AJAX AMSTERDAM INVITES KEETHAN CLAASEN

What wonderful news on this Tuesday...

Keethan Claasen came into my office waving a letter from Ajax Cape Town and he has been invited to join the  U17 team as they travel to Holland to play in the annual Future Cup organised by the Ajax Amsterdam team. He will be excused from school from 29 March 2012 to 10 April 2012 (4 school days). 

Keethan being congratulated by Mrs Africa

The Official Invitation given to Keethan by Ajax Cape Town. WHAT AN HONOUR!

GOOD LUCK! KEETHAN, you have our blessing. We are proud of you!

MUSIC IN OUR PASSAGES

It sounds like you are in heaven when you walk down the passages after hours in our school. Miss Stegman and Mrs Pannewitz have to get the credit for this fantastic venture. We would like to encourage our learners to make use of this opportunity. Like Miss Moeralie said in Assembly the other day:  "Life is all about choices and it is the choice we make on a specific day that will determine our altitude in life."  I am so proud to hear the wonderful sounds of music instruments in our school!

Jacques Cornelius a Grade 10 learner at our school.

Mrs Pannewitz with Roy Wachter on the left.

Miss Stegman and her music students in the Music Room.

On the other end it is Mr Scheepers a new teacher at our school who directs the Gospel Choir. I paid them a visit on Friday and we will definitely hear more of them in the future.

Practising Gospel Choir on a Friday! Mr Scheepers a new teacher at our school.

Some of the very friendly Gospel Choir learners. We are proud of you.

Sometimes a sad wave crushes nearby...

Tonight I dedicate my blog post to 3 of our educators at Goodwood College. I do not think words can fill the void left by the unforeseen.

Miss Dominique Hendricks' father passed away and we try to support this very dedicated teacher in her troubled moment.

Today we received news of the passing away of Miss Alicia Esau's grandmother and Mr Leon Barnard's brother.

It is always sad to be around courageous teachers like them in moments like these.

We truly feel your loss and we will do everything to support you. Thank you for being part of our Goodwood College family, we surely feel your loss.

Snow­drops grow to be about 15 cen­time­ters high and bloom from Jan­u­ary to Feb­ru­ary in the north­ern tem­per­ate zones. I found this modest gesture on the website: http://nordicflower.com/after-the-sorrow/ 

WORK DRAWING TO A CLOSE

A fresh facade like a breeze making one feels good...

The school as seen from the front. Clean roof and good fence!

The roof from close up.

Passing by the school. It has a good feel to it as I took the photo!

Rome was not built in one day, but even with the number of changes at the infrastructure of our building and school grounds done and many more in the pipeline, we are proud. The palisade fence on the front and side was completed yesterday afternoon. Minor clean up and joining to gates must still be done.

THANK YOU FOR PROUD ROLE MODELS!

Our proud leaders! Carla and Juan. I dedicate today's last post to you...

"Successful leadership is not about being tough or soft, sensitive or assertive, but about a set of attributes.
First and foremost is character"

— Warren Bennis

BLESSINGS AND GREETINGS FROM GERMANY!

Today we had a visit from Germany. A delegation with interest in our school as part of a network in social uplifting programmes. Baby steps, but the sky is the limit. We will keep you posted. Read the Argus newspaper tomorrow...

It is all about meeting and being positive. So much praise from our German visitors for what we plan.

DEDICATION - PAT 2012 - DUE DATE 6 MARCH

Time wasted on planning is never time wasted...

Good guidance by our CAT teacher, now we have to implement it. Extra lab time after school and we have to research, focus and choose.

Ashton Northcote setting up the survey...

Kyle answering an electronic survey.

I can still smile sir!

POSITIVE ALTERNATIVE TO DETENTION !

On Friday 17 February 2012, we introduced an alternative to the 2 hours a learner has to sit detention for certain transgressions. We gave them a choice as to do 1 hour of adding value to the school by improving the areas that are high in maintenance. We discovered a definite change in a few learners that started to clean up the Ecco Garden situated in an encloused court yard.

