Dear Members

As the conference is next week and I am very busy with the preparations I will not be sending any emails until after the conference.

For those who have registered for the conference we will have registration on the Wednesday afternoon from 16:30 to 18:00 and then again Thursday from 07:00 to 14:00.
The opening of the conference starts at 14:00.

Enjoy the weekend and looking forward to seeing you at the conference.

Kind regards

Cris John

Sunlands Primary School
P O Box 36037
Glosderry
7702

Office:   +27-21-797 8010
Fax:      +27-21-762 2697
Mobile:   073 220 7067

SAPA ON FRIDAY

Definitions to think about


School
A place where Parents pay and children play

Life Insurance
A contract that keeps you poor all your life so that you can die Rich.

Nurse:
A person who wakes u up to give you sleeping pills.

Marriage
It's an agreement in which a man loses his bachelor degree and a woman
gains her masters..

Divorce
Future tense of Marriage.

Conference
The confusion of one man multiplied by the number present.

Compromise
The art of dividing a cake in such a way that everybody believes he got
the biggest piece

Conference Room
A place where everybody talks, nobody listens and everybody disagrees
later on

Father
A banker provided by nature

Criminal
A person no different from the rest of us ....except that he/she got
caught

Boss
Someone who is early when you are late and delayed when you are early

DOCTOR
A person who holds your ills by pills, and kills you by bills.

Smile
A curve that can set a lot of things straight.

Office
A place where you can relax after your strenuous home life.

Yawn
The only time some married men ever get to open their mouth.

Committee
Individuals who can do nothing individually and sit to decide that
nothing can be done together.

Experience
The name men give to their mistakes.

Philosopher
A fool who torments himself during life, to be wise

Enjoy this weeks midweek encouragement sent in by Christo Spies.  Happy belated secretaries day to all the secretaries.

Kind regards
Cris


Each problem has hidden in it an opportunity so powerful that it literally dwarfs the problem. The greatest success stories were created by people who recognized a problem and turned it into an opportunity. Joseph Sugarman.

Life happens! We cannot control the external circumstances in our lives, but we can control our responses to them. When encountering problems in life, the focus normally shifts to the problem. People start complaining and telling others how terrible and unfair it is. This has a negative effect on their whole being and productivity. Where focus goes, energy flows. Their problems end up occupying their minds. This leads to stress, resentment and sometimes even a grudge against a person, a situation or life.
Are you encountering a problem in your life right now? Identify exactly what it is and how it is influencing your life. Follow this through by asking the following question (out loud if possible): “How can I deal with this problem and turn it into an opportunity?” Keep on asking the question even if you don’t get an answer immediately. Your focus will shift from the problem to a solution. You will then discover how to deal with it.
I know you can do it, but will you?
Make it a great week,
Christo Spies

Dear SAPA Members


Our sponsors and exhibitors for the Conference have been wonderful with their prizes.  We now also have an Interactive Whiteboard; 10 SA School dictionaries with CD Rom; 7 x memory sticks and many more prizes coming  our way.  This will be one memorable conference.


Looking forward to seeing you all next week.


Kind regards
Cris

SAPA SMILE

This is the new generation on explaining to children where they come from.

Dear SAPA Members

Reminder that the SAPA National Conference takes place in two weeks time 9 - 11 September.  Our sponsors have been very generous and are donating wonderful prizes to be drawn at the end of the conference.  Some of the prizes we have are:
2 Netbooks; IN 2100 Digital Projector (which will be demonstrated at the exhibitors stand); 2 domestic airline tickets to the combined value of R4 000; Books; Thrass pack; Training for teachers; and many more lucky draws.  Delegates need to be present when the draw takes place.  If you have not booked for the conference BOOK NOW.....

Looking forward to seeing you all on the 9th at registration.

regards
Cris
--
Cris John

P O Box 36037
Glosderry
7702

Office:   +27-21-797 8010
Fax:      +27-21-762 2697
Mobile:   073 220 7067

MIDWEEK ENCOURAGEMENT

"You can't keep birds from flying over your head, but you can keep them from making a nest in your hair." Martin Luther

There are actually very few things in life that we can control. We may not be able to control the happenings, but we can control how it affects us. We can control how we think about it and what we do about it. We cannot control what another person says to us, but can control the meaning that we attach to it, and how we react.

What can you do about it?
- Identify the ‘birds’ in your life? The obstacles, temptations, problems, the things that affect you most, those that steal your energy and passion; the things that you cannot control?
- Ask yourself how you can get rid of the ‘birds’ already nesting in your hair. Decide today what step you can take to start the process.
- Also become aware of all the ‘birds’ flying overhead and decide how you are going to keep them from landing and nesting.

Make it a great week,
Christo Spies

Dear SAPA Members

Due to the fact that many schools are affected by the strike we have decided to postpone the PITSTOP on Wednesday 25 August. 

Reminder:  Don't forget to book for the Conference in September.

 

Enjoy the rest of your week and today's smile.

Kind regards

Cris


WHAT A PITY KULULA DOESN'T FLY INTERNATIONALLY - WE SHOULD SUPPORT THEM IF ONLY FOR THEIR HUMOUR - SO TYPICALLY SOUTH AFRICAN.

Kulula is an Airline with head office situated in Johannesburg .

Kulula airline attendants make an effort to make the in-flight "safety
lecture" and announcements a bit more entertaining. Here are some real
examples that have been heard or reported:

--------------------------------------------------------------------

On a Kulula flight, (there is no assigned seating, you just sit where
you want) passengers were apparently having a hard time choosing, when a flight attendant announced, "People, people we're not picking out furniture here, find a seat and get in it!"

---o0o---

On another flight with a very "senior" flight attendant crew, the pilot
said, "Ladies and gentlemen, we've reached cruising altitude and will be
turning down the cabin lights. This is for your comfort and to enhance
the appearance of your flight attendants."

----o0o---

On landing, the stewardess said, "Please be sure to take all of your
belongings.. If you're going to leave anything, please make sure it's
something we'd like to have."

----o0o---

"There may be 50 ways to leave your lover, but there are only 4 ways out
of this airplane."

---o0o---

"Thank you for flying Kulula. We hope you enjoyed giving us the business as much as we enjoyed taking you for a ride."

---o0o---

As the plane landed and was coming to a stop at Durban Airport , a lone voice came over the loudspeaker: "Whoa, big fella. WHOA!"

---o0o---

After a particularly rough landing during thunderstorms in the Karoo , a
flight attendant on a flight announced, "Please take care when opening
the overhead compartments because, after a landing like that, sure as
hell everything has shifted."

---o0o---

From a Kulula employee: " Welcome aboard Kulula 271 to Port Elizabeth .
To operate your seat belt, insert the metal tab into the buckle, and
pull tight. It works just like every other seat belt; and, if you don't
know how to operate one, you probably shouldn't be out in public
unsupervised."

---o0o---

"In the event of a sudden loss of cabin pressure, masks will descend
from the ceiling. Stop screaming, grab the mask, and pull it over your
face. If you have a small child travelling with you, secure your mask
before assisting with theirs. If you are travelling with more than one
small child, pick your favourite."

---o0o---

Weather at our destination is 50 degrees with some bro ken clouds, but
we'll try to have them fixed before we arrive. Thank you, and remember,
nobody loves you, or your money, more than Kulula Airlines."

----o0o---

"Your seats cushions can be used for flotation; and in the event of an
emergency water landing, please paddle to shore and take them with our compliments."

---o0o---

"As you exit the plane, make sure to gather all of your belongings.
Anything left behind will be distributed evenly among the flight
attendants. Please do not leave children or spouses.."

---o0o---

And from the pilot during his welcome message: "Kulula Airlines is
pleased to announce that we have some of the best flight attendants in
the industry. Unfortunately, none of them are on this flight!"

---o0o---

Heard on Kulula 255 just after a very hard landing in Cape Town : The
flight attendant came on the intercom and said, "That was quite a bump
and I know what y'all are thinking. I'm here to tell you it wasn't the
airline's fault, it wasn't the pilot's fault, it wasn't the flight attendant's fault, it was the asphalt."

---o0o---

Overheard on a Kulula flight into Cape Town , on a particularly windy and bumpy day: During the final approach, the Captain really had to fight it. After an extremely hard landing, the Flight Attendant said, "Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to The Mother City . Please remain in your seats with your seat belts fastened while the Captain taxis what's left of our airplane to the gate!"

---o0o---

Another flight attendant's comment on a less than perfect landing:
"We ask you to please remain seated as Captain Kangaroo bounces us to the terminal."

---o0o---

An airline pilot wrote that on this particular flight he had hammered
his ship into the runway really hard. The airline had a policy which
required the first officer to stand at the door while the passengers
exited, smile, and give them a "Thanks for flying our airline. He said
that, in light of his bad landing, he had a hard time looking the
passengers in the eye, thinking that someone would have a smart comment. Finally everyone had gotten off except for a little old lady walking with a cane. She said, "Sir, do you mind if I ask you a question?"
"Why, no Ma'am," said the pilot. "What is it?" The little old lady said,
"Did we land, or were we shot down?"

---o0o---

After a real crusher of a landing in Johannesburg , the attendant came on with, "Ladies and Gentlemen, please remain in your seats until Captain Crash and the Crew have brought the aircraft to a screeching halt against the gate. And, once the tire smoke has cleared and the warning bells are silenced, we will open the door and you can pick your way through the wreckage to the terminal.."

---o0o---

Part of a flight attendant's arrival announcement: "We'd like to thank
you folks for flying with us today.. And, the next time you get the
insane urge to go blasting through the skies in a pressurized metal
tube, we hope you'll think of Kulula Airways."

---o0o---

Heard on a Kulula flight. "Ladies and gentlemen, if you wish to smoke,
the smoking section on this airplane is on the wing.. If you can light
'em, you can smoke 'em."

