Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return to God who gave it. Ecclesiastes 12:7

It’s hard to believe that this Wednesday is Ash Wednesday the beginning of Lent. Where has the year gone! Although Ash Wednesday is not mentioned in the Bible it is a reminder to all of us that we are mortal. In today’s society the subject of death is often a topic we like to steer clear of and we try to ignore the reality of death. For it is a stark reminder of what’s next? The Bible is clear that our bodies return to dust and our spirit’s returns to God who gave us life.

The season of Lent gives us the opportunity to face the reality of who we are and to realise that we have a deep hunger for a relationship with a loving God. Jesus tells:” I am the resurrection and the life. The person who believes in me, even though he dies, will live. Indeed, everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe that?" John 11:25-26. The question that Jesus asks is still pertinent for us today and we need to think about it and when we accept this truth, then God can do His amazing work in our lives.

Back to Top

The reality of the approaching Long Walk should strike home this week with the staging of the Sponsored Walk on Friday. This is a key element in the ethos of Thomas More College as it is all about human compassion and relationships. This is the day when we raise the funds to pay for our entire Outreach program. The pupils need to understand that outreach is not just about giving funds but about effort and personal commitment to a cause. We do not just collect but we walk to collect! Please support your children in helping them to learn this lesson. You will also be contributing to the education and welfare of those less fortunate than ourselves.

For those on Facebook, we have posted a YouTube clip of memories of last year’s Long Walk. The background music is “The Climb”, by Miley Cyrus. https://www.facebook.com/ThomasMoreCollegeKloof/ This is certainly moving stuff that is bound to get some of you out onto the road on 5^th March. Hopefully, if you are not walking then you will be helping on the day as we need 700 officials.

Please do not forget to attend the AGM of the Parents' Council at 6pm on Wednesday 10^th February. This amazing group of people provides immense support to the school particularly in the areas of fund raising and esprit de corps.

It is brilliant news that we have just been awarded our Platinum Ecoschool status. Thanks to the efforts of Leanne Grant, HOD in the Senior Primary, we annually submit records of our conservation projects, eco-education and related activities to WESSA and have moved through the various levels of being an Ecoschool to this lofty status.

The Eco-Schools programme is an international programme of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) that was developed to support environmental learning in the classroom. It operates in 58 countries. 

 

Back to Top

While it was unfortunate that we had to postpone Thursday’s gala, Friday morning’s gala was a spirited affair. The Akal pool complex was awash with colour, boisterous war cries and singing, and some excellent performances in the pool. I want to thank the many boys and girls who swam for their houses, as well as the Matrics for leading the day with significant gusto and passion.

I draw your attention to this Friday’s Sponsored Walk. The monies raised support the ambitious Outreach plans for 2016. We appeal to you to sponsor accordingly so that we can add value to the lives of communities less fortunate than ourselves. In this way, we can pay tribute to Madiba’s vision of nation-building.

Many of our staff were away at IEB subject conferences these past two weekends. I express my gratitude to them for sacrificing family time to attend said conferences which ultimately enrich our teaching practices at Thomas More. Matric examinations, syllabus innovations and academic rigour are the focal points of the conferences and are, therefore, of critical importance.

I am also excited about the upcoming conference which we are hosting this coming Saturday regarding the relevant integration of technology in our teaching practices. Craig Blewett will be hosting the conference at TMC. I want to express my gratitude to Mr Reid Bauermeister for instigating our hosting of this conference.

I wish you all a wonderful week as we build up to the Sponsored Walk and our Valentine’s Disco. Be blessed.

 

Back to Top

Well done to our swimmers at last week’s Championship gala and to the Grade 3s for their first official swim in the big pool. Special congratulations to our champions in each age group. Thanks to staff involved and to all parents who supported.

Tomorrow is Shrove Tuesday and the start of Lent so our PS children will be receiving pancakes in assembly- thanks to Rev. Easson.

On Thursday is our Valentine’s civvies day and our pupils have been given the option of wearing red / pink and white civvies to school, at a cost of R10.00, which will be debited to your account. The proceeds will go to a very worthy cause, Khululeka, which means ”freedom”, a project which helps to give young women the dignity to attend work and school without embarrassment or humiliation.

You should have received your letter about the Sponsored Walk which takes place this Friday 12 February and hope you will again give this your full support, as in the past. The funds raised positively impacts on many groups and individuals through our Outreach programme and helps us not only to serve the wider community, but also to instill a strong social conscience in our children. In assembly this week the Outreach committee of the MLC (Matric Leadership Council) will also do a skit for our children promoting their participation and fundraising efforts. Please also ensure that your child is well lathered with sun cream and is wearing a hat for protection against the sun and also has comfortable walking shoes/ takkies to wear- and a black plastic bag and change of dry clothes if it looks like rain! SP children are encouraged to wear something appropriate that begins with the first letter of their first name if at all possible. School ends at 11:30 for the Senior Primary as our Sponsored Walk also marks the start of our mid-term break.

