Circular 01/2023

Re-opening of Schools (2023)

Dear Parents/ Guardians

On behalf of the School Governing Body and all staff members we wish to welcome each and every one back to York Road Primary and thank you in anticipation for your support during 2023.

The final term of 2022 had been an extremely challenging term for all of us, we once again had to navigate many obstacles owing to our current situation with regard to educational loss due to the pandemic.

We as a York Road Family and greater community owe it to ourselves to have faith that we will overcome these challenges one day soon.  We must not let our guard down as the risk is far too great.  It is especially during difficult times that we as a community realise just how resilient we are, how despite all the challenges and battles ahead we remain steadfast in our resolve to persevere and be victorious. I truly believe there is no substitute for the human spirit.  I am reminded of the words of Nelson Mandela ..

“ I have walked that long road to freedom.  I have tried not to falter; I have made missteps along the way.  But I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.  I have taken a moment here to rest, to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me, to look back on the distance I have come. But I can only rest for a moment, for with freedom come responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my long walk is not ended.”

UNIFORM

During Term 4 it is compulsory for all learners to wear the summer uniform as stipulated in the School’s Code of Conduct.

Extract from Code of Conduct

2^ND HAND CLOTHING SALE (2023)

Please note that a 2^nd hand clothing sale will take place in the ‘Stop and Go’ area on the following days:

All learners need to have their own stationery as sharing is not allowed. They also need to pay their stationary fee R250 (as per requirement list) when they return to school. All grade 4 to 7 learners who returned their textbooks at the end of 2022 or paid for lost textbooks will receive their current textbooks during the first week of school.

ARRIVAL AT SCHOOL

We urge parents to continue to pre-screen their child/children for Covid symptoms at home.

• a temperature exceeding 37.5 degrees Celsius
• display cough, shortness of breath or sore throat

If your child is ill, PLEASE keep them at home.

Parents are advised to seek medical attention and to keep the school informed as to the outcome.

ACCESS CONTROL – MORNINGS

• Access at the “Drop & Go” Area for Grade R – 4 learners will commence from 07h20. DO NOT send your child before this time as there are no educators on duty.
• The Holmes Road entrance gates (Hall) will open at 07h20 and close at 07h55. This entrance is only for Grade 5 – 7 learners.

ACCESS CONTROL – AFTERNOONS

• All Grade R – 4 learners will be dismissed via the “Drop & Go” gate.
• All Grade 5 – 7 learners will be dismissed via the Holmes Road gates (Back of school hall) Dismissal via this gate will only take place between 14h20 – 14h50.

DISMISSAL TIMES for 2023

Dismissal times for the first week of the new term are as follows:

Dismissal times for the remainder of Term 1 are as follows:

PARKING

Please do not park at the access gates or on the bend in Lower York Road. Parking is available in all the side streets. Park away from the Access gates and walk your child to the entrance. It is our intention to maintain our positive relationship with our school neighbours so please do not park across their driveways or block the access to their premises.

PLEASE OBSERVE ALL ROAD RULES!

Thank you to all parents who are courteous and respectful towards our safety officers, staff, neighbours and other road users. We appreciate your patience and co-operation.

Parents will not be allowed onto the school premises but are able to contact the school via:

• website: Contact Form
• email: info@yorkroadprimary.co.za
• no: 021 704 1705

SCHOOL FEES

We appeal to parents to pay School Fees as the funds are required to create a clean and safe environment as well as to provide quality education. The new fee structure for 2023 is as follows:

• R6400 per annum which is payable as –
  • R1600 at the beginning of each term ..
  • R640 over 10 months (Jan – Oct) to be paid into the schools banking account.

Please deposit school fees directly into the School’s Bank Account.

Please send proof of payment to the Bursar by email: bursar@yorkroadprimary.co.za

We take this opportunity to thank Ms. Jacobus for all her help during 2022, you will be missed and we wish you well in all your future endeavours.  It is with mixed emotions that we bid a fond farewell to Mr. Wheeler and Mrs. Eyden who retired at the end of 2022. It is a great loss to York Road and the community they have served in an exemplary fashion but an even greater loss to the teaching fraternity as a whole. We wish them well in the new chapter of their life that awaits them.

We welcome back Mrs. Pandy who will be assisting the Grade 3 educators.  We also take this opportunity to welcome Ms. F. Jacobs to the York Road Family as a Grade 4 educator.

To the staff of York Road, I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you for being the epitome of what educators should be.  Not a day goes by that I am not proud of being granted the privilege of serving the community as a member of the York Road family.

The truth is that deciding to become a teacher will not make you financially free or put you in a position to create generational wealth.

Your influence on others, the accomplishments you share with your students, the enduring memories you make, and the lives you motivate to achieve greatness are your currency.

Always remember…

“ If your plan is for 1 year, plant rice. If your plan is for 10 years , plant trees. If your plan is for 100 years, EDUCATE CHILDREN“

Yours in Education

Mr. M. Johnson
(Principal)