Message from the office

Today we celebrated our 76th Founders’ Day and we were delighted to have Sisipho Macingwane as our guest Speaker. Sisipho came to VP in Grade 4 in 2008, went to VGHS and is now a Quantity Surveyor in Pretoria. She is currently pursuing her masters in Project Management. She is also a talented sportswoman having trained with Caster Semenye doing 100 and 200 m sprints and long jump. I also remember her as a very talented hockey player. We are always so delighted to see our girls doing so well and it was especially wonderful to not only see her thrive professionally but to note her kind and giving heart which was something I remember fondly when she was in Grade 4. Thank you, Sisipho, for joining us today as our special guest. We also thank all our families and friends who joined us for our assembly.

We are very proud to introduce our new branding for Victoria Primary School which was used for our Founders’ Day Assembly programme for the first time and you are able to view it on our newsletter. We decided it is time for a new fresh look and we are super excited about our new website which is in the process of being developed. Watch this space!

---

Personality of the Week

Well done to our POW this week; to Chloe Jeggels for Perseverance and Shameega Kholisa for Compassion and Thoughtfulness. We are proud of you both.

---

Worker of the Week

Congratulations to Lilitha Kulati who is our WOW for her neat handwriting. Keep it up, Lilitha.

---

Easter Egg Raffle

As a VPV fundraiser, every child will receive an Easter Raffle sheet to sell at R5 a ticket. Please sell the sheet and return the money to your daughter’s class teacher. You are most welcome to sell more than one sheet! Please note that if your daughter loses her sheet, you will have to pay in the R50.

The raffle prizes will be Easter Egg hampers. These hampers are made up from Easter Eggs which are donated by VP families. Please give generously so that our winners can have a very chocolaty Easter!

---

Assembly

On Monday, 2 March Grade 6P will present the assembly. Parents are welcome to attend. Assembly starts at 10:15

---

Request for Donations

We are asking for donations of newspapers, pringle tubes (long ones) and Checkers/Pick ‘n Pay brown bags please! We will be using these materials to make props for Alice in Wonderland.

---

Interdistricts gala

Well done to Rose Jordaan, Naima Ntsepo and Isla Orsmond for making the Sarah Baartman Swimming Team. They will be competing next Thursday at the Interdistrict Gala in East London.

Travel safely and swim well, girls!

---

Netball

On Friday & Saturday, 6&7 March the U13B netball team will take part in the Frans Erasmus Netball Festival at PJ Olivier. The fixtures are below. Girls involved have received letters.

FRIDAY (Court A)

13:50 – VP vs George Dickerson

15:10 – VP vs Good Shepherd

SATURDAY (Court A)

8:00 – VP vs PJ

9:20 – VP vs Grahamstown Primary

13:40 – VP vs Kenton On Sea

14:20 – Oatlands

---

Lorraine Hockey/Netball Festival  

We would like to wish the U13A hockey and netball teams good luck as they will be participating in the annual Lorraine Winter Sports Festival. Girls will leave on Friday, 6 March and return to Makhanda on Saturday, 7 March. Travel safely and good luck, girls.

---

Balmoral Girls Primary

On Thursday, 5 March the U13A hockey and netball girls will be playing a friendly match versus Balmoral Girls Primary School in preparation for the Lorraine Winter Sports festival. The hockey and netball games will be at VP and start at 14h10.

---

Tennis

Our VP tennis teams played against Port Alfred on Thursday, 26 February.  They had an exciting afternoon of competitive tennis. The Senior First Team delivered a great performance, convincingly winning 47–16 games. Their focus, teamwork, and consistency on court were outstanding. The junior team also rose to the occasion, securing a well-earned 35–30 game victory in a closely contested match. It was a fantastic day filled with great sportsmanship, determination, and team spirit. Congratulations to all our players, we are incredibly proud of you!

---

Puppet Show

On Thursday morning the Pre-Primary and Foundation Phase will be enjoying a Puppet Works Production called Dare to be Different! Thank you to Heather and her team for visiting us!

---

Music

• Assessments

Music pupils are reminded that they will play their Term 1 assessments next week.

• Marimba

Please note that all marimba band members are required to send the marimba levy (R50) to Dr. Wynne by Friday next week, if they wish to continue playing.

• Mini maestros

Letters regarding this music competition were sent home yesterday. Please note that the closing date for entries is Friday, 13 March.

---

Rehearsals: Please note important dates for our production of Alice in Wonderland.

28 February (Scene 1-10) 09:00-13:00

7 March (Scene 1-10) 09:00-13:00

14 March – Full Dress Rehearsal 09:00-13:00

20 March (Morning – Cushion Show)

21 March Rehearsal TBC

24 March (School’s Cushion show)

24 March (Evening show) 18:00

25 March (Evening show) 18:00

26 March (Evening show) 18:00

---

For Sale

Limited stock of our Memory books are available from the office for R150. These books have a page for each year of school with blank pages and slots to include achievements and memories from the year. Great for children and parents to complete together and keep forever!

---

Birthday wishes

Happy birthday to the following staff member and girls who celebrated this week: Ms Quza, Mrs Sopangiso, Ayomide Booi, Elizabeth Egunlusi, Khumoitsile Moleko, Taylynne Thomas, Mivuyo Nongxaza, Azoma Magopeni, Tasmine Thomas and Caryne Grobler.

We hope you had a very special birthday!

Regards

Mrs Rafferty

PRINCIPAL

Dates to remember
Saturday, 28 February	Alice in Wonderland rehearsal (Scene 1-5) 09:00 -13:00 B-League gala in Gqeberha.
Monday, 2 March	Grade 6P assembly @10:15
Thursday, 5 March	Interdistricts Gala, East London U13A netball & hockey vs Balmoral @VP 14:10 Puppet Show for Pre-Primary & Foundation Phase
Friday, 6 March	Lorraine Primary U13A Netball & Hockey Tournament @Gqeberha Frans Erasmus U13B Netball team participate in Frans Erasmus tournament @PJ
Saturday, 7 March	Alice in Wonderland rehearsal (Scene 1-10) 09:00-13:00 Lorraine Tournament @Gqeberha Frans Erasmus Tournament @PJ

Message from the office

One of the highlights of my day is when girls come to receive their Principal Stickers. Their unabashed curiosity of being in my office, the delightful questions they ask and the joy they show when they uncurl their sour worm out the bucket – really makes my day!

This poem sums up our delightful girls!

Why God Made Little Girls

(Henry Alfred Dixon)

God made the world with its towering trees,

Majestic mountains and restless seas.

Then stopped and said, “It needs one more thing,

Someone to laugh and dance and sing.

To walk in the woods and gather flowers,

To commune with nature in quiet hours.”

So God created little girls.

With laughing eyes and bouncing curls.

With joyful hearts and infectious smiles,

Enchanting ways and feminine wiles.

And when He’d completed the task He’d begun,

He was pleased and proud of the job He’d done.

For the world when seen through a little girl’s eyes,

Greatly resembles His own paradise.

---

Questionnaire

One of our key objectives this year is to strengthen our communication and connection with you, our parent community.

We would greatly appreciate it if you could take a few minutes to complete a short questionnaire consisting of only five questions. Your feedback will help us identify our strengths as well as areas where we can improve. The link to the questionnaire is as follows: https://forms.gle/jDEswCv9dr5Rna8w7

We will also be sharing the questionnaire link via the WhatsApp groups for you to complete.

---

Founders’ Day Assembly

On Friday, 27 February, we will be celebrating our Founders’ Day with an assembly at 08:30. Our guest speaker is a special old VP girl, Sisipho Macingwane, who is flying out from Johannesburg for the occasion. We would love for our VP parents and families, past and present, to join us. Please be seated in the gallery by 08:25.

All girls must be dressed in their full school uniform on Friday (Grade 4-7 girls in their blazers). If your daughter has a birthday on Friday she can either change after the assembly or she may wear her civvies on Thursday, 26 February or on Monday, 2 February.

---

Request for Donations

We are desperately needing donations of newspapers, pringle tubes (long ones) and Checkers/Pick ‘n Pay brown bags please! We will be using these materials to make props for Alice in Wonderland.

---

Worker of the Week

Well done to Iminathi Bawuti who is our WOW this week for her lovely work in isiXhosa!

