MESSAGE FROM DAVID BURNS

A ‘Growth Mindset’ turns this ‘fixed mindset’ completely on its, pardon the pun, head. Struggle, challenge and risk are embraced. Failure is seen as an opportunity to grow. Honest feedback is a necessary part of learning and the successes of others are celebrated and a source of inspiration.

The work of Carol Dweck (Professor of Psychology at Stanford University) along with other neuroscientists over the last few years has revolutionized how we view the brain and what it is capable of. Her powerful TED Talk on the topic starts off with her introducing the “power of yet” and how the brain is capable of incredible neural growth. With practice, greater understanding and new beliefs, our children have the capacity to ‘rewire’ their brains.

“Did you find this on YouTube, Mr Burns?” “Can I use my iPad?” “I bet if I Googled this I would find the answer.”

Living in a world of ‘instant’, ‘convenience’, ‘online’, ‘next-day delivery’ and ‘1-click’, the boys in my class are starting to show me their ‘mindsets’. And, it’s only been five minutes. Frustration is building for some, while others are persevering, determined to solve the problem. “You’re not there yet,” I tell them.

An important part of educating our children for the 21st Century needs to be teaching them about ‘grit’. Learning about and (more importantly) experiencing the achievement of a goal through sustained effort over a long period of time is critical. Although life is easier in a myriad of ways, the most valuable facets of life still take the largest and longest amounts of perseverance.

As our boys and girls conclude their year in their respective grades, our tendency is to start focusing on their marks, scores, comments and ultimately their successes. These are valuable indicators, but there is a larger picture to look at and the right mindset to encourage.

“If parents want to give their children a gift, the best thing they can do is to teach their children to love challenges, be intrigued by mistakes, enjoy effort, and keep on learning. That way, their children don’t have to be slaves of praise. They will have a lifelong way to build and repair their own confidence.” ― Carol S. Dweck

“I loved how you kept on making an effort, boys.” “Well done for trying so many different ways to figure it out.” “I appreciated how you never gave up.” And of course, “Here is how you solve the problem!”

Enjoy this edition of ‘Highbury Happenings’ as we celebrate the many ways our boys and girls have grown, developed and exercised grit over the last two months.

David BurnsHEAD OF SENIOR PRIMARY

“This is so hard!” “I can’t do this!” “This is impossible, Mr Burns.” “I’m not good at this, it’s too difficult.” “I give up!”

In any other context and in any other class, these statements should have been concerning me. The teacher in me should have been rushing in to assist, guide and reassure. However, my feelings were quite the opposite: I was genuinely pleased to see and hear the boys struggling.

The lesson was going exactly as planned! Struggle, challenge, discomfort and risk are situations most people choose to avoid. We are also fearful of failure, dislike criticism and feel threatened by the success of others.

A HANDFUL OF HAPPENINGS

Q&A WITH HIGHBURY BOARD OF GOVERNORS

JASON LIVESEYMARKETING

Q: What year did you join the Highbury Board?A: 2010

Q: What do you love most about Highbury?A: I love my whole family feeling part of what is commonly known as the “Highbury Family”. The Highbury community is an incredibly close and supportive group of families and teachers. This is a wonderful Christian environment and foundation for our boys and girls to thrive in. I feel very privileged and blessed for my family to feel so included into this special “Highbury Family" Q: What has been your most memorable contribution as a Board member?A: I have been very fortunate to work with such a wonderful leadership team at Highbury. When marketing Highbury as a school, it is an honour to be able to market such a strong and professional school. Highbury, as an independent school, has stood the test of time for 114 years and this is a heritage we should all be very proud of.

Q: If you could choose a super-power what would it be? A: I would love to bring joy, fortune and happiness to the less fortunate in our beautiful country. To eradicate poverty, hunger and empower individuals with education, employment, self-confidence and growth.

Customer Director, RCL FOODS

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM: HIGHBURYPREPUse our new hashtag #happyathighbury

KEARSNEY PREFECTS 2018We are delighted that five Highbury Old Boys, Class of 2013, have been appointed as Prefects at Kearsney College for 2018. Appearing from left to right: Scott Couzens, Ruben Darby, Taine Polzi, Ben Proctor, Kabelo Makhanya.

OUR HEADMASTER RECOGNIZES GREAT WORK We are having so many proud moments as Mr Lacock opens his office for a whole hour each week to welcome boys from Grade R to Grade 7 to show him the good work they have done.

HAVE YOU NOTICED OUR NEW SECURITY CAMERAS?Security cameras were installed at the start of this term at the entrance and exit gates of Highbury. They have licence plate recognition and SNIPR software to alert us of any flagged vehicle entering the school.

REPORTS DOWNLOADDo you have access to the Parent Portal on ADAM?

