FROM THE OFFICE

“We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do.” – Mother Teresa

I would like to start by thanking each parent for the way in which you have supported the school during the virtual classes.

We look forward to meeting our Grade 1 learners and new learners face to face on Monday.

Although we are moving closer to normality, with learners being able to attend school every day from Monday, 1 February, I would like to assure you that we are still taking the pandemic, and the regulations surrounding, it seriously. The wearing of masks, physical distancing and screening processes will continue. Each learner must please ensure that they have 1 extra mask at school each day.

Should your child/ren, however, need to isolate or present with any symptoms, please keep them at home. For the interim, we shall continue to provide virtual teaching for these learners.

QUESTIONNAIRES THAT NEED TO BE COMPLETED BEFORE LEARNERS RETURN TO SCHOOL

Parents are requested to please complete a screening questionnaire on the Parent Portal before your child reports to school on Monday 1 February. Should any information change, please contact Mrs Yvonne Malan at the school (yvonnem@midstreamcollege.co.za).

1. Follow the link to the parent portal and sign in using your  Parent ID and password.

2. Click on the Student Tab and then click on the photo of your child.

3. Go to the COVID-19 Screening tab and complete the 4 questions in the dropdown menu.
    Please submit each answer.

FOUNDATION PHASE

Foundation Phase learners who will be making use of the virtual teaching platform for learning will be sent the class teacher’s Zoom invite link directly from the teacher. This link will be used throughout the day as all lessons will take place in the teacher’s classroom. The learner will log in at 07:45 to join the class. At the end of a session, the learner will log in again and continue as such, using the same link throughout the day.

A class timetable indicating PE, Music and Computer lessons will be sent to the parent. During these periods, the learner will not need to log into the lesson. This time can be used to complete work, revise or to start with homework.

The class teacher will arrange with parents with regards to the collection, and drop off, of work. However, should a parent not be able to collect work from school, the homework sheet, as well as all worksheets needed for the week, will be posted on the Parent and Student Portals.

INTERSEN PHASE

Although learners will return to the complete school timetable, which includes all the school subjects, the “Virtual Classroom” function will still be available on the Student and Parent Portals for the learners who need to attend, due to valid reasons.

Learners attending online classes will follow the normal timetable, except for Physical Education (PE) which takes place outside, as well as the following teachers’ classes that will be presented in the afternoon: Ms Lelanie Groenewald, Ms Janine Brummer and Mr Estian Esterhuizen. This timetable with links will be available on the Student Portal under ‘Dashboard’.

As was done in the past, learners who attend online school will again be able to write the term tests under Zoom supervision. Please ensure that the children have access to Zoom and a functioning camera and microphone. Parents need to apply for this online test period each week.

AFTERCARE

The aftercare will resume on 1 February. Please contact Mrs van der Vyver at (saarmariv@midstreamcollege.co.za) should you have any queries.

If you would like to make use of the aftercare service, kindly complete the link below before Monday,
1 February at 09:00.

LOCKERS

Lockers are available in 2021 for all Grade 4 to 7 learners that apply one. Once all the lockers have been allocated to the Grade 4 to 7 learners, Grade 3 learners will then be given the opportunity to reserve a locker. The application for lockers will close on Friday, 5 February 2021. Lockers will then be allocated on Monday, 8 February 2021 to the respective learners. Learners can reserve their lockers for 2021 by applying for a locker using the following links:

TERM TEST

The term tests scheduled for 2 February will not take place on this day since we started the term solely with online teaching.

ENGLISH
The Grade 4 test will be replaced by a teaching lesson based on comprehension skills. The learners will then complete a comprehension assessment at a later stage during an English period.
The Grade 6 test will be replaced by a practice comprehension. The learners will write a comprehension assessment during an English period at a later stage.

AFRIKAANS
The term test for Gr 5 will now take place on Thursday, 4 February during class time.
The term test for Gr 7, will now take place on Friday, 5 February during class time.
Both grades will complete a ‘practice test’ during the test period on the 2 February.

EXTRA CURRICULAR

From the beginning of this year, the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated regulations have already made a big impact on our sport and extra mural programme. All friendly athletics and swimming events have been cancelled and we wait in anticipation to hear if the Hillcrest galas will continue this year. As soon as the decision has been made, we shall inform you.

