Dear Parents, Staff and Girls,
I trust the frustration and the pressure in the main car park has, to a certain extent, been alleviated due to the opening of the grass hockey field. I have noted that a number of our parents are using the field for early drop off and afternoon collection. Thank you for this!
We shall be hosting the TSSA (Thinking Schools South Africa) workshop in the Joel Hall tomorrow. We have a number of teachers and heads from both our surrounding schools and further afield joining us for the day. The practical workshop is entitled “Behaving Intelligently under Pressure” which involves assessing IQ and EQ in the classroom. The workshop will be presented by EQ expert, Liz Cunningham and TSSA Thinking coach, Juliette Gyure.
I remind all our parents of the address by Emma Sadlier, social media lawyer, on Monday, 7th March in the Joel hall, this will commence at 18:00. We invite all our parents to attend, as well as our Grade 5, 6 and 7 girls.
I draw your attention to the note, which forms part of this newsletter, from our mums who run the clothing shop. As winter approaches you may like to use this facility to equip your daughter for the colder season approaching.
Miss S MacEwan – Headmistress: Junior School
The week ahead:
Wednesday: 2nd March
07:30 Grade 5, 6 and 7 cycle test – Science
Friday: 4th March
07:45 Assembly: Interhouse swimming certificates to be handed out
Monday: 7th March
07:45 Assembly by Mrs Fourie with the Junior School orchestra to play
Mrs Potgieter returns
18:00 Address to parents by Emma Sadlier – all parents are welcome as are the Grade 5, 6 and 7 girls (school uniform is to be worn by the girls)
Tuesday: 8th March
Weekly newsletter to parents, included in this is the Term 1B extracurricular programme which commences on Monday, 14th March
Public Speaking
On Wednesday 24 February, Kingsmead hosted the 55th High School Public Speaking Festival for the Grade Seven Category. This event is run annually on behalf of The Speech and Drama College.
During formal English lessons leading up to the event, all the Grade Sevens were exposed to successful speech writing and presentation strategies. Two Grade Seven Teams were selected to partake in the festival this year. The Grade Seven speeches were derived from the titles of TV shows and the selected speeches bore witness to how each of the groups were able to transform their titles into a creative and informative basis for thinking and discussion.
Their selected topics were ‘Blindspot’ and ‘Community’ respectively. While the one speech highlighted the importance of how young girls need to re-evaluate the emotional walls they build up in their lives, the other speech reminded us to appreciate our diverse South Africa in the most comical way. We also welcomed Hirsch Lyons for Girls and McAuley House as the two other participating schools for the evening.
Our girls really enjoyed the opportunity to represent Kingsmead Junior School in a new and distinctive Speech Festival. The evening was a great success with both Kingsmead teams being awarded an ‘A’ aggregate. Apart from their excellent overall achievement, the girls thoroughly enjoyed being able to network with other learners. We were so proud of the confidence they exuded in front of their audience and adjudicator during deliverance. You did Kingsmead proud, girls!
Team One:
Arya Naidoo, Monique Shrank, Nivarya Naidoo and Gallia Fenster
Team Two:
Leeyah Essa, Olivia Davidson and Carmen Lyons
Since we were the hosting school for this event, we were fortunate to be able to afford more of our Grade Sevens a speaking role. A big thank you must go out to Ffion Evans, Mokgethoa Tebeila and Ammaarah Wadee for their flawless effort in acting as our efficient Masters of Ceremonies for the evening.
Mrs Tania O’Maker – Junior School Public Speaking Co-ordinator
SPORTS NEWS
Tennis:
On Thursday 25th February all the tennis matches were cancelled due to rain. On Thursday 3rd March, the C/D teams will play AT Kingsmead against St Teresa’s. The following girls will play:
C – Team: Alexa Kohler, Amy Dickinson, Nomathemba Magwegwe, Alessia Losciale, Rachel Tait, Natalie Solomon, Alison Marshall
D – Team: Megan Rogan, Natalie Morris, Sarah Kwant, Catherine Leppan, Emma Eckoldt, Morgan Kohler, Tshiamo Mchunu, Kim Sutherland
Swimming:
Please Note:
There will be Swimming Trials every first break (10h15 – 10h45), Mondays to Thursdays. Teams will change on a weekly basis depending on the girls’ performances at each gala.