---

Assembly

On Monday, 23 February Grade 6G will present the assembly. Parents are welcome to attend. Assembly starts at 10:15

---

Music

Music pupils will play their scales tests next week, and their Term 1 assessments the week after. Keep practising, girls.

---

Extramural update

Please note that on Thursday, 26 February swimming practice for the Pink and Purple teams is cancelled due to coaches attending District Moderation.

---

Athletics

A big congratulations to the following girls who took part in the Sarah Baartman Athletics Meet last week Friday; Kaya Jones, Amahle Mchunu, Nalu Mfiki, Etinosa Nini, Emihle Kulati, Akum Mxo and Siphesihle Chrisjan. They can be very proud of their performances! Well done!

---

Sarah Baartman District Trials

Well done to all the girls who swam at the Sarah Baartman trials at DSG on Tuesday. We are very proud of your effort! We await the results to hear who made the team.

---

Tennis

• Well done to Halle Orsmond for participating in the Interdistricts Tennis Tournament. Well done Halle, we are so proud of you!
• We wish our junior and senior girls’ tennis teams the very best for their matches this Thursday, 26 February, against Port Alfred. Play well girls and have fun!

---

EC Lifesaving Champs

Leah Fox participated in the EC Champs last weekend in Jeffrey’s Bay. She could not complete all her events because the conditions were dangerous but she tried her very best and did not give up. Well done, Leah, you make us very proud! Leah will be competing in the National Championship at the end of March and we wish her all the best.

---

U12 Netball Trials

Reminder that the U12 netball trials will be taking place on Monday and Wednesday next week from 15:15 to 16:00. Girls who are interested in playing netball, especially new girls who came to VP this year, must please attend.

---

Easter Egg Hamper – VPV Fundraiser

Our first fundraiser for this year will be a raffle for Easter Egg hampers. These hampers are made up from Easter Eggs which are donated by VP families. Please give generously so that our winners can have a very chocolaty Easter!

---

Rehearsals

Please note important dates for our production of Alice in Wonderland.

21 February (Scene 7-10) 09:00-12:00

28 February (Scene 1-10) 09:00-13:00

7 March (Scene 1-10) 09:00-13:00

14 March – Full Dress Rehearsal 09:00-13:00

20 March (Morning – Cushion Show)

21 March Rehearsal TBC

24 March (School’s Cushion show)

24 March (Evening show) 18:00

25 March (Evening show) 18:00

26 March (Evening show) 18:00

---

Birthday wishes

Happy birthday to the following teachers and girls who celebrated this week:

Mrs T. Coetzee, Kazlin De Maar, Elamibhongo Sidima, Amahle Mchunu, Libhongo Mase, Lusenathi Ntoyanto, Megan van Staden, Olwenene Ndlole, Mivuyo Santi, Kaya Jones, Tori Coetzee, Kelsey Botha, Lumile Zani, Lunje Kota and Okuhle Smile.

We hope you had a very special birthday!

Regards

Mrs Rafferty

PRINCIPAL

Dates to remember
Saturday, 21 February	Alice in Wonderland rehearsal (Scene 7-10) 09:00 -12:00
Sunday, 22 February	Boarders return from Leave Out
Monday, 23 February	Grade 6G assembly @10:15
Thursday, 26 February	Tennis vs PAHS. Jnr tennis team (U9, 10, 11) @PAHS Snr team (U12, 13) @VP
Friday, 27 February	Founders’ Assembly @08:30. Parents & past pupils welcome.
Saturday, 28 February	Alice in Wonderland rehearsal (Scene 1-5) 09:00 -13:00 B-League gala in Gqeberha.

The GC Makhanda Nite Race 2026

Somerset Field, Graeme College on Wednesday, 4 March 2026

Registration: 16:30 | Race Start: 17:30

Distance: 8km

Delicious food, ice-cold drinks and awesome prizes

Bring your friends, bring your family, and support their 1st XI Hockey team while enjoying a fantastic night out in Makhanda!

Tickets: R20 Scholars  R30 Adults

Tickets are also available on Quicket.

Message from the office

A special thank you to all our parents who joined us at the Botanical Gardens last Friday, our ‘SIlent Bookclub’ was enjoyed by all! I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Happy Valentine’s Day tomorrow. May your Saturday be filled with love and meaningful connections.

Always remember to show your precious daughters just how loved she is.

Adapted from: https://rainforestlearningcentre.ca/5-significant-ways-to-show-children-they-are-loved-and-why-its-important/

Children really need their ‘love tank’ filled – not just this Valentine’s Day but every day! They need to know, through actions and words, that they are loved (and thus safe, and secure). If they don’t get enough visible love, they suffer. Quite literally –  it affects their mentality and behaviour.

So, how can we as parents show children they are loved? Here are five simple ways:

1) Ensure children get plenty of physical touch; kisses, hugs, back-rubs, hair strokes and hand holding are key to showing love.

2) Spend quality time with your daughters, giving them undivided attention, to show them you love them.

When we say “quality time,” we don’t mean watching T.V. together. This is also not about taking them somewhere so you can use your phone while they play with friends. It’s not taking them to the Pick ‘n Pay with you. The so-called, ‘must do’ errand is the child. It’s not the child plus something else.

We mean, really, take the time to interact with them. For hours. And regularly. In your schedule.

3) Tell children you love them.

Don’t assume that actions are enough. Sometimes, children need to be told they are loved.

4) Show appreciation for how they love you back, and for who they are.

Be sure that you thank them for the little things they do for you- their acts of love and thank them for simply being who they are – that they are unconditionally loved and accepted.

5) Performacts of service for your children, so that they know they are loved and that you care about what’s important to them.

This is simply put – “showing up.” It means that you make it to the play they spent weeks preparing for. You come to the hockey game and school events. You are there for them, during the events of life that are important to them. But it may also mean that you make them their favourite meal, ‘just because’. You teach them how to do things like ride a bike or bake a cake- those are the ‘big’ things in their life, even though they seem small to you. So, show them you care by doing those things with them.

---

Assembly

On Monday, 16 February Grade 7C will present our assembly. Parents are welcome to attend. Assembly starts at 10:15

---

Personality of the Week

Congratulations to our two girls who received their POW Certificates at Monday’s assembly; Simo Dyaloyi for Taking Initiative and for Helpfulness and to Unakho Maxhaulana for Honesty. Thank you for being an example to others, girls! We are also proud of Ms Makeba who also received a POW certificate for Courage. Thank you for setting such a courageous example for our girls, Ms Makeba!

---

Worker of the Week

Well done to Yusrah Suleman for her excellent work in Natural Sciences. Keep it up, Yusrah!

---

Swimming

Well done to all the girls who travelled to Gqeberha last Saturday to compete at the B-League gala. It was a long day and the girls swam beautifully.

 Much fun was had at the Graeme Relay Gala on Tuesday, where all our swimmers showed dedication and resilience. We are so proud of all of you! A special mention must go to the U9 relay teams who won all their races, even beating some of the boys teams! You go girls!

Best of luck to the girls selected to participate in the Sarah Baartman Primary Schools’ Trials Gala next Tuesday at DSG. These girls have received a letter with more details.

---

Tennis request

We are reaching out to anyone who may have tennis racquets that they are able to donate to VP. We are specifically looking for bigger-sized racquets. Thank you in advance for your support.

---

Athletics

This week was our last week of athletics practice for our girls that have been qualifying after each round.

Today, 7 selected girls went off to Gqeberha to participate at the Sarah Baartman District trials! To Amahle and Kaya in Grade 4, Emihle, Nalu and Etinosa in Grade 6 and Siphesihle and Akum in Grade 7, you were in our thoughts all day! We can’t wait to hear your results. We know that you’ll carry our Victoria Primary School flag high! Safe travels back!

---

Easter Egg Hamper – VPV Fundraiser

Our first fundraiser for this year will be a raffle for Easter Egg hampers. These hampers are made up from Easter Eggs which are donated by VP families. Please give generously so that our winners will have a very chocolaty Easter!

