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Important dates

4 Feb - Library monitor workshop

7 Feb - Gr 000-7 Braai & Gr 4-7 disco

(18:00-21:00)

10 Feb - Gr 7 outing to Maropeng

13 Feb - Class moms meeting (8:00)

13 Feb - PS netball clinic

17 Feb - FP netball clinic

19 Feb - Grade 7 Top 10 Breakfast

19 Feb - Gr 7 HS parent info meeting

(18:00)

19 Feb - SACOPA Provincials (14:20-

17:00)

20 Feb - PS netball clinic

22 Feb - Open Day (9:00-12:00)

22 Feb - Parent workshop (Anxiety &

Screen time choices) (9:00-11:00)

26 Feb - FP netball clinic

27 Feb - PS swimming gala (8:00-12:00)

27 Feb - School closes for half term

(12:00)

3 Mar - Return to school after half term

break

Voted one of the most innovated schools in South Africa MCS Primary School was awarded First Place - Hartbeespoort & Brits Community

One of the Top 10 performing Maths Olympiad schools in North West

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Principal’s Letter

Dear Parents, learners and staff, Welcome to the start of a new term, a new year, a new decade. It has been so wonderful in welcoming our com-munity back together. We have so much to achieve together this year and I look forward to every step. Although the beginning of the year seems to be just a distant memory, I thought that I would elaborate on my presentation at the Parents’ Information Evenings. As we strategize ahead for 2025: A comprehensive plan for achieving above world averages for all our subject are-as, honouring our cultures of: care, excellence, thinking & discipline, the growth of our preschool; encouraging courageous interactions and conversations as we live authentic lives and engage with diversity; deepening our un-derstanding of inclusion; and expressing our gratitude to the professionals who care for your children daily through staff wellness and professional development programmes. As we plan ahead, we dream of a cohesive community, a community that will embrace positive behaviour and believe in the value of being mindful. We look forward to rolling out and celebrating our theme for 2020 “I love my school” our school community, and how we all as a community can make a positive difference and impact in the lives of our community and more specifically in the lives of our children: I can make a difference”. We invite you to contribute to building our caring community of parents and professionals. We dream of a school which con-tinues to live its values daily, a school that recognises, nurtures and values the potential in each child, an innova-tive school which continues to reflect on its experiences and continues to teach for real life relevance; a school that defines success as progress for each individual student, as a personal maximization of happiness. Mountain Cambridge School is not only a thinking school, but also a feeling school. We have the courage to not only think about how we sustain our school of excellence, but we also look at how we can lead education here at MCS and, possibly even more importantly, how we begin to share our learning and in-fluence other schools and in turn South Africa, our country. Our staff feel strongly that now more than ever, we need to create a sense of hope. We, as a school, endeavour to teach our students to stay, to stay and contribute as South African and world leaders. I also know that one of the true values of Cambridge is its community. From the teachers to students to parents, the Cambridge community is indeed a special group because we remain committed to the same hopes and dream: to grow the hearts, minds, and souls of our children in a loving and nurturing environment. We believe that MCS has the right formula and we are very proud of who and what we are. You have made the right choice for your child’s education and for your child’s future. The future is bright for the MCS community. May God’s richest blessings meet you and your loved ones as we jour-ney through 2020.

Results 2019 A sense of perspective

The 2019 results are definitely one of the best on record. The CAIE external exams delivered for the Grade 6, LSL/grade 8, IGCSE and AS exams a total of 140 distinctions, with 79 students that enrolled in these exams, that gives us an average of 1,77 distinctions per candidate. The exceptional achievement of last year’s group confirms our reputation as an international centre of excellence for IGCSE and AS/A Level studies that continues to be a distinguishing feature of the MCS educational offering.

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The differing study styles and critical thinking associated with the IGCSE and A/AS Level syllabus taught by the academic staff filters down into the rest of the school and enriches the teaching and learning from Pre-Primary through to matric. Congratulations to Lars van der Arend, who was awarded a ‘Highest Achievement’ in Dutch in South Africa during the 2019 Cambridge exam series. Their exceptional achievements are available for all to see page….. One of the strengths of MCS often not publicised is the extent of academic support given to stu-dents who are underperforming. Behind the statistics are many students who, through their own endeavour, the support of parents and with the help of their teachers, turned D’s into B’s, overcame illness and life challenges and, in their own way, contributed to making the class of 2019 so exceptional. In addition, many MCS learners achieved excellent results whilst also excelling on the sports field and in a range of cultural activities. This commitment to all-round excellence remains a hallmark of the education offered at MCS.

