2018

From the Principal’s Desk 22 January 2019

Dear Parents

“What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.” Nelson Mandela

Welcome to Greenside Primary 2019. I know that this year is going to be busy but very productive and fruitful. We have so much planned for this year, and I know that with all your involvement and support, it will be a great year. A special word of welcome to all the new families who have joined the Greenside family.

SGB BY-ELECTIONSA reminder that the SGB By-Elections will be held on Wednesday 23 January at 18h00. Please attend this VERY important meeting and let your voices be heard by voting for your SGB Members. We MUST have a quorum of parents in order to conduct the elections. Let us not start this year by having to convene a second meeting due to a lack of numbers.

STAFFWe have five new staff members this year and extend a warm welcome to them:Mrs Tasneem Haffejee Grade 3Ms Lara Grealy Grade 3Ms Nazeefa Sibda Grade 7Mr Yusuf Ebrahim Grade 5Ms Nazia Osman Grade R

This year we also have changes in the School Management Team:Mrs Hajera Carim Acting Deputy PrincipalMs Raeesah Ebrahim Acting HOD Foundation PhaseMrs Luthfiyah Richards Acting HOD Intersen PhaseMrs Zahira Vally Acting HOD Intersen Phase

I am sure that you need an explanation as to why all these posts are “acting” positions. Herewith the explanation:

1. Greenside Primary had three Management Posts in 2018: Principal, HOD Intersen Phase, HOD Foundation Phase.

2. The School has grown in numbers, so the Department has increased the number of Management Posts to five: Principal, Deputy Principal, 2 x HOD Intersen Phase and 1 x HOD Foundation Phase.

3. The additional posts, i.e. Deputy Principal and second HOD Intersen Phase, have to be advertised in the Government Gazette, then applications will be received and interviews conducted. Until that time, nobody can be appointed into those posts, except in an “Acting” capacity.

4. Mrs Richards and Mrs Vally are currently filling the two HOD Intersen Phase posts for developmental purposes, and Mrs Carim the Deputy Principal’s post until such time as the Gazette has been published and interviews conducted.

5. Ms Ebrahim is filling the HOD Foundation Phase post in an acting capacity, as Mrs Craig chose to step down as the HOD. That post also has to be advertised.I am very excited to be working with this team and I know that together we will accomplish a great deal.

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I am also pleased to inform you that Mrs Damelin, who retired as a full-time Grade 1 teacher last year, is still a member of the staff in her capacity as Remedial Consultant and Teacher. We are grateful for her vast knowledge and experience. Uncle Jonas retired last year and we welcome Mr Masilo Tepenyakge in his position. Uncle Masilo is qualified in gardening and landscaping and our gardens are looking really lovely.Please see the D6 for a list of all staff members and their contact details.

SCHOOL SHOPThe School Shop sells new and used school uniforms. We appeal to Parents to donate the uniform items that your children have outgrown to the shop, so that we can assist less-advantaged learners.

PROJECTORS & WHITE BOARDSI am so excited to share with you the news that the projectors and white boards are being installed from Tuesday 22 January! Well done to all of you! Your efforts to raise funds in 2018 has helped us to achieve this goal.

MAINTENANCE & UPGRADING OF INFRASTRUCTUREDuring the December holidays we repainted 10 classrooms. I must congratulate all the teachers for their hard work in preparing their classrooms for the start of the year. I was so proud of how welcoming all our classrooms looked on the first day.

Unfortunately, we also suffered some serious maintenance issues. The electrical cable that feeds electricity to the school from the Municipal box was faulty and had to be replaced at a cost of R26 500. We also had a severe blockage in the drainage waste pipes, due to roots penetrating the pipes and this had to be repaired at a cost of R20 000. Both these issues were not budgeted for and has already taken a huge bite out of the maintenance budget. We are hoping to obtain some sponsorship to paint the exterior of the buildings and the roof of the Grade 1 classrooms.

GREENSIDE PRE-PRIMARY SCHOOL We are pleased to welcome Ms Nazia Osman to the Pre-School. Teacher Nazia has taken the place vacated by Mrs Pahad, who retired last year. She has brought a new energy to the school. We currently have two classes at the Pre-School, both are Grade R, but Teacher Nazia’s class is for the younger learners, and thus the working pace is a bit slower than Teacher Nellie’s class.

We have just bought 8 new bicycles for the learners. Mrs Jhulan Govan has been appointed as the Grade R co-ordinator. She is already doing a sterling job!