---

Rehearsals

Please note the dates of the rehearsals for Alice in Wonderland, coming up in February:

• 14 February (Scene 5-8) 09:00-12:00
• 21 February (Scene 7-10) 09:00-12:00
• 28 February (Scene 1-5) 09:00-12:00

---

Birthday wishes

Happy birthday to the following teachers and girls who celebrated this week: Mrs Mgogo, Ms Miskin, Tamera Ngwalase, Shameega Khohliso, Neo Molefe, Kazlin De Maar, Elamibhongo Sidima and Amahle Mchunu. We hope you had a very special birthday!

Regards

Mrs Rafferty

PRINCIPAL

Dates to remember
Saturday, 14 February	Alice in Wonderland rehearsal (Scene 5-8) @09:00-12:00
Monday, 16 February	Grade 7C assembly @10:15
Tuesday, 17 February	Sarah Baartman District Gala
Friday, 20 February	Boarders’ Leave Out
Saturday, 21 February	Alice in Wonderland rehearsal (Scene 7-10) 09:00-12:00
Sunday, 22 February	Boarders’ return

Message from the office
What a lovely week we have had celebrating the joy of reading and storytelling with our girls. The ‘my favourite book character’outifts were just delightful and I hope you have had a chance to view them on our closed Facebook page. I am looking forward to enjoying some quiet time reading with the VP community this afternoon in BOTS and we hope to see you there! Please don’t limit your family reading to this week only – make it a daily event when you share the joy of reading and books as a family (just before bedtime is the absolute best!) – these special times are what childhood dreams and happy memories are made of.

I would also like to share this note from the EC School managers group which links beautifully to our theme this year:

If you want to raise a strong child:
1. Don’t raise perfect children – raise honest, kind, and brave ones.
2. Listen to their small stories now, or they won’t share the big ones later.
3. Correct them gently, harsh words stay in their hearts longer than you think.
4. Teach them values, not pressure – grades fade, character stays.
5. Let them fail sometimes; confidence grows from ‘I survived that’.
6. Spend time, not money – memories matter more than things.
7. Appreciate their efforts, not just their results.
8. Be the parent they can come to, not the one they hide from.
9. Your child doesn’t need a perfect parent – just a present one.
10. One day they will grow up…but the way
you loved them will stay with them forever.

Reading in Unusual Places Competition
We were thrilled with the number of entries we received and the wonderfully creative photos sent in. It was an incredibly difficult decision to choose our winners as each entry was amazing in its own way. Congratulations to the following girls:
Tied for 3rd – Avethandwa Mxo and Kenzeigh Scear
2nd – Alexis Muller
1st – Nkwenkwezi Mtakati
A video of all our entries has been posted on the Facebook page.

Assembly
Grade 7V will be presenting their assembly on Monday. Parents are welcome to attend. The assembly will start at 10:15

SPCA Book sale
We were delighted with the wonderful collection of books that were on sale for our girls for very reasonable prices on Tuesday. The SPCA sent a letter of thanks for our support and they managed to raise R2647.00. I encourage you to visit the SPCA shop in High Street as they have a wonderful array of books to choose from for your girls.

Worker of the Week
Well done to Ezokuhle Kewuti for her lovely work in Natural Sciences. Keep it up

Uniform/ VP Flip Flops
Please note that girls may wear their VP flip flops with their sports clothes to school. FP have their designated sports clothes days and IP girls may only wear their sports clothes to school on the days that they have LSPE or LSPA on their timetable. When girls are in their school uniform they may wear their flip flops with their school uniform while on campus but they have to put their school shoes and socks on when they leave campus.

Valentine’s Day civvies
On Friday, 13 February we will have a Valentine’s Day themed civvies day (red, white and pink). The cost is R10. There will also be a tuckshop available.

Spur Voucher
Girls have all received a gift voucher which can be used at Spur restaurants.

Eye Screening
The team from Dr Davies’ Optometrists will be at VP on Monday and Tuesday doing the eye screenings.

Swimming
B-League Gala
On Saturday selected swimmers will take part in the B-League gala at the Newton Park swimming pool in Gqeberha. Good luck and travel safely!

Relay Gala
On Tuesday, 10 February our swimming team will participate in the GC Relay gala at 14:00. Girls participating in both galas have received letters. Swim well, girls!

Marimbas
We are very pleased with the level of interest in the marimbas. All the girls who have signed up will have auditions, which will take place next week during the marimba slots on the extramural timetable:
Monday 14:00-15:00 Grade 7
Tuesday 14:00-15:00 Grade 4
Wednesday 14:00-15:00 Grade 5
Thursday 14:00-15:00 Grade 6

Tennis request
We are reaching out to anyone who may have tennis racquets that they are able to donate to VP. We are specifically looking for bigger-sized racquets. Thank you in advance for your support.

Athletics
Our athletics team has had a busy week! On Wednesday, our field athletes took part in their first meet of the year which was held at PJ Olivier Hoerskool. We want to congratulate all of our girls who took part.
Special congratulations goes out to the following girls who placed first, second or third in their respective events:
U/10 Amahle Mchunu;
U/11 Mivuyo Santi;
U/12 Nalu Mfiki, Emihle Kulati and Etinosa Nini;
U/13 Lunje Manzana, Siphesihle Chrisjan and Chrissy Moriarty.
A select group of our track athletes participated in the Makhanda Finals today. We wish them a weekend of rest and await their results in anticipation!

Rehearsals
Please note the dates of the rehearsals for Alice in Wonderland coming up in February:
• 7 February (Scene 3-6) 09:00-12:00
• 14 February (Scene 5-8) 09:00-12:00
• 21 February (Scene 7-10) 09:00-12:00
• 28 February (Scene 1-5) 09:00-12:00

WhatsApp Broadcast Groups
Please let the office know (i.lang@victoriaprimary.co.za) or call 046 622 4850 or send a WhatsApp to 0834682706 if you are not receiving WhatsApp messages as yet and you requested to be added to the grade group.

Statements
Please note: Accounts for January 2026 were emailed out on Thursday. If you did not receive yours please send an email to Mrs Terblanche (t.terblanche@victoriaprimary.co.za)
to ensure you receive yours going forward.

VPV Meeting
We will be having a VPV meeting in the hall on Thursday, 12 February at 17:15 to discuss our fundraiser in more detail. Please join us if you are able!

Stockist
We have just been informed that one of our uniform stockists, Heinen Embroidery is closing down with immediate effect. Please note that Xtreme Embroidery and Birches still stock our clothing.

Birthday wishes
Happy birthday to the following girls who celebrated this week: Ngcwalisa Mbambo, Ncumolwam Mrwetyana, Hlumisa Piti, Nakhane Klei, Inam Toll, Zingce Pilisani, Onwaba Hoyi, Mizaan Marcus, Gabriella Cervati, Zizo Zomelele and Zenazi Mqoboli. We hope you had a very special birthday!

Regards

Mrs Rafferty
PRINCIPAL

Dates to remember
Saturday, 7 February: Alice in Wonderland rehearsal (Scene 3-6) @09:00-12:00 & B-League gala at the Newton Park pool in Gqeberha.

Monday, 9 February Gr 7V assembly @10:15. Parents welcome.

Tuesday, 10 February GC Relay Gala @14:00 & Pre-Primary workshop on Early Learning and Literacy @17:15-18:00

Wednesday, 11 February SGB meeting

Thursday, 12 February VPV meeting @17:15

Friday, 13 February Valentine’s Civvies Day (R10). Tuckshop available & Gr 7 Committee meetings 13:00-13:30

Saturday, 14 February Alice in Wonderland rehearsal (Scene 5-8) @09:00-12:00

Message from the office

As we spend the week celebrating World Read Aloud Day, I’d like to encourage you to bring books to life in your homes too. Find the time to read to each other, to have a quiet time at home when everyone is enjoying a good book and nurture the love of books and reading in your homes. While you are doing that, here are some tips to use this week (and every day after that) to enhance the experience.

Reading at home will help your daughter build vocabulary and critical reading skills.  Some ways you can help are: (https://www.mcbe.net/article/1513622)

1. Help Improve her Comprehension:

After reading a book with your child, ask her to tell you what the book was about. Being able to remember and restate important details of a story are key to reading comprehension.

Ask questions like:

• What do you think will happen next?
• What would you do?
• How would you feel?
• Why do you think the character did that?
• How does the character feel in this picture?
• What did you like about this book?

