CURRENT NEWSLETTER
5 August 2009
Dear Parents
Our long, dreary winter term has come to an end and it would seem not a moment too soon! The girls and the staff are all exhausted and many are nursing ailments from common colds to bronchitis. I suspect a good rest and some home pampering will put us all on track once again.
Sadly we have to say goodbye to some members of our community at the end of this term.
Mr Les Mallett who stood in for a term for Mrs Thea Steele while she was on long leave. Les has ably filled the post of junior Design & Technology and we have enjoyed the presence of another man in our staff room. Thank you, Les!
Ms Sheena Stannard has also been on leave and she was replaced by Ms Zoe Reeve for the term. Despite claiming little teaching experience, Zoe has fulfilled this role with aplomb. She is a natural teacher and I hope that we have cemented a profession for her. Well done and thank you, Zoe!
Mrs Grace White has been part of the SAC-DSG community for years. As a wife, as a mother and, most recently, as our book room assistant. She is off to work in the desert. We shall miss her quiet organisation and her gentle presence. Bon Voyage Bruce and Grace!
Mrs Jenny Gird worked for over a year as our Guild secretary. She has done a superb job in setting up a database, organising reunions and reconnecting with Old Girls. She was lured away into the restaurant business where there is no doubt she has natural flair. Jenny will be replaced by Mrs Melissa Hart.
And lastly, Mrs Tibby Bennett retires after twenty years of service. Tibby is our backbone. Her warmth and generosity of spirit was evident to me from the day I started here. She is wise, forward-thinking and so very balanced in all that she does. She will leave a gaping hole here which will be felt by the girls as well as the administrative and academic staff. Tibby, I wish you a wonderful retirement. I have no doubt that your days will be filled with exciting events you have conjured up! The new librarian appointment to start next term is Mrs Anne-marie Janse van Vuuren
Mrs Madeleine Moore is off next term on Long Leave and we wish her well. Her position will be most ably filled by Dr Petra Gentz.
You may have noticed some adverts in the papers last weekend that SAC and the DSG have jointly decided to employ the services of a school psychologist whose role it will be to take over a range of the educational testing, screenings and referrals. Ms Hermien Potgieter is considering reading for a Masters in Cape Town and so her post was advertised and, with the resignation of Mr Keith Moss, who leaves a month into next term, a Music post was also advertised.
During the holidays, the bustle of activity does not end. 10 girls, accompanied by Mrs Cindy Britz and Ms Sheena Stannard have embarked on our annual Umfolozi trip, walking and sleeping among the wild animals. A large contingent of History boys and girls are off to tour Russia under the watchful eyes of Ms Trish Middlebrook, Mrs Mel Webb and Mr Basil McKenzie. I trust that it will be a most memorable experience for them. The Music Department will spend a few days in Port Elizabeth putting on shows in schools and homes. We wish them a happy, fun-filled and bonding experience. We also have five of our U14 girls participating in the interprovincial hockey tournament at DSG this weekend and we wish them well.
Enclosed in your report pack, you will see a sports report from Mr David Wright. As you will see, it has been a full, highly successful season. I thank David and his team of Ms Andy Tzircalle, Ms Melissa Duiker, Mr Chicken Gendall, Mr Tudor Lacey and all the student assistants. Well done to all of you on a very competitive season!
You will note that the palisade fencing around our perimeter is up and next year we will budget to secure our front entrance more suitably. Mrs Heather Rader does a stunning job with our gardens and I am regularly complimented on how good they are looking. We have over the past year been upgrading Espin and we are busy with the bathroom renovations. During the holidays we will paint the passages and fix some of the damp.
I would like to end this letter with some day-to-day matters:
-
Book bags are now available in the stationery shop. They will be compulsory for all girls from grade 4 -11 next year.
-
I have attached the 2010 dates to this letter. It seems that aeroplanes and other transport will be under considerable pressure throughout the year so please plan ahead of the time. There are already problems in securing flights from Port Elizabeth to Johannesburg at the start of the June holiday and we shall have to lobby with SAC and Kingswood to sort that one out.
-
We have a new catering company, Eastern Province Caterers. They have been most favourable received by our girls.
-
At the start of next term the provincial authorities will be working on the construction of a circle at the top of Worcester Street. While this is going to make the roads far safer for our girls in the long term, it does mean some chaotic conditions for us in the interim period. Please note that the Worcester Street entrance from Somerset Rd, the stretch of Cradock Road from that intersection and the entrance to Pear Lane will be closed for six months. Traffic will be diverted up Constitution Street and down African Street. I suggest that you drop your girls off in African Street at the Aquatic Centre entrance and that they walk up from there.
-
I was saddened at the number of Day Girls in particular who did not attend Corporate Communion. Please will you note that date on our next term’s calendar. It is a requirement that they attend and we gather together as a whole school twice a term for Corporate Communion.
I wish you all an enjoyable holiday together as a family. I know that I will see many of you over Balloon Week next term which promises to be full of all the normal excitement and celebrations.
Regards
Shelley Frayne
Headmistress
2010 Term Dates
St Andrew’s College, Prep and the Diocesan School for Girls
| Term 1 | Thursday 14 January to Thursday 25 March 2010 |
| Wed 13 | January Boarders return by 18h00 |
| Thurs 14 January | Classes begin(Half Term: 12h00 on Thursday 25 February to 18h00 on Monday 1 March) |
| Thurs 25 March | Final Assembly at 11h15 |
| Term 2(a) | Tuesday 13 April to Wednesday 9 June 2010 |
| Mon 12 April | Boarders return by 18h00 |
| Tues 13 April | Classes begin |
| (No Half Term) | |
| Wed 9 June | Final Assembly at 09h50 |
| Term 2(b) | Tuesday 13 July to Thursday 19 August 2010 |
| Mon 12 July | Boarders return by 18h00 |
| Tues 13 July | Classes begin |
| (No Half Term) | |
| Thurs 19 Aug | Examinations End and Final Assembly at 11h15 |
| Term 3 | Wednesday 8 September to Thursday 2 December 2010 |
| Tuesday 7 Sept | Boarders return by 18h00 |
| Wed 8 Sept | Classes begin |
| (Balloon Week 11-14 October) | |
| (Half Term: After Relay Athletics Prize Giving (13h00) on Thursday 14 October to 18h00 on Monday 18 October) |
|
| Thurs 2 December | Final Assembly (compulsory attendance) at 08h30 |
Kelly Long represents South Africa 10th May 2012
Kelly Long represented South Africa at the 5th International Sustainable World Project Olympiad in the USA
