CdT Times

Holding our Heads Up High at Ndiyeva

Every three years Carel du Toit goes all out with the Ndiyeva Conference, to provide not only par-ents teachers and thera-pists the latest in world trends, but the greater South African profession-als who are involved in hearing loss and rehabili-tation.

Ndiyeva has developed the reputation of being

the best conference in it’s field in Africa and not surprisingly, was fully booked.

Under the dynamic lead-ership of Surida who al-ways sets the bar high and Immaculate Events, Ndiyeva 2017 was every-thing it promised to be.

International speakers, local inspiration, teen and parent panels, an opportunity to network and view the latest prod-ucts from Hearing Tech-nology companies raised the bar, as Ndiyeva promised to do, high. All in the luxury of the Lord Charles Hotel.

Google our Speakers to find out more about them:

Dr Ryan

McCreery

Dr Hannah Eskridge

Amy Szarkow-ski

Dr de Wet Swanepoel - our very own South African Audiology guru.

Celebrating our Families on Carel Day

The first Saturday in March as his-tory dictates is Carel Day and this year the idea was for families old and new to have fun WITH their children much like Celebrate your Child Day. There was a puppet

show that had everyone cheering and then on to cupcake decorating and sand-art under the shade cloth. Tug of War, Three-legged races and Sack Races were fun for participants and spectators alike.

Inside this issue:

CHATerrific quotes

2

Hellos and Good Byes

2

Interview with Adri

3

Prizes 2016 3

Kids Quotes 3

CHAT News 4

Dates to Diarise

4

Did you know Designer Moulds are trending at Carel du

Toit.

There are red, neon orange and bright

blue and even moulds with shiny glitter available. So too are swim plugs

for bathing, shower-ing and swimming.

Pop into Audiology to find out more.

Carel du Toit Centre

March 2017

Volume 10 Issue 1

Die Careldag Kommittee onder lei-erskap van Andrénette maak elke jaar seker dat die oggend vlot afloop en 2017 was geen uitsondering nie.

The blue and yellow Rotary flags that gently waved in the breeze on 9 February match the Carel du Toit colours perfectly. A visual represen-tation of a remarkable collaboration that brought to fruition the official opening of the Carel du Toit Netball and Tennis Court. Past parent Sue Pietersen, Chair-man of the Bristol Breakfast Rotary Club stretched her hand across the ocean to partner with Bellville Rota-ry Club to make this dream come true. Sue literally went all out when she leapt out of an aeroplane amongst other things to raise funds for the project. An additional treat for us

was to meet her son Hughan who was a pupil at the school in the 1990s. You can follow Sue’s Facebook page: Speech for Deaf Children which traces their early journey of teaching Hughan to speak at the Carel du Toit Centre. After Sue cut the ribbon and offi-cially opened the new Court, the Rotarians were treated to an im-pressive demonstration under the guidance of Teacher Esmaré. Ever since the children eagerly stream to the courts and fields at break. They are keen and thriving.

Hellos and Goodbyes

Hello to a host of new CdT Faces, most of whom have been part of the family already. First and foremost is our new principal, Adri who we welcome with open arms in her new position.See interview on page 3.

A warm welcome too to a family we know well. Yolandé is Leané’s mom and our HOT-POT teacher and when their family joined them in Cape Town, dad Edmund and Gran Irene helped us out of a tight spot and very ably stepped into the positions of Driver and Housekeeper respectively.

So too with Luntu’s mom Nolitha, who has been a perfect fit as assistant to Unidene in the Beginner Class.

We are delighted to have Comm Servs Audiologist

Nuha and Speech Therapist Adilah join the Carel du Toit team for the year.

And a happy hello to Sue Rumble, well known in Cape Town for her work with children with multiple challenges. Sue has slotted right in joining us in Carmen’s Ma-ternity Speech Therapy post as well as sharing her expertise as an Early Interven-tionist at CHAT.