2. Mix it Up (but not too much):

Make reading fun by picking out new books at the library or book shop (or SPCA book sale), but don’t forget about your old books.  While new books can be fun, rereading a favourite book can help children work on pronouncing words properly and reading in a smoother tone.

3. Help Decode Unknown Words:

Help your daughter decode unfamiliar words by sounding them out, and by using clues from other parts of the sentence or story.  You may also help your child look up new words in a printed or online dictionary.

Some important things to consider:

*Children who were read to at least three times a week are twice as likely to score in the top 25% of reading scores.

*The number of books in the home correlates significantly with higher reading test scores.

*Children’s books contain 50% more rare words than you can get from TV.

Reading improves concentration, helps develop language skills, fosters curiosity about the world we live in, and helps your daughter do better in all subjects.

 World Read Aloud Plans for next week

Date	Event	Details
Monday, 2 February	Assembly @ 09h50	Read Aloud Assembly with special guests Presentation of ‘Reading in unusual places’ entrants and announcement of the winners.
Tuesday, 3 February		SPCA Book sale from 10:45-14:30.
Wednesday, 4 February	Reading in pairs	Girls come dressed as their favourite book character and pay R10 which will go towards ‘Friends of Bots’(If possible bring the book to school and tell your class all about him/her). ALL grades
			Friday, 6 February	Silent reading Club – Grade 1-7 All families invited. BOTS 13:00-14:00	Girls come to school in their sports clothes Walk girls to BOTS at 12:50 and back again at 13:50. Girls to be fetched from school at 14:00.

Personality of the Week

Congratulations to Andisiwe Mraji for being the first POW this year for displaying Compassion to a fellow classmate. Thank you, Andi!

Worker of the Week

Well done to Maham Rizvi who is our WOW this week for her beautiful work in EMS.

Athletics

Congratulations to all of our girls who took part in their first Athletics meet for 2026. The event was held at Rhodes University and our girls competed against a number of different schools. A special congratulations to the following girls who placed first, second or third in their events:

U10 – Kaya Jones, Amahle Mchunu and Leah Flotman

U11 – Alunamida Jakavula

U12 – Akum Mxo, Siphe Lande, Nalu Mfiki and Nazley Gabriel

U/13 – Esona Makabe.

We await finalised results to see if any of the above learners have made it through to the second round of trials that will take place in Gqeberha.

Tennis

We wish Halle Orsmond all of the best for the Inter Districts Tennis Tournament on Tuesday, 3 February.

We are reaching out to anyone who may have tennis racquets that they are able to donate to VP. We are specifically looking for bigger-sized racquets. Thank you in advance for your support.

 Lifesaving

Well done to Leah Fox in Grade 3 who successfully passed her Level 1 Lifesaving Test with Lifesaving South Africa. She will be competing in the EC Lifesaving Champs at Jeffrey’s Bay on 14 and 15 February and we wish her well. We are very proud of you, Leah!

 Swimming

Our team swimmers had a fantastic first gala at Kingswood yesterday! They all swam exceptionally well and made us proud – well done!

Chess

We wish the following girls all the very best as they head into their first round of trials for 2026 tomorrow: Bridget Akpeng, Ella Radovic, Lusenathi Ntoyanto, Makatendeka Chakona, Bubele Mvula, Lunje Tshiki, Katherine Marais, Zaya Dembaza, Tehillah Dingani, and Teia van Rooyen.

They will be playing at PJ Olivier from 08h30 through to late afternoon. It’s a long, grueling, and mentally demanding day ahead may they stay focused, resilient, and confident as they give it their all.

Marimba

Our marimbas arrive today and we are so excited to start playing them. Marimba band rehearsals will commence soon and girls are requested to express their interest using the sign-up sheets that will be available next week.

 Rehearsals

Please note the dates of the rehearsals for Alice in Wonderland coming up for January and February:

• 31 January (Scene 1-4) 09:00-12:00. Backstage crew & Gr 4, 6 & 7 dancers to attend from 09:00-11:00
• 7 February (Scene 3-6)
• 14 February (Scene 5-8)
• 21 February (Scene 7-10)
• 28 February (Scene 1-5)

HPV Vaccine

Grade 5 girls have all received forms from the Department of Health to complete. This is for consent for the girls to receive the first of two HPV vaccines. Please complete the form and send it back to school with your daughter. We will let parents know as soon as we have the date of the vaccination so that you can send her vaccine record book to school. The HPV vaccine is given to protect girls from cervical cancer.

 Victoria Primary Facebook Page

Please note that the VP Facebook page is a closed group. This is to protect our girls’ identities, as many of the visuals shared include their faces and school activities. Parents are welcome to request to join the Facebook page in order to stay updated on activities and events.

 Valentine’s fundraiser

Your daughter has received an order form for our Valentine’s fundraiser. We hope that you are able to support us and provide your daughter with a lovely little treat on Valentine’s Day!

 VPV (Victoria Primary Village – PKA: PTA)

We were thrilled with the turnout and enthusiasm of parents and staff who arrived for our first VPV meeting on Tuesday.

We congratulate Ms Cloete who is our chairperson, Mrs Olivier our deputy chair and Mrs Marais our secretary. If you were unable to attend but would still like to join our village, please send your request and cell number to Ms Lang (admin@victoriaprimary.co.za) to join our Whatsapp group. We have some exciting ideas for fundraisers this year. If you do not wish to be part of our Whatsapp Group, please check our weekly newsletters for any upcoming events and help in any way you can, however big or small – everyone’s contribution can make a big difference.

Birthday wishes

Happy birthday to the following staff and girls who celebrated this week: Ms Lang, Mrs Sauls, Ms Jamela, Ms Purdon, Lulama Joe, Obendalo Mdilitwana, Khanyile Gaxa, MacKenzie Phelan, Rebecca Berriman, Marabel Kuja, Oyintando Gumenge, Sesona Mnqinana, Tshiamo Moleko, Ntsako Shingange, Iyana Daweti, Kailani Mcuba and Ezokuhle Giyam.

We hope you had a very special birthday!

Please note that we have received new stock of our VP school bags (R750) and Swimma Caps (R140).

Regards

Mrs Rafferty

PRINCIPAL

Dates to remember
Saturday, 31 January	Alice in Wonderland rehearsal (Scene 1-4) @09:00-12:00 Backstage crew & Gr 4, 6 & 7 dancers to attend from 09:00-11:00.
Monday, 2 February	World Read Aloud Day Assembly @09:30
Tuesday, 3 February	SPCA Bookshop 10:00-14:00. All welcome.
Wednesday, 4 February	·       Come to school dressed as your favourite book character (Grade 00-7) ·       Inter schools Field Events (selected girls have received letters)
Friday, 6 February	·       ‘Silent book club’ at the Botanical Gardens @13:00-14:00 (Grade 1-7) ALL girls to be fetched from school @14:00 ·       Finals for inter schools track events (selected learners will receive letters on Monday)
Saturday, 7 February	·       Alice in Wonderland rehearsal (Scene 3-6) @09:00-12:00 ·       B-League gala at the Newton Park pool in Gqeberha.
Upcoming events	4 February 2026: Inter schools Field Events (selected girls have received letters)

Message from the office
Our motto for 2026 is ‘Strong Minds. Kind Hearts. Real Connections’.

Our focus is to develop girls who are resilient and possess a positive mind set and who show empathy and compassion to each other. We are also making it our aim to grow and nurture healthy human connections within VP – connections between our girls, the staff and our girls and the connections between our staff and you as the parents and even between all our parents as a VP community – all of which are essential to building girls who feel seen, heard, safe and validated.

PTA/VPV
Motivated by our focus on strengthening meaningful human connections this year, our staff have been exploring new ways to bring our school community closer together. From this thinking, we are excited to introduce a new approach to parent involvement: the Victoria Primary Village (VPV).

We understand that committing to a formal committee can feel daunting, particularly for young families. The fear of committing and then not being able to follow through is a very real dilemma many parents face. The VPV has been created with this in mind.

While the VPV will have a small core group overseeing fundraising and planning, it will be open and flexible. Parents will be able to join a specific event or committee that aligns with their availability or even with something their daughter is already participating in. This means you can volunteer for one event, perhaps one you would already be attending, without the pressure of long-term commitment.

