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A
Message from the Principal
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"The dream begins with a
teacher who believes in you, who tugs and pushes and leads you to
the next plateau, sometimes poking you with a sharp stick
called truth." - Dan Rather
Our function as a school is
complex by nature. If it were to only impact knowledge our
task would be simple. We are however mindful of the fact that
we are helping to mould the most precious person in you life, and as
such we take our responsibilities extremely serious.
We are blessed at Brackenhurst
Primary School to have fine teachers in our midst, people who have
dedicated themselves to the holistic development of these wonderful
young children. While
academic excellence will always remain our top priority, it is a
well known fact that the fondest memories that a child will make
will not necessarily be in the classroom, but rather after school in
the many and varied activities that a school has to offer.
There is a special place for every child at our school in terms of
these extra curricula activities. If they are not inclined to
sport, then encourage them to participate in cultural activities.
Furthermore they can become involved in service to our community.
Whatever their gift in life is, and each child has a special gift,
it is incumbent on both the educators and parents to encourage them
to develop these talents. This will ensure a self confident,
well rounded child.
Children today are faced with growing up in an age of enormous and
often difficult choices, life is often not simple for them. We
are here, together with you the parents, to guide them into making
the very best choices possible and steer them on the sometimes
perilous course to achieving their full potential as adults.
Let us strive as a Brackenhurst family to at al times keep the
golden triangle between educators, parents and child in tact, and
base our actions and decisions on that which is in the child's best
interest.
Anne Burger

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Staff Matters
Welcome to the following educators, we trust
that you will have a long and happy association with
Brackenhurst Primary School.
Mrs T Muller - Grade 4
Mrs L Theron - Grade 7 (Arts and Culture)
Mrs B Downs - Intern
CONDOLENCES
To Mrs Marlene Botha on the passing of her
mother.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
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PARENTS CORNER
What Teachers Wish They Could Tell You
School teachers play influential roles in shaping
the future of children, which is why parents need to hear their
words of wisdom regarding children. Teachers are a rare breed,
choosing to devote their lives to the daunting and sometimes
downright unappreciated task of educating our children..and possibly
playing a large role in the shaping of their future too.
With such responsibility comes great experience,
especially when you consider that teachers may spend more waking
hours with your children than you do. This has earned them the right
to certain pearls of wisdom, which are listed below. After all,
experience has also taught them that there are some rather scary
parents out there!
The Golden Rules
“Don’t take honest feedback on your child as
criticism or a personal attack. Feedback is based on information and
observation, often after a long period of interaction with your
child.”
“Please don’t prevent your children from learning a
big lesson in life – that every action has a consequence. If you
keep covering for them – bringing in things they’ve forgotten at
home, making excuses for their forgetfulness, laziness etc. – you
are not teaching them important life skills. Allowing them to make
mistakes and to learn from them is one of the most valuable things
you can do as a parent.”
“Encourage! We are so grateful to those parents who
take the time to send a little note or leave a phone message to
thank us for what we are doing. This costs nothing and, if
justified, can make our day and ultimately make us happier people
for your child.”
“Healthy lunch provides a healthy mind!”
“First be your child’s parent and role model, then
be their best friend.”
“Label all belongings and don’t send your child to
school with valuables. We have enough to do in our days without
having to conduct searches.”
“Don’t send an upset child to school and expect your
child to have a ‘great’ day.”
“Don’t do homework for your child. Teachers can see
the difference! You are fooling only yourself and not teaching your
child to work independently.”
“Don’t allow your child to adopt a cute pose or have
a cute saying which continuously melts you and persuades you to let
him/her have his/her way.”
“You may hold a powerful position at work or in the
community, but when you abuse your power of authority you teach your
children that power buys anything and you present a distorted view
of life.”
“Don’t tell your teacher that little Johnny won’t go
to bed on time, won’t eat his vegetables, won’t stop jumping up and
down on the chair in front of you. The message you are sending is
that your child is impossible. The message the teacher is receiving
is that your parenting skills are not up to scratch!”
“Your child is no angel!”
