TOWNSVIEW PRIMARY SCHOOL

22 January 2020

NEWSLETTER 1 / 2020

Dear Parents / Guardians

The Newsletter is issued on a Wednesday, fortnightly and contains important information and feedback. I urge you to take the time to read the newsletter and remain updated and informed about your child’s school.

1. Stationery and Additional Bookpacks:

A reminder about the following:

All learners received a bookpack from the school on the first school day.

Each grade has an Additional Bookpack which parents have to pay for.

The Stationery Pack is available through Waltons from the school.

Please ensure that your child comes to school with the correct stationery and bookpack requirements – if learners come to school without the stationery requirements, they are at an

immediate disadvantage and cannot complete their work.

Thank you to all parents who ensured that their child started school last week ready to work from Day 1.

As a school we have ensured that every learner has his/her books to work in – please ensure your child has everything else required.

2. Extra-murals:Our extra-murals programme began yesterday and a wide range of activities are offered. I encourage learners to participate in the extra-mural programme. It forms a

“TAKE CHARGE OF

very important part of their education.

A reminder that learners not participating in extra-murals must leave the school immediately after the bell has rung. Those participating in extra-murals must leave the school directly thereafter. Please do not leave your child/ren waiting in the street for a lift – it is unsafe and there is no supervision.

PLEASE NOTE THAT LEARNERS

ARE NOT THE EDUCATORS’

RESPONSIBILITY AFTER THE END OF THE SCHOOL

DAY

3. Scholar Patrol: The Scholar Patrol is on duty every morning in Valda Street from:

07h15 until 07h30 and in the afternoon in

Valda Street from:Monday: 14h25 – 14h40

Tuesday to Friday: 13h55 – 14h10

The learners and educators avail themselves in all kinds

of weather to ensure your child/ren cross Valda Street safely. Please assist us by insisting that your children ONLY cross at the Scholar Patrol – adherence to road rules is something we all have to do. The example you set should be one of respect for our Scholar Patrol, the educators, one-way traffic in the mornings and afternoons and carefully driving.

4. Homework Diaries:If you have not, as yet, purchased a Homework Diary for your child, they are available at a cost of R38,00 from the school. It is imperative that your child has a Homework Diary as it contains a lot of important information and is a form of communication between you and the educator. It is also important that your child writes homework down every day.

5. School Uniform:It has come to our attention that a few of the girl learners are wearing the incorrect school uniform. As per the Homework Diary and the Enrolment Forms, the girls should wear a blue tunic with four buttons down the front. Blue skirts or blue tunics with

a belt and pleats are NOT the correct school uniform. I appeal to you not to send your daughter to school with the incorrect school uniform. Please either purchase the correct school tunic from our stockists:

Hollywood House216 Johannesburg RoadLa RochelleTel: (011) 435-3821

OREconomic Outfitters21 Booysens RoadBooysensTel: (011) 493-2820

ORvisit our second-hand clothing store (Open Wednesdays: 07h30 – 10h00) to purchase the correct school uniform.

Thank you to all the parents who ensured their child/ren were dressed in the correct school uniform for the beginning of the Academic School Year! Please continue to monitor what your child/ren wear to school and to the learners, please take pride in your school uniform.

6. School Fees:

If you did not pay January’s fees last year, I’d like to remind you that January’s fees are payable now. I advise you to keep up with your school fee payment to avoid falling into arrears. School fees for 2020 are R642.55 per month for eleven (11) months, the total being R7 068,00.

Parents who are still in arrears for 2019 and haven’t worked out a payment plan with Mrs Madliwa (Debt Collector) will be handed over to CeeBee Debt Collecting Agency during the course of this term.

A reminder to all Grade R parents that the payment of R650,00 per month for eleven (11) months is COMPULSORY.

NO EXEMPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE FOR GRADE R

7. Ronnie Bin / Empty Ink Cartridges:

Please send all newspapers, magazines or scrap paper to school for our Ronnie Bin. The project assists with paper recycling, tidies your home and brings in much needed funds for the school.

We are also collecting empty ink cartridges for recycling,

so please send them to school.

8. Foundation Phase and INTERSEN Phase Parents’ Information Evening:

This Information Evening will

be held on:THURSDAY, 30 JANUARY at

18h00in the school hall. We have a guest speaker, Ms Mahlatse Diale, a Social Worker from the Johannesburg Child and Parent Counselling Centre, who will present the topic, “Positive Parenting” focusing on Discipline and Technology.

9. INTERSEN Phase – Cycle Tests:

As explained in the circular issued last week, the Grade 4 – 7 learners will be writing weekly cycle tests this term. The English Cycle Test will be written on Wednesday, 29 January. Study Programmes will be handed out a week prior to the cycle test.

Please assist and work with your child in preparation for these cycle tests and do not hesitate to contact the subject educator should you

require any support or clarity.

Date Day Subject

Grade

29 January

Wednesday

English

4 – 7

4 Februar

yTuesda

yAfrikaans

4 – 7

6 Februar

yThursd

ay Maths 4 – 7

11 Februar

yTuesda

yHistor

y4 – 7

13 Februar

yThursd

ay

Natural

Sciences

7

Date Day Subject

Grade

Date Day Subject

Grade

18 Februar

yTuesda

yGeography

4 – 7

20 Februar

yThursd

ay

TechnologyLife

Skills

74 – 6

25 Februar

yTuesda

y

EMSNatur

al Sciences & Technology

7

4 - 6

27 Februar

yThursd

ayCreati

ve Arts

7

3 March Tuesday

Life Orientation

7

10. Exemption Forms:Please note that the application for exemption must be done annually. The forms are available from Mrs Ramsunda from:

Monday, 27 January between 08h00 and 12h00

Please ensure you include all the documentation requested to ensure thorough verification and the fair process thereof. A reminder that legal action will be taken against any parents who submit fraudulent documentation.

