From the Principal’s Desk, 5 February 2021
Dear Parents
“We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts we make the world” – Buddha.
This week I have been particularly mindful of life’s journey. People often use the phrase ‘we’re all in the same boat’ and I believe this holds true to some extent; it’s just that our boats are all a little bit different. The way we approach life’s challenges is informed by our lived experience.
Whilst some have experienced the loss of a loved one, others are celebrating new life. Some have lost their jobs whilst others have discovered new revenue streams or embarked on an exciting new venture. There are those of us who remained isolated, finding peace and solitude in the quiet, whilst others have taken a walk on the beach and felt their spirits lift.
The experience of frustration and tiredness is a commonality at the moment; we have daily choices to make and some come easier than others. We might all be facing the same pandemic, but the way it affects each family is different. It is the same experience at school. Our teachers are affected by the pandemic, by the shifts between school-based and online learning, differently. It is difficult to be an educator during this time as the shift away from traditional teaching this year was sudden and steep. Despite all these challenges we remain, as always, resolved and dedicated to our craft.
As we celebrate “World Read Aloud Day” we encourage you to read with your children. Teach them that there are infinitely better ways to learn than from an electronic device. There is a myriad of interesting topics for us to share with our children so why not explore the options? Introduce your children to new ideas, stories, and perspectives. Reading is a wonderful pastime and invaluable family time.
“The MORE that you READ, the MORE things you will KNOW. The MORE that you LEARN, the MORE places you’ll go.”- Dr. Seuss.
I wish you all a wonderful weekend of reading!
Edna
WATCH: Year 3 student, Noma Mashazi, reads to us in celebration of World Read Aloud Day.
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From the Principal’s Desk, 29th January 2021
Dear Parents
We have come to the end of another week which proved to be just as challenging for parents as for teachers. We are therefore grateful for your continued support of our school and educators.
A special mention is due to the PA members who assisted last Saturday morning in getting the students school supplies packed and organized for collection. These ladies were indispensable in having everything ready for collection during the rush on Saturday morning.
Your support and encouragement when collecting books was greatly appreciated. This is what makes Blouberg International a family and not just a school. A special thank you to Mrs. Izelle Williams, Mrs. Betsie Lott, Mrs. Nadine Romeikat, Mrs. Cheryl Muller and Mrs. Jaqueline De Wet. ‘Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.’
Schooling for all year groups will resume on campus on Monday, 01 February 2021. Please remember that high school students are to use the gravel entrance and the primary school students, the main entrance. Siblings in different year groups may use the same entrance. Early care will be available from 07h00 and aftercare available till 18h00. Please remember to contact Mrs. Angelique Fraser on the aftercare line (064 625 9124) to arrange for collection of aftercare students.
It is important that you do not send any students to school who are showing any cold or flu symptoms. In the past, we have had to call parents to collect unwell students from school. To date we have been lucky not to have any reported positive cases amongst our students. Due diligence and adherence to protocols will allow us all to stay safe and well.
I wish you all a wonderful weekend. Stay safe and healthy.
Best regards
Edna
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From the Principal’s Desk, 22 January 2021
Dear Parents
Despite the challenges we continue to face, the threat of schools closing, we have thrived this week at Blouberg International. It is heartwarming to see how happy our children are to be back at school. A right that should not be taken away from them.
I am sure the recent upheavals are causing anxiety in terms of your planning, but at Blouberg International we are set on giving our students the absolute best of service despite these challenges.
We received our November 2020 IGCSE (International General Certificate of Senior Education) results for our Year 10’s this week. It was a proud moment for every teacher in the High School as we celebrated the phenomenal marks achieved in all areas, but particularly Maths, Physics, Chemistry and Computer Science. Our cohort of 20 students achieved 30 A* (90% and above) 24 A’s (80% and above) and 22 B’s (70% and above).
Our top student, Rifqah Price, wrote a total of 9 subjects and received an A* for every one of them. Well done Rifqah, we celebrate your achievements with you.
Our children are experiencing this pandemic in such a different way to us adults and it is therefore important that we encourage them and ensure they are emotionally equipped to handle each day.
They might experience the feelings like:
I won’t do it.
I can’t do it.
I want to do it.
How do I do it?
I will try to do it.
I can do it.
I did it!
Each one of the above is a step as well as a choice. Let us continue to encourage them through each one and ensure they not only endure but also thrive during this time.
I wish you a wonderful weekend of quality family time.
