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Newsletter Number 1 - 25th February 2021
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Welcome Back!
Mrs. Groom visited the school to show the Grade 7 learners how to fold and hoist the flags. |
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Message from Acting Head, Barry Phillips
Would 2021 be better than 2020, the most disruptive year ever experienced by the entire world? At the College, the answer is an emphatic “yes”. The children are back full time at school, actively participating in class and just enjoying being with their friends. They have adapted so well to the health protocols, that to them, life carries on as normal. After half term the extra mural programme kicks into action which will further help to re-establish their normal routines.
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The staff, in their usual fashion have continued to create an environment that encourages each child to develop and grow. There is a constant buzz at the school in all the classrooms, which is wonderful to experience. We have a very happy school. A big “thank-you” to all the parents for being so supportive during these strange times.
Mr. Barry Phillips
Acting Head
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Grade 7 (Technology with Mrs. Knezovich)
The Grade 7 learners designed and made solar ovens for their technology design project this week. The best solar oven heated water to a temperature of 52 degrees!
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Grade 7 Manners
You may see these posters up around the school. A gentle reminder for the children to remember their manners.
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Grade 6 (Mrs. Knezovich)
The Grade 6s of 2021, a class full of bounce and endless fun. Taking 2021 by storm! Once you get to know them...... you love them!
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Grade 6 (Natural Science with Mrs. Knezovich)
In Natural Science the Grade 6 class recently had to test a variety of different foods for starch. If iodine (which is a brown colour) is dropped onto food containing starch it will turn a blue-black colour indicating that starch is present. The children loved their practical lesson.
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Grade 4 & 5 (Mrs. Slabbert)
The Grade 4 and 5 class have had a busy start to the year. Between much enthusiastic gardening lessons, the Grade 4 class have also grown beans, plants from cuttings and learnt about living and non-living things in Natural Science. They have done loads of Mathematics, English, Afrikaans and much, much more! They are probably all wishing that they were back in Grade 3. But don’t worry Grade 4s - it gets easier and easier. The Grade 5 class welcomed Mieke Siemens to their class this year. She has brought a lovely feminine element to the crazy class of boys! The Grade 5s have also spent some lessons learning about different soils in the garden. They have had fun building skeletons in Natural Science, designed and wrote descriptions of litterbugs in English and hopefully can find their way around South Africa and surrounding countries! Here’s looking forward to learning much more interesting stuff together this year.
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St Francis College Butterfly Garden Springs into Action (Saskia Boonzaier & Chio Moulang)
The Grade 4 to 6 learners have been hard at work in the College garden, getting ready for what promises to be a bountiful 2021! Starting from the ground up, they have learnt the basics of soil structure, why healthy soil is critical for good plant growth, what makes the perfect planting medium, and what they can do to improve their garden's soil. Using their senses they compared the texture, smell and look of a variety of soils and have set up an experiment to gauge which soils will yield the best coriander seedlings. Will they flourish in the nutrient poor clay soil, can the sandy soils retain enough water for the seedlings to germinate, or will the wonderfully hummus rich compost win the day? Exciting questions for our curious gardeners and future scientists! Building on this knowledge, the pupils created planting beds from last seasons' old grow bales, together with used coffee bags - to add nutrients and inhibit weed growth (thanks Shelly) - and compost. They will plant sunflowers next week and hopefully in a month or two we shall be bowled over by giant sunflowers :) To add some healthy competition and enthusiasm to their weekly garden class, the Grade 4s-6s have also embarked on a two term long gardening event. They were allowed to pick a theme for each of their gardens; the Grade 4s chose a "Salad Garden", the Grade 5s a "Desert Garden" and the Grade 6s a "Forest Garden". Their brief was to plan, design, create and maintain a garden with plants and accessories that fit their chosen theme. The excitement levels are sky high and we are very keen to see how their beds are transformed in the weeks and months to come. And finally, one very welcoming development in the garden has been the formation of a mums and teachers garden group. Chio and myself now have a variety of hands to help, advise, innovate, support, and most importantly, get gardening with - we thank you. If any parents feel that they would also like to be part of this growing group (sorry for the pun), please just drop with Chio or I a message and we'll make a plan :) Saskia & Chio
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ICT News (Mrs. Caroline Anderson)
Lots of exciting lessons are happening in the Computer Lab this term! The Grade R's have started with logging on and mouse control and are loving their "fishy" lessons. The Grade 1 to 3 classes have started designing Valentine cards and posters and flyers as well as working with OSMO OMO, a fantastic coding app.
