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,

The School Community will be pleased to know that to date gifts to the DPHS Centenary Foundation Fund total nearly R100 000.00. The Centenary Foundation Boards with the names of the different donors are on display in the new front foyer of the school and in the Mkhombiseni Functions Room and are updated at regular intervals. The DPHS Educational Trust and School are very grateful to those old boys, parents and staff members who have already made a Centenary gift to the school. I was very happy when recently the school had an unexpected and most welcome visit from an old boy Douglas Wilkinson (1972 leaving group), the grandson of Maurice Wilkinson, after whom the school hall is named. Douglas is a lecturer in medicine at Oxford University. I was able to very proudly show off the many improvements that have been made to the school through the efforts of parents, old boys and staff members and the generous support of Trusts such as the The Daitz Foundation. The Prep boys were very courteous and offered their usual friendly and respectful greeting leaving Douglas feeling proud and happy with his old Prep School. I thank Douglas for visiting the school and his most generous donation to the Centenary Fund. Unfortunately Douglas is not able to stay and attend the Centenary Dinner. You have all no doubt given thought to making a birthday gift to the DPHS Centenary Foundation fund. Two new and very exciting projects and opportunities for the school have recently arisen. The Durban City Council has offered to sell to the school the Lane that runs between the Reception Unit/Aftercare Centre and the Smith field. The old school Tuck Shop which the school currently uses on a rental basis as a Music Centre is now for sale. The benefits of the school owning and controlling this land and property are very obvious and an opportunity not to be missed. The other projects which are planned for are the extension of the two school fields with new fencing on the Rosetta Road side and reconfiguration of the cricket nets and the building of a full size stair way down to the Walshaw field from the Gordon Road entrance. The school is also exploring the possibility of building a second swimming pool on the ground below the two DPHS Education Trust houses in Claribel Road. All it needs is for each and every one of us with the additional support of old boys to give the school a centenary gift and we can make this happen.

The official opening, unveiling and naming of the Phase 3 improvements to the school will take place on 3 March at 09h00 in the Maurice Wilkinson Hall. The occasion will also mark the naming and complete refurbishment of the Media and Information Technology Centre and upgrade of the learning support and bridging rooms. The school will never be able to thank The Daitz Foundation enough for their munificent support. The gallery in the hall will soon be completed and a special event will be held to officially name and open the new gallery as a tribute to the family of John Moshal (1953 leaving group) who has sponsored the gallery in the name of his father Max (1916 leaving group). Parents are invited and most welcome to attend both these events.

Whilst so many have already done so much we need to be reminded that this is the school’s 100th birthday year and every old boy or family who have benefitted from the school should please do their utmost to give a little back as a gift to DPHS.

Thank you.

RICHARD NEAVE
Headmaster

CONGRATULATIONS

Jayden Proctor came 1st in the Motorcross Race held in Bloemfontein.

The following swimmers have been selected to swim in the KZN Swimming Trials on Saturday 20 February.
Luke Chisholm, Cole Poovan, Jonathan Bennett, Nikhil Mehta, Michael Paul and Awonke Ngwane

DPHS again won the Midmar Mile Primary Schools category. The top five Prep boys were:
Michael Brakspear, Adam Bebington, Matthew Trichardt, Matthew Hamilton, Michael Paul

DPHS Swimming Coach, Heather Campbell came 2nd in her category at the Midmar Mile.

DPHS teacher Sam Parry, and the following boys were awarded medals at the Midmar Mile:
Simon Taylor, Matthew Nordengen, Joshua Bennett, Luke Chisholm, Taine Muirhead, Luke Goder, Matthew Mitchell, Hylton Parsons, Nikhil Mehta, Dean Smith, Joshua Walton, Blake Merchant, Yusuf Paruk, Yusuf Docrat and Joshua Morse.

All Midmar Mile swimmers will collect points towards the DPHS Centenary Ironman Challenge.

Taine Buys (youngest in KZN) was awarded his purple belt, in Kimura Shulokai International Karate on Monday 8 February.