Kind regards
Edna
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From the Principal’s Desk, 15 January 2021
Dear Parents
Welcome to the start of the 2021 academic year. Although this is an unprecedented time, we are confident that this year will be a memorable one for every student. Even though we are starting the year with much uncertainty in terms of what the government will prescribe, we are confident that our educational programme can continue successfully.
On Tuesday, 12 January, we received our matric results. We are extremely proud of the excellent marks achieved, particularly in Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics. Our students have raised the bar and we look forward to continual growth in these subject areas. For more news about the results, please see our matric results page.
Our top student for the 2020 matric class is Darshan Naidoo, with a total of 3 distinctions out of 5 subjects on AS level and 2 A* distinctions in A level! Well done Darshan!
We wish to thank every parent for your support in ensuring the success of our first day at school on Wednesday. It is always a challenge to co-ordinate the first day of school, with logistics such as stationery collection, drop off and introducing new students to the school. Your compliance on Wednesday made it easy to co-ordinate and help our students transition into the new academic year.
We understand your need to connect with the new class teacher for 2021 and we therefore plan on holding online information evenings for meet and greet purposes and so you can be informed of the processes for Term 1. In addition to the online meetings, you will receive an information letter containing all the important information for the 2021 academic year.
We ask that you refrain from meeting with the teachers in the mornings as parents are still not allowed on the premises. We have a responsibility to our staff and students to minimize the number of people on campus. Teachers are available for online, face to face, meetings should this be necessary, but please contact them initially via email. We have everyone’s best interests at heart and as much as our medical personnel are on the frontline, so are our teachers.
COVID ISOLATION PROTOCOL
Just a reminder that should a member of your household test positive, you must not send your child to school (even if the child themselves tested negative). Students who are exposed to a confirmed positive case should be in isolation and not exposed the rest of the class. Please adhere to this strictly!
INFORMATION MEETINGS
Our teachers will communicate the dates of the online information meetings for parents next week. This is an opportunity for you to meet your child’s class teacher and ask any questions you might have.
We also welcome Miss Tayla Shergold-Smith who has joined our high school staff. We wish her all the best for the year ahead.
I wish you all a wonderful weekend!
Kind regards
Edna
From Left to Right: Alexander Massyn, Vallarie Fodson, Katherine Lott and Jianicia Meintjes.
From Left to Right: Khanyisa Buthelezi, Audrey Lepo, Azande Dube and Keryn Crawcour.
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From the Principal’s Desk, 11 December 2020
Dear Parents
We have come to the end of the 2020 academic year. This has been a year of great challenges, but also a year of great opportunity. The difference for each and every one of us is the point of our perspective.
However, the future rewards those who press on. There is no time to feel sorry for ourselves and to complain, we need to just keep going and press on. Thank you to each parent, for your support and commitment towards the school.
Thank you to our staff who relentlessly learned new methods and inspired our students. Your hard work is always appreciated.
In the words of Barak Obama: “If you’re walking down the right path and you’re willing to keep walking, eventually you’ll make progress.”
We are sadly saying goodbye to Alexia Holmes in year 3. Mrs. Holmes and her husband are relocating to Betties Bay. We wish her all the best in her future endeavors. Mrs. Wendy Menton will replace Mrs. Holmes in year 3.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR TERM 1 2021
A letter has been sent today via the Engage platform with information regarding our drop off and collection times and points for 2021.
I wish all our families a great festive season and may you and your families be blessed with good health and prosperity!
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
Festive greetings
Edna
Our 2021 Head Boy and Head Girl – Niklyn Pillay and Munashe (Karen) Kambizi
From the Principal’s Desk, 4 December 2020
Dear Parents
Amid much uncertainty, I wish to reassure you that as we are ending off this term, we are already planning for Term 1 of 2021.
We will continue to provide our children with the best education during this time.
We lost 0 days in academic time and could proudly celebrate our students last week at the prize-giving ceremonies. You will continue to receive excellent education and thorough communication from the school.
Our high school students finished their last examinations on Wednesday, 02 December and the teachers are currently preparing their results.
Our last day of school will be on Wednesday, 09 December and holiday care will resume until the 18th of December. Holiday care will also start on 04 January 2021 for the new academic calendar year.
We will communicate the 2021 school opening and closing times with you by next week.
UNIFORM STORE INFORMATION
Please note the Hatrick online store will be closed for orders from 18 December 2020 to 6 January 2020.
- For orders placed after 11 December 2020 at 12h00 to get your order before 2020 ends, please select the courier to home/specified address. If not, your order will only be delivered to the school in the week starting 11 January 2021.
- For orders placed between 6 and 8 January 2021, please note if you select delivery to school, the order will arrive at the school in the week starting 11 January 2021.
