I will lift up mine eyes unto the mountains: From whence shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2

On Sunday at church I was reminded of this scripture and the amazing comfort one can draw from it, especially in our current times when so many of us are anxious and worried about what is happening in the world and our own land. However, we need to gain a proper perspective of God: Who are we and who is God? God is the Creator of Life. There is nothing impossible for Him. Even our very days are numbered before we were conceived in our mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13-16). The present and the future are in God’s hands. Anxiousness and worry only rob us of our joy and peace as Jesus reminds us in Matthew 6:27 and 33 -34. “Can any of you add a single hour to your span of life by worrying? … But first be concerned about God's kingdom and his righteousness, and all of these things will be provided for you as well. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

“I’d rather have questions that can’t be answered than answers that can’t be questioned.”  Richard Feynman (Theoretical Physicist)

Feynman’s insight offered in this quote asks some serious questions about the unwitting consequences of how mainstream education in South Africa assesses its learners. The consequence I wish to hold to the fire is what can be referred to as “the tyranny of the red pen”. Our children are brought up to be afraid of being wrong, despite CURIOSITY being one of the key skills and dispositions required by today’s world and economy.

Our children unlearn their naturally deep capacity for curiosity, particularly when they get to their high schooling, for fear of the red pen crossing out their ideas, or because teachers are under severe time pressure to meet the deadlines of completing an ever-growing range of prescribed content and the assessment needs of the National Senior Certificate. Thus, it can often happen that robust, compelling classroom discussion is laid waste in order to complete the burgeoning content in time for some or other piece of assessment. For me, this is horribly counter-intuitive.

All human beings are born with an insatiable curiosity. One just needs to cast your mind back to when your child was 2 and the inordinate number of times their little mouths uttered the words ‘why?’, ‘where?’, ‘how?’ and ‘what?’. They are possessed of a natural propensity to question how things work or why things are the way they are. Formal education should nurture and seek out opportunities to celebrate this disposition.

We must undertake to provoke questions in our young people instead of answering them. Google can answer almost any question; the key is to know which question to ask, to whom, and when. Since 9/11, the world has become an increasingly less certain place. There are fewer absolute truths upon which humanity can rely. Our world requires new solutions for challenges both old and new. And these new solutions will come from CURIOSITY, and not from pre-determined, neatly-packaged answers and approaches to new challenges.

Thus, let our children question our answers, let them challenge our adult paradigm of “because I told you so.” Heaven alone knows that we’ll desperately need them to do so in their future.

HS HOMEGROWN

I am pleased to inform you that our inaugural Homegrown programme is good to go on Thursday 29 June. We have a dynamic range of parents (both past and present) and alumni who have volunteered to spend time engaging our Grade 9-12 pupils about their careers and the realities of the world at work. This programme will run from 9:00-12:00 and will include informal group chats and more formal presentations throughout the morning. I am incredibly excited about the launch of Homegrown. Before then, you will all receive a “key” which highlights the range of careers/professions/spheres of interest being showcased on the day. I urge you to initiate discussions at home with your child/ren about which speakers he/she must engage to gain relevant, purposeful insight into potential post-schooling options.

HS FINAL WEEK OF TERM

I will share the final details about the last week of term in next week’s Horse’s Mouth.

In closing, I would like to thank Mr Oberholzer (Rugby), Mrs Wolmarans (Netball), Mrs Steenkamp (Boys’ and Girls’ Hockey), our parents, players, coaches and managers for an outstanding sports season. It was busy, focused, intense and, most importantly, offered our children challenges, teamwork opportunities to experience fun as team mates. Thank you all! 

 

Well done to all those who performed in our Cultural Community Showcase last Tuesday afternoon. It was truly heartwarming and uplifting and was thoroughly enjoyed not only by the audience but by all those participating. Our culture certainly has soared to great heights!

We wish all Fathers, and those in fathering roles, a wonderful Father’s Day this coming Sunday. Thank you for the role you play in your children’s lives, for the childhood lessons you teach and the important beliefs and value systems you pass on. You are your children’s role models and it is through your parenting that children learn the hidden curriculum of life. Enjoy Fathers’ Day and be blessed! Never forget… “To the world you may be just one person, but to one person, you might just be the world!” We celebrate and acknowledge everything you are and for all that you do for your children, and also the way you support their mother. My wish for you is a BIG dose of patience and heart full of love, not just on this day but throughout the year.

YES, WE CAN DO WELL IF WE ARE PREPARED! This applies to all of us, but especially now to our Grade 7 s to whom we extend special good wishes as they started exams today.

General Exam Stress-Busting Tips:

· Believe in yourself. You wouldn't be in the grade if you didn't have the ability to do it. Therefore, if you prepare for the exams properly you should do fine, meaning that there is no need to worry excessively.

