blouberg international Tag

Leaders Shape The World

In Year 2 this term, we have started History, learning about leaders and leadership qualities. During discussions, the students decided that there were certain characteristics that good leaders should have. Among these were the following:

• Respect
• Responsibility
• Fairness
• Firmness
• Being a role model
• Inspiring
• Have good ideas

With these characteristics in mind, the students were tasked with researching and preparing an oral presentation, on a historical leader. The students were excited to share their information with their peers and brought photographs and information, which many of their friends were unaware of.

We also discussed how we could be leaders in the different facets of our lives. One does not have to be famous to be a good leader.

To quote from a famous historical leader, “Nothing is impossible, until it’s done” Nelson Mandela

Kim Coetzer
Year 2 Teacher 

Countries In Reception

Our class bear, Coco, has been traveling all over the world visiting different countries every day. He has visited Australia, Russia, China, France, England, Spain and America.  The students have made their own passports and add one picture every day as we learn about each new country.

We even had an interesting day of listening to different languages; afterward we made a short video featuring a few of our students who speak other languages. Please follow the link to watch our video: https://www.facebook.com/IES.Blouberg/videos/513221689421891/

We will end the countries series with a dress up day this Friday. Students will bring and share treats from multiple countries for everyone to try.

Monique Crawley
Reception Teacher

From the Principal’s Desk, 18th July 2019

Dear Parents

On Monday, 15th July, we surprised our year 12 class with a little get-together in the senior hall, during which we handed over the invitations to their matric dance. As I was handing out the invitations I felt an overwhelming sense of nostalgia as I reflected on the growth I have witnessed in these students during our years together. It seems unreal that this class is at the end of their school career, as it feels like only yesterday I taught them as year 7 students. It is this wonderful nostalgia; being part of a family and growing with the students that makes working at Blouberg International such a wonderful experience.

I would like to congratulate one of our past pupils, Maurice Theart. Maurice matriculated in 2018 and during his time with us, excelled as a sportsman. After he matriculated, Maurice was selected to represent South Africa in the the match between the U19 Ikapa South African team and the U19 Liverpool team in April this year.

It was at this match that Maurice was scouted and was offered a 50% scholarship to the University of Arkansas, Rich Mountain in the United States. Whilst completing an Associate Degree, Maurice will play soccer for the University team. He also has the option to complete a further 4 years’ study after completing the Associate Degree. Maurice will begin his studies in August this year and is flying over to the USA on the 29th of July. We are incredibly proud of Maurice and wish him all the best in this exciting journey.

Just a reminder to all parents, students and teachers that we are hosting a fundraiser on Friday, the 19th of July, in aid of our students who were selected to participate in the tennis tournament at Sun City. Please come and join us for a fun afternoon at the Table View Tennis Academy.

Wishing all our families a wonderful and warm weekend.

Kind regards
Edna

Scramble For Africa!

The Year 8 History students are learning about the “Scramble for Africa”. In the first week of term, they learned about the Berlin Conference.

Students participated in a group work activity that simulated the Berlin Conference. They were given a map of a fictitious island, as well as fictitious countries to represent. They were also allocated resources. Students had to divide the island whilst being mindful of geographical, cultural and economic factors. This gave students an idea of the problems of dividing an area (and perhaps an idea of the moral issues surrounding such an undertaking too).
The smaller groups certainly found the task much easier than the larger ones. They discovered that cultural and linguistic groups need to be considered and that hell hath no fury like the country who has been allocated a much smaller share of territory.

It’s safe to say that if the island was a real one, war would be imminent!

Sheila Marais
High School History Teacher

From The German Classroom: “Wie heißt du?”

Last term the Year 5 and Year 6 lessons focused on preparing the students in compiling a written presentation in German.

The presentation was comprised of 3 sections.

Section 1- Greeting & Questions:

The students included a greeting (eine Begrüßung) at the beginning of the presentation and were required to ask the class the following questions:
Wie geht’s? – How are you?
Wie ist das Wetter heute? – How is the weather today?

Section 2 – Introducing themselves:

Wie heißt du? – What is your name?
Wann ist dein Geburtstag? – When is your birthday?
Wie alt bist du? – How old are you?
Wo wohnst du? – Where do you live?
Was ist deine Adresse? – What is your address? (To practice saying your address in German.)

