Results of the Grade 7 Swaziland Primary Certificate exams.
They were excellent. We had 17 first class passes with merit, 5 first class passes and 2 second class passes out of 24 entrants.
We also had 3 students in the top 50 in the country and we ranked top school in the country.
Congratulations to the Grade 7s and to all the teachers, because the teachers from Grade 1 up are responsible for the school’s good results.
The Little School opened in its new premises in September.
The children are delighting in the big, sunny grounds and are playing netball, volleyball and football. At playtime you find them all over the place, having their midmorning snack on the rocks and under the trees. They love the freedom.
We have started a vegetable garden and the Grade 7s have planted a small mealie field.
Karate: Wandile, the karate black belt, 7 dans, karate teacher, has been teaching our children twice a week for the last two terms. This term our children attended a tournament and came away with bronze, silver and gold medals. The School is very proud of their performance. Karate is a wonderful self-defence discipline, and, in today’s world, it can only be to one’s benefit to be able to defend oneself.
The Grade 7s finished writing the Swaziland Primary Certificate exams last Thursday
and the Grade 6s hosted a lovely School Leavers’ Party for them at Eveni Lodge on Friday. They came, dressed up in all their finery, only to shed it all and jump into the swimming pool. All the teachers came, including the teachers from the pre-school. They taught many of the Grade 7s when they were little three-year-olds.
School will close for the Christmas holidays on Friday, 29th December.
We will have a short prize giving ceremony on Friday, at 10a.m.
Parents who would like to attend will be very welcome.
The pre-school is having their concert on Thursday, 28th at 9a.m.
I have engaged a pre-school administrator, Chantele Ward, to run the pre-school from next term. She is young, enthusiastic and full of plans for the coming year. If parents have any ideas for the pre-school, please share them with us.
We would like to put parents onto a mailing list so that we can communicate with you instantly when we need to. Please give us your e-mail addresses as soon as possible.
Our telephone numbers at the moment are Joy 76114551 and 24111822, and Khanyisile 76426321.
We, at The Little School, wish you all a very happy and safe holiday.
Little School News.
February, 2013.
Grade 7 Results: This is old news, because you all know by now how well The Little School did in the Grade 7 Primary Certificate exams. We achieved 12 merits, 11 first classes and 1 second class. We had 5 pupils in the top 50,one in the top 10 – more than any other school in the country.
The School is growing: We have employed four new teachers, and created a double stream for grades 1,2,3 and 4. The two grade one classes are full, but we have vacancies in Grades 2,3 and 4. We aim to keep the numbers to no more than 25 pupils per class.
The New School: We are on schedule to move into the new school in Pine Valley by the beginning of the second term. The school is situated on the Pine Valley road, two and a half kms from town.
It is an entirely eco-friendly school, both with the buildings and the surroundings. Mr Maxwell Simelane, a parent at the school, has contracted to run a transport service specifically for The Little School.
The Buildings. The walls have high insulation properties, both acoustic and thermal, meaning that they will keep the classrooms cool in summer and warm in winter; and are non-porous, which means that there will be no problem with damp. The floors are covered with rubber matting, for sound and insulation. The windows are large, thus giving sufficient fresh air and light.
A sewerage treatment plant is being installed on site. It works on a dual system, meaning that it operates at 50% capacity, and should there be a problem of any sort, the system will switch to the second half of the system. The effluent quality will exceed the WHO standards for irrigation – so pure will it be. The effluent is treated and disinfected.
Agriculture: We have a beautiful area for agriculture, which should encourage a love of nature and gardening in all the pupils. The area is covered with shade cloth and has an underground irrigation system, which will help to make the children’s efforts really successful. We hope to try fish and vegetable farming in the future, and perhaps even make some money for the pupils from their efforts. The bird life around the dam and stream is amazing.
The Grounds: The playgrounds are big and beautiful. Trees are being planted to provide shady areas, and a site has been set aside for levelling to provide a sports field. A swimming pool is also being planned. This is a school for the future.
