Term 3, Issue 2

Summer 2017

Page 1. WHPS Newsletter, Term 3, Issue 2

Laughter is the Best Medicine

REMINDERS:

School Shop Closed

18—25 September 2017

Grade 6 Camp

19—22 September 2017

Grade 4 & 5 Camps

20—22 September 2017

Grade 3 Camp

21—22 September 2017

Grade 2 Outing

21 September 2017

WHPS PA Camp Out

Saturday, 30 September 2017

When I was appointed the Head of Department a couple of years ago, I was handed a list of duties that would form part of my portfolio. Theses duties obviously pertained to the running of the department as well teaching. Having been the HOD for a while now, I have to say that my favourite duty is running an assembly every now and then. However, when there are that many assemblies on show, it can be tricky when one has to select a theme for said assembly. There is a huge amount of pressure because you know that you are going to be facing a hall full of critics. The boys are wanting you to entertain them as do the teachers. That can be a tall order on a Monday. So I had a look at what Habit of Mind was assigned to this week and to my delight, discovered that it was Habit 14 – Finding Humour. Anybody who knows me knows that it is right up my alley. I thrive on humour and I love entertaining people with hilarious stories. As your boys will tell you, I try to incorporate humour into my teaching and my coaching. Of course, this cannot be the case all the time. Answering the question “Sir, where must I stick this in?” for a fifth time after having demonstrated where to stick the note at the beginning of the lesson, ones nerves tend to get a tad frayed. When you find later that after having answered the question 5 times, that note has been stuck in the back of the book and not the front as asked and it is probably in the wrong book all together, finding humour is near impossible. So, in assembly on Monday, I showed the boys how Laughter is the Best Medicine. We looked at the history of humour and how people have used humour throughout time to make themselves feel better. There were one or two clips that showed the boys slapstick comedy and how it was used in circuses and during the silent movie era. I also had some funny adverts and more clips I had found on the internet. Once I had put it all together and aired it in assembly, it had everyone in stiches, apart from the odd 13 year old sitting at the back who is too cool to laugh at something that doesn’t involve flatulence. Having looked at the presentation again, I discovered that we have not changed as much we would like to think. I had boys killing themselves laughing at Charlie Chaplin and Harold Lloyd. I am certain that before Monday, majority of the boys had never heard of them before, yet I was getting requests after assembly to show them the clips again. And that’s when it dawned on me. We have come full circle and slapstick comedy is popular once again. Every clip I came across on the internet that I knew would get a laugh with your boys, involved someone falling down and getting hurt, getting up and getting hurt, falling down stairs, off bikes and off chairs. YouTube is full of people “Failing” and when you compare it to the antics of Charlie Chaplin, there is not much difference. We can still laugh at slapstick and I think it is wonderful. I am happy that we can still laugh at something that doesn’t require Beyonce` to create a soundtrack or involves toilet humour. But remember this, in order for them to get their daily dose of medicine, they are probably waiting for you to fall in the pool.

Sean Page / Senior Prep HOD

Page 2. WHPS Newsletter, Term 3, Issue 2

REMINDER: Drop and Go

Social Media Presentation to Parents

The Family Forum hosted a Social Media Presentation on Tuesday, 12 September 2017. The speaker was Dr Lizzie Harrison. Lizzie works with Emma Sadler, the continent’s social media law expert.

Dr Lizzie Harrison, is a qualified medical doctor from England. She studied medicine at Cambridge University where she intercalated for a year to complete a degree in Neuroscience and Psychology. Lizzie and the rest of the team at The Digital Law Co aim to educate parents and pupils about social media, social media legal risks as well as the effects of screen time on health, psychological well-being, learning and brain development.

Lizzie presented in a down to earth, relatable and honest manner. Her talk was incredibly interesting, insightful and educational. There were many legal aspects that she covered that certainly are a must know when living in the digital world that we do.

At the end of the session she left us with five points to remember:

1. Never post anything that you may regret (a digital mistake is a permanent mistake)

2. Never “accept” or speak to anyone who you don’t know (have not met face to face)

3. Never think that you are anonymous

4. If you would not say it face to face, then don’t say it online

5. If you would not want you Mum to see it, then don’t put it online

Thank you so much to the parents who made the time to attend this incredibly important presentation. We certainly will continue to host these talks in the future and we would like to encourage more parents to attend as these types of presentations are of great benefit to us all.

Parents may not park in the turning circle when dropping off

their boys in the mornings between 06:00 and 08:00.

This is strictly a drop and go area during this time.

Please ensure that you do not disrupt the flow of traffic

Page 3. WHPS Newsletter, Term 3, Issue 2

Sport: Individual Performances

Tennis: The Davis Cup — Mixed Doubles with St Mary’s DSG

The Open First and Second Tennis Teams, as well as the Under 11 A and B Tennis Teams played in the Davis Cup Tournament this week. This is a mixed doubles tournament where each boy involved gets to partner with a player from St. Mary’s DSG. It allows WHPS both an opportunity to build our relationship with this school and to facilitate interaction amongst peers. The emphasis is on fun and great excitement was generated around dressing in colours that represented either Spain or South Africa. In the Open age group the winning country, to the players delight, was South Africa. The winning country in the Under 11 age group was Spain. The tournament was most enjoyable and provided light-hearted entertainment and some valuable life lessons. We look forward to future engagements of this nature.

Max Louw was awarded his Gauteng Colours for Judo and has been selected for the Tshwane Judo Team

which is set participate in the South African School Judo Championship in October this year. Max will be

competing as a Novice in the under 42kg weight category.

Congratulations Max!

Page 4. WHPS Newsletter, Term 3, Issue 4

WHPS PA Camp Out: 30 September 2017

Address:

535 Ruddell Street,

Brooklyn

0181

Contact Details:

Tel 012 460 5221

Fax 012 460 4469

samanthav@whps.co.za

School Shop:

Sue Head

082 815 1769

Shop Hours:

Mon 16:00—17:00

Wed 07:00—07:30 & 12:30—16:00

Fri 07:00—07:30 & 14:00—15:00

Page 5. WHPS Newsletter, Term 3, Issue 2

We would like to remind our current parents that if you have not

yet submitted your applications for Grade 000 and 00 in 2018 as

well as for 2019 to please do so as soon as possible.

1. Application Form — collect from reception or download from the website (click here).

2. Complete and submit to Carole Strydom at reception.

3. If there is a vacancy in the grade applied for you will be invited for an interview and play date (Grade 000 and 00) or an interview and assessment test (Grade 0—7).

4. Based on the outcome of the interview and assessment test/playdate a place at WHPS may be offered.

If you have any friends or relatives that you know are

interested in WHPS please kindly advise them to make contact with

Sam Viney as soon as possible in order to book a tour of the school

and/or go through the application process.

Applications for 2018 & 2019