To all Parents, Old Boys and Members of the Prep Community

FROM THE HEADMASTER

Dear Parents, Old Boys, Staff Members, former Staff, Friends and Boys,

I hope parents are making use of the opportunity this week to visit your son’s teacher. The meetings between teachers and parents during parents week strengthens and affirms the partnership between home and school and builds upon the positive rapport between teacher and parent that children so desperately wish for. Children want their teacher to like and respect their parents and want their parents to feel the same way about their teacher. This school is blessed with wonderful teachers, parents and families and that is why so many of our boys are making excellent progress in all their endeavours at school.

Rugby Festival
Please enjoy sharing with me a thank you note from a Headmaster of one of the visiting Cape Town schools that attended our U13 Rugby Festival. “Another massively successful DPHS Rugby Festival to add to your trophy cabinet of outstanding achievements. Thank you to you, your staff, your boys and parents for making our visit to Durban and your awesome school such a unique and enriching experience. We look forward to seeing you in Cape Town.”

The school is very grateful to everyone who played a part in the success of our Centenary Rugby Festival. What a splendid event this was! With ten schools from around the country participating in our National Centenary Rugby Festival and 27 games of rugby played all will agree that it was indeed a fitting celebration for our Centenary Year. By the end of the weekend more than 400 boys had played rugby as several schools brought additional teams for the Festival. Also the U10 house rugby matches were played on Saturday morning. (These games were played on a 10 man format but with only three forwards in the scrum allowing for more interplay from the backs.) Well done to all the boys. Feedback from the players is that the festival was a resounding success. The rugby was of a high standard, their experiences both on and off the field memorable and new friendships were formed. The visit to the Moses Mabhida Stadium was enthralling and the team photographs taken at the stadium will be treasured.

Thanks to our title sponsor Mr Price and major sponsor BoE Private Clients for their generosity and to all our sponsors and parents who helped to make the event such a success. Particular thanks must go to the many families who hosted our visitors, thereby making a festival of this magnitude possible. Thanks and congratulations to all staff who assisted and especially to team leader, our Director of Sport Michael Dick and Festival Secretary Robyn Schlemmer.

Mothers’ Day
Special Mothers’ Day assemblies will be held for our wonderful DPHS mothers on Friday morning. We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at one of the assemblies and at tea in the Functions Room between 8h00 and 8h30. This is a splendid opportunity to wish you all a wonderful day on Sunday and to express our appreciation for all you do for your sons. The wonderfully successful Café Prep which has had the Functions Room buzzing and the school well-fed is a testament to the dedication of our mothers and their truly humbling support for the school. Thanks and congratulations to Nicky Firth, Leilani Kavanaugh, Lisa Redman and Yasiera Suliman for heading up this superb venture and to Janine Bamber, Chairperson of the Mothers’ Committee for her support and hard work. Grateful thanks to every mother who stepped in and volunteered to do a shift (or many shifts) at Café Prep 2010.

RICHARD NEAVE
Headmaster

CONGRATULATIONS

Adam Bebington and Matthew Mitchell from Pirates participated in the Midas Nipper Nationals Surf Lifesaving Championship.
Ross Dolbey was the Captain of the Pirates U10 Squad that won their division at the recent Midas Nipper Nationals Surf lifesaving Championship.

The following boys have been selected for the Umlazi District Hockey Teams:
U12: Kyle Mertsch, Jack Cook, Matthew Lees, Matthew Dicks, Steven Waites (NTR)
U13A: Luke Miloszewski
U13B: Gareth Simpson, Matthew Mitchell (NTR)
*NTR: Non Travelling Reserve

Jarryd Edy Prep Old Boy and now at Hilton College has been selected as the Captain of U14A Cricket and is in the U14A Hockey team.

Cameron Moodley participated in two karate tournaments over the weekend.1 May 2010 - Kanazawa Cup at DUT: Bronze medal in Kumite. This is an international event with participants from Slovenia, Mozambique, India and DRC. 2 May 2010 - Funakoshi Shotokan Tournament at UKZN: Gold medal in Kumite and Silver medal in Kata.

Sean Ruggeri has successfully completed Kumon level A in Maths and has exhibited the necessary aptitude in the subject to meet the Kumon proficiency requirement.
Chad Streak played in John Yuill’s tennis tournament on Sunday morning and came 2nd in his group (Nadal group).

CALENDAR

RECEPTION UNIT NEWS

TThe Reception Unit boys visited Café Prep last week to enjoy a drink and something to eat. They were allocated their own special time to support this event, so as to avoid the break time queues.

This evening, the staff will be hosting the Parents Art Activity Evening being held at the Reception Unit. This is a fun, social evening which allows parents not only to meet other parents and staff in an informal environment but also allows them time to explore their creative talents, much to the delight and surprise of their sons!

We would like to take this opportunity to wish all our Prep Moms a very special day on Sunday. May it be filled with love and laughter.

JUNIOR PRIMARY NEWS

This week began on a high note with a presentation by Brand South Africa to promote patriotism and the 2010 Soccer World Cup. Flags representing the 32 World Cup participating countries will be displayed around the school to encourage further awareness and spirit as this major event draws nearer!

