From the Principal’s Desk, 11 June 2021
Dear Parents
Our high school students have one more week of exams left before they can have a breather. As we wind down towards the June/July holidays and as the Western Cape enters the 3rd wave of Covid infections, I urge our families to remain vigilant with regards to health and safety protocols. If we all follow the necessary sanitizing, social distancing and wearing of masks, we will protect our school and community.
YOUTH DAY
Next Wednesday, the 16th of June, is Youth Day. Let us take time to celebrate our youth. We have such an important task in equipping young people for the future.
It is our goal to ensure that when our students leave school they are resilient, confident, independent, respectful, resourceful, have a positive attitude, adaptable, well-rounded, self-aware, empathetic, critical thinkers, innovative, creative, problem solvers, responsible, good communicators, confident, compassionate, self-motivated, emotionally intelligent, resourceful, free thinkers, good leaders, balanced, flexible, self-regulated, team players, responsible and accountable.
Enjoy the day with your children.
FEATURE PHOTO
Our main newsletter photograph features Ms Heidi La Bercensie. Ms La Bercensie is one of our Music teachers at school. Did you know:
She was born in Port Elizabeth, attended school in Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth) and in Wolfsburg, Germany. She studied at NMMU and UCT, and she currently performs with a few orchestras and in concerts on a regular basis. As much as she has a passion and love for teaching music and making a difference in children’s lives, a huge part of her passion is being on stage and performing!
Facts about her that not everyone knows:
- She loves travelling & experiencing different cultures around the world, and has been to 12 different countries and counting…
- She has a BMusHons; PGCE, an Associate and a Licentiate degree in Clarinet, and Grade 8 in Violin.
- She was invited to and took part in the annual London Notting Hill Carnival, performing as a steelpan player with the London Mangrove Steelband.
- She is an adrenaline junkie and has a goal to go to as many theme parks around the world as possible.
- She started playing in the South African National Orchestra since 14yrs old.
- She loves quad biking, hikes and doing outdoor adventures.
Heidi started at Blouberg International School on the 1st of January 2018.
WEEKLY THOUGHT: History
“That men do not learn very much from the lessons of history is the most important of all the lessons of history.” – Aldous Huxley
History. We all remember asking ourselves the question at some point our school careers: Why do I need to learn about that specific event, this famous person or anything else for that matter?
Most of us have a few decades worth of experience behind us and aren’t sitting in school anymore. This being the case, here is another question: Do you still think studying history is a waste of time?
According to Huxley, your answer to this question will put you into one of two categories: You’re either a person that learns from history or you’re one that doesn’t.
Many of our successes and failures in life are a consequence of our attitude towards history and whether we apply its valuable lessons.
Have a brilliant weekend and make an impact.
Andre
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From the Principal’s Desk, 3 June 2021
Dear Parents
GLOBAL PARENTS DAY
“The Global Day of Parents is observed on the 1st of June every year. The Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 2012 and honours parents throughout the world. The Global Day provides an opportunity to appreciate all parents in all parts of the world for their selfless commitment to children and their lifelong sacrifice towards nurturing this relationship.
In its resolution, the General Assembly also noted that the family has the primary responsibility for the nurturing and protection of children and that children, for the full and harmonious development of their personality, should grow up in a family environment and in an atmosphere of happiness, love and understanding.”
In celebration of Global Parents Day, I would like to thank all the parents of BIS. Thank you for looking after and caring for our children. As a school community, we should be focused on ensuring that, on leaving school, our leaners are resilient, confident, independent, respectful, resourceful, have a positive attitude, adaptable, well-rounded, self-aware, empathetic, critical thinkers, innovative, creative, problem solvers, responsible, good communicators, confident, compassionate, self-motivated, emotionally intelligent, resourceful, free thinkers, good leaders, balanced, flexible, self-regulated, team players, responsible and accountable.
Keep being amazing parents. We appreciate you!
YEAR 4 TEACHER
Following the resignation of our Year 4 teacher, Mrs Marlize Keyser, we have made an internal appointment and Ms Yvette Fourie will assume this position from term 3.
DROP AND GO AREAS:
Gravel Parking area
We have managed to pave the entrance to the gravel parking area and this seems to have made it a little easier for parents.
The area in the middle is for parking. The circular area around the parking is only for “drop and go”. Please do not park in this area as it will cause congestion. We also rely on our parents to be considerate and not to hold up traffic. Thanks to your cooperation the flow of traffic has improved drastically.
Please be vigilant of children and pedestrians. If we all work together, it will make a huge difference. Thank you to all our families for your cooperation and patience.
Main parking area in front of the school
May I request that if you intend to get out of your car that you park in one of the parking bays. We will no longer allow you to get out of your car at the “drop and go” area.
We understand that some parents want to walk their little ones to the sanitizing station, and you are welcome to do so, but please use a parking bay in that case. When cars are left at the “drop and go” it causes congestion and frustration for other parents. Let’s be considerate and work together in this regard.
Your cooperation is appreciated so much.
FEATURE PHOTO
Our main newsletter photograph features Ms Sheila Marais. Ms Marais is our IGCSE & AS/A Level History teacher. Did you know:
- She did horse riding for 21 years.
