Published by GT MediaTel: +27 (0)21 790 0664

Content & LayoutJess Morgan

jess@thegoodtimes.co.za082 777 3024

AdvertisingBrooke Irvingbrooke@thegoodtimes.co.za082 467 3659 www.thegoodtimes.co.za

A chance glimpse of a grainy cut-out from a local Hout Bay paper, posted on Facebook in March, brought it all together in a massive, blinding flash. The teaching around the world; the live music venue; the years of publishing; a great friendship; years in design and sales; photography and parenting; these seemingly disparate life events, literally came together to create something that has been hovering on the outskirts of our imaginations for years. And The Good Times was born. A collaborative platform for community schools to interact, share and learn through the medium of a school newspaper. A newspaper dedicated to the upliftment of the community through communication and sharing.We all share a common passion and vision for the future. From all our different backgrounds, we recognise a common desire in most, if not all, individuals to live in harmony and experience joy; to thrive within our communities and contribute to the social fabric within which we live. We recognise the necessity and the possibility of a close and harmonious community. We also acknowledge that it lies with our children. The Good Times is a vehicle for encouraging better

cross-cultural & community based interaction; to revive the culture of journalism and school newspapers and for families to catch a glimpse of what is going on within their own, and surrounding schools, in the close community and further afield.Our first issue was published in June of this year for the twelve primary and high schools in Hout Bay. Both space and newspapers are offered free of charge to the schools and support via the local community is sought in order to cover print costs.The second issue saw popularity quadruple and the demand in other communities became apparent, thus we are very happy to be reaching you, in this, our very first issue in the Camps Bay - Sea Point area.How wonderful then that were able to welcome you to The Good Times and wish you a happy holiday at the same time. Rest up, read up and be safe. If youre going away, happy travels. If youre staying behind, enjoy our beautiful city and dont miss The Up BEarthday Party at Kronendal Primary on 16 December (pg 3)!The Good Times is a local newspaper. Its about our beautiful community. Its about all of us and all the good times; past, current and future, and it is unapologetically Ra-Ra! Heres to an awesome 2014!

Let The Good Times Roll!Camps Bay Primarys Junior Grades Show

Competition Page 6 A BEarthday Party Page 3Sea Point Primary School Celebrate Valentines Day

Things I Never Learned in High SchoolThings I Never Learned in High School: How to do taxes What taxes are How to vote Anything to do with banking How to buy a car or a home

But I sure am glad I know the Pythagorean Theorem.

I stumbled across this statement online recently and as a pupil-teacher-parent I had to laugh. In essence its true and has been for as far back in education as I can find, but it does negate the brick by brick approach to a full education. It makes a strong point though, especially in South Africa where finding a job after graduation is by no means a given. And this is the part where Im always wondrously led to where I need to be.While researching an article for a blog, I stumbled across the name Bruce Wade of the Entrepreneur Incubator Academy, who invited me to the Awaken the Giant in You Breakfast Series, hosted at the Vineyard Hotel by the SA Teen Entrepreneur Foundation. The theme for the morning was Big Dreams Start Young and the keynote speaker was Simon Mantell of

Mantellis Biscuit Factory. The intro speaker, Jonathan Jacobs, from the Cape Chamber of Commerce and Skylar Connects, whose personal mantra, though made up of small words, together packs a punch: If it is to be it is up to me! spoke of the formation of a Youth chapter in the Chamber of Commerce that will include scholar representatives. Founder of SA Teen Entrepreneur Foundation, Lydia Zingoni spoke of

the importance of instilling a culture of entrepreneurship in young people. She stressed the need for the youth to become active in start-ups. We want to be a part of this, we want the youth to start things, we want people with ideas. But it can only be done by people with an entrepreneurial background.Based at the Cape Town Science Centre, the foundation hosts workshops, offers online resources and hosts an annual Teen Entrepreneur Olympiad among other events.

An engaging and confident Simon Mantell shared his story and advice with budding young entrepreneurs. Find a gap in the market. You must have a thick skin, put your pride in your pocket. Start early and no job must be beneath you.Mantell believes that the future of South Africa rests on the youth. He explained that though his dream was to have a pasta chainstore, he began by washing cars. Each small step a move towards the bigger dream. What you go through in life is filled with opportunities. Youve got to look and be aware. I believe South Africa is pregnant with opportunity.We need to bring the important idea of entrepreneurship to the our schools. Just as we encourage the Green Clubs veggie gardening for food production, so too must we encourage scholars to start afternoon entrepreneurial clubs. The fundamentals of starting/running a business can be learnt in everyday situations. As Simon Mantell said, for starters, have the children stock and run their own tuckshops. For more information visit teenentrepreneur.co.za

South Africa is pregnant with opportunity

Paul du Toit - An International Hout Bay Super Hero!

Paul du Toit, local Hout Bay father to Danielle(18) and Josh(16), (above, photo by Gregor Rohrig) husband and highly acclaimed international artist, has created a unique position for himself in the international art community. At home, as abroad, he is a quiet, amusing and humble man. Behind the serenity and gentle inspiration that he exudes, lies the heart of a man who has given tirelessly of himself to amazing initiatives that occur around the country and the world benefitting underprivileged children in South Africa. Paul, despite his meteoric rise in the art world, has maintained his strong sense of social responsibility and is constantly involved in the upliftment of the community. Paul has been involved in fundraising initiatives for Zip Zap for many years, just the other day designing an artwork wrapping a rare bottle of wine that was

auctioned off at an event. (Right). However his involvement goes back further to The Art of Rock Events started in 2010. A blending of talents to delight the senses, the fundraising evening combines Paul painting live, with musicians and Zip Zap performing. The first event featured Parlotones and the second, in 2012, Freshlyground, with Paul painting furiously right in front of the audience and the painting being auctioned off later. (See bottom left, photo by Gregor Rohrig.) Involved in the Rock Girl & Safe Spaces Campaign, Paul (and 16 other artists) have created benches symbolising Rock Girls ideals of creating safe spaces for women and girls in the city and surrounds (See bench above right.) Paul also worked with the children of Red River Primary School teaching painting techniques and how to make instruments out of sticks and old sponge.

Paul has worked on five projects with Nelson Mandela (seen below) with the resultant art pieces being auctioned off for the Nelson Mandela Foundation and 46664.Paul collaborated with Archbishop Desmond Tutu on a one of a kind book that was auctioned in America benefitting The Lunchbox Fund, an organisation that feeds hungry children in South Africa.Pauls wine cooler (top second left) sold for R15 000 benefitting The Light from Africa Foundation. And, closer to home, Paul and Anthony Stroebel of Bay Harbour Market organised a group of local school children to help make Hout Bay more bright & beautiful by painting murals along the street outside the market. I could go on, but in short, here is a local dad making a difference and in full colour too! A true hero in my book.Photos courtesy Paul du Toit Facebook.

Hangberg 50c Feeding Project: So Many Heroes!

A Place to Call Home: Little Angels brings hope to the children of HangbergBy Kiara WorthAt five in the afternoon, more than 100 children sit amongst the playground of Little Angels, waiting to be fed. Within minutes, bowls of steaming and nutritious stew are delivered into their eager little hands, accompanied with a slice of bread and a cup of juice, and a feeding frenzy begins. For many of the children, most of whom are under the age of six years old, this is their one guaranteed meal for the day, and as the bowls are licked clean, their tummies full and their faces smiling, they run off to play with their friends.This is the Hangberg 50c Feeding Project, operated from the Little Angels

early childhood development centre for underprivileged children in the township of Hangberg, Hout Bay.Operating out of three simple Wendy houses on a small plot of land, Little Angels was started in 2011 by community leader and social worker Liezel Matthews, who recognised the desperate need for childcare in her community.There are high levels of substance abuse, criminality, domestic violence and HIV/AIDS in Hangberg, says Liezel. Children are always the most affected and here we try to get them off the streets and give them the love and education they deserve.With a heart of gold and a spirit of conviction, Liezel and her three volunteer teachers, all of whom are reformed substance abusers, now care for 60-80 children everyday, providing them with basic childcare, education, and hope in an otherwise desperate situation. Working closely with the Hout Bay Christian Social Upliftment Organisation, Child Welfare, local police departments, and the local Health Centre, they both monitor and ensure that care is given to children in the community. They also run a youth leadership program for young teenagers, who help the children with their studies and provide a social network that goes deep into the community.As Little Angels began to take shape, Liezel soon realised that even though they were providing education and care, children

were suffering from malnutrition and regularly did not have the food they needed to survive. She appealed to the members of the Hout Bay Organised Facebook page, and the response was overwhelming.Lee Warren, Ellen Nortje, Annie Mercer, Helen Hays, Kerry Shrimptom, and Margot Martherus decided to champion the cause,

forming the Community Logistical and Planning team. Together they made an appeal to local restaurants and businesses to start the Hangberg 50c Feeding Project. They began by providing sandwiches and fruit to children on a Saturday and to avoid the creation of hand-out mentalities, they asked the parents of the children to pay 50c, hence the name of the Project. As support from the community grew, it was only three months before they began providing healthy and nutritious meals to more than 150 children three times a week.Hout Bay, we are in awe! says Lee. We cannot thank you enough. Your support has changed the lives of so many children and we hope that this project will continue to grow from strength to strength.Thus far, the feeding project is supported by local businesses Pakalolo, Posticinos, Bugattis, Deli Delish, Spiros, Ragafellows, Kitima, Caturra, Home Heros, and Luigis and Pescarne who will soon be involved.

