newsletter 4 michaelmas term 2010

8/8/2019 Newsletter 4 Michaelmas Term 2010

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NEWSLETTER

MICHAELMAS TERM No 4/2010

Dear Parents

In the newsletter you will find the new St Johns College Steroid Testing Policy. Thishas been approved by the PA Executive, the Sports Council and the Council of StJohns College. It appears at a very opportune time and I urge parents to discuss thismatter with their sons. Your support in educating and guiding your son to make wisechoices is appreciated.

Schalk Burgers first address to the boys as Head of School was inspirational. I haveprinted it for your interest. It is a challenge from a young man to the men of StJohns to hold true to the values of this fine institution.

Mr Cameron, staff,fellow pupils and guests. I greet you with the words of the prophet Isaiah,Chapter 40, verse 31: But those who wait for the LORD will renew their strength. They shallmount up with wings like eagles."

It seems like yesterday when I visited St Johns College for the first time. I was still in Grade 7 a boertjie from Jan Celliers who had a dream to become a pupil at St Johns. After we hadwritten an entry exam, all the new boys were taken on a tour of the College grounds. Wewalked through the school, the chapel, Pelican Quad and David Quad. We stood on Burger

field and in amazement I looked up at the extraordinary school buildings. I was in awe as Istill am today. But the moment above all the one that I shall always remember of that first day,is when we came to the bronze statue of the eagle in front of the science block. Theinscription on the base is from Isaiah 40, which I have just quoted. I knew then (as I still dotoday) that those words captured the heart and the spirit of St Johns College and that I wished with all my heart tobe part of it.

Today, 4 years later, I stand here in front of you and I address you in a spirit of humbleness, trust, openness, butabove all, with a deep faith in those words of the prophet Isaiah. And I invite you gentlemen of St Johns to join meand share my vision for 2011 which is:

To soar on wings like eagles!

As I start my term as Head of School, I asked myself what I envision for the next year. Firstly, I would like to developunityamongst our students. Unity is something, which does not happen by chance. We have to seek unity and workhard to get it. It is an ethical integrity not to divide the powerful, positive forces in our life. In maths it is the smallestnumeral representation and I believe that we should group ourselves into this unit. Why? Because unity producesstrength and courage. Look at your blazer pockets. The eagle is a symbol of strength and vigour. Through unity weshall be able to realize our strength to soar with courage during 2011.

Secondly, I would like you to join me in seeking excellence. We at St Johns want to be excellent. There is no doubtabout that. The College is a school of excellence, academically, culturally, on the sports field and in community work.Excellence is to process good qualities to the highest degree. True excellence is to strive to improve yourself and theenvironment around you.

It can only be achieved through hard work and rising up to the challenges presented to you. It also means never tolose sight of your goals. Eagles have the ability to fly directly into the sun without being blinded. Therefore, let us notbe blinded by anything which can weaken our focus during 2011.

Thirdly, I would like to invite you to make a commitment of loyalty to the school. Here at St Johns we need people likeyou and me to have commitment to bind ourselves intellectually and emotionally to our school. We are the products


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of one of the finest educational institutions in the world. This is a privilege and in the years to come we shall always bethankful for the opportunity we had, which is nothing less than a gift. At St Johns, I came to understand the missionaryvalues of: discipline, integrity, honesty and charity, based on the teaching and examples of our teachers and thosewho are part of this institution. Therefore I would like to challenge each one of you to be part of our Johannianoutreaches to underprivileged people. Let our exclusivity not blind us to the needs of others, instead let's be open tothe world outside. Lets be exclusive in our existence but inclusive in our lives.

Mr Camerons message at Speech Night was to encourage us to give thanks. As a result, tomorrow morning duringchapel I will explain the project in which the whole schools participation will be of utmost importance.

