Newsletter

MARCH 2002 NEWSLETTER

HUMAN RIGHTS

In South Africa, Human Rights Day falls on 21 March.  When we commemorate it at school on 20 March, the last day of term, we will remember the long and often bitter struggle for the recognition of the rights of ALL in our country – and it is appropriate that we should do so.

However, the issue of human rights much closer to home also warrants our attention.  Do you always respect the rights of those you come into contact with every day - your classmates, fellow students both younger and older than you, your teachers and the other staff at the school, your parents and siblings?

If you ever deliberately belittle someone or make somebody unhappy by disregarding his or her feelings you are trampling on that person’s human rights.  If your behaviour in the classroom ever prevents your teachers from teaching, or your classmates from receiving the education they are here to receive, you are interfering with their human rights. If you are thoughtless, unkind, cruel, rude, disrespectful or just plain nasty to any other person, your words or actions are an infringement of someone else’s basic human rights.

The British critic Philip Toynbee defines moral progress as “the realisation that other human beings are fully as human as oneself.”  Certainly, we have the right to be respected, but, at the same time, we have the obligation to respect the rights of others.

Remember always that your rights end where mine begin – no single person’s ‘rights’ supercede another’s.

PTA

The first meeting of the 2002 PTA was held on Monday 18 February in the Staff Room.The following were elected to the Executive:

As immediate past chairman, Gerald Menashe is automatically a member of the executive.

Ladies Committee

The school has to cater for a great many sporting and cultural activities and there is an URGENT need for mothers to come to school and bake cakes and biscuits which can then be frozen and used as needed. Please contact Linda Rosen on 083 3096746 as soon as possible if you are able to help.

Secondhand bookshop

Please hand to the office any textbooks, which can be resold by the PTA to raise funds.

School newspaper

Our school newspaper, Chadashot, is produced once a term.  It costs R250 per page to print the paper and once again we are asking parents to offer sponsorship.Please contact Eida at school.

MATRIC EXAM ENTRY FEE.

Parents of matrics are reminded that at least the first instalment of the IEB Senior Certificate Examination entry fee (R700) must be paid to the school by no later than

15 March 2002. To date the fees of barely a quarter of matric students have been paid. The IEB will not accept initial entries not accompanied by half the examination fee.

ABSOLUT TAKKIE DAY

Don’t forget that on Friday 1 March you may wear takkies to school, provided that you have paid your R5,00 Takkie Tax to the SRC. The money goes to Child Welfare who are in desperate need of funds.

Please support them.

SOUTH AFRICAN ZIONIST FEDERATION

DECLARATION OF SOLIDARITY WITH ISRAEL

All students were given a copy of the Declaration of Solidarity formulated by the S.A. Zionist Federation together with the Office of the Chief Rabbi.  This declaration enables members of the Jewish community to support the Land and State of Israel in this time of trauma and tragedy, and simultaneously express their fervent desire and hope that peace be restored to the peoples of the Middle East. These signed declarations must be received by the Zionist Federation by 5 March.

The intention is to hand over the declarations to those representing the President and Prime Minister of Israel of Israel on the opening night of the 45th South African Zionist Federation Conference on 9 March.

REMINDER     REMINDER     REMINDER

Have you booked your seat for the SAZF Conference – Israel Now and Forever – which will take place on 9-10 March 45^th at the Sandton Sun and the HOD Centre?

Phone the SAZF on 646 2505 or e-mail [email protected] for the necessary details.  Israel needs your support NOW!

ENGLISH OLYMPIAD

This year’s theme, ‘Conflict and Reconciliation in South Africa’, has been explored through the poetry anthology issued by the Grahamstown Foundation, which administers the Olympiad. 15 students are participating and will write the exam, which is three hours long and open-book, on Tuesday 5 March. They have been addressed by a lawyer from the Human Rights Commission, and Dr Connie Valkin, gave a fascinating talk which investigated some of the psychological issues arising out of the Olympiad theme. We were joined by the Olympiad students from Yeshiva College for this talk.

SMART CARDS

Students please remind your Parents, Bobbas, Zaidas, Uncles, Aunties to use their Smart Cards. The more we use our cards the more the school will benefit and the more you, the students will gain. Each time we use our Smart Cards at the allocated stores a percentage is given to the school. If there are any parents who do not have a Smart Card and would like one please contact Mrs Eida Schneiderman.

KDHSVP ‘WISH LIST’

Our grateful thanks to the parents and ex-parents who so kindly donated a washing machine, fridge and hi-fi system to the school after reading last month’s ‘Wish List’.

If any parent can help us to obtain the following items for the school please contact Mrs Schneiderman.

1.        A Trophy Cabinet.

2.        A CD Player in good condition.

MARCH ACTIVITIES

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY – 1st WEEK of TERM 2

§          8 April:             Term 2 begins for teachers                                 

§          9 April:             Term 2 begins for students (Day 7)

                                    Commemoration of Yom Hashoah

§          10 April:           Day 1

§          11 April:           Day 4    -    Cycle Exam

                              Interhouse Cross Country

§          12 April:           Day 2

§          12-14 April:      Grade 8 Shabbaton

INTERHIGH GALA

Our swimming team has worked hard this season and we have some excellent swimmers.  They need the support of all at KDVP when they compete against the other C-league schools at the Interhigh Gala at Delville on Monday 4 March.  The gala begins at 12h00 (please note change of time) and attendance is compulsory for Grades 8 - 11.  Buses will transport swimmers and spectators to and from the gala.  We expect to return to school at approximately 16h00.  Students must bring their own refreshments.

Those who have a compelling reason not to attend the gala MUST bring notes from their parents explaining the problem.  Those who do not attend the gala will remain at school, under supervision, until 13h30.

With the mini-prelims only a week away, matrics who are not involved in the gala will be allowed to go home at 11h00 to study. However, those in positions of leadership – the SRC and House Captains – are required to attend the gala.

MUSICAL PRODUCTION 2002

Our musical production for this year will be  ‘Grease’.  Two of our parents have kindly consented to produce the show: the director will be Mickie Jacobs and Jess Cooperman will administer the production, which will be staged next term.

Mr Gerassi will audition and cast the show.  Auditions will be held on Sunday 10 March from 10h00 in the Hall. Any matrics who would like to take part in the show should approach Mr Gerassi before 10 March to arrange an audition, as this is the day before the matric mini-prelims begin.

Assistance from parents is needed urgently.  Those who are interested are asked to contact Mickie Jacobs on 888-4209 or 082-6705688.

Happy Birthday to all students and staff

members who celebrate birthdays during

the month of March.

Marching through the Parsha to Pesach

This month begins with Bnei Yisrael at a catastrophic low – the sin of the golden calf and Moshe davening on their behalf that Hashem doesn’t wipe out the people. Yet slowly things improve. The Mishkan is completed and Hashem’s presence resides among the people. By the end of the month we reach Shabbat Hagadol – the shabbat preceeding Pesach. From 30 days before a festival we begin learning its laws. The laws of Pesach can be complicated (especially the kashrut side) and pupils are encouraged to ask questions from the Rabbis at school.

Shabbat Shalom and Chag Kasher Vesameach