Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, for God has said, "I will never leave you or abandon you." Hebrews 13:5

To all the dads I hope and pray you had a Happy Father’s day on Sunday 19^th June. I know it can be construed as another day of commercial enterprise, seeking to fleece us out of more money but I think it’s a really good day especially for dads to spend a day with one’s family. Often a Father is the most absent member of a family and maybe a day like Father’s day a dad can come to the realisation what often he is missing out on in life and so too is his family is his presence. I know in this day and age dads often have to leave to seek employment elsewhere in the country and overseas and my heart and prayers goes out to the families left behind. Life is not easy and Jesus never promised it to be: “I have told you this so that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have trouble, but be courageous-I have overcome the world!" John 16:33. What a promise that is and so to that He will never leave us or abandon us. So to all the dads may the Lord bless you and may the Lord keep you.

The independent education environment in Southern Africa is experiencing rapid growth. Most quality independent schools although they may be in competition, do in fact have high levels of constructive engagement. The majority of private schools belong to ISASA, the Independent Schools' Association of Southern Africa. This organisation is specifically about facilitating communication and sharing. ISASA has absolutely no ownership of their member schools, but employs a considerable staff of professionals to provide advice. As a service organisation they are able to provide policy, legal and educational support to their members. ISASA arranges conferences, workshops and meetings and there is in fact a great deal of co-operation between ISASA member schools. There are affinity groups for heads, deputies, bursars, marketers, chaplains and others. In the Upper Highway area there is a lot of co-operation between ISASA member schools like Thomas More College, St. Mary's, Kearsney and Highbury for mutual benefit. The emergence of "for profit" schools in the Durban area has not sat well with the more established independent schools as, so far, the "for profit" schools have chosen not to be part of ISASA and the collegiality that it offers. Hopefully these organisations will draw closer together in the future as at the moment there is little or no co-operation.

This past week I had the pleasure of attending the conference of the Heads of the Independent schools' of Botswana. Although I was invited as the ISASA representative, I was in fact asked to speak on the Matric Leadership Council that operates at Thomas More College. There are a surprising number of independent schools in Botswana, many operating out of the very successful mining industry. 32 attended the conference. Almost all still run prefect systems which unfortunately exclude the majority of their Matric pupils. Hopefully there will be some changes and a little bit of the Thomas More College magic will have spread beyond the borders of South Africa.

This has been a long and very difficult term at the school. The school needs a really good rest. Blake has left us and we were hugely enriched by knowing him. We will never forget him! 

Please remember to sell those Country Fair raffle tickets during the holidays, we have some wonderful raffle prizes up for grabs (see a selection of Defy sponsored products below).

 

Despite the sobering reality of us reaching the half-way mark of 2016, this final week of term is yet another dynamic week for the High School.

We wish Mrs Candyce Brehany and Mr Gerald Camp and their charges a wonderful Academic Tour to Johannesburg this week. Similarly, we wish Mrs Zandile Magagula and Mrs Sandi Ndlovu, along with the Grade 12 isiZulu pupils, a wonderful experience at the Eshowe Cultural Village later this week.

I know you will want to join me in congratulating Kellen Daniels (Grade 9) and Nicholas Leisegang (Grade 11) on their recent achievements at the Scholar’s Cup event hosted in Durban recently. Essentially an internationally-based debating event, Kellen’s team won the Juniors’ category, while Nicholas’ team won the Seniors’ category. Moreover, Kellen’s team was placed second overall (in both junior and senior), while Nicholas won the Best Speaker title for the entire event. Both have been invited to participate in the international leg of the Scholar’s Cup in Prague in July. This is a remarkable achievement, Kellen and Nick, and we are proud of you both!

I want to thank Miss Venter, Mr Garrett, all the coaches and managers, the parents and, of course, our awesome pupils for what has been a compelling term of rugby, netball and hockey. The season culminates this week with the Sports Awards Dinner and our inaugural Blake Kerdachi Sports Day. Both herald the end of what has been a very good season for our school.

I wish all staff, pupils and parents a wonderful holiday, and I thank you all for a good term amongst the challenges faced. In particular, I must thank Mrs Kerdachi and her team for a smooth examination and reporting process. Similarly, I must thank my management team for entertaining new and challenging strategic conversations with me about our wonderful school’s future.

Once again, Mr Cuthbertson, Mrs Woodley, Mrs Taljard, Mrs Hooper, Mrs Hornsey, Mrs Paterson and Mr Ireland have been a supportive pillar of strength for me this term. I thank them all unreservedly, as do I thank Malcolm and Michelle Wight and their respective support teams for making us look good at all events as a result of their unassuming efforts behind the scenes.

If you are travelling this holiday, please do so safely. 

