Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Matthew 5:6

In the fourth beatitude Jesus tells us to hunger and thirst after righteousness. So what does Jesus mean by righteousness? In ancient Judaism, righteousness meant “restore to a right relationship”.

So being righteous means those who maintain right relationships—with God and with the people around them. It follows on from the third beatitude - meekness because we can only form right relationships with others when we stop making all our actions centred on ourselves. Do we hunger and thirst for right relationships—with God, with our family, and our community? Hunger is a sign of life and if we are sincerely hungry for good relationships if we desire for others for their own sake, not to use them for own selfishness reasons. Then Jesus says our appetites will be satisfied.

Once again our prayers and thoughts are with the Matrics and their families as they begin their exams.

Last week we said goodbye to our matrics who are now about to start their final examinations. Beyond school the future looks uncertain as the world of tertiary education has been in a state of turmoil in the last few weeks. The "Fees Must Fall" campaign has brought universities to a standstill. This whole issue has been simmering since May 2015 when the "Rhodes Must Fall" campaign demanded the removal of apartheid era statues particularly at UCT. This soon spread to other university campuses. Later that year fees became the focus of student unrest and in October 2015 the President announced that there would be no increases for the 2016 academic year. This year matters have become a whole lot more serious as demands have been for free education and even free accommodation. Violent student unrest has seen brutal police retaliation and there does not seem to be an obvious solution. As I write, many universities remain closed and unless there is a swift solution, examinations may not be possible at the end of this year. This will have huge implications for the 2017 academic year as whole groups of students will not be in a position to give way to a new intake. These are certainly worrying times for our Matric pupils and their parents. Hopefully common sense will prevail and we will soon see a solution to the impasse.

Guest speaker at the Matric Prize Giving on Thursday evening was Reverend Harry Wiggett, father of High School Headmaster Dave Wiggett. Harry (as he prefers to be known, among other achievements, served as Pastor at both Robben Island and Pollsmoor Prison and shared stories of his relationship with Nelson Mandela. He also worked very closely with Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu.

In spite of miserable weather, the "Guard of Honour" farewell for the Matrics on Friday morning was very well attended. This was an emotional event with lots of tears from parents and pupils alike. This has been a very committed and co-operative group of matrics who have set a fine example for the juniors. I know that they have been well prepared for their final examinations and wish them the best of luck.  

 

One can only marvel at the bustling brilliance that is Thomas More College!

Our celebrations of the Matric class of 2016 were very special indeed. From the prize giving, the thundering war cry at the end of the prize giving, the emotionally charged Guard of Honour which included the entire school, to the very last moment of the Matric Final Assembly, we were, yet again, a community united. And I can't think of a more fitting way for the class of 2016 to end their daily journey with us: united. It was their theme for the year, and it was certainly and abundantly manifested. I must thank Mrs Paterson, Mrs Kerdachi, Miss Venter, Mrs Richardson, Mr Conradie and Mrs Mckenzie for their incredible work and planning behind the scenes for these magnificent events.

So too must I celebrate the final Dramatic Arts examination and the Visual Arts and Design exhibition. Both evidenced a tremendous depth of ideation and skill. Our Musical Spring Showcase was another wonderful event. The commitment, enthusiasm and sheer joy of our performers was marvelous to behold. Mrs Logan, Mrs Conradie, Mrs Frisinger, Miss Pattenden, Mrs Taylor and Mrs Kotze deserve our heartfelt thanks for these wonderful moments.

All of our water polo teams were also involved in their respective Top 10 tournaments this weekend. Mrs Pooley, Mr Belman, Mrs Lanz and Mr Oberholzer deserve our gratitude for the time they expend on the side of the pool for our children. Also, a special thanks is afforded to Mrs Wolmarans for hosting and organising the U14 and U16 girls Top 10 tournaments which she hosted at TMC.

