A Tel: (011) 577-6000/6387 (Direct);
Fax: (011) 789-7519
ST STITHIANS COLLEGE
Private Bag 2, RANDBURG, 2125
Saints Honour:
Honour God, Honour
Others, Honour Self
NEWSLETTER NO. 07 – 07 SEPTEMBER 2007
FROM
THE DESK OF THE RECTOR
Dear
One & All
A very warm welcome back to
the last term of the 2007 academic year.
The term has started on a very sad note with the
passing of Ms Toria Jemmett, Secretary at the Boys’ College, after a long and
difficult illness. Toria ran the Reception
of the Boys’ College from July 1999 and her kindness, willingness to help
others, professionalism and commitment to the College will be missed by all who
knew her - staff, parents and boys alike.
Despite her pain and discomfort, Toria always managed to put on a brave
and cheerful face in the front office. Indeed,
her death came as a shock to many in the Saints community, who did not know
just how ill she really was. Our prayers
remain with the Jemmett Family and Toria’s many friends during this difficult
time.
The Third Term is
traditionally a tremendously busy one and consequently very demanding on all
the staff, parents and learners.
Although a lot of work, it also generates a lot of good fun and I hope
that the Saints Family will take the time to enjoy the various sporting activities
and events at the College this term.
CAMPUS
UPDATE
Proposed
Retail Development At Nestlč House Site
For
the past four years, St Stithians College has been negotiating with a developer
about a retail development, covering approximately 4 hectares of land, on the
of the land adjacent to Nestlč House as you drive into the Corlett Gate. This project is known as the Nestlč House
Site Project and I have often made reference to it in my termly reports. Negotiations are at an advanced stage with
heads of agreement signed between the parties, outlining the nature of the
proposed development and the lease agreement that the College is prepared to
enter into for the land. The project has
not yet been finalised as there are a number of conditions that have to be met
before we can conclude on this. The two
key issues relate to:
·
ensuring that the income
that the College will generate from this project does not impact on our current
tax status, as a PBO (Public Benefit Organisation); and
·
the zoning rights for
such a development being approved by the local authorities.
If
all goes according to plan, building could start in 2008.
This
project is important for the College as the fear remains that Bond Street could
still be extended through the College grounds to join up with William Nicol
Drive, in an attempt to relieve traffic congestion in the North Western suburbs
of Johannesburg/ Sandton/ Randburg. As
we approach the 2010 World Soccer Cup and the infrastructural demands this
event will place on the city, there are concerns that this threat will
increase.
Glass
House Project
You
will have noticed that the old Glass House, adjacent to the main cricket oval
has been demolished, and replaced with a far larger structure. Many have queried why the College is spending
that sort of money on this project, when there are so many other pressing
demands (such as more classroom space and other direct educational needs) on
the campus. Less than 10% of the costs
of the project are being funded by the College’s Capex Budget, as a generous
donor has stepped forward and is funding this project. The new building will provide sports offices,
an exercise gym, changerooms and an entertainment area and will be a fantastic
facility. The College remains reliant on
the generosity of benefactors for such projects, precisely because of the huge
demands made on our Capital and Operational Budgets.
Boys’
Prep Cricket Pavilion
Likewise,
the parents of the 1st XI Cricket Team have generously donated funds,
left over from the fundraising for the Boys’ Prep Cricket Tour to the UK, for
the purchase of an electronic scoreboard and the building of a viewing pavilion
on the west side of the Boys’ Prep cricket oval. No school funds are being used for this
project. It is wonderful that through
the hard work and generosity of our parents, some of these more “luxury” items
can be obtained.
SCOREBOARD
ADVERTISING
The current advertising
contract with Wendy Machanik Properties (WMP) on the 17 mechanical scoreboards
situated at various sporting facilities on the campus has expired. WMP has decided not to renew the contract and
we thank them for their past support.
With the College now
owning the boards, this does provide an opportunity for another advertiser to
contract directly with the College. Interested
parties should contact our advertising sponsorship consultant, Colin Hudson, on
011 706 1657, 083 628 6406 or colinhudson@mweb.co.za , to discuss this
opportunity further.
AMY BIEHL
FOUNDATION
Following Founders’ Day,
a number of parents approached me for more information about the Amy Biehl
Foundation Trust.
