Newsletter: March, Term 1 - 2019

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It feels like we have reached the end of the first term in the blink of an eye. Although “STOP and B” is our theme, it is certainly getting harder to do in the daily rush of life.

Epworth staff must be commended for their excellent efforts in keeping such a busy school and its pupils as their primary concern. All their efforts have not gone unnoticed and we are truly indebted to them. I cannot stress enough how fortunate we are in this day and age to have such a professional and dedicated staff that are child-centred and always go beyond the call of duty.

On behalf of the staff, I would like to thank all the parents for their wonderful support and loyalty to our school. Schools are buildings - it is the community of all the stake-holders that makes it a special place. And Epworth is a very special place.

This wonderful parent support was clearly seen with this year’s Mudman. Under the leadership of Mrs Sally Fuhri, an amazing group of parents helped organise and run the event. We knew that this year would be a very different and challenging event, especially since the sighting of crocodiles had taken a big bite out of our entries, but the committee still managed to make a good profit. Well done to all the parents who braved the weather and supported us on the day.

A massive thanks to all the parents who generously sponsored Mudman and allowed it to continue as a sought-after event on the calendar.

On behalf of the pupils and staff, I would like to thank Mrs Sarah Howells for joining the Epworth family again this year as a locum teacher in Grade 3 while Mrs Tamlyn Liefeldt has been on maternity leave. We are so grateful to her for her wonderful dedication and commitment to the children in her class. We are looking forward to welcoming Mrs Liefeldt back to the Grade 3 classroom next term.

On behalf of all the Epworth Prep staff, I would like to take this opportunity to wish the Epworth families all the best for their holidays. We challenge you to make as much time as possible to sit and do nothing and to appreciate all that is around you.

STOP and B

Fida Humana Fortis

Reynard White

Thank you to the Parents’ Association

A very big THANK YOU to all the Prep School parents for

the new cushions and allocation of Prep School Parents’

Association funds for new books in our Library. Thank

you for helping us maintain our Library as one of the

most favourite places in the School for our children to

“STOP and B”.

Mr Reynard White with Mrs Moira St Leger

(Deputy Principal) and Mrs Katherine Botha

(Principal’s PA and School Secretary).

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Epworth aQuellé Mudman Such a wonderful and muddy, fun-filled day was had by all the participants and families that attended this year’s

Epworth aQuellé Mudman held at Albert Falls Dam on Sunday, 3 March. Thank you must go to Mrs Sally Fuhri and her

Mudman Committee for all the hard work in co-ordinating such an event. This event could not have been possible

without the generous support of our sponsors and the continuous support of our Epworth families. Thank you to all.

This year we raised R145 000.00 from the event. These funds will contribute to the campus developments at our School.

Pre-Primary Moms’ and Dads’ Nights

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Grade 5 Assembly - STOP and B

The Grade 5s presented “STOP and B”, a class assembly about being mindful and

living in the moment. When a group of children become weighed down by all the worries of the world, “STOP and B” gave

them some helpful strategies to overcome their worries.

Bumblebee and Bubble Breathing, the Glitter Jar, Take 5 and even a Body Boogie to dance the worries away were some of the highlights! In fact, the Body Boogie was so infectious that even the parents

had a chance to join in!

Ash Wednesday and Easter Services

Parents were invited to join us for our Ash Wednesday services on 6 March. It was a wonderful opportunity to be

reminded to “STOP and B” for the 40 days of Lent in preparation for Easter.

Our Easter service had the theme “Come to the table” and reminded us that

Jesus welcomes all to come, to sit down and be set free!

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Our Prep School has had a wonderful sporting start to the year. We are very proud of our pupils who have

participated in all the different sporting codes on offer, including Diving, Swimming, Artistic Swimming, Cricket, Squash,

Canoeing and Tennis.

Many of our pupils took part in Diving competitions this term, all receiving certificates for their excellent achievements.

Five Epworth Prep pupils participated in the Inter-Schools’ Canoe Marathon at Camp’s Drift and the KZN Canoe Sprint

Championships at Shongweni Dam. All our canoeists are doing really well. Congratulations on a great season.

Our boys and girls showed great enthusiasm and excitement on the Cricket pitch. Their hard work paid off as they

improved with each match and learnt to excel in each area. Well done to everyone for their efforts.

Congratulations must go to all our Prep School Swimmers on their wonderful achievements this term. Congratulations to

the A team for winning the Inter-Prep B Gala and for coming 3rd in the Inter-Schools’ A Gala held at Pine Street.

Mr Leon Jackson, Head of Sport

On the Sports Front

Community Engagement: Easter Projects

This term the Grades RRR to 2 pupils

have collected Easter Eggs to be

distributed to two schools that Epworth

supports: Itembalomntwana Pre-school

in Edendale and Eden Kids at Jika Joe

Informal Settlement.

