IN THIS ISSUE. Dear Parents. This holiday - Enjoy the Outdoors! Portal page 3+4

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1 nn 25 M A R C H IN THIS ISSUE Dear Parents This holiday - Enjoy the Outdoors! My to do list for the upcoming holiday is endless. The tasks on the list include the everyday I must do but never get time to chores. However, in order for me to return energized and ready for another term of teaching, learning and caring I will be spending quite some time doing things that are good for the mind, spirit and body. For myself, this means spending as much time as possible outdoors. It includes gardening, hiking, swimming in the sea and sitting next to a campfire. My wish for every child and parent this holiday is that you will have the opportunity to do the same. The value of outdoor play is often underestimated and due to time constraints and busy lifestyles, children and adults are spending less and less quality time outdoors. Outdoor play allows children to practice and master emerging physical skills. Whilst outdoors children can freely experience and develop motor skills like running, skipping, and jumping. It is also the most appropriate area for the practice of ball skills, like throwing and catching. And children can perform other such manipulative skills as pushing a swing, pulling a wagon, and lifting and carrying movable objects. Playing outside provides children with something many children don t get enough of anymore exercise. Exercising while having fun is the best kind of exercise, and that s exactly what playing outside does. Outdoor play also contributes to the cognitive, social and emotional development of children. Whilst playing outside children are given the opportunity to invent, plan and construct. During this process, they are able to express themselves and learn about the world in their own time and way. The freedom and independence that are provided through outdoor play promotes independence, decision-making and organizational skills. The setting of parameters and invention of rules teach children the value of structure and rules. Portal page 3+4 Weekly Planner page 5 Sport News page School Magazine page 10 Our Hearts Are Red page 11

2 Key skills that are develop include: Communication skills and vocabulary discussions, negotiations and conflict resolution Number concept counting and keeping score Social customs learning to play together and cooperate within a group Problem solving skills Aesthetic awareness Most importantly, outdoor play provides children with a sense of freedom and the opportunity to be themselves. Children cooped inside for too long quickly become rowdy and difficult to control. Outside children can safely and appropriately release their energy by running, being loud and getting messy. With kind regards Adri Hofmeyr Head of Pre-Preparatory Dear Parents A letter from the School Management regarding the current Nits and Lice infestation was sent to parents today under separate cover. Somerset College Preparatory Newsletter 25 March 2015 Page 2

3 PORTAL HOW TO REGISTER ON THE SOMERSET COLLEGE PORTAL The Grade 4 7 Assessment Summaries will be available on Friday, 27 March 2015 after 14:00. At the end of last year I communicated with you regarding the College Portal whereby you are able to access your child s Reports and Assessment Summaries via the webpage. You are reminded that this year (2015) we will no longer be handing out hard copies of Reports and Assessment Summaries as they will only be available on the College Portal. To register for the Portal, please follow the instructions included below. If you need any assistance, please contact Heather Good h.good@somcol.co.za or on Instructions: Step 1. Log on to Step 2: Scroll down to the bottom of the web page and click on Portal option. Somerset College Preparatory Newsletter 25 March 2015 Page 3

4 Step 3: Click Register and sign in. Step 4: Fill in all fields given in list. Step 5: Click register and check your later for reply to say that you are registered. The reply will come from You will be asked to click on a link to activate your account. Step 6: Go back to the Portal screen and login with your and password and you will then be redirected to the portal to see the information on your children. Any problems please h.good@somcol.co.za. Somerset College Preparatory Newsletter 25 March 2015 Page 4

5 WEEKLY PLANNER Somerset College Preparatory Newsletter 25 March 2015 Page 5

6 Sports News Please note: For all sport communication, including sick notes, please contact Alwyn Brink as Sports Director: For Physical Education for the girls, contact Kirsty de Kock: For Physical Education for the boys, contact Hilton Toro: On Monday, 9 March Somerset College took part in the Helderberg Zonal Gala at Somerset House. Leah du Plessis received a gold medal for the u8 25m Freestyle. Alyssa Pretorius broke the record for the u9 25m Freestyle as well as received a gold medal for the u8 25m Breaststroke. Logan Dupont won the gold medal for u9 25m Freestyle as well as broke the record for u9 25m Backstroke. Harriet Wraith won the gold medal for the u9 Breaststroke. Michael du Toit won the gold medal for u9 25m Breaststroke. Mark Hegland received the gold medal for u8 Backstroke. Well done to all the swimmers who took part in the Zonal Gala. Somerset College Preparatory Newsletter 25 March 2015 Page 6

7 Somerset College took part in the Dolfyntjie Gala at De Hoop on Tuesday, 17 March. Our swimmers did exceptionally well at winning medals and breaking records. Gold medals: Giorgia Pretorius (u7 Freestyle) and set new record Callum Eaglestone (u7 Freestyle) and set new record Olivia Jordao (u7 Breaststroke) and set new record Leah du Plessis (u8 Freestyle and Backstroke) Alyssa Pretorius (u9 Freestyle, Backstroke and u7 u10 Butterfly) Logan Dupont (u9 Freestyle and Backstroke) and set new record for u9 Freestyle Harriet Wraith (u9 Breaststroke) Michael du Toit (u9 Breaststroke) Silver medals: Olivia Jordao (u7 Breaststroke) Callum Eaglestone (u7 Breaststroke) Takara Dupont (u8 Breaststroke) Daniel von der Heyden (u8 Breaststroke) Logan Dupont (u7 u10 Butterfly) Emma Jordao (u10 Breaststroke) Isabella Downie (u10 Backstroke) Bronze medals Mark Hegland (u8 Freestyle) Lise Herbst (u10 Freestyle) Somerset College finished in 1 st place and received the Dolfyntjie Gala trophy. Well done to all the swimmers who have been working extremely hard during the season. Somerset College Preparatory Newsletter 25 March 2015 Page 7

8 Rugby As part of our pre-season training we took our U13 players to the Alan Zondagh Rugby Academy for a training camp on Friday 20 and Saturday 21 March. The academy provided the boys with a perfect opportunity to get in some good training from professional coaches, while at the same time allowing for good team building. The facility is well equipped for sports teams, with a full gym, rugby fields, swimming pool, tennis courts. They boys enjoyed the accommodation and dining facilities. The boys have also been enjoying morning training in preparation for the season. Boys going through their drills All smiles after morning training Somerset College Preparatory Newsletter 25 March 2015 Page 8

9 Cricket Well done to Jonathan van Druten and Jesse Dukes who were selected to represent the Helderberg Zonal Cricket Team. Jesse Dukes and Jonathan van Druten U13 Cricketers with Papplewick Well done to our U13 cricketers for a great win and a good end to the season against Papplewick, from the UK. Papplewick batted first and scored a paltry 31 all out. Somerset College fielders were sharp in the field taking their catches and run outs. Somerset College took no time to chase the score reaching 32 in 7 overs. We would like to thank the parents, coaches and facilities staff for all their help during the cricket season. Somerset College Preparatory Newsletter 25 March 2015 Page 9

10 SCHOOL MAGAZINE Dear Parents Magazines will be sent home on Friday with your eldest child. Your school account will be debited with R185. If you want to order more than one copy of the magazine, please let Jean Dawson know via Nicky Whall Marketing Manager Somerset College Preparatory Newsletter 25 March 2015 Page 10

11 OUR HEARTS ARE RED ASSOCIATION S Somerset College Preparatory Newsletter 25 March 2015 Page 11