THE GATEWAY SCHOOL

The Gateway School Newsletter Welcome from the Principal’s office

January 2014 Issue 1

“Goals are dreams with deadlines.” – Diana Scharf Hunt

Welcome to what promises to be another exciting new school year. At the beginning of 2014, The Gateway School commits itself to creating meaningful opportunities for the learners enrolled at the school. During this school year we will continue to build upon the foundation of expertise and areas of good practice in ensuring education of excellence. Our staff, consisting of qualified educators, therapists, a school nurse, social worker and support personnel will endeavour to ensure the holistic development of each learner and in doing so provide varied activities both inside and outside the classroom. This year in particular we are looking forward to a programme involving various sport and cultural activities. The highlight of the cultural programme will be the staging of another spectacular Revue “Gateway to the Movies” at the Roodepoort Civic Theatre during the week of 22 to 26 September 2014.

Special points of interest:  Camp Footprints  Christmas play  Meet our prefects  Monitors  Staff Matters

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Education is a joint venture between school invisible into the visible.” – Anthony Robbins and home and therefore parents play an integral role in the success of each learner’s school career. We would thus like to extend an invitation to all our parents to become involved and to support all school activities. As effective communication forms a corner stone of successful relationships, we want to encourage parents to make use of the various forms of communication established at The Gateway School.

Once again we welcome you to The Gateway School where our motto “Together we achieve” becomes a reality.

Morne Visser, Jan Nel, Ricus Sandrock, Andanti Hoon, Lisa Mackett, Damien Parker, Neo Manaka, Veronique Lewis, Tristan Breytenbach,Refilwe Rammitlwa, Siyabonga Nkosi, Philisiwe Njekanye, Austin Kale, Nkosisinathi Masina, Tisetso Sesoai, Austin Bhagwan, Tebogo Ramtsi, Athi Magazi, Matthew Wahl, Lerato Mofokeng, Shezl Bothma, Tisetso Ramotebele, Nadine Erasmus, Lucille de Klerk, Gift Mazibuko, Chloe Coetzee, Laura-Lee Coetzer, Lohan Erasmus, Bayanda Masilela, Waliya Bhayat, Palesa Mosiane, Oratile Magqoki, Brandon Vermeulen, Cebisile Letsebe, Monnique Fourie, Unathi Lecwedi, Zané Janse van Rensburg, Onkabetse Seitlhamo, Kyle Goodman, Lufuno Chacha, Christo Hough, Sanet Hough and Jody Esterhuizen.

Christmas Party and Christmas play 2014 By Lize Pienaar All the learners of The Gateway School were invited to the annual Christmas party and what a privilege to end our year on such a high note! We were honoured to have Santa and his helpers there to personally hand each learner a gift. We would like to thank the staff and sponsors that made this day possible. Our learners thoroughly enjoyed the treat! The Gateway School hosted a Christmas play and parents, friends and family were invited. It was a wonderful evening filled with outstanding music and songs. As usual it exceeded all our expectations. Thank you to all the parents and friends of The Gateway, who took the time to come and watch. We look forward to our 2014 Christmas play.

Swimming Gala The Gateway School was privileged to participate in the 2013 swimming gala hosted by Casa do Sol School. Our learners achieved medals in various categories and our school achieved second place.

School Leavers Function 2013 by Marisa Kruger The school’s annual school leaver’s function was held last year in November. Roodepark School was kind enough to host the function for the third year and most of the school leavers attended. All the learners were elegantly dressed in the most beautiful dresses and smart suits. Dinner was delicious — a three course meal prepared by the Roodepark Hotel School learners. After dinner the school leavers enjoyed dancing and the company of their friends. We wish them all the best for their future endeavours.

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The Gateway School Newsletter

Staff Matters

Remember Friday

As we bid farewell to the year 2013, we also say goodbye to teacher Ingrid Viljoen and teacher Ansie Potgieter . Four staff members will be retiring in the first term of 2014: Deputy Principal Anne Ruscheinski, teacher Leonora du Plessis, teacher Dirkie Joubert and teacher Magda Schoeman. We are fortunate that our music teacher, teacher Elise Conradie, is still willing to teach the learners music even after her retirement.