In addition I encourage all of you to strive for a healthy balance between body and soul. We need to be ethical ineverything we do. Let us remember that our mission in life is to become responsible people. We are fortunate here atSt Johns to have the best foundation ever to become dependable citizens. Life is tough and we need to be preparedto face successes and failures. We must remember that the ten plagues of Egypt still exist today, just in other forms.We might not so much have frogs and mosquitoes, but we have slow ADSL, computer viruses, Trevor Noah. and,more seriously, often also poor relationships with people around us. May we always try to resolve our differences in2011 in such a way that we grow in the process.

And above all, lets be gentle and caring, especially toward the young and upcoming generation here in our school.Let us help them to fly, but like true eagles, let us also catch them when they fall.

I also want to take this opportunity and thank each and everyone (students and teachers) who trusted me enough togive me this opportunity of being Head of School for 2011. I am committed not to fail you and to lead this school to2012 in the best way I possibly can.

Many people have played a role in my development and of those, my parents deserve the most credit. I know thatthey sometimes just shook their heads, wondering what I was up to, but never did they give up on me. They arealways willing to create new opportunities for me. Dad, Mom, I want to thank you for this. Thank you for pushing me tomy limits. Thank you for opening the door to St Johns for me. And above all, I would like to thank my HeavenlyFather, who has blessed me beyond my wildest dreams.

Finally I want to conclude with the words of Rudyard Kipling. He echoed Isaiah when he said:

If you can keep your head when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

Or being lied about, dont deal in lies,

Or being hated, dont give way to hating,

If you can dream and not make dreams your master,

If you can think and not make thoughts your aim,

If you can bear to hear the truth youve spoken

and lose, and start again at your beginnings

And never breathe a word about your loss,

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

If all men count with you, but none too much,

Yours is the Earth and everything thats in it,

And which is more youll be a Man, my son

My prayer for 2011 is that we stay focused on the Lord, on true and honest living and ultimately to become the menwe were born to be.

Only then shall we soar on wings like eagles, shall we run and not grow weary, shall we walk and not be faint.

Schalk Burger

Head of School 2011


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ST JOHNS COLLEGE

PREFECTS - 2011

Head of School: Schalk Burger

Second Prefect: Jeffrey Long

Additional School Prefect: Travis Bradfield

Head of Nash: Peter Raney

Head of Hill: Dylan Feldner-Busztin

Head of Clayton: Jesse Bulabula

Head of Thomson: Markus Trengove

Head of Alston: Matthew Diepenbroek

Head of Clarke: Paul Malakou

Head of Hodgson: Kathu Ramabulana

Head of Fleming: Tebogo Lekubu

Head of Runge: Marina Ceccarelli

FIRST AIDHead of First Aid 2011

Simon Brooks

San Co-ordinator 2011

Matthew Wilson

INTERACTPresident

Anish Daya

Vice-PresidentTinaye Tengende

PRO

Keith Mhlari

SecretaryBhaveen Kalidas

TreasurerShaneel Kalyan

Chief WhipAndrew Tuma-Waku

LIBRARY Head of Library

Jarryd Wood
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ACADEMIC AWARDS MICHAELMAS TERM 2010

Upper V

ACADEMIC COLOURS

Dixit DullabhEdmund Wessels

ACADEMIC HONOURS

Richard Fisher Adam Maserow

Lower V

ACADEMIC COLOURS

Richard BerryRowan Dalton

Scott HuntSahil Jamnadas

Akshar JivanReshard Kolabhai

Johan PrinslooGeorge Varughese

ACADEMIC HONOURS

Schalk BurgerAsiri Rathugamage

Jarryd Wood

CULTURAL AWARDS

Honours - Music

Pieter Swart Kendrick Walsh

Colours Music

Michael Cloete

Half-Colours Music

Jonathan Beard

Colours - Drama

Sekh-Fei de Lacy

Honours Art

Adam Maserow

Colours Art

Ferdi le GrangeBarry PoveySimon Lee

Half-Colours Re-award

Devin Marder


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MUSIC

The following boys passed their: Trinity Guildhall (London) - Practical Examination

Angus Mackenzie Trumpet Grade 4Hamish Mollett Trombone Grade 6Jason Smythe Trombone Grade 7