---o0o---

A plane was taking off from Durban Airport . After it reached a
comfortable cruising altitude, the captain made an announcement over the intercom, "Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking.
Welcome to Flight Number 293, non-stop from Durban to Cape Town , The weather ahead is good and, therefore, we should have a smooth and uneventful flight.. Now sit back and relax... OH, MY GOODNESS!" Silence followed, and after a few minutes, the captain came back on the intercom and said, "Ladies and Gentlemen, I am so sorry if I scared you earlier. While I was talking to you, the flight attendant accidentally spilled a cup of hot coffee in my lap. You should see the front of my pants!" A passenger then yelled, "That's nothing. You should see the back of mine!"

Dear Colleagues

The SAPA National Conference arrangements are going well and we are very excited about the wonderful programme we have been able to put together, as well as all the little 'extras' that we have sourced. Our list of dignitaries is growing and we are particularly pleased that the president of the International Confederation of Principals, Mr Andrew Blair, will now also be joining us at the conference.
The exhibitors will be offering many lucky draw prizes at the stands. Some of the big items mentioned are data projectors, a training course for a whole staff, ipods, etc. etc.
We have had a great response from principals from other provinces but we still need WC-principals to boost our numbers to reflect that we are the organising province! Come on, Western Cape, let's show them that we are a 'force' to be reckoned with!
If you haven't yet booked for this wonderful conference right on your doorstep, please do so immediately. The cost to yourself or your school will be minimal because you don't have to pay for accommodation or long distance travel. If you can afford it, please also sponsor a non-SAPA principal with the idea of him/her becoming a member of our organisation!
If you wish to still pay the 'early bird' fee, contact Cris at the SAPA-WC office!

Hope to hear from you soon!
Alta van Heerden

http://www.sapaonline.co.za/datastore/web/files/sapa-national-conference-2010-brochure.pdf

http://www.sapaonline.co.za/datastore/web/files/sapa-conference-registration-form.pdf

http://www.sapaonline.co.za/datastore/web/files/sapa-conference-accommodation-form.pdf

Dear SAPA members

Do you suffer from Friggatriskaidekaphobia? If so you will be staying indoors and keeping a very low profile, as it’s a fear of Friday the 13^th, today! This was a bad day for the Knights Templar (remember the Da Vinci Code), who were all arrested on Friday the 13^th 1307. Some believe this is where the superstition around this day began. The good news is that if you were driving in Holland, this is the safest day to be on the road, as statistically there are fewer accidents on this day than any other Friday. So how superstitious are you?

Lesotho African Conference of Principal’s Conference:

I had the privilege along with a small group of South African principal’s of attending this conference in Lesotho last week. The group from Cape Town flew to Bloemfontein and then drove to Maseru. The conference had a day in the middle where they had arranged visits to Lesotho’s historical sites and places of interest. This was a brand new conference format for us. We enjoyed interacting with the other African delegates. For your interest I include the following information that we gained about other countries.

Kenya has 40 million people and boasts18000 Primary and 6000 High schools. This compared with our 48 Million people and 34 000 schools. Ghana was well represented at the conference with a large group attending. We were surprised to learn that they only have 500 public schools in the country. This equal the number of high schools in the Western Cape. Swaziland has 1 million people with 200 High and 600 Primary schools. The principal’s reported that they had been given a curved ball when the minister of education announced out of the blue that primary education would be free. They are still waiting to find out how this will work in practise. Tanzania said that their principal’s association was government endorsed and funded. Nigeria has the claim to fame of being the most populated black country in the world with its 140 million people. These are broken up into 527 ethnic groups. In Uganda we learnt that private schools (called indep schools) form the backbone of the countries education system. Most principal’s own the schools that they run. Botswana has a population of 2 million and only 28 senior secondary schools. Lesotho were proud of the fact that their principal’s association had fought with the government to maintain the right to use corporal punishment. They had won and so we heard that the children could still be “shambokked” to maintain discipline.

The academic programme was launched by Gavin Keller who worked hard to “wake-up” the brain and the conference. He did his usual high energy presentation and got us of to a great start. The theme of the conference was situational leadership and so most of the speakers looked at aspects of this. Prof Sejanamane encouraged us to leave a legacy in our schools. Dr Mel Schnapper tool us through listening skills and reminded us that all anger is a cover up for pain or fear. Colin Mac Donald when addressing student democracy enthralled us with his stories form African schools that he had led. His thesis was to present the pupils with difficult questions and let them come up with solutions. David Bamford asked us how we as principal’s knew we were doing a good job. Mr Ramatla went through many characteristics of what principle centred leadership involved. Dr Motaboli challenged us to be up to date in our new knowledge economy. Though how we were to achieve this was a little vague. Andrew Blair the ICP president gave a great presentation looking into this century. We have asked him to do this presentation at our Cape Town SAPA  National Conference and so lets wait till then for the details. Gerald Mathot in his presentation, shocked us when he said the Schools were bad places to learn. David Wylde the past ICP president gave the delegates a very useful look into possible futures for ACP. He left us with the challenge that we are doing this job for the African child.

Well there is a whistle stop review of a weeks conference in a paragraph. The real value to me was the informal chats about our different school experiences from one country to another.

The final speaker at the conference was the Lesotho minister of education. Her challenge to the principal’s is the challenge that I leave you with.

“Do you have the education of children in your heart!”

Warm regards

David de Korte

SAPA Western Cape: President

Dear Colleagues

The SAPA National Conference arrangements are going well and we are very excited about the wonderful programme we have been able to put together, as well as all the little 'extras' that we have sourced. Our list of dignitaries is growing and we are particularly pleased that the president of the International Confederation of Principals, Mr Andrew Blair, will now also be joining us at the conference.
The exhibitors will be offering many lucky draw prizes at the stands. Some of the big items mentioned are data projectors, a training course for a whole staff, ipods, etc. etc.
We have had a great response from principals from other provinces but we still need WC-principals to boost our numbers to reflect that we are the organising province! Come on, Western Cape, let's show them that we are a 'force' to be reckoned with!
If you haven't yet booked for this wonderful conference right on your doorstep, please do so immediately. The cost to yourself or your school will be minimal because you don't have to pay for accommodation or long distance travel. If you can afford it, please also sponsor a non-SAPA principal with the idea of him/her becoming a member of our organisation!
If you wish to still pay the 'early bird' fee, contact Cris at the SAPA-WC office!

Hope to hear from you soon!
Alta van Heerden

Office:   +27-21-797 8010
Fax:      +27-21-762 2697

MIDWEEK ENCOURAGEMENT

"Of all the attitudes we can acquire, surely the attitude of gratitude is the most important and by far the most life-changing." --Zig Ziglar

People in general want more and more out of life, mostly more stuff. More money, more time, more love, more everything. The problem is that more is never enough. People are never satisfied and then live unfulfilled lives. A change in attitude can remedy this. One needs to be grateful for what we have. We will then be amazed by the contentment that we will experience in our lives.

My challenge to you today is to name ten things that you can be grateful for. As you name them, count them down on your fingers. Do this before you even get up, and then at night just before you go to sleep. Keep up this challenge for the next seven days and see how it changes your attitude towards life. Try and name different things every time you do it. Create an attitude of gratitude and it will change your life!

I know you can do it, but will you?

Make it a great week,

Christo Spies

*  We are looking for any photographs which were taken at any of our events this year. If you have anything, please e-mail it to Cris. We would like to include it in the September SAPA newsletter.

*  Would you be willing to be a chaperone on one of the buses which will be taking SAPA delegates to the schools on Wednesday, 9 September at 08:00? Your job will just be to be a 'SAPA presence' and to ensure that they get on and off the bus as soon as possible! Please let Cris know whether you would be willing to do this!

This is also your last reminder w.r.t. the SAPA Conference in September. You have until Friday to benefit from the 'Early Bird' offer! If you have any questions, please contact Cris, she will gladly assist you.


--
Cris John

Sunlands Primary School
P O Box 36037
Glosderry
7702

Office:   +27-21-797 8010
Fax:      +27-21-762 2697
Mobile:   073 220 7067

Dear SAPA Members

To all our ladies please enjoy a fantastic day on Monday....and to our men spoil the women in your life.

Reminders for this term:

Wednesday 25 August : Pitstop at Sans Souci Girls' High School at 15:00.  Guest speaker Cathy Mcevoy speaking on "Getting into the mind of the Teenager".  Please let me know if you will be attending the talk for catering purposes.

The conference is filling up nicely if you are able to sponsor a principal from another school please let me know so that you can get the early bird special.  Don't miss the panel discussion and the exciting speakers.  All our exhibitors have a raffle or lucky draw and you could be the lucky one....

Enjoy your long weekend
Regards
Cris


Puns for Educated Minds
 

1..
The fattest knight at King Arthur's round table was Sir Cumference.
He acquired his size from too much pi.

2.
I thought I saw an eye doctor on an Alaskan island, but it turned out to be an optical Aleutian .
 
 3.
She was only a whiskey maker, but he loved her still.
 
 4.
A rubber band pistol was confiscated from algebra class, because it was a weapon of math disruption.
 
 5.
No matter how much you push the envelope, it'll still be stationery.
 
 6.
A dog gave birth to puppies near the road and was cited for littering.
 
 7.
A grenade thrown into a kitchen in France would result in Linoleum  Blownapart.
 
 8.
Two silk worms had a race. They ended up in a tie.
 
 9.
A hole has been found in the nudist camp wall. The police are looking into it.
 
10.
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
 
11.
Atheism is a non-prophet organization.
 
12.
Two hats were hanging on a hat rack in the hallway. One hat said to the other: 'You stay here; I'll go on a head.'
 
13.
I wondered why the baseball kept getting bigger. Then it hit me.
 
14.
A sign on the lawn at a drug rehab center said: 'Keep off the Grass.'
 
15.
The midget fortune-teller who escaped from prison was a small medium at large.
 
16.
The soldier who survived mustard gas and pepper spray is now a seasoned veteran.
 
17.
A backward poet writes inverse.
 
18.
In a democracy it's your vote that counts. In feudalism it's your count
that votes.
 
19.
When cannibals ate a missionary, they got a taste of religion.
 
20.
If you jumped off the bridge in Paris, you'd be in Seine .
 
21.
A vulture boards an airplane, carrying two dead raccoons. The stewardess looks at him and says, 'I'm sorry, sir, only one carrion allowed per passenger.'
 
