THANK YOU - Tiger Kloof would like to thank all members of our teaching staff for their relentless efforts to make Tiger Kloof a special place for all of us. Also thank you to the SGB and the Board for their selfless service and support.
LEARNERS’ REPORTS FOR SECOND TERM - All learners were writing examinations until the very last day of the second term. Because of this reason reports will only be released at the beginning of the third term. Reports should go out not later than Friday, the 22nd of July.
GLOBAL CONNECTIONS SEMINAR - Tiger Kloof will be hosting the Global Connections Seminar on Monday 18th and Tuesday 19th July. The Global Connections Foundation has drawn together a network of Heads of schools throughout the world, and runs an annual Seminar which takes place in a different country each year. The value of these seminars is to afford Heads of schools the opportunity to see a variety of education systems and methods, and to establish relationships that will be mutually beneficial to their schools. Over the years, Tiger Kloof has benefited greatly from such relationships, which have resulted in exchanges for students and teachers and in our having school leavers from these schools volunteering their services at Tiger Kloof. Some of these schools have raised money to assist our programmes. Most significantly, it is through Global Connections that the Tiger Kloof partnership with Trinity School, New York, came about.
This year the theme of the Seminar is “Global Initiatives in our Schools and their Connection to Leadership Development”. The seminar will take the form of a ‘road show’, in which the delegates will visit schools in the Johannesburg area, before moving on to Lebone II in Rustenburg, and Maru a Pula in Botswana. The last two days of their trip will be spent at Tiger Kloof. It will indeed be an honour to host leaders in education from such diverse countries as Ukraine, Romania, Slovakia, Macedonia, China, Singapore, Jordan, USA, Canada, UK, India, Brazil, Kenya, Swaziland, Botswana New Zealand and Australia. We shall also enjoy the privilege of having former Rector David Matthews and former TK Board Member Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane amongst the guest speakers.
TEACHING STAFF - Mrs. Metsi and Ms. Baatlhodi were promoted within the Department of Education as Senior Education Specialists. They assumed duty from the 1st of April. Mr. Arko-Achemfuor resigned on the 30th of April. He accepted a post with the University of South Africa at the Pretoria campus. We thank all of them for their wonderful service to the Tiger Kloof community and wish them well in their future endeavours.
Mrs. Jordaan has tendered her resignation at the beginning of the second term to leave Tiger Kloof. Currently some of these gaps (Accounting, Mathematics and Business Studies) are covered by Mrs. Fouché, Mr. Muzirwa and Mr. Zackarias. We thank Mrs. Fouché and Mr. Muzirwa for their support and assistance.
WATER PROJECT - Two teams from Tiger Kloof participated in the National Youth Water Prize Competitions held in Mafikeng on the 22nd of May. None of the teams made it to the top three, however the experience gained will act as a launching pad for better performance next year.
STAFF DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP - Last year we had a workshop with Dr. Tim Nuttal (HSRP) to identify the top 5 objectives of our school. As a continuation of that initiative we invited Mr. John D’Achada. The main objective of his visit was to look at our Christian Values, Vision, Mission and strategy of the institution and the school. It was a wonderful workshop and it was well received by all educators. Many teachers expressed their interest to have another session with him in the third term.
AFRICA DAY / WEEK CELEBRATIONS - We celebrated Africa week from the 23rd to 27th of May. Many activities were organized in the afternoon as part of the celebration. It was well received by learners and teachers. As part of the celebration we invited Rorisang Tshabalala, a wonderful young man whom we met at the Round Square Regional Conference in Johannesburg to come and address the learners. We thank Mrs. Top, Mrs. Mosimane and all others for the wonderful organization of the week.
CURRICULUM EXTENSION - Tiger Kloof needs to look at the current subjects and see what we can add to accommodate more learners and increase their choices. It is very important because at the moment we are not meeting the needs of all our learners. We will look at it and come up with a proposal at a later stage.
PREPARATION TIME AND HOMEWORK - We request all day scholar parents to assist their children to manage their time better to complete homework. All day scholars who are not involved in an extramural activity have supervised prep for an hour from Monday to Thursday. If a day learner is involved in an activity on a specific day, or extra lessons (Gr 12), then they will have to find time at home to complete their homework. We will appreciate it if parents could check how their children spend their afternoons at Tiger Kloof and at home.
ENGLISH FESTIVAL - The Grade 11 English Festival took place at the International School of South Africa in Mafikeng from April 18th to 19th. The learners left in the morning of 18 April and came back on the afternoon of 19 April.