Matthew Lillie Harp Grade 5Bryan Moore Cello Grade 7Asiri Rathugamage Jazz Saxophone Grade 8John Whittle Violin Grade 5Murray Conway Violin Grade 5Suleiman Sacranie Violin Grade 6Francois Du Plessis Violin Grade 7Robert Nutt Violin Grade 5Michael Cloete Saxophone Grade 7Robert MacMurray Saxophone Grade 3Stephen Havenga Saxophone Grade 4Oliver Vincent Saxophone Grade 5

Kiyan Kurji Saxophone Grade 5Mohamed Sacranie Flute Grade 7Daniel Erasmus Clarinet Grade 4Riaan de Kock Piano Grade 8Benedict Didcott-Marr Recorder Grade 6Travis Bradfield Recorder Grade 8Eric McLaughlin Piano Grade 4Miguel Neto Piano Grade 4Marius Vermaak Piano Grade 7Sarah Hunt Piano Grade 7Thomas Geffen Piano Grade 8Matthew Taylor Piano Grade 2Stephen de Souza Piano Grade 2Siya Urio Piano Grade 1

CHESS

The Inter-House Chess matches were played on Friday 15 October and because they were played afterSpeech Night and the awarding of the Le Sueur Cup, these points will count towards next years Le SueurCup:

Results:

Seventh: HodgsonFifth: Alston and NashFourth: ThomsonThird: HillSecond: FlemingFirst: Clarke

The Captain of Clarke, Matthew Tong received the Double Knight Trophy on behalf of Clarke and NeilViviers received the Gold King Trophyhaving won all his games playing on Board 1.

World Youth Chess Championships

Jaishil Modi participated in the Boys U16 section of the World Youth Championships held in Porto Carass,Greece, and was ranked 125 out of 150 and finished 90th.


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MICHAELMAS TERM 2010 COLOURS AWARDS

ATHLETICS, SOCCER & ROWING

ATHLETICS AWARDS

The season consisted of four meetings. Inter-House, one Inter-Schools, Private Schools and Inter-Highmeeting. Three records were broken: S Tenza in the 100m & 200m and J Van Der Bijl in High Jump .

Present position:

Team Blazer: Ferdi Le Grange Brendon LevendigDylan Feldner-Busztin

Honours: Senzo Tenza

NEW AWARDS:

Team Blazer: Willie Morgan Dean Gordon

Jesse Bulabula Nicholas Jelonek

Colours: Edward Butler

Honours: Jonathan Van Der Bijl Katlego Moanakoena

SOCCER AWARDS

Team results Played 18 Won 9, Lost 6, Drew 3 - Attended both the St Davids and St Peters Festivals

Present position:

Team Blazer: Sandile XayiyaHonours: Matthew Becker

NEW AWARDS:

Team Blazer: Rea Khumbane Dylaan Mafumu Thobi NdzimandeEthan Brownhill Pele Collins Tebogo LekubuWesley Coulentianos Jared Kruger Matthew CollinsZain Patel

Colours: Paulo Loureiro Shaldon Valjalo Jason NewtonDave Jacobs Senzo Tenza

ROWING AWARDS

NEW AWARDS: Willie Morgan was awarded full colours for Rowing in April 2010. Subsequently hewas selected to represent South Africa at the Junior World Championships held inPrague in August of this year. Willie has upheld the values of a Johannian at alltimes, receiving compliments from senior athletes on his work ethic and attitude. Forhis contribution to Rowing at St John's College and his selection for South Africa,Willie is awarded Rowing Honours

Honours: Willie Morgan
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STAFF NEWS

Congratulations to Dr Bruce Tobias on being awarded his PhDat a graduation ceremony on 28 July 2010 held at the Universityof the Witwatersrand Great Hall.

The title of his thesis was: From textual problems tomathematical relationships: case studies of secondary school

students and the discourses at play in interpreting wordproblems.