22.
Two fish swim into a concrete wall.  One turns to the other and says 'Dam!'


23.
Two Eskimos sitting in a kayak were chilly, so they lit a fire in the craft. Unsurprisingly it sank, proving once again that you can't have your kayak and heat it too.
 
24.
Two hydrogen atoms meet.  One says, 'I've lost my electron.' The other says 'Are you sure?' The first replies, 'Yes, I'm positive.'
 
25.
Did you hear about the Buddhist who refused Novocain during a root  canal? His goal: transcend dental medication.
 
26.
There was the person who sent ten puns to friends, with the hope that at least one of the puns would make them laugh.  No pun in ten did.

Dear SAPA Members

Your provincial executive, namely myself, Alta van Heerden, Clive Barham, Shandre Otto, Charmaine Murray, Mark Williams and Marius Ehrenreich met with Penny Vinjevold, Brian Schreuder and the WCED top Executive on the 26 July. The purpose of the meeting was to give input into the WCED plans for 2011. The input from SAPA focussed on two main areas, namely a “Big Idea” for 2011 hat we could work with the WCED on and looking at the year dates.

Penny reported that she had 4 main focus areas for 2011. These are: Maintain and improve infrastructure at schools. This will be their big building plans for the year. Secondly to continue issuing textbooks and improve textbook retention, thirdly to support and train new principals and fourthly to Train and manage teachers with regard to the curriculum changes and changes to learning areas that will be implemented next year.

SAPA felt that we could support the WCED policy in these areas. The call to read and write every day at school could become a theme for 2011.  We could find ways of working with the WCED to mentor and support new principals. Currently SAPA does fulfil this role, but largely in an informal way. We were invited to work with CTI and be presenters on these training courses that are run.

SAPA opened discussions on ways of managing school attendance in the last week of term, and when and where exams should be written. Suggestions were also offered around the 2 days in the second term that fall in the middle of a number of public holidays. The WCED said that they were looking at the possibility of making these holidays and catching them up at another time in the year. Discussion also took place on the promotion meetings at the end of the year and when matric markers will leave. The WCED undertook to make dates available for the ANA’s as soon as they received them from National.

We felt that it was a most worthwhile meeting and that our input was valued.

Have a good weekend.

Regards

David de Korte

SAPA ON FRIDAY

Ken and his wife Edna went to the state fair every year and every year Ken would say "Edna, I'd like to ride in that helicopter."  Edna always replied, "I know Ken but that helicopter ride is 50 bucks and 50 bucks is 50 bucks."  One year Ken and Edna went to the fair and Ken said "Edna I'm 75 years old and if I don't ride that helicopter today I might never get the chance."  To this Edna replied, "Ken that helicopter ride is 50 bucks and 50 bucks is 50 bucks."

The pilot overheard them and said "I'll make you a deal, I'll take both of you for a ride and if you can remain silent for the entire ride, I won't charge you a penny.  But if you say one work I'll charge you 50 dollars."  Ken and Edna agreed and up they went.  The pilot did all kind of fancy maneuvres, but not a wound was heard.  He did his daredevil tricks over and over again, but still not a word.  When they landed, the pilot turned to Ken and said, "I'm impressed, I did everything I could to get you to yell out, but you didn't!"  Ken replied, "Well to tell you the truth, I almost said something when Edna fell out but you know, 50 bucks is 50 bucks!"

Dear Sapa Members

Please note the email that I sent out yesterday for assistance on the tour bus is for Thursday 9 September and not Wednesday 8 September.  My apologies for the error.

Enjoy the rest of your week and don't forget to book for the SAPA National Conference.

Regards
Cris


SAPA SMILE

A cowboy, who just moved to Wyoming from   Texas , walks into a bar and orders three mugs of Bud. He sits in the back of the room, drinking a sip out of each one in turn. When he finishes them, he comes back to the bar and orders three more.
The bartender approaches and tells the cowboy, "You know, a mug goes flat after I draw it. It would taste better if you bought one at a time."
The cowboy replies, "Well, you see, I have two brothers. One is in   Arizona , the other is in Colorado . When we all left our home in   Texas , we promised that we'd drink this way to remember the days when we drank together. So I'm drinking one beer for each of my brothers and one for myself."
The bartender admits that this is a nice custom, and leaves it there.
The cowboy becomes a regular in the bar, and always drinks the same way. He orders three mugs and drinks them in turn.
One day, he comes in and only orders two mugs. All the regulars take notice and fall silent. When he comes back to the bar for the second round, the bartender says, "I don't want to intrude on your grief, but I wanted to offer my condolences on your loss."
The cowboy looks quite puzzled for a moment, then a light dawns in his eyes and he laughs.
"Oh, no, everybody's just fine," he explains, "It's just that my wife and I joined the Baptist Church and I had to quit drinking."
"Hasn't affected my brothers though."

Dear SAPA Members

LEAD Workshop - Caledon

We have to unfortunately cancel the LEAD Workshop that was taking place at Caledon on the 29 and 30 July, as we had a very poor response.  Cris will contact the schools that have paid and refund them their registration fee.  Our apologies for any inconvenience that this causes to these schools.

National Conference

By now all schools in the Western Cape should've received our conference brochure and application form. Today we received confirmation that Min. Angie Motshekga will be opening our conference and that a panel consisting of Heads of Education will respond to questions from conference delegates. All speakers (Prof. Brian O'Connell, Marcus Conyers (USA), Alan and Hilary Davies (UK), Dr John Gibbon, Dr Louise van Rhyn, John Gilmour, Aarnot Brombacher, Dr Melodie de Jager, Debbie-Jayne Viljoen, Gavin Keller, etc.) have been confirmed. We will have some lovely surprises throughout the conference and hope that this will be the best SAPA Conference ever!

If you haven't registered yet, don't delay, register by Friday, 30 July to qualify for 'Early Bird' registration. You are also reminded that this conference is open to Principals, Deputy Principals and Directors of schools. I would also like to encourage you to sponsor the principal or deputy principal of your twin-school or a disadvantaged school. This will be a way of honouring Mr Mandela's legacy during Mandela Month!

MIDWEEK ENCOURAGEMENT

"My only hope is that we never lose sight of one thing . . . that it all started with a mouse." (Walt Disney)
Disney is one of the most well known names in the world and most people connect it with pleasurable entertainment. There are movies, books and numerous Disney theme parks throughout the world that entertain millions of people every year. The point is: Disney is huge and a major success! And it all started when Walt Disney drew Mickey Mouse in 1928. Later in his life (1954) he commented: "My only hope is that we never lose sight of one thing . . . that it all started with a mouse."
We should never lose sight of the fact that every great achievement and success started with a thought and then a small first step to get it going. We tend to look at the ‘big’ things. We don’t know where to begin or we are fearful in attempting something like that.
What have you been postponing or dodging in your life? You can take that first step by mending or improving that relationship; starting that project you’ve been postponing forever; making that phone call in acquiring the information you need; allocate time in your busy schedule for your hobby; make time for your husband/wife and children. Whatever it is today is a good time to start with one small step. I know you can, but will you?
Make it a great week,
Christo Spies

The early bird for the Conference registration closes on 30 July 2010.  Please book soon to avoid disappointment.

BROCHURE

http://www.sapaonline.co.za/datastore/web/files/sapa-national-conference-2010-brochure.pdf

REGISTRATION FORM

http://www.sapaonline.co.za/datastore/web/files/sapa-conference-registration-form.pdf

ACCOMMODATION/TRANSPORT FORM

http://www.sapaonline.co.za/datastore/web/files/sapa-conference-accommodation-form.pdf

On thursday 20 May the SAPA President, Alta van Heerden, will visit Kimberley in the Northern Cape with presenter Gavin Keller.

All principals in the surrounding areas are welcome to come and listen to Gavin Kellers presentation which will be like a breath of fresh air.

For more information contact the Northern Cape SAPA President, Dennis Beukes on 053-7231561 or 0768974521

Have you registered for the Conference in Cape Town in September?

Early bird closes at the end of June.  Register now and book for your accommodation to avoid disappointment.

Registration forms and Accommodation forms available in the Conferences section.

See you all at the Conference.

SAPA NATIONAL CONFERENCE will be from 9 September to 11 September. 

Registration and accommodation forms are available in the Conference section.

Dear SAPA Members

May you all have a good week and enjoy the Monday smile.


regards
Cris


They're Back! Those wonderful Church Bulletins! Thank God for church ladies with typewriters. These sentences (with all the BLOOPERS) actually appeared in church bulletins or were announced in church services:
--------------------------
The Fasting and Prayer Conference includes meals.
--------------------------
The sermon this morning: 'Jesus Walks on the Water.' The sermon tonight: 'Searching for Jesus.'
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Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands.
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Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community. Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say 'Hell' to someone who doesn't care much about you.
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Don't let worry kill you off - let the Church help.
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Miss Charlene Mason sang 'I will not pass this way again,' giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.
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For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs.
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Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get.
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Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days.
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A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall.. Music will follow.
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At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be 'What Is Hell?' Come early and listen to our choir practice .
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Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.
--------------------------
Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.
--------------------------
Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered.
--------------------------
The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment and gracious hostility.
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Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00 PM - prayer and medication to follow.
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The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.
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This evening at 7 PM there will be a hymn singing in the park across from the Church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin.
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Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10 AM. All ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the B. S. Is done.
--------------------------
The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the Congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday.
--------------------------
Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM. Please use the back door.
- -------------------------
The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the Church basement Friday at 7 PM. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.
--------------------------
Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church.. Please use large double door at the side entrance.
--------------------------
The Associate Minister unveiled the church's new campaign slogan last Sunday: 'I Upped My Pledge - Up Yours.'