Our VPV welcomes all forms of involvement; whether that is making a donation, sourcing donations, or physically assisting at events. Every contribution, big or small, helps strengthen our school community.

We invite all parents (Grade 00-7) to attend the first VPV meeting on Tuesday, 27 January at 17h15. You may choose to be part of the core group or simply join a community that supports a particular event and connect with fellow moms and dads at the same time.

We truly hope you will consider being part of our VPV as we work together to support our girls and our school.

Transport
I am sure that you are aware of the devastating news of 14 young learners who lost their lives in a private school transport accident this week. I implore you to not compromise on the safety of your daughter’s transport to school. All too often girls are dropped off in the mornings in clearly overloaded vehicles, without safety belts and often the learners are crammed like sardines into the boot of a hatchback or bakkie. Please ensure that your daughter’s transport is safe; that the vehicle’s roadworthy certificate is up to date, the driver has a PDP (Professional Driver’s Permit Licence) and that it is not expired, and that your daughter gets buckled up and has her own seat. Accidents happen, but if your daughter is not strapped in and she is in an overcrowded vehicle the chances of tragedy are quadrupled. Let’s keep our precious girls safe.

Message from the SGB Chairperson
Welcome Back to the New Academic Year
As the School Governing Body, we warmly welcome our school community to the new academic year. We hope the holiday break brought rest, laughter, and special moments with loved ones, and that everyone returns refreshed and hopeful. It is heart-warming to see our girls settling with confidence, parents reconnecting with the school, and staff returning with care and dedication.
At the start of the year, it is important to remember that creating a safe, nurturing, and disciplined environment is a shared responsibility. When parents, teachers, and staff work together, our girls feel supported, confident, and free to learn, grow, and dream. Every word of encouragement and every act of care helps shape not only strong learners, but confident and compassionate young girls.

Secondly, our girls are at the heart of everything we do. A strong partnership between home and school allows them to flourish. Being present, staying involved, and meeting our shared responsibilities, including the payment of school fees, helps ensure that the school remains a place of opportunity, stability, and growth for every child.

Finally, we look ahead with hope and optimism. We wish you all a fulfilling and successful year and extend our warmest wishes to our entire school family for a year filled with joy, growth, and shared achievement. May this be a year where love, care, and unity guide us in all that we do for our girls.
Mrs Thando Qeqe
Chairperson of the School Governing Body

Smartphones @VP
A reminder of our school’s stance on children under the age of 16 not having access to smartphones. We believe that smartphones and access to social media and the internet are damaging young lives. The process is largely unseen and silent. Additionally, the after effects of access to online bullying, inappropriate social pressure and harmful content is not only damaging but often has a knock-on effect of discipline and other issues we are
expected to then deal with at school. Smartphones are exposing our children to social contexts that they are simply not mature enough to process – and as children, never will be.
We have made a call for parents and guardians to:
• not purchase a smartphone for their child until they are 14 years of age
• not allow their children access to social media until they are 16 years of age
We appeal to our VP parents to commit to this call to ensure that their girls have healthier, less stressful childhoods. If more of our parents stand up and say no, the more it will become the norm, the healthier (socially, mentally, socially and physically) our girls will be.

Assembly
We have our first class, Grade 7S, presenting their assembly on Monday, 26 January. Parents are welcome to attend. The assembly starts at 10:15.

Worker of the Week
Well done to Anna Malamis who is our WOW this week for her lovely Maths cover. Keep up the good work, Anna!

Eye screenings
The EyeStore and Dr Davies Optometrists will visit from 9-13 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. A more comprehensive test will also be on offer at a cost of R55, 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, including the fee if you would like a more comprehensive test for your daughter.
Kingswood College Short Course Gala
On Thursday, 29 January we will participate in the Kingswood College Short Course gala at Kingswood College swimming pool. The event begins at 14:00. Girls who will be swimming will receive a letter with more details.

B-League Gala
The third B-league Age Group gala for the season will be taking place on Saturday, 7 February 2026 at the Newton Park Swimming Pool in Gqeberha. Girls involved will receive a letter with more details.

Athletics – Zone 1 Makhanda Trials
Congratulations to the girls who have been selected to attend the Zone 1 Makhanda Athletics Trials taking place on Wednesday, 28 January 2026 at Rhodes Prospect field. The selected athletes have received their official letters. We wish all the girls the very best of luck and trust that they will represent the school with pride.

Reminder of arrangements for World Read Aloud Day
During the week of 2-6 February, we will be celebrating World Read Aloud Day. As part of this celebration we would like to run a photo competition. Girls are ncouraged to send in photos to school of themselves reading in unusual places. On 2 February we will show all our entries at our assembly and the winners will be announced. Entries can be emailed to admin@victoriaprimary.co.za. Winners stand to win a Bargain Books gift voucher. Closing date for all entries is on Thursday, 29 January – which is just around the corner so don’t leave it too late!

• On Wednesday, 4 February, we will have a paired reading day and our girls are encouraged to come to school dressed as their favourite book character. As part of our community outreach, girls are to pay R10 to dress up. All funds raised will be donated to Friends of Bots, a cause dedicated to maintaining and beautifying our Botanical Gardens.

• On Friday, 6 February we will have a ‘silent bookclub’ which all girls Grade 1-7 will participate in. This will be a compulsory event for our girls but we would love all our VP families and extended families and friends to join us. We will be walking down to the Botanical Gardens for 13:00 and will read there for 45 minutes until we walk back to school. Girls will get books from their teachers but are welcome to bring a book of their own too! Girls can bring a blanket to lie on and they may sit with their friends or families and enjoy a quiet time reading in the beautiful gardens. If you are able to join us during your lunch hour we would love to have you. Girls must come to school on this Friday dressed in their sports clothes (black shorts, navy golf shirt and takkies or VP flipflips) – the VP cap/hat and suntan cream is a good idea too! Please collect your daughter’s at school at 14:00.

Rehearsals Please note the dates of the rehearsals for Alice in Wonderland coming up for January and February:

24 January (Scene 1-2 – ALL to attend) -09:00-12:00
31 January (Scene 3-4)
7 February (Scene 5-6)
14 February (Scene 7-8)
21 February (Scene 9-10)
28 February (Scene 1-5)

Birthdays
Girls are allowed to come dressed in their civvies clothes on their birthdays. If their birthday falls over the weekend they can choose to wear their civvies either on a Friday or Monday. If girls have their birthdays over the holidays, they can wear their civvies on the first day back the following term as we have an academic assembly on the last day of term. We will have special assemblies where we will request that all girls are dressed in their full school uniform – they can then wear their civvies the following day. If the girls have LSPE or LSPA on that day they will still be required to bring the necessary clothes and change for those lessons.

Birthday wishes
Happy birthday to the following girls who celebrated this week: Lulo Ponoshe. Zingcwele Mangali, Isla Orsmond, Aliyah Swartz, Luné Coetzee and Rebecca Phillip.
We hope you had a very special birthday!

Regards

Mrs Rafferty
PRINCIPAL

Dates to remember
Saturday, 24 January Alice in Wonderland rehearsal @09:00-12:00
Monday, 26 January Grade 7S Assembly @10:15
Tuesday, 27 January VPV meeting @17:15
Wednesday, 28 January Athletics Zonal trials
Thursday, 29 January • World Read Aloud day photo competition ends
• KC Short Course Gala @14:00
Saturday, 31 January Wonderland Rehearsal (Scene 3-4)
Upcoming • Come to school dressed as your favourite book character on Wednesday, 4 February (R10)
• ‘Silent bookclub’ at the Botanical Gardens Friday, 6 February @13:00-14:00 (Grade 1-7)

Message from the office 16 January 2026
A very warm welcome back to school to all our VP families for 2026. A special welcome to our new families who have joined us this year. Our first day back on Wednesday was marked with such excitement and it was a joy to see our girls and staff so happy to be back at school. Our little Grade Ones slotted into ‘big school’ with such ease and I am sure they will have a happy year.

