Mr Greyling presented the assembly on Monday which happened to be both Valentine’s day and his birthday! The theme, not surprisingly, was all about love. It got me thinking about the love a parent has for a child.

I always had such a romanticised idea about having children and how wonderful it would be! What a shock it was when I finally had children, there is nothing romantic about it. It is no sleep, no time for yourself and constant juggling of the various spheres of your life. Parenting is not easy but it certainly is one of the biggest privileges we can ever experience. We are not always going to be perfect and get it right as we are literally learning on the job, from the first day we bring them home from the hospital to when they are young adults themselves. Our children will have moments of making us so proud, moments of pure joy and also moments of frustration, embarrassment and ever raging madness.

As our children grow up and reveal themselves to us, they may not always match what we expected and sometimes in other spheres they exceed our expectations but whatever may be the case we need to love them for who they are and where they are at. There are many ways to say ‘I love you!’ but our daily actions will make them feel secure in our love.

• Set time aside each day to spend time with your child and really listen to them
• Respect their space and allow them to be on their own, especially as they get older
• When you need to correct or discipline your child, mind your words. Address their behaviour and not them personally. For example say, ‘What you did there was very unkind’ as opposed to ‘You are very unkind!’
• Pick them up and drop them off at school on time. Yes this is important. This tells them that you value their schooling and it’s important to you too and you love them too much to make them late every morning or leave them waiting for long hours every afternoon.
• Support them at as many school functions as you possibly can
• Make sure they have clean clothes to wear and help them to be ready for each school day
• Always know where they are and who they are with
• Set boundaries in your home and what is and isn’t acceptable. Believe it or not, boundaries make children feel secure, safe and loved
• Keep your promises or don’t make them in the first place if you know you can’t keep them
• Be honest and apologise when you slip up. It is good for your children to realize that you also have bad days and are human
• Be as excited as they are by all their little accomplishments and celebrate with them
• Remember money can never replace your time and attention
• As hard as it is at times, make your role as parent the most important job you have (because it is) and prioritize it in all aspects of your life. Your daughter will see that you value her and know that she is loved

The world can be a tough and mean place at times, make sure that her home is where she feels loved, special and more than good enough.

 ‘A child may outgrow your lap, but they will never outgrow the love you have in your heart’

‘Reading in unusual places’ competition

We had such a wonderful response to our competition! The entries were all amazing and it wasn’t an easy task to choose our winners. Please view our Facebook Page or our website to see the fabulous entries. Congratulations to the following girls who were selected as the top 3 and won a voucher from Bargain Books: 3^rd Aleesia Jonker; 2^nd Chelsy van der Merwe; 1^st Lulama Joe

Music

Music pupils are reminded that they will play scales tests next week. Full music assessments will take place the following week. Keep up the lovely practising!

Sport

Please note that we will no longer cancel sports if the weather is not favourable.  If we cannot do sports due to bad weather girls will automatically be sent to their sports coach and remain in class doing homework until her sports time is up.  This should assist parents in not having to suddenly change collection times.  Please also note that the office closes by 16:00 Monday to Thursday and at 15:00 on Friday.  All children not in Aftercare must be collected timeously after their extramural ends and certainly not after our office closes.

 Swimming:  Well done to all the team swimmers who participated in the Graeme Relay Gala last week Friday and the Albany Trials on Tuesday. We are very proud of all of you!

Tennis:  Gap Trials will be held on the 19 February at a variety of venues throughout Makhanda. Good luck to the following girls: U10 Marizaan Boucher and Madison Edwards,  U14 Amber Isaacs, Viola Stoloff, Nqobile Gxashe, Zazi Veto and Kholosa Waka.

VP will be hosting a Tennis Round Robin with visiting schools, PJ Olivier and Shaw Park, on the 24 February. We look forward to another super afternoon of fun filled tennis.

Athletics: This week selected girls participated in the Albany Athletics trials.  Further trials and events will take place this afternoon and tomorrow.   We still await the results from the trials held earlier this week. Good luck to the girls participating this weekend!

PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE WILL BE NO EXTRAMURALS ON WEDNESDAY, 23 FEBRUARY.  Staff will be doing staff development and all girls must be collected straight after school.

VP Park Run Challenge

Please remember to register your daughter on the Park Run website and print out her barcode. If she will be doing the full 5km (2 laps) then having her barcode with her means that she will receive a results email with her time from Park Run. Forward her results email or the number of laps she completed (even if it is only a lap) and her time with her full name to vpparkrun2022@gmail.com so that we can enter her in our VP Park Run Challenge for Term 1.

