Night Racing

The Horse's Mouth
Thomas More College
News from the Horse's Mouth
 26 September 2016
Newsletter 31
Letter from the Editor

Please find the Scripture for the week here.

 

    Some points of particular interest in the expanded sections below include:
  • Shane Cuthbertson -  wishes all well for the short holiday break ahead, and reminds Matrics to use this time wisely in preparation for their final exams.
  • Dave Wiggett - shares info on imminent staff training & development sessions - which he looks forward to; as well as wishing all families well for the holidays.
  • Barbara Taljard - reminds SP parents of the parent/teacher interviews taking place this afternoon in the Habberton Hall from 15:30 to 18:30.
  • Deni Hornsey -  extends special thanks to the parents, teachers and support staff for their commitment, patience and support this term.

FB

Lift ClubsLift club

If you would like to join or create a Lift Club email the TMC Lift Club to become a member.  Please note the school does not manage these lift clubs, but rather puts you in touch with other families who are looking to join or create lift clubs.

 

Waterfall/Hillcrest Bus

Limted seats are available on our Waterfall/Hillcrest Buses (mornings only).  Contact Kim Hooper for further info or click on the link for an application form.

 

Westville Bus

Contact Mrs Morgan for further info on our Westville bus (mornings and afternoons) or click on the link for an application form. 

 

Stock Shop - New Uniform purchases

All pupils needing new uniforms for 2017, especially those going in to Grade 1 and Grade 8 please contact the Stock Shop as soon as possible to secure an appointment to kit out your child.

 

The diary is open and appointments will be available from 1st November. The Stock Shop will be closed from 10th December up until 12th January. The shop is open in January for top ups and last minute purchases only, and as this is a very busy time we ask that you do not leave full uniform purchases until January as we cannot guarantee stock availability.

 

Please call the Stock Shop on 031 764 8640 during Stock Shop trading times or email us on stockshop@thomasmore.co.za, and we will get back to you. 

Editor Picture

Have a great week,
Kim Hooper
Marketing Manager

The Thomas More Education Trust

The Thomas More Education Trust is an initiative of Thomas More College and works in partnership with the College. The Trust is registered separately as a non-profit (NPO) and public benefit organisation (PBO) and runs independently of Thomas More College. The Thomas More Education Trust has already seen a number of pupils through Thomas More College and on to tertiary education, as well as a number of teacher interns and assistants.

 

The objectives of the trust are: 

  • Funding of primary, secondary and/or tertiary education of previously disadvantaged South Africans;

  • Funding of South African teacher internships;

  • Creating a financial conduit through which current pupils of Thomas More College may demonstrate their social responsibility and participate in the general educational upliftment of previously disadvantaged South African communities;

  • Providing short-term financial assistance to deserving pupils of Thomas More College.

 

The Thomas More Education Trust offers donors an opportunity to become involved in the upliftment of previously disadvantaged individuals and communities. Donations primarily provide education to previously disadvantaged South African children, but also support Black teacher interns and, in certain selected cases, provide short term financial assistance to existing pupils. The trust is a well-managed, controlled and audited conduit for investment in the future of South Africa through the education of our children.

 

An investment, made by donors to the Trust, entitles businesses to:

  • A tax deduction;

  • BBBEE points in the Socio-Economic Development category.

 

Should you wish to support pupils or teacher interns in need, please contact Claudia Levarelli, the Thomas More Education Trust secretary, on (031) 764 8646 or clevarelli@thomasmore.co.za who will furnish you with all necessary info.

 

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Whole School Events Calendar
 

Scripture for the week

Scripture"How blessed are those who mourn, for it is they who will be comforted!” Matthew 5:4

Continuing with Jesus’ ‘Sermon on the Mount’ we read in verse 4 “… blessed are those who mourn”. The Greek word for mourn means to be sad or to grieve. Puzzlingly Jesus seems to be saying how happy are the unhappy. But Jesus is talking about us grieving over our poverty of spirit and because of it, being broken hearted. This is a godly grief which the Holy Spirit brings to us often when we weep over past sins and tears of repentance. Because of this we see godly sorrow in action because of our spiritual poverty. Jesus says when this happens people “…will be comforted”. God the Holy Spirit draws alongside us and brings encouragement, forgiveness and healing. (Reference: ‘Challenging Lifestyles’ by Nicky Gumbel).

I hope and pray that the forth coming Michaelmas holidays will be a blessed and restful break for us all.

Shalom (peace)
God bless
Rev. Martin Easson
Chaplain
measson@thomasmore.co.za

Whole School News

As we enter the last week of term, let me take this opportunity to wish everyone a restful short break this holiday.  I trust our Matric group will use this time wisely to prepare for their final exams which begin on 19 October.

For those of you who are starting to get into the end of year mood, you would do well to attend the Parents' Council Race Day on Friday 18th November. This is always huge fun and certainly is a must in my social calendar. Enquiries can be made by contacting Rae Griesel on 031- 764 8697 or by emailing her on rgriesel@thomasmore.co.za

 Shane

Shane Cuthbertson
Executive Principal
scuthbertson@thomasmore.co.za

High School News

Our staff will receive training from Mark Klukow. Mark is a member of the design team of the Teacher Effectiveness Framework which is essentially a teaching and learning tool being used internationally.