Please contact lara.minietti@hps.co.za

STAFF NEWS

FAREWELLSIt is with much sadness that Mrs Alison Alcock, Grade 000, has tendered her resignation effective at the end of the year. She leaves us to be the support to her ailing father, after many happy years of impacting the lives of the little people in her care. We will be able to say goodbye properly at the end of the year.

WE WELCOME - CHERYL REDDYWe are delighted to announce that Mrs Cheryl Reddy has been appointed as Grade 4 teacher 2018. She is currently teaching at St Mary’s and with 17 years’ experience, she has established herself in our community as a teacher of great dedication, expertise and innovation. She has much love and passion for our school as she is mum to Samir (Grade 1) - already part of the Highbury family. She is well-versed in the demands, challenges and benefits of being at a school for boys. She is eager to positively impact the boys in her class and create a warm and inspiring learning environment. We are as happy as she is and look forward to her joining the Senior Primary team in 2018.

WE WELCOME - TREVOR STONEWhile we know that it is impossible to replace Mr Harris, we feel that we have found a Grade 6 and 7 Natural Science Teacher who will continue his legacy of boys having a solid grounding in scientific skills and knowledge. Mr Trevor Stone is currently a Grade 8 and 9 Natural Science and Geography Teacher at Glenwood Boys High. He is thoroughly conversant in ‘boy’ having attended Merchiston Preparatory School, Maritzburg College and Grey High School. He has in his time at Glenwood been the Assistant Superintendent of Gibson House as well as the Natural Science Subject Head. He is incredibly excited about the prospect of being in a Prep school and we are very excited about the impact and contribution he is going to make to Highbury.

Congratulations to Ayanda Cira on the birth of his son, Thandwa, who

was born on the 2nd of October.

WE WELCOME - HAYLEY CLARKWe welcome Mrs Hayley Clark to the position of class teacher to Grade 0000 Orange Group 2018. Mrs Clark joins us from Kloof Pre-primary with 14 years teaching experience, more specifically 10 years in Grade 0000! She is greatly respected in the Upper Highway Education circles as a specialist in nurturing and teaching the littlest people in our care. We look forward to welcoming her to the Highbury family in the New Year.

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENTDavid, Belinda, Bianca and Melissa attended the superb GLS Summit at Kloof Harvest Church soon after the start of term - what an outstanding 2 days of leadership inspiration and learning.

WEAVERS’ NEST AND GRADE R

GRADE 00 - LITTLE SCIENTISTSWe have little scientists in Weavers’ Nest! Our children have really embraced the science theme and their teachers have loved encouraging their inquiring minds.

CRAZY WEATHERThe torrential rain made for some rather wet pick-ups at Weavers’ Nest and some wonderful muddy puddles in our Grade R play area the next day!

GRADE R - BUSY DAYSWhat a busy term our little Grade R boys have had with our lovely boy-centric themes of Dinosaurs and now Transport! We have been loving the warmer weather for lots of outdoor learning, water play, sandpit fun and of course plenty of swimming to get ready for our first Gala later this term.

FANTASY AND SENSORY PLAYThere is always something new to discover at Weavers’ Nest… from playing house in our cottage to nature play on our sensopathic trays and so much more.

FOUNDATION PHASE

LOVING READINGA beautiful early morning moment captured by Mrs Willows on her way into her office one morning this term.

HAVE YOU SEEN OUR GROWTH MINDSET POSTERS AT SCHOOL?This term, WN and Foundation Phase teachers are talking to our children about having a growth mindset in everything they do. A growth mindset is the opposite of a fixed mindset - try to re-inforce it at home next time your child says “I can’t do it” tell them “You can’t do it YET… you are learning.”

ECO-WARRIORSDid you know we are recycling PET2 milk bottles into plastic benches? For every 3 benches made from our milk bottles, Highbury gets given one free bench! The bottles are being gathered in the containers behind the chess board - please rinse them before you drop them off, or fill them with grey water for our veggie garden! Thank you!

THE BFG FROGSCOTTLEThe Grade 3’s classrooms were a buzz of excitement this afternoon as they finally got the opportunity to make the world famous ‘Frobscottle’ from Roald Dahl’s novel The BFG. The frothy green liquid was consumed and declared to be delicious! All ‘Whizzpopping’ was banned from the classroom and we are are delighted to say that our Highbury boys remained gentlemen, unlike the giants they have been studying!

SENIOR PRIMARY

WORLD MATHS DAYWorld Maths Day was celebrated in fun, boy-friendly style at Highbury. Younger and older boys partnered up to solve mathematical riddles. These answers led to co-ordinates, which when inserted in Google, would reveal a South African tourist attraction! The lecture theatre was buzzing with problem-solving teamwork and mathematical fun.

GRADE 7 BRIDGE BUILDINGHow much weight do you think a bridge made from 25 wooden sticks (4mm x 4mm x 600mm) could hold? Thomas Budge and Stuart Camp made a bridge that held 37kg before it broke!