 PTA

We will have our first PTA meeting on Tuesday the 22nd @ 17:15. All moms and dads are welcome even if you haven’t signed up yet. Come and join this dynamic and fun group of parents and help raise funds for our special school.

Induction Assembly

We will hold our Induction Assembly for our 2022 Leadership team on Monday the 28^th February at 09:45. Invitations will be sent out to the parents of our Leadership team.

Congratulations

Congratulations to Zaydiah Adler for being nominated for the Personality of the Week for honesty. We are proud of you!

 

Indlulamthi Badge of Excellence

During the course of the year we hand out badges to girls who are identified as exemplary VP girls.

These girls display the values promoted by VP, are dedicated to their school work, are committed to the extramural programme and dress immaculately for all occasions.

We were delighted to hand out our Indlulamthi badge to our first recipients for 2022 at assembly.

Well done to Chloe Bowker, Azile Hambaze, Sally Kadye and Sophie Büttner. Well done girls and thank you! We are extremely proud of you and the example you set and the ambassadors you are.

Worker of the Week:  As part of our endeavour to see motivated VP girls this year, teachers will select children who have completed a task at an excellent standard or shown improvement, and will send them to Mrs Rafferty for a ‘Principal’s Sticker’.  A selection of these works will be shared on our FB page and Mrs Rafferty will choose one of these girls to be our ‘Worker of the Week’.

Well done Imanathi Mcophele in Grade 4 for being our very first recipient. Her English book was a delight and her poem exceptional. Keep it up!

 

Conquesta:  Should you wish for your child to participate in Conquesta 2022 , entry forms are available from Mrs Sauls. Conquesta is only open to Grades 4-6. Please complete the entry form and return it to school in an envelope, marked ‘Conquesta’ with your child’s name and class and the relevant entry fee enclosed. Closing date for entries is 18 March.

UPCOMING EVENTS TO DIARISE

Interhouse & Splash gala (Gr 4-7)

To celebrate our Founders’Day on the 4^th of March we will be moving our Galas to this day.  The Splash gala will take place from 10:30-12:00 and our main Interhouse gala will take place from 12:30. FP girls not involved in the main gala must be collected from 12:00 to 12:15 on this day.  It is compulsory for all Gr 4-7 girls to attend both galas for the entire duration.  More details will be sent out closer to the time.

Happy birthday to everyone who had their special day this week!  Next week the following staff and girls will celebrate:  Mrs Sopangisa, Gracie Chitsike, Azoma Lubelwana, Ayomide Booi, Angaka Magutywa, Tasmine Thomas and Taylynne Thomas.

We hope you have a wonderful day!

Regards

Mrs Rafferty

Principal

UPCOMING EVENTS:

PTA meeting:  Tuesday, 22 February @ 17:15

No extramurals:  Wednesday, 23 February

Induction Assembly:   Monday, 28 February@09:45

Interhouse & Splash gala (Gr 4-7):  Friday, 4 March

Message from the office
On our return to school after lockdown in 2020 we kept our assemblies going by having them via Zoom to the different classrooms. Currently we have two grades in the hall at a time, while the rest watch via Zoom. In March we will increase the number by having one phase in the hall at a time and ‘Zooming’ to the other. Assemblies are an important time to gather and learn important life lessons. I am looking forward to having them a little more like we used to and hearing our girls sing is always a highlight of my week.

At the assembly this past Monday I focused very simply on the topic of Motivation which is the first trait of our motto for 2022. We had the Grade 2 and 3 girls in the hall. When I asked them what motivated them I got the answers of ‘chocolate’, ‘sweets’ and ‘ice cream’ and one little girl answered ‘to pass’. They clearly understand the concept and motivating little ones can be as simple as a sticker, a sweet and a word of praise. Although we hope to ultimately develop our girls’ intrinsic motivation through a love for learning and the desire to be the best they can be. Extrinsic motivation is so important for young children of primary school age to feel inspired and eager. We as a staff are making it our mission to focus on the positive and to praise our girls for their efforts and achievements both in the classroom and on the sports field.

The best way for you as a parent to motivate your child to work hard at school and in all that they do, is to simply show an interest in their school work and their day.

Here are some simple ways you can show your interest in your daughter’s daily activities:
 Help her with her homework and be available if she needs to ask any questions.
 Ask her how her test went or what feedback she got for a task.