I know you will join me in thanking Michelle Wight, Malcolm Wight and Lisa Moffat and their respective teams for making our campus work seamlessly in the face of the above-mentioned logistical challenges.

 

The Matric prizegiving on Thursday evening was most rewarding to attend and it was superb to see that the bulk of the achievers came through our Primary School. We are very proud of them all and wish them every success in their exams which commence this week, where we trust they will do themselves, and us, proud. The matric guard of honour which is formed with the Primary School is also one of those heartwarming moments that stay etched in our memories! How special it is to be a part of one whole school and to follow the progress of the youngsters who stay in our hearts forever - and for our younger pupils to know they are part of a unique and well loved tradition.

Our cricketers had a successful tour to the Underberg cricket festival although the weather was temperamental! Good cricket was played and excellent results achieved- and the trip was enjoyed by all. Once again thank you to staff for giving up their valuable time.

Well done to all those who completed the Amashova on Sunday, especially our very own Mr Bartels and Mr Hartley!

It's with sadness that we have had to bid adieu to Ms Jocelyn McDaniel, who despite her best efforts, was not able to renew her visa, even though she has been working in a South African private school and is engaged to a South African. She has had to return to the States to see whether she can sort things out from that side. I know she has communicated with the parents of her group of Maths children, for whom other arrangements have had to be made. We trust she will be able to sort out what has been a most frustrating set of circumstances and hope to see her for a week, all going well, before school closes in December. This has been beyond our control, but we sincerely apologise for any inconvenience which may have been caused.

 Wishing you all the best for the week ahead.

 

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

Nikki Bush, a presenter and author writes:

One of the disadvantages of social media and seeing pictures or comments about a single moment in time, is that messages can be taken out of context and create misunderstanding when one doesn't have the whole picture. Be careful about making judgements, especially judgements in public, when you don't have all the facts. Once again, rather go to the source in the real world and get your facts straight.

Teaching our children to be tech-savvy starts with:

• Good communication in the real world between parents and their children
• Modelling healthy communication habits and relationship skills
• Valuing relationships and being kind, considerate and respectful
• Not getting off on someone else's misfortune but rather using it constructively as a teachable moment
• If you need to offload, do so in the real world
• Don't be a bystander, be an upstander

Remember that your children are watching you. What's good for the goose is good for the gander. In real life we sometimes need to hold our tongue and keep our thoughts to ourselves. The same goes for social media - don't be reactive. More than count to ten, sometimes you need to sleep on something before you act on it, if at all.

Along with this, it is my belief, supported by much research that we need to be careful of over exposure to technology at a young age. Some of the disadvantages of early over exposure are:

1. The need for instant gratification

2. The inability to focus well when there isn’t the quick stimulus provided by a screen

3. Speech delays

4. Fine and gross motor delays

5. A negative impact on social skills

6. Slow cognitive processing skills

Good old fashioned play time is what is important, supported by communication and conversation. Your children need your time.

“Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.” Confucius

 

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Weekly Achievers

Awarded in the last week of the 3rd Term.

Mathematics

Congratulations to the following boys who placed in the Top 50 in the Beyond Maths Challenge held at Glenwood Prep earlier this year.  We done on a great achievement:

Luke Bartlett

Keegan Hutcheson

Matthew Reinecke

Samuel Renard

Saien Moodley

Conal Steenkamp

IT

Francois Snyman (Grade 12) [pictured right] participated in the Programming Olympiad final at the University of Cape Town at the end of the holidays against the top 17 participants in South Africa.  In the second round (before the finals) he tied for first place with two other participants in Kwa-Zulu Natal.  Well done Francois.

Music

Congratulations to Blake Jackson who did his International music exams for Trinity College Violin Grade 4 and passed with distinction (95%) and the

Royal School of Music, Piano - Grade 5 and passed with Merit (80%). Well done Blake.

