From the Principal’s Desk, 24 May 2021
Dear Parents
MORNING DROP OFF
I am very aware of the frustrations around morning drop off times. The gravel area is of concern, but is being attended to and you will see a difference soon. Next week’s newsletter will explain more.
Please may I ask that parents not get out of their cars at the “drop and go” in the main parking lot. This means we should have school bags placed strategically in the car so the young ones can easily access the bags when they get to school. If we limit each car’s stopping time, this will greatly assist the situation.
Thank you for your patience in this regard.
FEATURE PHOTO
Our main newsletter photograph features Mrs Mandy Goch. Five/Six facts that not everyone knows:
1. She is Portuguese.
2. She is a very enthusiastic reader and always has a book in her hand. Her favourite books include The Elephant Whisperer (Lawrence Anthony) and Pillars of the Earth (Ken Follett)
3. She worked for many years in a model agency, managing the careers of models.
4. She can eat an entire large bag of NikNaks all by herself.
5. She is a bit of a perfectionist and as a child would change clothes regularly if she spotted one speck of dirt on her outfit.
6. Her school day starts with a laugh and ends with one.
IES CHIEF ACADEMIC DIRECTOR VISIT
Our IES Chief Academic Director, Mr Darryl Lottering, is currently in South Africa. He has been visiting Blouberg and engaging with students and teachers. He will be at school again on Monday, 24th May.
Darryll would also like to offer our parents an opportunity to speak with him. We are, therefore, having a parent meeting on Monday, 24th May at 5.30pm. This meeting will be limited to 50 people and there are still “spots” available. If you would like to attend this meeting, please email me at andre.swart@iesmail.com.
The meeting will take place in the Junior Hall.
WEEKLY THOUGHT: Your Attitude
“The only disability in life is a bad attitude.” – Scott Hamilton
This certainly makes us think about what we view as a disability, doesn’t it?
Maybe Hamilton is hitting the nail on the head.
Whenever I meet a person with a disability, it always amazes me how the individual usually (if not always) insists that they do not want to be treated as a disabled person. Their vigour for life truly is always inspiring…
Then, on the other hand, we sit with individuals who have everything going for them: youth, health, fitness, opportunities, etc., but who will find every imaginable excuse to disqualify themselves from doing certain things. In stark contrast to those who actually have disabilities, these able-bodied people display bad attitudes towards life, and it is these attitudes that will end up hampering any possibility of growth, development and ultimate success.
To grow, thrive, develop, and enjoy each of life’s precious possibilities, we need to ensure that we have the right attitude – always, and in all circumstances. Individuals who do so are the ones who will live meaningful lives and have a deep sense of purpose, regardless of their circumstances.
Do you have a disability? Before saying “No”, first make sure to check your attitude towards life.
Have a wonderful week, it is time to unpack those winter items…
Andre
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Teamwork Makes The Dream Work!
The Year 4s have been learning about Making Peace and Helping People To Belong as part of our Global Perspectives unit.
We’ve explored important questions such as:
- What makes a good friend?
- What causes arguments or conflict between people?
- How can I maintain good relationships and resolve conflict with others?
It doesn’t really matter what age you are, you will always have to collaborate and work together with others, whether it’s in a social, professional or family environment. We’ve focussed mainly on our own behaviour and what we can do to be a good friend and help prevent or resolve conflict.
“We are not a team because we work together. We are a team because we respect, trust and care for each other.” – Vala Afshar
Take a look at the words students shared of qualities that a good friend would have. We also integrated Global Perspectives with our Art where they had to create a collaborative, puzzle artwork. The students did a wonderful job working together and encouraging each other – whilst having fun!
We are so thankful to have such a wonderful team at BIS: the students, parents, teachers, assistants, maintenance staff, sport coaches, administration and principal.
You are all appreciated and valued!
Ria du Plessis
Year Teacher
Teaching Young Learners About Endangered Animals
“We all have a responsibility to protect endangered species, both for their sake and for the sake of our own future generation” – Loretta Lynch
The Year 2 teachers have been expanding the knowledge of learners on endangered and extinct species during Global Perspectives. We hope for our learners to gain an understanding of the importance in protecting the animals around the world.
Teaching young learners about extinction and endangered animals creates natural curiosity and fascination about the world around them. They need to realise from a young age that every year a few species end up extinct and this is largely as the result of human activities. Teaching learners to care about and protect animals and their habitats is one of the best ways in which we can help prevent more species from becoming extinct as the children of today are the leaders of tomorrow.
As parents and teachers, we are familiar with the importance of how poaching, climate change, deforestation and urbanization have led to the decline in species. That is why it is of utmost importance and our responsibility as adults to teach our children lessons about endangered and extinct species.
