From the Principal’s Desk, 1 August 2019
Dear Parents
“Communication works for those who works at it.”- John Powell
I was reminded this week about the importance of good communication, as well as how effective open lines of communication can be. As management we communicate on a daily basis with staff, students and parents and therefore what we say and how we say it is important. As a school community our goals should be to raise each other up and not break down. The words we speak have the ability to create or to destroy. This is a valuable lesson to teach our children and to take cognizance of as adults.
When we communicate we should ask ourselves the following questions:
– What are your key reasons for communicating with your audience?
– What is your key message?
– Are your reasons for communicating helping you lead change or lead learning in your school?
– How do you ensure your key messages are communicated clearly and consistently?
– Does the way you communicate help build relationships of trust and respect?
– How do your communication strategies change over time? Are there two or three aspects of communication that you should emphasise during the next year?
– When did you last review your strategies? What feedback do you have or need?
(credit: TKI communities)
Our Parents Association is a pillar of support at Blouberg International. Since its inception, the management team has seen great improvement in effective communication between parents and the school. I encourage you to continue the positive feedback as we rely on your support to build our school.
It is with sadness that we bid farewell to Ms Bridget Neal and her daughter Charlotte as they set off on their new adventures in Thailand. We welcome Mrs Ria Du Plessis who has joined our team as of the 1st of August. Mrs Du Plessis just returned from Bahrain and we are looking forward to the new ideas she has to share with us.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Regards
Edna
From the Principal’s Desk, 25th July 2019
Dear Parents
I thoroughly enjoyed the Key Stage 2 assembly this morning and felt inspired by the message Ms. Kiley presented to the students about talents.
As much as academics is an important part of any school, I was reminded by Ms. Kiley’s message that each and every student has other talents too. These are the areas of interest that come naturally to a person, whether it be a love of music or the performing arts.
These are also the areas in which we should offer additional encouragement, so that our students are not lost under the load of factual information they are plied with on a daily basis. Children need to play in the sand, climb trees and explore outside, rather than relying on technology for entertainment.
Here are five reasons why outside play is fundamental to the growth of our children:
- Sunshine: Vitamin D is essential for the development of the immune system.
- Exercise: Children are so happy when they are outside running and kicking balls. It gives them renewed energy and focus.
- Risks: Often times we as parents are too anxious and we want our children to be safe. Keeping them away from risky situations may dampen their bravery and confidence. Yes, they might get hurt, but the lessons we learn from failure are as important as the lessons we learn from success.
- Socialization. Children need to learn how to work together. They need to learn to make friends, how to share and cooperate and how to treat other people. If they only interact in very structured settings, such as school or sports teams, they won’t — they can’t — learn everything they need to know.
- Appreciation of nature. So much of our world is changing, and not for the better. If a child grows up never walking in the woods, digging in soil, seeing animals in their habitat, climbing a mountain, playing in a stream, or staring at the endless horizon of an ocean, they may never really understand what there is to be lost. The future of our planet depends on our children; they need to learn to appreciate it.
(Dr Clair McCarthy, Faculty Editor Harvard Health)
A reminder that school photographs will take place on Monday the 29th and Tuesday the 30th of July. A letter has been sent out on Engage.
I wish you all a wonderful weekend ahead.
Regards
Edna
From the Principal’s Desk, 18th July 2019
Dear Parents
On Monday, 15th July, we surprised our year 12 class with a little get-together in the senior hall, during which we handed over the invitations to their matric dance. As I was handing out the invitations I felt an overwhelming sense of nostalgia as I reflected on the growth I have witnessed in these students during our years together. It seems unreal that this class is at the end of their school career, as it feels like only yesterday I taught them as year 7 students. It is this wonderful nostalgia; being part of a family and growing with the students that makes working at Blouberg International such a wonderful experience.
I would like to congratulate one of our past pupils, Maurice Theart. Maurice matriculated in 2018 and during his time with us, excelled as a sportsman. After he matriculated, Maurice was selected to represent South Africa in the the match between the U19 Ikapa South African team and the U19 Liverpool team in April this year.
It was at this match that Maurice was scouted and was offered a 50% scholarship to the University of Arkansas, Rich Mountain in the United States. Whilst completing an Associate Degree, Maurice will play soccer for the University team. He also has the option to complete a further 4 years’ study after completing the Associate Degree. Maurice will begin his studies in August this year and is flying over to the USA on the 29th of July. We are incredibly proud of Maurice and wish him all the best in this exciting journey.
Just a reminder to all parents, students and teachers that we are hosting a fundraiser on Friday, the 19th of July, in aid of our students who were selected to participate in the tennis tournament at Sun City. Please come and join us for a fun afternoon at the Table View Tennis Academy.
