2024 End Of Term 3 Circular

Dear Parents/Guardians

On behalf of our York Road Primary school staff members and School Governing Body, we wish to extend our appreciation to parents who steadfastly supported us during this eventful and extremely hectic term. Working beside us in the best interest of our learners, with regular school fee payments, vital to the running of our institution and supporting your learners with an abundance of donations, time, effort and patience.  A special note of appreciation to parents who have sent inspirational words of encouragement to staff members in the form of praise and acknowledgement for the often, difficult work they do daily.

We have also experienced a lack of support with numerous challenges thrown across our path:  constantly summoning parents to disciplinary meetings/hearings for children’s excessive misdemeanors, use of illegal substances on our school premises (vapes, cigarettes) and entering the premises narcotized.  Learners and their parents fail to comprehend the effects these actions render on young minds and developing bodies.

Parents must set boundaries and support us in eradicating these poor choices and inappropriate behaviour, which not only cause harm to their children, but places other lives at risk.  Possessions of any such devices or materials contravenes the South African Schools Act and subsequently the School Code of Conduct.  I urge ALL parents to be vigilant of their children’s actions during this short break.  Monitor: cell phones, prevent WhatsApp groups that are detrimental to the interest of your child and TikTok videos.  We would not want our learners exposed to dangerous situations.

The increase in VANDALISM to our ablution facilities are of great concern.  Learners are defacing the bathrooms which they themselves must utilize.  Our team of janitors, keep these facilities clean and sanitary more than once a day, only to find it destroyed by unappreciative learners.  To keep the facilities desirable for all learners, the bathrooms will have to be locked during contact time.  A key will be made available for emergencies, where parents have noted a medical condition.  We appeal to parents to inculcate bathroom etiquette:

• Have toilet roll
• Check bathroom first
• Wait in line, when necessary
• Avoid chatter
• Clean yourself and the area you used, properly
• Flush the toilet
• Wash and dry your hands
• Check your uniform before leaving the bathroom
• Report any damage immediately
• Leave and report back to class

With the COVID pandemic quietly ebbing away, our learners are suffering its restraining effects:  deprived of normal play, enjoyment of peer companionship, learning rules and regulations required for games, accepting losses and good/appropriate sportsmanship.  The lack of the experiences, that we as adults were raised with, has led to a diminished cognitive, social, emotional and physical deficit.  We encourage our parents to use this time not only to teach, but also demonstrate to our learners how fair play and good sportsmanship are attained.  I’m certain they would love the time spent with their families playing sport or board games.

York Road Primary has embraced new technology and has made improvements in all the classrooms.  Our vision is to expose our learners to the use of Tablets and Cellphones, as part of daily teaching.  However, these epic ideas cannot be implemented if our learners do not abide by rules stipulated, for everyone to learn and work together in a respectful, disciplined and cohesive environment.

PARENTS, reflect about the moment you stepped over our porch and made the decision to enroll YOUR CHILD at our institution.  YOU committed to uphold the values and ethos of our school by signing the CODE OF CONDUCT, set out and agreed to by our parent body, the SGB and governs ALL LEARNERS, without exception.  The York Road uniform (from the shoes to the haircuts which your child presents) is our first introduction to guests and the outside world.  Many of these guests have complimented our students for their neat and uniform appearances during visits.  Continue to make our learners proud of their school.  Should you desire a concession, motivate in writing and forward to the SGB.

I would like to thank my staff for their unwavering support.  Everything obstacle that you have navigated with patience and the dedication to your role as teacher, mom, doctor, counsellor… the list is endless!  The difference you make in the lives of our learners and the impact on their futures, cannot be quantified.  THANK YOU!

STAFFING

We are saddened to share that as a school, we have also been affected by the recent reduction of teaching posts for the 2025 school year and will unfortunately lose one of our PL1 teachers at the end of this academic year.  I thank Ms. W. Smitsdorff (Gr. 3B) for her dedication and commitment to the York Road family and wish her well in all her future endeavours.  Mrs. T. Muller (Gr. 2A) has chosen to spread her wings and is currently pursuing her dream of teaching overseas.  We wish her well!  We welcome Mr. R. Gous to the YR family as the new Gr 2A educator and wish him well on his journey at our prestigious institution.

SCHOOL FEES

• R1625 at the beginning of each term or
• R650 over 10 months (Jan – Oct)

To be paid by:

• CARD facility at school office (will be ready in term 2)
• PAYSHAP ID: yorkroadprimaryschool@fnb (INCLUDE YOUR REF: Name Surname and Grade of Learner)
• BANK DEPOSIT:

With the bank deposit, send proof of payment to the Bursar by email: bursar@yorkroadprimary.co.za

STOP AND DROP

Ensure a quick and quiet delivery and collection of your child to and from the stop and drop area.  This will avoid unnecessary hooting and alleviate stress for the drivers and the neighbours.

Please take care and allow the learners a restful break.  Learners who have not been academically successful need to utilize their holidays for revision.

TERM 3 HIGHLIGHTS

• We had a successful bread drive on Nelson Mandela Day.
• A few of our learners were selected to compete in the WCED-hosted Social Science Competition.
• Grade 7 Entrepreneur Week – the Grade 7s enjoyed every moment and it was a huge success.
• Grade R Pajama Day and excursion to the Giraffe House.
• We express our gratitude to those parents who have supported our fundraising efforts in Term 3, especially the “Adventure through Disneyland concert” The Concert gave all learners an opportunity to develop their performance abilities and

explore their artistic talents. Parents as well as learners found it enjoyable.

UPCOMING

• Systemics loading for Grade 3 & Grade 6 learners
• Grade R concert
• Final examination
• End of the 2024 school year

TERM 4 BUSINESS

As we get ready for the final quarter, please note the following:

• Learners will wear their SUMMER UNIFORM
• Girls:  brown/black school shoes, short, white bobby/ankle socks, summer dress, bottle green hair ties, stud earrings, ONLY signet rings

• Boys: brown/black school shoes, grey school shorts, white shirt with (proper collar to wear school tie), schoolboy haircut

NOTE:  All uniform requirements to be settled at the school’s secondhand shop (on appointment) or SCHOOL AND LEISURE.

Dismissal times:

Yours in Education

The Principal (Mr. M. C. Johnson)