St John’s Preparatory School
St John’s Preparatory School
Houghton
Tel: 011 645 3100/ 087 550473
Reminders from the
Diary
23/09 Cultural Day
UIII Social
24/09 Heritage Day - No School
27/09 Hockey Matches Vs St Stithians
27/09 Assessments in Afrikaans LII - UIII
29/09 Hockey Matches Vs St David’s
Public Speaking Finalists Chosen
30/09 St John’s Water-Polo Festival Vs
St Benedict’s
01/10 National Schools’ Climbing
Competition
04/10 Assessments in English LII - UIII
05/10 Parents’ Information Evening: Sport -
Please note: This Information
evening has been postponed.
ABRSM Music Theory Examination
07/10 2nd XI Cricket Tour Departs to Cape
Town
SACS U13 Water-Polo Tournament
08/10 Swimming Gala
1st XI T20 Cricket Festival
11/10 Assessments in Maths LII - UIII
Let the Children Sing
FI in Schools
Let the Children Sing
13/10 Public speaking Finals
children and adolescents. Although countless children who suffer from mental illness and
attention disorders do benefit from medication, the use of nature as an alternative,
additional, or preventive therapy is being overlooked. In fact, new evidence suggests that
the need for such medications is intensified by children's disconnection from nature.
23rd September 2010
Newsletter Number 7
From the Headmaster…
Firstly, I would like to wish all our Muslim families
a belated but happy Eid al-Fitr and all our Jewish
families a belated but happy Jewish New Year.
"And so from the hills, we return refreshed in body,
mind and spirit, to grapple anew with life's
problems. For a while we have lived simply, wisely
and happily; we have made good friends; we have
adventured well. The hills have taught us to be
content in our faith and in the love of God who
created them." – Anon
In his book, “Last Child in the Woods”, Richard
Louv highlights the importance of nature in the
emotional and intellectual development of young
people. He identifies the problems which arise
when people are alienated from nature. One of
these conditions is known as “Nature Deficit
Disorder”.
“Nature-deficit disorder” describes the human
costs of alienation from nature, among them:
diminished use of the senses, attention difficulties,
and higher rates of physical and emotional
illnesses. The disorder can be detected in
individuals, families, and communities.
Nature-deficit can even change human behavior in
cities, which could ultimately affect their design,
since longstanding studies show a relationship
between the absence, or inaccessibility, of parks
and open space with high crime rates, depression,
and other urban maladies. These factors include
increasing rates of depression in successive age
groups, a growing awareness of and screening for
depression by pediatricians and assumptions that
the effectiveness experienced by adults using
antidepressant medications will translate to
Cont...
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Although exposure to nature may have no impact on the most severe depressions, we do
know that nature experiences can relieve some of the everyday pressures that may lead to
childhood depression. In Sweden, Australia, Canada, and the United States, studies of
children in schoolyards with both green areas and manufactured play areas found that
children engaged in more creative forms of play in the green areas. One of these studies
found that a more natural schoolyard encouraged more fantasy and make-believe play in
particular, which provided ways for boys and girls to play together in egalitarian ways;
another reported that children showed a greater sense of wonder. Researchers have also
observed that when children played in an environment dominated by play structures
rather than natural elements, they established their social hierarchy through physical
competence rather than through caring relationships. Studies recognize that while
knowledge about nature is vital, passion is the long-distance fuel for the struggle to save
what is left of our natural heritage and, through an emerging green urbanism, to
reconstitute lost land and water. Passion does not arrive on videotape or on a CD; passion
is personal. Passion is lifted from the earth itself by the muddy hands of the young; it
travels along grass-stained sleeves to the heart. If we are going to save environmentalism
and the environment, we must also save an endangered indicator species: the child in
nature.”

I find this extract quite fascinating, especially considering that we are currently planning
several changes to our own curriculum and the fact that we have recently made a decision
to strive to make St John’s a “Green Flag School”.

Going Green
‘The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The next best time is now!’
– Chinese Proverb

Thank you to all the UIII boys and parents who may be leaving the Prep at the end of this
year but leave behind them six glorious wild olive trees which now stand proudly in the
Clarke Quad for the benefit of all of us and also for generations of boys and parents to
come. It truly is a wonderful gift and I thank all those involved.