We all play a part In conversations to offer my congratulations to successful students, their parents and the academic staff, the re-sponse from all was a consistent one: “This was a team effort.” If we look beyond just Cambridge distinctions and appreciate the team effort required to achieve sustained excellence in many areas of education in an environment that nurtures a range of talents, we will live up to our school’s motto : to prepare our students to be Real World Ready, in educating our learners in body, mind and character and achieve our ambition of being a world-class school. To all the MCS teachers, students and parents who have helped build this success in 2019 - thank you! Due to all your efforts, Mountain Cambridge School will continue to offer an all-round and diverse education that extends beyond successful IGCSE and AS/A results. Lastly, MCS received an award, in the beginning of this year, as being one of the top ten per-forming Maths Olympiad schools in North West! Congratulations to Mr Bailey and the Maths department. Well done! Conclusion My staff and I enjoyed meeting many of you at the parent Information evenings on last Monday & Tuesday eve-nings. We’ve introduced our staff and presented some class details for the upcoming year, and I shared general information regarding the plans for the year, including academics, sport, culture, communication and the CAIE re-sults. Details of these elements of our busy school is included in this newsletter. Please contact the relevant person should you have any queries. My best wishes for a happy and successful year of learning for our learners and a blessed year for our families. Finally, I wish each and every one of you a successful and fulfilling year ahead; it has already started most positive-ly. In the midst of the vagaries of the world and the worries about the problems in many countries, may the sweet-ness and stillness of God’s presence be felt moment by moment. Thank you, Cambridge Parents, for seeing the value of Cambridge and for your continued support. May I wish you all the very best for 2020. Unite the Spirit! Go Forward proud MCS family! Best wishes Carolina van Heerden Executive Head

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Communications to parents: Effective two-way communication between the School and the parents is important. We are continually striving to improve our communication channels and are delighted to be expanding on our abilities.

Mountain Mail: in an effort to be environmentally responsible, we produce this monthly newsletter electroni-cally only, but do print out hard copies on request.

Weekly Reminders: Gr R – AS please make sure you do receive these weekly reminders of events and test dates.

Emails: Deputy Principals & Principal will communicate with parents when deemed necessary.

Class Representative System: elected parents help to coordinate school functions. The Website: our school’s website at www.themcs.co.za.

Learners’ school diary: every class has a homework board – learners will copy their homework in their school diaries. Diaries must be signed off by parents every day in the Primary School. * See homework policy.

Parent Diary: to keep our parents up to date with events at our school.

The D6 Communicator launches every morning, so you will see the news at least once a day, as well as other useful information, such as calendar events, timetables, contact lists and links to resources. Parents can receive only news that is directly relevant to them by selecting the grades or forms in which they have children. All letters are emailed to Mary-Anne who posts them onto the D6 Communicator.

Phase circulars: A monthly phase circular will go out to remind parents of any event at the school with an attached reply slip. Learners need to take responsibility in ensuring that they give these communications to their parents and return them the next day to school. Sport/culture/camp letters & reply slips/indemnity forms: we do, from time to time, send letters home with an attached reply slip, generally the monthly circular/indemnity forms. We deemed these letters as highly important, learners need to take responsibility in ensuring that they give these communications to their parents.

Subject study guides: The learners (Grade 4 - AS) will receive a subject guide in each of their subject areas, giving more information and what to expect in the subject. Foundation Phase: welcoming letters sent out in the beginning of the year to guide parents and a six-week letter will be sent out to the parents, every six weeks, introducing the themes and work covered in the classroom.

Parent corner - Important school policies

Cellular Phone Policy:

Cell phones/ I Pods/ MP 3s/ Tablets or any other electronic equipment:

No cell phones will be allowed during school hours: 06:30 – 16:00.

Learners are encouraged to not bring their cell phones to school. Any communication with their parents will

be through the school’s front office.

Cell phones must be switched off during school time and can only be used after school. If found on during

school hours, the cell phone will be confiscated.

Should a learner not adhere to this rule, the cell phone will be confiscated for two weeks.

If learners bring cell phones to school, then it is with the understanding that MCS will not be held responsi-

ble for any loss, damage or theft thereof, including confiscated cell phones.

It is on the onus of the learner to take responsibility for the safekeeping of his/her cell phone at all times.

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School Gate Times

Parents should be aware that the safety of their children outside the official school gate times (6:30 to 16:30) will be the responsibility of parents/guardians and not that of the school. Parents are encouraged to make the necessary arrangements i.e. after-care facilities, transport arrangements to ensure that their children would not be required to wait outside the school during closed periods.

