Message from the office
Exams are over!! I am certain that you are just as relieved as your daughters are. No more tiptoeing around the house! I hope you all have a wonderful weekend full of fun and lazy activities. You all deserve it!
This past week Ms Knott-Craig, Mrs Orsmond and I attended the South African All Girls Schools’ Association (SAGSA) Conference here in Makhanda hosted by DSG.
One of the dynamic presenters was a psychologist and speaker named Naomi Holdt. She spoke about working with a purpose and ‘knowing your why’ – why do we get up each morning and do what we do? This certainly resonated with us.
She spoke about us being intentional in how we connect and make others (particularly our girls) feel seen, heard and feel significant in order to increase their self worth by showing compassion and cultivating a sense of belonging and sense of family. This echoes our theme for the year, ‘You Belong’. But this is certainly something that can be nurtured at home too!
Here are 5 Tips to Help Your Daughter Feel Seen, Heard, and Supported
(Extracted from https://c-suitenetwork.com/articles/5-tips-to-help-your-child-feel-seen-heard-and-supported/)
- Apologise
Apologies are powerful catalysts for healing. Even though you didn’t mean to make your daughter feel ignored or neglected, let her know how sorry you are that her feelings are hurt.
- Stop what you’re doing and listen
The next time your daughter demands your attention, step back and observe your reaction. Are you tapping your foot or looking at your phone? Did you even look up from your computer screen and make eye contact? Give your girls at least a minute or two of your undivided attention when they need something. And if you’re just too busy at that particular moment, schedule a “Mommy and Me” time later in the day.
- Acknowledge what she’s saying
Problem-solving is certainly one of our most valuable skills as parents, but don’t be so quick to find a solution that you dismiss what your child is trying to say.Validate how she feels: “Are you feeling sad? Do you want to tell me why? Is there anything I can do to make it better?”
Raising self-assured children begins with teaching them that it’s important to acknowledge whatever emotion they’re feeling – so they can let it go when they’re ready.
- Set reasonable boundaries
As important as it is for children to acknowledge their feelings, it’s equally essential for them to connect their feelings to their underlying unmet needs. Now is when they can learn that they don’t need to be overwhelmed by their emotions and can be with them rather than be overwhelmed by them. It’s never too early to teach children that negative feelings don’t have to translate into bad behaviour.
- Put yourself in your child’s shoes
Let’s be honest: sometimes it’s hard to understand why a child could get so upset over being asked to shower or make their bed for example. The next time your daughter is upset, practice empathy to understand where she’s really coming from.
Staff News
We wish Mrs Dewey all the best as she leaves to go on her maternity leave today. We will miss her and are eagerly awaiting news of the arrival of her precious second child. We welcome Ms Trollip who is filling in for her. Ms Trollip taught at VP a number of years ago and has recently returned to Makhanda to study. We are most fortunate to have her back – I know that Grade 3D has already bonded with her!
Worker of the Week
Congratulations to Lebogang Mogale for the lovely sentences she made in English and the delightful pictures she drew! Keep up the good work, Lebo!
Assembly
On Monday, 9 June Grade 4D will present their assembly. Parents are welcome to join us. Assembly will start at 10:15.
VP’s Got Talent
Next week our girls will be auditioning for the final VP’s Got Talent show that is taking place on 19 June at 17:30.
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AUDITIONS
Girls who entered will need to audition on the following days:
Monday, 9 June: Dance
Tuesday, 10 June: Music (singing, musical instruments and poetry)
Wednesday, 11 June: Open for any individual/group who did not get to audition on Monday or Tuesday.
Auditions will take place from 14:00-16:00 on each afternoon. Girls must come prepared (clothes, instruments, music etc.). If they have an extramural that must take priority and girls can audition before or after their extramurals.
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Tickets will be on sale at R30 from the office as from Monday. Please buy your tickets sooner rather than later as we don’t want to have to turn people away at the door like we did last year.