Picture: Bruce Tobias with his wife, Liz (left)and his sons Gareth (OJ 2008) and Mark (OJ 2006)

SACEE CREATIVE WRITING COMPETITION

Congratulations are due to the following boys who entered the Sacee Creative Writing Competition: Saceeis the South African Council for English Education and this is very well supported competition for whichthere were several hundred entries. There are four sections and St Johns won all four. The senior prose

was won by Shaneel Kalyan (UIV), senior Poetry by Tom Geffen (LV); junior prose by Luc Feldner-Busztin(LIV); and the junior poetry by Benedict Didcott-Marr (LIV). In addition to this Alistair Bashall (LV) and AndyPetersen UV) were runners up in the senior prose section. All this beautiful writing will be published in the2010 magazine. Well done, boys.

SACEE DEBATING CHAMPIONSHIPS 2010

The senior team reached the semi-finals, and were narrowly defeated by Pretoria Girls High. The juniorteam reached the finals, and were narrowly defeated by Pretoria Girls High!

Andy Petersen, Michael Macklin, Gianluca Agostinetto, Luke Quinn: selected for provincial trials.Michael Macklin: Best Senior Provincial Debater, 2010

Junior Best Speaker list: Gianluca Agostinetto placed 4th

, Luke Quinn 5th

.

ANNUAL INTER-SCHOOLS ART EXHIBITION 2010

Our sixth Annual Art Exhibition 2010 was for the third time held at the FADAgallery, UJ, opening on the 14th September. It was again organized by the StJohns Art Department, and expertly curated and hung by Eugene Hon from theUJ art department. We had the usual excellent turn-out, more schools than everparticipating, and the highest standard of art displayed so far at this prestigiouspublic annual exhibition. Last year, our guest speaker, world renown South African artist William Kentridge,encouraged art teachers to emphasize the importance of perceptual drawing still-life, models, etc, and not

only working from photographs. Many art teachers present at this years exhibition felt that the lift instandards was partly due to this salient advice from South Africas most well-know artist. A wide variety ofmedia, conceptual and perceptual art work was represented. St Johns College was proud to have one ofits pupils take home one of the three prizes once again Sam Kentridge was awarded second place for histwo large gridded, collaged self-portraits congratulations to him. We can look forward to the growth andcontinued success of this exhibition in the future, now firmly established in the schools art calendar.

CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL EXAMINATIONS ART TEACHERS CONFERENCE

A very interesting, stimulating and useful conference was held at St JohnsCollege on Saturday, 2nd October. Liz Castle, a well-known art educatorgave an excellent power-point presentation, high-lighting the various

emphases on standards of Cambridge marking, expectations andassessment objectives. All the teachers present agreed that it was a mostworth-while function which we intend to repeat regularly.


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ANNUAL MATRIC ART EXHIBITION 2010

For the first time we had our Major Matric Art Exhibition in the Rene England auditorium on Monday, 18 thOctober. This proved to be a spacious venue which comfortably accommodated many works, and anattendance. 41 art boys exhibited a varied and on the whole, excellent body of work. Well-known print-maker artist, Kim Berman gave the opening address, complimenting the boys on their high standard ofwork, and the art department on their inspiring approach to attract so many art students at a time whenother schools fear the closing of their subject due to low numbers of pupils choosing art as a subject Kim

also commended the art department on its ability to inspire such a high and varied standard of work. Shealso encouraged the pupils to continue to make art relevant to todays world. Kim judged the following boysas winners: Ferdi Le Grange best artist on exhibition, Adam Maserow 2nd and Barry Povey 3rd.Congratulations to those boys on this excellent achievement. Congratulations also to all the pupils whoenriched our evening with their superb work.

NATIONAL SCIENCE EXPO 1-2 OCTOBER 2010

Six projects from St Johns College were chosen to go through to the National Expo held at the Universityof Pretoria from 1-2 October. Our boys were great ambassadors for St Johns College.