“Understand that teachers too are human. They do get
sick. They do have babies. They do have families and lives outside
of school. They are not available 24 hours every day. Phone calls at
10 0’clock on a Sunday night are not acceptable business practice.”
At the end of the day, teachers want nothing more
than a fair trade; sharing their knowledge and wisdom to attentive
and respectful audience. The rewards for a teacher come with seeing
a past pupil flourish into a successful and happy individual,
knowing that some of his success was nurtured in their very
classroom.
Article from “Child Magazine.”
An update on Jarred Deans

To all the wonderful Brackenhurst Primary family
that supported the Deans family two years ago in whatever way, when
their son Jarred was diagnosed with cancer shortly after his first
birthday we thought you may want to see how wonderful he is looking
now!
As this is the last newsletter for the year, we have
decided to end off with a poem for the children:
How to torture your teacher
By Bruce Lansky
Only raise your hand when
You want to sharpen your pencil
or go to the bathroom.
Repeat every ten minutes.
Never raise your hand
When you want to answer a question,
instead, yell, “Oooh! Oooh! Oooh!”
and then, when the teacher calls on you,
Say, “I forgot what I was going to say.”
Lean your chair back,
take off your shoes, and
put your feet up on your desk.
Act surprised when the teacher
puts all four legs of your chair back on the floor.
Drop the eraser end of your pencil
on your desk.
See how high it will bounce.
Drop your books on the floor
see how loud a noise you can make.
Hum
Get all your friends to join in.
Hold your nose,
Make a face, and say, “P.U.!”
Fan the air away from your face,
and point to the kid in front of you.
On the last day of school,
Lead your classmates in chanting:
“No more pencils!
No more books!
No more teachers’
dirty looks!”
Then, on your way out
The door, tell the teacher,
“Bet you’re looking forward
to summer vacation this year.
But I’ll sure miss you
You’re the best teacher
I’ve ever had.”
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Brackenhurst Primary - A KFC Achiever School
A special word of welcome to all our new Grade One
learners andparents, as well as any other new learners and their
parents, we hope you feel part of the special Brackenhurst Primary
School family from day one. Welcome back to all our existing
families, we trust you had a wonderful holiday and are ready to face
the challenges that 2012 holds.
SCHOOL TERMS 2012
Term 1: 18 January – 30 March
Term 2: 10 April – 22 June
Term 3: 16 July – 28 September
Term 4: 8 October – 7 December
CHANGE IN SCHOOL TIMES – GRADES 1 – 3:
Please note that as from Monday, 23 January 2012,
school closes for
Grades 1 – 3 at the following times:
Grades 1 and 2: Monday – Friday: 13:30
Grade 3: Monday – Thursday: 13:45
Friday: 13:30
SCHOOL COMMUNICATOR:
This week we have made hard copies of the newsletter
for all families. However, from next week we will only be sending
hard copies to parents who do not have access to a computer and are
unable to receive the newsletter via the Communicator or on our
school’s website: www.brackenprim.co.za.
Should you wish to receive a hard copy of the
newsletter, please forward a note to your child’s register teacher.
Hard copies will only be made for parents who have requested them.
PLEASE MAKE USE OF THE SCHOOL COMMUNICATOR:
This software programme will ensure reliable and up
to date communication with you, the parent/guardian. This is a very
simple and easy to use programme and can be installed on your home
and/or work computer/s. This will allow us to keep you up to date on
a daily basis as to what is happening at school. This will include
the newsletter, photos, sporting fixtures, contact details, etc. The
Communicator updates itself via your internet
connection. More information about the communicator can be
downloaded from
http://www.brackenprim.co.za/weeklycirculars.htm
in a document called ‘School Communicator
Document.’
You can make use of one of the following options:
1. Download the software directly from the Website
using the following URL
www.schoolcommunciator.com/downloads.
2. Send an e-mail to
comp@brackenprim.co.za
requesting to borrow an installation CD. Please
provide the name and class of your child/ren in the e-mail.
3. Send a memory stick in an envelope marked for
attention M Fabel via the class teacher with your child’s/rens
name/s and class/es.
