1. family and parenting
2. children

Volume 4 Issue 05
Thursday, 19
TH
March 2015
Dear Families,
My first term at Reddam House has been an extremely busy but most inspiring one. Meeting a new cohort
of teachers, educators, children and parents has been a fulfilling experience for me. We have all worked
positively together towards a common goal and a shared vision:
Reddam House is the Ultimate Expression of Excellence. We believe that we have a responsibility to
develop young people who are proud of their education, their culture and their country. We look upon the
ripple of excellence in education as our investment in the future as we believe that education is the catalyst
for personal growth, development and achievement.
Early Learning School Guide 2015
Our recent Parent Interviews created an opportunity for parents and teachers alike to discuss the holistic
development of each child in earnest. Appropriate strategies or interventions if required were discussed
thus ensuring our children‟s needs are being met and extended where possible both at school and at home.
Coffee Morning
We have some action photographs to share of parents participating in our first Coffee Morning. David
Stanton, the Campus Manager, Netcare Education Faculty of Emergency and Critical Care encouraged
parents to practise CPR at his talk on Turn your Attention to Drowning Prevention. Our first Coffee Morning
was a resounding success!
Reddam House Waterfall Early Learning School Newsletter
Volume 4 Issue 05, 19th March 2015
Our next Coffee Morning will be held on Thursday, 23 April at 08:00.
Topic:
RAISING CHILDREN TO HAVE A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP WITH FOOD
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Presenters:
Fussy eaters
Lunch box ideas
Breakfast, lunch and dinner ideas and family values around food
The relationship between food and children and encouraging knowledge about where
food comes from etc. through cooking activities, vegetable patches
Which foods to include in your child‟s diets – protein and carb allocations
Healthy diet and nutrition for children ages birthday – 3yrs, 4yrs – 10 yrs. and young
adult
Potential eating disorders and bad eating habits
When to worry
Vanessa Simcock, Katherine Green, Taryn Hands
Please RSVP Pat Nkonyane at [email protected] or add your name to the list at our
Reception Desk by Monday, 20 April 2015.
VANESSA SIMCOCK
For more than 20 years my passion for healthy food has evolved into 2 successful businesses in
Johannesburg. My „first baby‟, Exquisite Tastes, was born 16 years ago followed by Baby Tastes 5 years
ago. I trained and studied at Leith‟s School of Food and Wine in London and have completed a number of
courses over the years.
Following the birth of my 2 daughters, aged 6 and 8, I became far more involved in what food I fed them,
what food they took to school and also what goes into our food that we eat on a daily basis.
It is vital to provide our children with healthy, nutritious food which results in a healthy mind and body from
early on. If our children understand and acknowledge where our food comes from and which foods are
good for them, their on-going relationship with food will be a healthy and positive one.
After teaching numerous kiddies cooking classes, doing kiddies demonstrations and cooking parties, I feel
the need is greater than ever to educate our children about where their food comes from and how best to
prepare it.
Reddam House Waterfall Early Learning School Newsletter
Volume 4 Issue 05, 19th March 2015
KATHYRN GREEN
I received my Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Stellenbosch. I have many years of
experience, primarily being a senior dietician at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital.
I am currently a Principle Clinical Dietician at Morningside Medi-Clinic hospital with a specialty in Oncology,
Critical Care, Eating disorders, Trauma, Surgery, Bariatric Surgery, Renal disease, Weight loss and
cardiovascular health.
"Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food"- Hippocrates
This ultimately describes my philosophy when it comes to the treatment my patients and that my belief in
providing overall holistic care to all patients through multidisciplinary teamwork and that the development of
relationships with all my patients and clients can make all the difference to their treatment and care
I am registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), Board of Health Care
Providers (BHF), along with the Centre of Diabetes Education (CDE) and a passionate team member of
Gift of the Givers.