 Ask her what she learnt in class and praise her for her new-found knowledge.
 Even if you do find it tiresome, try your best to be enthusiastic about her reading, spelling, music practice and other tasks. Try very hard to hide your frustrations.
 Accept your child for who she is and for what her capabilities and limitations are.
 Prioritize her schoolwork over other daily activities and provide an environment where she does not get distracted or made to feel like she is inconveniencing the family.
 Celebrate her successes with her.
 Don’t over react to failures, use it as a learning experience.
 Work in partnership with daughter’s teacher.
 Love your daughter for who she is and not what she achieves.

What not to do:
Don’t speak badly of her teacher in front of her.
Don’t have unrealistic expectations.
Don’t over schedule her day.
Don’t compare your daughter to others.

“At the end of the day, the most overwhelming key to a child’s success is the positive involvement of parents”- Jane D. Hull.

Please note the latest amendments to our School’s Operating Procedure during the COVID-19 pandemic which was adjusted according to the latest Gazette (Vol 680, 6 February 2022 no 45877).

● It is very important that parents keep unwell children at home. If a child is unwell or has a temperature and shows any COVID-19 symptoms, parents are requested to monitor them closely at home and consult a medical practitioner.
● If a person tests positive and is not showing any symptoms, he or she need not isolate.
● If a person tests positive and has symptoms, he or she must isolate for 7 days unless a longer period has been recommended by a medical practitioner.
● If a learner tests positive and displays symptoms the parent/guardian must inform the school office as soon as possible and the school must then inform the DoE.
● Individuals who are identified as contacts of someone who tested positive COVID-19 do not need to isolate, unless they display symptoms.
● If a learner or person wishes to enter the premises is displaying symptoms of COVID-19 and/or their temperature is recorded as higher than 38 degrees, they will be denied access to the school campus and buildings.
● If a learner has been dropped off for school and displays symptoms at screening or while at school, the school will contact the parent/guardian to request them to fetch the learner from school. The parent/guardian will be advised to refer the learner to a medical practitioner and, if they test positive, to keep them isolated at home.
● All contact sport and non-contact sport including training, intra-school and interschool games, all art and cultural activities (including choir practices and competitions) and all enrichment programmes will resume if they comply with health and safety measures.
● All events may occur with spectators. However access points will be limited. Entry can only be gained at Beaufort Street where screening will take place, unless notification has been sent that other access and screening points have been organised.
● If the school hosts an event or an activity only permitted persons will be allowed entry for that event or activity provided that compliance of hygiene and safety measures are met.
● The number of spectators permitted will be according to the number of persons permitted at a gathering under the current regulations or if the venue is too small for that number, spectators will be limited to ensure social distancing can be observed.
● Masks are still mandatory
(The full new SOP doc can be found on our webpage)

COVID Vaccinations/boosters
The Department of Health has made a new appointment to be at VP on Tuesday, 15 February. If you wish for your daughter to be vaccinated and she is 12 years or older please send a copy of her birth certificate and/or her vaccination card to school on this day. Unfortunately, if the girls do not come to school with the necessary documents we won’t be able to facilitate her vaccination at school. Please ensure you plan for this in advance. If parents would like to take this opportunity to get their vaccine or booster done you may come to the school from 10:30 to make use of this opportunity. You will need to be screened in at the school office.

SGB Nominations for our By-election
As we only received two nominations, for the two vacant positions, we were not required to hold an election. We congratulate Mr Phillip, father of Rebecca in Gr 1 and Mr Sauls father of Ava in Gr 00, on their nomination and appointment onto our SGB. The other parent members of governing body are Ms Mothudi mother of Athena in Gr 2, Mrs Wolmarans mother of Pippa in Gr 4 and Lilani in Gr R and Mrs Edwards mother of Madison in Gr 4. Thank you for your service to our school.

Congratulations
Congratulations to Uminathi Kate who was our first recipient this year of the Personality of the Week. She received the award for Honesty. Thank you for setting the example for the year ahead, Uminathi.

Conquesta
Should you wish for your child to participate in Conquesta 2022 , entry forms are available from Mrs Sauls. Conquesta is only open to Grades 4-6. Please complete the entry form and return it to school in an envelope, marked ‘Conquesta’ with your child’s name and class and the relevant entry fee enclosed. Closing date for entries is 18 March.

SPORT
Tennis
Our Tennis Team enjoyed their first home matches on Wednesday, 9 February. We thank the team and their families for making the Port Alfred mixed team feel welcome by providing delicious eats for the afternoon.
Eighty-nine games were played in total and Port Alfred managed to win by nine games. Well played, girls!
We look forward to our next matches against PJ Olivier and Shaw Park on Thursday, 24 February.