MONDAY SMILE

When you have an 'I Hate My Job day'

Try this out:

On your way home from work, stop at your pharmacy
and go to the thermometer section and
purchase a rectal thermometer made
by Johnson & Johnson.

Be very sure you get this brand.
When you get home, lock your doors,
draw the curtains and disconnect the phone
so you will not be disturbed.

Change into very comfortable clothing and sit in your favorite chair.
Open the package and remove the thermometer.
Now, carefully place it on a table or a surface so that it will not become chipped or broken.

Now the fun part begins.

Take out the literature from the box and read it carefully.
You will notice that in small print there is a statement:



"Every Rectal Thermometer made by Johnson & Johnson is personally tested and then sanitized."

Now, close your eyes and repeat out loud five times,' I am so glad I do not work in the thermometer quality control department at
Johnson & Johnson.'

HAVE A NICE DAY; AND REMEMBER, THERE IS ALWAYS SOMEONE ELSE WITH A JOB THAT IS MORE OF A PAIN IN THE BUTT THAN YOURS!
....Remember, if you haven't got a smile on your face and laughter in your heart....
Then you are just an old .......;
Maybe you should go and work for Johnson & Johnson!!!!!

Dear SAPA Members

Please remember to register for the LEAD workshop before thursday 18 February.  No late registrations will be accepted.
As it is Valentines day on Sunday I thought it would be appropriate to share this lovely inspirational story with the rest of you.


Enjoy your weekend and spoil your loved ones.
Kind regards
Cris


SAPA ON FRIDAY

SHE NEVER LEFT MY SIDE
© Michael Segal
Push...Puuush!" I called out to my friend, but it appeared that there was no use in trying anymore. My car was stuck in the mud, and I was on a double date. I was just 16 years old, and I wanted to make a good impression on my pretty and intelligent date. However, hearing the motor rev with the car still stuck in the mud did not earn brownie points for my friend or me in the eyes of our dates.
We continued to push and push, but there was no getting my car "unstuck" from the mud. Sharon, my date, was revving the car's engine while Jeff and I were pushing and pushing. Finally, I said, "Enough!" Embarrassed, I approached Sharon as she sat behind the wheel of my mother's red station wagon. Before I could speak I noticed the gear on the car: It was set on neutral!"
I set the gear to "drive," instructed Sharon to wait until I gave her the signal to press down on the accelerator, and then went back to help Jeff push the car out of the mud.
That was our first date. Even though I got mud on my slacks, I had love in my heart. I was "stung" by the Love Bug.
Sharon and I dated seriously throughout high school. I went away to college as Sharon was finishing her senior year in high school. Our love, which was blooming, was only matched in size by our long-distance telephone bills.
The next year, Sharon joined me at the University of Texas. We were so happy. We thought we were on top of the world. We thought our lives were set. That was true until that eventful evening when in a split second our lives changed forever.
On February 18, 1981, we were studying at the library of the University. It was late, and Sharon told me that she had to return to her dormitory to go to sleep. We slid into my car and headed toward her dorm, but, unfortunately, my gas gauge was registering "empty." I pulled into a nearby convenience store, borrowed $2 from Sharon, and walked into the store to pay for the gas.
Things do not always work out as one plans them. Unfortunately, the store was in the midst of a robbery, and one of the thieves forced me into the cooler. He followed me, pushed me to the floor, and calmly shot me in the back of the head-execution-style! The story does not end there. Yes, the criminal thought I was dead, thus eliminating any witness to the crime. However, when the thieves left the store, I still had a faint pulse.
Very few people believed I would remain alive much longer. That is why the police transferred my case to the Homicide division. That is also why the neurosurgeon, when he was awakened at his home to see me at the hospital, came quickly but returned home, as he believed an operation would be futile.
However, when the doctor returned to the hospital in the morning, he was shocked to see that I was still alive. He told my parents that an operation was necessary, but he added that he would be surprised if I survived the surgery.
I fooled all of the medical experts and survived the surgery. However, the surgeon warned my parents that even though I was still breathing, I would probably never be able to communicate with anyone or understand anyone who was attempting to communicate with me. Basically, the surgeon stated, I would be "a vegetable."
Hearing those words, my father told Sharon, "Get on with your life."
Sharon quickly replied, "Mike is my life."
Even though we were not yet married, Sharon believed in the vows, "in sickness and in health." She dropped out of college for one semester to be with me at the Rehabilitation Hospital in Houston where I was eventually transferred. Sharon was spending her time with her "drooling boyfriend in the hospital" while other college freshmen were spending their time at parties.
Eventually, Sharon returned to Austin to continue her college education. Once again we had enormous phone bills. My goal was to also return to Austin, to the University of Texas, to be with Sharon. Eighteen months after no one thought I would survive, I accomplished that goal. One of the primary reasons was ... Sharon, my love, who refused to give up or give in.
Four years after returning to college I graduated. For me, that meant I could finally propose to Sharon, my light at the end of the dark tunnel. She was the one who would always encourage me to look forward and not to focus on the past.
On a beautiful day in May, Sharon and I exchanged vows and were married. We were meant to be together. We had dated for nine long and eventful years, but I realized at the wedding that it was worth everything. Sharon was truly my soul mate.
We have been married for many years and we have a beautiful daughter, Shawn. We have experienced so much-some bad, but more, much more, good. This is not just a "love letter" to my wife but the story of a girl's overcoming everyone's "rational" thoughts to stay behind with her critically injured boyfriend. To me it shows what kind of woman Sharon is--a beauty inside and out. Further, it shows the lesson of not giving up on one's dreams. I give Sharon all the credit for my recovery-not me. I don't know where I would be without her-definitely not where I am today.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Michael Jordan Segal, who defied all odds after being shot in the head, is a husband, father, social worker, freelance author, and inspirational speaker, sharing his recipe for happiness, recovery and success.

Dear SAPA Members
Please note the deadline for the LEAD workshop is Thursday 18 February and no bookings will be accepted after this date.
PLEASE HELP!!!!  A school paid for two people yesterday and the reference on my statement is Lead Workshop which does not help me to identify which school this payment has come from.  I have not received any registration form yesterday for this amount.  Please remind your bursars to use your schools name as the beneficiary reference to help with the bank recon.

Enjoy this weeks Midweek Encouragement from Christo Spies.

Have a wonderful day.

Regards
Cris

MIDWEEK ENCOURAGEMENT
"We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms - to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances - to choose one's own way." Victor Frankl

Most people allow their circumstances to determine how they live their lives. Whether you do it consciously or subconsciously and whether you like it or not, you choose your attitude to any circumstances. That attitude will determine your action or reaction. Are you focused on yourself, choosing to see the world as a place where bad things happen and everyone is against you? Victor Frankl's life story teaches us that we are free to choose our own attitude in any circumstances. We have a choice to look for something good in this broken world, to work on having good relationships, to focus on how we can live a significant life despite the circumstances.
Analyse your attitude and make a conscious decision to change any negative attitude to a positive one. Choose to focus on solutions, on growing, and on living a significant life. You will feel better about yourself and others will notice it too! I know you can do it, but will you?
Make it a great week,
Christo Spies

Dear SAPA Members

This year’s National Conference’s theme is ‘Critical Transformations’ – if you have specific topics that you think we should address, please send it to me as soon as possible.
The WC-EXCO will be meeting the SG on the 24th of February. If you have any burning issues that you would like us to add to the agenda, please let us know.
We already have the following burning issues that will be taken to the meeting:
1.  Is Circular 18 on hold? Need confirmation on the new pass requirements for 2010. Concern over the viability of this and where the standard is set. Need an ‘implementation plan’
2. Withdrawal of matric markers at the end of the year is problematic.
3. Closing school on the same day that the teachers leave.
4. Moderation/promotion done too early – they can’t be during the exams.
5. CTA’s – update what is happening.
6. New WCED policy on calling meetings (we have ‘heard’ you need a months notice).
7. Holidays for office based staff.
8. IQMS – we are ‘gatvol’ of this
No developmental function
Paper overload
Adding to the teachers' stress
Window dressing
9. Some Principals still being paid less than teachers – therefore people not keen to apply for principals' posts.
10. Children at school for the full day during the exams.
11. Vacancy list – still concerned. Can’t the schools get PL 1 applicants sent to the schools . Trust the Principals.
12. Greater interest in WCED posts due to OSD.
13. CEMIS – working on line is still very low during the day at crunch times.
14. Everything is online, why do we need to keep filling in surveys, take it off the system.
15. Can we not get a 79% changed to 80% in the final Matric results?

MONDAY SMILE
Field Trip To The Racetrack

A group of third, fourth and fifth graders accompanied by two female teachers went on a field trip to the local racetrack to learn about thoroughbred horses and the supporting industry. During the tour, some of the children needed to go to the toilet, so it was decided that the girls would go with one teacher and the boys would go with the other.
As the teacher assigned to the boys waited outside the men's toilet, one of the boys came out and told her that he couldn't reach the urinal. Having no choice, the teacher went inside and began hoisting the little boys up by their armpits, one by one.
As she lifted one up in this manner, she couldn't help but notice that he was unusually well-endowed for an elementary school child. "I guess you must be in the fifth," she said.
"No ma'am," he replied, "I'm in the seventh, riding Silver Arrow. but thanks for the lift anyhow."

Dear SAPA Members

Mr Theys of Voorspoed had a wonderful response from our school for desks and would like to thank you all for assisting him at this time.