In the school Teacher Bea, a face from the past, has happily settled into our growing Grade R class while in Marike’s maternity post Teacher Hanlie Miller (not to be con-fused with acting Deputy Principal Hanlie Maree) calmly fitted into the Carel du Toit team and is extending her stay as teacher in our new Beginner class.

The maternity posts have born fruit as we welcome three adorable new babies to the CdT fold: Marike’s Marluné, Singathwa’s Qhamani and Carmen’s Christiaan.

At the TRUST, Angela van der Merwe, Carel du Toit Trust Chairman, Gerhard’s wife, has temporarily filled a new position as director.

You will recognize her by her warm smile in the passages, but it is another smile in the passages that will be missed…

The smile that has accompa-nied donors as Valerie intro-duced them to the joys of Carel du Toit.

“Fund-raising in a competitive market is always a challenge but once the visitors walked through the door and see the

children” she always says, it is an easy sell.

And so it is that we say good-bye to Va-lerie, fund-raising manager. The same faith and infectious enthusiasm that led her to the Carel du Toit door takes her now to the next part of her journey and we wish her well in her future ventures.

Keeping All the Balls in the Air

CdT Times Page 2

Our CHATerrific morning for the CHAT Centre families was a morning of inspiration, wisdom and sharing as four families told their unique stories.

Mamma Yolandé: Everything was new to us. It was hot outside and I was shivering. At the end of the day... God will not give you a

child you can’t look after. It doesn’t matter how many tears and what you go through, this is not about us, it is about our child. You are stronger than you think. You will look back one day and you never thought you would make it this far. We don't know where our

journey will end ... stay positive and keep on praying.

Mama Nolitha : I found out when Luntu was 4 already. My aunt phoned me. I think your child has a problem because he is supposed to talk and he can’t talk. My mom said “no it can’t be like that, he is fine, because he can say Mom “ It was only one word. I didn't know what to do. A nurse said why he can’t talk at 4? He is supposed to talk a lot at 4. They confirmed Luntu has a hearing loss. Both ears. He got hearing aids in December and it was challenging to put those things on my child. He was pulling them off. I never saw a deaf child. What they gonna say about me? What will I tell them...In February he started school and then it was better. He started to talk. I

can talk to him. When I look at my boy I’m happy.

Mom Mia: On Friday 23rd October 2015, exactly a month after Neave was born, we received the diagnosis that she is profoundly deaf. I felt like my world had come undone. In the days that followed, I had moments when I wanted to die. I had so desperately wanted another baby, but this is not what I had planned for my life. I didn’t want my baby to struggle through life because of a permanent disability. My dream of my ‘perfect family’ was shattered. And the dreams for my baby were taken from me. I had thoughts like: Will

she speak? Will she get married? Will she be loved? When we received the diagnosis, the audiologist gave me the contact details for Carel du Toit, a place I had never before heard of. At the meeting we met with Surida and I felt like I was given permission to hope in what a cochlear implant might mean for Neave. I find a deeper meaning in my life because of my daughter. I find a real sense of purpose. She has been hearing for 1 year now … and she

loves music and dancing, reading stories and singing and says “more more” when I finish singing a nursery rhyme.

Ma Millicent: It was hard but we accepted it very easily because we loved her. Because of our love and closeness with her parents it was very easy for us. Its their first little one and I think it is extra tough for them. We have to be there for them. Leah was fitted with hearing aids on the 15th of June and it was an exciting day but Leah wasn’t very excited! It only took her one day and she got used to

her hearing aids. We didn't know that they can put it in the computer and it would show everything. Surida said “Wow little Leah wears her hearing aids 10 hours a day. “ Later I said to my daughter , “What if we had told a lie?”

As our sports bouquet grows, so does our need for help. Our coaches are teachers, admin, drivers and audiology staff members. If you are able to help please contact Natalie.

Adri looks at home in her new office. There’s coffee at the door and brand new blue chairs.

And on the topic of furniture, so it is with Adri. She is part of the Carel du Toit furniture. Vice principal for the past eight years and a teacher with many years experience under the belt, who has built a reputation for excep-tional teaching particularly amongst the littlest in the school.