Teacher Training: Several of our teachers are going on a whole day First Aid course on Saturday.
On Thursday the teachers have begun a course with Mr Peter Shields, the well-known maths teacher from Waterford and St Marks High , and for many years the maths inspector for Hhohho. Mr Shields is going to give lectures on understanding maths with an aim to improving the standard of maths teaching in the school – a subject close to the heart of the headmistress.
THE LITTLE SCHOOL
Code of Conduct Policy
The aims of the Code of Conduct are:
– to promote the rights and safety of all students, teachers and parents
– to ensure that the students are responsible for their own actions and behaviour
– to prohibit all forms of discrimination and intolerance
– to eliminate disruptive and offensive conduct
This is divided into the School Rules and Disciplinary System. We, at The Little School, refer to Rules as guidelines and principles that govern us, but a legal document is necessary to establish certain fixed laws that govern the conduct of the students at school.
A. School Rules
The school rules are to establish and maintain a disciplined and purposeful environment in which students can flourish and prosper. The aims of these rules are:
-to promote the rights and safety of all students, teachers and parents
-to ensure that the students are responsible for their own actions and behaviour
-to prohibit all forms of discrimination and intolerance
-to eliminate disruptive and offensive conduct
General
1. Students are expected to behave in a courteous and considerate manner towards each other, to all members of staff and to visitors of the School.
2. No student has the right to ever behave in a manner that disrupts other students or causes them any harm.
3. The School will contact parents/guardians when a student’s behaviour becomes a cause for concern.
Attendance
1. All students are to arrive at School before the official starting time.
2. If a student is regularly late or absent, the principal will be informed and will follow this up with the parents.
3. Any absence must be covered by a note or a phone call to the office.
4. No student may leave the School during school hours without notification from the parent and the permission from the principal or head teacher.
Appearance
1. Fingernails must be trimmed and clean at all times.
2. Students must come to school neat and clean.
3. Students must wear their school uniform when they are at school and when they are on a school outing.
4. Boys are to wear their hair short. No dreadlocks.
5. Girls are to wear their hair short and tidy. Girls may have their hair braided provided the braids are short and close to the scalp. No extensions. Beads, decorations or fringes hanging over their faces are not permitted.
6. Only small earrings are allowed as jewellery for the girls. No other jewellery is permitted.
7. Watches may be worn, but these need to be functional and not distracting. If the students are distracted by the watch, the teacher will remove it until home time.
Personal Belongings
1. The school will not be held responsible for theft or damage to personal belongings on the school premises.
2. Students are not allowed to bring toys, cell phones or any other electronic devices to school. If parents need to make or change arrangements with their child, they should do so by phoning the office. (Parents should remember that drug dealers and paedophiles can have access to a child through his/her cell phone.) Cell phones repeatedly having to be confiscated from a student will be kept until the end of the term.
3. Snacks and drinks: Students are only allowed to bring healthy food to school. That means no sweets, crisps, flavoured yoghurts, as well as flavoured and/or carbonated drinks. Purified water is provided at school. No other drinks are allowed at school. Children should have their lunch box, drinking cup and their wearing apparel marked clearly with their name and class.
4. Indoor shoes. All children will be obliged to remove their outdoor shoes before entering classrooms. Therefore, they should bring indoor shoes/slippers/thick socks to be worn in the classroom and these must be left in the classroom.
Rules Governing Public Places
1. No dangerous objects are to be brought on to the school property.
2. No alcohol, tobacco, cigarettes or illegal substances are permitted on to the school property.
3. Skateboards and roller blades are considered by the School to be dangerous and are not allowed anywhere on the school premises.
Transport
1. All parking at the school is done at own risk.
2. Vehicles may only be parked in the designated area. No parking is allowed in the drop-off area; the driver may not be outside the vehicle in this area. Parents are reminded that parking in the reception area is for the teaching and administrative staff only.
3. Parents must make their own arrangements with transport companies. The School does not own a transport company, but they do have a recommended company. Parents should enquire at the School.