Swimming
Good luck to the girls swimming in the Graeme Relay gala which starts at 15:00 this afternoon. Swim well!
The Albany Swimming Trials will take place next week Tuesday, 15 February, for selected swimmers. The gala will take place at the DSG pool and will start at 14:00. Swimmers participating have received a letter.

VP Park Run Challenge
There has been a good turn out so far, please continue to support this challenge!

UPCOMING EVENTS TO DIARISE
Interhouse & Splash gala (Gr 4-7)
To celebrate our Founders’Day on the 4th of March we will be moving our Galas to this day. The Splash gala will take place from 10:30-12:00 and our main Interhouse gala will take place from 12:30. FP girls not involved in the main gala will go home at 12:15 on this day. It is compulsory for all Gr 4-7 girls to attend both galas for the entire duration. More details will be sent out closer to the time.

Induction Assembly
We will hold our Induction Assembly for our 2022 Leadership team on Monday the 28th February at 09:45. Invitations will be sent out to the parents of our Leadership Team.

Happy birthday to everyone who had their special day this week! Next week the following staff and girls will celebrate: Mr Greyling, Mrs Coetzee, Ava van Rooyen, Libhongo Mase, Yolisa Pongolo, Ayva Baatjes, Mivuyo Santi, Kaya Jones and Okuhle Smile. We hope you have a wonderful day!

Regards
Mrs Rafferty
Principal

Happy News!

Congratulations to Mr & Mrs Coetzee and Stella on the birth of their beautiful baby boy on Sunday 31 January!

Message from the office:

Our motto ; ‘Be Humble, Gracious and Kind’ from 2021 was so well received by our girls last year and it was so heart-warming to hear them use the terminology and see them practise these very valuable interpersonal skills while interacting with each other. It laid a foundation for all our interactions.

Our new motto for 2022 is ‘Motivated, Mindful, Accountable’. These are the traits that we wish to focus on, develop and teach during the course of this year. We will also explore them in our assemblies and Value Based lessons or Life Skills lessons. The teachers will make use of the many life experiences that come along as an opportunity to teach these traits and why they are important.

This year, we will endeavour to find many ways to motivate our girls and to see them enthusiastic and engaged, we hope to make our girls aware of those around them and the impact that they have on others, and encourage them to ‘live in the moment’. We wish for our girls to learn to be responsible and accountable and to teach them that they do have to face the consequences of their choices and actions. We hope that you will do the same at home and we will keep you updated in our weekly newsletter of what we have focussed on in that particular week.

We are excited about this motto and we hope to see our girls embrace these valuable attributes this year.

Apologies

Unfortunately, the Department of Health did not arrive to do the COVID vaccines and booster shots on Tuesday as we had been informed and expecting. If we receive any notifications that they will come at another time we will let you know.

We have had some delightful entries so far! Thank you. Please send your entry to admin@victoriaprimary.co.za

The closing date is the 11th February and we hope to share all our pics at an assembly and on our Facebook Page. Come on! Show us your creativity girls! Prizes are up for grabs for the most creative photos.

English Study Guide

This was listed as a requirement for Gr 4-7 and is a resource that your child can use up to matric. If you were unable to purchase one your daughter’s teacher will supply her with one when it will be required for a lesson. Please note that this study guide will then remain the property of the school.

SGB By-election

A reminder that all nominations for our two vacant positions need to be handed in by 13h00 on Tuesday, 8 February. If we receive more than two nominations we will have to have a vote and this will then take place on Wednesday, 9 February. Parents are encouraged to pop into the school office and vote for the candidate of their choice between 07:30 and 14h30 on that day. More details will be sent home once we know if the election will be necessary.

Valentines Civvies Day

On Friday the 11th February we will have a Civvies Day. Girls can come dressed in red or pink or anything that celebrates Valentine’s day. Girls are to contribute R5 if they wear civvies, the money collected will go towards our sports fund this year.

School Hats

We encourage our girls to wear hats during sport and break time especially during these hot summer months. They are allowed to wear either the VP navy peaks or the VP navy floppy hat. They are available from Heinen Uniforms & Embroidery at 28 Somerset Street – 082 441 4708, there will be limited hats available for sale from Mrs Terblanche for R75.