“The Amy Biehl
Foundation is a non-profit organisation based in Cape Town whose programmes are
designed to develop and empower youth in the townships and contribute to
community building efforts as a mechanism to reduce the levels of crime and
violence in these areas and to give children a brighter future. The
Foundation’s mission of weaving a barrier against violence is achieved by
providing educational and cultural activities that offer students healthy
alternatives to crime, drugs, sex, idleness and negative influences and unlocks
their creative talent with the aim of creating future leaders, entrepreneurs
and well rounded citizens in South Africa. The Amy Biehl Foundation programmes
reach over 3,000 children every week, and include:
·
After School Care
·
Music, Including
Violin, Guitar, Recorder, Marimba, Choral Singing, and Brass Instruments
·
HIV / AIDS Peer
Education
·
Sport including
soccer, hockey, swimming & the first and only
·
Greening and
Environment
·
Creative Arts,
Including Drama and Dance (Kwaito, Modern, Traditional & Ballet)
·
Youth Reading Role
Models
·
Prison Outreach
These programmes
place a focus on the creative side of the children’s brains, and supplement the
shortcomings of the educational systems. There are great inadequacies in the
impoverished township schools in which they work, creating a great need for the
Amy Biehl Foundation programmes. During
the course of the school day many students are not given the opportunity to tap
into the creative side of their brain. Through
these programmes they allow children to express themselves and think freely in
an imaginative environment. Providing
these students with meaningful opportunities helps to grow the economy moving forward,
as the next generation will be better equipped to deal with the challenges of
tomorrow.
Funding and support
is needed to continue and grow their vast array of programmes, which have been
running very successfully for 9 years. The number of children that they can
reach is directly proportionate to the amount of funding that they are able to
raise. We appeal to individuals and organisations for support so that they can
continue their vision of providing a brighter future with greater opportunities
for children from disadvantaged communities.”
Should you wish to find
out more about any of the above-mentioned programmes or make a donation, the
contact details for the Trust are as follows:
Amy Biehl Foundation Trust
Phone: (021) 462-5052; Fax:
(021) 462-7325
www.amybiehl.co.za
info@amybiehl.co.za
IMPORTANT
DATES FOR 2007
Please diarise the
following important dates:
·
The next termly
·
Spring Festival - Saturday, 29 September 2007
QUESTIONS FOR THE RECTOR:
If
there is anything you would like more information about, please do not hesitate
to send your questions to me at rector@stithian.com. Learners as well as parents are quite welcome
to send their questions.
SAINTS FAMILY NEWS
We wish to express our sincere condolences to
the following members of the Saints Family on their loss of loved ones in
recent weeks. Please keep these
families in your thoughts and prayers.
o
Mr
& Mrs Derek Jemmett and family on the death of Toria Jemmett, Boys’ College
Secretary, after a long and difficult illness.
o
Mr
o
Mrs
o
Mr
Roy McAllister (Member of Council) and family on the death of
o
Mrs
o
Mrs
Michelle Colyn (Girls’ College Grade 12 Director) and family on the death of
her father at the end of last term.
o
Donovan
Heyneke (Grade 10), Gabi Morell (Grade 8) and family on the death of their
father at the end of Term 2.
GOOD NEWS COLUMN
It
is always gratifying to receive letters of praise and congratulations about our
staff and learners. Should you wish to
contribute any Good News, please send the details to: rector@stithian.com.
With
kind regards
STEPHEN LOWRY
RECTOR
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
GENERAL NOTICES
REMINDER:
DOGS ON CAMPUS
All
members of the Saints Family, who walk their dogs on the College estate, both
in the mornings and evenings, are reminded to please ensure that their pets are
kept on leads at all times. People
walking dogs on the property are also requested to clean up after their animals
and to carry 'pooper-scoopers' for this purpose. It has reached the point that if these rules
are not strictly adhered to by all, we will have to seriously consider banning
“visiting” dogs from the campus.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ST
STITHIANS COLLEGE CALENDAR FOR 2008
(APPROVED BY COLLEGE EXEC: 06 NOVEMBER 2006)
TERM 1 (58 days)
Staff
Development Days: Monday, 14 &
Tuesday, 15 January 2008
School Commences: Wednesday, 16 January 2008
Ends: Friday,
11 April 2008
Half
Term: 12:00 on Thursday, 14
February 2008 to 07:00 Tuesday, 19 February 2008
Saints School Holiday Thursday,
20 March 2008 (for learners & academic staff)
Public
Holiday/s: Friday,
21 March 2008 (Good Friday & Human Rights Day)
Monday,
24 March 2008 (Family Day)
___________________________________
TERM 2 (63 days)
Staff
Development Day: Monday, 05
Commences: Tuesday 6
Ends: Friday, 1 August 2008
Half Term:
Public
Holiday/s: Monday, 16 June 2008 (Youth
Day)
____________________________________
TERM 3 (64 days)
Staff
Development Day: Monday, 01 September 2008
Commences: Tuesday, 02 September
2008
Ends: Tuesday, 02 December
2008
IEB
marking: Thursday, 04 December to
Tuesday 9 December 2008.
Half Term: 12:00 on Thursday, 16
October 2008 to 07:00 on Monday, 20 October 2008
Public
Holiday/s: Wednesday, 24 September
2008 (Heritage Day)
2009:
School commences – Wednesday, 14 January 2009
No. 60 September 2007
Advice for Fathers
James B Stenson
I used to ask veteran fathers (men whose
children had grown and gone) what warnings they'd pass on to younger Dads. In
paraphrase, here are some bits of hard-earned fatherly wisdom....