11. Late-coming:You are aware of the fact that the school day begins at 07h40 and the Gauteng Department of Education’s zero tolerance of late-coming in schools and yet I continue to observe learners arriving late for school. Being on time is a life skill and value to which we should all strive to adhere to and being on time for school and work and meetings is a good start.

I trust that we have everyone’s co-operation in our quest for all being on time.

12. Townsview Tuckshop:The following items are on

sale at the tuckshop:

Simba Lays and Doritos R9Popshots R6Yummy Waks / Crack A Shocks R1Popcorn R5Vanilla, Strawberry, Chocolate Biscuits R4Lemon Creams R9

Milkybar, Cadbury Slabs R17Lollipops R2Tongue Sweets R2Sherbet Suckers R1Gummy Sweets R1 /

R2Assorted Sweets 50c

each

Coca Cola cans, assorted

R13,50 each

Oros R8Kingsley Cooldrinks R10

Learner’s Lunches: R18Toasted CheeseHomemade Pies or Sausage RollsToasted Beef & CheeseRussian RollHotdogToasted Chicken MayoToasted Mince & Cheese

Homemade Vetkoek & Cheese

Friday:Combo (Chicken & Chips / Burger & Chips)

R20

Chicken / Burger (without chips) R18

All food is freshly prepared and learners are encouraged to order lunch in the morning to avoid disappointment and prevent waste.

13. Outstanding Documentation:

You have been receiving a lot of communication from us in the past week and we trust that you are taking the time to read all circulars and newsletters sent home. Thank you to the parents who diligently return the reply slips for our records. To those parents who haven’t, we urgently request the following:

Circular 2/2020

15 January 2020

Grade 4 – 7 Textbooks

Circular 4/2020

16 January 2020

Waiting class forGrades R, 1, 2 &

3

Circular 5/2020

Late-coming oflearners at school

20 January 2020

Circular 8/2020

21 January 2020

Regulations for the Exemption of Parents from the

Payment of School Fees

Checklist

14. Cake & Candy Sale (Grade 6) –

Friday, 31 January:The Grade 6 Cake & Candy Sale will be held on Friday, 31 January. Please support the Grade 6 educators and learners with this fundraiser.

15. Homework:15.1 Learners:

Important things to remember about homework:(a) Write down your

homework from each subject in your homework diary. Write as many details as you can about the homework. You must include when the homework is due, any necessary textbook pages and things your educator says you must include.

(b) Find a location to do your homework.

Before choosing a specific work place, pick a quiet place where you can work for a long time while having access to resources such as textbooks, computer, books, dictionaries, encyclopaedias, etc. – whatever is necessary. Good locations include your school library.

(c) Choose a quiet workplace with space to spread out your work. Make sure your work is organized. Don’t pile it too high and don’t spread it all over the place. The idea is to convince yourself that you don’t have very much to do. You will work your hardest when you feel as if you have just a little bit more to go. Also, to protect your eyes, make sure you have a good light. A good chair will be one where you won’t fall asleep, but you also won’t be

constantly thinking about the pain in your back.

(d) Concentrate on one task at a time. Once you have completed an assignment, be sure to check it off.

(e) Take a study break. Set a specific amount of time you will spend every hour doing it. Be sure you set how long after the start of the hour and how long you will take. Don’t give yourself an extension ever. Even if you just do it once, it will be so much easier to do again.

(f) If you have no time for a long break, take quick five-minute breaks. During these five minutes, jump around a little and do a quick jog, get a glass of water and grab a quick snack. Running and jumping will clear your mind and increase blood flow. The water and the snack will refresh you, so you’ll be ready to

attack more of that dreaded work.

(g) Spend the time right after your study breaks wisely. These are the times you will be cleared and ready to work. Once you have finishing your studying and have genuinely attempted all the tasks at least three or four times, you can consider yourself finished. Anything you haven’t finished, can wait until the next day when you will be able to ask your educator.

(h) If you have a backlog of work and are having difficulty, explain to your educators that you’ve fallen behind and ask for an extension. You might want to take in some of your work as proof that you are working, ie. your first draft.

15.2 Parents:Ideas to overcome homework anxiety:(a) Be a guiding

presence to encourage good

study habits for the future – remember ‘Helping is not Doing.’

(b) Timing is important:

(i) Some children may be naturally conscientious and want to do their homework as soon as they get home, while others may need time to play and relax first. Work out a routine for your child.

(ii) Avoid the ‘last minute rush.’

(iii) Note how your child

spends his/her time doing homework.

Provide a good working

environment free from distractions.

(c) Supervise homework to the extreme at first, this will develop responsibility and independence for the future.

(d) Be interested, talk and listen to your child. Be prepared to sooth ruffled

feathers, remember that a little

encouragement goes a long way.

Final Thoughts:

The following was shared with the staff in our first staff meeting this year:

“Beware of the lollipop of mediocrity; lick it once and you’ll suck forever.”- Brian Wilson

“The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength,

nor a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will.”- Vince Lombard

“For anyone who loves what they do, mediocrity is not eough. You don’t need to be the best in the world, but you should be the best

that you can be.”- Travis Barkin

Yours faithfully

L ESTERHUIZENPRINCIPAL