SPORT

Tennis

Our tennis team will play their first match against Port Alfred at our courts on the Wednesday, 9 February. Please feel free to support your daughters and the team. The matches will be played between 14h00 and 16h00. Play well girls and have fun! Please note that intermediate tennis players will still have practice with Ms Purdon on Wednesday, 9 February.

Swimming

Well done to all the team swimmers who participated in the Kingswood College Short Course Gala. The girls did very well and it was great to be back in the pool again!

The Graeme Relay Gala will take place next week Friday, 11February for selected team swimmers. Your daughter will receive a letter early next week if she is participating. The gala will take place at the Graeme College pool and will start at 15:00.

Hockey Trials

The U13A hockey trials will take place on Monday, 7 February from 15h00 to 16h00. Girls that have signed up must attend these trials. A reminder that girls must have shin pads, long blue socks and gum guards to participate. (Girls U11-U13 may attend these trials).

VP Park Run Challenge

Please join us in keeping fit and enjoying the outdoors together.

The Grahamstown Park Run is held at the Botanical Gardens on the Rhodes University Campus every Saturday at 08:00. It is a 5km route (2 laps of the course) and you can walk or run.

I challenge you to join me in doing as many Park Runs as you can this term. To enter the VP Park Run Challenge and be eligible to win a prize please take note of the following:

You will need to register on the Park Run Website and print your barcode to bring with you each week. https://www.parkrun.co.za/register/
If you are younger than 11 years old you will need to bring an adult to walk or run with you. If you are older than 11 years old you can walk/run on your own but your
Parents will need to drop you off at 07:50 and collect you again at 9am.
Each time you complete a full 5km Park Run the organisers will send you an email with your time. Please forward this email each time to the following address: vpparkrun2022@gmail.com
I will record your time and track your progress.

If you are 8 years old or younger and you only complete one lap then you will need to ask your grownup to time your lap and email it to me.
At the end of the term prizes will be awarded in the following categories:

The most park runs/walks for the term (u8 and over 11)
The fastest 5km time (u11 and older)
The fastest lap (2.5km) for u8
The most improved time for the term
We will start our VP challenge for Term 1 on Saturday 29 January at 08:00 sharp. I look forward to seeing you there. Mrs Jones: carol.jones@victoriaprimary.za

Happy birthday to all the staff and girls who celebrated this week! Next week the following girls and staff will celebrate: Mrs Mgogo, Ms Miskin, Mbalentle Mayinje, Azuza Mbiza, Zizo Zomelele, Jazlin Crafford, Sinalo Gumenge,Khanya Kepe, Imanathi Mcophele, Kazlin de Maar, Neo Molefe, Sanda Stofile, Tenielle Morrison and Amahle Mchunu. We hope you have a wonderful day!

Regards

Mrs Rafferty

Principal

Message from the office

Next week we will be celebrating ‘World Read Aloud Day’ which aims at promoting literacy.

Date	Activity
Monday 31 January	Assembly (topic Read Aloud Day), IP girls will read to FP and PP girls
Wednesday, 2 February	Silent reading/ read outside/in pairs/ alone or in groups. Bring your favourite book to school.
Friday, 4 February	Come dressed as your favourite book character (If possible bring the book to school and tell your class all about him/her)
COMPETITION:  Send a photo of yourself reading in the most unusual place.  Photo’s can be sent to admin@victoriaprimary.co.za  The most unusual photos will receive a prize at assembly. Closing date for all entries is Friday, 11 February.

Throughout the year in the Pre-primary and Foundation Phase reading is an integral part of the daily programme. In our Intersen timetable we allow time for our girls to read in silence at least three times a week first thing in the mornings and we encourage them to read whenever they may have a spare moment.

One can never underestimate the value of reading and being read to and the best way to encourage this is to set the example by reading and to have reading time with your daughters in your daily routine. There is no doubt that there is a correlation between a child’s academic performance and how much they read. Reading increases children’s vocabulary, concentration, general knowledge, cognitive ability, fluency, comprehension, imagination and creativity and it develops a lifelong love for reading. Not to mention the added benefit of creating a wonderful opportunity to bond with your child.

One of the most effective ways you can support your child’s schooling is by reading to them.

