and communicative long weekend with your families.

Patrick Lees Headmaster

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4CTea
20th May Brendan Thomas - Won both Chess matches Timothy McPherson - Natural Sciences Expertise Michael Boyce - Maths Justin West - Helping in Chess

27 May Won both Chess Matches Sachin Modi Matthew Berger Jason Batzofin Brendan Thomas Daniel Harding Kavish Govind 27 May Selected for Johannesburg North Area Soccer Lodewijk Volkersz Nicholas Hallendorff Jordan King Ross Bentley Gregory Thompson Emil Yilmaz Lodewijk Volkersz James Arthur Nikhil Haripershad

27 May Defend a friend Sebastian Nassel-Henderson Matthew Monteith

10 June Excellent English Results Justin Koevort Merlin Love Matthew Robinson Jordan Williamson Jack Gnodde Aidan Quinn Matthew Collins Numan Koor

10 June U11A Soccer team were placed second at Wade Foster Tournament Ethan Chilvers Dale Hallendorff Michael Mackie Bradley Dunbar Luca Allasio Keir Mantzios Stefano Cavalieri Thamsanqa Mtizira-Nondo Travin Bouwer Brandon Vermeulen

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Chess Results
23rd May 2011 St Johns A vs Trinity A Seniors lost 14 - 18 Juniors lost 11 - 21 Overall lost 25 - 39 St Johns B vs Auckland Park A Seniors won 21 - 11 Juniors won 11 - 5 Overall won 32 - 16

Well done to the following boys who won both their games: S Modi, O Kieser, D Louw, C Williamson, R Ramokgopa, S Gaffney. 30th May St Johns A vs St Marys A This was a social evening for enjoyment only. No results were recorded. The boys of St Johns and the girls of St Marys had an entertaining evening playing friendly matches, first against their own team members and then against the opposing school. This evening proved to be a lot of fun as all boys and girls socialized with no competitive pressure.

Soccer
Ross Bentley and Nicholas Hallendorff have been selected to play in Inter-Provincial Tournament. Well done, boys!

Junior Inter-House Quiz

Four very eager teams and a very enthusiastic audience of UI-UII boys took part in the Junior Inter-House Quiz on Friday. The categories of questions varied from current news and sporting events, South African trivia and Ancient Egypt, to famous hounds, disasters in 2011 and knights and castles. The boys keenness to answer the questions and their general excitement at the event was wonderful to watch. The results show what a closely fought contest it was. Darragh Carter 54 Bousfield 57 Cullinan 56 60

Golf
Kian Rose, UID, competed in the South African Kids Junior Open and came second. Well done, Kian.

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UPPER IL
The Upper Is are exploring different Feelings. The had to write a sympathy letter to Mr and Mrs Majola who had lost their daughter in a snow storm. These are some of the letters they wrote.

By Aidan Stride

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UPPER IL

By Spencer Russell Clarke

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UPPER IR

By Vladimir Ionescu

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UPPER IR

By Fraser McLardy

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Upper ID

By Dino Koutromanos

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Upper ID

By Matthew Chow

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Lower II
Following on the Knights theme, the Lower II classes made castles, which are now on display in the library

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Upper III
Hard at work and deep in concentration in the D & T class

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Peter Godwin Visit

Award winning author Peter Godwin entertained the Lower and Upper III boys with tales of his childhood in Zimbabwe and his university years at Oxford. The boys were fascinated by his account of a trip overland from the UK back to Zimbabwe, as well as the story about how his father had to be cremated on a Hindu funeral pyre. He spoke briefly about the three books he has written about his familys experiences in Zimbabwe and about the present crisis facing the country. His books are: Mukiwa, When the Crocodile Eats the Sun and The Fear. By Nicky Sulter

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Notices

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Notices

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Assertiveness Training
by Jo Hamilton Educational Psychologist

Is your child often bullied, picked on or excluded?

Is your child too aggressive and disliked by others?

PRACTICAL SKILLS AND ADVICE FOR CHILDREN WHO STRUGGLE TO HANDLE SOCIAL SITUATIONS EFFECTIVELY.
Involves: 7 x 70 minute sessions (25 May - 29 June 2011) including 1 hr evening address to parents (24 May) Ages: 6 8 years and 9 12 years Max group size: 6 children Where: Parkhurst Wednesday afternoons Cost: R1800 Early Bird (Medical aids reimburse percentage)
Go from this . this!!! ..to

PHONE 083 792 7207

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Notices

Make my day, enter the comic competition. Find entry forms in the Library.

St Johns College Shop New opening times:

Monday & Thursday 7am to 3pm Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 10am to 3pm

Stationery and Labels as well as all your sports clothes, jerseys, bags and
socks

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Notices
Art club and extra classes
From the beginning of next term, Mr Poco is starting an Art Club (for LIII and UIII boys) and extra art classes for junior boys. Senior boys are encouraged to join the Art Club on Tuesdays from 14h00 -15h00 or Thursdays from 15h0016h00. Juniors may arrange extra art lessons with Mr Poco at alternative times and on alternative days. We hope to see the senior boys joining the Art Club to create various exciting art works with mediums they do not normally use in class, such as print making, photography, oil painting and many more. This will be a fantastic opportunity for any boy who wishes to develop his art skills. For further information e-mail Bruno Poco on poco@stjohnscollege.co.za

EXTRA ZULU LESSONS

Lower III and Upper III boys. Every Thursday 13h45 Upper III Mrs Mashele All Welcome

Extra Math Lessons

Individual tuition offered
Mrs M Hauptfleisch Call 011 442 1854 083 256 7714

Italian Language Lessons

Small age appropriate classes and individual tuition offered outside school hours at St Johns. Experienced mother-tongue graduate teacher using communicative method of conversation, maintaining cultural ties for solid IEB foundation. Contact Lisabetta on 082 682 2859 or Lisabetta@iafrica.com

Hair Dee-Lite 082 462 6813/ 011 648 6367

Dee offers excellent work for the whole family, competitive prices and the added convenience of being on campus. Modern cuts, colours (from R300) and hi-lites. Kids R50 7 Elm Street (Opposite Rice Field) Open Tuesday to Friday 08h00 - 17h00 Saturday 08h00 - 13h00

EXTRA MATHS LESSONS

Lower III & Upper III boys in Mrs Jean Clarences classroom Every Thursday 13h45 All Welcome

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If I had my life to live over Id dare to make more mistakes next time. Id relax. I would limber up I would be sillier than I have been this trip. I would take fewer things seriously. I would take more chances. I would take more trips. I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers. I would eat more ice cream and less beans. I would perhaps have more actual troubles but Id have fewer imaginary ones. You see, Im one of those people who live sensibly and sanely hour after hour, day after day. Oh, Ive had my moments and if I had it to do over again, Id have more of them. In fact, Id try to have nothing else. Just moments. One after another, instead of living so many years ahead of each day. Ive been one of those people who never go anywhere without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a raincoat and a parachute. If I had it to do again, I would travel lighter next time. If I had my life to live over, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. I would go to more dances. I would ride more merry-go-rounds. I would pick more daisies.

Nadine Stair