REMEDIAL CLASSES FOR GRADE 8 AND 9 - The English and Mathematics departments are working together to bridge the content gap and also to improve the performance of grade 8 and 9 learners. As part of the initiative, English reading and remedial Mathematics classes are now underway in Grade 8 and 9.
PARENT TUTOR MEETING - Our second parent tutor meeting will be held on the 30th of July. We are really worried about the non attendance of some parents. We thank all other parents who attended the last meeting. All parents need to attend these meetings without fail.
USE OF CELL PHONES - Learners are strictly not allowed to use cell phones at school from 7 o’clock in the morning to 4 o’clock in the afternoon. If learners are found in possession of cell phones at school, it will be confiscated immediately. We anticipate the cooperation of parents in this regard. All parents should find time to talk to their children about the responsible use of cell phones because it takes much of their time.
TRINITY TIGER KLOOF EXCHANGE PROGRAMME - Congratulations to Karabo Ditibane '13, Lusanda Nobanda '13, Palesa Mpholo '13 and Dimpho Keretetse '13 who represented Tiger Kloof at Trinity School in New York, USA, during the first two weeks of April. This exchange visit forms part of a partnership which started a couple of years ago. Mrs. C. Top and Mrs. I. Labuschagne accompanied them to New York.
MINTEC MINI-QUIZ COMPETITION - Three Learners in Grade 12 were registered to enter for the competition. Kutlwano Motata '11, Kaone Ntlamelle '11, Thabiso Mocumi '11 and Malebo Ramonnye '11 participated in this event. Our learners collected various individual prizes (such as T-shirts, periodic tables, information charts, brochures, etc.) and other visual learning aids. Each of the participating learners will receive a certificate at the time when the actual results will be sent to the schools. The learners were also given career guidance workshops and a tour of the Sciences, Engineering and Mathematics faculties at the Potchefstroom University campus and were able to talk to subject experts / specialists and to also ask questions about university challenges and to hear it direct from the horse’s mouth.
MATHEMATICS OLYMPIAD - Two of our learners (1 Grade 10 and 1 Grade 8) wrote the second round of Mathematics Olympiad. We are awaiting the results.
HOLIDAY WORK - Educators have given work for different subjects. You must check with your child and encourage them to complete their work before the reopening of the school. It will be of great assistance to the educators.
NATIONAL SUPPLEMENTARY TUITION PROGRAMME - We are very pleased to inform you that Tiger Kloof is one of the three schools in the province to offer supplementary tuition for Physical Science and Mathematics learners. The programme is sponsored by the SAMF. We would like you to encourage your child to attend these lessons on Saturdays from 8:00 to 12:30. A timetable is given to all Physical Science and Mathematics learners. Parents need to arrange the transport and also to ensure the attendance of their children. Many of our learners are failing to attend these lessons.
PRIZE GIVING - Parents and other interested parties are once again invited to immortalise their contribution to Tiger Kloof by donating a trophy or trophies or other prizes as an award for learners of the school that will be handed over during the annual prize-giving that will take place during October. For more information on categories or possible awards, please contact the Chairperson of the Prize-giving committee, Ms. C. Pieterse.
GRAHAMSTOWN ENGLISH FESTIVAL - Mr. Baloyi and Mrs. Gugushe will be accompanying 9 Grade 12 learners to the Standard Bank National School Arts Festival which will be held at the Rhodes University in Grahamstown from the 10th to the 14th July. The learners are expected to arrive at Tiger Kloof on the evening (5:30 pm) of the 8th July 2011 in preparation for their departure on the 9th July 2011. The English department wishes to convey their gratitude to the parents for their support.
SPORTS REPORT - The second term is always very short knowing that the last 3 weeks will be taken by exams. In those 3 weeks nothing much happens in the co-curricular programme.
In sports our U19 soccer teams has made it to the regional finals for the Kay Motsepe Cup but lost this on penalties. In netball we have played the Best School programme. We won in all our age groups. It means all our netball teams will proceed to the next level. At this time it is not known where and when this will take place. Our senior basketball players has been for trials for the provincial team. Retshegofetse Moeng '11 and Dintle Magile '13 has been chosen for the U18 teams. Mr. Muzirwa, our basketball coach, will coach the provincial U18 girls team at the National tournament which will be held in the last week of the winter holidays.