LEAD Workshop is on Tuesday, 23 February from 09:00 to 16:00 the topic is: Growing Leaders.  Venue River Club and cost per member is R600 and non member R700.  If you would like to attend the workshop please let me know and I will email you the registration form.


Pinelands High School are looking for a new Principal to replace Mr Tony Reeler who has been promoted to Pretoria Boys High. This dynamic South Africa school has set eight core criteria for the successful applicant. These are:

1.       Proven leadership ability

2.       Experience as a Senior management level

3.       Excellent human relations skills

4.       Ability to manage a diverse staffing team

5.       Excellent public relations

6.       Ability to interact with confidence with the community

7.       Ability to think and plan strategically

8.       Good managerial and administrative skills.

Potential applicants are encouraged to apply via the WCED Vacancy List No1/2010 which will appear on 9 February 2010. Any enquiries can be made to Mr Tony Reeler (current Principal) at 021 – 5317410.



SAPA ON FRIDAY


PHASES OF MENTORSHIP
(Extract: Fundamentals for Effective Mentoring - Raising Giant Killers - Niel Steinmann)
Mentorship is in essence a developmental relationship. Such relationships in South Africa last on average three years. More formalized relationships, for the purpose of succession planning and accelerated development endure for an average of eighteen months. Mentorship relationships, regardless of their duration, progress through four active, yet to some extent, overlapping phases/stages.
1.      Intimate dependence
This phase is characterized by the sense of dependence that the protégé feels. There is a strong sense of uncertainty as the mentor and protégé embark upon a new relationship. Trust needs to be cultivated and the relationship needs to start on a strong foundation.
2.      Familiarisation
This phase is characterised by a 'getting-to-know-you' process. In the course of doing so, the relationship takes on a firm footing because the necessary framework has been mutually discussed and put into operation; thus concepts and arrangements such as roles and responsibilities, relationship rules, time frames, objectives, frequency of contact, etc. have all been thoroughly considered and finalized.
3.      Confidence-building
This crucial and productive phase concentrates on building the protégé's confidence. The self-belief to undertake new challenges and assignments is inculcated. Growth and development occur as protégés demonstrate competence and newly acquired skills. Mentors not only share their wisdom and experience, but also set high expectations and standards. Their feedback often determines the amount of growth and development of the protégé.
4.      Weaning
In this last phase, the protégé has learnt to operate autonomously (operating independently, taking initiative and being proactive). Ultimately, the protégé has to take ownership and then move on. Interaction between mentor and protégé is reduced. Mentors must know when to let go and might need to deal with feelings of loss and anger (especially at the protégé's new levels of capacity). Having empowered the protégé, the mentor must carefully calculate “when to let go”. A mentoring relationship may continue informally for years.

Dear SAPA MEMBERS
Can you help?
SAPA Breakfast/membership fee:
I have received my bank statement and a payment was made on the 20 January with reference Membership F and Dinner and no school name. If you all can please check your payment to SAPA and check the reference if it is the same please fax it to me with the name of your school and the name of the delegates attending the breakfast.  When making payment to SAPA please use your school as the reference as it makes it easier when collating the data. Tomorrow will be the last day that I will receive bookings for the breakfast.  Mr Graeme Bloch will be selling his book at the breakfast and the price will be R180 (if you intend to buy a copy please ensure you have the correct amount of money)..

SAPA National Conference:
· If you have a choir, a band, a production that we can use for the SAPA National Conference, please let me know. As usual we are working on a ‘shoe-string’ budget and will not be able to afford elaborate costs for lighting, sound or transport. If you will help us and in so doing get some publicity for your group or you just want to be generous, please let me know as soon as possible. We need groups that can come during tea break to give us back-ground music, we need welcoming music, etc.
· We also need welcoming groups in the mornings when principals arrive at conference (Friday, 10 September and Saturday, 11 September). If you are willing to bring 8 learners of your school on these mornings and are willing to supervise and transport them, please let me know.
· We are also looking for a high school, who would be willing to give us learners, who could act as reporters on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Their articles will be published in the daily ‘newspaper’! We will need an adult to supervise them. Please contact me if your can help us!
· If you have a good photographic club running at your school, who could take photographs during Thursday (9 September from afternoon) and Friday (morning and afternoon) and will then be able to compile a CD of photographs, which you can sell to delegates on Saturday, please let me know.
· If your school is in the City Bowl (Inner City School, Special School, Township School) and you would be willing for principals to visit your school on Thursday morning (09:00 – 11:00), please let me know!
· If you would be willing to be a chaperone for the principals, who will be going on the school visits, I would also like to hear from you!

Voorspoed needs desks!
If any of our members have old desks, KG chairs and tables to donate to Voorspoed Primary, please contact the principal, Rodney Theys. His school has grown to 1090 learners. He says that if he puts in a request to the Department it would most probably take another year. If you can help this school, please contact Rodney on his cell 082 859 7110 or the school on 021 692-1417.
Cris (Cristina) John
SAPA-WC Secretary
MONDAY SMILE
Joe, a college student, was taking a course in ornithology, the study of birds. The night before the biggest test of the semester, Joe spent all night studying. He had the textbook nearly memorized. He knew his class notes backward and forward. Joe was ready.
The morning of the test, Joe entered the auditorium and took a seat in the front row. On the table in the front was a row of ten stuffed birds. Each bird had a sack covering its body, and only the legs were showing. When class started, the professor announced that the students were to identify each bird by looking at its legs and give its common name, species, habitat, mating habits, etc.
Joe looked at each of the birds' legs. They all looked the same to him. He started to get angry. He had stayed up all night studying for this test and now he had to identify birds by their LEGS? The more he thought about the situation, the angrier he got.
Finally he reached his boiling point. He stood up, marched up to the professor's desk, crumpled up his exam paper and threw it on the desk. "What a ridiculous test!" he told the prof. "How could anyone tell the difference between these birds by looking at their legs? This exam is the biggest rip-off I've ever seen!"
With that, Joe turned and stormed toward the exit. The professor was a bit shocked, and it took him a moment to regain his composure. Then, just as Joe was about to walk out the door, the prof shouted out, "Wait a minute, young man, what's your name?"
Joe turned around, pulled up his pant legs and hollered, "You tell me, prof! You tell me!"

Dear Colleagues
As you address your first assembly of the year, what will your opening statement be? It may be profound, but often it is more along the lines of ”Michael sit down, and stop talking!” I am sure by the time you read this mail you have had your share of pupils with strange hair cuts and funny hair colours, already your office is filling with confiscated bangles and earrings. Whatever has happened, 2010 has started and we are off on the roller coaster ride of another school year.
I read with interest the public comments on the Matric pass rate for 2009. We had a lot of senior departmental spokespeople appearing on TV and quoted in the media, including our national minister. They all had something to say on why there was a 2% drop in the overall pass rate and offered what they were going to do about it. However the reality of the situation is that it is only you and me that are able to make a difference in our schools to address the education crisis facing our country. The minister will be running another department by the time the children currently receiving “Foundations for Learning “ matriculate. We are the people who will still be running our schools. Big promises of improvement by next year will prove hollow. The real work takes place everyday in your school as you pupil by pupil and lesson by lesson incrementally help them to master the skills ands knowledge required at their level. Change experts tell us that if we are able to make a 5% change
 a year , then we are making progress. I was encouraged to read that Penny Vinjevold, our Head in the Western Cape had acknowledged the extent of the problem and the time it will take to change things. She noted that this was a big ship and it would take time to turn it around.
So all the best for the year ahead. SAPA will continue in 2010 to meet the needs our Principal’s in the Western Cape by fulfilling its 4 aims. These are to provide professional growth opportunities for all, to create opportunities for collegiality, to meet with the WCED and to keep links with International Principal’s Associations.
We will keep you posted on the programme
Warm regards
David de Korte
SAPA: Western Cape President

Dear SAPA members
Just a few matters as we ‘run’ towards the end of the year…
· Please pay your membership fee for 2010 as soon as possible.
· Plan to support the SAPA-WC programme for 2010. If you haven’t received a copy yet, please contact Cris (We have come up with lovely new ideas)
· Recruit at least one new member for SAPA (principals and deputy principals)
· The National Conference in Cape Town (9-11 September) is going to be fantastic! Theme: Critical Transformations (3 ‘legs’: Political Will; Inspirational Leadership; Instructional Leadership)
· We’ve just returned from the last quarterly meeting with the DoBE and David de Korte has prepared the Minutes for you. It should be on the SAPA website by Monday.
· Those of you who missed our End-of-the-Year function are informed that David de Korte is the new president of SAPA-WC. SAPA committee 2010/2011: David de Korte, Alta van Heerden, Blackie Swart, Marius Ehrenreich, Charmaine Murray, Clive Barham, Shandre Otto
 SAPA on Friday below
Kind regards
Alta


SAPA on Friday
Reflective Time
One of the key changes needed in moving from manager to leader is to realize that you need to shift the balance of how you use your time to incorporate more reflection. Learning to ‘let go’ was a phrase that was regularly used to describe one of the hardest parts of leadership.

Letting go of the need to be ‘doing’, and accepting you can add value by ‘thinking and being’ is hard for many if not most people. One reason this can be difficult for leaders is that often the rewards and even the feedback they can get can be indirect and much further down the line than has been their experience to date. Learning to get possibly bigger rewards in the longer term takes a level of patience and belief that requires good self-management.

Well used, reflective time lets you:
stand back and take stock of the organization or group as a whole in a way others are not in a position to do;
widen your perspective on the bigger picture to see new or different angles and possibilities;
renew your won internal vision and commitment, giving renewed energy;
consider options away from a pressurized environment;
get in tune with and be congruent with your own emotions.