SuperSpar Hout Bay, has provided freezers, gas cookers, storage space, rolls and ingredients for soup made by Urban Nosh; Shoprite Checkers is looking into creating employment opportunities for the community; and OK Mini Mart provides consistent donations of bread. Numerous individuals have volunteered their time to make deliveries and help feed the children. There has also been international support from KLM Airlines and Sonepar Germany who are helping to provide a fence.While the support has been overwhelming, the need is still great. Little Angels has very limited infrastructure, and with no electricity, no kitchen, no proper ablutions, no outside shelter and very little land and space, caring for the children whose numbers grow on a daily basis - is still challenging. We are appealing to local business owners and philanthropists to please support this project, says Liezel. Our needs are great, and only by working together can we work to create a better society. This is a place called home for a lot of children, and we need help to keep this beautiful family of ours going.For more information about the program, please visit: www.littleangelsincapetown.wordpress.com and www.facebook.com/groups/681298261920310/ or contact Lee Warren directly at leewarren@hotmail.com or 076 041 4974.

Hout Bay we are in awe!

Cape WheelFor more information visit www.capewheel.co.za

Holiday Entertainment

FREE GOODIES when you join our

Sky Riders Kids Club

31 MARCH - 5 APRILJoin our interactive show

daily at 11am

and meet Sam the Seagullat the V&A Waterfront

FREE

Photo courtesy Deborah Saint

Not sure what to do with your kids during the December holidays? We are here to help! We found some wonderful activities that your kids will love (and you will enjoy too) as well as some great New Years Eve suggestions.Get OutdoorsTake full advantage of the summery weather and spend as much time outdoors as you can here are 3 outings that are perfect for those stunning sunny days:

Strawberry Picking - R44 between Stellenbosch and Somerset WestThis really is fun for the whole family no matter the age group, picking strawberries at the well-known Mooiberge Farm will not disappoint. Grab a basket, get picking and then enjoy your delicious handpicked strawberries at home with cream or ice cream.Tel: 021 881 3222

Deer Park Caf 2 Deer Park Avenue, VredehoekThis outing is perfect for the parent who wants to sit back and relax while the kids run around. With a playground just outside the caf, it is an ideal place to go for lunch with friends and family AND your kids.Tel: 021 462 6311

Intaka Island Century CityWho wouldve thought you could take a ferry across a lake to an island in the middle of Century City? Well, if youd like to experience something very few other places in Cape Town can offer then this is it. Intaka Island has a beautiful selection of flora and a rich bird life with a 2km path, you and your kids can stroll around at your own pace exploring all it has to offer.Tel: 021 552 6889

Get CulturalCape Town has so much to offer when it comes to learning about our culture and learning about the world here are 2 activities that are sure to teach both you and your kids something new (and its lots of fun too!):

The Company Gardens and the Iziko Museum PlanetariumPack a picnic and start your day off sitting in the gardens, feeding the squirrels, and then head on over to the Iziko Museum when your kids are fed and happy. The museum is wonderful for all ages as there is so much to see - from whalebones and dinosaurs to crystals and wild animals. The planetarium has shows throughout the day, so you can even end your outing off with a relaxing viewing of the stars.Tel: 021 481 3900

The Cape Town Science Centre 370B Main Road, ObservatoryWith daily workshops during the school holidays and loads to see and do, the Science Centre is sure to keep any child (and adult) captivated with their exhibits and experiments.Tel: 021 300 3200

Get CelebratingJust because you have kids doesnt mean you have to be in bed by 9pm on New Years Eve. Here are a few options for parents with kids 6 - 8 years and older:

Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens New Years Eve ConcertThis is possibly one of the most magical ways to enter the New Year with amazing music, the natural surroundings, the happy crowd, and a yummy picnic what more could you ask for? This year the artists performing will include Goldfish, Yoav, and Tailor. For more information call 021 761 2866

New Years Eve Sunset Hike at DelveraThis would be more suited for older kids (10 years +) due to the hiking. Spend the last day of the year taking an unforgettable hike up the mountain. At the top its time for snacks and champagne and to watch the sun set on 2013! For more information call 021 884 4352

Host your own party!Going out and joining the rest of the world can be tricky when you have very young kids, so why not bring the world to you? Get some friends together, buy the bubbly, get some snacks and you are ready to welcome in 2014 in the comfort of you own home! Well be sharing more December holiday tips and outings on our Facebook and Twitter pages, so keep a look out and youll be sure to have a super, fun-filled holiday!Kindly contributed by Klara Loots.

December Holidays and New Years Eve - Family Friendly Outings

Photo courtesy runnersworld.co.za

Photo courtesy sa-venues.com

Photo courtesy sa-venues.com

Photo courtesy intaka.co.za

Photo courtesy capetowndailyphoto.com

Photo courtesy josna.wordpress.com

Photo courtesy Llandudno Primary

Hundreds of people flocked to Hout Bay beach on Saturday March 1 to compete in the Hout Bay Sandcastle competition which raised record funds for education bursaries and materials for children from Imizamo Yethu and Hangberg.Almost R80 000 was raised through ticket sales, sponsorships, vendors, and raffles. Key sponsors Old Mutual Foundation and Hout Bay Super Spar generously stepped up to support the event.The contest, which has been running for 18 years, is organised by Valley Pre-Primary Schools parents and teachers, drawing on the support from local businesses and the broader Cape Town corporate community. Funds raised go to underprivileged children through two channels: Valley Pre-Primarys Sonwabile bursaries in partnership with (NPO) Bright Start through which ten bursaries are provided annually for underprivileged children; and the Hangberg Educational Trust, who administer Hout Bay Educare in the Hangberg community. 537 people entered the competition on Saturday, over 108 castles were built and

judges, who included E-TVs Andrew Barnes, DJ Richard Hardiman and Hout Bay model and photographer Josie Borain, worked hard to select the winners. Coming out tops were ACS Offshore who won the corporate trophy. The Senior family, who won the highly competitive family category, were commended for their replica of Table Mountain, while Dave, Lee and Vicki Tuckniss were awarded for their Lazy Toad castle in the adult category. Also with the winners was Disa Primary School sponsored by Swift Displays in the Sonwabile category, and the Kronendal Clan: Johnny Marcopoulos, Connor and Reece Engelbrecht, Luke Kotze, Kyle Stephens, and Ronan Pearce in the Small Kids category. The Big Kids category winners: Mary, Basil and Anastasia Ragavalas, and Jamie, Christie and Jarad Shrimpton built the Lochness.Should you wish to be involved in the 2015 event contact Valley Pre-Primary School on 021 7901540 or e-mail valleykids@mweb.co.za. Visit www.houtbaysandcastle.co.zaPhotograps courtesy of Dwayne Senior.

Sandcastles Raise Record Funds for Education

A regular teeth-cleaning routine is essential for good dental health. Follow these tips and you can help keep your kids teeth decay-free:

Brush your childs teeth for at least two minutes twice a day, once just before bedtime and at least one other time during the day. Encourage them to spit out excess toothpaste but not to rinse with lots of water.It is important to supervise tooth brushing until your child is seven or eight years old, either by brushing their teeth yourself or, if they brush their own teeth, by watching how they do it. From the age of seven or eight they should be able to brush their own teeth, but its still a good idea to watch them now and again to make sure they brush

properly and for the whole two minutes.To make sure they brush properly, try to: Guide your childs hand so they can

feel the correct movement. Use a mirror to help your child see

exactly where the brush is cleaning their teeth.

Make tooth brushing as fun as possible, using an egg timer to time it for at least two minutes.

Dont let children run around with a toothbrush in their mouth as they may damage their mouths or choke if they fall over.

Helping you look after your kids smile. From the team at Hout Bay Dental Studio

Keeping Your Kids Smiling

Image courtesy theguardian.com

Rondine Richards, Sea Point High School Reinhardt Brewis, Sea Point Primary School

Where were you born? Cape TownWhere did you study? UCTWhat was your favourite subject? Geography Your favourite teacher?Mrs Darwood, Grade 3 & 4

Your favourite day of the week? Friday, end of a long week.What star sign are you? LibraA special moment while teaching? Seeing the results of my 2013 Grade 12 Geography class. I was worried about them but they passed with flying colours As and Bs included.