Bronze medals were awarded to:

Chris Maree and Jordan Wheeler (Remove) for Power of Batteries

Mohammed Kaskar and Nabeel Seedat (U4) for Silver Solutions

Silver Medals were awarded to:

Ahmad Soni and Ebrahim Mohamed (L5) for Moringa Seed: Natures answer to clean water in rural

South Africa

The Kelvin award was made to Matthew Taylor and Nikita Dartchiev for Magneto-hydrodynamic Motor.This award is presented for an outstanding project showing an awareness of and understanding of acurrent technological challenge and offering an innovative solution.

Gold Medals were awarded to Schalk Burger and Peter Raney for Evapo-Gravitational Generator. Theyalso won Best Project and have been selected to attend an elimination round to decide if their project willbe one of five to represent South Africa at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair.

Congratulations to all our boys on excellent projects.

SHOW JUMPING

Congratulations to Heather Robertson (LVI) on being awarded provincial colours and on being selected torepresent Gauteng at the SA Junior Championships to be held in Port Elizabeth in December.

SPORTS NEWS SUMMER SPORTS CAPTAINS

Basketball

Captain: Tebogo Lekubu

Chess

Captain: Yianni Moustakis
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Cricket

Jason Newton

Golf

Captain: John Newsome

Rowing

Captain: Paul MalakouVice-Captains: Ben Myers Daniel Trollip

Boatman: Grant Verheul

Swimming

Captain: Dylan Feldner-BusztinVice-Captain: Francois Du Plessis

Vice-Captain: Murray Bantock

Tennis

Captain: Rowan DaltonVice-Captain : Kirk Bolland

Water Polo

Captain : Alex du Plessis

SWIMMING

Gareth Baker (L4 - Clayton) recently took part in the Seagulls Championship Gala held in Durban andearned Personal Bests in all nine of the events that he swam.

He made the qualifying times in five of the event for the Open South African Youth Nationals to be held inApril next year. The highlight of the Gala was in his final event, the 200 Individual Medley, where heearned a Silver Medal against Murray McDougall (17) who had just returned from representing South Africaat the Youth Olympics in Singapore.

KARATE

Austen Parfitt (U5 Clayton) was awarded his 2nd DAN belt at the national KWF Karate examination on 9October by a unanimous decision from a panel of 8 examiners.

This is a great achievement as it is seldom given to a Karateka as young as Austen (18), as not only is thetechnical proficiency of the candidate required, but their leadership qualities, teaching abilities, and maturityall play a major part in passing this examination.

Zayan Daya (Rem Alston) was awarded a gold medal for Kumite and silver for Kata at the SouthernGauteng Goju Kai held on 4th September at Vanderbijlpark. He has subsequently been awarded EasternGauteng colours for Karate. At the South African Goju Kai Nationals held 25th in September in Durban, hewas awarded a silver medal for Kumite and bronze for Unison Kata. Well done Zayan!


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Inter-House Cross Country Results

Juniors (First eight positions)

1 Gareth Harvett 20:35 Nash2 Kyle Lion-Cachet 20:55 Fleming3 Justin Boyce 21:30 Nash4 Christopher Huntley 21:37 Hodgson

5 Blake Skirving 22:03 Nash6 Alastair Fletcher 22:18 Clayton7 Kiyan Kurji 22:32 Thomson8 Rowan Batzofin 22:32 Clayton9 Oliver Vincent Nash10 Hamish Mollett Clayton

Seniors (first ten positions)

1 Carl Coetzee 16:37 Runge2 Dylan Feldner-Busztin 17:15 Hill

3 Ferdi le Grange 17:26 Thomson4 Gregory Harrup 18:23 Hill5 Willie Morgan 18:58 HodgsonHodgson6 Dipolelo Moraba 19:08 Nash7 Bevan Dell 19:25 Clarke8 Jody Swartz 19:37 Nash9 Kyle Robertson 19:49 Hodgsonodgson10 Lebogang Mokgosi 20:01 HodgsonHodgson

Juniors (by house) Juniors (by house)

1 HodgsonHodgson 1 HodgsonHodgson

2 Nash 2 Nash3 Hill 3 Hill4 FlemingFleming 4 Flemingleming5 ClaytonClayton 5 Alston6 Clarke 6 Clarke7 Alston 7 ThomsonClayton8 Thomson 8 Thomson