With several players from different sport codes we have trialed for the regional teams. Due to poor organization of these games we decided not to continue with trialing any further with our students. On own initiative, two learners have been continuing with trialing and were selected in the regional teams. Tshepo Oliphant '11 in soccer and Durann Jantjies '13 in hockey.
Desireé Lee '13 was once again chosen for the U16 North West Provincial hockey team. The tournament will take place during the winter holidays in Witrivier, Mpumalanga.
MUSIC COMPETITIONS
Cluster Level
Won four trophies
1 for Solo Soprano - Thapelo Mosiane '11; 1 for Solo Tenor - Poloko Molmu '14; 1 for Solo Bass - Uhone Makhado '11; 1 for Female choir
APO
Won three trophies
2 for Mezzo and Solo Soprano - Thapelo Mosiane '11; 1 for Quartet - T Mosiane '11, T Mphahlela '12, L Ganenang '11 and U Makhado '11
Bass Solo obtained position 2 - Uhone Makhado '11
Female Voices obtained position 3
District Level
Won three trophies
1 for Quartet; 2 for Solo and Mezzo Soprano
Province
Solo Soprano Obtained position 3 Thapelo Mosiane '11
We would like to thank Mrs. Mthembu and all other staff members who assisted her to prepare our learners for these competitions.
ROUND SQUARE REPORT - As a result of the shortness of this term we did not do a lot of activities. We did continue with picking up of litter and recycling. In addition to the celebration of Africa Day on the 25th of March, the Round Square group created maps and compiled information based on African countries. We had Poetry Presentations, Debating Sessions and Traditional Games during that week. On the Thursday afternoon we had a motivational speech by Rorisang Tshabalala.
Masego Meyer '13 has been selected to represent Tiger Kloof at Herschel school in Cape Town, as an exchange student. Kutlwano Molelekwa '12 was selected to represent Tiger Kloof at Oman, hosted by the Indian School, also as an exchange student. Both of them will leave in the third term. Five learners, Thato Moremi '12, Solofelang Kai '12, Onalenna Tshambok '12, Kitlano Oseile '12 and Sego Mokgothu '12 will be attending the Round Square International Conference, in England, hosted by Wellington College. They will also have a once in a lifetime opportunity of meeting Queen Elizabeth II. This will take place from the 17th to the 23rd October. We are also getting 4 exchange students, 2 from the Indian school in Oman and another two from India. We hope the Tigers will welcome them with open arms.
The long weekend of 27th April to the 1st of May, Mrs. Top, Mr. Habberton, Mrs. Thupaemang and Mrs. Bopape, accompanied 6 students to the Regional Round Square Conference, in Johannesburg hosted by St. Stithian’s Girls College. The theme of the conference was “Never too young to lead.” Learners were involved in fun activities centering on leadership.
We also had our first whole school Barazza session, where we discussed the speech made by Rorisang Tshabalala, which was based on using your power. Hopefully we will have more discussions like this in the third term. More activities will be continued within the next term.
SCHOOL UNIFORM - We request all day scholar parents to check the uniform of their children on a daily basis before they come to school. Many learners are wearing wrong beanies to school. When we reopen all learners are expected to be in the correct winter school uniform.
SPECIAL NOTICE TO BOARDER PARENTS - Please be reminded that boarders should be back by 17:00 on 17th July. Late arrivals will not be allowed to enter the hostel. The finance office will be open from 12:00 to 17:00. All boarders should report to the finance office first, to receive an entry slip for the hostel. Parents’ co-operation in this regard will be highly appreciated. We would like to inform all boarder parents about the compulsory home weekend in August. The parents are advised to collect the boarders on Friday the 5th of August and bring them back on the 9th of August.
SUBSTANCE ABUSE - Parents are advised to talk to their children about substance abuse and the company they keep. Learners are not allowed to bring food stuffs into the hostels.
PAYMENT OF FEES - Thank you so much to all parents who pay the fees on time and who keep accounts up to date. Special thanks to those who pay in advance. Please, all parents who are in arrears with school fees, make the payment of your child’s school fees a priority in your list of responsibilities.
Children are the most valuable assets that we have. We need to remind ourselves that they are only with us for a short period of time. As parents, we need to make this time memorable by loving and caring for them as best we can. According to Amy Carmichael, one can give without loving but one cannot love without giving. We indeed express our appreciation to acknowledge your efforts to work with us to educate your children. It is an ongoing journey until they finish school.
A very BIG thank you to Mr. J Zackarias (Tiger Kloof Principal) and all others who made all this information available to keep you informed!