Settling into 2022

I hope that the first week and a bit of school has not been too overwhelming as you navigate your child’s school day and extramurals especially if you are new to our school or a parent of a grade one. We trust that as the term progresses you (and your daughters) will become more familiar with her daily routine and  how our days work. We try very hard not to stray too far from what is planned and we do not cancel at a whim as we are aware of the impact this has on you as parents. However, we do make the call to cancel or postpone if we think that it will be in the best interest of our children as we did on Monday due to the extreme heat and humidity.  If this happens, we send out notices on our D6 and often our teachers will share such messages on their grade or sports Whatsapp chat. If however you are really stuck and can’t make alternate plans, rest assured that we will always ensure your child is looked after during the time she would have had an activity or sport.

WhatsApp groups

Although this is a wonderful and effective tool of communication, it should not be used by parents with the expectation that teachers should explain work that was explained in class, or to explain things that can be found in the newsletter. Please read your newsletter or your daughter’s homework diary or even question her first before anything else. We also request that unless it is an absolute emergency, you do not contact teachers after hours, during the weekend or during teaching time. The older your daughter is, the less need there should be to communicate information with you, the parent. We need to teach our girls to listen to announcements and their teachers and to pay attention to what is happening around them and to learn to refer to newsletters and timetables. If they rely on you texting her teacher all the time, she’ll never learn these very crucial organizational (and life) skills. If you are still unsure, please contact the school office during office hours.

School Hats

We encourage our girls to wear hats during sport and break time especially during these hot summer months. They are allowed to wear either the VP navy peaks or the VP navy floppy hat. They are available from Heinen Uniforms & Embroidery at 28 Somerset Street – 082 441 4708.

 Time Management

Please make sure that your child arrives at school on time. A reminder that the Intersen (Grade 4-7) children have to be at school BEFORE 07:25. Children who arrive late miss out on important announcements at lines and their crucial silent reading or Mental Maths sessions. If you make use of ‘transport’ please ensure that they are aware of our school times. Now is the time to set good habits and morning routines.

Vaccinations

The Department of Health will be at VP on the 1 February. If you wish for your daughter to be vaccinated and she is 12 years or older please send a copy of her birth certificate and/or her vaccination card to school on this day. Unfortunately, if the girls do not come to school with the necessary documents we won’t be able to facilitate her vaccination at school. Please ensure you plan for this in advance.

Extramurals

We were so pleased with the response to our trials and would like to accommodate all abilities where possible. Therefore, we are updating our extramural programme and sending it home with the newsletter today, please check it carefully to see if any of your daughters’ activities have changed.

Tennis notices

Upcoming team tennis matches:

9 February

24 February

10 March.

Please note that on the Wednesday, 9 February the Intemediate tennis practice will take place on the small court with Ms Purdon.

Kingswood Short Course gala

VP will participate in the Kingswood Short Course Gala on Tuesday, 1 February

 at 14:00 at the Kingwood College pool.  The gala starts at 14:00 and should be

completed by 16:30. Swim well, girls!

VP Park Run Challenge

Please join us in keeping fit and enjoying the outdoors together.

The Grahamstown Park Run is held at the Botanical Gardens on the Rhodes University Campus every Saturday at 08:00. It is a 5km route (2 laps of the course) and you can walk or run.

I challenge you to join me in doing as many Park Runs as you can this term. To enter the VP Park Run Challenge and be eligible to win a prize please take note of the following:

1. You will need to register on the Park Run Website and print your barcode to bring with you each week.  https://www.parkrun.co.za/register/
2. If you are younger than 11 years old you will need to bring an adult to walk or run with you. If you are older than 11 years old you can walk/run on your own but your parents will need to drop you off at 07:50 and collect you again at 9am.
3. Each time you complete a full 5km Park Run the organisers will send you an email with your time. Please forward this email each time to the following address: vpparkrun2022@gmail.com

I will record your time and track your progress.

1. If you are 8 years old or younger and you only complete one lap then you will need to ask your grownup to time your lap and email it to me.

At the end of the term prizes will be awarded in the following categories:

• The most park runs/walks for the term (u8 and over 11)
• The fastest 5km time (u11 and older)
• The fastest lap (2.5km) for u8
• The most improved time for the term

We will start our VP challenge for Term 1 on Saturday 29 January at 08:00 sharp. I look forward to seeing you there. Mrs Jones: carol.jones@victoriaprimary.za