COMMUNICATIONThis year my intention is to send out a Newsletter monthly, or sooner if necessary. This will be available on the Website: www.greensideprimary.co.za; on our Facebook page: greensideprimary, and on the D6 Communicator. I urge you to please download the D6 App, as we will be utilising this platform this year for most of our communication. You will find the 2019 Calendar on the D6, as well as the information shared at the recent Parent Evenings, and the Extramural Timetables and the term Assessment Plans. Soon we will also be posting the daily homework.

I must apologise for the delay in the delivery of the Homework Diaries. They were delivered today and will be distributed to the children tomorrow. Please take note of the new Merit and Demerit system, printed in the homework diary. Please assist the teachers by checking the Homework Diary daily and signing it. Also check the status of your child’s Merits and Demerits and sign them.

EXTRAMURALS

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The extramural programme has already started this term. Please check the Extramural Timetable and help your child to select at least two extramural activities for the term.I am very pleased to advise that Ms Samantha Evans and her team at Little Turtles Swim School has been employed to teach the swimming classes during the PE periods (Grades R-3), as well as the Swimming Team practices and Galas. It is required by the Education Department that all children in the Foundation Phase are taught to swim. I urge you to ensure that your child brings the necessary costume, swimming cap and towel to school on PE days. Teacher Sam is also available for parents who wish to contract her services for private classes at the school.

In addition to the School’s Extramural Programme, the following service providers also offer activities on the school premises. Guitarkidz, Little Turtles Swim School and Brazilian Jiujitsu. At the Pre-School there is Kiddinastics, Catrobatzkids, Experi-Buddies. These activities are offered by external contractors, Parents must please liaise directly with them.

UPDATING OF CONTACT INFORMATIONNext week, Tuesday 29th January, we will be sending home Parent Information forms. Please check your details, make any changes on the form, and return to school. Even if there are no changes, please sign and return the form. It is vitally important that we have your correct contact details.

SCHOOL FEES AND EXEMPTIONSFees for 2019 per child is R24 150. We offer a 10% discount for fees paid in full by 28 February. Parents who have challenges paying the fees may apply for a full or partial exemption. Applications for Exemption can be collected from the Finance Office. Please note that all applications must be submitted by 31 January 2019. All necessary documentation must be attached to the application. If documents are missing, the application will not be considered.

LATECOMING, ABSENTEEISM & AFTERCARESchool starts at 07h30. There is a 10 minute registration period at the start of the day. All children are expected to report to their registration class by 07h30, where the attendance register is marked. If a child misses registration, he/she will be marked absent on the register.

Please keep your child at home if he/she is sick. However, absenteeism for extra holidays and long weekends is not encouraged. School closes on 15 March for the holidays. Children are expected to be at school up to and including 15 March. Once the first phase of assessment is completed, teachers start immediately with the second phase of teaching. Greenside Primary has a very poor attendance record at the end of every term. This situation has to change. Teachers are put under severe pressure to complete the Curriculum because they are unable to teach effectively due to the large number of absentees. We will be awarding children Merits for full attendance each term. At the end of the year, children will be awarded certificates for full attendance.

The School closing times for each Grade has been posted on the D6. Children are expected to leave the school premises by 14h30, or within 15 minutes after completing an extramural activity. This term, Yumna will still be running the Aftercare facility. From the start of the second term, the Aftercare facility will be run by the School. I will provide more information about this during the course of the term.

Children may not be left in the Waiting Area for the entire afternoon. The children get bored and a bored child looks for mischief. The number of children left in the Waiting Area for the entire afternoon

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is very worrying and raises serious safety concerns. Please arrange for the timeous collection of your children.

DATES TO DIARISEWednesday 23 January - SGB By-ElectionsTuesday 29 – Wednesday 30 January - Hearing Screening Friday 1 – Sunday 3 February - Prefect Leadership CampWednesday 6 February - SGB By-Election (2nd date)Tuesday 12 to Thursday 14 February - Valentine SalesFriday 15 February - Valentine BallWednesday 20 February - Spellathon – All GradesFriday 1 March - Interhouse GalaMonday 4 – Tuesday 5 March - Foundation Phase Theatre Outing Gr R-3Saturady 9 – Sunday 10 March - CAMPOUT!Thursday 14 March - Parents’ Evening - ReportsFriday 15 March - Final AssemblyFriday 15 March - End of Term 1

As you can see, the first term has a very full programme. We look forward to your continued involvement and support as partners in your child’s education.

Please note that you can also download newsletters by following this link: http://www.greensideprimary.co.za/newsletters

Yours sincerely

Mrs C.L. KotwalPrincipal

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