And while the school sighs a big sigh of relief that our new boss is Adri, we have ‘lost’ a remarkable teacher. Hav-ing her own special class is something she misses too.

“No matter how you feel on a day” she says whimsically” they will always make you feel like the bees knees”

Terwyl die satisfaksie nie dieselfde is nie, gaan dit nog steeds oor die kinders. Haar ondervinding het haar wys gemaak. Hierdie metode werk. Doen dit op die regte manier en die resultate is daar. Dit is hierdie passie wat gelei het tot ‘n droom om die hele personeel op te lei. “Dit is nie moeilik nie,” sê sy. Dit verg net insig en oefen-ing.

En dit is nie net passie nie, maar sy is ‘n puik organiseerder, iemand wat kalm kan bly as ander paniekerig raak. En dit is juis hierdie eienskap wat hierdie holder-stebolder eerste maande haar nie oor-weldig het nie.

Adri moes bond staan in hierdie splintenuwe posisie want sy is ‘n week voor die kwartaal begin het, eers in ken-nis gestel dat sy as ons nuwe hoof, aangestel is.

The year started with a bang. On day two, we found ourselves without a driver and a housekeeper, and it did not end there. Three floods in this time of water scarcity and a burglary at CHAT which meant a midnight drive to the school. The Rotary International event, attending all case discussions, taking medical stu-dents on weekly tours, inviting Helen Zille to open the conference, principals meetings, policies, WCED protocol, and writing financial reports are all part and parcel of Adri’s day. And the first term ended with an even bigger bang– Carel du Toit satellite meetings and the Ndiyeva Conference.

And it is the team, she says that has carried her this term with the most won-derful support. Ruth made sure that it would be a comfortable slide from deputy to the principal’s post. But it is the team who pop into the office with a thank you and a well done that keeps her going. “That’s all I need” she says with a smile. And of course a hug from one of the kids. Because at the end of the day that is who it is all about.

Kids Quoteséé

In Teacher Andrenette’s class the

Grade R’s have been learning about

grandparents. In the Carel du Toit

way, the children experience new

vocabulary. So on this day it was

powder to make grey hair and wrin-

kles drawn on their foreheads.

Athaliah looking at herself in the mir-

ror piped up. “ I’m a granma, cos I’ve

got sprinkles.”

Interview with our Principal Adri

Our trophies and shields are on display in the foyer, next to Elna’s office. Congratulations to the 2016 achievers:

Gr 1 Shield: Noah Jansen

Gr2 Shield: Sipahle Gxavu and Shiloh Rhoda Gr3 Shield: Thinus Swart and Jorja Jones

Dux Learner: Gideon Neethling

Girls Hockey Trophy: Sipahle Gxavu

Boys Hockey Trophy: Rozario Holland

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Volume 10 Issue 1 Pa

Parent Meetings are a fest of information at the beginning of the year and the highlight is often the guest speaker. Lauren Pistor is 19 years old and tells it as it is. Young bubbly and full of real stories about mainstreaming with a Severe Profound Hearing Loss, she also reminisced about her preschool years at Carel du Toit

and her parents role in her remarkable Journey.

The Mainstream Meeting to support mainstream

teachers with learners with hearing loss in their

classes addresses the journey onward. Tips, infor-

mation and responding to the teachers’ questions

about real life experiences in their classrooms is

their need and to know that they are not alone and

can reach out to Carel du Toit for help.

Donations

It has been a term full of treats and surprises from

Pick and Pay’s stickees to Redfern stickers and the cherry on top was a generous and very welcome donation of TAKKIES for EVERY child in the school from a restaurant who is al-

ways there for our children. DOPPIO.

OK Golf Day had the Grade R’s cheering on the golfers as they raised funds for our kids.

Our annual Athletics against Husseland was

once again more about running between the lines

and completing the race than winning for our pre-

schoolers and at the end of the day, we are not

always sure who won, but we know it was fun.