I thank all the parents who have prioritized the opportunity during this Parents’ Week to meet with their son’s class teacher to discuss his well-being and progress. Please be reminded that you are encouraged to make further appointments at any other stage as the year progresses should you have any concerns or require feedback.

The Grade Ones have been hard at work preparing to present the special Mothers’ Day assembly this Friday. We wish them well as they honour all our mums in this special tribute. All the Grade One parents and all the Prep mothers are invited to attend and to enjoy the tea. In addition to this the Junior Primary mums are invited for a brief visit to their son’s classroom directly after the second assembly. The JP boys and staff wish all our mums a very happy Mothers’ Day on Sunday.

MERIT AWARDS

Congratulations to this week’s recipients

Junior Primary Paper Recycling Challenge – Recyclers of the Week

• 1st Grade 2 Marklew (5m 70cm)
  
• 2nd Grade 3 Knatten (4m 44cm)
  

SPORT

RUGBY

RESULTS DPHS/MR PRICE CENTENARY NATIONAL RUGBY FESTIVAL
THURSDAY 29 APRIL 2010

FRIDAY 30 APRIL 2010

SATURDAY 1 MAY 2010

RESULTS
The results of the U10 house rugby played on Saturday 1 May

FIXTURES
Friday 7 May and Saturday 8 May - Rugby vs Westville

GENERAL

DPHS EDUCATIONAL TRUST CENTENARY GOLF DAY - 20 AUGUST 2010
The Centenary Golf Day will be held at Mount Edgecombe Country Club on Course 1 and 2 on 20 August 2010. All Old Boys, past and present parents and friends of Prep are invited to participate either by sponsoring a tee/green and or entering a fourball.
For further details please email Liz Elliott – trust@dphs.co.za

KZN PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA SUNSET PROMS
Date: Sunday- 16 May 2010
Venue: Crawford Prep La Lucia
Times:
11h00: Cultural Festival DPHS GUMBOOT DANCE TEAM performing
12h30: Nonchalant (from Splashy Fen)
14h30: KZN Philharmonic Orchestra and soloists, Massed Choir including DPHS CHOIR

TIckets available from COMPUTICKET or from Mrs Briscoe from Monday 10 May.
Adults: R60
Scholars/Pensioners: R30

Please send correct cash in a sealed envelope, clearly marked with Son's Name and Class and tickets required

THE MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR
Rorke Kemp Prep Old Boy, an outstanding guitarist who achieved a Cultural Scholarship at DHS is performing in the state of the art Seabrookes Theatre, with professional lighting, sound and special effects. The music will appeal to a wide audience and all old boys plus prospective new parents are encouraged to attend.

REQUEST FOR A CAR COVER from the Headmaster
Our long serving school Induna and General Asissitant Hlelizwe Magwasa has bought his first ever car of which he is very proud and goes to a great deal of trouble to keep clean and shiny. If you have an old nylon car cover which is not being used, please consider giving it to Mr Magwaza. He is a very loyal, dedicated staff member who is anxious to protect his car from the sun and elements in every way possible. Thank you.

WONKA’S GOLDEN TICKET – PROPS REQUIRED
An appeal
Please can you raid cupboards and garages and see if you have any of the following:-

• Boxes – TV size boxes down to cardboard cereal boxes & empty paper ream boxes
  
• Old/broken creepy pipes
  
• Off cuts of material
  
• Cardboard
  
• Polystyrene sheets
  
• Half used paint tins – for the paint J - any colour!
  
• Empty paint tins - for the tins
  
• Empty HTH chorine tubs
  
• Sheets of plywood – min length 1.5 m & width 1m

If your hunt is successful, please can you bring the items to the drama department?

DHS MOMS COM LADIES NIGHT
We are hosting our ladies night as a fundraiser to upgrade the classrooms at DHS. Please support us.
Tickets are now available for the Ladies night. It will be given once payment has been confirmed. We have to sell 200 tickets please.

• Theme: Moulin Rouge
  
• MC: Damon Beard of the International Men’s Team
  
• Venue: DHS Founders, St Thomas’ Rd, Musgrave
  
• Date: Wednesday, 12 May 2010
  
• Time: 19h00

Tickets: Includes a two course buffet meal R140 pp
Tickets or information please contact Audrey on 0725798868 or email audsclaassen@telkomsa.net

Please deposit the money into DHS Bank account. Details on beneficiary statement: Moms Com & your name as reference

Banking Details:
FNB
Branch no: 221126
Cheque account
Account no: 50901294674

Please email me details of your payment immediately so I can book your table and arrange the tickets.
Audrey Claassen - 0725798868m or 031 2020739

NEWS FROM DHS

Last week a number of our boys came down to Prep to support the Prep 1st XV in their matches at the Centenary Rugby Festival. The boys had a great time, and they were happy to see the youngsters doing well in their fixtures. It is great to see the good relations between the boys, and they really get on well together. Let’s hope that it continues in this vein.
This week sees the school hosting a musical revue at school. The theme is Beatles music, and the show is called The Magical Mystery Tour. From all I have heard so far it is going to be a great show. I hope to see many of you supporting us. The show will be in our theatre, Seabrookes.

Regards
Dave Magner
Class of 1968