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SOMERSET COLLEGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL Telephone: +27 (0)21 842 8000 Facsimile: +27 (0)21 842 0052 Email: [email protected] www.somersetcollege.org

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IN THIS ISSUE

Staff Announcements page 3 ______

Stars

page 4 ______

Weekly Planner

page 5 ______

Parenting from Within

page 5 ______

History is made!

page 6 ______

World Book Day

page 7+8 ______

Mathematics

Challenge page 9 ______

Sport News 0+11

_____

Earth Evening page 12 ______

Parents’ Association

page 13+14 ______

This is why I teach Music…

People have often stopped to enquire about the flute I play when I open my

clarinet case, or ask me about my violin when I carry my saxophone. One of my

friends in London was recently asked by a security guard how her barbeque

works whilst travelling with an oboe. Have you ever heard of an oboe? Do you

know that it is in fact a musical instrument with two reeds (and is therefore

called a double reed instrument) and makes a high nasal sound? The Grade 5s

do!

As a Music Department, we try to instill an appreciation for and general

knowledge of music of all eras, guiding them through the various elements of

this subject area and experimenting with age-appropriate performances and

challenges. We approach each phase of the child differently so that they may

experience music on different levels throughout their school career. Let me

explain how this process works.

Young children react instinctively to music and in the Pre-Preparatory, Mrs

Eileen Putterill guides the children through movement, singing, games and

playing small percussion instruments; all in an attempt to experience music

through an exciting, multi-layered and multi-faceted music programme.

From Grade 1 – 3, Mrs Ronel Viljoen continues this journey and helps the

children to explore the different elements in music. It is important for all

children to have the basic building blocks in order to gain an understanding and

knowledge of music. We therefore incorporate a number of theoretical aspects,

listening skills, history and instrument knowledge in our weekly Class Music

sessions.

In Grade 3, the children are very privileged to have an extra Class Music lesson

per week. During these lessons, we have specialist teachers teaching them the

various orchestral instruments. The children listen to the instruments,

understand the workings of the various instruments and have the opportunity

to play on some of them. For the first three terms of the year, they do an in-

depth study of the recorder family, clarinet, saxophone, flute, trumpet, various

percussion instruments, violin and the cello.

3 0 M A Y 2 0 1 2 3 0 M A Y 2 0 1 2 3 0 M A Y 2 0 1 2

2 2 A P R I L 2 0 1 5

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http://www.somersetcollege.org/

Somerset College Preparatory Newsletter 22 April 2015

In Grade 4 and 5, the children are exposed to music from different countries, an appreciation for music

from different cultures and a very detailed instrument study, where we all usually have a good laugh

at the sousaphone!

In Grade 6 and 7, we start our journey from 1100 - the Middle Ages. The children are exposed to

different influences in the various periods in music as well as the important composers. They also take

part in listening activities to differentiate between the different styles and techniques.

Children are bombarded with popular music these days. How often do they listen to Classical Music at

home or in the car? How can they have an appreciation for Classical Music if they never listen to it?

The Somerset West basin has excellent reception for the radio station 101.3, Fine Music Radio – a

radio station which does not need to cater for radio edits!

Our detailed journey through these years includes writing a fugue from the Baroque era. We look at

the very important composers in the Classical era and how their personalities influenced their

compositions. In the Romantic period, we are reminded of the Black Plague and World War I – an era

where composers turned to their inner emotions and wrote music that expressed their feelings. The

famous composer Maurice Ravel composed the Piano Concerto for the left hand, commissioned by the

Austrian composer Paul Wittgenstein, who lost his right arm during World War I. What an amazing

composition!

We also watch clips on the very experimental 20th Century Composition Techniques. It is always a

treat watching their response when they watch Stockhausen’s composition, the Helicopter String

Quartet, or get into a heavy debate about John Cage’s 4’33’’ or experience the pain when they listen

to Penderecki’s Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima. If you are unfamiliar with these compositions,

please watch them on YouTube. It is only music that can express what cannot be said. We end our

Grade 6 year with artists like Elvis Presley and The Beatles. The children do not even know bands like

Simon and Garfunkel or The Beach Boys anymore!

In Grade 7, we weave together everything that was taught from P1, and we call it, "The Battle of the

Bands" where the Grade 7s have to compose a popular song, using the correct chord progressions and

song structure. They need to write their own lyrics, develop a storyline and - most importantly - work

in groups with peers that they do not get to choose. Not only do they have to compose a song, but

they also have to perform it for a panel of judges, schedule rehearsals, adapt to accommodate

everybody in the group and learn valuable life lessons.

What an exhilarating journey to be part of! We count ourselves privileged to accompany every child in

our class on this journey.


I will end off with one of my favourite poems written by an unknown poet.