I wish you all a wonderful weekend ahead.
Kind regards
Edna
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From the Principal’s Desk, 27 November 2020
Dear Parents
Prize-giving ceremonies are a special part of our year-end celebrations; a chance to reward the hard work of our students. This is the one event we were not going to miss out on in 2020!
This has been an eventful week as we planned and celebrated our Prize-giving ceremonies online. Our children have endured so much throughout this year and still managed to finish the race with success!
As parents you too have endured many challenges and yet your support and commitment to the school and its teachers has been evident throughout. You all deserve star certificates as well!
I believe the challenges we all endured have made us stronger and increased our endurance. Our students are champions and well deserving of a good holiday.
Next week will be the last week of examinations for our high school students and we continue to cheer them on to the finish line.
As we are at the end of the week, I wish you all a wonderful and restful weekend ahead.
“Time spent with family is time well spent. Family is the one constant element in life.” – Author Unknown
Kind regards
Edna
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From the Principal’s Desk, 20 November 2020
Dear Parents
Every morning I watch the students as they walk through the reception area. Some wave quietly and others are full of cheerful chatter! Having the students come through the reception area every morning provides me with such a valuable little window into their lives.
I can always sense when a student is not having a good morning and need that little bit of encouragement and support to brighten up their day. I cherish these moments with the students, and it reminds me of the importance and value in being an educator.
We have all had a difficult and demanding year, but this morning I am filled with enormous gratitude for my staff. I am proud of their adaptability and positivity. Each one of them is exhausted but they retain their cheerfulness and willingness to serve.
Last Saturday morning, the 14th November, we welcomed our new parents for 2021 and the feedback we received is amazing. We look forward to expanding the Blouberg International community next year and welcoming new faces and families.
One of the most important events of the year is the end of year Prize-giving. This year our various Prize-givings will be streamed virtually and you will receive a letter with the relevant dates and times. We cannot miss the opportunity to acknowledge our students’ hard work and dedication this year.
As we all prepare for the weekend, I hope you all have something wonderful in mind as we are going to have awesome weather!
Best regards
Edna
From the Principal’s Desk, 13 November 2020
Dear Parents
It is that time of the year when we are all exhausted and in desperate need of a break. It sometimes feels like we have been experiencing this ‘end of year fatigue’ since March!
Our President described it very accurately the other night as “Covid fatigue”. There are just a little over three weeks left before the end of the 2020 academic calendar year. Normally, this would be a time of prize-givings, December holidays and Christmas celebrations, but I think most of us are just simply looking forward to the end of 2020. We must be careful however, not to place too great an expectation on 2021 and forget to celebrate the joy that is still with us.
We are having our New Parents Information Morning on Saturday 14 November and look forward to welcoming new families to our school. It is important that we abide by the Covid protocols and therefore the event is only for prospective parents and students, and the teachers involved in the event.
There will be a Bee-Bot competition on Saturday morning, run by our junior school IT teacher, Mrs. Sonia Terblanche, and a few of her students.
The music department will also present a music showcase, giving prospective parents a glimpse of the wealth of talent we have at our school.
As we reach the end of another week, let us remain positive and with our families this weekend, celebrate the good we have in our lives.
Warm regards
Edna
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From the Principal’s Desk, 6 November 2020
Dear Parents
I am, and have always been, a firm believer in lifelong learning. As the world evolves around us and we are expected to move with the times, it is an especially important skill to be teachable in all areas.
Lifelong learning is when we learn new skills actively throughout our lives and it is so important that we nurture this passion for knowledge in our children. An important lesson to take from this difficult year is the necessity of adaptability and the importance of broadening our skill set. Stagnation and complacency are simply not an option.
In our staff meeting this week, I emphasized the importance of keeping abreast of changes and developments to the Cambridge curriculum. One of the areas we are exploring is the introduction of Global Perspectives as a subject in the primary school. Global Perspectives is a subject which develops the important transferable skills of critical thinking, research, and collaboration.
We are currently exploring many different opportunities for our students and we will keep you up to date about enhancements in the Cambridge curriculum and in our own subject-offering. I hope you are as excited about it as we are. Our teachers are enthusiastic about the recent developments in the curriculum and are equipping themselves for the challenges of the new academic year.
This week is the halfway mark of progression tests in the primary school. Year 5 will start their progression tests on Monday 9th November and Year 6 will start their progression tests on Monday 16th November. I am sure that both parents and students are grateful to have a weekend ahead of us.
In the famous words of Albert Einstein,
“Wisdom is not a product of schooling but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it.”
I wish you all a wonderful weekend.
Regards
Edna
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