TARYN HANDS
One of the things I enjoy most about being a dietician is that every day you meet new people from different
backgrounds with different stories to tell. It is very rewarding when you give someone advice and it works
for them. I am passionate about helping people reach their personal health and wellness goals and I knew
from a very young age that someday I wanted to help people.
I received my Bachelor of Science degree in dietetics at the North West University of Potchefstroom. I am
committed to providing the best evidence based care and information to patients to promote optimal
recovery and patient outcome. Here at Kathryn Green & Associates we believe: “Let food be thy medicine
and medicine be thy food”- Hippocrates, and that is why we advise people on what to eat in order to lead a
healthy lifestyle or to achieve a specific health-related goal.
There is a lot that I am passionate about when it comes to my profession, but I specifically specialize in:
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infant and young child feeding (paediatrics)
renal nutrition
sport nutrition
cardiovascular diseases
weight loss and healthy eating
corporate wellness
vitality assessments
home based care
I am registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), and the Board of Health Care
Providers (BHF)
Reddam House Waterfall Early Learning School Newsletter
Volume 4 Issue 05, 19th March 2015
Vaccinations
We have included a recommended immunization schedule for babies and children.
Check the schedule for the age or age range when each vaccine or series of shots is recommended. Or
create a personalized schedule that shows the recommended dates for your child. If your child has missed
any shots, work with your child‟s doctor to determine vaccination dates for the missed or skipped vaccines.
See the doctor with any questions.
Baby and Childhood Vaccinations
Child’s Age
Vaccines Needed
Birth
Oral Polio & BCG
6 to 8 weeks
Diphtheria, Tetanus, Acellular Pertussis
Haemophilusinfluenzae type B and inactivated
Polio
Hepatitis B
Rotavirus
Pneumococcal Conjugated
10 to 12 weeks
Diphtheria, Tetanus, Acellular Pertussis
Haemophilusinfluenzae type B and inactivated Polio
Hepatitis B
Rotavirus
Pneumococcal Conjugated
14 to 16 weeks
Diphtheria, Tetanus, Acellular Pertussis
Haemophilusinfluenzae type B and inactivated Polio
Hepatitis B
Rotavirus
Pneumococcal Conjugated
9 months
Measles
12 months
Hepatitis A
Varicella Vaccine (chicken pox)
Pneumococcal Conjugated
15- 18 months
Measles, Mumps and Rubella
18 months
Diphtheria, Tetanus, Acellular Pertussis
Haemophilusinfluenzae type B and inactivated Polio
Hepatitis A (booster)
6 Years
Measles, Mumps and Rubella
Diphtheria, Tetanus, Acellular Pertussis and
Inactivated Polio
12 years
Measles, Mumps and Rubella (if missed at 6 years)
Diphtheria, Tetanus, Acellular Pertussis and
Inactivated Polio (if missed at 6 years)
Reddam House Waterfall Early Learning School Newsletter
Volume 4 Issue 05, 19th March 2015
Extra-Mural Activities
All extra-mural activities will continue as per Term Planner in Term 2. Viz. Soccer Starz, Rugga Kids, Lego
Club, French Club, Dance Tots.
Reddam Gives Back
Thank you to the many families who have
contributed so generously to Ditshego PrePrimary School. I am sure that the
recipients of our kind hearts and mindful
thoughts will enjoy and benefit from our
acts of kindness.
Early Arrivals
Please be reminded that our school doors open at 07:30. Should parents wish their children to arrive from
07:15 onwards you will need to contact Geraldine in the admin office at geraldine.clark@reddamwaterfall to
reserve a space in the holding class. Parents are to please not enter prior to 07:30 as we have no teachers
nor educators present to welcome your children in the classrooms.
Term 2 Planner
We have included a Term 2 Planner for your perusal. Please diarize pertinent dates and extra-mural
activities on offer. We hope that this forecasted plan will assist you as families in your day-to-day busy
lives.
Reddam House Waterfall Early Learning School Newsletter
Volume 4 Issue 05, 19th March 2015
Staff News
Two of our teachers, Jenny Moffat and Jenee Otto will be getting married during the school holidays. We
wish both brides-to-be all the very best on their special day and for the future years ahead.