Birthday wishes

The following staff and girls have celebrated their birthdays so far this year:  Mrs Jones, Ms le Roux, Mr Kepe, Ms Lang, Mrs Sauls (this weekend) and Ms Jamela (this weekend), Zazi Gqamana, Willow Hector, Lilitha Kila,Ingcali-Yomso Mani, Bohlokwa Motitsoe, Lunje Peter, Mihle Khitha, Avuthando Matyumza, Jaysea Botha, Likamvelihle Dyibishe, Mbalentle Jadi, Lelona Kuselo, Kungothando Nzuzo, Amber Isaacs, Caitlyn Bodill, Kungawu Mapasa, Mbalentle Dyaloyi, Kulowo Msipa, Oyintando Nkatazo, Amyoli Sesani, Ahluma Zwana, Mandi de Koker, Zayoni Matiwana, Alibongwe Mthembu, Lunathi Zikishe, Sinothando Matshaya, Hlomboluhle Mvula, Sama Torweni, Bongumusa Louw, Isipho Nelana, Sabrina Nyathi, Giselle Peters, Lisa-Jane Evans, Yayama Kom, Lulo Ponoshe, Junaid Williams, Zingcali Mangali, Yonelisa Ngaleka, Isla Orsmond, Aliyah Swartz, Adora Gxashe, Hlomla Ndungane, Rebecca Phillip, Aventhandwa Hambaze, Iminathi Malusi, Lulama Joe, Yakobedi Mukungu, Zintle Bangani, Avela Sigidi, Lilani Wolmarans, Stephanie Folaranmi, Ovayo Phillip and Sesona Mnqinana.

Happy birthday to those celebrating next week: Ms Purdon, Ms Slabbert, Ms Nguta, Katie-Leigh Arnott, Iviwe Jakavula, Iminathi Mgwebi, Luniko Hulushe, Nakhane Klei, Zingce Pilisani, Inam Toll, Onwaba Hoyi, Christelle Ruwanza and Esethu Stamper.

Warm regards

Mrs M Rafferty

Principal

 

Message from the office

A warm welcome back to our VP girls and a special hearty welcome to our new VP families who have joined us this year. Every year is so exciting when our new little Grade Ones arrive in their sparkly clean school uniforms. It is the start of a wonderful journey through primary school. We trust and pray that this year will be a good one and that we are able to slowly go back to more and more activities and include so many of the things that we have sorely missed from our daily programmes.

On the subject of disruptions and COVID-19 we have sought advice from a medical practitioner and she has advised that until such time that we receive new guidelines (which she has indicated may very well come soon) we should adhere to our protocols that we already have in place. If your daughter has any symptoms please do not send her to school, but if you are aware that she simply has allergies or she has been diagnosed with something else, please let us know. We request that if your daughter has been in close contact with someone who tested positive that she isolates for ten days. We are hoping that this time frame will be reduced but until such time as it is made official, we are obliged to stick to the full ten days of isolation.

We would like to highlight the following:                                                                   

• All girls are to wear masks to school.
• We will still limit parents’ access to the campus.

ARRIVAL times and screening

• Girls will be screened on entry in the mornings as they have been in the past.
• Grade 00 and R enter at the Pre-primary school gate from 07:15-07:45
• Grade 1-3 to enter at the Huntley Street gate from 07:15 to 07:45
• The IP (Grade 4-7) are to enter at Beaufort Street gate and screening will take place from 07h00- 07h25. Please ensure your daughter arrives on time.

COLLECTIONS will also occur at the same gates respectively. Collection times are as follows (unless your child is involved in extra murals on that day):

• PP: 13:00 (Pre-primary school gate in Beaufort Street)
• FP: 13:00-13:30 (Huntley Street gate)
• IP:  13:45 (Main entrance in Beaufort Street)

Girls are to be collected promptly after their last school activity.

Aftercare

If you are not able to collect your child timeously please consider sending your child to our Aftercare. Forms to enrol in Aftercare must be collected from our school office or you can request one via email to Ms Lang (i.lang@victoriaprimary.co.za). If your child attended Aftercare last year and you would like her to continue please complete a new form for this year.

Whatsapp Groups

Certain grades, classes and sports groups will start a Whatsapp group to help relay messages to parents quickly and efficiently. When a group chat is set up, our policy for Whatsapp groups will be shared with you. Please read this very carefully. If you remain on the group this indicates that you are prepared to abide by the rules of the group. If you do not wish to be part of it or to agree to the conditions, please simply remove yourself from the group.

PTA

In lieu of our PTA AGM parents (moms and dads) who would like to be part of our PTA are requested to complete the form attached to the newsletter that was sent home today. Essentially the PTA (Parents and Teachers Association) is a fundraising committee which raises funds for projects in and around the school.  Parents volunteer to be a part of this group and there is no limit to the number of members in this group of parents. Once we hopefully have a bit more clarity for our year ahead, we are hoping to call on you to join our first meeting and maybe, just maybe, we can host some fun events.