Religious and Cultural Rights
1. The Little School is predominantly a Christian school and the prayers and hymns sung at assembly follow the Christian form of worship, but all religions are respected and the beliefs and customs of different religions are taught during Religious Education lessons.
2. The beliefs, cultures, dignity and rights of all students and teachers are to be respected by all students and teachers at all times.
General Rules
Playing in the toilets, the classrooms, the teachers’ staff room, the office block, the parking area, the areas behind the classroom buildings and all other restricted areas is forbidden.
1. All litter must be placed in the appropriate bins.
2. Wilful damage or neglect of any school property is prohibited.
3. Theft of school and private property is prohibited.
4. Any act of cheating is prohibited.
5. Disruptive, unruly, rude behaviour will not be tolerated.
6. Handing in of all reading books, homework, projects and any other work is the responsibility of each student.
7. No racist or discriminatory language or bullying or racist behaviour will be tolerated.
8. Frightening, threatening or intimidating other students is forbidden.
B. Disciplinary System
Each teacher is responsible for discipline during school hours and has the full authority and responsibility to correct the behaviour of the students where necessary. No corporal punishment is permitted.
In repeated and/or serious offences the following list of corrective measures (not in order or quantity) used by the school are aimed at correcting behaviour before suspension and expulsion:
-verbal reprimand
-written warning
-final and written warning
-removal from classes
-referral for counselling
-fines to compensate for damages
-temporary suspension from class
-disciplinary hearing
Behaviour Offenses
The following types of behaviour (not conclusive) may result in a discipline referral being submitted to the administration.Repeatedly:
– Breaking classroom guidelines
– Disrupting a class or classroom
– Violation of dress code
– Throwing objects
– Running in classrooms, hallways or sidewalks
– Violation of a student’s personal space and rights with regard to private body parts
– Being in restricted areas during non-designated times.
– Use of or bringing of personal items from home (the item will be held by the teacher)
– Use of or possession of cellular phones or electronic devices (items will be held in the office until collected by the parent)
– Chewing gum
– Failing to return contracts, parent letters, etc. after reasonable reminders and chances have been given
– Using obscene language, gestures or behaviour, or bringing obscene materials to school
– Attendance problems
– Defiant or disrespectful language or behaviour
– Bullying, (threatening or extorting)
– Deceitful behaviour (false accusations, forgery, plagiarism, lying, cheating, etc.)
It is a condition of attendance at the School that you and your child/children sign in the spaces provided. Please read this document to your child/children so that all are aware of the school rules.
Declaration: We, the undersigned, do hereby declare that we have read, understood and accept the terms of this Contract; and we have read and explained these rules to our child/children who are students at The Little School.
Signed at ……………………………… on……………………………..20….
Parent/Guardian…………………………………………………………………..
Parent/Guardian……………………………………………………………………
Student……………………………………………………………………………….
Student…………………………………………………………………………………
Student………………………………………………………………………………
Accepted by the School at
…………………………………………on…………………………………………….
Head of School………………………………………………………………………………….
Parents General Obligations and Policies of the School:
• You will inform the school in writing, prior to admission and enrolment, of any special educational needs of your child known to you.
• The pass mark at the end of the academic year is 60%
• In order to fulfil our obligations, we need your co-operation. We need you to encourage your child in his or her studies, and give appropriate support at home. Keep the School informed of matters which affect your child; maintain a courteous and constructive relationship with School staff; and otherwise keep in touch with the School where your child’s interests require you to do so.
• TRANSPORT: There will be a fine of E50 for every half hour that your child remains at school after 4 p.m.
• SCHOOL FEES: Fees are to be paid in full, at or before the beginning of each term. If not, your child will not be allowed into class.
• Classes are not to be disrupted at any time; therefore anyone wishing to contact the class teacher must report to the Office upon arrival at school. Whenever possible, we encourage parents to make an appointment in advance.