Section 3 – Introducing my Family (meine Familie) and my pets (meine Haustiere):

Wie viele? – How many? e.g. sisters or brothers.
Name – names of your family members. Including some uncles, aunts, cousins and grandparents.
Geburtsdatum – Date of birth including date, months and years. (For extensive practice of the German numbers and dates).
Alter – Ages (write the numbers in words.)

This also included the preparation of a poster/PowerPoint or other resources to assist the student in presenting the above sections to the class.

It was very important for the student to use the format and structure required (i.e. follow the instructions), the appropriate vocabulary and pronunciation (as practised in class), the correct grammar and sentence construction, to ensure that the rest of the class would also be able to understand their presentation.

Then after much preparation, time for the presentations arrived. The students’ hard work in class really paid off in the quality of the presentations.

Star certificates for overall outstanding presentations awarded to:
Year 6 – Mia Bezuidenhout and Riley Hanning
Year 5-  Akhula Qwemesha,Saumya Maharaj, Aiden Brandt, Faith Chivaka, Morgan Glanville, Amanda Nkomo

Well done and thank you Year 5 and Year 6 it was great to hear all about you and your family!

Kerstin Pani
Primary School German Teacher

Play Time Is Important!

At school we recognise the importance of play time for students in every age group. There are so many benefits for them when they are given the time and space for all sorts of different kinds of play.

• Play allows children to use their creativity while developing their imagination, dexterity, and physical, cognitive, and emotional strength.
• Play is important to healthy brain development.
• It is through play that children at a very early age engage and interact in the world around them.
• Play allows children to create and explore a world they can master, conquering their fears while practicing adult roles, sometimes in conjunction with other children or adult caregivers. As they master their world, play helps children develop new competencies that lead to enhanced confidence and the resiliency they will need to face future challenges.
• Unguided play allows children to learn how to work in groups, to share, to negotiate, to resolve conflicts, and to learn self-advocacy skills. When play is allowed to be child driven, children practice decision-making skills, move at their own pace, discover their own areas of interest, and ultimately engage fully in the passions they wish to pursue.

Some of the greatest discoveries we will ever make is through play!

Charlotte Cronje
Year 1 Teacher

Reception Year Holiday News!

It’s hard to believe that the third term has already begun and we are at the start of another busy term in Reception Year. The students arrived back at school on Tuesday, brimming with excitement and eager to share all the wonderful things that they had been doing during the winter holidays.

This term we will be learning about how to copy sentences about our “news”. We have learnt about sentence structure, that a sentence starts with a capital letter, ends in a full stop and that words need to be evenly spaced.

The students were given the opportunity to explain one thing about their holiday to their “talk partner” sitting next them. This helps them remember their favourite part. They began the task by drawing a detailed picture of their holiday news. When the teacher came around, the students gave her a sentence, which she wrote in the lines under their pictures. They then carefully tried to copy their sentences in the lines below, using the correct punctuation and spacing. The students made good attempts at copying their sentences and these are a few of the sentences that they came up with:

Melissa Moje (5 years old): “I went to the beach.”
Emmanuel Omole (5 years old): “I watched T.V.”
Sarah Miller (6 years old): “I played outside.”
Joel Mofokeng (7 years old): “I played with my friends.”
Zoe-Jane Way (6 years old): “I went to my oupa’s house.”
Michele Lemme (6 years old): “I went to the shop.”
Lizelle Vorster (5 years old): “I played with my robot.”
Reuben Davids (6 years old): I went to the treehouse.”
Malin van Zandvoort (5 years old): “I played football.”
Thami Makubalo (5 years old): “I went for a walk.”
Madison Carli (5 years old): “We went to the shop.”
Britney Quaddri (5 years old); “I watched T.V.”
Uyindalo Kweyama (6 years old): “I found my teddy.”
Enzo Tona (6 years old): “I went to holiday care.”
Jenna Miller (6 years old): “I went to the shop.”
Gabriel Perdigão (6 years old): “I built a treehouse.”

Bronwen Nuthall
Reception Year teacher