Craig and Shakeel ready to add value to the school.

Even when these 4 learners saw me taking photos of the maintenance work at the roof and windows, they were ever so keen to pose for a photo. (Perhaps the few minutes under the shade of a big guava tree was the key to the enthusiasm.) Thank you guys, you did a good job, with a lot of smiles!

JUNIOR COUNCIL CITY OF CAPE TOWN

Adding value to our school

Beauretha Seagren

On 13 February 2012 we received a fax from Cape Town  Junior City Council and in big letters at the top of the slogan it stated:  "Building the leaders of the future"

Beauretha is going to represent us at a nominee workshop which will take place in the Council Chamber, Civic Centre in Cape Town on 18 February 2012 from 10:00 till 13:00, where after the Executive of the Junior Council will be elected.

This is a great opportunity in adding value to our school. We are looking forward to hear all about this fantastic opportunity. Beauretha WE ARE PROUD of you. Go and show all nominees what we are striving for in 2012.

Reminder - due dates

The due date for PAT 1 - Grade 12 learners is 6 March 2012, 14:00.

GRADE 12 PAT 2012

We launched the Practical Assessment Task for 2012.

Serious research and work to do.

Download: PAT pdf file by using this link:

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B8DaF3HzTBS3NzgwZmIwZGUtNWE4Ny00ZDg0LWJlMDctZjU2M2VhMzIxODVk

Random Photo's during break on Valentine's Day

Taking a stroll during break, Mr Barkhuizen and Miss Esau witnessed the fun and "fished" some photo's for the blog. We wish we could publish them all, but there were too many happy friendship circles to accommodate on our blog. Thank you learners of Goodwood College for making this an unforgettable day.

Some enjoyed the peace and quiet at the further end of the playground

During break the runners up from all the grades had to parade in the Staff Room!

Miss Steyn organise the Valentine's Raffle and Karla won it 3 times in a row

Letitia and friends kindly pose for a photo!

Mr Davids on terrain duty! Thank you sir!!

How scared can one be to get to your balloon Valentine's message?

Danielle, Michael and Chandre added some humor to the day.

Cheerfully happy and smiles. What a lovely day!

Valentine's 2012 BEST DRESSED - girl and boy

Our best dressed winners are:  LINDA PIKOLI and MARLIN JANSEN. Congratulations.

Lovely day!

Linda and Marlon hug in the spirit of the day!

V*A*L*E*N*T*I*N*E*S @ GOODWOOD COLLEGE

ALL HEARTS AND KISSES

From left to right: Karla Olivier, Nadia Samsodien, Ashton Northcote, Jean De Bruyn and Bianca Meredith.

Spoiling the Staff during our extended break!

Some of the best dressed learner's and occasionally "the not so hot" take your pick!

Hugh Heffner? and  Danielle and Chandre?

Like a queen

Graad 8A se mooistes: Charnene Havenga en Rossco Prince

Thank you Mr Dolf Burger for kind words in your comment to our blog.

I have commented on the 1746 hits made on our blog this year. It means that so many people connected to our blog and tonight I found a "gem" reply to our postings. I am going to publish this, because we all know this dear teacher and miss him every day. Tonight we stand at an astounding 1843 visitors to our blog, including Mr Burger. Thank you for taking the time to read about us Mr Dolf Burger.

Mr Burger emailed me personally and he mailed the following:

Congratulations with all the good and positive things that are happening at Goodwood College. As an ex-teacher who served the school for approximately 34 years it warms my heart to see that all the things we were aspiring to are finally falling into place.  Will you please pass my regards and thanks to all the loyal and hard working teachers and pupils. The new look of the school with the palisade fence is a great achievement.

