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The Baobab Bark

BAOBAB COLLEGE – News and Information Issue 8 2006/7 December 7th

 

 MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL

As yet another school term draws to a close, we are able to reflect upon another productive and busy term at Baobab. As ever, our staff have worked tirelessly to ensure that our students receive a quality education; and our new monthly progress reports in Secondary have proven very popular with parents. Our PE and Productions staff have again ensured that a diverse and entertaining term has been had by all and the Carol Service provided a fitting ending to the term.

I would like to wish our staff, students and parents the very warmest wishes for a peaceful and happy Christmas ahead - along with good wishes for a prosperous 2007. Have a good break - you all deserve it - and we'll see you all in a few weeks time.

 

MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

All parents/guardians are reminded that school fees are due on the 8th December 2006. Please ensure that your fee account has been paid – this enables the school to give our children the education they deserve. The finance office will be opened until the 22nd December 2006 to assist with any queries. The Board of Directors would also like to clarify that any parents that do not have an up to date school account, or have not had a repayment plan approved by our Finance Manager, will not be allowed to send their children to school at the start of term 2.

 

NEWS FROM THE POOL

 We are pleased to announce that a large contingent of Baobab swimmers has been chosen to represent Zambia in the forthcoming Sub-Saharan Championships. This will take place early next year in Harare. The swimmers chosen are as follows; Carla Nel, Leslie Gwilliam, Fraukje Sportel, Alan Thompson, Mark Thompson: with Sandra Dingle and James Mills being chosen as reserves. As if that was not enough, several non-student members of the Baobab Barracudas have also been chosen; again they are as follows; Ayla Schuler, Chola Mukuka, Tilka Palik, Jasmine Chungu, Tanny Bhandhair, Miji Bhandhair, Bianca Lourens with M. Sililo and Cholwe Lourens on the reserve list. In addition to these Tonia Weltin will also be traveling both as a swimmer and also as the National Coach. Congratulations to all and good luck. In line with this the Barracuda team will be holding a fundraising event: 100km swim and social at Baobab College - Saturday 9th December from 8am onwards. All swimmers welcome to participate in the relay style swim that will be undertaken throughout the day. Lunch and drinks will be on sale. All donations in way of food, drink and sponsorship will be greatly appreciated. Funds raised will be used for the Barracuda swimming team and their members representing Zambia at the Sub Saharan gala in Zimbabwe this coming January.

INTER-HOUSE GALA

 I am sure that those of you who attended last Friday’s gala will agree that it was a fantastic, fiercely contested event. Congratulations go to all those who swam. Eagle retained their trophy with a points tally of 503, followed by Falcon in 2nd place with 453points and Hawk in 3rd with 343. A total of 14 new records were established. They were as follows; James Mills 21.21 U9 Boys 25m Back Emile Odendaal 41.50 U13 Boys 50m Back Nahla Kadoura 37.62 U15Girls 50m Back Alan Thompson 37.91 U15 Boys 50m Breast Elsha Wixley 16.09 U15 Girls 25m Fly Amina Daya 44.37 Open Girls 50m Breast Carla Nel 35.44 U13 Girls 50m Back Carla Nel 15.79 U13 Girls 25m Fly Lesley Gwilliam 37.82 U13 Girls 50m Breast Lesley Gwilliam 1:16.33 U13Girls Ind. Medley Fraukje Sportel 38.63 U15 Girls 50m Breast Fraukje Sportel 31.35 U15 Girls 50m Free Falcon House U13 Girls Relay Falcon House U15 Girls Relay A hearty thanks needs to be extended to the sponsors of our new set of trophies for best swimmers. The first recipients were the following; The Shane Young Cups for Under 9s Teri Gwilliam and James Mills The Loney Cups for Under 11s Stephanie Gordon and Jondre Gunther The Jodie du Plooy Cups for Under 13s Lesley Gwilliam and Ryan Hyslop The A.C.A.L. Cups for Under 15s Fraukje Sportel and Alan Thompson The Lindsay Cups for the Open Age Groups Ryoni Entjes and Mark Thompson

 

STEEL BAND

 On Thursday 16th November Mrs. Gloria Jones organised a concert at the New Hall to give Baobab students an opportunity to perform in public. The evening was a tremendous success. From beginners to diploma pianists, everyone tried their very best and the evening was a memorable one. The money that was raised that evening went to support the Steel Band. The money will allow us to pay the instructor/tuner from ZNS. We are very grateful to all. The Steel Band had been funded by individuals. Money was raised through a tremendous effort by Fiona Swart who paid off all the debts and now the Steel Band belongs to the school. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Fiona Swart for all her support. Gea Sportel Steel Band Coordinator.

 

SCIENCE FAIRS

Our annual Science Fair in the Primary Department will be held on Thursday 15/16th February 2007. All children in Key Stage Two have been given guidelines as to how to do a science project. The Christmas holiday is an ideal time to start working on your project. Websites like ‘yahooligans.com’ are ideal to start looking for a topic. I am looking forward to a project done by every child in Key Stage Two. Children can take part alone or in groups of maximum 2 children. Good luck. Gea Sportel Primary Science Coordinator. The Secondary Science fair will be held during the same week on Tuesday 13th February in the New Hall. This year it will be compulsory for all students in Years 7 to 10 to submit an individual project. As mentioned above the coming break presents a superb time to begin preparations for this. The winners in each age group will then go forward to represent the school at the ISAZ Science fair on February 24th at Rhodes Park. Students should consult their teachers for further advice. We would like to encourage parents to attend the Fair, and even offer services as judges. Further details will follow in future barks. Ms Law Head of Science and Technology Faculty.

 

KEY STAGE ONE CELEBRATION OF CHRISTMAS This was a thoroughly entertaining performance. Congratulations to all those who took part, and a big thank you to Mrs Dingle and her team..

 

P.T.A. NEWS

The PTA will be holding a Welcome evening for all new parents to Baobab College on Thursday January 18th. More details will follow in the New Year. The PTA are organising a Car Boot Sale for the first Sunday in February; the 4th. If successful we hope to make this a regular event. More details to follow next year, but while you do your clean outs over the Holiday, remember you will have somewhere to sell all that old stuff. Any questions about any of the PTA activities can be sent to pta@baobabcollege.org

 

CHESHIRE HOMES CHILDRENS CHRISTMAS PARTY

A very sincere thanks to all those parents and teachers who contributed so generously to this years event. Special thanks go to our students, who so capably and cheerfully entertained their guests. They carried the children from the bus, played with them, served them refreshments and assisted them with toilet trips in a most mature and sensible manner. Our guest had a wonderful time and our own students were enriched by their friendship with them.

 

CZECHOSLOVAKIAN MUSIC RECITAL

On Wednesday 29th November, eight of our students took part in a concert organized by surgeons and doctors from Czechoslovakia. It was an event to raise funds for their Kalingalinga Street Children’s carpentry and tailoring workshops. The concert was televised in Czechoslovakia and will be shown on ZNBC on International Children’s Day. The students were; Janet Lu, Roxanne and Aimee Swart, Ilhaam Abrahams, Billie-Rose Turner, Eleni Lostrum and TingTing Wang.