Dear Parents, Boys and Girls

One of the most valuable lessons that we could ever teach our children is that they are accountable and need to learn to accept responsibility for their thoughts, feelings, statements and actions.

The media reports stories on a daily basis of people in politics, in the criminal world, in the business and entertainment world, and in the home who refuse to take responsibility for what they have done or said. Is this mindset encouraging people to believe, “If you don’t take responsibility, you’re home free”?

This very thought presents a serious problem for parents who want to encourage their children to take responsibility for themselves.

Rule number one in educating our children to take responsibility, is to lead by example. If you are the type of person who wants to blame everyone else for your problems, your children will learn the tricks from you – do not own up to anything, evade the issue, blame someone else…monkey see, monkey do.

When your children see you taking responsibility for your own life, they will have a good example to follow and, you as the parent will have a moral authority to be able to expect them to act responsibly.

Rule number two is that in most instances, we as human beings choose our own emotions. The idea of blaming others for my feelings, is based on the belief that I am not responsible for my emotions – others are. The truth is no-one actually makes us angry, depressed, hurt, bitter or frustrated. People may well do something to evoke a response in us but it is my, and only my, decision as to what emotion I will use to respond to the action. I do have the choice to ignore what the person did, not like what they said or disapprove of it.

When we take responsibility for our lives, we empower ourselves by being the owner of our thoughts, our feelings, our words and our actions. If we choose the opposite of this, we are mere puppets of whatever it is that others do or say to us.

The earlier we teach our children to accept responsibility for what they do, say or feel, the easier it will be for them to live their own lives at home, school or in society.

Reference to Alan Hosking.

STAFF DEVELOPMENT

We would like to congratulate and welcome Bev Chalmers, as our newly appointed member of staff in the Foundation Phase. She will join us in January 2011.

Sadly however, we will be saying goodbye to Mrs Mel Nijland at the end of the year. As her eldest son heads off to Michaelhouse next year, she would like to be more flexible in terms of family life, holidays and travel arrangements. Mel will be sorely missed by pupils and parents alike.

LOST PROPERTY

Mrs. Anita Lilly has done a wonderful job in organizing and sorting out the clothes in the lost property room. If you are looking for a lost item of clothing please ask her for the key to the lost property room. Lost items of

clothing are handed out daily at line-up in the mornings. Please continue to ensure that your child’s clothing is clearly labeled.

UNIFORM COMMITTEE

At KPS we do have a uniform committee which addresses any issues pertaining to our school’s uniform. Any suggestions or queries which come through to us are acknowledged and discussed in this forum. We, in turn, are represented on a FOS uniform committee. Please feel free to discuss uniform-related issues with any of our staff.

 Mrs M. Wille

SPECIAL PERSON’S DAY AND EXTRA MURALS

A reminder that Special Person’s Day takes place on Monday, 2 August. A separate invitation did go home with the pupils last week.

Pupils will meet their Special Person in the quad area (in front of the tuckshop) at 10:20am and take them to the hall for the school drama production of “A Thousand Cranes”, which commences at 10:30am.

The pupils will then return to class for normal lessons until 11:20am when they will then meet with their Special Person and picnic on the school field. Pupils may go home with their Special Person from 12pm onwards.

AS A RESULT, THERE WILL BE NO EXTRA MURALS ON MONDAY AFTERNOON.

A THOUSAND CRANES

A Thousand Cranes was written in 1988 by Kathryn Schultz Miller, co founder of the Art Reach Touring Theatres of Ohio. This multiple award-winning play has been produced by countless professional and school groups throughout the world.

The play, especially written for the age-group Grades 3 -7, is based on the true story of Sadako Sasaki, a lively and athletic girl who lived in Hiroshima, Japan, during World War 2. Although she was only two when the atom bomb fell in 1945 and had seemed in good health in the years following, at the age of 12, she developed leukaemia as a result of the exposure to radiation. In this retelling for the stage, Sadako’s good friend, Kenji, reminds her of the old story of folding cranes to bring about good fortune.

Sadako is a universal symbol of courage and there is a statue of her in the Hiroshima Peace Park. Today children in Japan and all over the world send cranes to be placed at the base of her monument in Hiroshima. Their wish is engraved on the base of the statue:

This is our cry,

                                                This is our prayer,

                                                Peace in the World.

Our cast of 22 has been on an extraordinary journey of producing this play. We’ve laughed, cried, been astounded and most of all, have grown as individuals, both pupils and staff alike!  This play is one of hope and teaching each one of us that it is our duty to preserve peace in our world and not inflict war and mayhem. I can now see why Kathryn Schultz chose this age-group for which to write the play; our children are the future of the world and Sadako was but 12 years old when she left her legacy.

We shall be performing only one evening performance, Wednesday 4th August, 17:30 for 18:00. Tickets will be on sale in the quad on Friday 30th July, Monday 2nd August and Tuesday  3rd August from 07h00 - 07h30 @ R20 a ticket. Make a booking for a very special and moving experience; our pupils have done us proud!

 Mrs L. van Dellen

MY SCHOOL

Just before the World Cup, My School held a competition called Play It Forward. A huge thank you to all the children and parents that participated and swiped their My School Cards. Kyalami Prep came 35th overall which is a huge achievement! A BIG congratulations to Marco Afonso, Sihle Masimole and Theo Mantu who came 2nd, 3rd and 4th in the trickstar competition. They each won a cell phone, a kalahari.net voucher, a t-shirt and a Woolworths gift voucher worth R1500.

Kyalami Prep are coming 2nd to Beaulieu Prep in our region and I think it is time to overtake them for once and for all. If you haven't got a card yet...please go to myschool.co.za. Registration takes one minute!

 Sue Blane

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE GENIUS

Week 11: Lizané Botha                                   Gr 7C

CHAIN OF VALUES

Grade 4s

GOLDEN MOMENT

Kimaya Govender arrives for Show and Tell with photos of herself at a game park. Miss Yendall says, ‘Those are such lovely photos of you with animals, Kimaya. Were you at a game farm for the weekend?’ Kimaya: ‘No, there were no games there, only animals!’

Warm regards

Kim Deirino

Deputy