NEWSLETTER
Teaching School - In partnership: DHET; UJ; NIHE; MDE
A2250 Bonginfundo Road, Opposite K-Shad
Maganagobushwa / P O Box 815, Siyabuswa, 0472
Tel. no.: 013 9737066 / 0835055611
Termly newsletter No. ~02~, December 2013
Editor: Mrs V Rademeyer ([email protected])
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“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.” ―
Dr. Seuss, I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!
MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Dear Parents, Teachers, and Learners
I want to thank the SMT, staff, members of the SGB, parents and community members who played an important part in our school this
year. All your hard work has been noticed. I want to encourage all parents and community members to become involved at Mareleng.
We need each and every one of you to make a difference here at our school. Enjoy your children this holiday!
The School Management Team (SMT) with principal Mrs Meriam Nkosi (right front). Photo: Willie Banga
First standing from right to left: Ramphisa M.C, Masombuka M.A, Makgabo M.S, Teffo P.M, Mothoa S.M
Second seated from left to right: Shabangu R.E, Nkosi M.M
Learners, please join the following sports teams / activities:
Boys:
Under 12 boys cricket, mini cricket league, Under 12 and Under 14 soccer teams
Girls:
Under 12 girls’ netball (practice every Wednesday), drum majorettes (Grade 3 – 5)
Have a blessed festive season!
Mrs Meriam Nkosi, Principal
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CONGRATULATIONS
Winners of the Draw My School Competition won a chocolate and a certificate for their lovely drawings. Mr Banga helped Mrs
Rademeyer to select the top three entrants. Mr Willie Banga (Deaf Counsellor), Boiketlo Matlala (first), Gift Motloung (second),
Kgeto Phora (third), Mr Mashilane (Grade 6 teacher).
IMPORTANT DATES
Term 1, 2014: 13 January (teachers) / 15 January (learners)
COMPETITION FOR LEARNERS: MY HOLIDAY
Mrs Rademeyer (SGB member)
Learners, draw a picture of your holiday. Where were you? What did you do? If you were at home, draw what you did at home. The
best drawing will win a prize. A4 size is good! Make sure you write your name and surname, grade, cell phone number (of your parent
or teacher if you do not have one!). Last day to submit your drawing: Beginning of Term 1 (end of first week). Hand in to the
Principal. Prizes for the first, second and third best drawings!
WORKSHOPS FOR TEACHERS
A workshop for the Mareleng Teaching Staff was offered by Mr Rademeyer during November. The topic of the workshop was “Learning
Difficulties”. A total of 17 Mareleng Teaching Staff attended. Much fun was had by all when staff was requested to write with their nondominant hands, so as to experience the frustration of the young child with writing problems.
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Mr Jiyana had a workshop entitled “Games for effective language learning”. Heritage is part of us. It will continue shaping our destiny.
Indigenous games are a best tool to utilize in making learning fun and informative as well. Teachers should be the drivers in making this
a reality.
Mrs Mbusi’s workshop was entitled “Teaching Mathematics through dance in the Foundation Phase”. The teaching and learning of
Mathematics in the Foundation Phase aims to develop, among other things, a learner who is critically aware of how mathematical
relationships are used in social, environmental and cultural relations (CAPS: FP Mathematics, 2011). One way of building such
awareness is to engage learners in a real-life activity such as cultural dance.
Foundation Phase teachers from Mareleng School performed traditional songs and dance during the workshop with the purpose of
learning Mathematics. They clapped hands, moved arms, legs and feet to the rhythm of the songs. Thus, through their bodies and
senses, they experienced mathematical concepts in the Foundation Phase curriculum, such as counting, describing patterns, directions
of movement (forwards, backwards, left, right, up, down), describing positions (next to, between, middle, first, second, etc.).
The activities performed during the workshop had the added benefit of possibly developing young children’s motor-sensory skills as well
as their curiosity and love of Mathematics. The teachers reflected that they would definitely use the activities with their own learners. A
final word of caution was given that the activities learners engage in should, however, not be “keep busy” activities, but should be clearly
focused on the mathematics as outlined in the curriculum.
GRADE R DRUM MAJORETTES PERFORM
Grade R drum majorettes strutted their stuff in the classroom of Ms Susan Ntluli and looked gorgeous in their yellow and green outfits.
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CULTURE AND THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT IN THE CLASSROOM: PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Dr E Jansen van Vuuren (Senior Lecturer)
Our students have been studying ways to assist abled and disabled children with stability, locomotion and manipulation skills. Many
children do not develop these skills naturally any longer because instead of running, climbing and playing outside like their parents and
grandparents used to do - they sit in front of the TV. Children who lack these skills are often the children who end up with learning and
behavioral problems.
The students’ creative apparatus made from mostly recycled resources is evidence that no-one can hide behind the excuse of not
having the resources to do fun physical activities with our children!
COMPUTERS IN THE CLASSROOM
Dr A du Plessis (Senior Lecturer)
Spreadsheets are true time-savers for educators the world over when it comes to calculating marks and performing other administrative
tasks. Teachers always have to count something! You know: “How many girls are in your class?”, or “How many boys play soccer?” If
you don’t have Microsoft Office or the freely available OpenOffice installed on your computer one useful FREELY available spreadsheet
application can even be found online! Have you tried Google’s “Spreadsheets”? It is compatible with other spreadsheet applications like
Microsoft’s Excel.
Here is a useful formula for teachers wishing to use Spreadsheets to do some counting for them! In this case we are counting the
number of boys and the number of girls using the COUNTIF function. It means that it will count items based on a condition.
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TIPS ON POSITIVE PARENTHOOD
Mr J Rademeyer (Lecturer & Child Psychologist)
Parenting can be a challenging, yet extremely rewarding experience. One issue which often causes concern for parents, is that of
effective discipline.
The word discipline means to impart knowledge and skill – to teach. However, it is often equated with punishment and control. Here are
a few pointers which may help you:
To be effective, discipline needs to be:
given by an adult who has a strong and positive emotional bond with the child – not by a stranger, or by someone who does
not have a strong bond with the child.
consistent, close to the behavior needing change.
perceived as ‘fair’ by the child.
GRADE R CLASSES AT MARELENG PRIMARY
In this issue of the newsletter, we decided to publish pictures of all the Grade Rs in their classrooms. Next term, we will focus on Grade
1s, and the following term, we will publish pictures of the Grade 2s, etc. so that each and every learner of Mareleng Primary will feel
special and loved!
Ms Susan Ntluli with her Grade R class.
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Ms Mary Sebothoma with her Grade R class.
Ms Johanna Mampane (middle) with her Grade R class.
SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
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Dr J S Moroko Municipality disability section, physical education
visited the school
Grade1Bs are cleaning the school.
Staff supporting handicapped learners at school
Dr Andries du Plessis, Senior Lecturer at TEC campus, visited Mareleng and spoke to Mrs Christina Ramphisa, HOD Foundation
Phase and Mrs M S Mahlangu.
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EDITOR
Mrs Rademeyer (SGB member)
Parents, SGB, SMT, Teachers
It is truly wonderful to be involved in this exciting project with Mareleng Primary School. Parents, we try to show you what activities are
taking place at Mareleng so that you can feel more part of the school and be proud of your child’s school. Please feel free to send any
contributions to this newsletter to [email protected]. Remember this is Mareleng Primary’s voice – your own newsletter!