Where were you born? Cape TownWhere did you study?CPUTWhat was your favourite subject? BiologyWho was your favourite teacher? Miss Visser (Biology)

Your favourite day of the week?Wednesday - or the hump day. The absolute best day of the week, the day of maximum hope. What star sign are you? SagittariusA special moment while teaching? Everyday is a special moment in the classroom.

Alex Rassloff, Grade 12, Camps Bay High School. Danielle de Villiers, Grade 12, Camps Bay High School.

Imaan Jacobs, Grade 1, Sea Point Primary School. Aaliyah Saal, Grade 1, Sea Point Primary School.

Lena Weir, Grade 12 Camps Bay High School.

Nancy Roussopoulos, Camps Bay Preparatory School Stuart Collier, Principal, Camps Bay Primary School David de Korte, Principal, Camps Bay High School

Karen Dreyer-Stempels, South Peninsula High SchoolPieter Botha, Principal, Sea Point High School

Where were you born? Vasco, Cape TownWhere did you study? Stellenbosch UniversityWhat was your favourite subject? German & HistoryYour favourite teacher? Mr Hanekom (History & Athletics)Your favourite day of the week and why?Friday - of course! Time to end off the week and relax, catching up on Sport on TV.

What star sign are you? VirgoA special moment while teaching: There was a boy that was causing problems in all his classes. I eventually persuaded him to join the U/19 rugby group. There I could work with him in totally different circumstances. There I could finally get through to him the importance of compliance to get further in life.

Where were you born? JohannesburgWhere did you study? CPUTYour favourite subject? History & Child EducationYour favourite teacher? Mr Lawrence (History)Your favourite day of the week?

Wednesday - I like the sound of it :)What star sign are you? LeoA special moment while teaching: When they realize they can get it and do it on their own.

Nancy Roussopoulos who is the Principal of Camps Bay Preparatory School and who is retiring after 36 years at the Preparatory School. We are all very sad to say goodbye to her

Grade 1, Ellerton Primary School.

Shevaune Pickett, Camps Bay Primary School

Shevaune Pickett is a Grade 4 teacher at Camps Bay Primary School. She was born in Cape Town and graduated from the University of Cape Town and was the top student in PGCE Primary when she qualified. Shevaune is a past pupil

from Camps Bay High School. She was taught at the High School by Mr Stuart Collier who is currently the Principal at Camps Bay Primary School. Her favourite subject at school was English.

Will Farrell, Herzlia Weizmann Primary School

Where were you born? JohannesburgWhere did you study? RAUWhat was your favourite subject? Science (Chemistry) Your favourite teacher?Mr Uys, Grade 7 Your favourite day of the week? Saturday. It is the day I can relax and

play golf!What star sign are you? CapricornA special moment while teaching? Every day children come up to hug me or call out my name from a distance and that is special. The most special moments though are when you get phone calls or text messages years after you have taught someone, to share with you that they have just had a baby, got engaged, married or just to inform you of a great new golf course theyve played!

Leletu Gcuma, Grade 7, Camps Bay Primary School. Wild Animals, Grade 4, Herzlia Weizmann Primary. Our Special Toys, Grade 3,Herzlia Weizmann Primary.

Intaka Island, the jewel in the crown of Century City in Cape Town, is a 16ha environmental wetlands conservation area rich in birdlife and indigenous flora and more recently home again to Grysbok.Intaka which means bird in Xhosa is a unique example of nature conservation and property development co-existing in harmony and for mutual benefit.When development of the Century City site began in 1996 it was largely covered

by invasive alien vegetation and comprised a number of degraded wetlands, formerly known as the Blouvlei.The environmental impact assessment (EIA) which preceded development recommended that a multi-purpose nature reserve be created in the centre of Century City. The developer decided to do this both as a contribution to conservation and to create an attractive and functional wetland for the precinct. Intaka Island, which

received Voluntary Conservation Status from Cape Nature in October 2006, is the result. It now covers 16ha, half of which comprise some of the last remaining ephemeral (seasonal) pans of their kind in the world. These are highly protected and are not open to the public but can be viewed from a distance. The other 8ha are the working wetlands consisting of four water ponds which serve as a natural purification system

for the water in the 8km of canals which link all aspects of Century City.The working wetlands are teeming with bird life about 120 bird species can be seen at any one time - and indigenous plant life. About 177 species of indigenous plants occur within the wetlands including extremely rare species which are on the Red Data list.The construction of an Environmental Education Centre was completed in 2010 and an Energy Classroom was added in 2013 to help meet growing demand for the facilities. Intaka Island plays host to a range of visitors from pensioners to corporate training functions and birthday parties. It has become a firm favourite with school groups, with educational programmes, which complement the curriculum, on offer for all ages from Grade R to Matric.To more info or to book contact Melissa at Melissa@intaka.co.za / 021 552 6889.

Intaka Island a Must-Do Destination for Schools

When you wind your way to the very top of a narrow dirt road just next to the Oakhurst Farm Stall Spar, you will arrive at the Clay Caf one of the gems of Hout Bay.Owned and run by Chris Bradburn, a very hands-on and capable lady.Chris started out in her home many years ago and has been in the current premises since 1999.The Clay Caf, situated in a beautiful area of Hout Bay, overlooking the mountains and valleys, is a great place to go to work everyday.Chris is very much in demand and as we talk her phone rings, the staff have questions, I have questions and she handles it all with ease.

We take a tour of the premises which are bigger than one thinks at first glance. Bright, colourful ceramics are everywhere, from the teddy bear painted by a little girl, to the professional dinner service, being readied for delivery. I find it all so interesting I dont know where to look first. Chris tells me she has a staff of 25, some of whom are from the same family and have been with her for many years. Chris herself only started pottery as an adult. However, the pottery bug bit her and she has not looked back.The products are of a very high quality and can be used in the microwave and dishwasher. You can buy them at Kirstenbosch Gardens and various shops around Cape Town. You can also purchase very good seconds at the Clay Caf directly, at good prices. This way you can build up a dinner service that is completely unique!The Clay Caf is also a good place to go for coffee and cake. Under the watchful eye and supervision of Danni Dogon, a Silwood trained chef, my husband and I enjoyed the

largest piece of chocolate cake ever, which had great flavour. We will definitely be going back again soon.The good news is, Danni will be giving cookery lessons during the holidays. Bring the children along to master the art of biscuit making, cup cake creation & pizza baking. Contact the Caf on 021 790 3318 or email chasms@houtbay.com for information on dates and times.Also coming up is a Holiday Special which includes 2 items of pottery to paint, a juice and a snack, all for R95.00. A great idea for the children to use as Christmas presents for someone special, but dont forget to allow 2 weeks for firing.Popular events are Team Building exercises and Kitchen Teas. The Caf is also open at night for a minimum of 10 people for your own private function. Childrens birthday parties are very popular. There is a play area outside and a jumping castle, if required, to get rid of excess energy. Children of all shapes and sizes run around dressed in anything from jeans and tee-shirt to glittery fairy dresses. Anything

goes at the Clay Caf.Families sit around tables, toasted sandwich in one hand, paint brush in the other, all working intently on their creations. Pretty much weather proof, because of large tents attached to the building, the Clay Caf is an all year venue, which is great for the kids, mom and dad!For more information on The Clay Caf phone: 021 790 3318, email: chasms@houtbay.com or visit their website at : www.claycafe.co.za By Margarett Macfarlane.

We Recommend a Day at the Clay Caf

All ages enjoy painting at The Clay Cafe.

Hardly undiscovered! you may well retort! However this historic architectural landmark remains an undiscovered gem to many local Cape Town folk.Hout Bay Manor, originally The Royal Hotel, was built in 1871 by Jacob Trautmann and seemed beyond its heyday in the early 2000s. However, after an 18 month renovation and restoration, the hotel was reopened and to this day remains a popular wedding and honeymoon venue. Popular with tourists and visitors for its unique olde world Cape Colonial charm and its proximity to famous attractions such

as Chapmans Peak Drive and surrounds, the hotels apparent exclusivity has left it seldom frequented by locals.But, no more! Since working on the Hout & About page in the previous Good Times issue, I have made a concerted effort to try new places instead of always falling back on our familys old favourites.On a hot Saturday in early November we felt the need to get out of the house. Perusing the restaurant page, I kept being drawn back to the Pure Restaurant details, however its hardly a place to take seven children. (Not all mine!)Id heard that theres a big drive to make The Manor more accessible to locals, so I called ahead and enquired about the children and the receptionist assured me they were welcome. What a pleasant surprise! We took a large table next to the pool, the staff were attentive and friendly and the food was tremendous.Renowned as a fine dining establishment, Pure Restaurant runs a B.B.B. Special which is a burger & beer or bubbles special for R75.00. A substantial burger with chips and salad and a kiddies menu with chicken schnitzel that had my children devouring their food including the tasty side salad.As it wasnt busy, our children were allowed to swim in the heated pool, and they had an absolute ball all afternoon. Not always an option, however they will let you know if you call them in advance.

