Author: Jean Hoffman

Greetings

This is the last newsletter of the year. We wish all our parents and students a good rest and unfailing health over the December and Christmas period.

School Terms

School and the office will be closed from Tuesday 1 December 2020.

Attachments

Please find the following attachments:
Ø  School Calendar 2021
Ø  Calendar of important dates 2021
Ø  Textbook lists 2021
Ø  Stationery lists 2021
Ø  School Fee Structures 2021 (No increase in fees for 2021)

Timetable for 2021 to follow.

Results for 2020

Internal reports will be emailed to you no later than Friday, 27 November 2020.

External results:
AS – Monday, 11 January 2021, from 12:00
IG – Tuesday, 19 January 2021, from 12:00   

If your child does not fare as well in the final exams as expected, please be reminded that we lost almost half the academic year.

Development of learning and exam skills could not happen during lockdown as testing and meaningful feedback could not take place. Our poor prelim results, across the board, proved that we were able to teach subject matter only.

I believe that lockdown affected many children negatively both psychologically and academically. We have tried our best to prepare your children in the limited time we had. I applaud the teachers for their dedication and time during this difficult period.

Please rather discuss a way forward, with me, Ms. Visser or Ms. Hamlett,  if your child does not pass a subject/subjects in the external exams.

Textbooks and Uniforms

Please place orders for textbooks and uniforms in November. As you know, there are shortages of textbooks in January/February. We have a new supplier for the uniforms with better material. There may be a price change. However, as always, we are trying to keep the costs of textbooks and uniforms to a minimum.

Matric Farewell

Cost: R500 p/p – partners welcome

Date: Thursday, 26 November 2020

Place: 69 Drift Boulevard, Muldersdrift, Misty Hills Hotel, Carnivore (Restaurant)

Times: 17:00 for 18:00

Money needs to be paid via EFT/cash or card by  Wednesday 4 November 2020 latest.

Photographs

We have professional photographs available with the following packages:

Ø R250 p/p (includes 3 x Jumbo, 1 x Large photographs)
Ø  R50 for additional photos
Ø  Special rate for orders over 5 or 10 photographs.

NOTE: Students who are not returning to school in 2021 must please return their locker key and laboratory coats before their last day at school if applicable.

Tuckshop

We are looking for someone to run our tuckshop next year. There is no rental or electricity/water payable. The tuckshop runs independently of the school.

Staff News

We say a fond farewell to Mam Revanne (Art Teacher). We wish her all the best for her retirement. We would like to thank her for her 8 years of service to Daybridge. She will be missed. We welcome Ms. Mornay Caroto to her post.

Ms. Riki-Lee Demetriou (Biology Teacher) has given Daybridge 3 years of excellent service. We will miss her and wish her and her husband, all the best for their future plans. Ms. Rosa-Lee Grobler will be filling her post.

Ms. Donna Lira (School Secretary) has resigned for health reasons. Mr. Rhettford Heatlie will be taking over her duties. Ms. Judell Stainbank will be manning the reception.

Ms. Genevieve will be teaching French next year.

Reference
Please click on the link below to give a reference. We would really appreciate it. Alternatively you could post a reference on our website.

https://www.international-schools-database.com/in/johannesburg/daybridge-international-study-centre-johannesburg/reviews/new

Kind Regards
Sue Parry
Principal

Visit us
445 Ontdekkers Service Road, Florida Park, Roodepoort, 1724
Tel: 011 672-1036 | Cell: 083 947 7581
Website: www.daybridge.co.za
Email: sue@daybridge.co.za

Attachments:
– 2021 Textbooks
– 2021 Stationery
– 2021 School fees
– 2021 School calendar
– 2021 Calendar of important dates

Dear Parents

Greetings
Welcome back to term 4.

