Manor Gardens Primary School

“A most important key to successful leadership is your ability to direct and challenge the very best that is in those whom you lead”. – Anonymous.

DATES TO DIARISE
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
25 March : Grade 5 Cake Sale
25 March : Music Evening
27 March : FP Parent Viewing Time
28 March : Fun Day
31 March : Class and Individual Photos
2 April : FP Movie Night
3 April : Easter Assembly
3 April : End of 1st Term

MEDIA CENTRE – Mrs Sobey
We thank Robert Dobie (Grade 6) for donating a number of books to the Media Centre.  We also thank the number of other children who have donated books over the past year. We are truly grateful for all your donations which boost our reading stock.

READING ROOM – Miss Andrew
We thank Ezrah Katz (Grade 1) and Lucy Purdon (Grade 4) for donating some lovely books to the Reading Room. The children are going to enjoy reading them.

SWIMMING: Inter-Schools Swimming Galas – Jackie Psannis  
"I wouldn't say anything is impossible. I think that everything is possible as long as you put your mind to it and put the work and time into it”. – Micheal Phelps.

Our swimmers are living proof of this.  Our girls swam in the KZN Southern Coastal 'C' Division Championship Inter-Schools Relay Gala on the evening of Monday, 23 February 2009 and our boys swam in the 'E' Division on the afternoon of Wednesday, 25 February 2009.  To say that both teams made us proud is the understatement of the swimming season!  The girls came 6th out of the 10 schools competing and the boys came 3rd out of the 9 schools competing.  Every single swimmer showed us that nothing is impossible as they faced the long 50 metre pool in front of them, surrounded by many other top swimmers and the exciting hype that comes from the Olympic sized pool and the enormous stadium.   
The U10's experienced all this for the first time and confidently pulled off a wonderful set of results.  Every one of these little bodies showed huge heart!  Most of the U12's had experienced this in previous years and showed us all how strong they had become since last year and also produced a string of great position finishes.  Our Open / U13 group of swimmers looked focused and professional and enjoyed this opportunity to show off their years of hard work in the pool, as they too collected some brilliant points assisting us in achieving our fantastic overall positions. 
I am so looking forward to working with the U10's, U11's and U12's in the upcoming years, as I see an enormous amount of depth and potential in our swimming team and it will be with a heavy heart that I bid our U13's a 'swimming farewell' as they go to high school. 
Swimmers, you did Manor Gardens Primary proud and all your hard work (including a Sunday morning session at the Kings Park Pool) paid off.  Well done!

Since the Inter-School Galas the squad swimmers have still been training hard but have also had the great opportunity to be exposed to an hour session of under-water hockey lead by two very capable under-water hockey moms - Mandy Jackson and Mariana Tomlin.  The squad was provided with gloves and sticks and they were taught the rules of the game.  Fun was had by all and we would like to thank Mariana and Mandy for their professional time.  This Thursday we are going to be learning the rules and playing Water Polo. 
An ex-provincial and South African School’s player will be coming to coach the squad for an hour. 
 
There will be no squad swimming on Wednesday 4 March 2009 as our Junior Phase swimmers are participating in a gala at the school from 14:30 onwards.

APPRECIATION
We express our sincere and heartfelt appreciation to Mrs Jackie Psannis for devoting her time and energy to improve the prowess of MGPS swimming squad. She is at the poolside every day of the week, except Fridays, from 15:30 until 16:30 sharing her expertise with our children. She also sacrificed her Sunday morning, on 22 February 2009, to be at the Olympic-size Kings Park Pool to prepare and train our squad for the up coming KZN Southern Coastal Championship Inter-Schools Relay Galas.
We are grateful to our squad swimmers for their enthusiasm, determination and attendance at all the training sessions.
We are indebted to the squad swimmers parents for their support and encouragement.
We thank Jackie Psannis and the owners of ‘Mr. Pool’, Gillian and Johnny Thacker, for the very good condition of our swimming pool.
FOUNDATION PHASE GALA – Miss Andrew
Our Foundation Phase Gala will be held on Thursday 12 March at 8:00. The gala will end at approximately 10:30. The Foundation Phase children will be allowed to leave with their parents after the Gala. If the weather is unfavorable, the gala will be postponed to Friday, 13 March 2009.

FUN DAY: 28 March 2009 – Kanagie Naidoo
Our Fun Day is scheduled for Saturday, 28 March 2009 from 10:00 to 16:00. We have a range of fun activities planned for the day and would also like to run a flea market. We would like to extend an invitation to families and friends of MGPS to hire a table at a cost of R100.00 for the day (no food stalls). We are looking for a large marquee for the day, kindly send any suggestions of a reasonably priced supplier or possible sponsor to Kanagie Naidoo.
More information to follow.

MUSIC MATTERS – Mrs Roselt
All children in the guitar and recorder groups plus the Junior Choir are to please keep their notes in a Flip File and bring this with them to each practice.
Music Evening on Wednesday, 25 March at 18:30.
Both choirs, ensemble, percussion band, all recorder and guitar groups will be involved.
Easter Assembly on Friday, 3 April at 07:30.
Both choirs will be involved.