Short of going to the beach and foregoing a delicious lunch, there was nowhere more perfect for us all to have spent the sweltering afternoon. On the downside, after our yummy lunch and lazy chats, none of us had any desire to go back home to those intended odd jobs around the house!

Hout Bay Manor also has a tea & cake special for R25.00, just perfect for under the trees on those hot summer afternoons.

Revealing An Undiscovered Gem!

What is it and how does it work?The Battle of the Books, which has run for the past 6 years, is an inter-schools literature quiz (currently only for high schools), held in April on World Book Day.It is run purely on the passion of encouraging literacy and a love of reading amongst youth by its founder, Patsy Geach,the current librarian at Bergvliet High School.It is a unique event that provides a platform for teens who love reading to get together and pool their knowledge in a vibrant, competitive and fun environmentA school enters a team of 5 pupils, from lower and higher grades. (Entry fee: R 100)There are 10 categories with 10 questions in each category. Each question is read aloud to the teams and the audience by the quiz master for 2014, John Maytham.The teams have the opportunity to discuss the question amongst themselves and decide and collaborate on an answer,which they then write down.The answers are supplied by the quiz master at the end of each category. It is wonderful for the audience to be able to watch the teams huddling together debating heatedly in whispers!Does the audience participate?No, it is strictly for the official teams to discuss and submit their written answers, but throughout the evening the quiz is opened to the audience and questions and spot prizes are given out .What are the prizes?First prize: R 5 000 for the library of the winning school plus a R 100 Readers Warehouse voucher for each pupil on the winning team. Prizes are also awarded to second through to fifth placed teams. When and where does it take place?23rd April 2014 (World Book Day), 7pm, Bergvliet High School, Firgrove Way, BergvlietFor more information contact Patsy Geach on pgeach@bhs.org.za or 021 712 0284.

Get ready to battle in 2014

When does a child

need an eye test?

Im a practicing optometrist and have been providing the residents of Hout Bay with professional eye care for the past 12 years. I have a special interest in contact lenses with a specific focus on child vision care.My aim is to treat and halt the progression of near-sightedness in children through the use of a ground-breaking procedure known as ortho-keratology.Ortho-k contact lenses reshape the eye while the child is sleeping. The lenses are removed in the morning and the result is perfect vision throughout the entire day; without the use of spectacles.This is just one of many exciting topics I will be sharing in the editions to follow but for now, I would like to answer some of the most obvious questions, you as a reader, might have.

When does a child need an eye test? Statistics reveal that 5-10% of pre-scholars and 25% of school-aged children suffer from visual problems. Therefore , early detection is crucial because if left untreated, these vision problems could cause strabismus (cross/misaligned eyes), amblyopia (lazy eye), learning or reading disabilities, misdiagnosed ADD or ADHD and in some cases, permanent visual loss.

So in the case of infants, their first comprehensive eye test should be done at 6 months of age. This is performed by an ophthalmologist or an eye specialist. Thereafter, children should receive additional eye exams at 3 years and then just before pre-school (5-years).The second question I want to address is how you as a parent could detect if your child has any visual problems. There are a few risk factors and behavioural patterns you can look out for:

A history of pre-maturity Delayed motor development Frequent eye-rubbing Ex cession blurring Failure to maintain eye contact Inability to fixate (lock-on) a moving

object i.e. poor tracking skills Moving closer to objects (TV) to see

better Recurrent headaches Reading or learning difficulties at

school Short attention span Family history of near or far-

sightedness

If your child presents any of the above mentioned symptoms, it is not to say that there is any problems present, however it serves as a good motivation for a comprehensive eye-test.The aim of this column is to share child related vision care and some new and innovative concepts, but also explanations on straight forward basic topics as well as offering practical advice.Wishing you good visual health.Riaan King

The Eyeball with Riaan King

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Just when things are ticking over nicely, life decides on a bit of a shake-up.

As I began writing this piece, the electricity went off. This is apparently the start of a protracted load shedding programme that Eskom are initiating all over the country. It would have been nice to have had a little warning but thats not the way parastatals work! Anyway, the sudden and unexpected loss of power fits in nicely with my theme for this issue, which is that you just never know what lifes got in store for you. No matter how meticulously you plan, stuff outside of your control will, from time to time, raise its ugly head and throw you off balance completely. My family had first-hand experience of this over the Christmas break when we were involved in a freak boating accident whilst on holiday overseas. My wife broke her back and was in hospital for 9 days. We couldnt return home on the scheduled date and had to extend our stay by a week. When we finally got back to Hout Bay, she was fairly incapacitated for a few months as well. So one minute, youre relaxing and enjoying some family down-time and moments laterwhamyour world is upside down. Now of course I dont have a how to guide for coping in any given emergency or drama. I do have a couple of thoughts

though one practical and the other spiritual, if you like. Firstly, please dont ever travel overseas without insurance and make sure that it covers the whole family for medical and repatriation costs. This sounds like a statement of the obvious but it is an added cost to your trip and so a lot of people take the chance that everything will be fine. As in our case, it might not be and believe me, you dont want to be stuck in a far off place attempting to scratch some money together for very large medical bills, aside from the fact that it could mean the difference between life and death.Our experience also served as a reminder that life is precious and can be taken away or dramatically altered in a split second. Whilst its sensible and advisable to plan for tomorrow as much as possible, its important to live for today. Make the call youve been meaning to make to a friend or relative, do that painting class youve been promising yourself or enter for the Argus or the Two Oceans, if thats your thing. Life is a journey, not a destination. Dance like nobodys watching and feel free to get back in touch with the way you were before responsibility took its toll. Finding the balance between living as a human being and a human doing takes a little effort but you can easily start by giving yourself some simple me time, even if thats feet up on the couch for half an hour with a good book or a walk up Chappies.Work hard, play hard, get involved and get out there, because you never know whats around the corner. As for the electricity going off again later, no problem Im going to play cards with my daughter by candlelight. And beat her!

Heres a Thought with Tom Purcell

Tom Purcell was born and raised on the mean and meaningful streets of south west London. Playtime was outdoors in all weathers climbing trees, riding bikes, playing football or hopping on a few busses to watch his beloved Chelsea FC. He attended Kingston University and gained a Bachelor of Laws in 1981, leading in due course to a career as a solicitor (attorney). A natural entrepreneur, Tom also built interests in property development and investment before he and his wife were offered the chance to spend two years working in Cape Town - that short assignment has turned into 14 years! Tom began a new career as a speaker and entertainer 5 years ago and now owns and presents on Hout Bays very own radio station - Republic Radio. He also has a weekly show on the iconic and much loved LM Radio.Tom has been married to Linda for 18 years and they have a daughter Georgia who happily attends Kronendal Primary. The three of them are very proudly Hout Bay.

In this wonderful era of instant communication we mustnt lose sight of an indispensable skill.

We live in an age of instant gratification. I call it the microwave society we want it hot and we want it now. Far different from what I enjoyed (or endured!) growing up in the 1960s and 70s. Of course that time was a far cry again from the world my parents encountered. Each generation has a distinct playing field of rules, values and technology to look forward to and mould to their lives and aspirations. One of the amazing advances in the last 10 years has to be the way in which we communicate with each other.Ive been involved in communications most of my working life, but the truth is that were all in the communications business and we engage in this important activity pretty much full time. Explaining the importance of communication is therefore a bit like explaining the importance of breathing!Every facet of our lives revolves around communicating with others our partners, children, teachers, co-workers, bosses, clients and customersthe list is endless! And, the ability to do it instantly has been with us for a few years now as well, to the point that its difficult to see how the technology innovators can have us keeping in touch with each other any quicker, unless they find a way to tweet thoughts! Nobody

would argue that our lives are not enriched in some measure or other by these brilliant tools at our disposal, but there are dangers. Theres the obvious one where reaction and reflection time (remember the old fashioned rule of sleeping on something overnight?) are lost to a knee-jerk riposte, only to be regretted later, when of course its too late. Facebook posts and comments, tweets and smss have become imbedded in our way of life, especially for our children and the pre-family generation. I have to admit to a wry smile every time I see a gaggle of kids huddled together texting each other whats that all about? Put the phones away and talk! This is at the heart of my concern : whilst computers, laptops, tablets and smart phones have opened us up to many more opportunities to connect, the quality of those connections might well be impaired by an inability to learn from nonverbal forms of communication, the soft stuff thats lost when youre not in front of the other person.Nonverbal communication accounts for two thirds of all communication and includes gestures, facial expressions, body language, appearance and something known as paralinguistics, which refers to tone of voice, inflection, loudness and pitch.The art of communicating effectively is one of the most important skills that a child can learn as he or she makes their way through life and into the world of work and a meaningful contribution to their community and I hope that schools and colleges will soon begin to make room in their curriculum to develop this competence. I suppose the answers no until you ask the question. Ok, so whats our principals twitter handle?