4. The communicator is now also available for
download on your mobile phone. Go to the following address on your
cell phone and select the school you want to look at from the
dropdown list. You will be able to view all the content that appears
on the School Communicator at this time.
5. The address is:
http://mobi.d6communicator.com .
SCHOOL FEES
Please make sure when direct deposits are made that
the correct reference (your school account no. or your child’s
name), is used and confirmation sent through via fax or e-mail.
SCHOOL FEES 2012
School Fees 2012: R9 339,00
OPTION A: To be paid by 9 March 2012 = R7
938,00
(Discount @ 15% - R1 401,00)
OPTION B: - Debit Order & Monthly payments –
R9 339,00
R849,00 per month x 11 months
Please note the first monthly payment for 2012 is
due 1 February 2012.
NB: If new enrolment please bear in mind to take
off R1 000,00 already paid towards school fees 2012 (R400,00
computer fee does not come off school fees.)
Please make sure that school fee payments are kept
up to date on a monthly basis to avoid further action being taken.
R100,00 INTERACTIVE WHITEBOARD LEVY
A motion was passed at the AGM towards the end of
2011 whereby R100,00 per child per year would be collected over and
above school fees. This will be used exclusively towards the
purchasing of Interactive Whiteboards.
To date, we have installed 9 interactive
whiteboards, BUT WE STILL REQUIRE MORE as we would like every
class to have an interactive whiteboard. We urge those families who
have not yet paid the R100,00 whiteboard levy, to please send the
money as soon as possible as we would like to install some more
whiteboards.
Please be so kind as to send this money in a clearly
marked envelope “WHITEBOARD LEVY” with your child to be handed in to
his/her register teacher.
PLEASE DO NOT DO AN EFT FOR THE WHITEBOARD LEVY.
CURRICULAR MATTERS
Assessment week:
Detailed information regarding Assessment Activities
for this term will be advised at a later date.
GRADE 1 - 3 INFORMATION MORNING
Grade 1 to 3 Information Morning will be held on
Saturday, 28 January 2012 at 09:00.
Please make every effort to attend.
EXTRA-CURRICULAR MATTERS
Tennis:
Free tennis will be offered on Mondays with coach
Rudolph – please meet directly at the tennis courts. ALL ARE
WELCOME!
Grade 1 - 13:35 – 13:55
Grade 2 - 13:35 – 13:55
Grade 3 – 7 - 13:45 – 14:25
School Team - 14:25 – 15:00
Thank you to coach Rudolph for fixing our tennis
nets, it is greatly appreciated.
Athletics:
COMPULSORY PRACTICE for all athletes
commencing next week:
Tuesday: 14:00 – 15:00
Wednesday: 14:00 – 15:00
From Monday 23 January 2012 onwards there will be
athletics practice every morning from 08:00 – 08:40 during athletics
period.
Athletes may wear their PE uniforms to practice in.
Grade one athletes will only participate in run offs
at the beginning of February.
Action Cricket:
ACTION CRICKET trials will be held on Friday, 27
January 2012.
U/10 and U/11 boys 14:30
U/12 and U/13 boys 15:30
These trials are for Southern Gauteng Provincial
team and the tournament will be held at Meyersdal Action sports from
the 2nd to the 7th July 2012. If you are unable to attend the trials
but would like to be included, please phone Melissa on the numbers
below and your name will be added to the list.
MELISSA VAN SCHALKWYK
Tel. ()11) 867 7941
Cell: 072 803 3947
Fax: (086) 627 4893
E-Mail
Melissa@actionsports.co.za
GENERAL
Second Hand Clothing Shop:
The Second Hand uniform shop will be open on
Thursday afternoons from 14:00 – 14:30 in the foyer of the hall. All
items are priced below R50,00, depending on condition.
Tuckshop menu:
DAY FOOD COST
Monday
Pies R8,50
Muffins R5,50
Tuesday
Hotdogs R6,00
Wednesday
Mince Roll R8,00
Thursday
Hotdogs R6,00
Friday
Pizza slice R8
We are appealing to any mothers who would be able to
assist in the tuckshop to please contact Mrs Darlene Smith on 084
705 1742 or at the tuckshop (011) 900-1990.
