Dear Parents

Greetings and welcome to all as we cross the threshold into the freshness of 2015. A special word of welcome to newcomers to GPS, particularly our squeaky-new Grade R and Grade One classes of 2015. We anticipate another blockbuster year filled with events that constitute a balanced life at GPS. We also look forward to the synergy and solid support structure that keep our pupils, parents and teachers working harmoniously.

1.  STAFF NEWS

We warmly receive the following new faces to the fold:

Mrs Claire Burriss arrives as a Grade R teacher; Miss Donna Connellan and Mrs Kymayne Devos both take up the Grade 3 posts; Miss Anje Hauptfleisch the Grade 4 post and Miss Chené Hibbert the Afrikaans as well as other subjects. We are very pleased to have them as part of our GPS family and look forward to their contributions to GPS and trust that they will have a happy and rewarding experience at GPS.

2.  SCHOOL HOURS

I would like to remind you of our school hours this year. Please see to it that your child gets to school on time. Punctuality is an important life skill which we have to instil in our children. School will begin at 07:25 (sharp) every day to enable us to have the prescribed number of hours needed in the academic day. The day will end for the various Grades as follows:

Grade R: 07:30 – 12:30 Monday to Friday

Grade 1 & 2: 07:25 – 13:00 Monday, Tuesday & Thursday

07:25 – 12:30 Wednesday & Friday

Grade 3: 07:25 – 13:45 Monday, Tuesday & Thursday

07:25 – 12:30 Wednesday & Friday

Grade: 4-7: 07:25 – 13:45 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday

07:25 – 13:00 Wednesday

3.  PARENT INFORMATION EVENINGS

Parents are cordially invited to attend the various Grade information evenings. At these meetings you will be able to meet your children’s teachers and will be given information about the routines and expectations at the different Grade levels. It is extremely important that at least one parent makes the effort to attend. On arrival, parents need to sign a register of attendance. The Grade Meeting dates and venues are as follows and all meetings start at 18:30 sharp:

Grade R: Wednesday 28 January - The Grade R Campus

Grade 1: Wednesday 21 January - Grade 1 classrooms

Grade 2: Thursday 22 January - Grade 2 classrooms

Grade 3: Tuesday 27 January - Grade 3 classrooms

Grade 4: Thursday 29 January – Grade 4 Classrooms

Grade 5: Monday 26 January - School Hall

Grade 6: Wednesday 28 January - School Hall

Grade 7: Wednesday 21 January - School Hall

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4.  BOOK AND CULTURAL FEE

The “Book and Cultural Activities Fee” must be paid in cash to the class teacher no later than Friday 23 January.

·  Grade R and Grade 1 Parents paid for this at their orientation evenings in 2014.

·  Grade 2 - Grade 7 Parents are required to pay an amount of R500 as indicated in a letter in 2014.

5.  TEXT BOOK USAGE FEE ( GRADE 7 ONLY )

This fee is R300 and must be paid in cash by no later than Friday 23 January to the class teacher. No text books will be issued until this fee is paid in full. Please be aware that not having text books will negatively affect your child's academic performance. Text books are used daily both in the classroom and for homework purposes.

6.  ROAD SAFETY

The scholar patrol is on duty in Main Road before school and when school ends for the different grades. Anyone entering or leaving the school at the Main Road pedestrian gate must use the scholar patrol crossing when needing to cross the road. Main Road is exceptionally busy and we ask that parents and taxi drivers not park or stop illegally or make U-turns. These are dangerous practices and put the lives of your children at risk.

7.  ADVERTISING IN OUR NEWSLETTER

We encourage our parents to make use of the opportunity to advertise their business, products or items for sale in our weekly newsletter. The cost of placing your advertisement will be R30/ad (in cash) and would need to reach Mrs Pilkington by no later than the previous Friday. Our distribution base is large as it covers the entire GPS community. Please do consider this advertising opportunity.

8.  NEW CLOTHING SHOP TIMES

Our brand new Gonubie Primary Clothing shop has moved into their new premises (at the bottom of the poolside stairs behind the hall) and we trust you will enjoy the “new shopping experience” and look forward to your support.

The shop will be OPEN EVERYDAY OF THE WEEK at the following times:

Monday—Friday 07:00 – 08:00 and 10:00 – 14:00.

9.  DRESS CODE

Parents are requested to pay special attention to the dress code as per the prospectus which every parent will be receiving shortly. Please also remember to mark your child’s clothing clearly with his/her name AND surname. First names are not enough!

BLAZERS AND JERSEYS: Pupils are to wear summer uniform (blazers and jerseys not compulsory) in the First and Fourth terms, and winter uniform (blazers and jerseys worn to school every day) in the Second and Third terms.

10.  GENERAL

The Extra-mural programme will begin on Monday 26 January except for Grade R & 1 pupils who will only begin on Monday 2 February. A reminder that all pupils are expected to participate in at least one summer and one winter sport and are also encouraged to participate in the cultural programme that the school offers.

If pupils do not have extra-mural commitments in the afternoon and if they are not registered with the Aftercare they need to be at home.

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11.  U/9 TAG RUGBY TEAM

During the first week end of the December holidays, the Gonubie Primary U/9 Tag rugby team represented the Border Region at the annual national tournament held in Port Elizabeth. Many schools from around the country, each representing their province, participated in the Tag Rugby Tournament at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. Our team did us proud, winning all their matches in the Pool Games with the exception of a draw against the Golden Lions. They went on to win the semi-final which meant that they played the final on the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium’s main pitch (where the International Sevens Rugby was being played). We lost in the final to the Golden Lions with 4 tries to 3. Our team received the silver medals and were placed 2nd in the country after this final. We are extremely proud of our team. Well done!

Sincere thanks to Mr Swartbooi, as their coach, for the exceptional level of coaching he does at GPS. Thanks also to Mr Nel for ably assisting him and for accompanying the team to Port Elizabeth. Many of our parents went with to support the team and staff. We are extremely grateful to them for this.

12.  CHESS

Congratulations to Robyn Becker on winning 3½ games out of 7 at the National Chess Championships held in Kimberley during the holidays.

13.  SOCIAL MEDIA

Social Media is a very powerful tool and can be used for any number of positive purposes. However, there are also a number of negative consequences to using Social Media. We have a large number of parents who would prefer that pictures or comments about their children are not posted in any shape or form on Social Media sites. The easiest way for us to manage this is to strongly request that parents refrain from posting pictures of other people's children on tools such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest. You are, however, more than welcome to post pictures of your own children to these sites. Please be aware of this when taking photos at an Awards Assembly or at sports events when your child is one of a number lined up on the stage or on the field. You are more than welcome to take photographs or videos but please do not upload them to any Social Media site.

We would also ask that you refrain from negative comments or debates about the school, the Headmaster or the Staff on any Social Media sites. Comments made when emotions run high cannot be taken off these sites and do not help to develop a healthy relationship between parents and the school.

This newsletter is already an indication that we’ve hit the ground running! May I take this opportunity to wish you all a very successful and happy 2015.

Yours sincerely

MR C PRINSLOO

HEADMASTER