Tom Purcell was born and raised on the mean and meaningful streets of south west London. Playtime was outdoors, in all weathers, climbing trees, riding bikes, playing football or hopping on a few busses to watch his beloved Chelsea FC. He attended Kingston University and gained a Bachelor of Laws in 1981, leading in due course to a career as a solicitor (attorney). A natural entrepreneur, Tom also built interests in property development and investment before he and his wife were offered the chance to spend two years working in Cape Town . A short assignment that turned into 14 years! Tom began a new career as a speaker and entertainer 5 years ago and now owns and presents on Hout Bays very own radio station - Republic Radio. He also has a weekly show on the iconic and much loved LM Radio.Tom has been married to Linda for 18 years and they have a daughter Georgia who happily attends Kronendal Primary. The three of them are very proudly Hout Bay.

Heres a Thought...with Tom Purcell Stats from the Always Connected Report

Sponsored by Facebook, the IDCs new research report Always Connected: How Smartphones and Social Media Keep Us Engaged is filled with good info-nuggets. We encourage you to read the 25 page report, but for those on the move, weve boiled it down for you. No pretty pictures or graphics below, but there are definitely some on the report, so check it out! (https://fb-public.app.box.com/s/3iq5x6uwnqtq7ki4q8wk)

25% of people surveyed cannot recall the last time their phone was not close them. Today, half of the total US population uses smartphones. In 2013, U.S. Smartphone Users is projected to be 181.4 Million which is 57.3% of

the population. Within the first 15 minutes of waking up, 4 out of 5 smartphone owners are checking

their phones. 79% of respondents have their phone on or near them for all but up to 2 hours of their

waking day. 49% of respondents feel connected when using text/message application on their

Smartphones. From Monday to Sunday, 84% of respondents time is spent on phone communicating

via text, email, social vs. only 16% on phone calls. Men are 75% more likely than women to seek out application on Facebook using their

Smartphones. People check their smartphones on average 150 times per day.

We took a survey over in our office and found that it was closer to a whopping 75% of us that could not recall the last time our phone was not close by. I suppose we have the I need it for work excuse, but still. Do a survey among your friends and family and see how many people can remember when last they went out without taking their phones along. Courtesy of www.mosio.com

As 2013 is fast drawing to a close, what better time for Reflections

What happened to our list of New Years resolutions we wrote out with such determination at the beginning of the year? Did we spend more quality time with the kids? Did we lose those extra kilos? Did we stop smoking? Did we clean the car weekly? And many, many more!Well, the chances are, we did none of the above, and to complicate matters, we feel bad that we did not.With 2014 around the corner, we will most likely repeat the whole process. Well, lets think about this. We would all like to make certain changes and improvements

in our lives, but this needs to be a positive, ongoing, experience. We need to work towards our goals and make them life changing.Do you want to lose 5kg? Well, give yourself a year to do it. That way it will stay off and you will have changed your eating pattern for life. How are you going to spend more time with the kids. Allow 10 minutes a day extra and you get the equivalent of 8 days a year extra with the little people.The fact is, if we set our expectations too high, we set ourselves up for failure. On the other hand, if we aim for something achievable, it is win win, and we feel good.So for 2014, think seriously about what matters to you work out a practical time period, write it in the front of your 2014 diary and look forward to positive results at the end of 2014. Good luck and see you again next year !

Maggie, (Margerett Macfarlane) was born in Cape Town, and has been in business most of her life. She won the SA Business Woman of the Year award in 1992, when she was Managing Director of a company involved in electronic manufacture and export. She is trained as a Bereavement Councillor for St Lukes Hospice. She oversaw the Look Good, Feel Better imitative in Cape Town for a number of years. (They provide make over workshops for cancer patients at various hospitals.) She qualified as an Image Consultant and firmly believes that we all need some colour in our lives! She gives motivational talks and is trained as a Life Skills coach.She has been happily married for 46 years, has 2 children and 2 wonderful grandchildren, all close by. These days she take it a bit easier and enjoys the moment. She exercises at least 3 times a week and hopes to start drumming soon.

Reflections with Maggie

The UP (www.theup.org.za) is about to celebrate 10 years of service, steadily growing UP from just 2 Hospital Care Clowns to over 75 in Cape Town and now also Gauteng.To celebrate that 10 years ago our joy-inspiring work began to Be on this Earth we are having a HUGE 10th BEARTHDAY PARTY.Nicola Jackman founder of The UP and one of GLAMOURs WOMEN of the YEAR for 2013 says; This is such a special milestone for us, we have really grown UP, we used to UPlift just 100 children and now with the ever-growing interest in our work, we bring consistent joy to over 3500 children every month. Its the most awesomely YAY experience to see how sharing JOY effects everyone, the giver, the receiver and all who witness the exchange.On December 16th 2013 The UP is creating CAPE TOWNs FIRST EVER PUBLIC BEARTHDAY PARTYFamilies will be able to simultaneously support The UPs amazing work, whilst having a HEAP of fun travelling a mini-world at Kronendal Primary School.Nicola adds; Its our intention to inspire families to play together, we do a lot of corporate joy work and thought why not bring some team-building type games to our BEarthday Party and build family/groups of friends as teams. There will be loads of bonus entertainment too including theatre, music & dance

Tickets are R50p/p (for all ages & remember the fee includes your donation to THE UP ensuring UPs 10th year is the largest JOY outreach ever).Get behind this joy-inspiring organisation and have a fun day with the whole family or your friends. Travel the world & support the growth of JOY, play loads of games & win prizes for best dressed, fastest travelling group and other spot prizes. Tickets available on QUICKET (group booking discounts available). Just imagine, you and your family or friends, can dress up as your favourite culture, or as a world traveller and come and play games together. When you arrive your group or family will receive a group passport & then you will be able to explore the 13 different countries and enjoy all the other bonus entertainment too.R50p/p (2 & under free) Early Bird (limited tickets till 12th December) The BEarthday party will be split into 13 country zones and an additional stage area, arts & chill area and food & some goods will be for sale too. Travel to Hawaii, Mexico, Brazil, France, USA, UK, Greenland etc - all in one day - play the games together to get your group passport stamped. Bring your friends and/or family and celebrate 10 years of sharing and growing JOY & lets raise FUN and FUNDS for the UP and envision love & joy growing around the world! Venue: Kronendal Primary Hout Bay Time: 10am 5pm

About The UP - The UP is a Not for Profit Organisation 122-357 NPO, founded in 2003. They are an arts for health humanitarian company, committed to bringing UPliftment and extra emotional care to sick & traumatised children in communities, homes & hospitals. Sharing joy sUPports the childrens well-being & recuperation. For almost 10 years theyve been actively building, sharing and inspiring joy Care Clowning, laughter, play, our kindness caring for one another thats UP; WE are all joy catalysts creating a healthier happier humanKIND. (www.theup.org.za)

A BEarthday Party - Youre Invited!

Each of us get 20 milk teeth after we are born. They are important, because healthy milk teeth help your jawbone and mouths muscles develop better and make your smile beautiful!Between your fifth and thirteenth birthday you lose them, because you are becoming bigger and need bigger teeth. You then get 32 brand new teeth, which you have to keep forever. Sometimes one or two of your

milk teeth remain in your mouth until you are much older. This is because there is no permanent tooth below or above trying to come out.Here are some great tips to help keep your teeth healthy and shiny this Christmas Brush your teeth after every meal to

remove every bit of food. Use a soft toothbrush and toothpaste

that contains fluoride the stuff that makes teeth stronger.

Begin at the gum and brush in small circular movements towards the tips of the teeth.

Scrub the biting surfaces with small back-and-forth movements.

Follow a routine so that you dont miss anything.

Begin at the back of the lower teeth and clean the outside. Then do the same with the inside.

Do the same for the upper teeth and thereafter brush all the biting surfaces.

Use dental floss to clean between your teeth.

Eat food that contains a lot of vitamins and minerals. Try to eat less sticky and sweet foods.

Visit a dentist twice a year.

Tips for Healthy Teeth this Christmas

Kronendal Music Academy (KMA) was formed in 2007 as an NPO specialising in bringing music education to everyone in the Hout Bay valley, not just those few who were able to afford this luxury. We started out with some 25 pupils, based at Kronendal Primary School and steadily grew our numbers until we were spilling over into community halls and church halls around Hout Bay.Our first 5 years renting the redundant music room at KPS were important in establishing our presence in the community and by 2012 we were desperately looking for new premises where we could base all of our operations. This dream came true in the form of our present home, Oakburn, an old Cape Dutch building dating back to 1847, and part of the original Kronendal Farm in Hout Bay.Since moving to Oakburn, KMA has grown from strength to strength, with numbers

now reaching the 170 pupil strong mark. We proudly offer tuition in all brass instruments, all strings, flute, clarinet and saxophones, drum kit, piano, accordion, singing and guitars (electric and acoustic).We have some 16 ensembles and group lessons including our flagship Jazz Band, an adult singing group, our brand new Hout Bay Childrens Choir and our junior orchestra. We accept pupils from age 7 / grade 2 and there is no limit on ages we teach after that! Our oldest pupil is over 84!Our fees are balanced and fair and we make sure that our group lessons are affordable to everyone. We have proudly seen two of our pupils into tertiary education at UCT College of Music and continue seeking out appropriate opportunities for out post matric pupils. On the last Thursday of every month we hold an informal pupil soiree and once a month we offer our KMA Intimate Soiree

to the community, showcasing some of the best musicians Cape Town has to offer and even some from abroad. Once a year we hold a concert series at Riverside Estates, creating a Music Caf on their main hall. Why dont you come along to one of these

many different performances and see what we do?If you are interested in joining the KMA family, please take a look at our website www.kmahoutbay.org, for more juicy info and many, many more pictures chronicling our last 7 years.