Wishing you all well for another full week, and our SP families going on the Glengarry Family weekend an awesome time. Let’s also see if together we can make a difference in terms of our outreach goals! 

 

Back to Top

As we rush headlong towards the middle of the term and then go into survival mode with tired minds and bodies for the last few weeks of term, it reminds me of how important “”downtime” and playtime are in the lives of our children. We often think that the more extramural activities they do, the better for them. Whilst we really encourage and monitor that each child in the Junior Primary is doing a school sport each term, it is vital that we help children from a young age to make wise choices and to balance their lives. Similarly, it isn’t necessary for Pre Primary children to be kept busy by a structured activity every day.

There is much to be gained from socialising during play where children, no matter their age, learn to verbalise emotions, take turns, fantasise, formulate opinions and much more. Our aim in the Foundation Phase is to have happy children as happy children are able to learn. When we overextend children they are tired, grumpy and cannot do their best. As teachers, in striving to do the best for the children in our care, our responsibility is not only to see to the academic needs, so our input into moulding these children must also be taken very seriously – spiritual, sporting, cultural and life skills must also form an important part of their days here and in so doing, create a balanced programme for the children. One of the best things we can give our children, is time. Time to be a child, time to mature, time to discover and explore, time to be with mom and dad. 

 

Back to Top

Weekly Achievers 

Dancing

Congratulations to both Daena and Rebecca Robb who completed their Level 1 Grade 3 Ballet exams with Distinction from the Royal Academy of Dance.  Well done girls.

HS Culture

This term’s cultural pursuits include many exciting events.

The two marimba bands have completed the audition process and have begun working on their repertoire. The marimba bands are always an exciting addition to any function and we look forward to their performances throughout the year.

The MLC Cultural Portfolio will hold auditions next week for this term’s Culture Shock Performance on the 19^th of February. Culture Shock offers all high school pupils the opportunity to showcase their talents and it is a wonderful platform for self-expression. The MLC Cultural Portfolio organises this event themselves.

Retrobeats, TMC’s smaller acapella vocal group, is also working hard to build up their repertoire. Plans are in motion for a day of workshops in which Retrobeats will team up with St Peter’s College touring Barbershop group which will be inspirational to all parties.

The Grade 11 Dramatic Arts pupils are well into the process of directing the Inter-house One Act plays. These will be performed on the evening of the 2^nd of March and they promise to be thoroughly entertaining.

The tour to Rustenburg and Pretoria is a first for TMC’s dynamic Vocal Tenacity and a highlight of this term’s cultural activities. The group departs on the 10^th of March and returns on the 13^th of March. Their tour includes workshops and performances at Lebone II College and participating in the Regional Youth Choir Festival. We wish them well and are certain that they will benefit greatly from their interactions with other choral groups.

Karate

Congratulations to Amy Marks on receiving her grading certificate from Pinetown JKA Karate.  She was awarded the ranking of Dinky Black.  Well done Amy.

SP Swimming

Congratulations to Nikolaos Bratos who participated in the Aquazone Summer Champs on Sunday 31 January.  He attained the following results:

2nd 25m Butterfly

2nd 25m Backstroke

2nd 25m Freestyle

2nd 100m Individual Medley

3rd 25m Breast stroke

Well done Nikolaos.

SP Tennis

Congratulations to Bronwyn Cason and Matthew McMurray who were chosen to attend the eThekwini Highway Tennis Trials on Friday.  Well done to them both.

HS Action Netball

TMC U16A 4 St. Mary’s U16A 16

Congratulations to Jessica Leigh Nozaic (Grade 8) who has been selected to represent the KZN Midlands Mixed Action Netball Team – well done Jessica.

PS Championship Gala

Congratulations to the following U9s who swam at the SP championship gala & received awards:

U9 Boys' Champ Bjorn Bekker, Runner-up Dylan Davidson

U9 Girls' Champ Mackenzy Layden, Runner-up Simone Cairns

U10 Girls' Champ Dayna Deeble, Runner-up Lucy Lee

U10 Boys' Champ Devin Harwin, Runner-up Jake du Buission

U11 Girls' Champ Simei Bekker, Runner-up Chelsea Hornby

U11 Boys' Champ Nikolaos Bratos, Runner-up Keagan Brand

U12 Girls' Champ Madyson Ecsreet, Runner-up Amy Ashlschlager

U12 Boys' Champ Nathan Riddle, Runner-up Luke Riddle

Open Girls' Champ Chelsea Layden, Runner-up Tyla Christie

Open Boys' Champ Matthew McMurray, Runner-up Jordan Deeble

Grade 2 Mini Cricket

Beat Highbury

Beat Gelofte

Grade 3 Mini Cricket

Lost to Highbury

Cycling

With a jammed packed start to the 2016 cycling calender. TMC cyclists have been busy competing at National and Provincial events, with great results from the weekends races.