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PLEASE NOTE: There will be NO Strength Training on Tuesday as the hall is being used for auditions.
Grade 4 History outing
Please note that this has been moved to Thursday, 12 June. The outing will take place in Makhanda and we expect to be back at school by 14:30.
*Please note that there will be no U10 Hockey practice on this afternoon.
Interhouse Cross Country
On Friday, 13 June we will have our annual Interhouse Cross Country event. Parents are welcome to attend.
The Pre-Primary, Grade 1&2s will be running on Fergusson Field from 12:00- 12:45.
Pre-Primary – 12:00-12:15
Grade 1 – 12:15-12:30
Grade 2 – 12:30-12:45
We kindly request that all PP&FP parents enter through the Beaufort Street office entrance as the Huntley Street entrance will be locked and will not be opened.
The Grade 3-7 girls will walk to the Botanical Gardens and start running at
10:30. First off will be the Grade 3s, followed by Grade 4&5s and finally Grade 6&7s. Girls can be collected from school at 13:00 as usual.
Pre-Primary girls must wear a shirt in their house colour and black shorts, socks and takkies.
The Grade 1-7 girls must come to school dressed in their house shirt, black shorts, white socks, and takkies.
Please also send a bottle of water, sunscreen and her VP hat/peak.
House shirts can be bought from Extreme Embroidery or Heinen Embroidery. Only official house shirts may be worn. If your daughter does not have an official house shirt she must wear her VP navy blue golf shirt.
Interhouse singing
Our Interhouse Singing competition will take place on Wednesday, 18 June from 13:00-14:00. Parents are most welcome!
Upcoming fixtures
Hockey vs Gill
The U13A and B hockey teams will be playing a hockey match vs Gill at Victoria Primary School today.
The U13B match will start at 12:30 and U13A match will start at 13:15. Good luck, girls!
Netball vs Westering Saturday, 7 June @VP
| Netball | ||
| Court A | Court B | |
| 09:00 | U13A | U12A |
| 09:30 | U13B | U12B |
| 10:00 | U11A | U10A |
Hockey vs Westering Saturday, 7 June @VP
| Top field A | Top field B | Top field C | |||
| 09:00 | U10B | 09:00 | U9B | 09:00 | U8B |
| 09:30 | U10A | 09:30 | U9A | 09:30 | U8A |
| Fergusson field: bottom field | |||||
| 10:00-10:45 | U13B | ||||
| 10:50-11:35 | U13A | ||||
Girls participating have all received letters. Please make sure that your daughter is dropped off at least 30 minutes before the start of her game. All girls must be fetched by 11:45. We will have a tuckshop available and will be selling pancakes and boerewors rolls. Please support our PTA. Major Frazer’s Barista will be selling coffee. Access can be made either via the Huntley Street gate or the Pre-primary gate in Beaufort Street. Please park cars in the street.
Birthday wishes
We wish the following staff member and girls who celebrated their birthdays this week a very happy birthday: Ms Knott-Craig, Lulo Dyantyi, Asante Sankqela, Mihle Mgwebi, Zenkosi Mati and Indiphile Mdlalana.
Regards
Mrs Rafferty
PRINCIPAL
Upcoming events:
| Friday
06/06 |
U13A&B Hockey vs Gill @VP |
| Saturday
07/06 |
Hockey & Netball vs Westering @VP |
| Monday
9/06 |
Assembly presented by 4D at 10:15. Parents welcome
Auditions: Dance 14:00-16:00 |
| Tuesday
10/06 |
Auditions: Music (singing, musical instruments & poetry) 14:00-16:00 |
| Wed
11/06 |
Auditions: Overflow 14:00-16:00 |
| Thursday
12/06 |
Grade 4 History outing
No U10 hockey practice |
| Friday
13/06 |
Interhouse Cross Country |
| Wed
18/06 |
Interhouse Singing 13:00-14:00. Parents welcome. |
| Thursday
19/06 |
VP’s Got Talent final show |