Regards Mr Burger

Dankie Dolf, jy is in ons harte en steeds deel van ons skool. (blog red)

ADDING VALUE TO OUR SCHOOL

Today we had a special assembly. We have honoured learners that add value to our school. We are so proud of you. To add value to your school means a lot and we want to dedicate this blog post to each and everyone that made us proud in assembly. We have the learners who were selected by Rachel's Angels and we have our RCL (Representative Council of Learners)

Let us start with our RCL for 2012. A huge responsibility is bestowed on their shoulders. To represent their grades and to serve the school with the example they set. I have a feeling that we will see POSITIVE representation by the way in which the learners applauded their choice today.

Mrs Carin Aucamp is the proud coordinator of our RCL.

Rachel's Angels

Next is our Rachel's Angels project that started at the beginning of this year under the mentor ship of our dear principal Mrs Africa and Mrs Clarke. In order to join this programme, both mentioned, had to present the board of Media24 with definite reasons why we feel that our learners must join this programme. For your convenience I post this link to direct you to the Angel's website and you can read about it at your own leisure: http://www.rachelsangels.co.za/ (Please feel free to click on this site and read all about the project. Bottom line: WE ARE PART OF IT and it is adding VALUE to our school in 2012. Thank you Mrs Africa and Mrs Clarke for making this possible.

The badge RA MEMBER (Rachel's Angels Member)

Our 7 Rachel's Angels. A true accomplishment. We are so PROUD of you.
From left to right in front:        Lakhe Dyani G11E1; Robin Davids G11E1; Reshonda Lodewyk G11E1; Chaylem Nel G11A
From left to right at the back:                           Garth September G11E1; Cleo Robertson G11E1 and Tatum-Lee Love G11E2

Kind hearted Mrs Clarke, Chief Mentor or the GC Angels!

Changing the blog template

I had to change the "template" of our blog. It took some time, but I am positive that the "breezy" clean and simple layout appeals to our followers and visitors. We boast 1746 hits (views) thus far and our target is 3000 hits before June 2012. Thanks for viewing our blog.

Goodwood College Staff united as one @ Cultivaria Stellenbosch

Saturday 11 February 2012 from 08:00 till 16:00, our staff gathered at the Cultivaria Guest Lodge in Stellenbosch to attend a workshop on Positive Behaviour for Teaching, Learning and Living. Our very talented and energetic Natalie Borman presented a workshop that made us feel one in teaching and tackling challenges of everyday classroom situations. Wow! What a mouthful.

Natalie explaining "The Chips" lol

Miss Tarien Botha studying the notes

Group 2 planning our strategy on classroom behaviour

Serious Group Work :-)

Miss Lawrence, Mrs Africa Miss Moralie and Miss Esau between sessions

Looking back at the afternoon, it was surely worthwhile! Goodwood College's staff united. This makes me PROUD!



KARAOKE - GREAT FUN AFTERNOON!

Friday fun! What a way to end a busy week! Lots of fun and talent! Thank you Mrs Neethling!

As part of our ongoing program of fun, we tested the "waters" as to have a fun afternoon as a runner up to the Valentine's Celebration. This initiative comes from Mrs Neethling and her team of entrepreneurs. It was really heartwarming to see staff and students getting together to have an afternoon of fun. Thank you to staff members for joining in and making this venture a great success. Mrs Neethling, Mr Davids, Mr Leukes, Mr Reid, Miss Esau, Mr Barkhuizen, Miss Lawrence and Mr Graham Carelse and Mr Kallie Smith. Without you and your smiles and ongoing spirit, this would not be possible.



Photo compilation of great fun and laughs!

Thank you Robby for bringing us joy through music and laughter!

SERIOUS SINGING - SERIOUSLY!

Always SAFE with our friendly security. Thank you!

Alicia Esau, Robby and Miss Lawrence lining up the "artists"

9 Feb 2012. A "face lift" for Goodwood College!

This afternoon work started on the “face lift” of our school’s front fencing and also gates to the side entrances of the main school grounds. This will bring about a whole new look to members of public that visit our school. The fencing project is now in Phase1. We are going to have yearly sections added to phase1, but in different stages.

Work started at the bridge side of the school grounds and will extend right round to the sports field entrance and the side dead end road leading to the gate at the library.