Sales—The tuckshop has lots of treats for the learners!

The year embraces great possibilities as we welcome four new staff members: Teacher Johan Pienaar. Teacher Pine has 25 years teaching experience in special education and he will be responsible for giving computer classes as well as woodwork.

Teacher Anchen Breedt—Senior phase teacher. “I am so glad that I can finally teach at The Gateway School! I love beautiful creations and can’t control my sweet tooth. My biggest secret is that I am a big Steve Hofmeyr fan and I support the Western Province! My favourite colours are blue and pink. I hate eating celery and I am very afraid of frogs and lizards! Children and their funny sayings are the reason I became a teacher!”

Teacher Lida van der Westhuizen—Foundation phase teacher. “Hello to everyone at The Gateway School. I received my degree in Foundation Phase teaching (Grade R-3) at the end of 2012. In 2013 I started working at “Laerskool Die Ruiter”, a year filled with challenges to the point where I considered changing my career . Early in November I started baking cookies for some income. I had such fun and baked 160 kilograms of cookies in total! A good friend, Anchen Breedt, however, persuaded me to take my CV to The Gateway School. I was unsure, but after my visit to the school I knew I had found my new home. I found my calling and the learners already have a special place in my heart. It was a pleasure meeting the friendly staff and I look forward to learning new ways of teaching from you! I believe that experience is the best way to learn something, and I learn something every day! Thank you for allowing me to be part of the Gateway family!

Teacher Karen Greeff—Senior phase teacher. Teacher Karen comes from a farm in Zeerust. She loves the outdoors, flower arranging and working on projects with children. She is studying to become a pastor. She is motivated, loves all the learners at The Gateway School and looks forward to spending many more years at The Gateway School.

We would also like to congratulate the following members of staff on their study achievements: Dr M.E. Kempen, Hanri Booyens, Lindie Sequeira, Debbie Breedt, Lizanne Hattingh, Shona Blunn and Puleng Patrick.

Reading is super FUN!!!

We are very proud of you! Issue 1

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Meet the girl prefects for 2014

HEAD GIRL: Swabisile Makhubela “I want to thank the teachers and the learners for voting for me to be a prefect and head girl. This year I will make sure that everything goes well and I will be on my best behaviour as I have always been since 2010 till now. The things I love doing are to listen to music and being with my friends. I will do whatever it takes to make everyone happy at school. Head girl for life! Thank you again for voting for me—I love you all.”

Norah Moketsi “Thank you to the people who voted for me and the teachers. I like to be with my family, going shopping, movies and just chilling.”

Lientjie van Heerden “Prefek by Gateway Skool. Ek kry kos wat ek by die junior klasse af lewer. Ek hou toesig pouses op die meisies se speelgrond. Ek vergesel ‘n klein meisie na haar klas en bus toe.”

Jeanne– Marie Lubbe “Ek dink ek is ‘n goeie prefek want ek is gehoorsaam. Ek hou baie van diere en werk by ‘n hondesalon oor naweke.”

Dominique Lindeque “Ek is n leier by Gateway Skool. Ek hoop ek sal ’n goeie leier wees!”

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The Gateway School Newsletter

Meet the boy prefects for 2014 HEAD BOY: Neil Boyise “I am 18 years old. Being a prefect and head boy is hard and wonderful at the same time. When I first heard that I was head boy I was overwhelmed but I love looking after the other learners. The things that I like doing most is playing soccer, being with my friends and listening to music. I love people because we all need one another.”

Lebo Motetwa “I am 16 years old. My favourite hobby is soccer. I thank the people who voted for me to be a prefect. When I stop and talk to my friends, I will make sure they will be happy when I finish talking to them. Most of my friends say I am funny and I talk funny which is quite hilarious and I love girls. “

Tumelo Molepo “Aka Black eagle. I like playing sports and having a good time. I am going to be good and not bully anymore. I want to be a security guard when I leave school.”