“Animals should not require our permission to live on earth. Animals were given the right to be here long before we arrived.” – Anthony Douglas Williams
Erin Hierse
Year 2 Teacher
Cambridge International AS and A Level Afrikaans
The Cambridge International AS Level Afrikaans syllabus enables learners to achieve greater fluency, accuracy and confidence in the language as it is spoken and written, and improve their communication skills.
They learn how to improve their use of Afrikaans in a variety of situations, understanding how to read texts and other source materials, and how to extract information, initiate conversations and respond to questions both orally and in writing.
In the Afrikaans class we want everyone to share in the creation and enjoyment of Afrikaans culture, specifically literature, and the development of the language as an intellectual instrument.
One of our AS-topic areas for 2021 is Kos en Drank (Food and Drink)
The Afrikaans language is expressive, rich and unique to South Africa and its food words are as intriguing as the items they describe.
We put compiled a list of our favourite Afrikaanse KOS-words.
Potjie: Direct translation: little pot. A traditional stew slow-cooked in a cast-iron three-legged pot over the coals of a fire.
Slaptjips: Direct translation: floppy chips. Potato fries.
Frikkadelletjies: Little meatballs.
Koeksister: Traditional dough braids that are deep fried and soaked in syrup. Try the classic recipe.
Melktert: A traditional South African recipe for a cinnamon-topped custard tart in a sweet pastry crust.
Naartjie: A sweet and easy-to-peel citrus fruit indigenous to South Africa.
Padkos: Direct translation: road food. Food that you eat while on a journey, usually homemade and containing boiled eggs for comedic effect.
Poffertjies: Fritters or profiteroles. Direct translation: little puffs.
Spookasem: Direct translation: ghost’s breath. Candy floss.
Ystervarkie: Direct translation: little porcupine. Lamingtons (sponge cake dipped in chocolate sauce and rolled in coconut).
When it comes to South African food, Afrikaans has the best descriptive words to make your mouth water! Afrikaans is undeniably and deliciously vivid.
Carmen de Villiers
Afrikaans Department High School
Emergent Literacy In Reception Year
Our Reception students have been enjoying revising the letter sounds they have learnt by paging through magazines to look for the letter sounds. Once found they need to cut them out and paste the sound to match the sound on a colourful page.
This task is part of emergent literacy and combines quite a number of important skills such as fine motor skills, hand eye co-ordination, visual memory and letter recognition skills. As they page through the magazines students are exposed to letters in other fonts and also need to make the link between upper and lowercase letters.
Here are some fun ways to develop letter recognition at home:
- Writing letters on bathroom tiles using bath crayons.
- Writing with a whiteboard marker on a sliding door or mirror.
- Looking for known letters (and perhaps words) on number plates and signs in the community.
- Playing I spy to identify objects at home that begin with a specific letter (remember to use the phonetic sound (example: mmm, not ‘em’).
- Finding letters on a shopping catalogue.
- Writing letters in something fun on a tray, such as custard, chocolate pudding or dry substances such as icing sugar, jelly powder, rice or salt.
- Writing letters using a pointer finger on a steamed up mirror.
- Making letters out of playdough.
- Making letters out of salt dough and cooking it.
- Making letters with sweets on iced cupcakes.
- Finding letters in letter pasta.
- Writing simple words using Jelly Tot letters.
For more great ideas have a look at our Foundation Stage Pinterest Page: https://pin.it/1Of5Yuy
Bronwen Nuthall
Reception Year Teacher
From The Principal’s Desk, 13 May 2021
Dear Parents
DROP AND GO
Please be aware that the main parking area is a “Drop and Go” zone. This means that parents should not be leaving their cars unless they have parked in one of the designated parking bays. At times, cars are backed up into the road and this causes major congestion for the community around us. As with everything else, the smooth running of this system is reliant on everyone co-operating and working together. Please try to limit your “drop” to one minute only and keep the flow of traffic moving.
UNIFORM
We are currently revising our uniform policy. However, we are all aware of what is required.
Please could we ensure that our children wear the correct uniform to school. School uniform means the proper school shoes, pants/skirt and shirt. When we wear our PE kit and tracksuit, we wear takkies. Shirts tucked in, looking proud.
The hair and jewellery regulations have not changed. We all have a responsibility to ensure that our school is presented in a positive manner.
Staff are unable to enforce school pride alone. This needs to be a team effort and I therefore request that parents ensure that, when they drop students at school, they are looking smart.
This is OUR school.
The updated uniform policies will be placed on the website soon.
SCHOOL TIMES
Time management is an extremely important skill we should teach our children. I am aware of many students arriving late for school. This is quite unacceptable.
Please assist us in teaching our students that being on time means you are also respecting other people.
Students should be dropped off no later than 7:45am in the morning. Please assist us in this regard.