Overall

1 Hodgson2 Nash3 Hill4 Flemingleming5 Alston6 ClaytonClayton7 Clarke8 Thomson


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ST JOHNS COLLEGE STEROID TESTING POLICY

Reasons for the policy

The desire to achieve an enviable body image, to succeed on the sports field, or play for the school first orprovincial team, are strong and often overriding motivators and influences in the lives of adolescent boys.These influences can cause boys to risk their short and long-term health by using banned performance-enhancing substances as a shortcut to meeting these goals. This is cheating and a violation of the honesty

and integrity that should be inherent in fair participation. Moreover St Johns College is committed to actagainst this behaviour by introducing a steroid testing programme and to educate boys on the healthdangers of taking anabolic steroids. The Headmasters of the boys schools have also agreed to worktogether in eradicating this behaviour by introducing testing in their schools.

Reasons for testing

Using steroids without a prescription and without proper medical supervision can cause serious,

adverse health effects.

Using steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs can give an unfair advantage over the

competition, and is cheating.

Testing for steroids can help deter their use among school pupils.Steroids are drugs that should only be used to treat medical conditions. Possession, use or

dealing of most steroids without a prescription is illegal.

St Johns recognizes that it will take a community-wide effort by parents, coaches, pupils, teachers andphysicians to attack this growing challenge. Steroid testing is one tool that can assist in discouraging pupilsfrom taking steroids.

Definition of SteroidsAnabolic steroids, officially known as anabolic-androgen steroids (AAS) or colloquially simply as "steroids",are drugs which mimic the effects of the male sex hormones testosterone and dihydrotestosterone. Theyincrease protein synthesis within cells, which results in the build-up of cellular tissue (anabolism), especially

in muscles. Anabolic steroids also have androgenic and virilising properties, including the development andmaintenance of masculine characteristics.www.wada-ama.org

The Policy definitionIt shall be considered a violation of the sportsmanship code of conduct for any student to possess, ingest orotherwise use any substance on the list of banned substances as indicated by the South African Institutefor Drug Free Sport (SAIDS), without written prescription by a fully-licensed physician as recognised by theSouth African Medical Association, to treat a medical condition.

In short, use of performance-enhancing drugs by pupils at St Johns College is considered to becheating and will be penalized.

Consent formAll pupils parents or guardians at St Johns consent in writing to the drug-testing policy administered at StJohns. Testing for performance-enhancing substances forms part of this testing programme. Failure to signthe consent form renders the student ineligible to participate in any sports programme, whether it be at aninter-house or inter-schools level, until the form is signed.

The testing programme

Any pupil can be tested.

The school will carry the cost of the initial test but in cases of positive results the follow-up tests

costs will be for the relevant parents account.

Testing can be conducted at any time of the year, pre-season, during a particular season or

after.

Testing will not be restricted to any one particular sport.
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The programme will be administered in two ways:

- Internal testing by the school through Drug Detection International (DDI) Violations

here, as a result of a positive test, will be penalised in accordance to the school policy

and will not be reported to SAIDS.

- External testing through SAIDS and mostly for inter-schools matches Violations here

will be dealt with at National sporting level and bans of up to two years are possible.

These tests will be conducted when playing in tournaments, festivals and inter-schools

matches, and not necessarily only at 1st

team level.Urine tests will be used.

The substances tested for will include any substances that are banned by SAIDS which falls

under the banner of the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA). Using any substance belonging

to a banned class violates the rules of sportsmanship, can be detrimental to the pupils

health and is considered cheating.

Nutritional and dietary supplements are not on the banned substances list but all pupils must be

aware that many supplements contain banned substances due to the unregulated nature of the

supplement industry. Impure supplements may lead to positive test results because the purity

and safety of nutritional dietary supplements cannot be guaranteed. The use of supplements

is at the students own risk.

