Circular 14 July 2010

Dear Parents
I write to you early this term to inform you of several items before the term starts. I trust that everybody enjoyed the extended June/July holidays and the excitement associated with the FIFA World Cup. I know that many of you are relieved that school has begun again and you can return to a life which resembles “normal” once more!

1. I should like to begin this short newsletter with the announcement that we have identified a Deputy Headmaster who has agreed to join Creston College at the beginning of the 4th term this year. The Governing Body spent a great deal of time discussing the pros and cons of such an appointment and as you will know from the feedback sessions with parents during the course of the last 6 months, the Board made the decision to go ahead with this appointment. The gentleman’s name is Mr Dennis Thomas. He hails from Oakhill School, an independent school in Knysna. He held the post of Deputy Principal at Oakhill School and before that, at Nigel High School in Gauteng. Mr Thomas is a married man with two adult children. He has many years of experience as a Deputy, he is a qualified Business Studies teacher and most of his experience has been gained in senior schools, although he has taught in the senior primary in Grades 6 and 7. He has been a National Examiner in Business Studies and has been responsible for many interesting and innovative programmes in his two previous schools as Deputy. He also has a background in athletics and hockey and will no doubt show a great deal of interest in sport at Creston as well.

Mr Thomas will begin his time at Creston in the senior school where he, along with the Headmaster, will be responsible for the appointment of an HOD in the College Phase in due course. He will spend most of his time in the senior school during the first 6 months of his stay with us and thereafter the Head, along with the Governing Body, will define his job description to the greater benefit of the whole school. We look forward to welcoming Mr Thomas to Creston at the beginning of the 4th term.

1. I would also like to announce the appointment of Mrs Kathrine Hulley into the post of College Phase Admin Assistant. Mrs Hulley has a wealth of PA and Admin experience and her duties at this stage will be confined to College Phase Admin matters. We warmly welcome Mrs Hulley to the Creston staff and hope that her stay with us will be long and mutually satisfying.

1. I should also like to bring to parents’ attention the matter of the term programme. We made a decision at the end of last term not to formally print the term programme for parents, believing that the relative benefits vs the costs of having the document printed did not add up. We have chosen instead to circulate the term programme by email – this will be done within the next few days – and have it posted on the website for parents and intranet for teachers. We will make sure that the term programme is kept current and parents who wish to have a copy may copy it off the website and place it on the fridge! The most important date so far this term will be Friday 23rd July. For the 1st time we will be hosting a joint SP/College Phase Interhouse Athletics event. We believe this will give more parents encouragement to attend the event and create more spirit in the school. We hold thumbs for good weather and we will give you the details as soon as we have them.

I draw to parents’ attention that it will be COMPULSORY for the next 2 weeks for all SP and College Phase children to participate in athletics’ practice. Should a pupil not be able to participate, a letter to this effect is to be addressed to the HOD of the phase.

1. The other exciting news is that the major College Phase production for the year - “Oklahoma” – is due to be hosted from Tuesday 17th August until Saturday 21st August. This is going to be a humdinger of a production and we encourage you to set time aside for it now. Details will follow.

1. One of our parents, Mrs Flavia Shaer, has initiated a Creston Coach service to and from Hibberdene. Mrs Shaer is offering parents the opportunity of booking their children onto her coach, which can accommodate 8 passengers.  If you are interested, please contact Mrs Shaer on 0731782555 or by email flavia@tulala.co.za for rates and times that the coach will operate between Hibberdene and Creston.

1. Lastly, we have provisionally set aside the Weekend of the 30/07 for the Dad’s and Lad’s weekend at Lake Eland – a successful event last year. Unfortunately  Mr Dick Plaistowe who co-ordinated the event last year is not available to co-ordinate the event on this date. Are there any other fathers who enjoy the outdoors who would at short notice co ordinate the event at the end of July?  If there are any other “takers”, please contact me. 

I sincerely trust that you will enjoy this term with us.
Yours sincerely

 

 

 

PR HAWKE
HEADMASTER