We bid Vanessa Clarke farewell at the end of this term. Vanessa has been a valued member of our staff
teaching Stage 2 children. We wish her all the best in her future educational journey.
Wishing our Christian families a Happy Easter. May your Easter basket be full of joy, happiness and peace
today and always. To our Jewish families we wish you joy and many blessings at Passover and throughout
the year. Reddam families we wish you a relaxing holiday. If you are travelling please travel safely. I look
forward to another exciting and productive term.
School re-opens on Monday, 13 April 2015.
Warm regards
Dr Bev Evangelides
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
School closes for Term 1: Friday, 27 March at 11:00
CONTENTS
Page 1-6:
Bev‟s Message
Page 4:
Vaccination Schedule
‘Water Day’
Page 6:
Dates for your diary
School Reopens: Monday 13 April
Page 6:
Stage 1: Playing Peekaboo
Page 7:
Stage 2: Pizza Making
Page 7:
Stage 3: Things that Grow
Page 8:
Stage 4: Making Number Puzzles
Page 8:
Stage 5: Reading is Fun
Page 9:
Term 2 Calendar
Coffee Morning:
Wednesday 23 April at 08:00
Once Upon a Starry Night: Wednesday 29 April at 18:00
Stage 1: PLAYING PEEKABOO WITHIN OUR MAZE OF CARDBOARD BOXES
The first thing little toddlers do when confronted with a
cardboard box is try to get in it. Cute as this is, there is
actually an important reason why they do this – spatial
awareness.
Cardboard boxes make ideal hiding places. The children
in my Stage One class love to hide and play Peekaboo
both in the classroom and in the Cardboard Maze that we
created for the Stage 1s in our Sensory Atelier. It was
amazing observing my class crawling in and out and
amongst the cardboard boxes looking for friends and
throwing the bales of hay that we shredded onto the floor. There was so much laughter, surprise and
excitement during the course of week, discovering the fun of a cardboard box.
Nicky, Bullie and Mummy
Reddam House Waterfall Early Learning School Newsletter
Volume 4 Issue 05, 19th March 2015
Stage 2: Pizza Making
Last week Stage 2R baked pizza which we
made from start to finish.
We made the dough together, measuring and
mixing the ingredients. The children then had
their pizza dough to roll out and add cheese to.
The children thoroughly enjoyed this baking
activity.
Vanessa and Precious
Stage 3: Things that Grow
In Term 1 we have been exploring the provocation, “Things that Grow.” We have looked at pictures and
created masterpieces of the items around us, such as flowers and plants, animals big and small, coral and
fish. The most exciting, however, was definitely exploring, The Human Body.
We took a look inside our bodies at what helps us grow. OUR BONES! We saw x-rays and photos of bones
and felt how hard our bodies are under our soft squishy skin.
The children were excited to discover that they grow too. Teacher Roxanne reminded them that she too
was once three years old and was the same size and age as them.
The class decided to create, “Me” paintings. We went into the atelier and with the paint set out and paper
ready the children created their own body image paintings. They included detail like legs, arms, eyes and
noses. The atelier was buzzing with chatter and discussion. As a class we observed all the different ideas
and creations the children had made.
Roxy and Lindiwe
Reddam House Waterfall Early Learning School Newsletter
Volume 4 Issue 05, 19th March 2015
Stage 4: Making Number Puzzles
From early childhood right through to
adulthood we love to play with puzzles. We
like the way they challenge our thinking and
exercise our minds. Puzzles are also an
important educational learning tool for
toddlers and young children as they provide
many skills and mental learning benefits and
opportunities.
Puzzle building develops cognitive skills,
problem solving, fine motor skills, hand-eye
co-ordination, social skills and self-esteem.