For more on the general benefits of good listening and reflective thinking see Nancy Kline’s book Time to Think
It is important to find the best place or best process for you to create productive reflective time. Some people find the presence and interaction of others gives them both energy and creativity. This reflection time can be through:
formal sessions, usually offsite, where the ‘agenda’ allows experimentation and reflection;
informal dialogue with someone else, such as a coach, allowing thinking time and space;
going to conferences or other knowledge-sharing events stimulating the mind to roam more freely;
time on your own where you can conduct an inner dialogue with relative peace.

Whatever your way of reflecting, the key thing is to make space to go and do it – regularly. It is especially important to do so when considering whether to make significant change or responding to major external change.
(Extract from: Are you a Badger or a Doormat? How to be a leader who gets results by Rosie Miller)



DOE MINUTES - 24 NOVEMBER 2009
SAPA MEETING WITH DOE ON 24TH NOVEMBER 2009

PRESENT:        JAMES NDEBE (Chairman), PETER LEGONG (Secretary)
               And SAPA delegates
CHAIR:  SIBUSISO SITHOLE - QA in Department of National Education

1.      Welcome done by Mr Sithole.
2.      Minutes accepted as a true reflection of the meeting

3.      Matters Arising
3.1.    SAPA raised concern over the reduction of helpers running the school feeding schemes.   (page 2 Section C).  The current number of helpers (reduced) is not enough to do the job.       The problem is now getting people to do the job, as it is for much work.
3.2.    SAPA raised the issue of school sports and the decision that there will be 'consultation'       meetings.  The current structures at school level are still not happening.

4.      Human Trafficking (Ms Zulu:  head of the Child Protect ion Unit at the Film and Publication     Board)
       We have seen an increase in the creation of child pornography by school children, who film      themselves having sex.  There is also the use of cell-phone social networking (MIXIT) by        adults to attract and 'groom' children before abusing or trafficking them.  Looking to World    Cup 2010, we have been planning intervention strategies to protect children.  We have a plan    of action to do this.  The problem is made greater by the schools being closed.  This   increases the number of unattended children.  So we are talking to NGO's around providing       holiday activities.  Part of our action programme is to get LO teachers to talk about the       dangers of child pornography and human trafficking.  Principals are vital in promoting this     information in their schools.  SAPA commended the plan, but asked how the 'roll-out' into the   provinces was progressing.

5.      Birth Registration Campaign (Vuzi Mkhize)
       TO facilitate the correct registration of our children, we are able to better track there progress      through our schools.  On the research we have done, there are 1,5 million people who are        un-registered.  The current rule is that birth needs to be registered in 30 days.  Sadly we     have many parents who do not comply with this.  This affects our records and in turn our        planning as a country.  The birth certificate is an entry document for all other documents that         you will need as an adult (ID, Passport etc).  Our campaign “ID yourself” at schools was very   successful.  We registered lots of new people at this time.  SAPA raised concerns over some     of the practical issues around people coming to schools and asking the principal to verify      school attendance or recommend change to birth certificates.

6.      The  future of the IQMS (Mr Rapatami)
       The IQMS will continue.  There was a summit that made recommendations that are being    worked on.  The proposal is that the IQMS will be purely a developmental tool.  The issue of    payment will still be included in assessment but this may be implemented in a different way.    SAPA commended the review of the IQMS and indicated that this was an urgent needs for   this.   Concern was raised that SAPA was not included in the initial summit, or the current     working group.  The meeting was informed that the current working group will need to    broaden input into the process.  Through this SAPA may also have input.  The chair agreed       to take this to DOE senior management.




7.  OSD for Principals( Mr Slater)
  To be included at a different level, we may need to prepare a 'terms of reference' document.    SAPA concerned that our employer is not hearing our voice.  There is no representation for      us as a group. And we (Principals) are crucial to the delivery of everything.  SAPA appealed    to the DOE to represent us in this matter and find innovative ways of including the input of    Principals when it comes to their specific connotations of service.  Senior management will     have to discuss this.

8.  Education Budget 2010 (Mr Slater)
     We will be given these estimates at the next meeting.  The procinces have not yet given         national the data yet.

9.  Teenage Pregnancy (Dr Panday) - Director for Health Promotion
       (See written document:  Teenage Pregnancy in SA).
       Def:    fertility rates (that result in live births)
               Pregnancy rates (all those who have fallen pregnant and either terminated it or have            live births)
       This data is a fertility rates:
       Teenage fertility has declined nationally for the last 20 years.
       17 - 19 year olds account for 93% of all teenage pregnancy
       At schools the 'perceived' increase is due to improved reporting and not due to a real  increase.
       The higher your level of education, the lower your chances of falling pregnant.  Dropping out   of school doubles the risk of teen pregnancy and makes the risk of HIV 4 times more likely.     Only 1/3 of teenage mothers go back to school.  Teenage pregnancy is still unacceptably         high for our country.
       Part of the advocacy campaign needs to be about bumping up the role of fatherhood in the        country.  Also to focus on pregnancy and not only on HIV & AIDS.

10. LURITS  (Ayesha Suleman)
     Learner unit record information and tracking system.
       DOE presented this programme to the meeting.  The current implementation of the system is       on track, with over 3,4 million learners registered already, and 88 000 teachers on the         system.  There is a system to include current administration systems that school are using.     SAPA asked about schools that are not on-line, or are paper-based.  The response was that       DOE has made arrangements for these levels of capacity.

11.     Learner Attendance Policy
       The policy we have had presented already.  It has been sent our for public comment.  It will    only be implemented in 2011.

12.     Educator Leave Study
       (See comments in the document) - SAPA invited to sent two representatives to the reference      group.

13.     Foundations for Learning Progress Report (James Ndebe)
       The learner/educator work books will still be rolled out (Grades 1 - 6).  There will also be a  package provided for each Grade R teacher.
       SAPA commented that they were not prepared for the added administrative burden of       capturing this data.  There was a lot of extra work needed at a busy time in the year.
       Discussion on this to be carried forward to the next meeting.


14.     Review of Implementation of NCS (National Curriculum Statement)
       Presentation made, copy to be handed to SAPA.
       This process started because of 2 problems
·       Poor implementation and teacher overload
·       The challenge of under performance of learners on local and international tests.
       The findings of the research were:
·       General support for NCS
·       Too many documents (Document proliferation)
·       Assessment  a problem
·       Transition (Grade 3's to 4 and 9 to 10) were problematic
·       Overload
       Recommendation
·       The bigger picture or vision that we are following
·       Teacher support
·       Monitor implementation plan
·       We need simple and coherent curriculum documents (organised around knowledge, with pedagogical approaches and assessment requirements)
·       Regular assessment in Grade 3, 6 and 9 - this will be available in September 2010, for implementation in 2011
·       Teacher training needed
       Some issues
·       Mother tongue instruction and the introduction of English a challenge
·       Reducing learning areas in Grade3 to 6.
·       These are recommendations and are not yet implemented
·       Assessment is Grade 1 - 9 - 50%  year and 50% exam.
·       Roles of subject advisors and curriculum advisors

Dear SAPA Members

I received this from one of the SAPA schools and this is a great opportunity for all schools to get involved and showcase the talent of the learners.   Sorry for the short notice as they need an answer by Monday.
For any queries, please contact Donell Arendse on 021 530 5911 or you can email her on darendse@omigpi.com


Enjoy your weekend.

Regards
Cris



FIFA 2010 World Cup & Portside Outdoor Gallery


17 November 2009

To whom it may concern,

FIFA 2010 World Cup & Portside Outdoor Gallery
In just over 200 days, the biggest global sporting event comes to South Africa for the first time. Are we ready to welcome the world.
The power and ability of sport to bring our nation together is unquestionable. Victory in two Rugby World Cups and football’s African Cup of Nations have seen celebrations transcend racial and cultural barriers and unite our country in the warmth of success. We believe wholeheartedly that South Africa’s hosting of the 2010 FIFA World Cup will unite people far beyond the boundaries of the stadiums in which the matches are played. The success of 2010 will be measured not on the impact made during the four weeks of competition, but on the legacy left behind, the impact on the lives of South Africans and the creation of prospects for all South Africans.

“This is our best-ever opportunity to promote one of the most diverse tourism destinations on the planet. It is our best-ever opportunity to prove to the world that the dream of the rainbow nation is a reality and that diversity of culture should be embraced. Most importantly, it is our opportunity to display our world class capabilities, incredible opportunities and the pride in our nation.”
Michael Fuller, Chairman The Laser Group

As the Soccer elite and world media come to Cape Town to begin the celebration of FIFA 2010 World Cup with the tournament draw, we would like to use this opportunity to showcase how our children are feeling about this spectacular event.

Old Mutual Investment Group Property Investments invites you to join us in a project to showcase why we are proud to be South African in 2010. Why our children have an unquestionable passion and pride in our nation and what we are about to achieve.
We have committed our site in Buitenkant Street in the CBD to be used as an outdoor gallery for the month of December. A site where images created by the children of Cape Town can be on display for the world to see.

We would like to invite your school to participate in the program and commit to creating a piece of art for the Portside Outdoor Gallery.

On Monday the 23rd of November each participating school will be supplied with a canvas and materials that the learners can use to put together their masterpiece. They will have the week to work together and collectively create something which represents their interpretation of the theme. On Friday the 28th of November, the art will be collected and erected along the perimeter of the site, forming a unique gallery of expression.

For the month of December, locals and visitors to Cape Town will be encouraged to spend some time viewing the art and getting a greater understanding of the excitement the FIFA 2010 World Cup has brought to the youth of South Africa
Key elements

The theme for the gallery is “Proud to be South African in 2010”Learners can interpret this theme in any way they want
Each participating school will be given a canvas and material with which they can work from. These will be delivered to the school on Monday the 23rd of November 2009

Each school will only have the week of the 23-28th of November to create their masterpiece
The art will be collected before 12:00 on Friday the 28th

Each piece of art will have a plaque with the school name and credit will be afforded to those schools for their artwork.
The art will be on public display and promoted to the media visiting Cape Town over December
The Portside Outdoor Gallery will run from the 2nd of December 2009 till the 15th of January 2010
All art will remain the property of the Portside Outdoor Gallery and will not be sold for profit after the event.