- She has been a trail runner since 2019.
- She is an avid reader and collects Sherlock Holmes books.
- She also collects vintage and antique items.
- This teacher does in fact have a pet – a 10 year old English Cocker Spaniel called Eli.
WEEKLY THOUGHT: Courage
“Courage is being scared to death… and saddling up anyway.” – John Wayne
For most people, courage is the absence of fear, but John Wayne would disagree.
According to Wayne, everybody gets scared in certain situations – even the brave and courageous! BUT, the difference is that the courageous press forward in spite of their fear.
This should be good news for all of us.
Are you currently facing a situation that is daunting and leaves you with doubts and fears? Whether you are courageous or not will be determined by your next action – not by how you feel now.
So often in life, fear makes us feel inadequate, and the perception that others “do not fear” obviously doesn’t help. But what we need to understand is that everyone experiences fear and that fear gives us an opportunity to be courageous.
Victory and success are reserved for those individuals who move forward despite the fear they experience. During the last year, things all across the world have changed dramatically. The fact is that we don’t know what to expect from next month (never mind next year), but this should not paralyze us. Instead, we need to show courage by pressing forth regardless of what tomorrow may bring.
Our prayer is that those who are scared will discover the courage they need to keep going. Let us press on and never give up.
Andre
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From the Principal’s Desk, 28 May 2021
Dear Parents
We have reached the business end of the term and this means exam and test time. By now, all students should have a study timetable to ensure that they are able to do THEIR very best.
Student wellness is most important. Let’s all work together to ensure that our children are as relaxed as can be. While these assessments are important, they DO NOT define our children. As parents and teachers, we need to care for our children more than we care for the results.
FEATURE PHOTO
Our main newsletter photograph features Mrs Ann Cordner. Mrs Cordner is our Key Stage 1 Coordinator. Did you know:
- She started teaching at Blouberg International School in 2014 as a Year 1 teacher.
- She was one of two teachers who started a brand new school in Durbanville. She taught Grades 1, 2, 3 and 4 in one class for 6 months, an experience she never wishes to repeat!
- She runs about 5km 3 times a week and has aspirations of one day running a half marathon again. Actually, in her dreams it’s the Comrades.
- During the lockdown in April 2020, she ran a marathon over three weeks doing laps around her garden, each lap was only 120m which equated to 350 laps. So she was well acquainted with every blade of grass by the end of the 42.2 km.
- She loves to sit and read a good book accompanied by a cup of tea and a chocolate.
- She always jokes with the children in her class that she is 99 years old and sadly they find it easy to believe.
Thank you, Ann, for all you do for our school. You are an inspiration for many.
REAL MADRID SOCCER CLINIC FOR SEK AND IES
IES and the Real Madrid Foundation have signed an important agreement, exclusively for our students, with the aim of carrying out high-level sports activities.
From July 4th to the 10th, students between the ages of 11 and 14 will be able to take part in a soccer clinic (intensive soccer program) at “Real Madrid City” in Valdebebas (Madrid), considered the largest sports centre built by a club in the world.
Students will be housed, on a full board basis, in a student residence located in the heart of Madrid, on Paseo de la Habana, next to the Santiago Bernabéu stadium.
Daily soccer training sessions will be led by Real Madrid coaches, offering elite and competitive soccer training.
Our students will also be provided with a complete Real Madrid Foundation training kit.
In addition to sports activities, students will enjoy recreational and cultural activities in the city of Madrid.
The price of the complete course, including transport and transfers in Madrid, is € 1,190 (excludes flights).
There is limited space in the camp (a total of 25 participants) so if you are interested in having your child participate in the Real Madrid Soccer Clinic please contact our Sport Coordinator, Ms Yvette Fourie (yvette.fourie@iesmail.com) for more details.
WEEKLY THOUGHT: Small Matters
“Big doors swing on little hinges.” – W. Clement Stone
Let that image sink in…
When things go right, it often is not because people or institutions got the “big” things right. This goes the other way too: If things go terribly wrong, it usually isn’t because people made massive and apparent mistakes.
In failures and successes, we must not immediately look for the obvious things. Instead, as Stone suggests, we should rather set our sights on the small things.
We will all do well to look at our own lives and ask ourselves whether we are living life as successfully as we would like to be? If the answer is “No”, we are quick to think that getting a degree or a new job in a different city is what we need to set our lives in a better direction – you know, some “big” changes…
But if we take Stone’s words to heart, we may want to consider the following things: How much we sleep; how much time we set apart just to think and meditate; whether we exercise and eat balanced meals; what and how we read; who we hang out with and call our friends; what we believe and the amount of time we spend on our spiritual lives.
Can you recognise these “little hinges” in your life? If we work on them, we may just find that the doors of opportunity swing open, along with peace and success. Though largely unnoticed, the above aspects of our lives are so much more significant than we could ever imagine.
Shall we try to get the “small” things right in our lives? Doing so may just mark the start of a wonderful new journey – for us and the people dearest to us.
Have a wonderful weekend and let’s execute well on the “small things”.
Andre
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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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