EX PUPILS’ ACHIEVEMENTS
Congratulations to the following past pupils who received Academic Achievements at Durban Girls High School Junior Prizegiving:

Grade 8 Merit Certificates - An average year mark of 70% to 79% in 2008
Natasha Abbott
Gayathri Arunakirinathar
Tiffany Naidu

Grade 9 Merit Certificates – An average year mark of 70% to 79% in 2008
Janika Heyerdahl
Grade 9 Academic Achievement Certificates – A promotion average of 80% to 84% in 2008
Josephine Alcock
Kayla De Fleuriot De La Coliniere
Grade 9 Academic Scrolls and Academic Achievement Certificates – An average of 85% or more in 2008
Elena Aiello
Caroline Winning
Top 5 Positions in Grade 9 in 2008
3rd in Grade 9: Caroline Winning
2nd in Grade 9: Elena Aiello

Grade 10 Academic Merit – A promotion mark of a 70% aggregate in 2008
Teagan Botha
Grade 10 Half Colours and an Academic Achievement Certificate – An aggregate of 75% in 2008
Carissa Govender
Jessica Matter
Grade 10 Full Colours and an Academic Achievement Certificate – An aggregate of 80% in 2008
Chanel Samuels
Grade 10 Honours – An aggregate of 85% or more in 2008
Cathryn Moodley
Lavarshni Moodley
Raeesa Osman
Emma Skevington
Tasha Smith
Top 5 Positions in Grade 10 (2008)
5th in Grade 10: Lavarshni Moodley
3rd in Grade 10: Raeesa Osman
2nd in Grade 10: Cathryn Moodley

The Art Trophy for the Grade 10 Learner who achieved the highest mark in Art is awarded to Cathryn Moodley.

The Norelle Barnes Trophy for the Best all Rounder in Work and Sport in Grade 10 awarded to Teagan Botha.

Grade 11 Merit Certificates – An aggregate of between 65% and 69% in 2008
Seeantha Naidoo
Grade 11 Half Colours and Academic Achievement Certificate – An aggregate of between 70% and 74% in 2008
Robyn Taylor
Grade 11 Full Colours and Academic Achievement Certificate – An aggregate of between 75% and 79%
Reheshwari Naidu
Jashmira Singh
Grade 11 Honours and Academic Achievement Certificate – An aggregate of at least 80%
Mulesa Lumina
Alice Rash
Megan Roux
Top 5 Positions in Grade 11 (2008)
5th in Grade 11: Megan Roux

The Knight Trophy recognizes a Grade 11 learner for Community Service is awarded to Reheshwari Naidu.

SPORTS MATTERS
Cricket Results – Mr Petzer
U10A vs. Morningside
Morningside made 77 runs off 20 overs
MGPS made 78 runs
J Bechoo made 22 runs
MGPS won by 3 wickets

U13A vs. Morningside
MGPS made 138/5 off 25 overs
P Ngcongo made 41 runs
P Mthabela made 38 runs
Morningside made 41 runs all out
S de Beer took 4 wickets
L Bhengu took 3 wickets
MGPS won by 97 runs

U10A vs. Penzance
MGPS made 33 runs all out
Penzance made 33/0
MGPS lost by 10 wickets

U11A vs. Penzance
Penzance made 69 runs all out
M Gcaba took 3 wickets
K Naicker took 2 wickets
MGPS made 73/3
M Gcaba made 53 runs
MGPS won by 7 wickets

U13B vs. Penzance
Penzance made 200 runs all out off 30 overs
MGPS made 92 runs all out
MGPS lost by 108 runs

U13A vs. Penzance
MGPS made 77 runs all out
P Ngcongo made 30 runs
Penzance made 78/9
J Grobbelaar took 3 wickets
L Harwood took 3 wickets
MGPS lost by 1 wicket

Cricket Fixtures vs. Glenmore PS - Mr Petzer
Date Team Venue
3 March U10 MGPS (Please provide eats)
3 March U11 Glenmore PS (Lifts required)
5 March U13 MGPS (Please provide eats)

Mini-Cricket – Mr Gulston  
Our Grade 1, Grade 2 and Grade 3 teams played at Eden College on Thursday afternoon.
Batting first, our Grade 1 team scored 20 runs going out just once against Eden College.
Best Batsman: Nicholas Foxon made 7 runs
Eden then went on to score 16 runs going out 4 times.
Best Bowlers: Anelisa Mseleku and Matthew Fogg
Well done to the Grade 1 boys on the 10 runs win.
 
The Grade 2 team bowled very well up front to restrict Eden College to 25/4.
Best Bowlers: Calhan Jones took 2 wickets and Dylan Nair took 1 wicket
A very good batting display took Manor Gardens to 45/2.
Best Batmen: Andrew Watt made 12 runs and Calhan Jones made 11 runs
Congratulations on a good win for our Grade 2 boys.
 
Our Grade 3 team batted first against Eden College, and scored 31/5.
Best Batsman: Lisanthan Moodley made 7 runs.
A very good fielding effort by Manor Gardens ended Eden at 35/3.
Unfortunately, the amount of wides and wickets against Manor Gardens just lost our Grade 3 boys the game.
 
The Grade 2 and Grade 3 teams also played at Holy Family College on Saturday.
Manor Gardens Grade 2: 85/11
St. Henry's: 51/18
 
Unfortunately, the details of the Grade 3 game were unavailable.
 
We will once again be participating in Mini-Cricket Matches this week. We are attending the Harlequins tournament this Saturday. All notes for this week's games will be handed out on Monday to selected players. Please return the reply slip whether your child can or cannot play by Wednesday at the very latest.  

Foundation Phase Inter-School Fun Gala – Mr Gulston
We will be hosting a Fun Gala on Wednesday, 4th March 2009 after school at 14:30. Penzance Primary and St Henry’s will be attending. Notes have been given to those swimmers chosen to swim. All parents are invited to come along and support our school.

Mini-Cricket Fun Day – Mr Gulston
We will be hosting a Mini-Cricket Fun Day on Saturday, 21st March 2009. 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