Kronendal Music Academy Making Waves

Out & AboutIts To Dine For!M m m m m m , check out the r e s t a u r a n t s in our Out & About feature - who wouldnt want a great

meal out at any or all of these special Cape Town eateries?Stand a chance to win a voucher from any one of these gems, just follow the procedures below and wait for us to contact you...you may just be taking your family or friends out for a scrumptious and memorable meal!How to WinE-mail your name, age, school and review to competitions@thegoodtimes.co.za. Alternatively:1. Go to our facebook page at:

www.facebook.com/TheGoodTimesSchoolPaper

2. Like us3. Message us a review of any of the

restaurants featured in Out & About. Include information like:

Your favourite dish? What you choose off the menu to

really treat yourself? What appeals to you most about the

restaurant? What is the service like?4. Moms and Dads posting for their

children please include their name, age, school and a contact e-mail.

This competition is open to all ages. The competition closes on 15 January 2013. The judges decision is final andno correspondence will be entered into regarding the winners.

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Transformation at Pelican Park High SchoolFormer principal of Sea Point Primary School, Cader Tregonning, was moved across to Pelican Park High School last year by the Department of Education, with the instruction to turntheschoolaround.HisfirstthreemonthsattheschoolweretoughandhemissedSeaPointPrimaryverymuch.Hisfirstglanceattheclassroomswasratherdepressing.Therewere 370 learners and 11 teachers and a lack of materials. He felt there was tremendous potential in the school and he spoke to the learners and staff about the necessity to turn it around, into a school of excellence, a school of choice. There had been vandalism and neglect and the school was in a terrible state. They needed a plan. The staff worked together andputtogetherafifteenpointinterventionplantomakethechange.Oneofthosepointswas the necessity for pastmatric exampapers from the last five years to be compiledand supplied to the children. A time consuming exercise for each subject teacher and an expensive exercise for the school.This is where Paperight joins the story. As if they had been in on the 15 point plan meetings, Yazeed Peters, business-development manager of Paperight, popped up like a blessing in disguise. Mr Ighsaan Dramat, Acting HOD, tells how all they had to do was placeanorderandthebooksweretherewithinaweek.Itisnotthefirsttimethelearnershavebeenexposedtoquestionpapers,butitisthefirsttimetheyhavebeenexposedtothe papers plus memorandums all in one neat pack individually personalised. The children found the packs incredibly helpful and those who ordered from the beginning of the year, saw a marked improvement in their work results and prelims. Mr Tregonning says that the most important thing was that the learners were able to start from day one to work on the papers. Those children who had not purchased the question packs saw the results of the learners who had bought them, and after prelims there was an explosion of pack buying. Nizaaimudeen Gallow, a matric learner, says he has bought all the packs. Theyve helped me tremendously. Without them I would not have been able to study, revise my work. Especially the main subjects like Physics and maybe English also. Working through the past papers helps me check my answers, see if Im right. And I mostly always am! He laughs.Mr Tregonning says Paperight are part and parcel of our family. We want to take this to the next level. This is all in pursuit of excellence. All in pursuit of where we are going with our school and theyve (Paperight) played a very, very important role with this years matriculants and we will always be thankful to them. We need to look at ways of how to strengthen that partnership in the future.To view a documentary on this amazing turnaround, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cs69YVQLI4U. For more information on Paperight, visit www.paperight.com

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Six aliens and their quirky robot visit Earth from Alieon.They do scientific research, get into trouble, generally muck about and drink a lot of tea...SO WHAT IS ALIEONS?A Sci-fi adventure following a team of alien explorers visiting Earth. Each episode is a blend of story, humour and surreptitious learning.The educational element of each show is bit-sized and integral to the storyline without feeling teachy or repetitive. ALIEONS is very much about relationships; the ensemble cast each have a rich history and their stories and characters grow throughout the episodes.Our goal is to inspire a love and respect for all Sciences, for music and for all forms of life.In every episode, the Alieons (named after their planet Alieon in the constellation of Orion) face overwhelming dangers and

challenges with courage, intelligence, humour, MacGyver style tricks and of course marvellous ships and gadgets. (All sets and ships are physically made and props and characters - handmade)WHO IS IT FOR? This is a show for the whole family. Its not frenetic or violent, we have aimed to create something cool, exciting and rich in detail. Made for both girls and boys to enjoy, ALIEONS has strong, smart and friendly female and male lead characters. The educational element mainly suits early scholars, 6-8 years old, but the show really is made to be enjoyed by all ages because we know how it feels when they ask you to sit and watch with them: hence no squeaky voices, repetition or annoying music, but rather appealing characters residing in a beautifully crafted world living out original story lines .WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Alieons The Series Hasnt Been Made Yet.As of March 2014, we are finishing up nearly three years of pre-production. The trailers we are releasing indicate what the show will look and sound like. Although we originally intended the series for release via a traditional television network, the growing potential of crowd funding presents us with the opportunity to develop ALIEONS independently, which appeals to us as we will be enabled to create the show we would like to share with you instead of following a corporate agenda.We are busy planning to launch our KICKSTARTER CAMPAIGNWe have brilliant Rewards to share!The Goal: ~ Make the first 6 episodes of Alieons and see where it goes from there. ~IF YOUD LIKE TO SEE ALIEONS MADE, PLEASE SUPPORT THIS PROJECT ~Follow us on Facebook and Twitter, subscribe to our website: www.alieons.comIf you like this, please tell your friends and family.Well let you know when the KICKSTARTER campaign begins, so youll be able to back the project and get hold of the special edition series and releases as well as unique ALIEONS objects and art.If you wish to contact us via email: info@alieons.com

Six Aliens and a Quirky Robot Need Your Help

Celebrating Valentines Day

On Friday, 14 February 2014, pupils and staff at Camps Bay Preparatory School celebrated Valentines Day by dressing in red, white or hearts and were all encouraged to donate R5 which was collected for the SA Guide Dog Association. Through this collection, the Preparatory School

handed over R1 702.35 to the Association. In the picture above are Cairie van der Vyver with her dog, Willah and in the back is Grade 1 educator, Ms Nelle Buhrmann, the Principal, Ms Linda Murray, and Teagan Schwerin of the SA Guide Dog Association with them is the Grade 1 class.

Upgrading the Primary School ITC Environment

In 2013 Camps Bay Primary School undertook a major upgrade of its ITC environment. Having recognized the crucial need for an adequate and modern ITC infrastructure, the governing body made a well researched and informed decision to install an Apple platform in order to achieve the schools aims of enhancing the teaching/learning process. The school wanted to give the students and teachers tools that would better enable them to explore, create, research, think critically, imagine and excite them to learn and grow intellectually.

With this in mind, each teacher was given a new Apple Macbook Pro, the entire network, comprising cabling, servers and switches was replaced, the computer laboratory was stripped and rewired with 30 new Apple MacMini desktop computers, 6 new Dell projectors were installed to ensure that all classrooms have either a Smartboard or projector and there is an order of 15 iPads awaiting delivery. Apart from the above, a comprehensive training program has been implemented to ensure that the teachers get the most out of the new environment.

Circle Sports Day & Picnic

The Preparatory School enjoyed a wonderful morning of fun and togetherness at the annual Circle Sports Day on Friday, 28 February 2014. The day was followed

by a school picnic on the Camps Bay High School field. This was a special event at which all new families had the opportunity to meet other families.

A Grade 4 class delighted with their new computer lab. At the back is Mrs Debbie Fairhurst, the educator.

Camps Bay Schools Print Run Sponsored By DIGICAPE:

High Schools Termly Blood Donation Initiative

Camps Bay High School hosts a Blood donation initiative at the school every term. The first of these was held at the school on 22 February 2014 and seen in the photograph are Mr Peter Grobler (educator) and Sarah Schumann (a pupil at the school).

The Inter-House Gala: Orange House the Victors

Camps Bay High School held its annual inter-house Gala on 19 February 2014. A great day of sportsmanship, talent and spirit was enjoyed by all who attended with Orange House being awarded the winners of the event.

Ellerton Primary Celebrates 100 Years

Education is the great engine of personal development. It is through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor, that the son of a mineworker can become the head of the mine, that a child of farm workers can become the president of a great nation.

