We have just passed the halfway mark of Term 2 and have much to be thankful for and so much to look forward to as the term enters the last few frenetic weeks.
I recently read an interesting article entitled, “What constitutes school quality?”
The article goes on to suggest that school quality should be measured in terms of “The Smile Quotient”. This quotient is best described in the following quote:
“When the smile quotient in a school is high, it means people enjoy being there; they are confident in their role and anticipate success; and they encounter others with a warm and welcoming attitude”. Tom Hoerr (retired US Principal)
Prep’s “Smile Quotient” is sky high now; after all, it is rugby season in an all-boys school! This happiness at school reflects itself in a renewed enthusiasm for learning, a friendly and gregarious staff and an abundance of smiles amongst all who work and learn at Prep. The general mood around the Prep campus is refreshing and infectious as it is very different from what we have had to endure over the past two years.
Let us all work hard to keep this positive and friendly atmosphere part of our everyday experience.
ACADEMICS
The DPHS Speech and Drama Festival has started and will run until the end of May. Our boys are encouraged to take this opportunity to present in front of an external adjudicator and to learn from the feedback they receive. A special thanks to our adjudicator, Phillipa Savage, who always gives such valuable, positive and insightful feedback to all the participants. The Senior Primary Parent’s week was so well supported and we now look forward to working closely with all our parents and SP boys as they head into the testing phase of the term from the 30th May.
A special mention must be made of the Grade 5 Boys and all the staff that were involved in presenting the wonderful Mother’s Day Assembly. I know that all the moms who joined us for this special morning left Prep feeling both affirmed and very much loved by their son and all at DPHS. To all our moms, “Thank you” – we are only successful because of what you do for your son and our school.
SPORT
As mentioned above, sport has an amazing and unique ability to bring a tangible energy and a collective team spirit into a boys’ only school environment. The Grade 7 boys took the initiative and proposed the formation of our first “War Cry” committee to try to harness this very energy. Our rugby fixtures have not only been enthusiastically supported but, in a first for KZN primary schools, also been live streamed on the SuperSport Schools App. Our Under 10 rugby boys are currently in Johannesburg and we wish them well as they embark on what will be the first of many rugby tours throughout their school playing days. The planning for our annual DPHS/PhotoNote National Rugby Festival and rugby tour to Cape Town are well underway and we ask that you keep abreast of these plans as the success of both of these events relies heavily on the support of our parent body.
May I also take this opportunity to thank a DHS Old Boy who very generously sponsored a DHS 1st XV rugby jersey on behalf of DPHS. If you do get to watch the DHS 1st XV play, look carefully at the very broad shoulders of their number 8 and you will see the DPHS badge proudly displayed on our founding school’s first team jersey.
Congratulations also need to be extended to our U11 Tennis boys who returned from their tennis tour to Bethlehem with glowing reports and some outstanding results – well done to all the boys and touring staff.
DPHS PROJECTS
In my last communication I made mention of the planned “six phase” improvement to our school gardens. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Mother’s Committee and in particular, Gina Radley, for coming on board and for making a significant contribution towards the realisation of this long term initiative. Our gardens are starting to take shape and we cannot wait for summer so that we can get to see the fruits of all this hard labour.
The building of the new Design Technology Centre is entering its last phase and we have already put plans in place to have this facility operational by the start of term 3. The impact on, and improvement to, the Junior Primary curriculum will be significant and we look forward to making some new and exciting announcements in this regard. All these developments to our campus and academic curriculum would not be possible without the continued involvement, and significant financial support, of the DPHS Educational Trust. We will be formally thanking and recognising all the relevant role players at the official opening of the new Design Technology Centre.
You will also notice that the final phase of the upgrading to the front of the school has begun. This phase sees the completion of the reception gate area and the replacing of the old palisade fencing with a more modern clear view fence. The view across our two green fields will soon be uninterrupted and inviting to all visitors.
HOUSE KEEPING
Once again, we encourage the Prep Community to keep informed of all the DPHS news by regularly checking the D6 and by following us on Facebook, Instagram or by visiting the DPHS Website. Our marketing department makes use of all of these social media platforms and does an outstanding job of reporting on our daily activities, posting results or commenting on interesting achievements.
If you are not following us, you are missing out!
IN CLOSING
Please wrap up warmly-we are in for a cold and wet weekend.
Kind regards
GRANT PHIPSON
ACTING HEADMASTER
- 19 May 2022){kind=link}