Jecy Kalume “I like doing sports and I like reading. I think I am going to be a good prefect because I know the rules of the school and I am a good boy. “

Adolph Dlamini “I like to play soccer. I also like my play station. I like having a good time. I am going to do as I am told.”

David Mitchell “I would like to thank everyone who voted for me. I will work hard at my duties and do my best for the school, the teachers and all the learners. I enjoy sport like swimming, cricket and soccer. I also enjoy watching sport on TV like motorsport, cricket and soccer.”

Sheldon Bezuidenhout “Ek hou van om musiek te luister en krieket en sokker te speel. Ek is mal oor meisies en werk hard by die skool. Ek dink ek is ‘n goeie prefek omdat ek ‘n goeie voorbeeld vir die skool kan wees en almal trots maak op ons skool. Ek het vir baie jare gekyk oor hoe die skool is en het geleer dat ‘n mens altyd jou beste probeer wys vir ander nie omdat jy glo jy is swak of jy kan dit nie doen nie. Dit gaan vir my daaroor dat mense bly wie hulle is en nie verander nie. Jy moet altyd jou beste doen en glo jy is spesiaal vir Jesus. Ons skool is die beste skool ooit en gaan so bly.”

Vincent Botha “Ek hou van houtwerk. Ek gan ‘n goeie prefek wees want dis ‘n lekker ‘job’.”

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60 of the school’s learners were fortunate enough to have the opportunity to attend Camp Footprints in the Kwalata Nature Reserve this year. We would like to thank the team at Camp Footprints for giving our learners such a wonderful learning experience.

Prize Giving 2013 by Hettie Schlemmer On 21 November 2013 we had our annual prize giving awards ceremony. The learners were awarded certificates and trophies for all the activities they took part in during the year. The learners looked neat in their school uniform and they, together with their parents, enjoyed the morning. Well done everyone, we are so proud of you! Congratulations to the school’s 2014 monitors: Boys: Rudolf Venter, Enrico Johnson, Wikus Reyneke, Stefan Bezuidenhoudt, Sanele Mucambe, Aldriena Mafuna, Michelle Chuene, Wesley Mapson, Siswe Mafalala, Alex Kruger, Julian du Flatmate needed Plessis, Thabiso Masala, Shane Conway and Tevin Ball. Girls: Pumi Zulu, Savanna Muller, Eva Dikoma, Rochelle Bothma and Bianca Loggenberg. We trust that you will excel in the tasks given to you throughout this year. Page 6

Ruimsig Area close to Maragon, Monash and The Gateway R2200/month Please contact: 072 580 4233

The Gateway School Newsletter

ol The Gateway Scho

Physical Address : Van Dalen Road North Ruimsig

4-5 March 2014

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Prestige Games

19 March 2014

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Disco

20 March 2014

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Fire Department

21 March 2014

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Public Holiday

28 March 2014

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School Closes at 11h00

6 April 2014

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School Reopens

Phone: (011) 958 2080 Fax: (011) 958 2084 E-mail: [email protected]

We are on the web please visit us at www.thegatewayschool.co.za Angels in Heaven

Advertise To advertise in this newsletter please contact Ms Maryke Vergeer at (011) 958 2080 or e-mail at [email protected] Prices range from R25 for a “Classified Ad” to R50 for a quarter page advert.

After a long fight with terminal illness, two of our learners sadly passed away during the last term of 2013. Our prayers are with Spha Mhlongo’s family and Palesa Motaung’s caregivers at Mother of Peace. They will be sorely missed.

REPLY SLIP

I _______________________________ (parent’s name) parent / guardian of _______________________ in teacher_______________________________’s class, hereby acknowledge receipt of The Gateway School’s newsletter dated 1/2014.

_________________________ Signature Parent / Guardian