Nelson Mandela

The school with the most beautiful view of the Atlantic Ocean is a place of learning to 384 learners who mostly travel in on a daily basis from the different areas. We believe that learning today has to be an experience and the job of a good educator is to make it one.On entering Ellerton, one is greeted with huge smiles which reflect the friendliness of our learners. They have a great zest for learning and this is evident when asked what they enjoyed the most at Ellerton. The replies were: Swimming, Dance, Speech & Drama, Extra Murals but most of all, Learning!!. A special group of learners belong to the Early Act Club whereby they do projects for the community. This club is an initiative of the Sea Point Rotary Club. Their first project was to be of assistance at a Fun Day with the learners of a crche. These young people are highly motivated and inspired to do good and develop their leadership skills. The school has a rich history and on 18

Ellerton Primary School Print Run Sponsored By LOTUS MEDIA:

Children Learn What They Live.

If a child lives with tolerance

- he learns to be patient.

If a child lives with praise - he learns to

be appreciative.If a child lives with

acceptance - he learns to love. If a child lives with

recognition - he learns that it is good to have a

goal.If a child lives with

sharing - he learns generosity.

If a child lives with honesty & fairness

- he learns truth and justice.

If a child lives with security

- he learns to have faith in himself and

others.If a child lives with

friendliness- he learns that the world is a place of

love.If you live with

serenity - your child will have peace of

mind!

June 2014, we will celebrate our centenary. Hopefully past learners will call or pop in and be a part of this milestone. As the school is a neighbour to many businesses we are appealing to them to also assist in our programme.

Weizmann was delighted to have Chaeli from the Chaeli Campaign join our Thursday Assembly along with her mom Zelda Mycroft and Tina Brenzel, UHS Systemic Head of Sport. Chaeli spoke about her organisation and the incredible work they do for children with disabilities. (http://chaelicampaign.co.za/) Ms Brenzel explained to pupils her goal to ride the Argus Cycle Tour as one of the Chaeli Campaign riders and her involvement, on a sporting level, with the organisation.

This all formed part of our weekly Tzedakah/Charity programme and pupils were encouraged to wear purple on Friday to honour the Chaeli Campaigns 10th Anniversary and buy HOPE (Helping Other People Everyday) bracelets to help raise funds. The response from the children was unbelievable with pupils dressed in vibrant shades of purple and the amazing amount of over R5 000 was raised for the Chaeli Campaign. Thank you to Chaeli for the visit and inspiration.

Fundraising for The Chaeli Campaign with HOPE

Tu Bshavat: A Tree for Madiba

Chaeli with the Weizmann Sunshine Club & Ms Brenzel

The Weizmann Grade 6 pupils did a wonderful presentation on the Jewish holiday Tu Bshavat New Year of the Trees, for the entire school during our Thursday Assembly. Thereafter they joined Rabbi Wineberg and planted a tree adjacent to the cricket nets, in honour of Mr Nelson Mandela. We hope our Grade 6s will come back in future years to visit their tree!

Weizmanns InterHerzlia Win

Weizmann Grade 6s collect the InterHerzlia trophy.

Tu Bshvat at Weizman - Rabbi Weinberg, Mr Krupenia & Morah Kaplan with Grade 6s Isabella Jackson, Shayna Tarlie, Ashleigh Wingerin, Jordy Dibowitz, Bobbi Bieber, Zach Brivik, Vusi Nikani

Herzlia Weizmann Print Run Sponsored By FULL CIRCLE WELLNESS

The Grade 5s went on an outing to the Iziko South African Museum as part of their work on Ancient Egypt. They were guided throughout the outing by a member of the Iziko Museum staff. She was incredibly efficient and the children were excited, involved and participated enthusiastically throughout the morning. They were first shown a slide show with different pictures from Ancient Egypt like Ancient Egyptian maps, artefacts, mummies, jewellery, housing, pyramids,

the Nile etc. The children then went upstairs and saw beautiful paintings on the wall explaining the Ancient Egyptian afterlife and what they believed happened after death. A highlight was the fact that the children were able to see real artefacts from Ancient Egypt. The children really seemed to come away with new, important and relevant information from an expert which will hopefully help them with their Ancient Egypt projects that they are about to embark on.

Seasoned Spirit at Both Our Interhouse Galas

Grade 5s Outing to Iziko

Swimming Galas - the Foundation Phase gala began with the traditional House war cries. Compliments must go to the Grade 6s for their enthusiastic work with the Foundation Phase pupils during the week, in rehearsing the songs, cheers and war cries. Well done to House Gideon for winning the Foundation Phase Gala. The Intermediate Phase Gala took place with much enthusiasm and excitement and

a big congratulations to all those swimmers that participated and swam for their House. Maccabi was eventually crowned the winning House after a very closely contested struggle with Gideon. Well done to our Victor Ludorum swimmer, Zach Brivik with runner up, Jordan Arelisky and our Victrix Ludorum swimmer, Eve Pywell with runner up, Rachel Heilbron, pictured above.

Rachel Heilbron at the Weizmann Interhouse gala.

Ella Miller at the Weizmann Interhouse gala.

Aleka Pazaitis, Madison Daitsh & Lia Sachs at the Weizmann Interhouse gala.

Gr 3 Art: Special Toy Theme

130th Birthday: Established 21 April 1884My involvement with our school stretches over at least 34 years. Yes, the end of this year will be my 35th year at Sea Point High School which already is an achievement in itself! Another achievement is of course that we are celebrating our schools 130th birthday later this year. Not many schools in South Africa can boast such an accomplishment. The Undenominational Public School of Green and Sea Point was opened on the premises of the Dutch Reformed Church in Three Anchor Bay on Monday the 21st of April in the year 1884. It would be interesting to know what the 1st principal, Mr Hoskings, thoughts were on that day only two pupils turned up and they were given a half holiday to celebrate the occasion! The next day was a bit better - there were nine pupils! By the end of the 2nd term there were 16 boys enrolled at the School. In the girls department, there were 20 pupils enrolled. 11 years later, in 1925, on the 26th of April, the school was formally opened on the site where we are now. A few interesting facts about the early days are the following:* Firstly, the pupils in those early days travelling to Sea Point did not have any transport problems, as they could take the train to get them to school all the way! A railway track was built and then opened in 1892. Unfortunately, this operation did not work out and the service was suspended in 1898 and soon after that, electrified trams were introduced (something like electric buses).* Secondly, although our school was a boys only school for most of its existence, it is important to note that it started off as a Co-educational school although it was called Sea Point Boys School. At the end

of 1895, there were 5 teachers, 128 boys and 29 girls a total of 157 pupils. Average attendance was only 127, so it looks like missing school was a problem even in those early years! I must add that the following year attendance was improved to 95%, so the teachers must have been doing something right! The girls section of the school was closed in 1888 and in 1898, Ellerslie Girls School opened their doors in Sea Point. * Thirdly, the Green Point Common, which was used for our sports fields in the old days, dates back to the days of Jan van Riebeeck, when it was initially used as a grazing ground for cattle. The site was also used for, amongst other things, a site for a railway line, to build forts during war times, a site for a prisoner of war camp, all kinds of sporting activities (like horse racing and even yachting regattas, because certain areas of the Common were flooded during winter times!) These were always grand occasions, watched by thousands of spectators, and the boys at school used to build boats and canoes as their woodwork projects in anticipation of the regatta. * Up to the year 1925, Sea Point School consisted of both juniors and seniors. In this year, the High School separated from the Junior School and the Junior School moved into its new premises shortly thereafter. The school uniform in those days comprised of the same winter uniform as we wear now, but in summer, the boys wore light grey safari suits with short pants. During my time here at Sea Point High, many things have changed over the years. In 1988, we became a co-educational school, with the few girls having had to wear the boys safari suits in summer, and I must add, it was not a pretty sight!