IES CHIEF ACADEMIC DIRECTOR VISIT
Our IES Chief Academic Director, Mr Darryl Lottering, is currently in South Africa. He will be visiting Blouberg on Friday, 14th May and also Monday, 24th May. In addition to this, he will be assisting the staff with our “clean-up operation” on Saturday, 15th May.
Darryll would also like to offer our parents an opportunity to speak with him. We are, therefore, having a parent meeting on Monday, 24th May at 5.30pm. This meeting will be limited to 50 people. It will work on a first-come-first-serve basis. If you would like to attend this meeting, please email me at andre.swart@iesmail.com.
The meeting will take place in the Junior Hall.
FEATURE PHOTO
Our main newsletter photograph features Ms Bronwen Nuthall. Bronwen is a born and bred Capetonian who has lived in the Table View area all her life. She has teachers on both her mom and dad’s side of the family. Bronwen obtained a BEd (Foundation Phase) at CPUT in 2003 specialising in ECD and Special Educational Needs. She has been teaching for 17 years and has spent 10 of these years at Blouberg International School. Bronwen has taught 4 different grades namely Grade 1, 2, Reception and Pre-Reception. She now has 12 years of experience teaching Reception Year and believes that there is something special about teaching this age group. It is very rewarding to observe the student’s growth over their Reception Year knowing she had a part to play in preparing them for “big school”. She maintains that a students’ personal growth and independence remains the most important part of the Reception Year. A child’s Emotional Intelligence is a far better springboard for success one day no matter their academic IQ. In her personal life she likes to be creative and make cards and gifts for others by knitting or crocheting. She is very much involved in her church and is passionate about facilitating Divorce Care 4 Kids at View Church Milnerton.
Fun facts about Ms Bronwen Nuthall:
- Ms Nuthall is the only teacher to still be in the same classroom (Room 9 at the Junior Campus) at Blouberg International School, since taking occupation of the classroom in 2012.
- Ms Nuthall is one of a twin and is “Aunty Bonnie” to her twin brother’s twins (also a pigeon pair).
- She speaks 3 languages, namely English, Afrikaans and IsiXhosa.
- Ms Nuthall started writing children’s stories at the age of 8. She has a published poem, ‘Beautiful Time’. The several unpublished children’s stories she has written since childhood have often been given away as gifts.
- She is rather obsessed with all things feline and her long lost cat, Shmeegles is on her screen saver of her school computer. She often apologises to parents in advance for potentially converting their child to a “cat person” and for any future pets that may be named after her Shmeegles.
- Ms Nuthall loves to sing and dance, although she may not be an expert at any of these.
- Joining Run Walk for Life was the best decision she made in 2020 and she recently completed her first 10 km, which was a personal best achievement for distance and time.
Thank you for making a difference in so many students’ lives.
WEEKLY THOUGHT: Choices
“Short cuts make long delays.” – J. R. R. Tolkien
These are true words which we will do well to remember when it comes to the many decisions, we make every day…
As humans, we usually opt to do things the “quick & easy” way. Unfortunately, we often only realise our error in doing so when it is too late.
Instead of just choosing between various options when making decisions, let us consider Tolkien’s advice and realise that the “shortcut” could very well be (and often is) the long and tedious way to take.
I am reminded of someone who once remarked: “If something is worth doing, it is worth doing well!” May this be our attitude towards life and its challenges.
Let us be ready to face each challenge head-on and do what needs to be done to resolve it, even if it takes more time and effort than some other “easier” solutions might promise. By choosing to do things right the first time, you will be saving yourself and others some serious heartache and trouble in the long run.
Have a brilliant weekend of personal growth – make sure to invest in yourself – it is a worthwhile investment!
Andre
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Looking At Natural Elements In Poetry
This term in English, we have been looking at poems that showcase how poets use words to create a timeless flow of water.
Our poetry lesson started off with students adding the following conceptions to our classroom Poetry Wonder Wall:
- How would you define poetry?
- What concepts do you already know that are used in poetry?
- What would you like to know about poetry?
Thus far, we have looked at poems written by modern poets and historical poets. The poems have all been centered around the theme of water. Students have spent time analysing these poems, identifying poetic devices and comparing them to one another.
With the recent UCT fire, students had the opportunity to apply their understanding of poetry and create poems that focused on the natural element, fire.
Their brief was to create a poem focusing on the element of fire, using what they have learnt in class as well as applying an end rhyme scheme.
It was amazing to see the creativity that was displayed by the Year 6s.
Here are a few examples of their work:
Yes, I am the burning fire, watch my orange flame
They really think that they can beat me, but I will win the game
I am the red rapid riot, the newest talk in town
I can’t believe the fire fighters are here, I think I’m going down
Yes, I am as orange as the sun
But now I can’t have as much fun
The men in red are hosing me down
But now I’ve burnt some of the town
Yes, I was a burning flame
But the water has won once again
I feel really bad, I said with a lisp
That I burnt the mountain to a crisp.