Who Won What in 2016

Alles en Nog Wat

Lucio in Teacher Angelique’s class is

becoming a little tease:

On the way back from an outing, he

recognised a white Tazz and comment-

ed ”Look Angelique there’s your car.”

When she told him that it was the

same car but not actually hers, he said

with a grin” No wait, you will see, your

car is gone.”

When Teacher Liezel walked into the

Grade 3 classroom clearly in conversation

with the Easter Bunny, there was much

excitement and discussion and, as it is

with Easter Bunnies, so many unknowns.

Shiloh watched astutely from the side

and then asked Teacher Margot, “ so

does Teacher Liezel have the Easter

Bunny’s number?”

Laurette’s Talk Trophy: best progress in com-munication in the Pre-school: Junior Jacobs

Laurette se Praat Prys: best progress in com-munication in the Grades: Caden van Heerden

Audiology Trophy for the Best Hearing Aid User: CJ Buttress

Inge’s Vonkelkind/ Spunky Child Trophy: Inako Kom

Carel Kids are Planet Earth Warriors.

Please remember that we recycle

paper and tin, and we dispose of used batteries safely.

Barbara and Jenni have their hands full too. Flying to Joburg to mentor a new group of students in the local LSL course and at the same time are be-coming students themselves as they embark on a 2 year venture to be-come certified Auditory Verbal Thera-pists. Internationally recognised as the gold standard in early interven-tion, the AV opportunity presented itself through Southern ENT and they have grabbed it with both hands, rais-ing the bar not only for themselves but for Carel du Toit.

The 2017 Chatterboxes are a group of one year olds who meet twice a month with their parents for a morning of fun, group activities and socialising, under the guidance of Mariette and Barbara.

Nuha our Community Service Audiologist is available to do crèche visits to support teachers in the mainstream. Understand-ing technology and the challenges of

The CHAT Centre has being inundat-ed with new referrals and it is with a grateful heart that we welcome Sue Rumble to our team to ease the load. (see Hellos on page 2)

Support is what our Parents need and it has been a term for exact-ly that. We kick off every year with our CHATerrific meeting where a panel of parents share their stories.( see page 2) Once again the request was to have more meetings during the year.

Which, in fact, there are, but on a smaller scale. Charmaine has Parent Support Groups monthly and also holds the XHOSA Sup-port Groups in her office, run by Singathwa, Nolitha and Yandiswa. The parents tell their own stories in MOTHER TONGUE and in May Susan joined them to share information about hear-ing aids, Baha’s, Cochlear Im-plants and FMs as requested at their first meeting.

Mariette attended a Tiny Handz Early Signing program based on South African Sign Language to support the children with different communica-tion needs. A support group is being planned to teach parents and their children while they wait to be accept-ed into a Signing program.

hearing loss help the educators to optimally support the children in their schools.

Parents are encouraged to inform and communicate with the crèches and Day Cares that their children attend but having professional support leaves no stone unturned to help our little ones reach their best potential.

My School Card Register online or get a card at your

local Woolworths store.

Fill in CAREL DU TOIT PRE-PRIMARY as your beneficiary.

Or get a form from Mariette and your card is issued immediately.

It’s quick and easy.

It costs you nothing.

And the more shopping

the more money for Carel du Toit.

For further information or additional forms you can contact Mariette at

chat.head@careldutoit.co.za

World Hearing Day 3 March 2017

N1City Netcare staff popped in

with juices and cupcakes to celebrate Hearing.

Surida has a finger on the pulse and keeps our

Facebook page alive and interesting. Stay in touch by following and liking

photos events and news.

DATES TO DIARISE

8 June

Individual Photos

9 June

Class, Sport and Cultural Pho-tos

9 June

Winter Dance

16 June

Youth Day

30 June Last day of Term 2

PLEASE CHECK YOUR CHILD’S

LETTER BOOK FOR EXTRA

DATES e.g. Support Groups

and Case Discussions.

The CHAT Centre: so much to CHAT about