St Patrick’s College
WIS 11/2015
Dear Parents/Guardians/Friends
Thank you for the meeting last night. It was amazing. Amazing for a number of reasons:
Firstly it was probably the most well attended meeting we have had in many years. The attendance as per below
showed close to 100 people. As I sat in front and more and more people arrived I can assure you I felt quite
emotional. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedules to come and share.
The focus of the meeting as shared by the Board Chairman, Mr Horwitz, was on finances and specifically how to
handle the ongoing challenges inherent in the non -payment of school fees.
The question put to the meeting was whether the parent body felt that the exclusion of learners was the way to
handle the non- payment issue. The response was unanimous that parents who do not pay school fees should
have their children excluded from St Patrick’s College. There was a rider to this though as parents expressed some
concerns re the fact that statements of fees needed to be accurate and reflect the true situation before
exclusion should take place. College Management assured the meeting that this would apply and every care
would be taken to check the accuracy of statements prior to exclusion taking place.
A number of people listed their names as needing follow up with regard to the fee situation and these are
presently being called and will be called over the next few days to resolve the queries.
Based on the meeting resolution last night, it is pertinent to remind parents as follows:
1. When paying fees in cash, always request a receipt. The receipt must show your statement code not just
your name. If you are paying for an extra-mural activity please ensure that it is clearly stated on the receipt
so that the correct allocation can take place.
2. When paying online please include your statement code and ensure your name is clearly stated.
3. All fees are due IN ADVANCE not IN ARREARS. This means that the fees for a given month are paid at the
beginning of the month/term not at the end of the month/term.
4. On a statement an amount listed in brackets ( ) means that amount is in CREDIT. It is not an amount you
owe.
5. All fees to the end of April 2014 must be paid in full before the start of the second school term on April 14 th
to ensure tuition continues for your child. Each month thereafter is to be paid at the start of the month.
6. From the start of next term the policy of exclusion will apply and thereafter any account which goes into
arrears will be dealt with in this manner. You will though be contacted and engaged with prior to any
exclusionary process.
In addition to the above, College undertakes to continue with teaching from the first day of the new term and
that no disruption will take place due to any exclusionary process being implemented.
Parents are therefore reminded that if the fees ae not fully paid up this term, their children may not be brought
to school on the first day of the new term as they will not be allowed into class and College will not take the
responsibility of taking charge of these learners. They will be placed in an empty classroom and supervised but
not taught until collected by the parent(s) concerned.
THE PARENT BODY OF COLLEGE HAS SPOKEN.
Emergencies
Over the past months we have had occasions where we have experienced severe storms during the day.
Concerns have been expressed by parents re the contingencies in place to care for the children and ensure
their safety at these times.
Allow me to assure the parent body that the safety of the children is paramount and that we do have processes
in place should the need arise.
What is still problematic for College is that, despite all efforts to ensure contact details are up to date, we find
from time to time that addresses/e-mail addresses and telephone numbers have not been updated. I do
concede that in certain cases a parent may well have called in a contact number change and for some reason
it has not been captured by the admin staff. I apologise if this has occurred and undertake to ensure the admin
staff adhere to proper procedures in this. If you are not sure if the details we have on file are correct then please
contact Desiree in the front office and she will check on the system while you are on the phone and change
details if necessary.
Please note that in certain circumstances it might not be possible to contact parents even if we have all the
relevant details. This did happen in the storm earlier this year. We had no internet, no telephones and certain
cellphone providers were also offline. If this happens we will keep your child safe on the premises until you can
get here to collect him/her. The onus though is on you to get to the school and/or get a message to the school
to advise us that you are on your way to collect your son/daughter. May I also ask that you do ensure your little
one has access to an emergency contact number (a note in his/her case for example). I recently remained with
a youngster in the Junior Primary until 7:30pm waiting for his parents to collect him. The telephone numbers on
file were incorrect and he had no idea what his parents’ telephone numbers were. I was therefore unable to
contact anyone at all and could only wait until someone arrived (no apology or explanation was given by the
parent).
ATTENDANCE REGISTER FOR THE PARENTS’ MEETING HELD ON THURSDAY, 19 MARCH 2015 AT 18:00 IN THE
MUSEUM.