The school main gate will only be open during the following times:

6:30-8:00

14:00-15:00

From 8:00-14:00, and 15:00-16:00, parents will have to use the intercom to gain access to the school. You will be asked to indicate your name, as well as the learner/s names you are collecting.

After 16:00, the gate will remain locked, and parents can park on the church grounds hereafter.

PUNCTUALITY Please help us by getting your children to school on time. This enables us to start the school day with Morning Prayer and to make important announcements. It also establishes essential life skills and self-discipline which as-sists in the process of teaching and learning. All children need to be in the quad for line-up before the first bell goes at 07:30. HAIR AND UNIFORM RULES We are very strict in respect of acceptable hair styles and we do not allow any form of shaving of the head - for boys or girls – dyeing and colouring or the wearing of gel. Girls’ hair must be tied back, and fringes should not cov-er their eyes. Boys’ hair should be off their ears and collars. Please make sure that our uniform is worn correctly and with pride. School sunhats are compulsory from Grade R -7. MCS 3Gs Maintaining our 3Gs (Greeting, Grooming and Grounds) depends on a strong, on-going partnership between the school and the home. Please remind your child that these three things are extremely important. Please also ensure that your child’s hair is neat, his/her uniform is neat and tidy and that your child’s shoes are polished. We have not been impressed with the learners’ greetings and would like to remind learners to greet politely, at all times, all our visitors, friends and staff members. Please ensure all learners have the correct uniform for school and sport and that they wear it with pride at all times.

Learners’ property

Learners must take responsibility for their own bags, preferably not allowing them out of their sight or must be

locked away in their school lockers grade 4 – AS. As in the past, we request that you do not allow your child to

bring expensive electronic devices to school (cell phones, i-pods, cameras, tablets or laptop computers, etc).

All bags, clothing and sporting equipment must be clearly marked which make it possible to be returned.

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POLICY ON LATE COMERS/PUNCTUALITY/TRUANCY AND SIGNING OUT

School starts at 07:30 – students must be in their register class rooms or line-ups by then for registration.

Late comers must report to the Administration Office to receive an Entry Slip (if the reason is valid) or a Late Slip.

Three late slips will result in a Friday detention.

Truancy from a class or from school is a serious offence; repeated truancy may lead to suspension.

If a student feels ill during school hours, they have to report to the LEAP centre, (parents will be contacted if deemed nec-

essary).

If an appointment is scheduled during school hours (which should be avoided) a note or email from parents must be

handed into the Administration Office from where an early departure slip will be issued.

Any child collected from school before the end of a school day can only leave if a parent has signed the Admin Exit regis-

ter at our Admin offices and has asked for permission 24 hours prior via email or telephonically from the Principal for

the early departure.

If absent during an examination or standardized test, a medical certificate must be produced.

Access to examination rooms will not be allowed a half an hour after commencement of exams.

SCHOOL ATTENDANCE All parents are required by law to ensure that children

attend school. Please make school attendance a priori-

ty. This includes the last day of each term and most

especially the last week and last day of the school year.

Grade 4-7 Valentines Disco

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CAIE results

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CAIE Results - Grade 6

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Deputy Headmistress report - Mrs Anrieke Olivier

Welcome back parents and learners! We are looking forward working with you to create a wonderful learning

journey for your child.

The vision of MCS is to be a top academic school. The Foundation Phase plays a vital role in this. We believe in

Foundation Phase that the journey is just as important as the destination. Our focus is on learning and as a result

performance will follow. In the Foundation Phase our main goal is to teach learners reading, writing, arithmetic

and reasoning. However, we need to do this by teaching them that learning is a joyful activity for them to become

lifelong learners.

I would like the parents to trust us as educators. We have the expertise to know what your child needs to achieve

according to his/her potential. We would like to work in partnership with you to create a successful learning jour-

ney for your child. Parents complement the teachers’ work and your attitude towards learning and MCS will influ-

ence your child and his/her journey. We have your child’s best interest at heart.

We want the learners to love learning and to love MCS and to take pride their

progress.

May we have a wonderful year together.

Deputy Headmaster report - Mr Ronnie James

The First Term started at a fast pace in the Senior Primary Phase with our Athletics already finished. Some of our learners also participated in Brits this week and they all did very well. Congratulations to everybody that participated.

Our Gr 7s went on their Leadership Development camp at Camp Discovery the past weekend. Our learn-ers behaved exceptionally well and they also displayed the usual MCS respect to everyone at the camp and they kept our name high.

