24/ 02 / 2017 I TERM 1 I NEWSLETTER

ISSUE

39

As you receive this addition of the Take Note, you will be preparing to come up to school for the first parent weekend of the year.

CONCERT TIME

Follow me to page 2

INSIDE

BLIND DATE WITH A BOOK

VALENTINE’S DAY AT DBCS

ACTION FACTION

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I would like to take this opportunity to thank the School community for producing yet another great MiMs weekend. In particular, I would like to thank all the boys for their tremendous resilience, dedication and professionalism during the preparation and the event itself. We

MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE HEAD

The weather is anticipated to be inclement and there may well be rain for the duration. Having said that, it will not alter our plans to have a productive Friday at school. However, if there is cause to cancel the gala, then academic classes will resume from after tea until lunch time. This will then be followed by a short concert, presented by the Artistic Director, Mr Bernard Krüger and his team.

The first of our Wednesday concerts begin on the 22nd of February. This is usually filled to capacity, with locals from the valley to whom we give a complimentary concert. As such, the boys will need to be dressed accordingly. Please ensure that your son has all the necessary uniform and academic items required before you journey to school.

With the up-and-coming Parent/Teacher interviews this weekend, you may wonder why we do them?

It gives a parent and the teacher a great opportunity to:

learn more about your child’s academic, emotional and social development meet and get to know your child’s teachers help the teachers understand more about your child make plans with the teacher about how you can both support your child build a relationship with your child's school.

If you don’t have any particular concerns, you might wonder whether it’s worth going to parent-teacher interviews. But going along is one way to show your child that you’re interested in his learning and his life at school.

Of course, if you do have concerns, it’s a chance for you to raise them with your child’s teacher, music or boarding staff, if you haven’t done that already, and so improve communication and service delivery by the school. I hope your meetings are fruitful and always in the interest of your son.

Please note the programme of events for the weekend and have a wonderful time with your son/s.

Andrew Stead

Andrew Stead

Executive Head

MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE HEAD

CONCERT TIME…CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

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NEWS FROM THE MUSIC DEPARTMENT

Sihle Manonyane (Griffin House - upstairs)

Stephen Barnard (Head of Music)

CHOIR AWARDS FOR THE PAST WEEK

NEW BOYS OF THE WEEK

Matthew Beuster

Connor McKenzie

Alec Gibson

Angus Sommerville

Kigen Chepkonga

Geo Kirsten Layton Abrahams Odirile Mokoma

CHORISTERS OF THE WEEK

Samkelo Mdakane

Itebogeng Machobane

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NEWS FROM THE ACADEMIC DEPARTMENT

RE-VAMPING THE LIBRARY

BLIND DATE WITH A BOOK

The Head Boy, Liam Muller lead a band of Grade 9 students around the school to invite some lucky boys to have a blind date with a book for Valentine’s Day!

The boys read a verse about a book, which gave clues about what was inside the gaily wrapped packages. Students were then selected to be the lucky recipients of a date with a mystery book. This was the English Department’s initiative to create readers and leaders. The boys who finish their books will enjoy a discussion with Mrs Couzyn and may even be rewarded a chocolate for their efforts. Happy reading boys!

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Understanding teenager talk, what are they saying to each other?

On Safer Internet Day (7 February 2017), UK Internet service provider BT revealed that 5.2 million adults are clueless when it comes to interpreting what kids are saying online. Over 4,500 adults took part in the research, and the majority were not able to translate the real meaning of slang that children use on the internet and cellphones. A different study conducted by South African Kids Online interviewed 552 parents to find out how they used the internet themselves and how they mediated their children's internet use. The study found that although children are generally active, engaged internet users, they tend not to receive much support from their parents, teachers and friends around their internet use, and generally were free to use the internet without supervision. This suggests that children are in need of more support from their parents, teachers and friends, around how to use the internet safely, which includes monitoring internet and cellphone chats and language. We're not advocating that you try to read all messages and online chats (or that you start using these acronyms and symbols yourself!), but being aware of common codes can help you identify any potential problems and keep children safe online.

Here are some hints to help you crack the code: Emojis

• Cheeky Monkey with paws over its mouth = "I won't tell anyone'"

• Emoji face with cross eyes = sometimes used to indicate that children have seen something X-rated online 10 Texting codes every parent and teacher should be aware of • WTPA – Where the party at? • PAL – Parents are listening • P999 – Parent alert • KOTL – Kiss on the lips • NIFOC – Nude in front of the Computer • 420 – Marijuana • 182 – I hate you • SMH – Shaking my head • SOS – Someone over shoulder • PIR – Parent in room

And these aren't even though most serious ones. Although KMS was interpreted by 65% of parents as "Keep my secret", the acronym actually means "Kill myself". The cryptic number "99" indicates that "Parents have stopped watching"; GNOC = "Get naked on camera"; and only 4% of the adults surveyed could identify decipher MIA, which is used by some young people online when they are talking about Bulimia, an eating disorder. But rather than just be known as a code-cracker, parents should speak to young people about how they use social media and chat online. Children's use of the internet is developing at a rapid pace, and online safety starts with a conversation. What you can do:

Talk to your children and students about their life online – what sites do they visit? How do they spend their

time? Who do they chat to? Which apps do they use?