With the return of learners on 1 February 2021, we would like to start as soon as possible with phasing in of the sporting codes and activities that are allowed within those sporting codes in terms of current regulations.
 
We shall communicate with you continuously as we receive information from the governing bodies and regarding which sporting codes are opened.

The school’s League Tennis teams, Club athletes, Club cricket and Squash groups will start practising. Strong protocols will be followed and we would like to encourage these athletes to start training as soon as circumstances allow.

Our swimmers are subject to the completion of a registration process before they can start training and the information will be communicated to all swimmers by the organisers. Once we have completed this process, we will welcome the swimmers back.

We hope that we will have more clarity and certainty regarding the guidelines surrounding the return to Cultural activities from the Department of Education by 15 February 2021.

We hope and trust that our learners will get involved in activities once they are reopened.

“We must accept finite disappointment, but we must never lose infinite hope.” – Martin Luther King

VALENTINE’S DAY

This year we would like to continue building on the new Valentine’s tradition started at our school last year.

As a primary school, we believe that Valentine’s Day is a day to be celebrated at our learners’ age level. Our children are not yet emotionally ready to understand and experience Valentine's Day for what it really is. We want to protect our children from unnecessary hurt and the feeling of rejection. We would much rather teach them about real caring, for example, caring for people who need support, acceptance and help.

This also creates a feeling of joy and fulfillment to cherish, help and support others. So, this year we are again going to do something special on Valentine’s Day that is focused on the idea that love for our fellow man is not only a command from God, but also wonderful and fun!

Please do not waste your money on bears, plastic roses, chocolates and other gifts! Rather save that money for when your child is in high school. This year we are putting the colours pink and red away again on Valentine’s Day! We are going to support the CHOC Foundation’s Flip Flop Day with blue bows in our hair and comfortable flip flops on our feet!

Children and teenagers who are fighting cancer are the bravest of the brave. They are facing the most frightening journey of their lives… But these young warriors are not alone in their war against cancer because they are experiencing love. They are so loved that CHOC builds an army to walk with them and fight all the way with them.

We are going to be part of this support group and show our love on Valentine’s Day to children fighting cancer. The CHOC Flip Flop Day stickers, which will free your 10 toes from school shoes on 12 February, will be sold at R10 at the tuckshop. The tuckshop will also be selling their delicious flip flop cookies at R16 each.
 
Come and buy a sticker before Valentine’s Day Flip Flop Day and enjoy 12 February in a comfortable way that gives everyone the chance to make a difference in a wonderful and fun way!

TUCKSHOP: TUCK IN

For your convenience, Tuck In has an online webshop where you can order lunchboxes, salads, sandwiches, class party eats and treats, cooked lunches and combos.
Visit Tuck In online webshop and order today!

GOLF 2021

The school would like to give our learners the opportunity to play golf with their friends on Tuesdays. Learners who are able to play nine holes on their own, are welcome to join the golfers on Tuesdays where they will be able to play nine holes under supervision. This arrangement will start on 9 February and will continue until 16 March 2021. Players must report to the Golf Course at 14:00. For us to adhere to the Covid 19 regulations, we will need to compile a list of the learners who are interested in playing golf on Tuesdays. Therefore, please send Mr. Kotze an email with your child’s name, surname and grade.

THESE SESSIONS ARE NOT COACHING SESSIONS but provide learners, who can already play, an opportunity to play. For further information, please contact Mr. Kotze on (012) 661 0724 or email schalkk@midstreamcollege.co.za. (Cost: R50-00 per player per afternoon.)

Should there be any learners who would like to start golf, or who require lessons, please enquire at the Golf Course.
Contact Details: Patrick O’Brien – 082 992 13 14 or via email patrick@pobgolf.co.za 
                              Christo Eagleton – 0825363354

BRAIN, LEARN & MEMORY GYMNASIUM

Secure a future for your child by using the correct study methods.  For more information click on the link below.

TINA COWLEY

This programme focuses on reading skills such as comprehension reading and improvement of reading speed to help learners with studying, learning and answering question papers. For more information please click on the link below.