As you are aware, we held a ‘Green Day’ yesterday, run by our Upper III Leadership Team.
With the funds raised by your son’s R10 donation, we continue with the tree theme and
hope to buy 75 indigenous trees for each of our Upper I’s to plant around the school. We
have also appointed Paul Rowney, our own Prep Intern, to be the driving force behind the
‘Green’ project that will be implemented across the whole campus. An energy audit will
be taking place shortly, run by an external professional consultancy. Whilst we
acknowledge St John’s perhaps lags behind in this area, we are committed to ensuring
that in the near future St John’s will be able to call itself a ‘Green Flag School’.
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Curriculum
The Government is proposing to reduce the number of subjects taught in the intermediate phase
(Grades 4 – 6) from eight to six, by combining Design and Technology with Science and teaching
EMS from a Grade 7 level only. We are considering and discussing the implications of these
suggestions at weekly curriculum development meetings. We are also considering increasing the
lesson times to 45 minute periods in order to give more time to core subjects – English and
Mathematics. In line with what Richard Louv says above, we will also be looking at implementing
a short time every day (5-10 minutes) where boys will be able to sit quietly on their own,
preferably outside, and reflect on their day. We hope to introduce a similar practice to what the
Jesuits do of an “Examen” which is a type of Prayer of Conscience. We feel that boys are so busy
rushing around all the time that they never have a chance to just sit still (and indeed don’t know
how to) and reflect, and we believe that all boys of all religions and faiths and ages will benefit
from the introduction of such a practice.

“How Good is St John’s Prep?” Survey

Our “How good is St John’s Prep?” survey has been well supported with almost 100% of boys and
staff and over 70% of parents completing it. The results are currently being analysed and focus
groups will shortly be set up to correlate and formulate appropriate action plans. It has proved to
be an invaluable exercise and I thank all those who participated for taking the time to give us
their feedback and insight. It has shown clear areas where improvements need to be made, but
also affirmed areas in which we are excelling. In addition, if you would like to be part of a focus
group and can spare the time in this regard, please send me an email.

The Adventures of Mr Toad

I am certain that everyone who watched our school play will agree that it was an amazing show.
Thank you to all the boys for their hard work and commitment, but especially to Mrs Trolese the
Director, Mrs Rossouw the Music Director and Ms Maitland and Mrs Clarence for all the behind-
the-scenes work.

Staff Appointments
We have appointed three new staff members for next year. Craig Verdal-Austin has been
appointed as the new Second Master – Extra-Curricular. Heather Baker has been appointed as
an Upper II teacher and Caroline Rimmer has been appointed as the new Learning Support
teacher.
We are extremely pleased with these appointments and wish all three the very best for a long and
prosperous time at St John’s Prep.

Conclusion
We have an unbelievably busy term ahead and it’s hard to believe that December is just around
the corner. I would like to wish you all a happy and fruitful term and if you have any queries or
problems, please come in and have a chat with me.

Patrick Lees
Headmaster
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World Congress of Action Research and Action Learning

From the 6th to the 9th of September, I was fortunate enough to

attend the World Congress of Action Research and Action
Learning, in Melbourne. An invitation to present a paper at
this conference came as a result of the ongoing global action
research programme which I co-ordinate together with
Australian colleague, Di Laycock, for the International Boys’
Schools Coalition.
Keynote speakers at the conference included Dr Alan
Rayner, Prof Budd Hall (University of Victoria in British
Columbia), Prof Linda Smith (Professor of Education at the
University of Waikato) and Prof Yoland Wadsworth (RMIT
University and University of Melbourne). Action Research
gurus Prof Robin McTaggart and Dr Ernie Stringer (whose text
is prescribed reading for the IBSC project) also presented
interesting and worthwhile observations on current changes
and projects.
My paper outlined the structure of the IBSC Global Action Research Programme,
highlighting the challenges and significant benefits of maintaining an online community
for teachers in boys’ schools across the world. My thanks go to Brad Adams, Executive
Director of the IBSC, and to Roger Cameron and Patrick Lees for the opportunity to attend
this worthwhile conference.