SGB 

Our current SGB team still have two years left of their tenure.  The School Governing Body is made up of elected parents, teachers and non-teaching members.  This committee is responsible for the school’s finances and governance.  As you would have seen on the term calendar we will have a by-election on the Wednesday, 9 February to replace two of our parent members whose children are no longer at VP.  Please consider standing if you feel you have the expertise that VP would benefit from. Nomination forms will be available from the office from Monday, 24 January and they must please be returned by Tuesday, 8 February at 13:00.

Extramural programme

PLEASE NOTE: To organise girls into their team/groups, next week will run slightly differently to the programme as we will be conducting our team sports trials. Please take note of the times below.

IP Swimming (Gr 4-7)

All girls will be required to attend swimming trials. If they wish to try out for Team swimming they will not be required to attend the trials in their class groups.

Swimming trials will run as follows:

Monday, 24th (14:00-15:00): Grade 4KC and Grade 5M 

                     (14:00-15:00): Team Swimming Trials (Girls were required to sign up)

Wednesday, 26th (14:00-15:00): Grade 4F and Grade 5J 

     (14:00-15:00): Team Swimming Practice

Thursday, 27th (14:00-15:00): Grade 6G and Grade 7(Blue)

Mrs Orsmond will be selling swimming caps.  Standard swimming caps are available in house colours for R60.  Swimma Caps for braided and long hair are available in green only and cost R110.

Tennis Trials will begin on Tuesday (Girls have been requested to sign up)

Tuesday 25th (13:55-14:40) – Juniors (Grade 3-5)

                        (14:40-15:25) – Juniors (Grade 6-7)

Your daughter will either be placed in the Senior, Junior or Feeder Team. Please encourage your daughters to attend the trials, especially if they are able to meet the following criteria:

Simple forehand and backhand stroke

Service toss and motion must be able to donkey drop

Move into the ball – Footwork (basic) and anticipation of ball direction

Dribble with the ball

Correct grip

Senior Trials: (GRADE 6 AND 7)

Must be able to score

Serve into the correct box

Rally – PLAY A GAME AGAINST ANOTHER PLAYER

Volley and smash

Uniform on LSPE days

Girls are permitted to come to school wearing their black shorts, navy blue shirts (NO white golf shirts allowed) and takkies with white socks on the days that they have swimming /LSPE (during school). However girls must pack their black speedo costumes, swim caps and towels in a separate bag. They may not come to school already wearing their swimming costumes, they will be given a chance to change before and after their swimming lesson. 

If your daughter owns a pair of the VP navy blue flip flops she may wear them with her sports clothes instead of her takkies. No other flip flops are permitted. These can be bought from Mrs Terblanche for R90. We have limited sizes currently available, more stock will arrive early February.  The flip flops may also be worn while at school with school uniform but your daughter must arrive and leave, and be in public places, in her school shoes when in school uniform. 

Choir

The Junior Choir (Grade 3s) will be selected during the course of next week, during school hours. Junior Choir rehearsals will commence on Monday 31 January.

Senior Choir rehearsals will commence on Tuesday, 1 February. Girls who were in the Senior Choir last year do not need to re-audition. All other girls in Grade 4-7, who would like to sing in the choir, are encouraged to audition on the following days next week: 

Monday: Grade 4 F;

Tuesday: Grade 4KC;

Wednesday: all Grade 5s;

Thursday: all Grade 6s;

Friday: all Grade 7s.  Auditions will take place in the hall at 07:15. Please be prompt. 

Tuckshop

There is a tuckshop available at Vicky’s but due to COVID restrictions there are some rules that girls must adhere to.  Gr 1-4 will be given the opportunity to place their orders (from the list below) first thing in the morning and items will be sent to their classes.  Gr 5-7 may go down to the tuckshop at break or before extramurals and buy food.  Please note that girls will not be allowed to leave Aftercare in order to go to the tuckshop.

The list of items available for order are as follows: 

Hot Dog R15;

Boerewors Roll R20;

Beef/Chicken Burger R25;

Cheese Roll R15;

Savoury Muffin R10;

Popcorn R6; Fruit R5;

Juice Box R7.  

These items can be ordered and paid for in the morning at Vicky’s or parents can make arrangements for EFT payment by contacting Pam on 0721995741 (Whatsapp) for details.

Mrs M Rafferty

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https://youtu.be/LMOf-P9nLno