On Friday 26th February the A50m Gala was held at St Andrew’s, the A25m Gala e at St Katharine’s and the B25m Gala at St Benedict’s. The girls swam with enthusiasm and determination. All the swimmers swam their hearts out and fought to the end! Well done, girls! You did Kingsmead proud! The results were as follows:
A 50 at St Teresa’s
A 25 at St Mary’s
B 25 at Kingsmead
Grade 3
Backstroke
1
1
0
Breaststroke
5
1
2
Freestyle
1
4
0
Medley
2
2
0
Grade 4
Butterfly
2
3
0
Backstroke
2
4
2
Breaststroke
2
4
4
Freestyle
2
3
0
Medley
2
3
0
Grade 5
Butterfly
5
2
0
Backstroke
6
4
0
Breaststroke
5
4
0
Freestyle
6
4
0
Medley
6
4
0
Grade 6
Butterfly
5
4
0
Backstroke
6
4
0
Breaststroke
6
4
0
Freestyle
5
4
0
Medley
5
4
0
Grade 7
Butterfly
5
2
1
Backstroke
3
1
0
Breaststroke
4
1
0
Freestyle
3
1
0
Medley
2
1
0
On Friday 4th March the A50m gala will be held at St Andrew’s, the A25m gala will be at Kingsmead and the B25m gala will be at St Teresa’s. Good luck to all the swimmers!
Hockey:
Congratulations to Victoria Ciolkosz who has made the final round of the D9 Hockey Trials which will take place on the 1st March at St Andrew’s. Good luck, Victoria, we are so proud of you!
Netball:
We are nearing our 2016 Netball season and would like to continue building on the great season we experienced in 2015. We are going to offer Netball Clinics to the players this year which will be held at Kingsmead and will be presented by very experienced coaches. The girls will receive excellent coaching, working both on their individual skills as well as team play and tactics.
Dates:
12th March 2016 from 13h00 – 16h00 (Grade 4 & 5)
19th March 2016 from 13h00 – 16h00 (Grade 6 & 7)
Cost: R300 per player
We can only accommodate 30 girls per grade. Please pay your R300 as soon as possible to ensure your place. More details to follow.
The Grade 3’s will also have a Clinic on the 19th March from 09h00 – 11h00 at no cost. This clinic will be run by Kingsmead coaches. All the Grade 3s, interested in playing netball this year, needs to attend. More details to follow.
We will start with Netball Trials during PE Lessons on Monday 7th March. Please bring the correct Netball Kit.
WEEKLY SPORTING EVENTS CALENDAR FOR THE WEEK 29 February to 4 March 2016
Date
Activities
Opposition & Venue
Transport provided
Thursday
3 March
Tennis Matches:
C/D Teams
Against St Teresa’s C/D Teams AT KINGSMEAD
Friday
4 March
Swimming Galas:
A50m
A25m
B25m
A50m AT ST ANDREW’S
A25m AT KINGSMEAD
B25m AT ST TERESA’S
Buses will leave from Grail House Gate at 13h15 and will return to Kingsmead at approximately 17h00, depending on the traffic.
WEEKLY SPORTING EVENTS CALENDAR FOR THE WEEK 7 March to 11 March 2016
Date
Activities
Opposition & Venue
Transport provided
Thursday
10 March
Junior tennis Play-Off Matches:
TBC
Friday
11 March
PRESTIGE Swimming Galas:
A50m
A25m
B25m
A50m AT ST STITHIANS
A25m AT KINGSMEAD
B25m AT ST PETER’S GIRLS
Buses will leave from Grail House Gate AT 13h30 and will return to Kingsmead at approximately 17h00, depending on the traffic.
Saturday
12 March
GRADE 4 & 5 NETBALL CLINIC:
13h00 – 16h00
KINGSMEAD
MUSIC NEWS
Instrumental Tuition
Please note that girls who learn the piano must have access to an instrument at home to practise on. Music pupils need to practise at least 5 days of the week to make sufficient progress for Music to be enjoyable and for them to feel a sense of accomplishment. Please encourage your daughter to practise at home and bring her books to class for all lessons.
Should you require contact details for Music shops to rent or purchase an instrument, please see attached.
UKELELE TO GRADE 2’s & 3’s
You will notice on a Tuesday at 12h15 – 12h45, while the Grade 3’s are at choir, the Grade 2 violinists and flautists must go to their ensemble practices; other Grade 2’s may go to try the ukulele ensemble where they will learn to play. On a Thursday 12h15 – 12h45, while the Grade 2’s are at choir, the Grade 3 string players and flautists must go to ensemble practice while the Grade 3’s who don’t play either flute or violin, may go to learn and play the ukulele. Please note that there is NOT marimbas during this time, so girls who do not wish to play the ukulele and do not play the violin or flute, should stay in class to read.