External exams

• Please be reminded of the following:
• Learners need to be at the venue 45 minutes prior to the start of the examination (Covid screening)
• Those writing art: coursework needs to be handed in by 15 October 2020 and not the 26 October 2020 as originally given.
• Learners to be in school uniform.
• Stationery needs to be in a clear plastic bag / folder etc. Remember a calculator for relevant subjects.
• No tippex allowed.
• Learners need to have their statement of entry, ID / Passport / copy of Birth certificate for every exam session.
• Check the composite timetable if learners were given extra time or there was a clash.
• Check which group for labs.
• Please contact the office if your child needs transport to and from the venue. R60-00 a trip
• Organise in advance.

School
Your child must attend school until the last exam is written.
When your child tells you that they are studying at home, skills are not being developed. Children need to be doing past papers, handing them in and getting feedback.
The mark schemes are only a basic outline and do not reflect how learners are marked.
Using the mark scheme can inflate marks by up to 40%. Please insist that your child has papers marked by teachers.
Please be reminded that 2020 has been an extremely difficult academic year. We are doing everything possible to prepare your children for externals.

Internal exams
Please see attached timetable.
If your child is writing three or more externals, they do not need to write the internals.
If your child wants to progress from IG maths core to IG extended, they need to write the internal core paper.

Should you have any queries, do not hesitate to call me.

Regards,
Sue

Attachments:

• Timetable for internal exams: https://daybridge.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Final-Exams-Internal-2020.pdf

Dear Parents                                                                                                

Greetings  

School Calendar
School will be closed from Tuesday, 22 September 2020 and will commence on Wednesday, 30 September 2020.

Reports
Reports for term 3 will be handed out / emailed by Monday, 21 September 2020.

School Uniform
The weather has improved so we are going back to the uniform from Monday, 7 September 2020. This should be enough time to make sure that the uniform is sorted.

Timetable
We are continuing with the lockdown timetable. The teachers are able to teach an entire past paper in this time. Also, teachers are more available for extra lessons. Please encourage your child to book extra lessons.

External exams

Please note:
Clashes will be sorted before the final exams. If there are two papers in the AM session, children will write both, usually 8:30 – 12:30.
Uniform is compulsory when writing the external exams.

Times for sessions
AM   9:00 – 11:00 / 11:30
PM    13:00 – 15:00 / 15:30

Starting times are static unless your child has a clash.

Transport
Should you require transport to the venue, please let the office know. There will be a cost involved.

Regards
Sue Parry

Dear Parents                                                                                                

Greetings  

School Term
School will commence on Tuesday, 28 July 2020. Lockdown timetable will continue until further notice.

Prelim exams
Exam scripts will need to be fetched in hard copy. Either your child needs to attend school to fetch the exams or someone will need to fetch them daily according to the timetable. The teachers are not all in every day.

These exams need to be checked and signed by you.

Reports
Reports will be sent to your email address on Friday, 24 July 2020. If you do not receive the report – let me know or email admin@daybridge.co.za.

You will note that term 2 has a Not Applicable (N/A) as we were not able to give an accurate reflection of your child’s marks.

Oct / Nov external exams
There has been no indication from the examination board that exams will not continue. They have already accepted registrations. Invoices for exams have been sent out based on your child’s subjects. This invoice is not an indication that we are recommending that your child writes all his / her subjects.

Payment for these exams needs to be in the school’s bank account by no later than Monday, 3 August 2020.

Although some children have been diligent about attending online classes and handing in work, some children have not.

If your child did not pass prelims, it may be advisable to wait for the May / June sitting in 2021 or alternatively, to repeat the year. Some parents have already written off the 2020 academic year.

We understand that this option is not ideal. However, under the current circumstances it may be more realistic to postpone exams.

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Regards
Sue Parry

Dear parents                                                                                                

Please note the following dates:
School will still continue on Tuesday, 16 June 2020 – we need to make up the teaching time. Prelims will commence on Monday, 29 June 2020 and end Friday, 10 July 2020. The lockdown timetable will function as the prelim timetable.

Should your child not attend school for the exams, an affidavit needs to be handed in stating that you will take responsibility for the exams and conduct them under exam conditions.

Exams will need to be fetched, in hard copy, and returned in hard copy. Exams written must be delivered to the school no later than 24 hours after it is written.