Cricket

TMPS 1^st XI vs Howick Prep 13/10/16

Howick 164 for 5, N Riddle 2 for 22, M McMurray 2 for 35

Match drawn – rain stopped play

TMPS 1^st XI vs Northdene 14/10/16

TMPS 159 for 9, M McMurray 29, H Brimelow, 28, M Davey 23

Northdene 81 all out, C Coombs 2 for 8, M Sim 2 for 0

TMPS won by 78 runs

TMPS 1^st XI vs Underberg Primary 15/10/16

TMPS 241 for 7, T van Zyl 72, H Brimelow 69, M Sim 24 no, M Davey 23

Underberg 86 all out, N Riddle 3 for 6

TMPS won by 155 runs

TMPS 1^st XI vs Kokstad Primary 15/10/16

Kokstad 69 all out, B Ballack 3 for 14, M McMurray 2 for 8, M Sim 2 for 8

TMPS 73 for 2, J Breytenbach 24 no

TMPS won by 8 wickets

TMPS vs Underberg (20/20) 16/10/16

TMPS 205 for 2, M McMurray 105 no, M Frankenfeld 40, K Coombs 31 no

Underberg 81 all out, K Coombs 3 for 9 (including a hattrick), B Ballack 3 for 6, J Breytenbach 2 for 2

TMPS won by 124 runs

HS Top 10 Water Polo Tournament

Girls’ U14

TMC U14A 0 KZN U13A 7

TMC U14A 0 DGC 8

TMC U14A 0 Maris Stella 5

TMC U14A 0 KZN U13A 13

Ended in 6^th place.

Girls’ U16

TMC U16A 2 Maris Stella 13

TMC U16A 1 DGC 13

TMC U16A 0 St. Mary’s 5

TMC U16A 5 Kingsway 2

TMC U16A 5 St. Henry’s 2

Ended in 7^th place.

Girls’ 1^st

TMC 1^st Team 7 WGHS 3

TMC 1^st Team 1 DGHS 1

TMC 1^st Team 5 Danville GHS 4

TMC 1^st Team 10 Amanzimtoti 2

TMC 1^st Team 9 St. Henry’s 0

TMC 1^st Team 0 St. Mary’s 2

TMC 1^st Team 1 DGHS 1 (TMC won on penalties 3-1)

Ended in 3^rd place.

Boys’ U14

TMC U14A 0 Clifton 15

TMC U14A 0 Kearsney 11

TMC U14A 3 WBHS 7

TMC U14A 2 Michaelhouse 11

TMC U14A 2 Michaelhouse 13

TMC U14A 7 DHS 1

TMC U14A 6 Northwood 6

Ended in 9^th place.

Boys’ U15

TMC U15A 0 Glenwood 24

TMC U15A 0 Clifton 26

TMC U15A 2 Kearsney 17

TMC U15A 1 Northwood 10

TMC U15A 3 DHS 6

Ended in 10^th place.

Boys’ 1^st

TMC 1^st Team 0 Clifton 10

TMC 1^st Team 0 WBHS 5

TMC 1^st Team 0 Michaelhouse 11

TMC 1^st Team 0 PMB College 9

TMC 1^st Team 4 PMB College 4

Ended tied 9^th place.

Karate

Congratuations to Erin Alexander who took part in the SKISA Karate tournament in Tongaat on Sunday where she won Silver for KATA and Gold for KUMITE. Well done Erin.

Rock Climbing

The Nationals Inter-Provincial Lead Climbing took place in JHB during the holidays: Ziyanda Mchunu, Brendan Kuhnert, Faran Steenkamp, Amy Freeman, Joshua Munstermann, Keshav Gounden, Daniel Bentley and Zunaid Valoidia all took part.The highest placed position was Zunaid who achieved 3^rd position in the U19 category. Well done to all our climbers.

Water Polo

Congratulations to the following girls who have been selected for the U13 KZN Girls' Water polo teams:

Minehle Dlamini U13A

Tyla Christie U13B

Chelsea Layden U13B

Jordyn Cheary U13B