************************************************************************
D.A.R.E. Parent Information Evening

An extremely worthwhile presentation by D.A.R.E. was given at a parent information

evening last week. D.A.R.E. is a training organization as well as an outpatient treatment
centre for substance abuse. The speaker, Ms Wanting, outlined the dangers of alcohol and
drug abuse and gave parents valuable advice: The most important reason that you need to
have a conversation with your child about drugs and alcohol is that they need to hear from
you, their parents, that drug and alcohol use is not condoned in your family.

D.A.R.E. offer a variety of educational training programmes. We have invited them to

come and address our Lower III and Upper III boys this term about these dangers. Dates
to be advised.

Margot Long
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Raising confident boys

Elizabeth Hartley-Brewer
Tip 5: Spend time with him
I know my dad loves me, but I barely know him. I know he works hard to
support us, but we hardly ever talk. It makes me feel as if I am incomplete.
Survey after survey shows that children like to have their parents
around, even if they’re not actively doing anything with them. They like
to see their fathers as much as their mothers, and boys need their
parents’ time as much as girls do. Even teenage boys want to see more
of their parents.
Men and women work longer hours than ever before. This means that
they spend less time at home with their families. Boys cannot feel loved
and lovable, believed in and believable, respected and respectable, if the
people on whom they depend seem not to care. Only if the important
adults in a boy’s life give him time and attention can he feel validated and
develop any kind of self-worth. Meeting his need for stress-free time with you, when you focus solely on
him, will help him feel confident and successful.
Tips for parents
• Presents are no substitute for presence: Don’t try to buy your way out of being with your son.
• When you’re with him, put the answering machine on and spend time finding out what he thinks.
Talk about what he has been doing and playing.
• Play with him. Join in or watch him doing his favourite activity, or say, “Come and talk to me while I
wash the car.”
• If you don’t live with your son, keep every promise you make to visit and stay in regular touch.
• Quiet time together can be as valuable as action-packed time.
• Try not to any work you need to do outside the office at home, so you’re not cut off from your
family.
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Sporting Results
CHESS
St John’s A Vs Grayston A
Seniors won 24 - 8
Juniors lost 21 - 3
Overall lost 45 - 11
Well done to the following boys who won both their games:
S Modi, R Giannoccaro, M Berger, C Burke, S McKernan, O Kieser, B Thomas, E Baleni,
W Kerr-Phillips, K Govind

HOCKEY

Wednesday 15th September

St John’s vs St Dunstan’s
U9 won 5 drew 3
St John’s vs CBC Boksburg
U10 won 4 drew 5 lost 3
U11A drew
U13A won
U13B won
Friday 17 September
St John’s vs Pridwin
U12A won
U12B drew
U13B won
U11B won
U11A won
KEPS Festival
Saturday 18 September
St John’s 1st X1
vs Pridwin won
vs St David’s won
vs KEPS drew
vs The Ridge drew
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Individual Achievements

Dale Hallendorff, Keagan Da Silva and Jordan King were part of the Edenvale soccer
team that entered the Sportsworx Under 11 Soccer Tournament held in Vanderbijlpark.
Eight teams from all over Gauteng participated.

Their team won the tournament, scoring 19 goals and having just 3 scored against them.
This was quite an achievement as the teams present were some of the strongest in their
respective districts. Well done, boys!

Brogan Sanders, Upper IIIT, took part in the Volkswagen

World Junior Masters Soccer Tournament in Spain.
This tournament, that was held from the 5 – 11 May is only
held once every four years in conjunction with the World
Cup. The Volkswagen Junior World Masters is the biggest
youth football tournament initiated by a company anywhere
in the world. Brogan’s South African side made it through to
the quarter finals. Well done, Brogan!
 St John’s Preparatory School Page 8

Individual Achievements

Joshua Harrison participated in the Gerald Fox Memorial 5 km Fun Run held at the Zoo
on Sunday 12 September and finished in 10th place. Well done, Joshua!

Cricket

The following boys have been selected for Johannesburg Central Cricket:
U13
Lorenzo Masselli UIIIG
Morgan Fairbairn UIIIT
Thomas Montgomery UIIIL
Farhaan Sayanvala UIIIG
U12
Lodewijk Volkersz LIIIC
Well done, boys!

Rowing

Results of the indoor regatta held at St Andrews:

James Mitchell came 2nd in the U14 individual ergo. Well done, James!

