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CIRCULAR 2/2015 25 March 2015

Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s) It is almost the end of the very busy first term, and we would like to bring the following important information to your attention. REPORTS Today your child will receive a report of his/her academic progress for the first term, which will give you an indication of his/her achievements in the continuous assessment (formal and informal tests and assignments) that has taken place during the first term. Kindly note that the first and second term reports will not be 100% comparable, because the assessment programme in the first term covers a much smaller volume of work and does not include formal exams. The second term report, on the other hand, will be a combination of assessment tasks and the June exams. The quantity and range of work on which the June exams are based is obviously significantly greater. The promotion requirements of the relevant Grades are printed at the bottom of the report. Please sign the appropriate section in your childs school diary to acknowledge receipt of his/her report. Together with the report you will also receive a summary of your childs merits and misdemeanours. TEST AND TASK TIMETABLE The test and task timetables for the second term will be issued to the learners on 14 April 2015 so that they can plan their work. These timetables must be pasted in the space provided in the diaries, and both learners and educators must adhere strictly to the schedules. Educators may not give an extension to learners for the late submission of tasks or for writing a test. Only the Principal or Deputy Principal may give permission, in exceptional circumstances. Should a learner have a valid reason for being unable to write a test or submit a task on the due date, the Principal / Deputy must be notified, preferably the previous day, or before 08:00 on the day of the respective test or task. Kindly note that ONLY a medical certificate (issued following a medical examination, not a telephonic consultation) will be accepted as valid reason for absence from tests, exams and tasks as a result of illness. Medical certificates must be handed in on the day that the learner returns to school after his/her illness or injury. If a valid medical certificate is not handed in, the learner will be given 0 (zero) for that test, assignment or exam. As mentioned above, parents/guardians must kindly contact the Principal or Deputy Principal before 08:00 on the specific test day in connection with their childs absence.

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Tasks that are submitted one day late are penalised by 5% and those that are two days late are given a 10% penalty. Any tasks submitted more than two days after the due date will receive 0 (zero). A medical certificate does not qualify the learner to be exempted from the task altogether. If a learner has a medical certificate which provides a valid medical reason for not submitting the task on the scheduled date, it must still be handed in on the first day the learner returns to school. All scheduled tasks must be completed and handed in if the learner hopes to be pyromoted at the end of the year. EXAM TIMETABLE The exam timetable will be issued to learners on 5 May 2015, and a copy enclosed with the next circular on 15 May 2015. PARENTS EVENING The Parents Evening for the second term is scheduled for 20 April 2015. We are looking forward to seeing all of our parents and guardians at this event. Learners and their parents can see educators in their classrooms without appointment from 17:30 18:00, and thereafter from 18:00 19:30 according to an appointment schedule. The evening is planned in this way so that parents do not have to stand in long queues outside the classrooms. Appointments can be made by your child and confirmed in writing by you as parent/guardian and the educator concerned. You are cordially requested to keep your appointments and not to try to see educators in the scheduled period (18:00 19:30) without appointment. WINTER UNIFORM, SPORTSWEAR AND HAIR Winter uniform is compulsory from 4 May to 28 August 2015. School regulations w.r.t. hair and general appearance apply from the first day of every term. Learners are expected to abide by all regulations affecting appearance at all times when they are in school uniform. Note that it is compulsory to wear school tracksuits on LO PT days (Day One in the timetable). Please order a tracksuit for your child urgently if s/he does not yet own one. SS Skooldrag has a special offer this year whereby you can choose whether to order a tracksuit with a cosy warm lining or a more lightweight version. Kindly note that learners may under NO circumstances wear their school tracksuit tops with their formal school uniform. School jerseys and blazers must be worn with the formal uniform during winter. Girls wear black trousers (which may only be purchased at SS Skooldrag) or the usual school skirt with black lycra tights. PULSATING PULSE REHEARSALS Under the professional eye of Chris Steyn (director) the PULSE cast is working very hard on their musical, HONK! The show will run from 18 21 August 2015. Save these dates in your diaries! Pulse parents are sincerely thanked for their commitment and support, and the members of the cast deserve a feather in their cap for their dedication, conscientious attendance at rehearsals and exceptional hard work. Many thanks to those who have already paid their R80 membership fee. We make an urgent, appeal to those who have not yet paid to do so as soon as possible. The

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funds are required for dcor and snacks (or sustenance!) during those long rehearsals. SPORTS TOUR TO SPORTWENI The first and U/14 netball teams are going on tour to Sportweni in Margate during the holidays from 7 11 April. The tour is aimed at final preparations and sharpening skills for the league matches that take place in the second term. Good wishes to all the girls for a successful and enjoyable tour, and sincere thanks to Ms van Jaarsveld, Geldenhuys and Mr Geldenhuys for accompanying them. CHRISTIANA WEEKEND The rugby and netball teams are going to Christiana the weekend of 17 April for our annual fixture. We will be camping at Christiana on Vaal and playing rugby and netball against Christiana on Saturday. The all-inclusive cost of this outing is R250 per team member. Parents are welcome to come and camp with us. Contact Brenda on (072) 450-5708 to book your place. CROSS COUNTRY DATES Cross country athletes, kindly take note of the following important league dates:

Date League Number Club/School Town 16 May 2015 League 1 Goudkop Primary Klerksdorp 23 May 2015 League 2 + Interprov. NWU-Pukke Potchefstroom 30 May 2015 League 3 La Hoff Primary Klerksdorp 6 June 2015 League 4 Wolmaransstad Primary Wolmaransstad 25 July 2015 League 5 Ottosdal Athletics club Ottosdal 1 Aug. 2015 League 6 Promosa Athletics club Potchefstroom 8 Aug. 2015 League 7 Namaste Athletics club Klerksdorp 15 Aug. 2015 League 8 Noordvaal Primary Orkney 22 Aug. 2015 ACNW Champs NWU-Pukke Potchefstroom 12 Sept. 2015 SA Champs Mpumalanga Middelburg SPELLING OLYMPIAD The annual Spelling Olympiads in English and Afrikaans take place this year as follows: English: Monday 20 April; Afrikaans: Thursday 16 April. Parents/guardians, please impress upon your children the importance of being able to spell well. MODEL UNITED NATIONS DEBATE Ferdies is exceptionally proud of current Grade 12 Victor Asiwe who was selected to represent South Africa in the Model United Nations in Washington this month. News is that he and his teammate were selected as the best delegation of their committee, and the South African overall was the outstanding small delegation to the conference. Well done Victor!

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We also received news that Ferdie Headboy of 2012, Kenneth Diole, who has this month been competing at University level in the World Universities Model United Nations (WMUN) in Seoul, was awarded the diplomacy trophy for the best delegate. Not only that, but he was the only South African AND African to receive an award! Words can barely express how proud we are. We know that these two young men have a bright future ahead of them. IN CONCLUSION We trust that all of our Ferdie family will make the most of the approaching break (which always feels too short!) we will definitely be following this advice! Cordial Ferdie greetings ____________________ A.J. LABUSCHAGNE PRINCIPAL