Puseletso Ndzilili
Baba Riet-Sadiki
Dolphy Mararo
Janine Paulse
June Mokoka
Gordan Mokoka
George Glynos
Lorraine Moroke
Faldiela Belim
Maria Tier
Collette Booysen
Pondai Kanyasa
Lesego Molao
Altaf Belim
Micaela de Kock
Agnes Mekgwe
Naresh Ramparshad
Nyakallo Moletsane
Chimeme Ogu
Barney Motlhabakwe
Nkululeko Maya
Itumeleng Mooki
F Jackals
P Monyobo
L Lecwidi
J September
M Manyeneng
M Gayakaya
Hope Jabbie
Glory Mojaki
Angie Roelofse
Jaco Roelofse
Tshepiso Kgosi
Violet Matthews
Viloet Mashishi
Pearl Nkosi
Irene Human
Rebecca Khumalo
Audrey Matthews
Salome Sithole
Sebenzile Bakubeku
T (Surname illegible)
M Adams
ND Ntlokwana
Pumla Sogoni
RK Williams
Mark Williams
Thandiwe Kegakilwe
Javier Espinaco
Leizel Botha
Nametso Molaolwe
S Dube
Martina Masanabo
Patricia Makgoe
G Jooste
Louise Pienaar
Obopeng Gaoraelwe
Nkosana Zitha
Sibongile Tlale
D Sebogo
Vivien Oliphant
Tebogo Tlale
Lorraine Riet
MJ Ward
L Franks
Stefan Fitzi
Dineo Motaung
Basie Matthews (Tshiamo)
Lebo Olyn
Lekeni Banda
Ovuyo Mvundlela
Millicent Mokoena
Marang Selesho
Melanie Phyffer (Manuel)
James Phyffer
Mark Fletcher
Brian Dziwandi
Carlin Olifant
Tanya Matthews
Delton Daniels
Mannuku Manyeneng
J Babuseng
Marutu and Tariro
Lesedi Kesiamang
Liezel van Richards
Heather Motlhanke
D Morule
Bronwyn Daniels
Tlholego Kale
AB Horwitz
S Beangstrom
P Mogotsi
APOLOGIES
Keiso Mofokeng
Malwanda Mbalula
Lesego Lekhoathi
Puleng Kekana
Sihle Nkungwana
Thandi Butshwane
Lephina Bosvark
Daniel Osei-Fofie
Sharon Hilary de Kock
Kedisaletse Williams
WHAT’S HAPPENING NEXT WEEK?
Saturday, 21 March 2015
Human Rights Day
SciFest – Grahamstown
13h00 1st Team Cricket Semi Final at Backfield vs Burma Lads
Sunday, 22 March 2015
Jer 31, 31-34; Ps 51, 3-4.12-15; Heb 5, 7-9; Jn 12, 20-33
Birthday: Omphemetse Mokwena 1PR
SciFest – Grahamstown
SA OWC – Level 3 Ends
Monday, 23 March 2015 (49)
Birthday: Keamogetswe Tsimakwane 2LL
07H30 PS Assembly
07H30 HS Register classes spelling revision
SciFest – Grahamstown
Tuesday, 24 March 2015 (50)
Birthdays: Kyle Franks 5AVD, Gosego Mashishi 3AR
SciFest – Grahamstown
07H30 Liturgical Singing: HS
07H30 – 14H30 Bargain Books Exhibition
HS Spelling Bee
07H30 – 13H30 HS Special Programme
12H00 PP Closes for term
14H15 Bundling Reports
Wednesday, 25 March 2015 (51)
Thursday, 26 March 2015 (52)
Birthday: Kia Kitenge 2SO
Friday, 27 March 2015 (53)
Birthdays: Lethabo Ledwaba 3DR, Bilal Waleed 10TD
07H30 – 09H00 HS Academic Assessments
09H30 Paraliturgy and Easter Charity Distribution
10H15 Pupils collect reports from Register teachers
10H30 School Closes
SA OWC – Level 1 (27-29 March)
END OF TERM
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NOTES TO PARENTS:
Bargain Books in collaboration with Lapa Publishers will be
having a book exhibit and sale at the High School on the
25th of March. They will be stationed in front of the High
School Library. Please support this as 10% of all sales will be
donated back to the High School Library in the form of
books. The High School Library has a particular shortage of
First Additional Language books so any purchases donated
to the Library will be very much appreciated. Your name, as well as the date of the donation, will be
added to the front inside cover of the book. Bargain Books will be setting up from 07h30 until 14h30
on the 25th of March. Facilities for card payments will be available so you do not have to have cash
on you .