·
Don't
neglect your wife. She needs what we all need: understanding, affection, gratitude,
support, and appreciation. For sure, she doesn't get these from the kids when
they're small. So if she doesn't get them from her husband either, then she
doesn't get them at all. You can tell you're neglecting your wife if she starts
complaining about small things around the house, one after another, circling
around and around the central problem: your apparent unconcern for her. Wake
up. Pay attention. Listen to her opinion, help her out, tell her she's great,
hug and kiss her from time to time--all this goes a long way.
·
Don't
underestimate your children. Have high ambitions for their
swift, step-by-step growth into maturity. We all tend to become what we think
about, and kids tend to become what their parents expect of them. Even when
they sometimes let you down and you have to correct them, make them understand
that you see this as just a blip along the way. You have no doubt, none
whatever, that they'll someday grow into excellent men and women. You're proud
of them, confident in them. Always will be.
·
Don't treat
teenagers like large children. Think of them, and treat them, as
near-adults. Pull them up, fine-tune their consciences, welcome them to adult
reality. Show them how to balance a checkbook, pursue a job, work
professionally, please their bosses, deal respectfully with the opposite sex.
Show them how to buy good clothes, take care of their wardrobe, and dress well.
When they complain, "Why don't you trust me?" teach them that you
distinguish between integrity and judgment. You trust their integrity and sense
of family honor, their honesty and good intentions--always have, always will.
But what you must have reservations about for now, in good conscience, is their
inexperienced judgment; that is, you cannot let them hurt themselves through
their naďve blunders. When they start thinking like responsible adults, then
you'll trust them right across the board--in judgment as well as integrity.
·
Don't ever
tell your teens that the high-school years are the best part of their lives. This isn't
true. Adolescence is, in fact, one of life's toughest times: teens have to cope
with blunders and glandular upheavals, surfing up and down learning curves.
Tell your adolescent children, and above all show them, that every stage of
life is interesting, challenging, and enjoyable for anyone with a sporting,
adventurous spirit. Teens who've been well brought up have a great life ahead
of them, like the life they see in you. (Think about it: How many older teens
and young adults are tempted to suicide because they believe what they've been
told: the best part of life is behind them?)
·
Don't let
your children weasel out of commitments. Don't let them take back their word
on a whim. Before they make promises or otherwise commit themselves to a course
of action, press them to think consequences through and understand their terms,
because you will hold them to their word. If they want to buy a pet, make them
first commit themselves to feeding and caring for it--then hold them to that.
If they accept an invitation to a party (after first checking with you and your
wife), they're obligated to be there even if something more alluring turns up.
If they want to take guitar lessons, make them promise to persevere, no matter
what, for six months or a year or whatever seems reasonable.
·
When you're
correcting your children and they petulantly ask "Why?"--don't argue
with them. If they're looking for an explanation, give it once only. If they
persist with "Why?" then they're looking for an argument, not an
explanation. Close off the matter. In other words, they must take your
"no" as an answer, but you don't take theirs. You can dialogue with
your kids about many issues, but there's no "dialogue" about your
rights as a father.
·
Don't let
your kids dress in such a way as to bring shame to the family. Nobody has
a right to do this.
·
Don't miss
small opportunities to talk with your kids. Listen politely and
respectfully. You can talk with them while driving, doing dishes and other
chores together, walking and biking, working on hobbies you share, tucking them
into bed. If you cut down on tube-watching, you'll find slivers and chunks of
time here and there in family life. Make the time, and never forget you haven't
much of it left--for your kids will grow up with incredible swiftness.
·
Don't shout
at your kids so often. It's a waste of breath. If one of your children
needs a talking to, take him or her out for a walk or a soda--and say what you
have to say in a calm, serious way. Don't forget to listen, either--for your
kids' view of things, though mostly wrong, may still have a point. A couple of
heart-to-heart talks are better than a dozen explosions.
·
Don't get
trapped into blazing arguments, especially with your teens, and
most especially if you have a temper. Words can wound and take a long time to
heal. If tempers are flaring, put off the discussion till later--that evening
or the next day--when you've both cooled down. If you go too far, be the first
to apologize.
·
Don't forget
to praise your children, and be specific about it. Kids need a
pat on the back from time to time. We all do. Give praise for effort, not just
success. Teach the kids this adult-life lesson: because success depends on
effort, then effort is more important than success. You always appreciate when
your children try.
·
Come down to
your children's level, but don't stay there. Kids are kids, and you have
to come down to their level to take them by the hand. But your long-term goal
is to bring them up to your own level--to lead them, patiently over time, to
think and act like mature grown-ups. So live like a grown-up. Enjoy being an
adult on top of life, and let them see what this means. If they see you enjoy
living as a confident, productive adult, they'll have a life to look forward
to.
Extract from:
Father, the Family
Protector (
Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this material for
private use. It is taken from the website of James B. Stenson, author and
educator.
www.ParentLeadership.com.