The Teacher Effectiveness Framework is a comprehensive approach to classroom practice. It formalises and organises logically what effective teaching and learning practices “look like” in any given lesson. Whilst most of it will not be new for our staff, I think it vitally important that we remind ourselves in concrete terms about the many factors involved in the art of teaching.

Similarly, Miss Venter and I are hosting a “Sports Bosberaad” this coming Wednesday with senior staff and MICs of the various sports. Our aim is to consider the entire sports programme globally to ensure that our total offering remains purposeful, dynamic and relevant for Thomas More College.

Finally, we will be holding our first Academic Indaba on 10 October for the High School staff. This will become an annual event for us where our staff get to present topics to each other for our professional development and continued growth as a South African school in the 21st Century. This year’s Indaba will explore four themes: Values in Teaching at TMC; Good Practice in the TMC classroom; Thinking Skills for the 21st Century pupil; Creative Collaboration.

I am certainly looking forward to the conversations all three of these events will create for us here at TMC.

I want to wish our members of TMC a wonderful holiday. This has been an exceptionally demanding (and highly successful) term on all fronts. May we all return buoyed and energised ahead of what will be a busy Term 4.

 

David Wiggett
High School Headmaster
dwiggett@thomasmore.co.za

Primary School News

Thank you to all those teachers who accompanied pupils on the Grade 4 and 5 Grade trips. From all accounts the children certainly had a great time and were well looked after!

Well done to our Grade 7 pupils on some excellent Science projects, well presented and researched!

A reminder again about the parent teacher interviews for the Senior Primary this afternoon in the Habberton Hall from 15:30 to 18:30. This is a valuable opportunity to connect with the various teachers and find out how your child is faring, and we do hope, with no reports this term, that you will avail yourself of this. I would request, however, that you limit the length of your discussions to enable the teacher to see everyone. Should you know that you need a lot of teacher time, then I suggest you make an appointment with the specific teacher at a different time.

While my assembly this week will be on our heritage and acknowledging and appreciating what we have, we also need to acknowledge and show appreciation to those amazing people, our teachers without whom Thomas More would not be what it is. Teacher’s Appreciation Day falls on the 5 October this year, in our school holidays. While this is great in terms of giving them a well-deserved break, it is not ideal in being able to pay tribute to them. We would love our boys and girls to write their teachers a special message/ say a big thank you to them for going way beyond what is expected of them in terms of their job. Teachers Day 1

Usuku Lwabasebenzi –Domestic Workers’ day celebration takes place this Friday from 07:30- 09:30. Thank you to Mrs Mbili and Mrs Nzama and the Grade 3 and 7 Zulu pupils for making this day so special for those unsung angels, our workers. We truly appreciate the difference they make in our lives and thank them for being significant.

School closes on Friday at 11:30 for the Senior Primary and we re-open on Tuesday 11 October. Senior Primary sport starts straight away due to the shortness of the term.

Wishing you all the best for the last week of term and for a great holiday. Best wishes also to our cricketers who will be going to Botswana during the holidays and a huge thank you to those teachers who have given up the time to accompany them. 

 

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

Foundation Phase News

What a busy and eventful term this has been. Staff and children have had to dig deep and I am sure that as parents, you have had to do the same. Thanks

The wheels of our institution cannot turn smoothly without being well oiled by hard work, commitment and support in all forms. To this end a huge thank you to our Foundation Phase Teachers, parents and the wider Thomas More community, especially in the hosting of our hockey tournaments. Well done to Lana van der Zee and especially to Kim Hooper, Michelle Wight and support staff who braved the firing line by being our weekly “car guards” and “traffic police” - your organisation and commitment to us has been admirable.

Next term brings with it another kind of busyness where our children are being prepared for the next grade and we also look forward to the 4th term events such as our PP and JP Nativity plays and our Grade 3 Graduation Assembly. The 4th term always brings some sadness when we need to say good byes, but is also a time to celebrate what we have enjoyed over the year.

Thank you again to all who have contributed to making this the successful term that it has been.

 

Deni Hornsey
Foundation Phase:  Headmistress
dhornsey@thomasmore.co.za

Academic Achievements

Weekly Achievers

 

1B

Taylor Pretorius - for giving of her best in all that she does and for always being a kind and caring friend.

1K

Tyron Hancock - for working so hard and trying his best in all that he does, and for a happy smile and positive attitude towards school.

1P

Keira du Plessis - for working so hard at applying herself to all that she has done in the last week.  Keep it up.

2D

Connor du Plessis - for reading with improved fluency and working hard and trying his best when learning about money.

2J

Michael Lang - for wonderful improvement in presentation and for his fun loving and kind nature

2R

Rhys Pearton - for really trying hard at all his classwork and improved task completion this term!

3B

Rachel Montague - for her good and consistent effort in researching information for her project.