The Uniform Shop will be open on Monday, 13 April from 08:00 to 13:00 for all Winter
Uniform purchases.
The Pick n Pay Women’s Walk will be hosted by College on Backfield this year. The
event will take place on Saturday, 18 April 2015. Details will be communicated in
due course.
SPORTS NOTICES
All extra-mural activities have come to an end for this term.
A BIG thank you to all the staff and pupils who participated in the Inter-CBC Hockey in Bloemfontein.
The Boys played four, lost two and won two. The Girls played five, lost three and won two.
CONGRATULATIONS to Samantha Perkins and José Booysen who were selected for the SA CBC
Hockey Squad.
GOOD LUCK TO Barbara-Anne de Bruin and Ashley Fotheringham-Roelofse who will be participating
in the Level 1 swimming gala in Pietermaritzburg.
LIBRARY BOOKS
All Library books outstanding from 2014 must please be returned to the Library ASAP. All books not
returned will be debited to the relevant pupil’s school account.
LOST AND FOUND
An internet dongle connected to a USB cable was found on Backfield on Tuesday, 17 March 2015. If
it belongs to you, you need to identify and collect it at the front office.
IMPORTANT NOTICE
The HS closes at 13H30 from 23-26 March 2015
We would like to, once again, bring to the attention of our parents, that we do not have the facilities
and will no longer be delivering lunch boxes / sports’ clothes / books etc. that have been left at home,
to your children. No items may be taken to children's classrooms by parents as this is disruptive to the
whole class and the teacher concerned. It is the responsibility of the child as well as the parent to
ensure that these items come to school with the child.
ST PATRICK’S DAY – 17 MARCH 2015
SPORTS’ UNIFORM: HIGH SCHOOL
All High School pupils of St Patrick’s College are expected to wear the following kit for various sports
commitments:
PT lessons: navy blue school shorts + College golf t-shirt (either white or in house colour) + white socks
- either long College socks or ankle length white sports socks (no invisible socks) + regulation sports
shoes / trainers.
Swimming: boys may wear Speedos, ‘jammers’, school-issued navy sports shorts (but NOT board
shorts); girls to wear a regulation one-piece costume. Girls may wear blue PT shorts over their
costumes. All pupils (boys & girls) to wear a swimming cap.
Sports practices after school: as above.
Pupils may also wear an official College sports top (with the school crest on it) & College socks (e.g.
hockey boys may wear the yellow / green socks & tops that they have received in past years). If a
mass / assembly is scheduled for a day on which PT is timetabled, the white College golf t-shirt must
be worn.
ABSENTEEISM
Junior School: If a learner is absent from school, a letter from the parent/legal guardian is required on
the day the learner returns to school. This must be handed to the class teacher at lines before the start
of the academic day. High School: ALL letters / medical certificates to be given to Mrs Matthews/Mrs
Phillips.
SCHOOL TIMES
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Please note that school starts at 07h25 for both High School and Primary School.
The High School day ends at 14:10 each day.
Gr 3-6 day ends at 14:10 Mon-Thur and Gr 2-6 day ends at 13h00 every Friday.
The Grade 1 day ends at 12h30 (1st term only) thereafter at 13h00 each day
The Grade 2 day ends at 13h30 Mon-Thur.
FINANCE OFFICE TIMES
The Finance Office is open every Monday through to Thursday, for payment of fees and
general finance queries. The hours of opening are from 07:30 to 09:00 and then again from
12:30 to 15:30. On Fridays only open from 07:30 to 09:00. Outside of these hours the Finance
department is not available for receipt of fees or general queries.
BOOKSHOP / CLOTHING SHOP TIMES
The Bookshop / Clothing Shop will now be open on Monday – Thursday from 12:30 to 15:30
DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR
ORGANIC COMPOST
* 100% organic / * No chemicals added / * Scientifically researched and produced / * Will not
harm the environment / * Will improve the quality of your soil
R45 for 30kg and R65 for 50kg. If an order of 10 bags or more is placed, delivery will be done
to your home by arrangement.
Please contact Amanda on 0835020781 to place your order.
This is a small fundraising initiative for College and your support will be much appreciated.