On a much sadder note, we extend our heartfelt condolences and thoughts to the Skeyi family on the tragic passing of Linomtha Skeyi, a former VP girl and a member of our hostel community. We honoured her memory with a moment of silence at our assembly this week, and we continue to keep her family and loved ones in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

Staff News
We’d like to congratulate Mr Buka who was awarded his masters in Art – we are so proud of him! We are also thrilled for Ms Songongo, one of our interns, who was placed on the Dean’s Merit list for the outstanding results she achieved this year for her teaching studies. We are also very excited for Ms Le Roux who finished her studies last year and is now officially a qualified teacher AND she got engaged this past holiday! Whoop whoop!

I would also like to officially welcome Ms Leppan onto our staff – she is already getting stuck into our library with much enthusiasm. We welcome three new interns; Ms Yawa, Ms Quza and Ms Mbebe who are all in the pre-primary. We are certain that they will learn a lot and we are delighted to have them at VP!

Worker of the Week: Well done to Nevaya Jacobs in Grade 2 who is our first Worker of the Week for 2026. She has already received two Principal’s stickers!

PTA AGM: Please note that we will have our PTA AGM on Tuesday, 20 January. 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.

PTA Meeting: Please note that we will have our first PTA meeting on Tuesday, 27 January at 17:15 in the school hall. All parents (moms and dads) who would like to serve on this committee and help fundraise for our school, are invited to attend this meeting.

WhatsApp group: We have given all the girls a notice that parents can complete to be added to the VP Whatsapp groups. During next week we will capture this information. Please ensure that you have the VP cellphone number (0834682706) as a contact on your phone so that you can be added. A reminder that if you have an enquiry you must please call the office 046 622 4850 not the cellphone. This is for information sharing from the school side only.

School Hours:

Pre-primary 07:30-12:30

Grade 1, 2 & 3 07:25-13:00 (extramurals until 14:00)

Grade 4-7 07:25-14:00

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) once extramurals end. 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 (Beaufort Street entrance) or the Huntley Street gate – these are 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.

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.
If a learner is feeling ill at school the office will contact her parent(s)/guardian(s) to take the learner home.
Administering medication at school: Whenever possible please ensure that you administer medication at home. Girls may not have any medication (prescribed and over-the-counter) on their person or in their school bag while at school. If it becomes necessary for prescription medication to be administered during school hours please request the form from the office and return it with a copy of the prescription and the relevant medication. The daily dosage will then be administered from the office.

Extramurals
Extramurals start on Monday, 19 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 that 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.
Marimba band: The music staff are incredibly excited that our Marimbas will be arriving in the next few weeks! As they are not yet here, Marimba Band as scheduled on the extra-mural timetable, will only begin once we receive our order. We will continue to keep you up updated, and as soon as they arrive Marimba Band will become another exciting part of our extramural programme!
Reading Club Change: Please note that the Reading Club has been moved from Tuesdays (15:30 – 16:15) to Wednesdays (15:00 – 16:00). This is by invitation only.

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.

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 hers. 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 that 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.

Medical Forms: Medical Forms have been handed out to the girls. Please complete them and send the necessary accompanying documents if relevant. If you don’t have medical aid you still need to fill in the form as it is vital for our sport and school trips.

World Read Aloud Day
During the week of 2-6 February we will be celebrating World Read Aloud Day. As part of this celebration we would like to run a photo competition. Girls are encouraged to send in photos to school of themselves reading in unusual places. On 2 February we will show all our entries at our assembly and the winners will be announced. Entries can be emailed to admin@victoriaprimary.co.za. Winners stand to win a Bargain Books gift voucher. Closing date for all entries is on Thursday, 29 January – which is just around the corner so don’t leave it too late!
• On Wednesday, 4 February, we will have a paired reading day and our girls are encouraged to come to school dressed as their favourite book character. As part of our community outreach, girls are to pay R10 to dress up. All funds raised will be donated to Friends of Bots, a cause dedicated to maintaining and beautifying our Botanical Gardens.
• On Friday, 6 February we will have a ‘silent bookclub’ which all girls Grade 1-7 will participate in. This will be a compulsory event for our girls but we would love all our VP families and extended families and friends to join us. We will be walking down to the Botanical Gardens for 13:00 and will read there for 45 minutes until we walk back to school. Girls will get books from their teachers but are welcome to bring a book of their own too! Girls can bring a blanket to lie on and they may sit with their friends or families and enjoy a quiet time reading in the beautiful gardens. If you are able to join us during your lunch hour we would love to have you. Girls must come to school on this Friday dressed in their sports clothes (black shorts, navy golf shirt and takkies or VP flipflips) – the VP cap/hat and suntan cream is a good idea too! Please collect your daughter’s at school at 14:00.

Alice in Wonderland rehearsals
Rehearsals for Alice will begin next Saturday. The schedule for January is as follows:
Wonderland Rehearsal (Scene 1-2 – ALL to attend) – 24 January (09:00-12:00)
Wonderland Rehearsal (Scene 3-4) – 31 January

Chess Trials and Practice Sessions – Sarah Baartman Team Selection
The following chess trial dates have been scheduled in Makhanda:
31 January, 14 March, and 18 April. Please note that these are three of the nine total trial dates.
The remaining trials will be held in Jeffrey’s Bay and Graaff-Reinet. To be considered for selection for the Sarah Baartman Chess Team, a player is required to attend at least three (3) of the nine (9) trial dates. If your daughter would like to compete but is unable to attend one of the listed trial dates, please email Ms Miskin (l.miskin@victoriaprimary.co.za) to enquire about alternative dates, which will also take place in the locations mentioned above.
Please remember that chess practice takes place every Monday, with a second session held every Thursday. Players are welcome to attend one or both sessions. We encourage everyone to participate whenever possible and fit in a few chess moves where they can.

Birthday wishes
We wish the girls who celebrated their birthdays so far this year a very happy birthday!
Ronay Francis, Lima Tukula, Willow Hector, Ingcali-Yomso Mani, Asante Nyenzane, Lunje Peter, Likamvelihle Dyibishe, Buhlebenkosi Mapitsha, Oyahuma Renene, Ahlumile Vusani, Kungothando Nzuzo, Langa Mtakati, Sizoluhle Matswele, Caitlyn Bodill, Mbalentle Dyaloyi, Oyintando Nkatazo, Zelné Leach, Akum Mxo, Ayazi Klei, Sama Torweni, Bongamusa Louw, Inamandla Mnyapa, Isipho Nelana, Nalu Matshaya, Giselle Peters, Owam Bebeto, Imboyothando Ngcala and Ladine van Wyk.

Regards

Mrs Rafferty
PRINCIPAL

Dates to remember

PTA AGM and Class visits (Gr 2-7) Tuesday, 20 January @17:15

PTA meeting on Tuesday, 27 January @17:15

World Read Aloud events:

• Closing date for all photo competition entries is on Thursday, 29 January
• Come to school dressed as your favourite book character on Wednesday, 4 February (R10)
• ‘Silent bookclub’ at the Botanical Gardens Friday, 6 February @13:00-14:00 (Grade 1-7)

Alice rehearsals: Saturday, 24 January @09:00-12:00

Message from the office

This will be our second last newsletter before the final one shared with reports. We have a very full programme for the next two weeks and school attendance is compulsory until your daughter’s grade’s prizegiving. The girls will be fully engaged in many activities including preparing for their respective prizegivings, our carol service and the Grade 7 valedictory.

Please review the events in our newsletter and prepare for each exciting day ahead.

Grade 1-7 times will be 07:25-13:00 every day. If girls have trials they must please bring the required sports clothes/equipment to school. Please return all Library books and readers. Books not returned will be charged to your child’s account.