The Grades 3 to 7 pupils donated

seedlings and compost that were used to

re-plant and extend the vegetable

gardens at the above-mentioned two

schools.

We welcomed the residents of Allison

Homes to our School for a special tea

served by the Grade 6s and to watch the

rehearsal of the Prep School

Easter Service.

Our visitors loved the outing.

The Grade 5 pupils wrote,

edited and illustrated their

own stories for the Grade 1 pupils.

Teaching them about faith,

compassion and courage,

as well as kindness, forgiveness

and bravery – The Grade 5s

used a minibeast as the main

character in their story.

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J Day in Grade 1 One of the sounds that the Grade 1s covered in Phonics this term was the ‘j’ sound. They came to school wearing jerseys,

jeans, jumpsuits or jackets and had such fun participating in various activities to do with the sound.

Grade 5 Mini Beasts

International Eco-School Flag Diving Achievements

Epworth took part in the KZN selection competition

on the 16th March at Kings Park Pool.

Congratulations to the following pupils who have

been selected to the KZN Diving Team for 2019:

Jessica van Rooyen (Reserve), Elihle Dlwati,

Emmanuel Seyoum, Tayler van Wyngaard and

Rachel Calder (Reserve).

Epworth is one of the two oldest Eco-Schools in the

country and has recently been awarded a

Platinum 1 Decade award for our environmental

projects and efforts. Epworth has received an

international Eco-Schools’ award every year since

2003.

Important dates for Prep School Term 2, 2019

APRIL

Wed 24 Staff and Pupils return

Thurs 25 Extra-Curricular Programme commences

Sat 27 Public Holiday - school day (staff only)

Tues 30 Grade 4 leave for class trip (Roselands)

MAY

Wed 1 Grade 4 away Public holiday (school day) close @ 12:00 (no lunch programme or Aftercare)

Thurs 2 Grade 4 return from class trip

Fri 3 WS Bands to the Max MPC 2

Sat 4 Epworthian Day PS Hockey uMgungundlovu Trials

Sun 5 PS Hockey uMgungundlovu Trials

Wed 8 Voting Day - close @ 12:00 (no lunch programme or Aftercare)

Sat 11 U9 + U10 Girls’ Hockey Festival @ Epworth from 08:00 - 12:00 Epworth Foundation Mums and Daughters Tea @ 14:00, MPC 2

Mon 13 World Knowledge Olympiad Chess League @ 14:00, Epworth

Tues 14 U9 + U10 Netball Festival from 12:30 - 16:30, Epworth

Wed 15 David Orr and friends in Concert @ 18:00

Thurs 16 KZNPO Educational Concert Grades 3 - 7 @ 10:00 - 10:45

Fri 17 Grade 4 Assembly @ 11:50

Sat 18 WS Staff First Aid Training Course

Mon 20 Grades 5 + 6 leave for class trips (Durban + Nyala Pans)

Tues 21 Grades 5 + 6 away

Wed 22 Grades 5 + 6 return from class trips Chapel : Grades R - 4 + 7 @ 08:00 Grades RR and RRR @ 08:30

Thurs 23 Tekkie Tax Civvies Day Grade 7 Endurance Challenge Half-term - close @ 12:00 (no lunch programme or Aftercare)

MAY

Fri 24 Half-term - School closed

Mon 27 Half-term - School closed

Tues 28 Junior Choir Festival @ 18:00, TWC

Wed 29 No chapel today PPS Grades R only: Eye screening (Hilliar and Gray) @ 08:00 Inter-school Choir Evening @ 18:00, Epworth

Thurs 30 Ascension Day Service @ 08:00 PPS Grade R only: Hearing screening (Phonak) @ 08:00 Diskonto Book Fair - Library

Fri 31 Inter-house Cross Country Grades 1 - 7 Diskonto Book Fair - Library

JUNE

Sat 1 PPS Mini Comrades @ 08:00

Mon 3 Chess championship @ 14:00, Laddsworth

Wed 5 Hooked on Books: Grades R - 3 @ 09:00 Grades 4 - 7 @ 10:30

Fri 7 Tag Rugby Festival @ 14:00, Epworth Inter-school Instrumental Evening @ 18:00, Epworth

Sat 8 Epworth Foundation Dad’s Brunch @ 09:30 – 12:00

Sun 9 Comrades Marathon

Mon 17 Public Holiday (school day) close @ 12:00 (no lunch programme or Aftercare) Grades R - 3 Literacy Day Grades 4 - 7 Day with a Difference Chapel Service @ 11:00

Wed 19 Inter-house hockey matches Grades 3 - 7 to watch Aladdin @ 10:00, The Hexagon Theatre

Thurs 20 Inter-house netball matches

Fri 21 End of second term - close @ 11:00 (no lunch programme or Aftercare)

Easter blessings to all our Epworth families

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