This is why I teach Music…

…not because I expect you to major in Music

not because I expect you to play or sing all your life

not so you can relax

not so you can have fun

But so you will be human

so you will recognise beauty

so you will be closer to an infinite beyond this world

so you will have something to cling to

so you will have more love, more compassion

more gentleness, more good

In short…more LIFE

Marisa van Wyk

Head of Music

STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS Mrs Tarryn Frost will be on maternity leave from Monday, 25 May until Friday, 2 October 2015. Mrs Frost will return to school on Monday, 5 October. Mrs Debbie Kitching will be substituting for Mrs Frost while she is away. Mrs Kitching hails from Northside Primary School in Gaborone, Botswana and together with her family she has moved to Somerset West. She is a highly qualified and experienced Junior Preparatory teacher and we are extremely fortunate to have acquired her services during this time. Mrs Desireé Uys, our private music teacher, has resigned and will be leaving us at the end of term 2. Mrs Riana Boonzaier, who has been teaching at the College for 11 years, has resigned and will be leaving us at the end of term 2. The interview process to find a suitable replacement is already underway. We wish them well on their new adventures!


S T A R S Grade 1 – Stars

Megan Hutton, Emma Bresler and Jacqui Dippenaar Lily Hemmings for knuckling down to some serious Grade One work. Keep up the hard work Lily

pops! Ashwin Fisher for never giving up and always trying so hard. Sibulele Selai for his impeccable manners. Chris Janse van Rensburg for his enthusiasm and fantastic motivation in class. Sophia Harris for working very hard to give of her absolute best. Giorgia Pretorius for her neat and beautiful handwriting. Letizia Biolcati Rinaldi for excellent progress in reading. Thomas Wridgway, Callum Eaglestone and Kyle Saward for accurate number work.

Grade 2 – Stars

Jade Davies, Megan Stander and Michelle Bosch Leah du Plessis for being such a responsible messenger. Amelia Lawrenson for being encouraging to others. Preston Lee for displaying maturity and commitment towards his tasks. Emily Lewis for talented work in art lessons. Engela Whittle for explaining how to play the cello and demonstrating how to play. Adam du Toit for always writing so neatly and presenting such beautiful work. Isabella Katic for decoding "breaking up" some tricky long words with ease. Ewan van Dyk for completing all his work on time this term. Jarred Limbert for working so hard on his fluency in his reading. Layla Janse Van Rensburg for having a positive approach to her work this term. Chad Lameyer for a big improvement in his handwriting and his presentation of work. Lila Viljoen for her beautifully formed handwriting.

Grade 3 - Stars

Tarryn Frost, Riana Boonzaier and Nabila Abdulla Mia Hargraves and Abigail Wiid for exceptional manners and respect towards all. Michael du Toit for his creative invention of the 'Bully Free Robot’. Madeline Smith for her creative 'Colour Changing Outfit" invention. Caroline Morris for her interesting Robot invention. Matteo Keppke for his imaginative 'Ice-cream Gun' invention. Johanna Dornier for her creative 'Around the World Supertube' invention. The Under 9 netball team for an excellent performance at the Waltons Festival! Jenna Gardiner for extra effort in Maths during the holidays. Nina Grabe for being a helpful friend. Liza Linkov for being an eco-warrior. Erin Cunningham for a great holiday news story. Sian Prothero for continuing to play in the Waltons tournament despite an injury!


WEEKLY PLANNER

Another of Dr Lynn Dunstan’s "Parenting from Within" groups is planned for this term. The group begins as soon as there are enough participants (maximum of 6) so please contact Lynn as soon as possible (021-855-1556

or [email protected]) for more information, or to book.


HISTORY IS MADE!

On Saturday, 18 April Somerset College hosted the first ever WP Hockey Grand Challenge League match on our astro. Somerset West Hockey Club played against WPCC. Although the result was a one—one draw, the College was well represented in this historical event. BACK ROW: Marc Pickering (Coach and teacher at the Senior School) and Warren Bevan (WP Umpire and Acting Headmaster of the Prep School). FRONT ROW: Hayley Walker (Old Oak 2013); Lottie Wright-McMahon (Old Oak 2014), Meghan Johnstone (Grade 10 Pupil), Kirsten Batchelor (Old Oak 2010) and Taryn Rose-Innes (Teacher in the Preparatory School).


THURSDAY 23 APRIL

BOOK SALE

Featuring the latest and best books for all ages

9.10 – 10.10 Foundation phase

BOOK TALK and SALE

10.30 – 11.30 Grades 4 and 5 BOOK

TALK and SALE

11.30 – 12.30 Grades 6 and 7 BOOK

TALK and SALE

Parents are welcome.

The BOOK SALE will end at

3.30.


WORLD BOOK DAY FUN

Due to popular demand, and faced with many disappointed little faces, we

have decided to let the Grade 4s dress up too.

I look forward to seeing all the knights and ladies, princes and

princesses, fairies and wizards, pirates and ogres…


GRADE 1-7 MATHEMATICS CHALLENGE

30 APRIL 2015

This is the ninth year that we are holding a fundraiser of this nature for the Preparatory School

in order to raise funds to improve our facilities. This has always been very well supported and

the children have been extremely enthusiastic to get sponsors or donations as well as to learn

the bonds and tables that they are given.

The children will be given their sums to learn on Wednesday, 22 April. They will have a

week in which to learn these. On Thursday, 30 April they will be given a test out of 20

marks (Grade 1s out of 10).