The Head may in his or her discretion require you to remove or may suspend or expel your Child if your behaviour is in the reasonable opinion of the Head so unreasonable as to affect or likely to affect the progress of your Child or another child (or other children) at the School or the well-being of the School staff or to bring the School into disrepute.
The Head may in his or her discretion, require you to remove or may suspend or expel your Child from the School, if he/she considers that your Child’s attendance, progress or behaviour (including behaviour outside the school) is seriously unsatisfactory and in the reasonable opinion of the Head the Child’s removal is in the School’s best interests or those of your Child, other children or the wider School community. In this case, you will be asked to remove your Child either immediately and without notice, or at a specified date that is shorter than a full term, with or without notice in any form, as is reasonable under the circumstances. The School will not be required to give you a full term’s written notice under these circumstances.
The School rules set out examples of offences likely to be punishable by suspension or expulsion. These examples are not a closed list and a child may be expelled or suspended for offences, which are not included in these examples. In particular, the Head may decide that suspension or expulsion for a lesser offence is justified where there has been previous misbehaviour by the child or the circumstances of the case otherwise justify such action.
Declaration: I/We, the undersigned, do hereby declare that I/We have read and understood these Parental Obligations and the Policies of the School.
Signed at __________________________on_______________20..
________________________________________________________ Parent/Guardian
Signed at __________________________on_______________20..
________________________________________________________ Parent/Guardian
The new site for The Little School is progressing.
Contrary to what was printed in the newspaper, The Little School has been given authorisation to continue in our present premises
until the new buildings are complete. WE have authorisation for the whole of the first term, but we should have moved before the end of this term..
School uniforms for the boys: We feel that the white shirts will very soon look shabby, so we have decided on blue tisheshwe shirts for the boys, which will look very smart and will fit in with the Tisheshwe look of the new uniforms.
New uniforms for The LITTLE SCHOOL
New School Uniforms for The Little School.
We have designed new school uniforms to celebrate the new premises.
The girls will wear red dresses in Tisheshwe print. They can wear them without a blouse in hot weather or with a white blouse or shirt, or, red or white polar neck sweaters under the dresses in winter. The tracksuits are plain red and so are the knitted jerseys. They will have black school shoes and white socks or tights.
The boys will wear white overshirts with Tisheshwe trim on the sleeves and pockets. Also white or red polar neck sweaters, red tracksuits and red knitted jerseys over navy blue trousers. Black school shoes and grey school socks.
The new uniforms can be bought at the school at the most reasonable price possible.
In August The Little School’s drama group, called Emantjwele Children’s Theatre, put on a really wonderful show based on Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Joseph and his Amazing Technicolour Dream Coat”, at the Swaziland Theatre Club. It was a great success and we decided that it deserved another showing. So, we asked Jiggs Thorne at House on Fire if we could perform it at his wonderful venue. He very kindly gave us the venue for free and we did another very good show. Hearing about it, the Mbabane Club asked us to perform again the following evening. We had wonderful comments of praise from everyone. Especial praise must go to Teacher Simolline, who taught the children the songs – without a single musical instrument, except the voice – and to Frances Farrell, who designed and made the lovely costumes. We have called the drama group The Emantjwele Children’s Theatre, because we don’t want to just be classed as a school drama group, but we really want to promote Children’s Theatre in Swaziland. We discovered wonderful talent among the children who joined the drama group, and they grew in power and talent during the performances.
In September we had a very enjoyable athletics day down at The Prince of Wales sports ground. Children from Grades 0 to 7 took part and great fun was had by all.
A recommendation from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP): limit your children’s screen time to two hours or less per day, none at all for under-twos. “Screen time” refers to time spent watching TV, playing on a computer. (games and educational programs), smartphone or IPad or tablet. Apart from the obvious results from lack of exercise, too much screen time is linked to emotional, social and attention span problems, poor performance at school, and a desensitization to violence.
For very young viewers, the major worries are sleep issues and a delay in language acquisition.
When I read this article I felt that it was very important to pass it on to the parents of my school.
The Little School 