However the art may be used by OMIGPI or the City of Cape Town for the duration of the build up to the FIFA 2010 World Cup.
Your support for this project would be appreciated as this is yet another example of the strength and support South Africa has for hosting this spectacular world class event.

For any queries, please contact Donell Arendse on 021 530 5911 or you can email her on darendse@omigpi.com <mailto:darendse@omigpi.com>
Thank you in advance for your support on this project
Jill Wilmans
Corporate Marketing Manager
Old Mutual Investment Group Property Investments
Old Mutual Investment Group Property Investments (Pty) Limited.
Reg No: 1996/011259/07
Licensed Financial Services Provider
A subsidiary of Old Mutual plc.

Reminder the 2010 SAPA membership fees is now R350 per school.  If your school has a new Principal or Deputy Principal please let me have their full names and email address.

SAPA 2010 KICK OFF

28 January - New Year Launch - River Club, Observatory - R150 per member (balance susidised by SAPA)/R250 per non member
23 February - Lead Day Seminar - River Club, Observatory - R600 per member/R700 per non member
19 May - PITSTOP
29 - 30 July - Two day Lead Seminar at Caledon Hotel - R1800 Single /R1500 sharing (Sapa members) and for non-members R2100 Single/R1800 sharing

1-6 August -African Convention of Principals Conference, Lesotho - R4000 registration only for more info go to www.icponline.org
25 August PITSTOP

9 to 11 September - SAPA National Conference - Critical Transformation - at the CTICC - R1900 per member
27 October - SAPA End of year function

2010 extras:
Lunch Bunch
Book club
Principals' Blog
Training on latest technology: eg. flicker, twitter, blogger.


Article on Leadership Skills

The article below (and any other article specified on this website) is available for use in your organization's newsletter or for printed training materials. All we ask is that you include the following acknowledgment with each article you use from this site:

Source: www.what-are-good-leadership-skills.com, Emily A. Sterrett, Ph.D. Reprinted with permission.
Make Training Stick
“Let's Get Somebody Trained on That”
Does this sound familiar? There is a new process, new buzz word, research findings, or cutting edge piece of equipment “out there” that may have application to your company. One or more people in authority pushes to “get somebody trained” so the company will know more about their new area of interest. One person or a group of people are designated to attend a conference, training program, or other event.
Another common scenario for requested training is that an employee gets a mailing or an e-mail announcement of some training event related to his/her job and asks to attend.

Everyone assumes those who get trained in this way will bring their good information back to the organization and either train others, or at the very least, those who attend will be better contributors themselves. Great idea, but how often does it really work that way?
I'm a trainer and facilitator, so I very much believe in the importance of training and continuous learning. There needs to be regular input of new ideas from outside the company. But training is clearly not an answer for every problem. Even if the training itself is quite good, if it is poorly integrated into the organization, it's often a waste of time and money. Rather than simply sending someone off for training, it's important to think how the new ideas generated from the training will be used in your current structure and culture. How does it fit into the long-term plans?

Training often gets a bad name simply because it is approached in the wrong way, much like one of the two situations mentioned above. If you want training to “stick” and to be effective in producing the results you envision, it's essential that you do some preparation both before and after the training to be sure it will fulfill its potential to enhance positive changes.
Making Training More Effective

Here are some ideas to consider for improving the impact of training and maximizing the use of your training dollars.

1) Clearly define what you want as a result of the training-whether you hire someone to come to your facility and train a group of people, or whether you send one or more people to an outside program. Before you seriously consider training, be sure you know your organization's strategic priorities. In what way will the training event being considered support the direction the organization is heading? If there is not a clear and compelling link, it's probably not a good idea.

2) If the need for training is clear, carefully identify who should be involved. Who has interest in this kind of topic, or who would have need of this information, based on their job responsibilities?

3) If someone agrees to attend outside training at the company's expense, the company has a right and a responsibility to expect something in return. What is that expectation? How will they plant the seeds of their expanded knowledge among their colleagues? Will they submit a written report, and if so, how will the information be disseminated? Can the person come back and share their learning in a staff meeting? Set some expectations, and make sure the trainees know the expectations.

4) Follow up after the training. Make the time to get the information circulated to the people who can most benefit. If you leave out this important step, you are shortchanging the organization.

5) Begin discussions on “How can we use these new ideas?” Make it part of the culture that you are always asking that question. Sometimes the benefit may not be in the direction you expected. It may be a related or tangential idea that comes from the new learning, not a direct application of the new process or latest research. Be open to any possible good ideas spurred by trainees or anyone they teach.
Good training is not done in a vacuum. It touches more than just the people who received the training. Using the above approach helps you extend the positive impact of training and make wise use of your training dollars.

Dear SAPA Members

Minister Grant has accepted our invitation to attend our end of year Function Wednesday 28 October at 16:00.  He will speak for 20 to 30 minutes where after he will take some questions and then will mingle with the principals until 19:00.

We now need as many of you as possible to attend our end of year function, at Camps Bay High School as he is expecting between 60 to 100 Principals and Deputies.

Please let us know if you are able to attend for catering purposes.  We are counting on you to be present so that SAPA can be imprinted on the Minister's mind and can hopefully open some doors for us in the future.  You are welcome to bring along a non-SAPA member.

Thank you for your support.

Regards
Cris

Dear Colleagues
Just a few SAPA matters:

• We have sent a congratulatory note on behalf of all SAPA principals to Penny Vinjevold, who is our new Head of Department.

• We are breaking new ground as we were invited (at very short notice) to the Broad Management Meeting of the WCED.

We thank Dave de Korte and Marius Ehrenreich for representing SAPA at the meeting. More details regarding this meeting will be given to you at our end-of-year function!

•  End-of-year Function will be held on Wednesday, 28 October at 16:00 at Camps Bay High School. We are still waiting for a commitment from Minister Grant to be our guest speaker but could you please start informing Cris if you are going to attend.

It would really be great if you could bring someone, who is not a member of SAPA so that we can introduce them to our organization.

• We have started working on the SAPA programme for 2010 if you would like a draft copy please ask Cris.  Please budget for these SAPA events!

• Conference 2010: If you had a colourful production at your school this year that didn’t require expensive sound and lighting that we could use as an Opening Ceremony for our 2010 conference, please let me know. We are still working on the theme but ‘Critical Transformation' is what we are working on!

• We congratulate all the SAPA schools, who made the Sunday Times ‘Top 100 Schools’ or Top Ten schools. Well done, in particular to Westerford, who ended up at the top! The Sunday Times ‘Top 100 schools’ is an opportunity for great debate that we should grab with both hands (I hope you agree). Please grab the opportunity to write a letter to the newspaper or if you want to send your thoughts to our office, we (as SAPA) will comment on your behalf. Hope to hear from you!

•   Any burning issues???? We are going to the national department on the 24th of November. Please send your issues to Cris as soon as possible.

See you on the 28th!
Alta

MONDAY SMILE

Cowboy's Guide To Life

by Bob Hardison
Most of the stuff people worry about ain't never gonna happen anyway.
Life ain't about how fast you run, or how high you climb, but how well you bounce.
Words that soak into your ears are whispered, not yelled.
Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.
Forgive your enemies. It messes up their heads.
Don't sell your mule to buy a plow.
If you're ridin' ahead of the herd, take a look back every now and then to make sure it's still there with ya.
Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you. You cannot unsay a cruel word.
Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
Don't interfere with somethin' that ain't botherin' you none.
Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.
The easiest way to eat crow is while it's still warm. The colder it gets, the harder it is to swaller.
If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'.
The biggest troublemaker you'll probably ever have to deal with looks at you in the mirror every mornin'.
Don't worry about bitin' off more 'n you can chew; your mouth is probably a whole lot bigger'n you think.
Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.
Remember: Don't squat with your spurs on.
Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll enjoy it a second time.
If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around.
Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin' it back in.
The best sermons are lived, not preached.
Keep skunks and politicians and lawyers at a distance.
It don't take a very big person to carry a grudge.
If it don't seem like it's worth the effort, it probably ain't.
It's better to be a has-been than a never-was.
Meanness don't jest happen overnight.
When you wallow with pigs, expect to git dirty.

Dear SAPA Members

Please diarise the SAPA End of Year Function Wednesday 28th October at Camps Bay High School at 16:00.

May you and your family enjoy the short holiday.

See you next term

Regards
Cris



SAPA END OF TERM

A LEADER OR A JERK?
by: Terry L. Sumerlin

Some years ago, five other instructor candidates and I were being trained to teach a course on public speaking and human relations. As the grueling hours in the lab classes began to take a toll, one candidate summed up the session on leadership with the following words: It s really very simple. Do you want to be a leader or do you want to be a jerk?
Many times I ve thought about that question. We all know a few jerks. I expect I ve been one a few times. However, in spite of the fact there are plenty of men and women who are willing to wear titles (boss, owner, president, supervisor), and who are ready to give orders and issue mandates, there aren t that many leaders. Yet the benefits of being a leader, as opposed to a jerk, are dramatic.

In business it means fewer turnovers, less stress and less conflict. It also means increased customer satisfaction and increased productivity. In business, as well as in the home, leadership produces a spirit of goodwill, and fosters cooperation. In view of such benefits, let s examine three attitudinal differences between leaders and jerks.

TRUST BANK VS. BANKRUPT

Behind one of the barber chairs in my 48-year old barbershop is a drop bin that at one time was used for dirty towels. It is now used as a drop for money collected from vending machines. It has become a type of bank into which regular deposits are made. However, as owner of the shop, I m also making deposits of another type a type much more important, involving staff and customers. These are deposits into a trust bank.

