Newsletter 22 February 2021

Dear Waterberg Family
It is hard to believe but it is already mid – February! I am thrilled to have your child in our school this year. I have the belief that by working together we will make this a very successful school year. It is very important that you play an active role in your child’s education. I invite you to call or visit with me any time you may have a query regarding your child’s progress in school. I will do my part by encouraging the teachers to keep you informed by sending home communication. I would expect the different phases to send out a weekly communication and updates on the progress of the school.
It was just the other day when we welcomed new learners and staff to the Academy. I recall this day with fondness.
Let us not forget that we started the year with the fantastic news that the matric group of 2020 delivered some outstanding matric results. (100% pass, 4 out of 5 learners received a BD pass). The matric results were released on Friday. My sincere thanks to all the matrics and especially the staff members who have achieved these results after being challenged by lockdowns and COVID, and the online learning. Once again, the Waterberg Family has shown true grit and determination and of course in true January form, we were blessed with lots and lots of rain.

1. Leadership
I would like to congratulate our new head boy and head girl for 2021. Livingstone Banda and Lynette Sakala were unanimously voted in by their peers and staff members alike. We have a very strong and motivated matric group who have set for themselves some very high standards academically and by the legacy that they want to leave behind. Livingstone and Lynette will now strive to keep our matric group and our school focused on the goal that we have set. We want to take this school to a place where no other school has gone. I invite you as parents to join us on the “magic carpet ride”.
2. Co-Curricular activities
The DBE Amended Directions of 21 October 2020 (Gazette Number 43826) provided as follows regarding inter-school non-contact sport matches:
“(10) Subject to sub-direction (10A) and compliance with social distancing, hygiene and safety measures to prevent and combat the spread of COVID-19, non-contact sport training, intra-school non-contact sport matches and non-contact sport-related activities and arts and culture school- based activities in schools, may resume without any spectators.”
We are obviously so happy that we can start introducing the co-curricular program back into the school. This term the high school will focus on Archery and Athletics while the primary school will focus on Athletics, Archery and Cricket.
The Thursday morning skill development lesson will be dedicated entirely to the cultural activities. The final program will be communicated to you by Mr. Bridger and Mr. O Kelly.
Conclusion
Our theme this week is “Accept that you are going to make mistakes. Learn from them and move on”.
Making mistakes is part of life, and no matter how old or experienced we are, they will still happen. One thing for sure though, is that with experience, there are fewer errors and mistakes.
We are only human, and parents and learners alike will all do things they will regret. I made mistakes in my first year of teaching, I have made mistakes last week, today, and I am sure I’ll make mistakes in the future. When it happens, you can’t beat yourself up over it. You must pick yourself up, learn from the experience and move on.
Kind Regards
Vernon Rorich
Headmaster