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ICT Grade 4-7
Grade 4 to 7's are following Code4kids and are designing their own websites. Have a look at Vasa's (Gr 7) website on Flags of the World here: https://cutt.ly/alzGaNs As you can see, they are working with HTML code (on the left) and learning a new language! Here is a finished version of Rylan Jarvis (Gr 7) website on the Solar System: https://zah.room.sh/v1/rooms/a8f3e72a-b928-4d7b-90f6-8c9b3786f78a/code/serve/e5f041f2-e3de-4987-9803-8d5acca1720d Our next step is to get everyone connected by email so that we can email the parents work done in class. I am very proud of the hard work they are doing!
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Grade 3 (Mrs. Carpenter)
The owl time is a very special reward time for the grade 3 learners. Through play we learn different skills and how to deal with our emotions.
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Grade 1 lesson on Shrove Tuesday (Mrs. Lyn Webb) and Grade 2 Assembly (flipping pancakes for Shrove Tuesday) (Mrs. Kath Kopke)
The grade 1 and 2 assembly highlighted this special day which heralds the beginning of lent. The children were told a story about the significance of the event. The children had a 'flipping the pancake' competition and the grade 1 learners made their own pancakes in class.
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Grade 0 News (Mrs. Eva Skelton)
What a wonderful start to 2021! The busy bee class has been buzzing with excitement and activity since the beginning of the year. Our class is full of happy faces and excited little bodies, eager to participate in all our learning fun. Among discovering new letters and exploring new numbers, we have been scientists, who have investigated sound and many other interesting concepts. We have been entrepreneurs, launching our busy bee restaurant! We have practiced our manners with a delicious and sophisticated tea party. We have been botanists, with love and care we have taken over our busy bee garden. Of course we have also been happy children who have relished the company of each other, the love of learning and the thrill of the great outdoors! #forthe love of learning
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Grade 00 celebrate Valentine's Day (Miss. Elizabeth Carpenter)
Our valentine's day was fantastic! We made love crowns and decorated heart shaped biscuits and did lots of valentine themed art throughout the week. The children all wore pink, red or white to celebrate the day and all looked beautiful!
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Bumble Bee and Ladybird News (Teacher Jane and Teacher Karen)
Half term is upon us and what an amazing start of the 2021 year it has been for us. All of the children are happy and settled into their mornings at school. We would like to welcome Cole Castledine, Owen Garden, Jasmine Doyle and Kaylee Beresford to our class - we are so happy to have you join our little school. If anyone has old creepy crawly pipes that you no longer need, we would like to take them off your hands for an outdoor project we are working on. We hope you all have a wonderful long weekend and please keep safe and healthy. Teacher Jane and Teacher Karen
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First Aid Course
Select staff members will be taking part in a first aid course to be held during the first term. Keith Donaldson from Bay Fire Safety Solutions will be taking the course.
We are also opening this up to parents if they would also like to do the course. Should you be interested to find out more please contact Lucy in the office info@stfranciscollege.co.za
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Welcome Charlotte Radford
This term we welcomed Charlotte Radford, a Woodridge 2020 matriculate who has chosen to do her gap year with us. She will be assisting different class teachers where extra help is gratefully appreciated. We are so happy you have joined our beautiful St Francis College family, welcome!
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Student Teacher, Daniel Boshoff
At the start of this year, when everything is still crazy and chaotic, some help arrived in the form of an eager young student. Daniel Boshoff spent 2 weeks with us, observing, helping and getting stuck into some teaching in the Grade 4 and 5 classes among others. Daniel is a BSC Honours student who has been teaching overseas. He got stuck here during Covid and decided to add a teaching qualification to his repertoire. This observation period is needed for him to complete his teaching studies in June of this year. His calm, kind and willing nature endeared him to staff and children alike. We wish him well in his studies and hope to see him around town, as his family have a holiday home here in St Francis Bay. Thank you Daniel!