The following boys won gold in the U14 team event:

James Mitchell, Stephen Hunt, Cameron Matheson and Robert Fyall. Well done, boys!
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Upper I
The Upper I’s showing off crocodiles which were eagerly made in the D & T lesson.
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Upper I Play
The theme for the Upper I play was “Spaced Out”!
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Upper I Play cont...

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Lower II

Lower IIT were given a ‘multiples’ activity in Maths. Ms McNeil, the student teacher
ensured the lesson was a great success. Here are the results!
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Lower II Play

The Lower II play was an adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s The Elephant’s Child. The
boys had lots of fun telling the story of the elephant who was full of ‘satiable curtiosity!’
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St John’s Preparatory School

Lower II Play cont...

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Lower IIV History

Fun examples of secondary evidence

By Thomas Deppe By Travin Bouwer By Ibrahim Talia

By Bradley Hartland By Travis Arlow By Michael Smith

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St John’s Preparatory School

Lower IIZ History

By Christopher Williams By Stefano Cavalieri By Bradley Dunbar

By Hraklis Papageorgiou By Daniel Cockram By Luke Whitehouse

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St John’s Preparatory School

Lower II

LIIV Group Activity with Mr Martins

The LII’s worked in groups to construct an imaginary story on pirates of the
future. Here is the result!

Red Eye and The Black Dragon

Awoken from a peaceful sleep I open my eyes to find the sun has risen. The world has not
ended because my clever mechanic, Nick, steered us away from destruction after a cannon
ball knocked me out. There was a freezing breeze outside and the world marched one and
we could see we were going to win

We have just climbed aboard the enemy ship, The Black Dragon. Their captain, Red Eye,
had no chance against us. We are way more powerful with our nuclear weapons and our
fast hovercrafts. We blew it up. You could see it from two miles away!

But they cleared the ship before it exploded and they wanted to get revenge in their new
ship, The Black Eyed Pirate. Not knowing that we had dummies in place they stabbed Bob
in the shoulder with their balloon sword. Then Bob shot a cannonball right at them. He
sank their new ship. Bob said he was trying to hit a fly!

Then we climbed back onto the ship and started chillaxing. But then we heard some
voices. I saw a dead version of captain Red Eye! He cursed us, promising revenge. Nick,
our mechanic, blew up the nuclear laser gun. Soon he disappeared, but I knew he would
be back … soon.
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Lower III

Last term the Lower III boys completed their clocks in D&T. They had to design and then
make their own clock for their room at home. Here are the results.

By Lodewijk Volkersz By Oliver Kieser By Darshan Pillay

By Adilson De Oliveira By Ramaano Ramokgopa

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St John’s Preparatory School

Hooked On Books
Our annual visit from the Hooked on Books team prompted a flood of requests from the
boys for the books previewed in the show. The books are always presented in such an
original and exciting way that the boys can’t help being “hooked” on the titles. This year
the most popular title by far was “Boom” by Mark Haddon, author of “The curious
incident of the dog in the night time”. Nikki Sulter
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St John’s Preparatory School

Interact Day
An exciting day for the Pre-prep when they came to visit the Prep and meet their “buddy”.
 St John’s Preparatory School Page 21

Notices

On Thursday 14 October
at 8:45
in Big School
we are very fortunate to have author, Chris van Wyk at the Prep
to launch the paperback of the children’s version of
“Long Walk to Freedom”

Chris will be here to sign this exquisitely told and beautifully

illustrated book, priced at R115.

In addition Chris’s very entertaining adult book

“Eggs to Lay and Chickens to Hatch” will be on sale @ R200.
Pre-launch copies of Mandela’s latest book “Conversations with
Myself”, a collection of diaries, journals and other personal
documents, will also be available at R290.
If you would like a copy of any of the above books, please could
you email me at sulter@stjohnscollege.co.za by Friday 1 Oct,
giving details of titles and quantities you would like.

Books can be collected on the morning of the launch.

Cash or cheques only.
 St John’s Preparatory School Page 22

Notices

Soles for Souls

SECOND HAND TACKIES and

SCHOOL SHOES
We’re collecting second hand shoes for Isaac Moore Primary School
in Atteridgeville.
Our aim is to collect a pair of shoes for each child in the school during the year. There are
about 376 pupils.

Where: Please put shoes in the bin outside Brigitte's office.

How: Please wash the shoes and put them in a plastic packet tied with a knot so that
we can keep the pairs together.

