Message from the office
I came across this article and thought it was important to share.
Dr. Ovidio, Pediatric Neurologist, warns about a silent tragedy unfolding in our homes today.
There is a silent tragedy unfolding in our homes today, and it concerns our most precious jewels: our children. Our children are in a devastating emotional state! Over the past 15 years, researchers have gifted us increasingly alarming statistics about an acute and steady increase in childhood mental illness that is now reaching epidemic proportions:
The statistics don’t lie:
- 1 in 5 children has mental health problems
- A 43% increase in ADHD has been noticed
- A 37% increase in teenage depression has been noticed
- A 200% increase in the suicide rate in children aged 10 to 14 has been noticed
What is going on and what are we doing wrong?
Children today are being over-stimulated and over-gifted with material objects, but are deprived of the fundamentals of a healthy childhood, such as:
- Emotionally available parents
- Clearly Defined Boundaries
- Responsibilities
- Balanced nutrition and adequate sleep
- Movement in general but especially outdoors
- Creative play, social interaction, unstructured play opportunities and spaces for boredom
On the other hand, these last few years have been filled with children of:
- Digitally Distracted Parents
- Forgiving and permissive parents who let children “rule the world” and be the ones who make the rules
- A sense of entitlement, of deserving everything without earning it or being responsible for getting it
- Poor sleep and unbalanced nutrition
- A sedentary lifestyle
- Endless stimulation, technological nannies, instant gratification and absence of dull moments
What to do?
If we want our children to be happy and healthy individuals, we need to wake up and get back to the basics. It’s still possible! Many families see immediate improvement after weeks of implementing the following recommendations:
- Set limits and remember that you are the captain of the ship. Your kids will feel safer knowing you have the control of the helm.
- Offer children a balanced lifestyle full of what children NEED, not just what they WANT. Don’t be afraid to say “no” to your kids if what they want isn’t what they need.
- Provide nutritious food and limit junk food.
- Spend at least one hour a day outdoors doing activities such as: cycling, hiking, fishing, bird/insect watching
- Enjoy a daily family dinner without smartphones or technology distracting them.
- Play board games as a family or if the children are too young for board games, let them lead their interests and let them be the ones who rule the game
- Involve your children in some task or household chores according to their age (folding clothes, sorting toys, hanging clothes, unpacking groceries, setting the table, feeding the dog, etc.)
- Implement a consistent sleep routine to ensure your child gets enough sleep. The timetables will be even more important for school-age children.
- Teach responsibility and independence. Don’t overprotect them against any frustration or any mistake. Making mistakes will help you develop resilience and learn to overcome life’s challenges,
- Do not carry your children’s backpack, do not take their backpacks, do not take them the homework they forgot, do not peel their bananas or oranges if they can do it by themselves (4-5 years). Instead of giving them the fish, teach them how to fish.
- Teach them to wait and delay gratification.
- Provide opportunities for “boredom”, because boredom is the moment when creativity awakens. Doesn’t feel responsible for always keeping the kids entertained.
- Do not use technology as a cure for boredom, nor offer it to the first second of inactivity.
- Avoid the use of technology during meals, in cars, restaurants, shopping centers. Use these moments as opportunities to socialize by training the brains to know how to function when they are in the mood: “boredom”
- Help them create a “jar of boredom” with activity ideas for when they are bored.
- Be emotionally available to connect with children and teach them self-regulation and social skills
- Turn off phones at night when kids have to go to bed to avoid digital distraction.
- Become an emotional regulator or coach for your children. Teach them to acknowledge and manage their own frustrations and anger.
- Teach them to greet, to take turns, to share without anything, to say thank you and please, to acknowledge the mistake and apologise, be a model of all those values you instill.
- Connect emotionally – smile, hug, kiss, tickle, read, dance, jump, play or crawl with them.
Article written by Dr. Luis Rojas Marcos, Psychiatrist.
Worker of the Week
Well done to Audrey Matanda in Grade 2 for her lovely creative story in English. Keep up the good work, Audrey!
Personality of the Week
Well done to Zothando Mzileni who received her certificate for POW at our assembly for the camaraderie that she displays to her classmates. Thank you for being a good friend, Zothando!
Merit Achiever
Well done to Kulowo Msipa who has received over 250 merits so far this year.
Assembly
On Monday Grade 1O will present their assembly. The assembly starts at 10:15. Parents are welcome to join us.
Music
Music pupils are reminded that they will play their scales tests next week, and their Term 3 assessments the week after.
Interschool Best Speakers and General Knowledge competitions
Please join us on Thursday, 28 August at Graeme College Hall at 17:30 for our annual inter-schools Best Speakers and General Knowledge competition! The General Knowledge will follow on after Best Speakers and we expect to end at 19:00. The VP Best Speakers are: Luhle Songongo (Grade 4); Emihle Kulati (Grade 5); Bridget Akpeng (Grade 6); and Mila McConnachie (Grade 7).
Our General Knowledge team is made up of the following girls: Aliyah Bezuidenhout; Iviwe Jakavula; Mila Nongubo; Uzosule Kanana. Reserve: Isabella Tladi
Parents are very welcome. Your support would mean so much to our girls! Good luck to our speakers and GK team!