 

Last Thursday, 16 June, was Youth Day in South Africa to commemorate the 1976 Soweto uprisings, around educational decisions and inequality. Thinking of the reason why we had a Public Holiday, and the long weekend, made me again aware of how privileged our pupils are to have the type of education they have at Thomas More. As we near the end of this busy second term, we can be grateful for the quality of teaching and learning which takes place at our ‘School for all Seasons’. Much has been achieved on all fronts.

It is hard to believe that the holidays are already upon us. When we review what has been achieved, it is all credit to our dedicated, hardworking teachers, supportive parents and happy, contented pupils! I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt thanks to our staff. The commitment, energy and willingness to go the extra distance are appreciated! While teaching is very rewarding, it is also a very demanding profession! We have a very special team here at Thomas More and we are grateful to them for their loyalty and the high standards they set in all they do. We also appreciate all the support we receive from the admin staff who keep the cogs turning, and from our maintenance, cleaning, estate and kitchen staff who also do a superb job.

To our parents, thank you for your support. Thank you too, in anticipation, for sending in the extra sandwich for the 1000 Hills Outreach, winter woollies or that extra jar of peanut butter, mealie meal or loaf of bread to assist the 1000 Hills community over the holiday period and for the good response to the Parents’ Council request for Tombola items for the Country Fair, and completing raffle sheets (there are amazing prizes!) The raffle sheet is due back by 27 July.

This is an exciting last week of term, with our “Hooked on Books” tomorrow morning, and our NAD day on Thursday. Please remember there are no extra-murals this week.

Sealed reports will be sent home on Friday with your child and are available through the Parent Portal after school closes (11:30 for the SP).

God bless and all the best for the holidays. We trust you will have quality family time, and if you are travelling, will do so safely. We look forward to welcoming you all back to our Thomas More family on Tuesday 19 July.  

 

Barbara Taljard
Primary School: Headmistress
btaljard@thomasmore.co.za

There is much to be said for the ethos of our school and what we stand for as we aim to prepare our children for "the world out there". The things that lay good foundations for the future are embedded in bringing up children who are socially skilled and have a sound moral compass.

If we want children to be of sound character, be confident, have inner strength and be resilient we do need to let them face adversity. Whether they come out the other side stronger or not, it’s the learning journey that will make them more resilient and wiser in their life choices.

Facing adversity can mean something as devastating as failing a test or forgetting soccer kit for the match – both have consequences which make our hearts break for the child, but they learn nothing if we don’t help them with the skills to cope with disappointments, but rather remove the obstacle for them. Life lessons that are hard to learn, but will make children of character in the end!

As we approach the end of our first six months, please accept my heartfelt gratitude for your support and help. The children are tired, teachers are tired and I am sure you are tired too! Rest well if you are able to during the forthcoming holiday and may you be blessed with some quality time with your children.

Please look out for your child’s report in his/her bag on Friday 24^th June. We look forward with great anticipation to the third term.

Alain de Botton says: “One's doing well if age improves even slightly one's capacity to hold on to that vital truism: “This too shall pass.”

 

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Weekly Achievers

Irish Dancing

Congratulations to Naomi Easson who took part in an Irish dancing competition and received gold ribbons for all 4 of her dances. She also passed her Grade 1 exam with honours. Well done!

SP Hockey

Well done to the 1^st XI Girls Hockey on their performances at the 14 eleven Hockey Festival @ St Mary’s.

vs St Mary’s lost 0-2

vs CURRO won 1-0

vs Pelham drew 0-0

vs DGC drew 0-0

vs Penzance won 3-0

vs KZN U12 won 2-0

vs St John’s drew 0-0

Equestrian

Congratulations to Cayla van der Walt who competed at the Dressage SA Challenge.  She competed in the Elementary Grade, where she qualified for the challenge and was chosen as one of the team members to represent KZN in her performance grade.

KZN Climbing

Congratulations to Brendan Kuhnert, Josh Munstermann, Zunaid Valodia, Charles Young and Kim Dawson who have all been selected to participate in the SA Youth Selection (25 - 26 June 2016 in Johannesburg) and to represent South Africa as a Protea Sport Climbing athlete in Guangzhou, China from 7 - 13 November 2016. All the very best to our star climbers!

MTB

Thursday, 16 June, saw the first round of the Junior Eliminator Series for KwaZulu Natal taking place at Northwood Boys' High School. The event saw 21 schools being represented and many first timers to the eliminator format. Eliminator is a short course heat race where four riders at a time, sprint across a short course of roughly 800m with the top two riders advancing to the next round and the bottom two being eliminated from the event.

Well done to the following TMC riders

Keagan Brand 2nd - U12 boys

Travis Stedman 1st - U14 boys

Mitchel Potgieter 2nd - U14 boys

Tiffany Keep 1st - U16 girls

Courtney Smith 2nd - U16 girls

Joshua Clipstone 1st - U16 boys

Entries are open for round 2 this Sunday at Thomas More College and interested riders can enter themselves online: www.onemovement.co.za