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,

Cocktail Function
The first function of our Centenary Calendar which involves our parents is the New Parents Cocktail Function on Friday 29 January.

All new parents and teachers are cordially invited by the Governing Body to attend this Cocktail Party in the Maurice Wilkinson Hall on FRIDAY, 29 JANUARY 2010 18h30 to 20h00. The Governing Body and members of staff will be present to meet you and officially welcome you to Prep.

A special invitation is extended to all our parents, both old and new, and most especially the Grade 1 parents who have just arrived on the Main Campus, to attend as part of the welcoming party. This will also be a wonderful opportunity to view the enhancements to our Maurice Wilkinson hall which were begun at the end of 2009 and are currently nearing completion. Hopes are high that all will be in place for our cocktail party.

Congratulations
The school is vey proud and happy to hear of the appointment of David Prinsloo (DPHS 2005) as Head Boy of DHS and Andrew Hay (DPHS 2005 Headmaster’s trophy winner, Haysom Trophy winner, Maurice Wilkinson Service to School winner and Good Fellowship Award winner) as Head Boy of Maritzburg College. To both boys and the wonderful schools they represent, go our good wishes for a very successful year.

RICHARD NEAVE
Headmaster

CONGRATULATIONS

Cole Poovan, Grade 4 participated in the KZN Championships Gala on 11 December 2009 and won a gold medal in the 50m breaststroke and a bronze medal in the 50m freestyle.

Zakariya Paruk and Matthew Lees represented KZN in the U11 Inter-Provincial Cricket Tournament which was held in Mpumalanga during the holidays. The team was unbeaten, and Matthew Lees was awarded Man of the Match against Limpopo Province.

CALENDAR

RECEPTION UNIT NEWS

We have had a wonderfully happy start to the school year with the boys having settled readily into their new classes and daily routines. The second week of term has been very busy. On Wednesday, the Grade 0’s attended their first Music, Drama and Computer lessons up at Main Campus with the Junior Primary Specialists. On Thursday, Mr Neave will be coming down to visit us to celebrate DPHS’ 100th birthday. The Reception Unit staff and pupils will gather around 100 cupcakes to blow out the candles and have photographs taken. As an added treat, Sharkie will be coming to visit the boys to talk about the Garvz Academy programme which takes place in the afternoons.

JUNIOR PRIMARY NEWS

The year has got off to such a positive start with the boys settling down into their new classes and the school programme well under way. A big thank-you to all parents for ensuring that their sons arrived at school with all the requirements requested.

A very successful Parents’ Evening was held last night. The high turnout in each class is an indication of the wonderful support we enjoy from the Prep parents and this is most appreciated by the teachers, who are looking forward to working together with the parents to enable the boys to have a productive and happy year. All parents are reminded that their son’s well-being and progress are of paramount importance and I encourage them to make an appointment with the class teacher if they have any concerns during the year.

The U9 cricket is well under way and the first Mini-Cricket session for the Grade 1 and 2 boys will take place this Saturday morning. All Grade 3 Club activities begin next week.

SPORT
CRICKET FIXTURES

Performances from trial games between DPHS and DHS on Saturday 16 January:

GENERAL

BOOK TIME BOOK FAIR
DPHS will once again be hosting the company Book Time book fair, whose motto is ‘Good books @ great prices’. Book Time is owned and operated by ex-teachers Anne Canton and Jenny Ortlepp.

To have books that belong to you alone is a lasting treasure. A book is a gift that lasts a lifetime as reading – and the success it brings – is a lifelong joy. Jenny and Anne are in a good position to provide your children with appropriate, quality books and they endeavour to keep prices as reasonable as possible so that books are not possessions priced out of reach.
They have an extensive range of books for toddlers to young teens. Both fiction and non-fiction are available. Do come and visit the sale if you can or let your child purchase a book to start, or add to, their personal treasure trove!
Book time will visit DPHS on Monday, February 2010 from 10h00 – 16h00 and Tuesday 02 February 2010 from 07h30 – 14h00 in the Functions Room.

WINDERMERE CENTRE - Side Walk Sale
To coincide with the “birthdays” of a number of our new stores, Windermere Centre is hosting an impromptu “Side Walk Sale” staring Wednesday 27th and running until Saturday 30 January. Join us @ Windermere Shopping Centre for some exciting “special offers at bargain prices”.

LIFT REQUIRED
Can anyone help with a lift club or transport to and from Mount Edgecombe. Lift needed both ways. Parent happy to pay or to do the morning transport. Please phone Renita Lutchman 0836233302.

NEWS FROM DHS

School is back on track in this very important year for the country and for Prep. 100 years as a school is a massive achievement and we are delighted that Prep has reached this milestone, and continues to be one of South Africa’s premier schools. We hope that we can continue to have a close relationship in years to come and look forward to celebrating this prestigious event with our brother school. Good luck to the whole Prep community.

The first few days have surely been a bit of a blur for the new boys. A highlight of the week was the induction ceremony last Thursday, and it was a special moment to see David Prinsloo, Head boy and former Prep boy, formally welcome his younger brother to DHS.

Our new indoor cricket centre is up and running and is a marvellous facility. The High Performance Centre, under Prep old boy Ashleigh Hall, is on stream from next month, and will prove a wonderful addition to the school.

It was great to be at Prep last Saturday and play a friendly against the Open sides. Our U14 A side should mature into quality side, and I am sure the experience was enjoyed by all.

Have a good year.

Dave Magner
Class of 1968