They are taking their Duty Panel duties very seriously and the discipline run by them is noteworthy. They named themselves as a group the “Black Panthers”.

They want to make a difference by setting an example and by the execution of their tasks.

The Grade 7s motto is: Motivate, not dominate

I think we can only expect good things from this group.

Our roster for our Standardised Tests has been distributed and the learners and teachers are preparing in all earnest. Remember to ask your teacher if you need help.

Our phase is well represented in the cultural and sports departments.

The overall the discipline of our Senior Primary Phase is exemplary so far and I would like to commend the learners and teachers for this.

Best wishes for the New Year and let us achieve our goals together!

Remember a goal without a plan is only a dream!

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This year’s annual LSL Concert is based on the Toy Story movie but has a surprising twist! Make

sure to come out and enjoy the concert put

on by our Greenies as well as staying after-

wards for the lovely High School Braai. The

concert will be held on the 31st of January

2020 in the MCS Taylor Hall and will begin at

18:00. Learners ages 13 and under may enter

for free, High School learners have to pay

R10 and adults R20.

LSL concert - Please support

Sport connection - Coach KB

We have kicked off the year with such enthusiasm and eagerness to do our best on the sports field. Our inter

house athletics was a success and the old and new learners enjoyed every single moment of the different events.

We also hosted our Foundation Phase athletics on a Saturday and it was really nice to see parents helping out

with being officials on the day. We had 30 athletes from the Primary School as well as Foundation Phase and 25

from the high school who qualified for the cluster meetings to be hosted at Hoërskool Harties on the 8th of Febru-

ary as well as the 10th February 2020 which serves as the 1st qualifier for the nationals, we wish them all the best.

The introduction of cricket has really kicked off with a high and our cricket coach Mr Kotze has been enjoying do-

ing induction training to the Foundation Phase, Primary School as well as High School learners and the reception

has been amazing. We will be playing a couple of friendly games before we enter into a competitive league.

Our theme for this year in our sport department is, FIT BODY, FIT MIND.

Fitness, like most things, is created by forming a habit. To form a habit an action needs to be repeated enough

times to make the action natural and easy.

Sportsmanship is also a habit and a learned one. Sportsmanship starts at home and at practice and its up to par-

ents, teachers and coaches to set the right example. How we behave when a student doesn’t do a play correctly

at practice or how a parent reacts when their child misses a goal or is disqualified will be the determining factors

that influence our children’s ability to play the game with true sportsmanship.

Hope to see you on the field.

Stakeholders 2020

We welcome 2 new members to our Stakeholders Committee:

Mr Muhammad Waja and Mr Chris Landsberg

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Despite the grey weather the Foundation Phase had a lot of fun completing their athletics races on Sat-urday 18th January. The rain held off for the whole event until the parents races which had to be can-celled, to some relief from the parents. Ribbons were awarded to the top 3 runners in the 60m, 80m and 150m and 200m in the various age groups.

- Mrs Emma Smart

Foundation phase inter-house athletics

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Primary School inter-house athletics

On the 17th of January the Fish Eagles and Loeries competed against each other at the inter-house

athletics.

Well done to the Loeries who won the athletics cup, and the Fish Eagles who

won the spirit cup.

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Our choir practice times will be on a Thursday,

14:20-15:20.

The practice will be from Grade 1—AS 2.

-Mrs Vannette Viljoen

SACOPA practice times for this term:

30 January – Thursday Jnr Group: 14:00 – 15:00

Snr Group: 15:00 – 16:00

1 -5 February - PROVINCIAL AUDITION – Information with regards to this day will be handed out in a sepa-

rate letter. At this stage, however, it seems that the performing date will be on the 5th of February and will

take place at school.

Practice Times for National Participation that will be held at the Civic Centre in Rustenburg from the of the

27th of March until the 4th of April 2020. Our performance date will be confirmed nearer to the time.

6 February – Thursday - Jnr Group: 14:00 – 15:00

Snr Group: 15:00 - 16:00

13 February - Thursday - Jnr Group: 14:00 – 15:00

Snr Group: 15:00 – 16:00

20 February - Thursday - Jnr Group: 14:00 – 15:00

Snr Group: 15:00 – 16:00

7 March – Saturday - Jnr Group: 9:00 – 12:00

Snr Group: 12:00 – 15:00

12 March - Thursday - Jnr Group: 14:00 – 15:00

Snr Group: 15:00 – 16:00

26 March - Thursday - Jnr Group: 14:00 – 15:00

Snr Group: 15:00 – 16:00

2 April - Thursday -NATIONAL PERFORMANCE AT THE CIVIC CENTRE IN RUSTENBURG. More information

with regards to the day will be handed out closer to the date.

