Manor Gardens Primary School

“Learn to smile at every situation. See it as an opportunity to prove your strength and ability”. – Joe Brown

DATES TO DIARISE
• 17 February : SP Gala
• 20 February : Open Day
• 21 February : International Mother Language Day
• 23 February : Interschool Girls Gala
• 25 February : Interschool Boys Gala
• 25 February : Grade 1 Reading Evening
• 27 February : FP Parent Viewing Time
• 4 March : FP Inter-school Gala
• 12 March : FP Gala
• 16 March : Swimathon Week Begins
• 16 – 20 March : National Water Week
• 20 March : Meatout Day
• 21 March : Mini-Cricket Fun Day
• 21 March : Human Rights Day – Public Holiday
• 22 March : World Water day
• 23 March : World Meteorological Day
• 27 March : FP Parent Viewing Time
• 28 March : Fun Day
• 2 April : FP Movie Night
• 3 April : End of 1st Term

EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES FOR GR. 3 – 7 CANCELLED ON TUESDAY 17TH FEBRUARY 2009
Extra-Curricular Activities will be cancelled for Gr. 3 – Gr. 7 learners on Tuesday, 17th February 2009 due to the Intermediate and Senior Phase Inter-House Swimming Gala commencing at 17:30. This arrangement allows children and staff to go home at 13:50, attend to domestic responsibilities, have a light meal and return to school at 17:00.

WELCOME
We warmly welcome
• Mrs. Martha Cooper, a highly experienced and well-qualified Gr. 3 – 7 Afrikaans specialist locum tenen educator, who shall continue to deliver quality learning experiences for your child until the Staff Selection Committee finalizes the process of appointing a replacement for Mrs. Marlene Goosen.
• Mrs Antoinette Tieger, an Information Systems student in Learnership who shall assist Mrs. Isobel Sobey in the Media Centre and Junior Primary Reading Room.
• Kelly Louw, who shall assist Mrs. Isobel Sobey in keeping the Media Centre dust free, neat and tidy.

PROTOCOL – LINE OF COMMUNICATION
a) When you have a particular concern about an aspect of your child’s performance, the correct channels to follow are:

Step 1 : Phone the secretary to request an appointment with the child’s educator or place your concern in writing for her / his
attention;
Step 2 : If the matter is unresolved or you feel you cannot talk directly to the class educator, then the next point of contact is the
appropriate Head of Department;
Step 3 : If you remain dissatisfied after following the above steps then approach the Principal;
Step 4 : As a rule, the Governing Body does not get involved in professional matters; however, if after following the above procedure you feel that your concerns have not been adequately addressed, then write a letter to the Governing Body Chairperson.

b) When you have a particular concern about the performance of a MGPS staff member or the quality of MGPS curriculum provision
then contact the Principal via letter, email, telephone or appointment.

MGPS OPEN DAY
We invite all prospective parents and pupils to attend a special assembly and a guided tour of the school on Friday, 20 February 2009 from 8:00 until 10:00.
Please note that acceptance of siblings is not automatic.

EX PUPILS’ ACHIEVEMENTS
Congratulations to the following past pupils who received Academic Achievements at the Durban High School Junior Awards Ceremony:
Certificates of Merit for Aggregates In Excess of 80%
Grade 8 - Sahil Bugarith
Grade 9 - Thaahir Mathir
Subject Prizes
Grade 8 : Sahil Bugarith - isiZulu Second Additional Language
Grade 9 : Thaahir Mathir - English Home Language
Thaahir Mathir - Life Orientation
Grade Prizes
Second in Grade 9 - Thaahir Mathir

DEVELOPING INDEPENDENCE
Please say goodbye to your child at the main entrance gate and allow your child to walk to his/her classroom in the morning and to meet you at the gate at home time.

FUNDRAISING – MySchool Card
We appeal to parents to use their MySchool cards. This is really one of the easiest ways to fund raise. If you have lost your MySchool card please phone 0860 100 445 for a replacement card. There is no charge for this. All new parents can collect a MySchool application form from Mrs Kriel’s office.

SPORTS MATTERS
• Intermediate and Senior Phase Gala – Mr Petzer
Date: Tuesday 17 February 2009
Time: 17:30 to approximately 20:30
The gala takes place on Tuesday. It is compulsory that all children in Grade 4 – 7 attend and they must be at school at 17:00 in order for the gala to begin promptly at 17:30.
- Spectators must wear school uniform.
- Swimmers should come in their costumes with their tracksuits/jerseys in their PE bags.
- Regulation MGPS costumes and caps in the appropriate house colour are to be worn.
- Children will not be allowed to purchase from the tuckshop during the gala and parents may not bring food to children on the
stands.
- Should it rain, the gala will be held on Wednesday morning at 8:00.
- The tuckshop will be open to sell liquid refreshments, assorted pies and hot dogs.

• Cricket Fixtures vs. Durban Primary School – Mr Petzer
Date Team Venue
18 February U10A Durban Primary (Lifts required)
18 February U11A MGPS (Please provide eats)
19 February U13A MGPS (Please provide eats)

• Grade 1, 2 and 3 Cricket – Mr Gulston
Mini-Cricket Results – Thursday 12 February
The Grade 3 team played at Eden College against Eden. Manor Gardens bowled first to restrict Eden to 21/6.
Best Bowler : Mika Jacobs
We then went onto score 15/5.
Best Batter : Zaheer Moola
It was a very close game, the Grade 3 pupils just lost but lots of fun was had all the same.

Mini-Cricket Results – Saturday 14 February
The Grade 2 and 3 teams played in two tournaments on Saturday. One team from each grade played at Harlequins Sports Club while another Grade 2 and Grade 3 team played at Holy Family College. Unfortunately, at the time of printing this newsletter, I had not yet received the results from the Harlequins tournament but I will put those details in the next newsletter.

The Grade 2 team played against St Henrys at Holy Family College and bowled very well bringing St. Henry's to 32/11.
Best Bowlers : Andrew Watt took 3 wickets
Nicholas Hardman took 3 wickets
A winning batting performance took Manor Gardens to 48/14.
Best Batter : Andrew Watt made 15 runs
Well done to all boys involved.

The Grade 3 team played against Westville Junior Primary at Holy Family College. Westville Junior Primary scored 45/11.
Manor Gardens then went on to score 56/16.
Best Batter : Calem Keyser made 14 runs
Unfortunately, the heavy loss of wickets just lost Manor Gardens the game.

There will be mini-cricket matches once again this week on Thursday and Saturday. Notes will be given to all those children chosen to play.

Mini-Cricket Fun Day
We will be hosting a Mini-Cricket Fun Day on Saturday 21st March. It will be an opportunity for all Grade 1, 2 and 3 children to play against their parents in a mini-cricket game. Games will last about 1 ½ hours. Notices will be handed out closer to the date with more details.

• Touch Rugby – Gavin Griffiths
Touch Rugby Practice on Friday Afternoons:
Grades 1 – 3 from 12:30 to 13:00
Grades 4 – 7 from 13:00 to 14:00

There are games during the term at home and away of which players and parents will be informed. Contact Gavin Griffiths on 0788695174 for further information.

CAROL LOTTERING
PRINCIPAL