Message from the office
A very warm welcome back to school and best wishes for a happy 2025. We were delighted to welcome our girls back on Wednesday – the excitement was very contagious! A special welcome is extended to our new girls and their families – welcome to the VP family!
We also welcomed two new teachers in Grade 4, Ms McNamara and Mr Cassidy. They have both settled in well and are already making positive contributions to our school. We also welcomed a new intern, Ms Siyazi into our IP Phase.
This year’s theme is ‘You Belong’ as we continue to endeavour to make each little girl feel welcomed and loved at VP. We are privileged to be working with children from a variety of backgrounds, cultures and religions and have different talents and interests. Everyone’s contribution at this school is what makes it so special!
School Hours
Preprimary 07:30-12:30
Grade 1, 2 & 3 07:25-14:00
Grade 4-7 07:25-13:45
Grade 1-7 Friday school ends at 13:00
Late Collection
Please note that the FP (Grade 1-3) girls are dropped off between 07:15 and 07:20 at the Huntley Street gate. An FP teacher will be present at the gate from 07:15. If FP girls arrive before or after this time or with older siblings in the morning they must use the Beaufort street entrance.
All IP (Grade 4-7) children are to use the Beaufort Street gate and will need to be collected from there.
Grade 1-3 finish their school day at 14:00 (Monday-Thursday). The girls are then taken to the Huntley Street gate for collection between 14:00-14:15. On Friday girls finish at 13:00 and will be at the Huntley Street gate from 13:00 to 13:15.
FP children who are collected after this time must be fetched from the Beaufort Street Gate. We keep a close eye on our girls and make sure that they are safe while waiting for collection. The Huntley Street gate is not manned after these hours.
Our office closes at 16:30 (Monday-Thursday) and 15:00 on Friday. If children are still not collected by this time, they will be sent to Aftercare. They can be collected from the Aftercare facility which is accessed via the hostel entrance in Hill Street. Please note that while we understand that some days don’t run as expected, if we notice repeated late collection or the collection is later than our aftercare hours, parents will be charged aftercare fees to their account. Please ensure that you have arranged safe and reliable transport for your daughters.
Aftercare
If you would like to send your daughter to Aftercare please collect a form from the office and return it as soon as possible. If she attended Aftercare last year we still require a form to be completed this year.
Access to Campus
Please note that all visitors must report to the school office. Parents may not gain access through the side door – this is for our pupils only. This is for our children and staff’s safety. If you would like to meet with a teacher, please make an appointment either via email to the class teacher or the school office (admin@victoriaprimary.co.za) or make a note in your child’s diary. Please report to the office for the appointment. No teacher will be able to meet with parents during school hours unless there was a prior arrangement made.
If you have any questions or concerns please email the school office or call on 0466224850 and we will endeavour to assist you.
PTA AGM and Class Visits
We appeal to all parents from Grade 2-7 to attend this very informative meeting on Tuesday, 21 January @17:15. Parents are to please meet in the school hall first and thereafter they will move to their child’s classes where the Grade teachers will inform you of the expectations for the year ahead. Your daughter does not need to attend.
Absenteeism and late arrivals
Please note the following as per our school policy:
It is the parent’s responsibility to ensure that children arrive on time and are not disadvantaged by missing parts of lessons. Our school bell rings at 07:25 in the morning. Girls should be dropped off at least 5 minutes before this.
Absenteeism
It is the responsibility of the parents to see that their children attend school. If a child is absent, the parents need to inform the office by no later than 09:00 on the first day of absenteeism. A letter of explanation needs to be submitted on the learners’ return to the school. Medical and personal appointments, where possible, are to be made outside school hours. Medical certificates are expected if the learner is absent for tests or exams and if absent from school for more than 2 days.
- When a learner is absent, a note explaining why the learner was absent must be handed to the class teacher immediately upon return to school.
- Parent(s)/Guardian(s) may email the class teacher or the office for the reason for the absence.
- A medical certificate must be provided if a learner misses an examination or a test contributing to the year mark; or is absent for three days or longer.
Illness at School
If a learner is feeling ill, she must report to the school office and her parent(s)/guardian(s) will be contacted to take the learner home.
Extramurals
Extramurals start on Monday, 20 January. Your daughter received her extramural programme on her first day back at school. It is compulsory for your daughter to do at least 2 hours of sport a week but she is welcome to do more (Choir is not a sport). Please read through the programme with your daughter and make sure that she has packed all she needs for her activity. Please also ensure your transport is organised accordingly.
Please note that if it rains or is extremely hot we DO NOT CANCEL. Girls will be supervised in the classrooms until their extramurals would have ended. Extramurals will start on Monday,
20 January.
Hair and Uniform
Please note the school rules for hair and jewellery and ensure that your daughter is abiding by them:
Hair guidelines
1. Hair must be neat and appropriate for girls in uniform.
2. If hair is over shoulder length it must all be tied up (no half ponies). Hair must be away from face.
3. Hair and extensions should be your natural hair colour.
4. Extensions and braids are allowed.
5. All corn rows must be neatly plaited and tied back.
6. Clips and hair accessories must be black, green or navy. (No decorative accessories, such as beads, are to be worn)
Jewelry
1. Watches may be worn, if desired. Children are responsible for their own watches.
2. Earrings – girls may have their ears pierced. Only studs or sleepers (small) may be worn. No coloured earrings are allowed. Only one earring may be worn in each earlobe.
3. No bracelets, neck or ankle-chains are allowed, unless the bracelets or chain bears a ‘Medicalert’ disc.
4. All school badges may be worn on the blazer lapel. No badges other than school badges may be worn while in school uniform.