· Don't try to be perfect. It's great to succeed, but keep things in balance. If you think that "anything less than A+ means I've failed" then you are creating unnecessary stress for yourself. Aim to do your best but recognise that none of us can be perfect all of the time.

· Take steps to overcome problems. If you find you don't understand some of your work, getting stressed out won't help. Instead, address the problem directly by seeing your teacher or getting help from your class mates.

· Don't keep things bottled up. Confiding in someone you trust and who will be supportive is a great way of alleviating stress and worry.

· Keep things in perspective. The exams might seem like the most crucial thing right now, but in the grander scheme of your whole life they are only a small part.

 

This term certainly seems to have flown past and it is difficult to imagine that once we return in the third term, Christmas will soon be upon us!

In chatting to some parents it is often expressed that when they ask children what they have done at school, the answer is “Nothing!”.

I came across this from Liz Evans' Huffington Post article " Ways to Ask Your Kids 'So How Was School Today?' Without Asking Them 'So How Was School Today?'"

• What was the best thing that happened at school today? (What was the worst thing that happened at school today?)
• Tell me something that made you laugh today.
• Where is the coolest place at the school?
• Tell me a weird word that you heard today. (Or something weird that someone said.)
• If an alien spaceship came to your class and beamed someone up, who would you want them to take?
• Where do you play the most at recess?
• Who is the funniest person in your class? Why is he/she so funny?
• If you got to be the teacher tomorrow, what would you do?
• If you could switch seats with anyone in the class, who would you trade with? Why?
• Tell me about three different times you used your pencil today at school.

I think this could be helpful in relating to adults as well!!!  Wishing you a wonderful week and a relaxing long weekend.

 

Weekly Achievers 

Kindly sponsored by Wetrock Adventures - visit www.wetrockadventuresco.za for further info. 

Please send us photographs of your children enjoying their Weekly Achiever vouchers at Wetrock to tmc@thomasmore.co.za.

Irish Dancing

Congratulations to Danielle de Moor for taking part in the South Coast Irish Dancing Competition (aka Oireachtas) where she receivied medals and ribbons in the following performances:

1^st Bun Ghrad Light Jig

2^nd Bun Ghrad Single Jig

4^th Bun Ghrad Slip Jig

5^th Bun Ghrad Reel

3^rd Bun Ghrad Priomh Comortas

Congratulations to Stephanie de Moor for taking part in the South Coast Irish Dancing Competition where she received medals and ribbons in the following performances:

1^st Tus Ghrad Reel

1^st Tus Ghrad Single Jig

1^st Tus Ghrad Slip Jig

4^th Tus Ghrad Treble Jig

3^rd Bun Ghrad Hornpipe

2^nd Advanced Tus Ghrad Light Jig

1^st Tus Ghrad Priomh Comortas

1^st soft shoe round

2^nd hard shoe round 

Congratulations to Naomi Easson who received a distinction for her Irish dancing exam.  Well done Naomi.

Congratulations to Amy Marks who received 2 bronze ribbons on Saturday at the KZN Irish Dancing competition. 

Gymnastics

Congratulations to Tara Saint who won a medal at Gymnastics.

Music

Congratulations to Amber Meikle on achieving distinction in her Trinity College Rock 'n Pop vocal exam. Well done Amber.

Dancing

Congratulations to Lucy Hofmann on attaining a distinction in her Grade 4 Modern Dance exam. Well done Lucy.

SP Netball

U10A lost 3-0

U10B drew 2-2

U11A won 10-1

U12A won 8 -2

1st Team won 20 - 3

SP Girls' Soccer vs Winston Park

3^rd team - drew 0 - 0

2^nd- Lost 1 - 0

1^st- drew- 1- 1

SP Girls' Soccer vs Curro HCA

2^nd team - drew 2 - 2

1^st team - lost 3- 2

SP KZN Soccer

Congratulations to Tapuwa Sibisi who has been selected for the KZN U13 Soccer team.  He will be playing in the Bill Stewart Tournament in Limpopo in July.

HS Rugby

U14A vs St.Henry’s- Won 14-12

U15A vs St. Henry’s- Won 19-5

1^st Team vs St. Henry’s- Lost 32-5

HS Boys’ Hockey

U14A vs St. Henry’s U14A- Won 5-1

U16B vs St. Henry’s U16A - Drew 1-1

2nds vs St. Henry’s 1^st team- Lost 1-4

HS Girls’ Hockey

U14B vs DGHS – Won 2-1

U16B vs DGHS – Draw 0-0

U14B vs Danville GHS- Lost 0-2

U14A vs Danville GHS- Won 3-0

U16B vs Danville GHS- Lost 0-2

U16A vs Danville GHS- Lost 0-3

2nds vs Dannville GHS- Won 1-0

1^st Team vs Danville GHS- Drew 2-2