Make them aware of types of issues to look out for, such as cyberbullying and online privacy.

Most importantly, let them know that you are there to support and protect them, not just be SOS (remember

what that one means?).

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THULE CARRY SOLUTIONS

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VALENTINE’S DAY AT DBCS

NEWS FROM MARKETING

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THROWBACK

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NEWS FROM THE SPORT DEPARTMENT

WALKING IN NATURE

Congratulations!

There is always time for some fun!

Well done!

A Drakie is always ready for a challenge.

Drakies ready for the challenge!

ACTION FACTION!

Drakie boys are multi-talented. They sing, dance and even between all of this have time to participate in sport. Boys you make the DBCS very proud!

Budding Drakie photo-journalists, JP van Heerden and André Wears-Taylor took these amazing photos of fellow Drakies in action at the Midmar Mile and Wagendrift events. Thank you boys.

Celebrating their achievements.

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NEWS FROM BOARDING

GRIFFIN HOUSE NEWS

Great excitement abounded on Friday night. Our first “Boarder of the Month” was presented with a very yummy Bar-One chocolate cake.

January’s winner was a tie – shared by André Wears-Taylor and Itebogeng Machobane. Congratulations to them both. Instant friendships were made that evening, with many clamouring for a taste!

What defines a Boarder of the Month?

He behaves responsibly at all times.

He is considerate and respectful to others.

He ensures that his appearance is consistently neat and tidy.

He displays good manners and is always courteous.

He surprises us with his ability to improve himself.

André was not available for a photo, as he and his friends had already polished off his cake before I was camera ready. Hmmm! I’ll have to make that a condition of acceptance.

Enjoy the Gala. Griffin Dads, see you all at the starting block for the Fathers Race. We need to show Tungay House how it is done!

Yours in loco parentis,

Verna Ayliffe

Itebogeng Machobane

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DBCS Grade 5

The photo on the left, with Liam Muller and Jonathan Frattaroli (on Liam’s shoulders), is a true reflection of the brotherhood and support the boys at DBCS give each other.

WE ARE TRULY BLESSED AND GRATEFUL FOR THE RAIN AT DBCS

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Another agreeable week has passed in my little cave in Tungay House. Most boys appear to be in fine fettle and are eagerly anticipating Parents’ Weekend. Those taking chronic meds have demonstrated improved compliance, so opportunities to deliver sound whippings, followed by bed without supper, have been scarce.

An unexpected development occurred after a few New Boys sampled the pleasures of Apple Cider Vinegar last week. A couple of days later, there were queues of the little blighters lining up at my door, demanding doses of the stuff. After briefly complying and merrily sloshing vinegar into all available receptacles with gay abandon, it dawned on me that no one was there on any medical grounds. I was merely a pawn in some masochistic and gung-ho Boys’ Club game. At that point, I found myself shrieking that the San was not a blinking Take-Away joint, where they can just walk in and place orders. I do healthcare - not hospitality - for crying-in-a-bucket-out-aloud! Everyone scattered and I have since had a lovely, quiet week.

Consistency is not my forte and I responded rather differently when a youngster requested some restorative substances yesterday. The diminutive nine-year old moseyed into the San, and while casting a casual eye over my assortment of potions, politely enquired “Do you by any chance have any vitamin C or garlic?” This elicited a thrilled reply of “Yes – I have both!” Faced with such a charming endorsement of two of my core products, I nearly gave him fifty of each.

Needless to say, the lad has rocketed to number one on my list of favourites. We aren’t supposed to have favourites so I limit myself to about five. These lucky chaps are the beneficiaries of occasional expressions of kindness and plenty of vitamin C and garlic. Sometimes I even slip them a probiotic. In my defence, I must explain that the list is fairly fluid and names change according to both my mood and the phases of the moon. One hopes that this, more-or-less, levels the playing field.

Sister Lianne

SNIPPETS FROM THE SAN

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Keenan Beeslaar

24 February

Liam Muller

24 February

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Jesse Barth

18 February

Kieran Griffin

22 February

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DATE EVENT TIME

17 – 19 February Parents Weekend

17 February Interhouse Gala

New Boys Parent Interviews

Parents Concert

14:30 - 15:30

18 February Parents Interviews

20 February Staff Briefing

Assembly

Prefects Tea

07:20 - 07:30

07:25 - 07:45

10:40 - 11:40

21 February Cycle Test 07:25 - 08:25

22 February Wednesday Concert 15:30 - 17:30

23 - 24 February Roadshow to Gauteng

23 February Assembly 10:05 - 10:25

24 - 26 February Carmina Slovenica Choir visit to DBCS

24 February Staff Briefing 10:20 - 10:40

25 February Choir Workshops

Saturday Concert

08:00 - 12:00

17:00 - 18:30

Calendar 17 February – 26 February 2017

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DRAKENSBERG BOYS CHOIR SCHOOL

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Tel: +2736 468 1012 | Fax: +2736 468 1709 | Email: administration@dbchoir.com | www.dbchoir.com

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