INTER-HOUSE CRICKETDuring the first week of term 4, Inter-House cricket took place. In the semi finals, Acutt’s triumphed over the more fancied Duff’s, while Robinson’s did the business against Escombe’s. In the end, Acutt’s were champions after a surprising, but well-earned, victory in the final.

The overall positions were:1. Acutt’s2. Robinson’s3. Duff’s4. Escombe’s

INTER-HOUSE CHESSRound 1 and 2 of Inter-House Chess, as well as the semi-finals, have already been held and we are excited to see who will win the finals when we return from Half-term weekend.

HIGHBURY OLD BOY VISITOld Boys were invited to address our Grade 7s on preparing themselves for the transition to Grade 8 next year. They shared some wonderful advice and wisdom with our boys. Matthew Gibson, Chase Kelly, Luke Wilson and Blake Jackson.

OUTREACH

HIGHBURY BOYS RAISE R75,000 FOR WILDLANDS CONSERVATION TRUST The 2017 Maputuland Challenge was held on Saturday 30 September. Fifteen Highbury boys, along with a party of nine adult supporters including retired Highbury teacher Paddy Collins, ran in stages from Bhanga Nek to Sodwana Bay in the NE corner of KwaZulu Natal. Highbury is incredibly proud of the boys who took part and is so grateful to all of the individual and corporate sponsors who rallied to the cause and gathered a record amount of R75 000 together! A cheque was handed over to Dave Gilroy, from Wildlands Conservation Trust, on the 22 October and he gave a speech of thanks, reiterating that the funds go exclusively to the employment of rangers and trackers to protect our beautiful rhinos.

INCHANGA PRIMARYHighbury’s New Twin! Thank you to all of our Highbury parents for the soup donations for Inchanga Primary which were handed out on Friday 20th October. Read our blog on http://www.hps.co.za/blog/ to see more pictures of the event and to find out more about Highbury’s new twinning relationship with Inchanga Primary.

FUTURE STARSThe Grade 1 teachers went to visit the soup kitchen in the Inanda Valley yesterday to serve the children who come after school for a good hearty meal provided by our charity using all the vegetables our Grade 1 families donate. It was such a heart-warming and humbling experience to see what a difference this soup kitchen is making in so many lives in the community. The photos speak volumes, all their happy faces and they all showed their gratitude to God and us by sing us a hymn.

CULTURE AND ACHIEVEMENTS

KZN YOUTH ORCHESTRA 2018We are extremely proud of the following three boys who auditioned and were invited to be members of the KZN Youth Orchestra for 2018: Sabastian Marimuthu, Kudzai Kamwendo and Benjamin Burton.

BEGINNERS’ MUSIC CONCERTOur beginners’ music concert held on October 26th was thoroughly enjoyable. The FP choir opened the evening with their delightful Beauty & the Beast medley. This was followed by boys from Grade 1 to Grade 6 playing a wide variety of instruments... bass guitar, violin, flute, piano, acoustic guitar, vocal solo and drum kit. Well done to all the boys who performed with such confidence!

ROCKSCHOOL DRUM EXAM RESULTSGr 1 Rory MacEwan Merit Michael Dalgleish Merit Thomas Hulse MeritGr 4 Kyle Berry Pass Kunashe Kamwendo Merit Luke Hepker Merit

PIANO ADVENTURES INTER-STUDIO COMPETITION (Held at Highbury)

M Walford 2 GoldJ Hollins 2 GoldJ Behr 2 GoldA Watt 2 GoldL Hollins 1 Gold, 1 SilverR Vandenheede 2 Gold, 1 SilverD Curach 2 Gold, 1 SilverT Mowat 1 Gold, 1 SilverB Blomquist 3 GoldL Hepker 1 Gold, Book PrizeO Mann 1 GoldW Macgregor 1 Gold

QUEENSBURGH FESTIVAL

J Robertson (Piano) 2 GoldC Moodley (Piano) 1 SilverK Berry (Piano) 4 Gold

ETHEKWINI EISTEDDFOD (Held at St Mary’s)

K Berry Piano, 2 Gold 1 SilverL Hepker Piano, 2 GoldK Kamwendo Flute, 3 GoldA Nortje Piano 1 GoldViolin 2 Gold, 5 Gold + Ist in Gr 2 violin solo; 1st in Gr 4 violin duetRecorder 2 Gold+; 2nd in Gr 2 Recorder solo; 1st in Gr 4 recorder duet