GRADE 2 STRING PROJECT
The Grade 2 girls have started with the String project and the girls are terribly excited! Please see letter attached for more information. (Please click on the link for more information).
GRADE 6 BRASS PROJECT
The Grade 6 girls will have a similar opportunity to try out brass instruments next term. This will also take place during Music class lessons and will be free of charge for the duration of the project. Letter with more details to follow.
Choir & Orchestra Sleepover
The Orchestra will have their termly long rehearsal this Saturday 5 March 9h00 – 12h00. Next Friday 11 March, the Grade 4- 7 Choir and Orchestra will have the annual sleepover at school. The Orchestra goes home on Saturday 12 March, while the Grade 4-7 choir will then have their practice on Saturday morning from 9h00 – 12h00. Please see letter attached for more information and remember to send the reply slip back to Palesa Mpeke. (Please click on the link for more information).
ROCK THE RUN!!
On Sunday 6 March, the Kingsmead Music Department will be part of the very exciting annual ‘Rock the Run’ event. It includes 5km & 10km runs with music and entertainment; multiple stages with choirs, bands, artists and DJs along the route, culminating in a post race concert. Over 7000 people will be involved in the day, whether running or performing.
All our Junior and Senior School Marimba ensembles, Jazz band and Senior School Clarinet Ensemble will be participating. Please see letter attached for more details. Come and join us by running on the day and cheering us on from the road – we will cheer for everyone running on Kingsmead gear! (Please click on the link for more information).
http://www.rocktherun.co.za
SENIOR SCHOOL MAJOR PRODUCTION
The Arts & Music Departments in partnership with King Edward the VII school, under the direction of Janine Lovatt and Elsabé Fourie will stage an adaptation of West Side Story, called ‘Suburban Shift’ on 8, 9 & 10 March. This musical production will display the dramatic, artistic and musical abilities of the girls and boys and will be something not to be missed! Tickets on sale NOW! (Please click on the link for more information).
Elsabé Fourie – Director of Arts & Music
efourie@kingsmead.co.za
PTA NEWS
Dear Parents
We trust that you had a restful mid-term break and hope that the remainder of the term will be fulfilling.
We are grateful to the Class Representatives who have been busy with various PTA initiatives. We also appreciate your support as the Kingsmead parent body is vital to the successful functioning of these initiatives.
Both the Senior and Junior Schools enjoyed pancakes on Shrove Tuesday and the sale of the Kingsmead Rose before Valentines Day was successful. These Franc ha Leal roses are available for purchase throughout the year. The teachers were treated to cupcakes for Valentines Day and Footloose Friday on 12 February saw 2500 shoes collected for a charity in Sebokeng. Thank you for encouraging your daughters to participate in this.
“Know the Tune” at 18:30 on Friday 26 February in the Joel Hall promises to be a fun evening with 702’s The Music Guru, Sean Brokensha.
The KCC Draw and Car Park Raffle will be drawn in the Junior School Assembly on 04 April so you are still able to purchase tickets. You could be the winner of your own parking bay for next term!
Various fundraising events/Outreach initiatives are planned as follows:
Second Term:
Kingsmead Book Fair ‘16: Saturday 21 May
Mother and Daughter Breakfast: Saturday 30 July for Grades 6-12
Third Term:
Goodwill Day/Fun Walk and Raffle Draw: Saturday 08 October
947 Ride for Bara: Sunday 20 November
Our School Shop operates from the Junior School Campus and stocks second hand uniforms for both the Junior and Senior school girls as well as stationery and various swimming items, book covers and lunch boxes. Pop in and see our range of Kingsmead merchandise which now includes caps for the dads!
We look forward to a continuing partnership with you.
Kind regards
Kingsmead PTA 2016
School Shop – Update
Once again I would like to say thank you to the parents who have given generously to the School Shop this year, it is greatly appreciated.
What is in stock:-
Second term is winter!!! We have a few pairs of hockey socks available and there are plenty of blue trousers and polar necks in stock, if you would like to shop early. Please remember the fleeces are only for the grade 0’s this year so you may need to buy jerseys if you don’t have.
We also stock the blue stockings for the girls that need. Palesa, in the senior school reception, holds stock if there is an ‘emergency’. The girls will sign for them and they will be charged to your account at the end of the month.
Book bags, lunch boxes, pencil cases and white socks will be available through the year.
Don’t forget we also have a variety of stationery in the shop – pens, pencils, rulers, erasers, exam pads, pritt and files.
And an appeal:-
If you have uniforms that don’t fit anymore and would like to donate, please could either leave them at the shop when open, or the junior school reception. Thank you.
The School Shop Team
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