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Sport News
We said farewell to Coach Ralton this term after coaching sport at St Francis College for three years. It was been wonderful having Ralton as part of the team and wish him well in his new position coaching sport to high school learners.
Mrs. Marais has taken on the role of sports coach and co-coordinator and the children have been enjoying her phys ed lessons already.
Non-contact sport will be introduced after the half term break. Thank you to those parents who have come forward to assist with coaching - we really do appreciate the extra time you are giving to the school. Please refer to the extra mural timetable for more details.
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Extra Mural Timetable from 1st March 2021 - Term 1
Grade 1 - 7 will start from Monday 1st March
MONDAY
1:15 - 2:00 Grade 1 and 2 Girls Ball Skills
1:15 - 2:00 Grade 1 and 2 Boys Cricket
2:00 - 3:00 Grade 3 to 7 Girls Rounders
2:00 - 3:00 Grade 3 to 7 Boys Cricket
WEDNESDAY (the activity on a Wednesday will alternate each week)
1:15 - 2:00 Grade 1 and 2 Eco Club / Stem activities
2:00 - 3:00 Grade 3 to 7 Eco Club / Stem activities
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Eco Schools News (Michelle Miller)
We are proud to announce that we received our International Flag Decade Award last year and this year we will be aiming to achieve Platinum 1 Decade Award. We continue with these themes for this year: - Health and Well-being - School Grounds - Marine and Coast - Community and Heritage - Water This year we add Biodiversity and Nature. We have many exciting projects planned and are excited for another year in which we can focus on being conscious about our environment and our impact on it.
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CALENDAR DATES 2021
TERM 1
Thursday 25 February ECD 11am and 11:30am Gr 1 - 7. Start of half term after school fun day
Monday 1 March Grade 1 to 7 return to school from half term break
Tuesday 2 March ECD return to school from half term break
Thursday 4 March Thoughtful Thursday Grade 0 and Grade 1
Thursday 11 March Thoughtful Thursday Grade 2 & 3
Thursday 18 March Thoughtful Thursday Grade 4 & 5
Thursday 25 March Thoughtful Thursday Grade 6
Thursday 25 March Coffee & Chat 9am St Francis Links
Thursday 1 April End of term
TERM 2
Monday 3 May School commences
Wednesday 16 June Public holiday (school closed)
Friday 25 June 1pm Start of half term
Tuesday 6 July Return to school from half term break
Wednesday 4 August End of term
Friday 6 August Grade 1 to 7 end of term
TERM 3
Monday 30 August Grade 1 to 7 school commences
Wednesday 1 September ECD School commences
Friday 24 September Public holiday (school closed)
Thursday 7 October 1pm Start of half term
Tuesday 12 October Return to school from half term break
Wednesday 8 December End of term
FRIDAY FINISHING TIMES TO AVOID CONGESTION IN THE CAR PARK
ECD 12:30 pick up
Grade 1 to 7: 13:00 pick up
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Thoughtful Thursday supporting St Francis Animal Rescue
As part of our community drive, termly projects are organised where each grade will be given the chance to help the less fortunate. The beneficiary will once again be St Francis Animal Rescue. We are asking if each child can bring a bag of dry dog or cat food on their allocated day. Please ensure that you send the food with your child in the morning as it will be collected during the course of the day. DATE GRADE
Thursday 4 March Grade 0 & Grade 1 Thursday 11 March Grade 2 & 3 Thursday 18 March Grade 4 & 5 Thursday 25 March Grade 6 For more information on this charity please see https://www.facebook.com/StFrancisAnimalRescue Thank you for your support.
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Thank you Bumble Bees, Ladybirds, Grade 00 & Grade 7
Thank you to all those parents and children that have already sent in food for our local animals.