Uniform
Please note the uniform and hair rules and ensure that your daughter is dressed accordingly. Please note that the girls are currently in summer uniform. On colder days they may wear a jersey and/or windbreaker and blazer – no winter uniform please. Please also ensure that your daughter is dressed smartly and remains in her full uniform when in town or out in public. The school flip flops can be purchased from the office and may be worn with the sports clothes. The flip flops may be worn with their school uniform at school but she will need to put her school socks and shoes back on with her school uniform once she leaves the campus.
For Grade 4-7 girls, girls may ONLY come to school in their sports clothes when they have LSPA or LSPE on their timetable for that day, UNLESS it is a Monday in which case they must come dressed in their school uniform and blazers for assembly. If they do NOT have LSPE or LSPA on their timetable, they need to change after school for any extramural.
School fees
Please make sure that the correct reference (Account number) is used when making a payment. We have received numerous payments with no reference. If you have made a payment and it is not reflected on your account, please forward the proof of this payment to Mrs Terblanche and indicate your daughter’s name and grade. Please remember that if you pay your fees in full before the end of February you will receive a 5% discount.
Stationery/workbook levy
Gr 1-3: please ensure that the amount R1750 is paid with immediate effect to ensure that your daughter can receive her workbooks.
Grade 4: please ensure that R400 is paid for your daughter’s workbooks.
Stationery (Grade 4-7)
Please ensure that your daughter has all the stationery required for her grade according to the stationery list sent. All books must be covered and any outstanding items must be purchased by Monday, 20 January.
VP Diaries
All girls Gr 3-7 received our new VP diaries this week. If your daughter loses her diary she will have to pay R50 for a replacement, however we have limited replacements so please ensure that she looks after it. No other diaries are to be used for school.
Labelling of items & Lost Property
All your daughter’s possessions from pencils to blazers must be clearly labelled with her name and surname. We cannot be expected to search for items which are not labelled. Lost items will be handed to Lost Property, either with Mrs Orsmond (FP) or Mrs Sauls (IP). We endeavour to return items straight away if they are labelled. Unlabelled items must be collected from Lost Property by your daughter during school hours.
Dropping off items at school
As we enter the second week of school, girls must please be encouraged to
get organised and not expect items to be delivered to school by parents. Our office staff is inundated with items being dropped off. Please note that only birthday cupcakes, deliveries for boarders and items specifically requested by teachers may be dropped off at the office for your daughter during the school day.
Music
All choir members are reminded to check the extramural timetable so that they know when and where their rehearsals will take place. Chamber Choir auditions will take place on Monday and Tuesday for Grade 6 and 7 girls during the school day. To audition, these girls should prepare a section of a song (one verse leading into a chorus) to showcase their voices.
Music application forms are available from the office for those girls who would like to learn to play an instrument. Once applications are received, these girls will be placed on the waiting list.
Tennis trials will take place on Tuesday, 21 January from 14:00-15:15. Girls U10-U13 are welcome to come. Please make sure you have a tennis racket and correct sports shoes. After trials we will divide girls into groups for their specific practice times.
Eye Screening
The Eye Store and Dr Davies Optometrists will visit from 3-7 February. The Grade 1s and all new girls will receive basic visual screening which will test their visual clarity from a distance, this is free of charge. The option of a more comprehensive test will also be on offer, for all parents to take advantage of should you wish to do so. A letter will be sent home next week which must be completed and returned, along with the required payment for the comprehensive test if required.
Mulan Rehearsals
It is with great excitement that we start our rehearsals for the production of Mulan. If your daughter auditioned at the end of 2024 she will have received a letter. New girls or girls that may have missed out last year are welcome to audition on Monday, 20 January, during first break. They will need to prepare a poem and a little song. The cast will be rehearsing on the following Saturdays as well as in smaller groups during the week: (Please note: Scenes required are subject to change)
Mulan Cast Camp Friday, 24 January (Moved to a later date)
Mulan Rehearsal (Scene 1-3) – 25 January (09:00-12:00)
Mulan Rehearsal (Scene 4-6) – 1 February (09:00-12:00)
Mulan Rehearsal (Scene 7-9 – 8 February (09:00-12:00)
Mulan Rehearsal (Scene 10-12) –
15 February (09:00-12:00)
Mulan Rehearsal (Scene 1-6) –
22 February (09:00-12:00)
We wish the following staff and girls a very happy birthday: Ms du Plooy, Ms le Roux, Ronay Francis, Zazi Gqamana, Lima Tukulu, Willow Hector, Ingcali-Yomso Mani, Asante Nyenzane, Lunje Peter, Likamvelihle Dyibishe, Ahlumile Vusani, Kungothando Nzuzo, Langa Mtakati, Sizoluhle Matswele, Caitlyn Bodill, Mbalentle Dyaloyi, Kulowo Msipa, Oyintando Nkatazo, Zelne Leach, Alibongwe Mthembu, Ayazi Klei, Sama Torweni, Khensani Futshane, Bongumusa Louw, Inamandla Mnyapa, Isipho Nelana, Nalu Matshaya, Giselle Peters, Owam Bebeto, Ladine van Wyk, Uzosule Kanana, Lulo Ponoshe, Konwaba Thengwa and Junaid Williams
Regards
Mrs Rafferty
PRINCIPAL
UPCOMING EVENTS
| Monday 20/01 | Extramurals start |
| Tuesday 21/01 | PTA AGM & Class visits (17: 15) |
| Friday 24/01 | Grade 7 Committee meeting (13:00-13:30) |