Mon. 17 November	Class parties & Grade 7 Fun Day Girls can come to school in civvies. Each teacher will let their girls know what their plans are.
Tues. 18 November	10:30-11:30 U13 Netball trials for 2026. 11:30-12:30 Grade 6 tennis trials. 11:30-13:00: Grade 3-6 girls are invited to audition for our 2026 Production. 15:00: The orchestra and chamber choir members will perform for the residents at Brookshaw. Girls must be collected from the VP office entrance at 16:00.
Wed. 19 November	11:30-13:00: Grade 3-6 girls are invited to audition for our 2026 Production. 11:30-12:30: Grade 4&5 tennis trials. 10:30-11:30 U13 Netball trials for 2026.
Thurs. 20 November	Get into the Christmas spirit and join us for our Carol Service at 17:30. All welcome. Come dressed for Christmas (preferably in keeping with our green/red Christmas theme). All three choirs (junior, senior and chamber), as well as the Orchestra will be performing in the service. In the charitable spirit of the occasion, we will be collecting second-hand clothing, so please consider bringing second-hand clothing in good condition, including non-branded school uniform items. These donations will be delivered to learners in need, and to the SPCA charity shop. Orchestra to arrive at 16:30. Choir to arrive at 17:00. Parents and girls to be seated by 17:30. If you are dropping your daughter off please collect her at 18:30. Last day for books to be returned (readers & library books).
Fri. 21 November	Grade 7 Valedictory at 08:30-09:30 Grade 1- 6 to attend. All parents and extended families are welcome to join us. 11:15: Leavers’ Tunnel. 11:30-13:00: Grade 7 Leavers’ Lunch (girls only).
Mon. 24 November	Grade 4s write the National Assessment Natural Sciences 2026 Production auditions (TBC)
Tues. 25 November	Grade 4s write the National Assessment Mathematics 2026 Production auditions (TBC)
Wed. 26 November	09:00: Pre-Primary and Grade 1 Prizegiving. Parents invited. 11:00: Grade 2&3 Prizegiving. Parents invited. Last day of school for PP & FP. They may leave for their holiday after their Prizegiving
Thurs. 27 November	08:00: Grade 4&5 Prizegiving. Parents invited. 11:00: Grade 6&7 Prize Giving at 11:00. Parents invited.   Last day of school for IP. They may leave for their holiday after their Prizegiving Hostel closes at 15:00
Your daughter must be dressed smartly in her summer uniform for all prizegivings and her hairstyle must be in accordance with our school rules. Grade 4-7 girls must wear their blazers to their Prizegiving. All Indlulamthi & Merit badges must be returned. R50 will be charged for lost badges.
Wed. 3 December	Report Collection 07:30-08:30  Grade 00&R: Beaufort Street, Pre-Primary entrance.  Grade 1-7: Beaufort Street, Office entrance

Worker of the Week

Our WOW is Avethandwa Mxo for getting full marks for her spelling test this week – and for her friendly smile. Well done, Ave!

 Birthday wishes

We wish the following girls a very happy birthday for the rest of November: Lerato Racoco, Simosihle Dyaloyi, Mariam Moorad, Lucy Bennett, Zoey Riddin, Owekhethelo Gongqa, Maham Rizvi, Iminqweno Qalani, Oluhle Mpati, Tessanne Arries, Hannah Wessels, Kelly Smith, Linomtha Gonyela, Madison Conroy and Amvuyele Mlungu.

We hope you have a lovely day!

Regards

Mrs Rafferty

PRINCIPAL

 

Message from the office

For the next two weeks our focus will be on exams and studying for our Grade 4-7 girls. As you are aware VP advocates for a cell phone/smart phone free childhood and we especially stress the importance of not having screen time to distract your girls when they are trying to study – not to mention the impact it can have on a good night’s sleep. Now more than ever, although they may not agree, it is important for you, to parent, and to take away that distraction from your girls for their benefit. This includes the TV (as well as the loud volume while you may be watching) and computers. It is the small sacrifices we all make as a family which stresses the importance for education, exam time and school performance. Give your girls a fighting chance and support their learning in every way possible for the next two weeks. NB!!!  It is important as parents to remember that NOT all things are negotiable.

---

School and Office Hours

A reminder that school will end at 13:00 during exams and that there will be NO extramurals besides choir and orchestra practice. Please make arrangements for your daughter to be fetched at 13:00 so that she can have a short break at home before settling down and preparing for her next exam. We do not want children wasting an afternoon away waiting for their lift when they could be studying.

Please note the change in office hours for the rest of the year:

Monday to Thursday 07:00-15:30

Friday: 07:00-14:30.

There should be no children waiting outside school after the office closes as that would mean they have wasted two to two and a half hours of study time!

 Please note that there will be NO newsletter on Friday, 7 November.

---

Music & Chamber Choir

Although there will be no extramurals during the exam period, Orchestra and Chamber Choir will continue, running from 13:00 to 14:00 on Fridays.

---

Farewell and Welcome back

We say farewell to Ms Trollip today who filled in for Mrs Dewey while she was on maternity leave. Thank you for the love and support you showed our girls, Ms Trollip. We warmly welcome Mrs Dewey back on Monday.

---

Exam timetable:

Girls must return their textbooks after each exam. Damaged and lost textbooks will be charged for. Any outstanding library books and readers need to be returned too.

Mon.3/11	Eng/FAL Creative Writing
Tues.4/11	Life Orientation (Grade 7) Eng/FAL Creative Writing
Wed.5/11	FAL Language & Comprehension (Grade 6&7) English Language & Comprehension (Grade 4&5) Technology (Grade 7)
Thurs.6/11	Geography (Grade 4-7) FAL Language & Comprehension (Grade 4&5) English Language & Comprehension (Grade 6&7)
Fri7/11	Art & LSPA (Grade 4-6) Maths Paper 1 (Grade 4-7)
Mon.10/11	EMS (Grade 7) Maths Paper 2 (Grade 4-7) NS Grade 4 DOE Common test (TBC)
Tues.11/11	Natural Sciences (Grade 4-7)
Wed.12/11	History (Grade 4-7) Maths Grade 4 DOE Common Test (TBC)
Thurs.13/11	LSPA Theory & Practical (Gr 7) Art Theory (Grade 7) Life Skills (Grade 4-6)

Stationery Top Ups for Exams

A reminder that girls are not allowed to share any stationery during exams.

Grade 6&7: Please make sure that your daughter has her own standard Maths set.

Grade 4-7 also need two pens, two HB pencils, a sharpener, eraser, ruler and colouring-in pencils.

All Grade 4-7 girls will need coloured khoki’s or colouring-in pencils for their Art exam.

---

Grade 7 Portfolio announcements:

Congratulations to our Grade 7 girls and the announcement of their respective committees. It was wonderful to see the excitement and enthusiasm on the day.

Congratulations to the house captains and Sport and Cultural captains who were announced too. The committee heads and the Head Girl and Deputy Head Girl will be announced at the end of Term 1 in 2026.

 House Captains for 2026:

Aloe: Amari Funani

Arum: Siphesihle Chrisjan

Disa: Akum Mxo

Fern: Kungothando Ngangani

 

Sport and Cultural Captains for 2026:

Hockey: Lunje Manzana

Netball: Siphesihle Chrisjan

Athletics: Lunje Manzana

Tennis: Lunje Tshiki

Swimming:  Anathi Mbandlakazi

Choir: Christelle Moriarity

Orchestra: Kungothando Ngangani

Congratulations, girls!

---

Indlulamthi Badges

Congratulations to Taylynne Thomas and Ayomide Booi who were awarded their Indlulamthi Badges at Monday’s assembly. We are so proud of you both.

---

Worker of the Week

Our WOW this week is Madison Conroy for her beautiful and creative LSPA Term 4 cover. Well done, Madison!

---

Conquesta 2025 Results

Congratulations and well done to all the girls who entered Conquesta this year. VP achieved a wonderful set of results and special mention must be made of our Diamond Achievement (79%) in Social Sciences and Gold Achievement (71%) in Life Skills.

The following girls received over 70 percent in their respective subjects. Well done, girls!

Grade 4:

Anopa-Nyasha Thondla: English and Life Skills

Chanelle Musarurwa: English

Andisiwe Mraji: Social Sciences

Aliyah Swart: English

Arya Ritchie: Life Skills

Grade 5:

Linomtha Gonyela: English and Social Sciences

Cayden Strauss: English

Isla Orsmond: English

Asivuse Shumane: Social Sciences

Lulo Ponoshe: English

Sama Torweni: English

Grade 6:

Christelle Moriarty: English and Life Skills 1+2.

Grade 7

Uzosule Kanana: English and Social Sciences

Alibongwe Mthembu: Bible Study

---

Grade 1, 2 & 3 swimming

Please note that although school will end at 13:00 from next week onwards, the Gr 1, 2 & 3s will continue their morning intramural programme. They will wear sports clothes everyday, except on Friday when they wear their formal school uniform.

Swimming days are as follows:

Monday Grade 3; Tuesday Grade 2; Wednesday Grade 3.