PRACTICAL EXAM RESULTS - SEPTEMBERTRINITY COLLEGEM Knight Piano Initial grade DistinctionC Goslett Saxophone Gr 1 DistinctionG Roberts Saxophone Gr 1 DistinctionS Hlongwa Saxophone Gr 1 MeritK Kamwendo Flute Gr 4 MeritS Camp Piano Gr 4 MeritROYAL SCHOOLS OF MUSICGr 1 Piano R Fitzsimons Pass T Glenny Pass D Jackson Merit M Lamplough Distinction N Railston-Brown DistinctionGr 2 Piano T McKenzie Pass J Paton MeritGr 3 Piano H Jackson PassGr 6 Violin B Burton Merit

SPORT AND ACHIEVEMENTS

CHESSMayaskar Nair with his doubles partner won the uShaka chess doubles tournament. Mayaskar also participated in the South African Junior Chess championships and won first prize on his allocated board. Chaitan Nair won the U8s KZN Chess Championship is currently rated the 10th best player in SA and has been invited to the SA closed tournament in 2018 to attempt to achieve his SA colours.

MARTIAL ARTSRuan Vandenheede received Silver and Fynn Simmons received Bronze medals at the SA Schools Championships which were held in Johannesburg in October.

WATERPOLOCongratulations to Oliver Lello on being selected for the KZN U13 boys team. They will be traveling to Grahamstown in December to compete in the SA Schools Tournament.

CROSS COUNTRYRuben Visagie came 1st in KZN Schools and 1st in ASA Cross Country, receiving KZN Colours on both occasions. He has participated in both the ASA and Schools League this year, after winning the ASA Cross Country Champs in George in 2016. Well done, Ruben, we are proud of you!

TENNISThe Edley twins and Caleb Fyvie played in the inaugural Trafalgar Property Management KZN Junior Open held from Sat 30th Sept - Tues 3rd Oct with highlights being Alex winning the U16 Boys singles, James winning the U16 boys doubles and Caleb coming third despite playing up an age group. All three boys qualified for the top 16 SA Junior Masters which was played in Potchefstroom from 12 - 15th October. The Edleys both achieved top 10 places with Alex coming 6th and James coming 9th. Caleb Fyvie came 11th in U12. Well done!

ABAGILITY MATHSThe third AMSASA Abacus and Mental Arithmetic National Championship was held in Roodepoort, Gauteng. Well done to Curach Davor, Grade 3, who won a gold medal and Raghav Bhoola, Grade 2, who won a silver medal. Congratulations to Khwezi Dube, Grade 4, who is Regional Champion.

CRICKETWell done to the following boys for their cricket achievements: 1st XI cricket badge: Dale HerbertHonours: Matt Rout, Johnathan van Zyl and Ivan LockemColours: Jason Brien, Brent Hildebrand, Joshua Woolven, Ross Coetzee and Hayden Bishop.CYCLING - AMASHOVA

Look how many Highbury boys did the Amashova 36km race! Well done to each of you!

SPORT AND ACHIEVEMENTSThe fourth term has already seen three sports tours successfully completed! Our 1st Team Waterpolo went to Cape Town, our U11A Cricket team went to Pretoria and our Tennis Team went to Paarl. At Highbury we believe that half a sports tour experience is beyond the actual sports event… it is a great opportunity for personal growth in so many ways. Well done boys, we hope you made memories!

WATERPOLO TOUR TO CAPE TOWN

CRICKET TOUR TO PRETORIA

TENNIS TOUR TO PAARL

The 1st Team travelled to Cape Town for the 17th Annual U13 Waterpolo Tournament held at SACS. The boys gained valuable game experience from the tour both in and out of the pool. They were hosted by WPPS and developed great relationships with their hosts. Ten games of polo were played in all, each boy giving of their best in every game. A huge improvement in the boys' game was seen from the beginning to the end of the tournament.

Our tennis team flew the Highbury flag high in the Gerrie Berner Laerskole Tennistoernooi in Paarl at the end of October. We finished 2nd out of 16 schools, receiving silver medals for the tournament, and Highbury was also awarded the Team Spirit Trophy! Well done boys, for the determination and outstanding tennis.

GOLFWell done to Reece Brown who was the winner of the KZN Junior Golf contest held at Royal Durban Golf Club on Monday 23rd October, with a score of 40 gross.

Our U11A Cricket team toured to Pretoria and were hosted by Cornwall Hill at a cricket festival.

THANK YOU!

ADVERTISING

Did you know that there is a Mosaic Studio just here in Kloof? It is run by Sheila Nichol who created the beautiful Highbury mosaic mural at our FP Jungle Gym water station! Here are the details: contact her for tools, classes or parties!

Our Thanksgiving Chapel was a beautiful opportunity to thank invited parents for the respective parts they have played here at Highbury during 2017. Many thanks to all who have helped, supported and made contributions in the following areas of service: our ‘Mums who pray’ group, the Liaison Mums’ Committee, the mums and dads who have helped in the library, in the FP art room, reading room, getting involved in action groups to help out at annual events, and to all mums and dads who have given so generously to the many school outreach and charity collections and support drives.