District Cross Country Championships – Jeffrey’s Bay
Twelve of our learners proudly represented the school at the District Cross Country Championships in Jeffrey’s Bay. Isla Orsmond, Nalu Mfiki, Esona Makabe, Siarra Appollis, and Lunje Manzana all finished in the top 10 of their races. A special congratulations goes to Lunje Manzana, who placed 3rd and qualified for the Provincial Championships on 29–30 August.
We are also delighted to announce that Half Colours for Cross Country will be awarded to Micarlin Daniels, Liyabona Benyane, Anathi Mbandlakazi, Esona Makabe and Siarra Appollis, while Full Colours will be awarded to Lunje Manzana.
Well done to all our participants on this outstanding achievement!
We wish Lunje all the best as she participates in the national cross-country event in Port Shepstone on Saturday, 30 August. She will travel with Ms Christian who is the district cross-country manager. Safe travels to you both.
Dance
On Friday, 15 August six VP girls took part in The Kings School Port Alfred, Eisteddfod.
Amari Funani received a Silver Award in the contemporary solo category.
Ngcwele Manyati received Gold for her performance in the Jazz solo category.
Siyasisanda Nene received Gold for her contemporary solo performance.
Amari and Ngwele received a Gold Award in the contemporary trio category.
Christelle Moriarty received a Silver for her group performance.
A ballet group performance including Amari, Ngcwele, Siyasisanda and Christelle received a Gold Award.
Alibongwe Mthembu received a Merit award for her ballet solo.
Alibongwe and Zaya Dembaza received a Merit Award for their ballet trio performance.
Well done, girls!
Trolley Dash
Please encourage your daughter to sell her Trolley Dash tickets. The booklets and money must please be returned to
school by Monday, 15 September. If your family have already sold one booklet your daughter is welcome to collect more booklets to sell from her class teacher. Five lucky finalists will be drawn on Wednesday, 17 September; four will receive a Pick ‘n Pay voucher and one lucky winner stands a chance to win a 90 seconds Trolley Dash at Pick ‘n Pay on Monday, 22 September at 18:00. This is always such an exciting fundraiser. Please sell to all your family and friends.
Athletics Finals 25-29th August 2025
Next week we will have our Athletics Field event finals. The following sport extramurals will take place for the selected U9-U14. Cultural, library and intervention extramurals will continue as usual. Girls must please check the notice board to see whether they are in the athletics final.
Monday: 14h00-16h00 High Jump: U9/U10/U11- Mrs Coetzee/Ms KC/Mr Daniels & Long jump: U12/U13/U14 – Mrs Britz-Nel/Mrs Sauls/Ms Vongo/Ms du Plooy
14h00-15h00 Fitness: U9/U10/U11 – Ms Siyazi/Ms de Klerk/Ms Le Roux/Ms Mc Namara
14:00-15:00 U10 Graaff-Reinet team practice – Ms Stirk
Tuesday: 14h00-16h00 Cricket Ball: U12/U13/U14 – Mrs Goodes/Mrs Mgogo/ Ms Ntabeni & Shot put: U12/U13/U14 – Ms Christian/Ms Songongo/Ms Makeba
14h00-15h00 Fitness: U12/U13/U14 – Ms Stirk/Ms Siyazi/Ms de Klerk/Ms Le Roux
14h00-15h30 Team Tennis (Athletics finals will take preference)
Wednesday: 14h00-15h30 Cricket Ball: U9/U10/U11 – Mrs Goodes/Mrs Mgogo/Ms Christian/
14h00-15h00 Fitness: U9/U10/U11 – Mrs Kruger/Ms Songongo/Ms Mc Namara
14h00-15h00 U10 Graaff-Reinet team practice – Ms Knott Craig
15h00-16h00 Long Distance: U9-U14 – Mrs Rafferty
Thursday: 14h00-16h00 High Jump: U12/U13/U14 – Mrs Coetzee/Ms Knott-Craig/Mr Daniels & Long jump: U9/U10/U11 – Mrs Britz-Nel/Mrs Sauls/Ms Vongo/Ms du Plooy
14h00-15h00 Fitness: U12/U13/U14 – Ms Songongo/Mrs Kruger/Ms Casling
Friday: 07h30 1200/1500m final- Rhodes Prospect field
Birthday wishes
We wish Ms R. Coetzee a very happy birthday for last week and celebrate this week with Ms Delport, Sibabalwe Kulati, Nalu Mfiki, Aaliyah Mntungwa, Konwaba Qononda, Sibabalwe Sokhanyile, Ndaloyothando Koza, Unakho Fetsha, Amila Ndandani, Alunamda Rafa and McKenzie Pringle. We hope you have a lovely day!
Regards
Mrs Rafferty
PRINCIPAL
Upcoming events
Fri 22/08 No Chamber Choir & Orchestra & Grade 7 Committee meetings
Sat 23/08 U9A&B Netball DJ Malan Sports Day @Fort Beaufort & U10&U11 Netball Citrus Festival @Sundays River
Mon 25/08 Assembly 1O @10:15
Tues 26/08 PTA meeting
Thurs 28/08 Interschool Best Speakers & General Knowledge
Fri 29/08 Boarders’ Leave Out
Sat 30/08 U10 Mini Hockey Festival & Provincial Cross Country
Sun 31/08 Boarders’ return to hostel
Mon 1/09 Spring Day – Civvies Day (R10)