Recommended consequences for violating the steroid policyAny person who tests positive in a test, or any person who refuses to provide a testing sample, or anyperson who reports his own violation, through the programme at St Johns College:

- Will be informed, along with his parents, according to the same process as per the

substance abuse policy, of the consequences in regards to the violation. This will be fully

documented.

- May immediately forfeit his eligibility to participate in any competitive sport for St Johns

College for a period of one year from the date of the test.

- Will need to continue serving the seasonal sports chosen in whatever capacity required

i.e. linesman, scoring, table duty etc.

- May also forfeit any individual honour earned while in violation. This means that colours

awarded, during the season prior to the test being positive, may be removed.

- Will only resume eligibility for participation in sport after he has undergone counseling

and produces a negative test result from the same testing organization DDI. This will be

at his own expense.

Any pupil who deals in steroids is in violation of the substance abuse policy and will be calledbefore the Disciplinary Council with his parents. Selling drugs including steroids or other illegalsubstances at St John's College may lead to expulsion.


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SUBSTANCE ABUSE

The problems associated with what has become the almost free availability of drugs in society permeate allsectors of our community, and St Johns is no exception. Drug experimentation and use poses a threat notonly to our own well-being, but through peer group interactions, to other boys in our community.

Drugs and drug use, therefore, have the potential to significantly undermine the ethos and achievements ofour community and the individuals within it. Documented research shows that the notions of soft drugs andsafe drugging are misconceptions, and that these forms of drug taking are often the start of full-scaleabuse. The use of performance enhancing drugs in sport is damaging to health and regarded as cheating.

Additionally, these practices are illegal.

The realities of our society are such that it is likely that at some point every St Johns boy will have accessto drugs.

For these reasons it is of critical importance that we do everything in our power to ensure that St Johnsboys are properly prepared for such a situation, and that a programme exists to dissuade boys fromaccepting, if offered drugs.

Under the auspices of the School Psychologist/Counsellor, a Life Skills programme has been introducedwhich, amongst other things, educates boys on the dangers associated with drugs. Additionally, aprogramme of random drug testing has been instituted at St Johns. In addition to testing for recreational

drugs, we will also be testing boys for the use of anabolic steroids. We have become aware that someboys are taking these to grow bigger and stronger without being aware of the serious consequences to theirhealth.

Simple urine tests provide an effective method of determining whether a boy has been experimenting withdrugs. The results will be strictly confidential and will only be revealed to the boys parents, Housemaster,and the Headmaster. This programme forms part of the broader pastoral role of the school. Where a boytests positive, he and his parents will be given full support by the school and counselling from professionalcounsellors. Only in cases of a repeated positive test would a boys drug taking become a matter of schoolrecord, and a disciplinary issue. In the case of the use of anabolic steroids together with other boysschools we will not allow boys to participate in the sporting programme for a period of time. Details of ourpolicy regarding this abuse are outlined in our steroids testing policy to be found on our website.

Kindly complete the consent form attached and return it to the School Secretary. Should you have anyqueries, please feel free to phone your sons Housemaster or you might wish to speak to me personally.Please note that the purpose of this programme is to be proactive and prevent drug abuse happening at StJohns in the future, with the support of parents in a programme to deal with a real societal threat to ourboys.

R D T CameronHeadmaster


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SUBSTANCE ABUSE CONSENT FORM

I (parent / guardian name) __________________________________________

as parent / guardian of (pupils name) _________________________________

Pupils house ____________________________________________________

do hereby give permission for my son / ward to be tested at school for the presence of drugs, includingsteroids as part of a random testing programme.

I understand that the results of such tests are strictly confidential and will be disclosed only to myself, mysons Housemaster, and the Headmaster. In the case of steroids, the Director of Sport and his coach willbe informed.

I understand that the tests are non-invasive (urine) tests carried out professionally and in private byqualified medical staff.

I understand that the costs of these tests will be borne by the school, except for the subsequent tests whichwill take place monthly in the event of my son testing positive for the presence of drugs, in which case suchcosts will be for my account.

Signed: ________________________________________

Date: ________________________________________

newsletter 4 michaelmas term 2010

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