In 1989, we amalgamated with Ellerslie Girls High School after it had become clear that it was not viable to continue with separate schools for boys and girls in the Sea Point area. The decision was taken to use our premises for the new school and Tafelberg High moved into the vacant premises of Ellerslie Girls High. In 1991 and 1992, we were one of the first schools in SA to open our doors to pupils of all races when we became a so-called Model C School.During my time at SPHS, I have seen many pupils (learners), teachers (educators) and headmasters (principals) come and go (9, if I remember correctly). I consider myself fortunate for having been here for so many firsts so many changes. I was here when the first girls started attending the school, I was here when the first pupils from different ethnic backgrounds started attending the school, I was here when the first headmistress was appointed, I was here for the introduction of OBE and CAPS and I am still here! The question is why? Briefly, there are 2 reasons: namely the staff and the learners of SPHS. Because we are such a small school, everyone knows everyone else, which is sometimes a good thing and maybe sometimes not such a good thing. In my experience, I have come to know the staff as professional people who are caring, highly motivated and dedicated to give you all that you need to be prepared to face the wicked and challenging world out there when you leave us, and that does not only mean book knowledge, but also the knowledge and skills about life for you to survive in the demanding adult world that awaits all of you. They are, and always have been, a special breed of people. Their

genuinely caring nature, their friendliness, their sense of professionalism and their never give up attitude has always impressed and amazed me. Their loyalty to the school and support of each other is unsurpassed. Their combined strength and determination to give all learners the best education that there is to offer, has been a trademark through all these years. The outstanding results and pass rate over many years bear testament to this. Many of our ex-pupils have moved on to become leaders in many spheres of life doctors, lawyers, accountants and yes, even teachers! They are now responsible adults contributing to life in their own special way. That is the reward and satisfaction that keeps many of us going. I would like to end off with a quote from Beneath the Lion Bold, a book that has documented the early years of life at SPHS. It goes as follows: Scholars and masters come and go, rooms and buildings are erected and demolished, but the entity which is the school, continues, gathering to itself as the years pass, customs and traditions. And this, I hope, will never change. SPHS is indeed a special school, with special people - a home away from home. And on our 130th birthday, my wish is that we will take all the good from the glorious past and build on that to ensure an even brighter future. Although the school may be old, it is those of us who attend it that keeps it young and vibrant. May this also be the case for the next 130 years!Congratulations and Happy Birthday, SPHS! May your sons and daughters bring honour to your name for now and evermore!Mr P. Botha (Principal)

Another first for Sea Point High School is a very enthusiastic Media Team. When a call was made earlier this year for learners to form part of the Media Team, the response was overwhelming. We were not quite sure what to expect or what our duties would comprise, but the world of media is so often portrayed with much glitz and glamour and adrenaline pumping energy that we naturally wanted to be a part. Yes, weve heard of deadlines but those were usually coupled with extensions as in Geography assignments and the like. We soon realised that if we did not work as a team and get rid of the glitzy mentality that our hard work would not find itself where it belongs in print.Our first few meetings were spent organising, oh we were very good at that, so much so that we even have an Editorial Team I tell you. Reality finally set in when the first deadline was due and there was no extension! So after hours of work, running after a story, trying to get the subject to match the verb, and finding a camera that was not attached to a cell phone, we managed to put together what we thought were some really nice articles, worthy of print only to be told that it will be edited. Edit really is a dreadful word. So were aware that our well thought-through prose will be cut to smithereens, but were proud of our first attempt and hope you will be too.

Meet the Media TeamSea Point High school is losing one of its most cherished teachers, Mr Anthony Storr Lister. Mr Lister is well known as an extraordinary History teacher. He is praised for teaching the subject with passion, charisma and an accomplished subject knowledge that makes learners sit up and listen. The Sea Point High school community will sorely miss Mr Lister. He admits that these feelings are mutual saying, Sea Point High school has been good to and for me in many ways. I have met and interacted with many wonderful people and helped many to achieve success. His positive influence was also felt in the general academic sphere, where he filled the role of Head of Academics for a number of years. In this sphere he has left an indelible mark, having been involved in the general upliftment and improvement of academic standards at the School.As Head of Discipline he has had quite an impact on the discipline structures with his no nonsense attitude. His involvement in the School has been remarkable and the School will find it very difficult to replace him in all the many and varied portfolios that he has spearheaded.When asked what his last message to learners would be, Mr. Lister responded Be brave. Be adventurous. Take responsibility for your own lives Make full use of the opportunities you are given. Every one of you is capable of achieving if you decide to. Hard work and cooperation are the keys and I wish you every success. Work with the school, dont fight it. Mr Lister will always be part of the Sea Point High School family and we wish him every success at his new school.

A Farewell to Mr Lister

Sea Point High School Print Run Sponsored By MIND PRINT:

A Visit to Remember

The hosting of guests on Tuesday 18 February 2014 will forever be one of SPHSs most memorable moments. The Yew Chung International School (YCIS) comprising students from Hong Kong and teachers from around the world paid the school a visit that we will not forget soon.The delegation was greeted by a very eager and well-organised group of buddies each chosen to partner the visitors and show them around the school. Any initial anxiety was quickly dissolved once each group of students saw how friendly the other group was and a sense of relaxation filled the air.Once in the hall, learners shared rather copious amounts of mutual flattering! YCIS took to the stage first with the elegant fluidity of their dancers and the cohesive voices of their choir. It was not all just entertainment though, valuable information about Hong Kongs rich history and culture was shared, along with interesting information such as the history of chopsticks!

Sea Point took to the stage and delivered a set of fantastic performances, which included our excellent singers, dancers and melodious marimba band. All learners displayed just how talented they are. After a fun-filled assembly, visitors got the chance to mingle with the rest of SPHS.After contact numbers and Facebook details were exchanged, along with many hugs and handshakes, it signalled the end to a truly spectacular day. For people of such diverse origins and cultures to interact and communicate so seamlessly highlights something extremely important we are all human beings and therefore bound by an innate love for one another. Something so significant should be echoed again and again, for it is in relationships such as these that individuals are able to broaden their minds beyond what is taught in the classroom they broaden their minds to building metaphorical bridges and who knows what possibilities may open up to them?

Philippi Skills TrainingOn Saturday 1st of March 2014, the Sea Point High School Debating team attended the Township Debating League workshop in Philippi. The fun workshop was a training and skills development session for the aspiring debaters and an opportunity to eye the competition of course! The workshop theme was Justice in South Africa. High School learners had the opportunity to learn about the

South African justice system as well as build a constructive and well thought-out argument. It was a proud moment for us when our 2013 Head Boy and our very own Master Debater, Siyabulela Boto formed part of the adjudicating team for that day. Siya has joined the UCT debating team and is part of a group of students who mentor and support debaters at High School.

Conservation ExcursionThis year the Grade 10 Geography learners were awarded an opportunity to explore the delicate issue of global warming at an excursion to the Wynberg Conservation Centre on the 20 February.The videos and presentations were a real eye-opener. Games on the topic were played by all which further underlined the seriousness of global warming. This was

followed by a discussion and activities which dealt with how we can make further use of renewable resources and so take personal responsibility for global warming.It was quite ironic that our driver got lost on his way to pick us up funny that this should happen on a Geography excursion if only he had a compass! Thank you to all involved.

Oude Molen Eco VillageThis year Sea Point High welcomed its latest Grade 8 cohort of learners. The first couple of days were scary for most, it started with an Orientation Programme which concluded with a team building outing to Oude Molen Eco Village in Pinelands. The glorious summer weather provided a perfect day. The Grade 8 outing was a memorable day. Food, fun and games at this years outing certainly outdid the previous years outing.

The school year raced to a spectacular finish at Sea Point Primarys 2013 Soapbox Derby and Food Fair fundraiser.By asking family and friends to sponsor them for every lap completed, the children managed to raise R68,000. The day was very successful both from a financial and social point of view, said outgoing

PTA chairman Eugene Jackson. All who participated in this event had great fun.Each class dressed according to a theme, with Grade RS winning the Foundation Phase prize for their Thriller costumes (and awesome dance!) while the Grade 4G Mafia scooped the Seniors prize.Racing in go-karts provided by Great

Soapbox Fun (www.kaskar.co.za), the classes that completed the most laps in 20 minutes were Grade 2O (Foundation Phase) and Grade 6V (Senior Phase).Jackson thanked sponsors Spar Woodstock, which made a donation and also put up a cake stall; Security Wise, which sponsored the guards who ensured the safety of all

attendees; and Texies Fisheries, which supplies crushed ice for all of the schools events. Already plans are underway for 2014.For more pictures and information about the school, please visit www.spps.wcape.school.za.Joanne Gibson, Gr 2 parent.

Soapbox Derby & Food Fair Fundraiser 2013

Valentines week started off with a poem competition, won by Shantal Chinangwa in Grade 6D, Emraan Joseph in 6V took second place and Zeenat Mohamed in 4B took third place. On Wednesday, 12 February we had a Valentines Day literary quiz with Mackenzie Chothia in Grade 7S winning. The mad hatter Valentines disco was well attended and started off with each class taking to the stage to their favourite songs. The children dressed fabulously in theme with Azraa Davids in Grade 4B and Aalia Dramat in Grade 6V winning best dressed. There were many great dancers and really amazing mad hatters and they all won spot prizes. Thank you to all the children and teachers who participated in the week of love. A special thank you to Mrs De Vries and Mrs De Wet-Stevens for keeping the love alive at our school.

Festive Valentines Week

Jacqueline Ivory, also known as Jax is Jais mom. She comes into our school nearly every two weeks to do a half hour of yoga with each Grade R class. The children in Grade R can be seen showing off their newly developed yoga skills and poses. These exercises benefit all muscles groups and help with muscle tone and development. We cant wait to see the children progress in these skills.

Preprimary Yoga with Jax

We have been collecting our old school shoes that are still in good condition to pass on to children who are less fortunate than our selves. Miss Compton has taken them to the SALT office in Table View and there they will distribute it where the need is. Please keep collecting and donating to school. We would like to help as many children as possible.

Collecting School Shoes

International School of Hout Bay: Pr