When: We will be collecting for the remainder of the year

About the school:

Isaac Moore Primary School is in a poor community in Atteridgeville, Pretoria. The school
is led by an amazingly motivated headmistress who encourages an all-round approach to
education including sport, culture and education, despite having minimal funding and
relying mainly on charity.

Boys News
click here for the link to the Boys News.   www.stjohnsboysnews.webs.com. 
 St John’s Preparatory School Page 23

Notices

Sandton Route School Bus Service

Non-profit bus service in association with St Mary’s School, St John’s College,
St David’s Marist Inanda, Roedean School and King Edward VII School

Kyalami – Rivonia – Parkmore – Sandhurst – Waverley – Houghton

Many thanks
Linda Kleyn
SANDTON ROUTE SCHOOL BUS SERVICE
in association with St Mary’s School, St John’s College,
St David’s Marist Inanda, Roedean School and King Edward VII School

2nd TERM 2010 APPLICATIONS

1 Morning and 3 Afternoon buses!

Morning bus route: Kyalami, Sunninghill, Rivonia, River Club,

Parkmore, Sandhurst, Illovo, Waverley, Houghton, St John’s College

Afternoon bus route: Reverse of the morning route

including Gallo Manor and Wendywood,
excluding Sunninghill and Kyalami for the two early buses

Afternoon Buses

St John’s 2:15pm, 3:45pm and 5:15pm

St Mary’s 2:35pm, 4:05pm and 5:35pm
St David’s 2:45pm, 4:15pm and 5:45pm

Costs per term

Return: R3000 per term (R25.00 per trip)

Single: R2000 per term (R33.33 per trip)
Casual tickets available from the bus driver: R60 per trip

For Bus Timetables and Application Forms

www.stmarysschool.co.za/senior/content/blogsection/27/54/

Contact: Linda Kleyn (011 803 3678 (H) / 083 484 3488)
OR Terry Wharton-Hood (011 293 600 (W) / 083 256 2711)
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Notices

Art club and extra classes

From the beginning of next term, Mr Poco is starting an Art Club (for LIII and UIII boys) and extra art classes for junior
boys. Senior boys are encouraged to join the Art Club on Tuesdays from 14h00 -15h00 or Thursdays from 15h00-
16h00. Juniors may arrange extra art lessons with Mr Poco at alternative times and on alternative days.

We hope to see the senior boys joining the Art Club to create various exciting art works with mediums they do not
normally use in class, such as print making, photography, oil painting and many more. This will be a fantastic opportunity
for any boy who wishes to develop his art skills.
For further information e-mail Bruno Poco on poco@stjohnscollege.co.za

UPPER III EXTRA ZULU

EXTRA ENGLISH LESSONS
Upper III Extra English lessons with Mrs Long on Mondays from Lower III and Upper III boys.
13h30—14h00.
Lower III with Ms K. Maitland Every Thursday 13h30 - 14h00
Mondays from 13h30 - 14h00 Upper III Mrs Mashele
No charge.
All Welcome
All welcome.

Italian Hair Dee-Lite 082 462 6813/

Language 011 648 6367
Lessons Dee offers excellent work for the whole family,
Small age appropriate classes and individual tuition of- competitive prices and the added
fered outside school hours at St John’s.
convenience of being on campus.
Experienced mother-tongue graduate teacher using
communicative method of conversation, maintaining Modern cuts, colours (from R300) and hi-lites.
cultural ties for solid IEB foundation.
Kids R50
Contact Lisabetta on 082 682 2859 or
Lisabetta@iafrica.com
7 Elm Street (Opposite Rice Field)
Open Tuesday to Friday
08h00 - 17h00
Saturday 08h00 - 13h00

EXTRA MATHS
LESSONS
Lower III & Upper III boys in Mrs Jean Clarence’s
classroom
Every Thursday 13h30 - 14h00
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CLASS DISCUSSION

“In the class discussion, dear, you hardly said a word.

We all aired our opinions but from you we rarely heard.

You sat and stared in silence, surrounded by the chatter,

Now tell me, dear, and please be plain,

Is anything the matter ?

The child looked up and then he spoke,

His voice was clear and low:

“There are many people in this world

Who are rather quiet, you know!”

By Gervase Phinn