Wishing all our families a wonderful and warm weekend.
Kind regards
Edna
From the Principal’s Desk, 11 July 2019
Dear Parents,
A warm welcome to the third term of 2019. I trust you were able to enjoy quality time with your family and are well rested. The next eleven weeks will be a flurry of activity in what I anticipate to be an exciting and productive third term.
I would like to welcome Mr. Riaan Vosloo, our new high school art teacher, to our team and wish him the very best for the term to come.
Our Music and Drama Department has been working relentlessly, rehearsing for the upcoming high school musical Little Shop of Horrors. Please support our talented students at the performances on the 28th-30th of August.
The term started with an exciting collaboration between Helderberg International School and our own high school teachers. We held a Professional Development Session in which the opportunity to network and collaborate was highly valuable. I appreciate all the Helderberg high school staff who participated in the session and I know our high school teachers are looking forward to the next meeting. As the saying goes: two heads are better than one.
I wish you all a wonderful third term and ask you to remember that in unity there is always a blessing.
I hope everyone enjoys the upcoming weekend.
Warm regards
Edna
From the Principal’s Desk – 13th June 2019
Dear Parents,
We have come to the end of the second term and I am sure all the teachers are looking forward to a restful holiday.
This last term has been one in which we’ve all had our share of mountain peaks and valley lows. As a management team we aim to build strong relationships and ensure a caring and warm environment at school. Despite our best efforts, this is not always possible as we are all different, with different expectations and although disappointments may occur, we do our best to work towards a compromise.
I met with our Parents Association on the Tuesday, 4th of June, for our monthly meeting and something I find truly inspiring is the amount of passion and commitment our parents have towards our school. We are united by our goal for our school to succeed and in that aim, every parent’s positive input and dedication is deeply valued.
We had a fantastic time on Friday evening with magical entertainment from Stuart Lightbody and we are looking forward to inviting him back for another fundraiser.
I would like to thank all our staff members for their hard work and dedication this term.
Congratulations to Miss Alexia Duffield who will be getting married during the school holidays. We wish her much happiness and a beautiful day.
Sadly, we are saying goodbye to Mrs. Du Plooy, our art teacher in the High School. She is beginning a new adventure in China and we wish her safe travels and much success for the future.
To everyone who is travelling these holidays, we wish you safe travels and God speed.
Regards
Edna
From the Principal’s Desk – 6th June 2019
Dear Parents
On Wednesday morning I had the pleasure of enjoying breakfast with a group of our Year 7 parents. A relationship between parents and staff is an integral part of a student’s journey through their years at school. Often we take decisions, with the students’ best intentions at heart, but without understanding or realizing the impact it could have at home.
It is therefore imperative that we maintain an open line of communication, as it is only through such communication that misunderstandings are prevented and potential bugbears addressed. It was a thoroughly productive Wednesday morning, with ideas shared through direct and honest communication; our discussions driven by the tacit agreement that the students are our number first priority.
It is through such brainstorming sessions that we are able grow and develop our school into the school of choice in the community. Thank you to every parent who joined me in these discussions, your contributions are valued and appreciated.
On Saturday night I had the privilege of joining our mathematics teacher, students and parents at the annual Horizons Math Awards Evening. Three of our students, Maya Mthwana, Darian Iyer and Faith Chivaka are in the top 170 of the 15 000 students who entered the competition in the Western Cape. They made it to the final round and placed 167th, 82nd and 59th respectively. We are incredibly proud of these students and wish to encourage all the Year 5 to 7 students to participate next year.
With only one week left of term, I am sure our teachers are looking forward to a well-deserved break. Teaching is the one profession that creates and influences all other professions and I wish to thank all our teachers for their hard work and dedication.
Thank you to the parents with us on this journey and who keep the name of our school in high regard.
Kind regards
Edna
From The Principal’s Desk – 30th May 2019
Dear Parents
For the past two weeks our students have been writing examinations and we recognize that a number of students battle with anxiety during this stressful period. I may not be a medical professional, nor any of my teachers, but we have learnt to recognize the signs of examination anxiety. Whether it be a sudden onset of tummy cramps, angry outbursts or just a general sad countenance, it is clear to us when a student is not coping with the pressure of the examination period.
I admit, I am also guilty of turning up the pressure as examinations approach. Cellphones are banned (causing many dark mutterings amongst the older siblings) and speeches of “you need to succeed” ring through the house. I have come to realize, however, that I am fueling my children’s anxiety due to my own fears. University is not always the right path for every child and a university degree isn’t necessarily a measure of success. Every child is an individual, who excels in his or her own manner. Some of the most successful people in our society did not graduate from university. Take Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates or Richard Branson for instance; their success was due to determination, creative thinking and self-belief. Not every venture that these great men undertook was successful, but they used their failures as an opportunity for growth and development.