3P

Connor Cadle - for his determined attitude to his mental Maths and being a fun loving, polite friend to all.

3R

Holly Du Buisson - for using good thinking skills and making such good progress.

4dP

Alexander Jackson - for the enthusiastic and energetic way in which he approaches his school day.

4M

Ntando Mfeka - for trying so hard to catch up all the work he missed and for always having a lovely smile.

4F

Matthew Folkes - for his sweet humour and gentle spirit.

5vL

Solethu Mdladla - for his responsible attitude to his school day and for his keen sense of humour.

5P

Luke Bartlett - for his lovely sense of humour, excellent work in English and wonderfully entertaining oral.

5L

Jayden Smith - for his kindness and always being someone you can count on.

6B

Ethan Cook - for settling so well this term.

6M

Tré Imani Motsoahae - for his improved and positive attitude and approach to school.

6H

Michael Fitzpatrick - for his improved work ethic and more positive approach to his school day.

7M

Kellen Coombs - for his excellent manners and mature approach to his school day.

7S

Daena Robb - for her excellent work ethic and kind nature.

7C

Ashley du Plessis - for her consistent effort in the classroom and on the sports field.

 

Mathletics

Congratulations to Lyla Friis, Luke Chaplin and Kai McComick - all received gold certificates for Mathletics this week.  Well done.

 

Cultural/Outreach

None to report this week.

 

Sporting Achievements

KZN Cricket

Congratulations to Michael Sim and Tré Imani Motsoahae who have been selected to attend the final round of KZN Cricket trials on Wednesday 28 September.

 

BMX

Congratulations to Hannah Stiebel and Levi Smith who both took part in the BMX Pre-Nationals race at Giba Gorge this weekend.  Hannah rode exceptionally well in a mixed class of girls and boys, while Levi took on stiff competition in the U8 Expert Class, placing 1st in the U6 age group, and 4th overall.  Well done, and good luck for this weekend's Nationals, SA Champs and African Continental Championships taking place at Giba Gorge with riders arriving from all over South Africa and Zimbabwe.

 

Swimming

Keira Browning competed in the Speedo KZN swimming champs this weekend.  She received 3 silver medals:100 m and 50 m backstroke and100 m freestyle as well as 3 bronze medals for 100 m and 50 m breastroke and 50 m butterfly.  Well done Keira.

 

Grade 2 Hockey Tournament

Girls:

TMC 1 vs Hillcrest lost 2-0

TMC 1 vs Winston Park lost 0-4

TMC 1 vs Winston Park lost 0-1

TMC 1 vs Hillcrest won 2-0

TMC 2 vs Winston Park drew 0-0

TMC 2 vs Hillcrest won 1-0

TMC 2 vs Winston Park won 2-0

TMC 2 vs Winston Park lost 0-1

TMC 3 vs Winston Park won 2-0

TMC 3 vs Hillcrest won 1-0

TMC 3 vs Winston Park lost 0-1

TMC 3 vs Hillcrest drew 1-1

Boys:

TMC 1 vs Hillcrest lost 0-1

TMC 1 vs Winston Park lost 0-5

TMC 1 vs Highbury won 3-0

TMC 2 vs Hillcrest lost 0-2

TMC 2 vs Highbury won 2-0

TMC 2 vs Winston Park lost 1-2

TMC 3 vs Hillcrest won 1-0

TMC 3 vs Highbury won 4-0

TMC 3 vs Winston Park won 4-1

TMC 4 vs Highbury drew 1-1

TMC 4 vs Highbury drew 2-2

TMC 4 vs Hillcrest won 4-0

 

Grade 3 Hockey Tournament

Girls:

TMC 1 vs Hillcrest drew 0-0

TMC 2 vs Winston Park won 1-0

TMC 2 vs Winston Park won 3-0

TMC 3 vs Hillcrest won 1-0

Boys:

TMC 1 vs Hillcrest lost 0-2

TMC 2 vs Winston Park lost 1-0

TMC 2 vs Winston Park won 2-0

TMC 3 vs Hillcrest drew 0-0 

 

Westville Senior Primary Heritage Sports Festival - 1st Team Boys' Hockey

TMPS vs Kloof won 2 -0

TMPS vs Atholl Heights lost 0 -1

TMPS vs Hillcrest lost 0 -1

TMPS vs Westville drew 1 -1

TMPS vs Curro HCA won 3 -0

TMPS vs Northdene won 1 -0

 

SP Boys’ Soccer vs Atholl Heights

U10A 0 - 1 lost

U10B 0 - 2 lost

U11A 0 - 1 lost

U11B 0 - 5 lost

1st 2 - 2 drew

 

SP Boys’ Hockey vs Winston Park

U10A 1 - 2 lost

U10B 3 - 2 won

U11A 2 - 1 won

U11B 2 - 1 won

3rd 0 - 0 drew

2nd 2 - 0 won

1st 0 - 1 lost

 

KZN Softball

Congratulations to Jarryd Schoeman who was selected for the KZN U15A Softball team.