Written by: Juliette East
I see a dark cloud looming over the mountain
Fire trucks coming, spraying water like a fountain
The orange colour is a deep reminder
That there is a fire, and it will be dire.
Plants getting taken as captive
As they’re not proactive
People looking for places to go
As they come close to the inferno
As the fighter’s fight the fire
Everyone has a deep desire
For the fire fighters to stop the fire
So that it won’t end in dire.
Written by: Dumisani Ngono
Enormous, golden flames light up the ebony black sky
Spreads in the forest, turns everything to ash and hurries down
All my trees burnt to death; it was alarming I don’t lie
Shocking shrieks and shouts gave an unpleasant sound
Sizzling and whizzing like a snake
Tons of charcoal smoke rises up high
Burns all the poor animals as well as the fish in the lake
Birds start to fall instead of fly
Thick pipes with long necks try to wash it away
Helicopters swishing and swaying like a tree
The flaming fierce fire will not be put out today
But altogether we can put it off and be free
Books and documents in the great library burnt into ash
This was definitely not a desire
Frightening flames did it in a flash
Oh, what a horrible fire!
Written by: Sanam Srikewal
Katherine Nel
Year 6 Teacher
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High School German
Did you know that German is the most widely spoken mother tongue in Europe? It is also spoken in many German-speaking communities around the world, including South Africa. An impressive 1000 German companies are world leaders in their business. When it comes to science and research, Germany is also right at the front of the pack. In the last 100 years, more than 70 Nobel Prizes have been awarded to Germans, solely in the field of natural science and medicine. It is also a popular place to study; German degrees are highly valued by employers worldwide.
Not everyone realises the doors that German can open – be it in business, science or education, not to mention gaining access to the rich cultural heritage of original German literature.
The Cambridge syllabus aims to foster not only a knowledge of the language but also to create cultural awareness and sensitivity. This is an invaluable skill to have and makes for well-rounded, empathetic individuals with a broad outlook on life.
I have included some snapshots of this term’s German classes.
Renate Yotti
High School German Teacher
Art & Design In Year 1
Art is a lot of fun, especially in Year 1. We encourage our students to explore, create, mix colours and use their imagination when it comes to our Art and Design lessons.
They use their little fingers to manipulate various art materials in class using their fine motor skills. As they paint, colour, glue and cut their fine motor skills are developing which in turn enables them to do more things independently from feeding themselves to tying their own shoelaces.
It is so important for children to be able to express themselves and be creative in their own way.
Charlotte Cronje
Year 1 Teacher
Here are some of the fun creations and artwork our children have made:
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InterSEK 2021
InterSEK 2021
InterSEK is a competition in which SEK/IES schools from around the world compete against each other in a variety of tasks. The ongoing pandemic meant that the 2021 event had to be held virtually. Blouberg was one of 23 schools to compete in this prestigious event, which ran from 3 to 7 May.Ten High school students were selected to participate in the various events: Daniel Moodie, Shaylee Brandt, Jagadish Mohanty, Shameek Singh, Oswald Pieterse, Catherine Fortuin, Angelic Lossy, Remofilwe Shuping, Samia Naidoo and Adithya Maharaj. There students were briefed before the school holiday and preparation began in earnest upon their return to school. Blouberg participated in 9 events, namely Programming, Virtual Chess, Mathematical Photography, Creating Songs, TikTok Video, Escape Room, Artistic Photography, SEKscience and A Look to the Future.
We are proud of the fact that our students made it to the final round of several events. Daniel, Shaylee and Jagadish won 3rd place in both Programming 1 and 2. Catherine Fortuin was a finalist in the Mathematical Photography and Remofilwe Shuping was a finalist in the Artistic Photography.
Our students shone even in events in which they did not place. I feel that special mention should go to the team that participated in the SEKscience with their fingerprint experiments, as well as the team that participated in A Look to the Future, who designed a robot able to dispense hand sanitizer. The chess players played 9 games of chess one after the other, even managing a few wins. Such concentration is admirable indeed.
Remofilwe Shuping and Angelic Lossy looked amazing dressed in traditional attire for the opening ceremony. Their video even made it onto the highlights of the closing ceremony.
I have no doubt that Blouberg shall continue to go from strength to strength. This round was good. Next round will be even better!
Sheila Marais
High School Teacher
Winners of 3rd place in the Programming Event! Photo left to right Jagadish Mohanty Shaylee Brandt Daniel Moodie
Winners of 3rd place in the Programming Event! Jagadish Mohanty Shaylee Brandt Daniel Moodie
Finalist Artistic Photograph Entry by Remofilwe Shuping Year 9
Finalist Mathematical Photograph Entry by Catherine Fortuin Year 9
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