The children traced numbers on the light
box and then cut the numbers up into
pieces. The children then re-built their
numbers like a puzzle. This exercise helped
the children to develop a deeper
understanding for the way in which numbers
are formed and the sequence in which
numbers go.
Lauren K and Mpho
Stage 5: Reading is Fun
Over the past two weeks the Stage 5 children have been revising their letters and sounds. They are
starting to build simple three letter words together. The children are encouraged to discriminate between
letters and focus on the sounds at the beginning, middle and end of words. Constant repetition aids visual
discrimination amongst letters as well as letter formation. Observing children realise that learning sounds
had a purpose was delightful. We look forward to learning further sounds and increasing our reading
knowledge.
Chantelle and Abigail
Reddam House Waterfall Early Learning School Newsletter
Volume 4 Issue 05, 19th March 2015
ELS Parent Calendar Term 2
April
Weds
1
Thurs
Fri
Sat
2
3
4
Sun
Mon
5
6
Tues
May
June
Workers' Day
Fri
1
Mon
1
Dance Tots, Dinkie Chefs
Sat
Sun
Mon
2
3
4
Soccer Starz
Dance Tots, Dinkie Chefs
Tues
Weds
Thurs
2
3
4
French Club, Rugga Kids
Dance Tots
Lego Club
Tues
Weds
5
6
French Club, Rugga Kids
Dance Tots
Friday
Sat
5
6
7
Soccer Starz
Thurs
7
Lego Club
Sun
7
Weds
Thurs
8
Friday
8
Mon
8
Dance Tots, Dinkie Chefs
9
Sat
9
Soccer Starz
Tues
9
French Club, Rugga Kids
Friday
Sat
10
11
Sun
Mon
10
11
Dance Tots, Dinkie Chefs
Weds
Thurs
10
11
Dance Tots
Lego Club
Sun
Mon
12
13
Tues
Weds
12
13
French Club, Rugga Kids
Dance Tots
Friday
Sat
12
13
Soccer Starz
Tues
Weds
14
Thurs
14
Sun
14
15
Friday
15
Mon
15
Thurs
16
Sat
16
Soccer Starz
Tues
16
Friday
Sat
Sun
Mon
Tues
17
18
19
20
21
17
18
19
20
21
Dance Tots, Dinkie Chefs
French Club, Rugga Kids
Dance Tots
"Hooked on Books"
Lego Club
Weds
Thurs
Friday
Sat
Sun
17
18
19
20
21
Dance Tots
Lego Club Coffee Morning
Dance Tots, Dinkie Chefs
French Club, Rugga Kids
Sun
Mon
Tues
Weds
Thurs
Weds
22
Dance Tots
Friday
22
Mon
22
Dance Tots, Dinkie Chefs
Thurs
23
Lego Club
Sat
23
Tues
23
French Club, Rugga Kids
Friday
24
Sun
24
Weds
24
Dance Tots
Thurs
25
Lego Club
Friday
Sat
26
27
End of Term 2 - Silly Socks Day - Reports issued
Soccer Starz
Sun
28
Mon
29
Tues
30
Good Friday
Family Day
Soccer Starz
Term 2 Commences
Soccer Starz
Coffee Morning 8am
Sat
25
Sun
Mon
26
27
Soccer Starz
Tues
28
French Club, Rugga Kids
Weds
29
Dance Tots
Thurs
30
Freedom Day
'Once Upon a Starry Night"
Mother's Day Celebrations
Mother's Day
School Holiday - Adventure Zone open
Soccer Starz
Mon
25
(School Holiday - Adventure Zone open)
Tues
Weds
26
27
French Club, Rugga Kids
Dance Tots
Thurs
28
Lego Club
Friday
29
Sat
30
Reddam House Waterfall Early Learning School Newsletter
Shavuot
Shavuot
Shavuot
Coffee Morning 8am
Soccer Starz
Volume 4 Issue 05, 19th March 2015
National School Holiday
Youth Day
Ramadan Begins
Father's Day Celebrations
Soccer Starz
Father's Day