There will be a school holiday from Monday, 13 July. School will commence on Tuesday, 28 July 2020.

Reports will be issued no later than Monday, 27 July 2020.

Note:
External exams need to be paid for by Monday, 3 August 2020.
See attached subject list. Please indicate on the form which subjects you are hoping your child will write at the end of the year.

Should you wish to remove a subject / subjects after prelim results, it is easy to do so. The invoicing for the exams is very time consuming. Please return the form to school no later than Friday, 26 June 2020.

There will be no term 2 report, as the teachers feel that work done is not an accurate reflection of your child’s ability. 

Should you have any queries, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Regards
Sue Parry

SCHOOL RULES AND PROTOCOL FOR JUNE 1^st 2020 RE-OPENING

All children will receive induction on the new rules and protocol during 1^st period on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
We will continue with the lockdown timetable from June, 1^st at school, until further notice.
If a child has a free period throughout the day, they will be allocated to a substitute class.
It is not compulsory for students to wear school uniform – dress warmly.
As per government regulation – should you choose not to send your child to school, lessons will be recorded, and work will still be posted in Google Classroom.
Staff and children on the premise will be kept to the minimal each day to ensure distancing and sanitising is adhered to.

Strict measures all children and parents must adhere to:

On arrival
Only the Bristow street entrance will be open and no entry from Ontdekkers Road will be permitted. Children must arrive no more than 30 min prior to their first class and collected within 30 min of their last lesson outside the main gate.
Children arriving prior to the allocated time must wait in the car until the required time.
No access will be permitted to children prior or after the specified time.
Children must maintain the 1,5m distancing whilst queuing for the access procedure every day.  
All children will be met at the allocated area where staff will be on duty for registration and testing requirements.
We request parents to wait in their car to ensure their child is allowed onto the property.
Children must be wearing the correct masks (No scarves or alternative form of face coverings will be allowed).
All children’s hands will be sanitized and everyone’s temperature will be taken. (if above 37.5 no entry will be permitted).
Masks must be worn throughout the day. Any child not adhering to this rule will be sent home.

Sanitising and thorough hand washing is essential throughout the day.

NO CLOSE CONTACT, SHAKING OF HANDS OR HUGGING IS ALLOWED

Daily
There will be a designated break area.
Masks must still be worn during break.
No sport activities will be allowed.
No sharing of cups, drink bottles or food etc. will be permitted. 
All children must bring their own bottle of water (As access to reception will be limited).
Microwave and kitchen access is not permitted.
Teachers will be on duty during breaks to ensure social distancing is enforced at all times.
Children must wash & sanitise their hands thoroughly before and after break.

School Access
No parents or visitors will be allowed on the school premise without an appointment.
Which will only be approved if extremely necessary as most queries can be sorted by telephone or via a video call.
Children are discouraged to use any form of public transport.
No takeaway food orders will be permitted.
No late comers will be allowed, as this puts additional pressure on the access staff and teaching time is disrupted.
Do not send your child to school if feeling unwell. No sick children will be permitted into the school.
Any child with a temperature or not feeling well, will be isolated and must be collected within 30 minutes.
(Please ensure there is someone one available throughout the day to ensure the 30min collection time)

End of School Day
Please collect your child on time at the allocated collection area. No persons will be allowed onto the school premise.

School Year
Parents must ensure all assignments & homework is completed and submitted by the due date as set by the teacher.
Prelims will take place from June, 29^th to July, 11^th.

Checklists & Indemnity
Checklists & Indemnity forms to follow. Please read and print the attached checklists and procedures. Please complete checklists with all the necessary requirements and sign where necessary. Only original handwritten forms will be accepted. (No photocopies, emailed or scanned forms will be accepted).

We are committed to the wellbeing of all our children and staff.
In order to provide the best education, we can, under unique and challenging circumstances, we value each person’s commitment to do their part for the safety of all.

Please note all rules are in place to ensure the safety of the children, teachers, staff and all the families.

We understand this is a stressful time for all parents and children.