General News – applies to all three phases
Welcome to Term 4
We welcome all our families back after a well-deserved Spring holiday and wish everyone a wonderful term ahead.
Welcome to New Families
A very warm and hearty welcome to the many new international families who have recently joined our school. We hope that they will have an awesome time in South Africa, our beautiful country, and enjoy their time at the school. We also wish our local new students a superb time at Courtney House and Courtney College.
No Tolerance for Misconduct at School
We wish to remind parents and students of the school’s Behaviour Policies and Code of Conduct. A no tolerance approach to teasing, bullying, hate speech, theft, misconduct of any kind, use of inappropriate language or symbolism, sexual harassment and forms of disrespect towards teachers and peers will be taken, with immediate suspension and expulsion being the consequences.
The policies and code of conduct apply at school during school hours as well as during any school-related functions, evening events, special days, camps and other events which may be at different venues.
Parents are asked to read the code of conduct and school policies thoroughly and to discuss such content with their children (at age-appropriate levels of course) so as to reiterate the consequences of negative behaviour. We wish to maintain strict discipline at all our campuses and ask that parents and students comply with the requirements set out in our school policies.
National Dress on National Days
We remind all our families that children may come to school wearing their country’s traditional clothing on the National Day or Independence Day of their country.
Term Dates for 2019
Term 4 7 October – 11 December 2019
Term Dates for 2020
Term 1 15 January – 20 March 2020
Term 2 1 April – 12 June 2020
Term 3 7 July – 18 September 2020
Term 4 5 October – 11 December 2020
Adventure/Leadership/Educational Camps in Cape Town
Junior Camp Sunday 23rd to Friday 28th February 2020 Grade 3 -7 children
Senior Camp Sunday 5th April to Friday 10th April 2020 Grade 8 – AS/A-Level students
Stage Production 2020
Dates have been confirmed for 9 – 12 December 2020, with evening performances on 11 and 12 December 2020. This involves all children at the primary campus. The Stage Production takes place at The Atterbury Theatre.
Courtney Kids News – applies to children in Tiny Tots, Grades 000 and 00
Pre-School Children move to Primary Campus
We welcome the children and teachers of Courtney Kids to the Courtney House Campus as of Monday 7 October and we are excited and ready for the new beginning. Separate play areas and aftercare areas have been set aside and prepared for the little ones. We wish them all a joyful and energetic time at the primary campus.
Swimming
Children will start swimming on Thursday 10 October. They will have swimming classes every Thursday morning. Please pack in a swimming costume, swimming towel, swim cap, sun-cream and a hat.
Extra Murals
All extra murals will commence the week of 14 October and will run until Friday 29 November 2019. Parents will receive extra mural schedules and forms whereby they are asked to select the extra mural and submit forms, together with payment, to Teacher Melodie.
Zoo Outing
The pre-school children will visit Lory Park Zoo in Midrand on Friday 11 October.
Parents are asked to please pack a lunch-box pack, water bottle and cap for their child. Children must wear comfortable clothing and shoes and all children must arrive at school no later than 08:00.
Courtney House News – applies to children in Reception Year to Year 6
Welcome to New Teacher
We extend a warm welcome to Riana van Vollenhoven who will start this term. Riana is a highly experienced teacher with many years of teaching experience at both senior primary and high school level. Teacher Riana will teach English to Grade 4 and 5 students as well as TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) classes for the many children who require this assistance.
Teacher Riana has come in during the holidays for training which she received from Teachers Anthea and Demi and is well prepared. We look forward to working with this dedicated teacher and know that she will prove to be an asset to the Courtney House team.
Grade 6 Cambridge Examinations
We extend very best wishes to our Grade 6 students as they start their Cambridge International Checkpoint Examinations in English, Mathematics and Science on Monday 7 October. They have worked diligently, especially during their holiday school session and we are proud of their efforts and achievements thus far. We know that they will makes us proud and look forward to their exceptional results when they are published in Mid-January 2020.
Thank you to Teachers Anthea and Demi for all the extra dedication and commitment shown towards preparing these students for their examinations.
We encourage these children to use the time between exams as valuable study time but also to rest and exercise so as to maintain good balance of body, mind and spirit. We ask that the parents ensure that children have little distractions during study time and that cell-phones and electronic games as well as online games are not allowed during this time.
Swimming
The swimming season commences the week of 7 October. Children are required to wear plain, navy-blue swim shorts (boys) and full-length, one-piece swimming costumes (girls) as well as a navy- blue swim cap for these classes. Swimming takes place during the school morning. The swimwear items are easily accessible from Woolworths, Edgars, Mr Price Sport and other children’s retail stores.
The following Grades will have swimming on the following days:
Tuesdays: Grades 2, 4 and 5
Wednesdays: Grades 1 and 3
Thursdays: Reception Year
Parents are reminded to pack in a swim towel, sun-cream and extra underwear and/or clothing on swimming days.
No Hat, No Play
We remind parents and children to wear their Courtney House Navy Blue hat to school every day. The sun is very strong and a hat is essential for outdoor play and activities.
Extra Murals
Except for ballet, all other extra murals will commence the week of 14 October and will run until Friday 29 November 2019. Children will receive extra mural information this week. Parents are asked to select extra murals and return the forms, together with payment, to the school office.
Birthdays
On the day of their birthday, children may wear civvies (any clothing of their choice) to school. Children who have had birthdays during weekends or holidays may wear their civvies on the first Monday back.
Poetry Festival
The annual poetry festival, whereby children recite a prepared poem in front of an adjudicator and an audience of parents, will take place on Tuesday 29 October during the school morning at the primary school. Parents are invited to come along and watch their children. The times of exact groups performing will be made available nearer the time, however, this usually takes place between 08:30 and 12:30 in the morning. The poetry festival is for children in Reception Year to Grade 5 and we ask that parents help their children memorise and rehearse their poem at home.
Brooklyn Care Centre
Thank you to the management at Brooklyn Care (facility across the road from primary school entrance) for making provision for our teachers to park their cars within their grounds so as to free up more play area and space for the children during break and aftercare. Brooklyn Care is currently a unique frail care and retirement centre and is extending their services to be eventually fully equipped and registered as a small, private day hospital facility. We are thrilled to have a great working relationship with them.
Payments for Camp 2020
A reminder to parents that the second payment (for those parents who did not make a full, once-off payment) for the adventure/leadership camp in February, is due by 31 October 2019. Thank you to those parents who have already made payments.
Eat et Cetera School Lunch Packs
Healthy, wholesome and convenient lunch packs can be ordered, as usual, for daily lunch packs and hot meals. Please contact them on (012) 941 3999 or info@etc.co.za for more information.
School Uniform Orders
Please consult the website for ordering and purchasing school uniform items which is www.schooluniformshop.co.za
Student of the Week
Each week, a child from each class is identified as ‘Student of the Week’ for showing excellence or great progress in various areas. The children are awarded badges at line-up. There is a display near the school office where the children who receive badges are acknowledged.
Important Dates to Remember
Courtney College News – applies to students in Year 7 to A/AS-Level
Cambridge International Examinations
We wish all our students the very best as they write their Cambridge International Examinations during October and November. The students have done their very best and we are proud of their efforts. Thank you, too, to all the College teachers for their diligent work and commitment in preparing these students for their examinations. We look forward to their amazing results when they are published in 2020.