CALENDAR

RECEPTION UNIT NEWS

The Blue Group boys were very excited to welcome back their teacher, Justine Smit, who has been away for two weeks writing exams. They have really missed her and now she is delighted to be back in the classroom with them.

Our postponed visit by Captain Keogh, The Laughing Policeman, will be taking place on Thursday. He has 33 years police experience and the boys always enjoy his fun-filled and educational talk on road safety and general safety issues.

JUNIOR PRIMARY NEWS

Congratulations to all the boys who participated in the Midmar Mile swim last weekend. Three JP boys completed this challenge and we are very proud of them.

On Friday the boys will meet with their Prep Pal families for the first time this year. The Grade Seven leaders are particularly looking forward to welcoming the Grade Ones and other new boys who will be included in a “family”. Those who were at Prep last year will be able to continue to develop the special relationships that were initiated in 2009 with boys from different grades.

MERIT AWARDS

Congratulations to this week’s recipients!

Junior Primary Paper Recycling Challenge – Recyclers of the Week

• 1st Grade 3 Knatten (5m 25cm)
  
• 2nd Grade 3 Vawda (2m 78cm)
  

SPORT

EVENTS SECRETARY REQUIRED.
We are looking for a self driven person to perform the role of an events secretary from 1 March to 7 May. The person will be responsible for the administration of two main sporting events, The DPHS Centenary Rugby Festival and the DPHS Mudman Triathlon. The person will be required to work from DPHS in the morning Monday to Friday from 07h30 to 12h00.

Any interested people must please contact Director of Sport – Michael Dick – michaeldick@dphs.co.za or 082 560 1224 for further information.

CRICKET RESULTS

CRICKET FIXTURES TERM 1

Headmaster’s 2010 List of Top Batting Scores and Bowling Performances as at 15 February

DPHS CRICKET FESTIVAL – 2010

Proposed programme:

Wednesday 24 February
15h00 – 17h00 Teams arrive, billeting from Walshaw Field.
(Specific times to follow)

Thursday 25 February
07h15 Official welcome breakfast for sponsors, officials, and mangers (Functions Rooms)
Brief meeting to follow with team managers.
09h30 Matches commence
12h30 Lunch.
17h30 Play ends
18h00 Refreshments and snacks for officials in Functions room.
Free evening.

Friday 26 February
09h00 Matches commence (50 overs)
12h30 Lunch
17h00 Play ends
18h00 Evening out for Officials

Saturday 27 February
12h00 Teams to arrive at DPHS.
13h00 – 20h00 DPHS Pro 8 overs competition. (Under lights)
18h00 – 19h00 Rolling supper for players and officials

Sunday 28 February
08h00 Boys to be at school for departure.

GENERAL

SCHOOL FEES REMINDER 2010

5% SCHOOL FEES DISCOUNT : GRADES 1 – 7

A reminder that a 5% discount will be allowed for school fees paid in full on or before 28 February 2010.

Acceptable payment methods are cheque, credit card, debit card, direct bank transfers. Cash payments must be deposited directly to the school’s bank account as follows:

FIRST NATIONAL BANK :
Florida Road : Branch Code: 220526
Account number: 50741310036
Account name DPHS
Reference Your son’s name and surname

NEWS FROM DHS

We are well into the year now. The boys have settled well and we are enjoying a successful time at the moment.
Last week we had our Junior Speech Day. Old Boy Neil Coppen, a well known actor, playwrite and journalist was the guest speaker, and was really impressive. It was good to see so many ex Prep boys featuring amongst the prize winners. It was a marvellous day, which showcased the academic and cultural achievements of the school.
Cricket continues to do well with the 1st XI again having the better of their match against Michaelhouse.
A number of boys are excelling in the field of drama. David Prinsloo, ex-Prep, is one of 3 boys in the lead roles of the Girls’ College production. Blessing Xaba has been cast as Fatty in the movie version of Spud, being produced by old boy Ross Garland.

Dave Magner
Class of 1968