CIVVIES DAYS
Please take note of the following rules regarding
“Civvies Days.”
Girls may not wear their hair loose.
No make up may be worn
No “extra” jewellery may be worn.
Tops must be “decent.” No low cut tops.
Boys may not have “fancy” hairstyles.
No rings to be worn by the boys.
PE Uniform
Please note that no changes to the PE uniform are
allowed during winter. Please ensure that if your child is cold and
has PE that they wear the full Brackenhurst tracksuit. Any child not
wearing the correct uniform will be dealt with severely.
PLEASE, PLEASE, OUR ANIMALS ARE HUNGRY!
We are appealing to learners in all grades to
please bring the following items to the lab. Wild bird seed;
budgie seed; mixed bird seed; hamster food and bedding; rabbit
food; carrot tops and lettuce and empty tissue boxes.

LATE COMERS
Parents please note, if your child arrives late
for school, he/she MUST report to the office to
fetch a “LATE NOTE.” Late comers will miss the first period of
school and no late comers will be allowed in class without a
“LATE NOTE.”
Bread Tags:
Thank you so much for the huge response. Please
keep sending bread tags as we need to fill 10 black municipal
bags for 1wheelchair.
Used Printer Cartridges:
PLEASE,
WHEN HANDING IN USED PRINTER CARTRIDGES, ENSURE THAT THEY HAVE
BEEN TAKEN OUT OF THE PACKAGING.
We are still collecting used
printer cartridges for recycling purposes, in conjunction with
“My School”. When you replace your printer cartridge,
please send the old one in with your child, as we will receive a
cash incentive for collecting them. If you are able to
collect old cartridges at work please send these in as well.
Thank you for all the parents
who continue to hand in their used printer cartridges for
recycling.
Media Fines
After the two week period, late returns of media
books will be fined in the amount of 50c per day. This money is
payable to Mrs Sharp, the school librarian. All funds collected
are used to purchase new media stock.
There is no reason why a book should be late as
learners are required to bring their library book to their Media
lesson every week.
If a library book is lost, the learner will have
to pay the following to replace it:
a) R100 if it is an old book
b) R150 if it is a new book.
LOCKERS
Lockers are now available for hire. All learners, Grade 4 –
7, have been issued with a letter setting out the details with
regards to the lockers.
The cost of the lockers is: Large locker – R150 deposit and
R150 rental per year.
R300 payable at the beginning of the year.
Small locker – R100 deposit and R100 rental per year.
R200 payable at the beginning of the year.
Should you have any queries, please contact Mr Ayres at the
school.
FRONT OFFICE
We once again need to remind parents not to drop off lunch,
keys, money and homework with Mrs Brown to deliver to their
child.
Unfortunately with close to 1 200 children at our school it
becomes a logistical nightmare to deliver all the "forgotten"
items. Please be assured that if your child forgets their lunch
at home, the teacher will ensure that other children share their
lunch. If your child forgets homework at home, please allow
him/her to take accountability for his/her actions and face the
consequences, which, if it is a first or second offence only
amounts to a warning. Please assist us in this regard, as well
as teaching your child responsibility.
We will at all times accept medication, especially chronic
medication such as asthma pumps, which have been left at home.
CELL PHONES
Please note that in line with the cell phone policy (which
will be issued to all learners within the next few weeks), no
learner may have a celllphone at school which has internet
connectivity and/or a camera.
On Monday we will be conducting an inspection and any learner
found with the incorrect cellphone will have their cellphone
confiscated and this will only be returned at the end of the
term.
We request your co-operation in this regard, which is in the
best interests of your child.
Should we have any more complaints regarding the fact that
children may only bring a basic cellphone to school, or that an
incorrect cellphone has been confiscated we will have no choice
but to ban cellphones from being brought to school completely.
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Thought
for January: |
“The first step towards getting
somewhere is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are.”
Anonymous
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