We have a responsibility towards our children to support them in their endeavors and to manage, teach and guide them throughout their lives.
A reminder about the PA fundraiser next week with Stuart Lightbody. Child-minding services will be available at school.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Regards
Edna
From the Principal’s Desk – 24th May 2019
Dear Parents,
The week spent with our exchange students from Ecuador went by far too quickly and it was sad moment for me when I said goodbye to them on Monday morning. We are very grateful for the reciprocal invitation extended by our sister school in Ecuador and I am certain there are many families who will wish to take advantage of such an exciting opportunity.
I would like to extend a special thank you to the following families for their warmth and care in welcoming the exchange students into their homes:
Leonard family.
Pieterse family.
Lott family.
Schoots family.
Barker family.
Knowles family.
Thatcher family.
Tardieu family.
Ngono family.
De Matos family.
Ameer family.
Da Silva family.
I am certain you are left with wonderful memories and have built strong friendships which will continue into the future.
The first week of examinations are winding up for our Year 5 and Year 6 students and with High School examinations starting this coming Monday, 27th May, we wish all our students the very best.
This week marks a special date for our High School students as they honor the role models in their lives. The Junior School celebrates Grandparents/Someone Special Day annually and we thought it to be a good idea for our High School students to reflect on, and pay respect to, the role models in their own lives. We are looking forward to the first of our celebration of ‘Our Role Models’ on Friday, 24th of May.
“When any of us thinks of ourselves as a role model – whether that’s as a parent being observed by their kids or a teacher under the microscope of their followers – it creates a natural stepping up of how we carry ourselves and what we expect from ourselves.”
Chip Conley
I wish you all a wonderful weekend.
Regards
Edna
From the Principal’s Desk – 16th May 2019
Dear Parents
We are happy to have finally received our exchange students who arrived yesterday afternoon from our sister school COLEGIO INTERNACIONAL SEK – ECUADOR.
They have had an exhausting trip to get to South Africa, but arrived safely! We are very grateful to our parents who are hosting them and we trust that the students will go home with amazing stories about their Cape Town experience.
PARKING AT SCHOOL/ STOP AND DROP
Please note that we have received several emails from concerned parents with regards to the conduct of parents in the parking area in the mornings and the afternoons. The concerns are that some parents are not courteous towards others and disregard the safety of our students during the process of drop off and collection. We are also concerned that various transport services are not adhering to the stop and drop rule.
Transport services should park in the demarcated areas and then walk in to collect the students.
Stop and drop should not be used as a parking bay.
Please be mindful of other vehicles when parking or reversing.
Please be careful not to bang your car door against other vehicles.
It is very frustrating when common courtesy and respect for other drivers is not adhered to and it is not the responsibility of security to handle potentially volatile situations. If we could please be mindful of one another and demonstrate the respect and courtesy which we would like to receive.
UBER SERVICES
It has come to our attention that there are several students who make use of the Uber service.
We would like to advise you to check the following information when making use of the service:
Ensure that the registration plate, vehicle colour and model match the information provided on the Uber App.
Please be mindful of the age restrictions as set out in the Uber app Terms and Conditions.
The school is not liable for any incidents resulting from the use of Uber by pupils.
All access cards for the aftercare children have been printed and prepared for parents. The staff will provide you with a letter with a card attached.
I wish you all a wonderful weekend ahead.
Regards
Edna
From The Principal’s Desk – 9th May 2019
Dear Parents
We are already halfway through the term and with only five weeks ahead of us, the students and teachers are working hard in pursuit of their goals.
We are hosting the first of our annual Grandparents/ Someone Special Day tomorrow, Friday the 10th of May, and are excited to see what our students and their teachers have planned for the morning.
On Monday the 13th of May we are welcoming students from Colegio Internacional SEK – Ecuador and I would like to thank every family who has opened up their homes to host these students as we are looking forward to hosting them at our school. Our students will also have the opportunity to visit sister schools around the globe and planning is about to begin for the first exchange program for the year 8’s of 2020. We hope that our exchange students will feel at home at BIS and that they form relationships which will extend across borders
“Good – if so-called elite – schools have so vital a role to play. We all carry with us intimations of immortality: The need to belong, to have a community, the seek excellence and have a share in something fine that transcends to mediocre, is deep in the heart, no matter how humble the parent or how disadvantaged the child”
– Marguerite Poland (South African poet and author)
Happy Mother’s Day to all our wonderful moms!
Regards
Edna