2016 SA XCO Cup 1 @ Mankele Mountain Bike park (30th January)

U14 Sub Junior Boys - Travis Stedman (Gr8) = 2nd

Mitchel Potgieter (Gr8) = 4th

2016 KZN XCO provincial Series - Race 1(6 February)

U12 Sprog Boys - Liam Theunissen (Gr5) = 1st

Keagan Brand (Gr5) = 5th

U14 Sub Junior Boys - Travis Stedman (Gr8) = 1st

Mitchel Potgieter (Gr8) = 2nd

Dean Gregson (Gr8) = 7th

U16 Boys - Cian Leveridge (Gr10) = 1st

Joshua Clipstone (Gr9) = 2nd

U16 Girls - Tiffany Keep (Gr10) = 1st

Courtney Smith (Gr10) = 3rd

U23 Boys - Devon Smith (Gr12) = 4th

HS Golf

TMC 3 WBHS 5

HS Girls’ Tennis

TMC U16A 1 Umhlanga College U16A 7

TMC 1^st Team 10 Crawford NC 1^st Team 10

HS Girls’ Indoor Hockey

TMC U14B 2 Ashton U14A 0

TMC U14A 1 DGC U14A 7

TMC U14A 4 Fatima U14A 2

TMC U16C 0 Crawford LL U16B 8

TMC U16B 6 Westville GHS U16B 1

TMC U16A 2 Crawford LL U16A 2

TMC 2^nd Team 3 St. Mary’s 3^rd Team 2

TMC 1^st Team 8 St. Henry’s 1^st Team 3

HS Cricket

WBHS U14C 139/4(Barr 51 no.)TMC U14A 98/8 (Hooper 39, Xulu 4/23) WBHS won by 41 runs.

WBHS U15E 116/7 (Bashford 3/25). TMC U15B 65/5. WBHS won by 51 runs.

TMC U16A 92/6 (Coleman 31 no). WBHS U16C 93/4. WBHS won by 6 wickets.

TMC U15A 135 all out (Vergeer 25 no, Barrett 21) Grantleigh U15A 108 all out (Evans 3/13, Naidoo 3/17). TMC won by 27 runs.

Grantleigh 1st Team 125. (Murugan 3/23) TMC 1st Team 126/7 ( Tim 3/14) TMC won by 3 wickets

HS Boys' Water Polo

TMC U14A 5 Kearsney U14C 2

TMC U15A 2 Kearsney U16B 11

TMC 2nds 2 Kearsney 3rds 4

SP Cricket vs Sarnia

TMPS 1st 241 for 3, M McMurray 87 no, M Sim 83 no, J Breytenbach 23

Sarnia 167 for 9, K Coombs 2 for 9, H Brimelow 2 for 10, M Sim 2 for 23

TMPS 1st won by 74 runs.

TMPS U11A batted first and scored 188/4
Ethan McCormick 50 not out, Nikolaos Bratos 51 not out, Blaine Dunbar 27 , Ethan Harris 19, Nicholas Butler 12 not out, Jarred Christie 12 not out.
Sarnia scored 101 all out
Blaine Dunbar 2.1 overs 1/2, Nikolaos Bratos 4 overs 9/2, Ethan McCormick 4 overs 11/1
TMPS U11A won by 87 runs.

SP Cricket 1st vs Grantleigh

TMC 133 for 9, H Brimelow 61.

Grantleigh 119 all out, M McMurray 4 for 21

TMC 1^st XI won by 19 runs

SP Cricket 2nds vs Sarnia

Sarnia – 77 for 6 after 20 overs

TMC – 78 for 1 after 12.2 overs

Jared Penny – 39 not out

Sam Daniel – 15 not out

Michael Kiggen – 4 overs, 7 runs, 2 wickets

Tyrell Reddy – 4 overs, 12 runs, 2 wickets

TMC won by 9 wickets

SP Cricket 3rds vs Westville 4ths

No result (bad light / rain)

SP Cricket 4th vs Westville

lost to Westville by 8 wickets

Equestrian

Ruby and Chanook ended up with a first for their (level 0) 40cm ideal time round, and a second for their 40cm competition round and jump off. Ruby rode like a real professional and also was incredibly proud to represent Thomas More College. (pictured right)

Life Saving

Congratulations to Kaitlyn Woods (Grade 10) who took part in the KZN life-saving champs on Sunday and did extremely well.

She achieved the following results:

1st - 3km long beach run.

2nd - Beach sprints.

2nd - Beach flags.

3rd - Relay Team Sprints

She will therefore be going to SA life-saving champs at the end of March. Well done Kaitlyn.