Sponsor forms will be handed out on Wednesday, 22 April so that the children can begin

filling them in as soon as possible. A once-off donation is most welcome as well.

We are following a slightly different procedure this year, so please read

the instructions below:

What to do with the sponsor forms:

• Return your sponsor form with completed PLEDGES to the class teachers on Thursday, 30

April, before the test takes place.

• Please do not send ANY money to school.

• The sponsor forms are to be signed and placed in a clearly marked envelope, once the

total has been filled in correctly. Please be accurate.

• Hand in to the class teacher first thing in the morning.

• Once the tests have been marked, the class teacher will then fill in the results on the

sponsor forms and return the forms to the children no later than Monday, 4 May. • The children can then collect the cash from their sponsors.

• YOU, the parents will keep the CASH and we ask you to do an EFT to the school

account. This is to ensure that NO CASH is handled either by the staff or the pupils.

Somerset College NPC

Nedbank Cheque Account

Account Number: 1060102919

Reference: Maths Challenge, Surname

• All completed sponsor forms need to be returned to the class teacher by Friday, 8

May.

Prizes are as follows:

• R50 for the child who has collected the most money in each grade.

• R100 for the child who has collected the most money overall.

The winners will be announced at Assembly on 22 May 2015.

We look forward to seeing if we can exceed the R67 314.00 that was raised last year!

Thanking you in anticipation.

Debbie Erasmus


Sports News Alwyn Brink (Sports Director) - [email protected] General enquiries and sick notes for sport - [email protected] Kirsty de Kock (Netball enquiries) - [email protected] Hilton Toro (Rugby enquiries) - [email protected] Quentin du Toit (Hockey) - [email protected] Kirsty de Kock (Physical Education for girls) enquiries and sick notes for girls [email protected] Hilton Toro (Physical Education for boys) enquiries and sick notes for boys - [email protected]

Waltons Festival - U12 boys with their bronze medals!

Waltons Festival – U9 girls with their silver medals!









Bidvest/Waltons Festival Another successful year at the Bidvest/Waltons Festival this year at Somerset House in very warm weather conditions. On Friday afternoon the U9, U10, U11 boys and girls hockey teams were in action on the grass fields, the newly introduced U12 boys hockey section on their mini-astro and the U12 and U13 netball girls played on the main courts. At the end of a very exciting afternoon of hockey, the teams settled down for prize giving. Somerset College received the following medals:

U9 Boys Hockey Gold Girls Hockey Gold U10 Boys Hockey Bronze Girls Hockey Bronze U11 Boys Hockey Gold Girls Hockey Silver U12 Boys Hockey Bronze On Saturday morning the U8, U9, U10 and U11 girls’ netball played on various courts and the U13 boys and girls’ hockey played on the grass fields. At the end of the morning prize giving was held and Somerset College received the following medals:

U8 Girls Netball Certificates for participation U9 Girls Netball Silver U10 Girls Netball Bronze U11 Girls Netball Silver

The support for our teams was once again great to see – thank you to parents, siblings and friends that came down to watch. We are proud of our players!

A big thank you to Somerset House for hosting this tournament and to Waltons and Bidvest for sponsoring it.


EARTH EVENING

AWARENESS PICNIC

When: Friday 24 April from 17h30

Where: Manor House Lawn

What to bring: Dress warmly and bring a picnic and picnic blanket

Entertainment: Lize Mynhardt and Gina Tanzer

Cost: R20 per person (tickets can be purchased at the event)

This is a fundraiser for the Eco Portfolio.


PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION

Friday Food Sale: Caramel Popcorn

LOST PROPERTY and SECOND HAND UNIFORM SALE

THIS FRIDAY

Caps R10 Hats R10

Shirts R20 Shorts R20

Trousers R20 Tracksuit tops R20

Tracksuit pants R20 Jerseys R20

Fleece tops R30 Rain tops R40

Scarfs R10 Swimsuits R20 Swim caps R10

Goggles R20 Chair bags R30

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAgQjRw&url=http://sweetpeaskitchen.com/2010/12/caramel-popcorn/&ei=8yA2VbGAEYbC7gb824HQCw&psig=AFQjCNFslDhJC71G6Z8h8BIN9R1WZjsung&ust=1429697139413287


Reddam Derby Day

On Saturday, 9 May 2015, we welcome Reddam House to Somerset College to spend the morning with us competing against our children in hockey, netball and rugby. This is an important date on our school calendar and we look forward to showing them our Somerset College hospitality. The Prep and Senior School Parents’ Association are involved in the running of the day and we will be sending out further communication to you, asking for volunteers (moms and dads) to help us at the tea and coffee stations as well as the braai areas. Could I ask you to please give your class representatives your names if you would like to help and be involved. We will also be asking you to please help us with the refreshments for our visitors by donating “finger food” snacks for the tea and coffee stations. We will send home cake boxes with your child in the week beginning 4 May and ask you kindly to bring them to school on Friday, 8 May 2015. Thank you in anticipation of what always proves to be a wonderful day for us and our children. With kind regards Frances Williams Prep PA Chairperson

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