Choir - Mrs Vannette Viljoen

SACOPA - Mrs Vannette Viljoen

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The grade 7 class had a leadership development workshop held by Mrs Van Heerden on Wednesday the 23nd of January and Mrs Rina Muller on Thursday the 24th of January to make them aware of our schools values and the duties they will be performing as Duty Panel member of 2020. Mrs Muller’s workshop was a hands-on leadership development course that focused on team work and the main aims of leadership.

Mr and Mrs James as well as Mrs Viljoen escorted the grade 7 learners on the Leadership Development Course at Camp Discovery over the weekend of the 25th of January. The learners had to manage obstacle courses, analyze their personalities to see where their strong points lie in order to work as a team more effectively. There were activities for personal development and honing of skills as well as team effort projects all culminating in a final production where everyone’s abilities were put to the test.

Our learners really stood out amongst the crowds that were at the facility. Their behaviour and good manners are commendable. We have very self-efficient and mindful learners. We trust that this team of learners who set really high goals for themselves this year will prove to be as strong as we believe them to be.

- Mrs Vannette Viljoen

Grade 7 workshop and Leadership Camp

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First Day 2020

Excitement filled the air at MCS on the 15th of January. It was the first day of the academic year and the start of their Primary School career. Parents beamed with pride as each Grade 1 was given the oppor-tunity to ring the bell to signify their intro-duction to BIG school. - Ms Karin Pelser

First day of Grade 1 2020

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Primary School athletics at Laerskool Brits

News from the music classroom

Towards the end of 2019 Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) announced

they were to add four new subjects to the Cambridge Primary programme, one of which was

Music. This exciting new curriculum now forms part of the MCS Music curriculum for Grade R to

LSL.

The curriculum emphasises musical exploration with opportunities for learners to perform and

present their music at every stage of development. Music notation is introduced gradually

through the primary stages, so learners appreciate that there is a connection between symbols

and sound. The programme is designed to supplement, rather than replace, instrumental les-

sons. Learners will therefore also continue to receive instruction in marimba play (and recorders

for grades 2 and 3).

I am excited about these new developments and look for-

ward to seeing how our learners continue to grow musical-

ly.

Sound greetings,

Dr. Wilna Dirkse van Schalkwyk

MCS Music Teacher an Sound Therapist

The athletics team participated at Brits Laerskool at the Prestige event. Congratulations to all the athletes who participated at the event.

- Mrs Anrieke Olivier

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Parent Workshop

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Aftercare Providers

Daily Bookings Available

Don’t wait – Call today

PHONE LIZA ON 084 500 4485

Daily from 13:00 – 18:00

Lots of FUN activities

Join the Sherpa Family

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Community Service

Month Date Function Recipient Char-ity Details

ONGO-ING

from term 1 for whole year, but excluding Public School Holidays

Sandwich Wednes-days

Ennis Thabong School

All learners bring an extra sandwich to school every Wednesday

January 25-Jan Back to school sta-tionery collection Ennis Thabong

Primary & High School learners donate any old stationery they are not using

February 15-Feb Slip Slap Slop CANSA

Slip on your sunglasses, slap on your hat, and slop on your sandals. Bring a donation in sup-port of Skin Cancer Awareness

April 05-Apr Easter Egg Collection Ennis Thabong

Foundation phase learners donate marshmal-low Easter Eggs to be given to disadvantaged kids

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS: 12 April to 8 May

May 17-May Winter warmer Cam-paign Ennis Thabong

Primary & High School learners donate blan-kets, jackets, jerseys, socks and shoes. Spell "MCS" on field with collected items.

June 07-Jun Dare to go bare Ennis Thabong Primary & High School donate pair of shoes and socks and go barefoot for rest of the day

July 19-Jul Mandela day

organise a bake sale, car wash for 67 minutes after school at village mall for charity and do-nate the proceeds

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS: 8 August to 11 September

Septem-ber 09-Sep Casual Day Meerhof School

All learners can wear casual clothes if they buy a casual day sticker

October 18-Oct Santa shoebox collec-tion

High School & Primary School learners donate and pack shoeboxes with treats for Christmas and hand over

November 01-Nov MCS Staff hamper col-lection

MCS Auxillary staff

High School & Primary School learners donate and pack shoeboxes with treats for Christmas and hand over

November 29-Nov Movember challenge Prostate cancer

Learners pledge money to the Movember cause. When targets are reached, learners can choose colour to spray register teacher's hair

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS: 6 December