---

Gala News

Well done to our swimming team that participated in the Dolphin Shield Gala yesterday. Everyone swam their hearts out and made VP proud.

Next Saturday, 8 November, team swimmers will be heading to Gqeberha to take part in the B-League gala, our last gala for the year. Swim well girls and have fun!

---

Plans for after exams

(Mon. 17/11-Thurs. 27/11):

Please note that girls are expected to come to school every day even if no event is highlighted on a specific date, we will be practising and rehearsing for our Carol Service, Prizegivings and Grade 7s will need to rehearse for their Valedictory. Grade 1-7 times will be 07:25-13:00 every day.

Date:	Event:
Fri. 7/11	PP, Grade 1 & Grade 2 Sports Day
Mon. 17/11	Class parties & Grade 7 Fun Day Girls can come in civvies on this day. Each teacher will let their girls know what their plans are.
Thurs. 20/11	Get into the Christmas spirit and join us for our Carol Service at 17:30- All welcome. Come dressed for Christmas.
Fri. 21/11	Grade 7 Valedictory at 08:30-09:30 Grade 1- 6 to attend. All parents and extended families are welcome to join us. Grade 7 Leavers’ Lunch at 11:00-13:00 (Girls only).
Wed. 26/11	Pre-Primary and Grade 1 Prize Giving at 09:00 Grade 2&3 Prize Giving at 11:00. Parents invited. Last day of school for PP & FP. They may leave for their holiday after their Prize Giving
Thurs. 27/11	Grade 4&5 Prize Giving at 08:00 Grade 6&7 Prize Giving at 11:00. Parents invited. Last day of school for IP. They may leave for their holiday after their Prizegiving
Wed. 3/12	Collect reports from school 07:30-08:30

---

VP Visitor

We will be visited by well-know children’s author, Refiloe Moahloli on Wednesday, 5 November. Her books will be on sale on the Pre-primary verandah from 12:30 to 13:15. Please feel free to come and have a look (and buy) when you collect your daughters.

---

Birthday wishes

We wish the following girls a very happy birthday for this week and the next two weeks: Lily Walwyn. Azachume Manganya, Asaya Diniso, Sithe-Nkosi Busakwe, Ezokuhle Kewuti, Kwakhanya Kondile, Ciana Moodie, Sesisiphho Mbaba, Thandolwam Mpati, Kayla Kalimani, Isabella Tladi, Teia van Rooyen, Mbali-Entle Fex, Arabella Appollis, Esosa Egbe, Buhle Mamase, Ngozichukwuka Edozeem, Ava Sauls, Lunathi Makasi and Sambesiwe Dyantyi. We hope you have a lovely day!

 Regards

Mrs Rafferty

PRINCIPAL

Upcoming events

 

Fri 31/10	Grade 7 Committee meetings (Grade 6&7s to attend) 13:00-13:30
Mon 3/11	Exams begin. Grade 1-7 school finishes at 13:00. No extramurals. Office closes at 15:30.
Fri 7/11	Pre-Primary, Grade 1 & 2 Sports Day. No newsletter.

 

 

Message from the office

On Monday we will be announcing our Grade 7 Committees and House Captains at assembly at 10:00. Parents are welcome to join us.

2026 will be the third year that we have implemented our committees and they have proved to be a valuable platform for all our Grade 7 girls to learn communication skills, team work, and how to collaborate with each other, and their teachers, in order to make a meaningful impact in their final year of primary school. I have been very impressed and proud of our Grade 7s this year and the various projects, fundraisers and initiatives they have implemented. I am certain that our 2026 Grade 7s will learn and grow in their respective committees next year and we look forward to seeing what ideas and projects they may be inspired to bring to fruition.

“Real leadership is leaders recognizing that they serve the people that they lead.” — Pete Hoekstra

We only have one more week of class teaching and extramurals before our Grade 4-7s start writing exams. I trust that your daughter has been working hard in preparation for her final examinations of the year.

Please note that the school will end at 13:00 as from Monday, 3 November for Grade 1-7. I request that you make the necessary arrangements for your daughter to be collected promptly so that she can go home and start preparing for her exams the next day.

Uniform

Please note that girls should all be in full summer uniform now. No long-sleeved shirts, stockings, trousers and long socks. Please no long-sleeved vests under the short-sleeved shirts.

---

Worker of the Week

Congratulations to Rose Jordaan who is our WOW. She came to see me a few times this week for her lovely work. Well done, Rose.

---

Music

Music pupils are reminded that they will play their scales tests next week. The Term 4 assessments will be scheduled for the following week, from 3-7 November.

---

Creative Arts Practice (Grade 7)

There will be a compulsory practice for Dance & Music groups on Saturday, 25 October from 09:00-12:00. Girls must please enter and exit from the Pre-Primary gate. Please ensure you drop off and collect your daughter on time at the Pre-Primary Gate. Once the rehearsal time slot has started no one will be at the gate to let them in.

The Grade 7 Drama groups will have their compulsory practice on Saturday, 1 November.

---

Swimming news!

Best of luck to our 11 swimmers who are travelling to Gqeberha on Saturday to participate in the 1st B-League gala of the season. Have fun, girls!

Next week Thursday, 30 October, select team swimmers will be participating in the Dolphin Shield Gala at DSG. These girls will receive a letter with more details. Parents are welcome to come and support.

---

Civvies Day

On Friday, 31 October we will have a civvies day. Girls must pay R10 (or more). The funds will go towards our support staff’s (ground staff and cleaners) Christmas vouchers, in thanks for all the hard work they do for our girls throughout the year.

 

---

Grade 4-7 Exam Timetable

From Monday, 3 November until the end of the term Grade 4-7 school times will be 07:25-13:00. No extramurals.

Girls must return their textbooks after each exam. Damaged and lost textbooks will be charged for. Any outstanding library books and readers need to be returned too.

Mon.3/11	Eng/FAL Creative Writing
Tues.4/11	Life Orientation (Grade 7) Eng/FAL Creative Writing
Wed.5/11	FAL Language & Comprehension (Grade 6&7) English Language & Comprehension (Grade 4&5) Technology (Grade 7)
Thurs.6/11	Geography (Grade 4-7) FAL Language & Comprehension (Grade 4&5) English Language & Comprehension (Grade 6&7)
Fri.7/11	Art & LSPA (Grade 4-6) Maths Paper 1 (Grade 4-7)
Mon.10/11	EMS (Grade 7) Maths Paper 2 (Grade 4-7) NS Grade 4 DOE Common test (TBC)
Tues.11/11	Natural Sciences (Grade 4-7)
Wed.12/11	History (Grade 4-7) Maths Grade 4 DOE Common Test (TBC)
Thurs.13/11	LSPA Theory & Practical (Gr 7) Art Theory (Grade 7) Life Skills (Grade 4-6)

 Stationery Top Ups for Exams

A reminder that girls are not allowed to share any stationery during exams.

Grade 6&7: Please make sure that your daughter has her own standard Maths set.

Grade 4-7 also need two pens, two HB pencils, a sharpener, eraser, ruler and colouring-in pencils.

All Grade 4-7 girls will need coloured khoki’s or colouring-in pencils for their Art exam.

---

Checkers “Little Shop” toys

If you have been receiving the latest Checkers give-away toys with your shopping, please consider donating them to our Pre-Primary for use in class. They are used for fantasy play, counting and many other fun activities.

---

Birthday wishes

We wish the following girls a very happy birthday for this week: Lusanele Matya, Limnandi Zweni and Asipithemba Thomas. We hope you have a lovely day!

 Regards

Mrs Rafferty

PRINCIPAL

Upcoming events

Fri 24/10	No Chamber Choir & Orchestra
Sat 25/10	Grade 7 Dance & Music groups workshop 09:00-12:00 B-League Gala in Gqeberha
Mon 27/10	House Assembly @10:00. Announcement of 2026 House committees and House Captains.
Thurs 30/10	Dolphin Shield gala @DSG
Fri 31/10	Civvies Day Last day of Grade 4-7 extramurals
Sat 1/11	Grade 7 Drama groups workshop 09:00-12:00
Mon 3/11	Exams begin. Grade 1-7 school finishes at 13:00. No extramurals.