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News from the Parents' Association (Mrs. Heather White)
Last night we held our first official PTA meeting where we welcomed some new members to the team. We have put together a great selection of fundraising events for the year ahead and we look forward to sharing them with you in the next week. We are also compiling a school ‘Wish List’ from the Teaching Staff and the Maintenance Portfolio, which we will also share with the Parent Body. Our fundraising efforts will be focused on achieving these items throughout the year. Our first fundraising initiative went off without a hitch and in short time too! Thank you to all those who assisted in putting it together. We had some incredible sponsors, and the support of the raffle was huge! We have raised around R17 000.00! Congratulations to our winners! Don’t forget the ongoing Spar Voucher draw – R50 per month gets you an entry into the monthly draw for R1000 Spar Vouchers sponsored by SUPERSPAR Village Square. For more information, please contact Lucy at the school office. Looking forward to a successful year ahead! The PTA Team
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VALENTINE'S DAY RAFFLE WINNERS - CONGRATULATIONS
First Prize: Two night midweek stay at Avoca River Cabins in Addo Won by Thlabiseng Thabona Second Prize: Picnic Hamper for Two sponsored by The Bakery, Praia Prawns, The Village SuperSpar, Tropical Traders & The Store – Aurelia Flèche Third Prize: A Couples Massage at Hibiscus Health & Beauty Studio – Nicolas Bentz Fourth Prize: A Valentine’s Confection from Sugar Momma – Khamryn Browers Fifth Prize: 2 Cut & Blowdry vouchers from Bliss Hair Salon in Port Elizabeth, won by Lee- Ann Sanders & Marc White
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BIRTHDAYS IN FEBRUARY
02 Feb Zoe Harding
08 Feb Davidko Siemens
14 Feb Che Goldstone
18 Feb Stacey Bekeer
21 Feb Francis Sacks
22 Feb Mila Meyer
22 Feb Grace Christy
25 Feb Lutha Mofu
26 Feb Marina Waldburger
28 Feb Ms Alice Kaunda
29 Feb Matthew Firth
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BIRTHDAYS IN MARCH
07 Mar Eliana Bateman
10 Mar Conor Howell
15 Mar Jake Knezovich
17 Mar Blake Sanders
17 Mar Maya Kotzé
21 Mar Emma Darke
24 Mar Ella-Mae Skelton
24 Mar Sienna Thornton
24 Mar Freya Webster
26 Mar Tinashe Phiri
28 Mar Marley Roberts
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100 Club - February Draw
The 100 Club met for the first time this year at The Full Stop in Cape St Francis on Tuesday 23rd February. We had a great turn out with a lot of new parents and a lot of fun and great conversation was had!
Yochabel Dunstan, won a spot prize voucher courtesy of The Full Stop.
The lucky winner of the main draw was Mrs. Joha Moolman who has won R1000 cash.
Congratulations also to Mrs. Caroline Anderson for winning the R500 attendance prize. The Joker was drawn by Mr. Simon Cunneen but was unsuccessful The joker will roll over now stands at R6 550
Our club members are growing in numbers, which is great for the school. Thank you for your continued support and we look forward to another fun evening next month!
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R1000 SPAR SHOPPING VOUCHERS UP FOR GRABS EACH MONTH!
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We would like to take this opportunity to thank our local SPAR for their kind donation of Spar vouchers to the value of R1000 every month.
The January draw was won by Mr. Jan Meulmester and the February draw was won by Mr. Kingsley Dalton.
If you would like to enter into the monthly draw for just R50 per month please inform the office on info@stfranciscollege.co.za
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St Francis College Whatsapp
The St Francis College Whatsapp group is set up as an admin only group. This is used to communicate important messages which are relevant to all parents. If you are not on this group and wish to be please inform the office.
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HAVE YOU GOT A MYSCHOOL CARD?
MYSCHOOL CARDS ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE SCHOOL OFFICE - PLEASE REMEMBER TO SWIPE EVERY TIME YOU SEE THE MYSCHOOL LOGO TO EARN POINTS FOR OUR SCHOOL
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St Francis College now has PBO Status!
St Francis College has been recognised as a “Public Benefit Organization” and has been issued a PBO number. This is good news for the school, and to potential donors to the school, as any donation to a PBO is deductible from the donor’s tax liability. Please share this information widely!
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