It seems one of the great tragedies of business is that jerks may have followers, though having little or nothing in a trust bank. Such folks possibly had a positive balance when they took the role, but through large withdrawals became overdrawn.

Deposits, on the other hand, include qualities such as integrity. Leaders need to be the sort that if they say it s going to rain, you can put the tubs out. It s going to rain! Also, true leaders are consistent, impartial and optimistic. And when they have problems, they tend to pass them up instead of down. Few things destroy the confidence of followers more than jerks who always tell them their problems. Conversely, leaders confide in those above them in the chain of authority, and never whine to followers.

ENTHUSIASM VS. EXCITEMENT

Leaders are also enthusiastic. Jerks, on the other hand, have fits of excitement. From one day to the next, their followers are never quite sure who is going to show up Jekyll or Hyde.

Because enthusiasm is such a challenge to maintain and excitement so easy to experience, many have not even considered the difference between the two or the value of one over the other. Actually, excitement is the kind of emotion we have at sports events. It is solely dependent upon circumstances. Enthusiasm, though, comes from within. It is inner desire, fervor or spirit.

Some time ago, I read a billboard advertising a certain bank. It said, Enthusiasm runs rampant in our bank lobbies. What images does this bring to mind? Do you see the bank president, the tellers and the loan officers in party hats, jumping up and down and blowing on party favors? If so, you see excitement. If on the other hand, you see folks who believe in what they re doing, who call customers by name, who are eager to serve and who have a winning attitude; you understand enthusiasm.

Though excitement can be legitimately experienced by leaders as well as jerks, enthusiasm, by its very nature, is cultivated by leaders and then nurtured in their followers.

SENSE OF HUMOR VS. SELF-CENTEREDNESS

Among the most important qualities of a leader is a sense of humor. We must not take life or ourselves too seriously.

I often tell audiences that, as a speaker, I m somewhat like the cross-eyed javelin thrower. I don t set any records but with humor I do keep the crowd alert.

Yet, it s really more than that. Humor sells ideas, it relaxes, it deflects criticism and it bonds.

President Reagan often put people at ease with humor. When our nation was anxious over the possibility of losing another president to an assassin, Reagan looked up at his team of surgeons and said, I sure hope you re all Republicans. He asked the nurse who was holding his hand, as a means of comforting him, Does Nancy know about us?

Reagan even used humor to deal with criticism. When asked if he had once said he would resign when his memory failed, his answer was, When did I say that?

Similarly, all good leaders use humor. It doesn t have to be something that has people rolling on the floor. It just needs to show them that we have our minds on someone other than ourselves and on problems other than our own.

Along this line, just because we are leaders doesn t mean we can t be fun to be around or that we can t poke a little fun at ourselves. Every time I tell audiences that I graduated in the half of the class that made the top half possible, I m simply telling them what they already know: I don t have all the answers. They respond by laughing, learning and bonding. I lead they follow. What else is there?

BARBER-OSOPHY: Leadership is earned as well as learned.

Copyright 2003, Sumerlin Enterprises.

Terry L. Sumerlin, known as the Barber-osopher, is the author of "Barber-osophy," is a columnist for the San Antonio Business Journal and speaks nationally as a humorist/motivational speaker.

Permission is granted for you to copy this article for distribution as long as the above copyright and contact information is included. Please reference or include a link to www.barber-osophy.com <http://www.barberosophy.com>

Dear SAPA Members

Have a wonderful week.

regards
Cris

MONDAY SMILE

Gentle Thoughts for Today -
Birds of a feather flock together . . . .and then crap on your car.

A penny saved is a government oversight.

The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing at the
right time, but also to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting
moment.

The older you get, the tougher it is to lose weight, because by then
your body and your fat have gotten to be really good friends.

The easiest way to find something lost around the house is to buy a
replacement .

He who hesitates is probably right.

Did you ever notice: The Roman Numerals for forty (40) are XL.'

If you think there is good in everybody, you
haven't met everybody.
If you can smile when things go wrong, you have someone in mind to blame.

The sole purpose of a child's middle name is so he can tell when he's
really in trouble.

There's always a lot to be thankful for if you take time to look for
it. For example I am sitting here thinking how nice it is that
wrinkles don't hurt.

Did you ever notice: When you put the 2 words 'The' and 'IRS' together
it spells 'Theirs....'

Aging: Eventually you will reach a point when you stop lying about
your age and start bragging about it.

The older we get, the fewer things seem worth waiting in line for.

Some people try to turn back their odometers. Not me, I want people to
know 'why' I look this way. I've traveled a long way and some of the
roads weren't paved.

When you are dissatisfied and would like to go back to your youth,
think of Algebra.

You know you are getting old when everything either dries up or leaks.

One of the many things no one tells you about aging is that it is such
a nice change from being young.. Ah, being young is beautiful, but
being old is comfortable.

Long ago when men cursed and beat the ground with sticks, it was
called witchcraft. Today, it's called golf.
Lord, Keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth . .
.. . . . . AMEN!

Dear SAPA Members

Instead of the usual SAPA on Friday I am sending the notes of the meeting with the DOE held in Pretoria on 25th August.

Have a wonderful relaxing weekend.

Regards
Cris

To View the Meeting Notes Click here.

Dear SAPA Members

Alta has just phoned me from Polokwane where the National Excecutive had their meeting and elections before the start of the conference.  I am pleased to announce that Alta has been elected as the SAPA National President and David de Korte as the SAPA National Secretary.
I am sure you would like to join me in congratulating them both on their appointments.

Kind regards
Cris

MIDWEEK ENCOURAGEMENT

Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do. (Coach John Wooden)
Most people take what they can do for granted. When they cannot do certain things, they get frustrated, angry and depressed. There is such a huge focus on people‚s weaknesses and the things that they cannot do. In doing so, their strengths, and what they can do, are underutilized.

I challenge you today to start noticing what you can do. Focus on the things you do well. Find a way of acknowledging it and even improving on it. Decide on a way to celebrate what you can do. Just think of all the positive energy that will be released and how it could make your life a little easier. I know you can do it, but will you?
Make it a great week.
Christo Spies
P.S. Please note that this message is written by Chirsto Spies and it is copyrighted. If you want to forward it to others, you are welcome to do so, but please don‚t change the wording, and please leave his name there.

Dear SAPA Members

I will have the calendar 2010 and 2011 posted on our website.
Hope you have a wonderful week.

regards
Cris

MONDAY SMILE

Two little boys, ages 12 and 8, were excessively mischievous. They were always getting into trouble and their parents knew all about it.

If any mischief occurred in their town, the two boys were probably involved.

The boys' mother heard that a preacher in town had been successful in disciplining children, so she asked if he would speak with her boys.

The preacher agreed, but he asked to see them individually. So the mother sent the 8 year old first, in the morning, with the older boy to see the preacher in the afternoon.

The preacher, a huge man with a booming voice, sat the younger boy down and asked him sternly, 'Do you know where God is, son?'

The boy's mouth dropped open, but he made no response, sitting there wide-eyed with his mouth hanging open.

So the preacher repeated the question in an even sterner tone, 'Where is God?'

Again, the boy made no attempt to answer. The preacher raised his voice even more and shook his finger in the boy's face and bellowed, 'Where is God?'

The boy screamed and bolted from the room, ran directly home and dove into his closet, slamming the door behind him.

When his older brother found him in the closet, he asked, 'What happened?'

The younger brother, gasping for breath, replied, 'We are in BIG trouble this time, GOD is missing, and they think we did it!'

Dear Sapa Members

If you are interested in sending your educators to a two day Thrass workshop please let me know and I will forward you the registration form.  It will be taking place on Monday and Tuesday 14 & 15 September at Milnerton Primary School.

I also have the proposed 2011 and 2012 school calendar for  you to comment on.  If you would like a copy please let me know and I will email it to you.

Enjoy your weekend.

Stay warm.

Regards
Cris

SAPA ON FRIDAY
We don’t laugh because we are happy, we are happy because we laugh. (William James)
It is so easy for a young child to laugh. They crack a smile for almost anything. Somehow we lose that while growing up. We get so serious and look for ‘things’ and people to make us happy before we ‘give’ ourselves permission to laugh, or even smile. During tough times people say: “One day we’ll look back at this and laugh’. Well, why wait? Why not look for something in the circumstances that you can smile about now? The famous psychologist Dr William James found that laughter and smiling triggers something in your being that helps you experience a happy feeling despite the circumstances. No wonder there is a growing demand for ‘laughter therapy’.
Whatever you are going through, look for something to laugh or smile about – laugh at yourself or smile at how caught up you got by the situation. Look for something about how you deal with the situation that you can smile about. Now just do it!
I know you can, but will you?
Make it a great week,
Christo Spies

Dear Sapa Members

Welcome back hope you had a good week at school.  The DOE is wanting feedback re the implementation of the NCS Grades 4 -12.  Please send your comments to the emails/address listed below.

Enjoy your weekend.

regards
Cris


DOE call for comment on strengthening the implementation of the NCS Grades 4 -12
The National Department of Education wishes to invite all teachers, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Higher Education experts, parents and members of the public to participate in a public comment process to refine and strengthen the implementation of the curriculum.   
This process  intends to obtain first-hand information on the pressure points and to find solutions that will improve the efficiency of curriculum delivery in the classroom.  Your comments should be captured in writing and be specific to the phase of the schooling system (Intermediate, Senior or FET Phase).
Kindly indicate your relationship with the NCS e.g. parent, learner, teacher, researcher.  For more information on the process and the format of the submissions can be obtained from the home page under What's New? of the educational portal Thutong at www.thutong.doe.gov.za .
You may also submit your written submissions to the Department of Basic Education in one of the following ways:  · By delivering it by hand to: Attention Ms N Tom , Department of Basic Education, Sol Plaatje House, 123 Schoeman Street, Pretoria, 0001  ·
By posting it to: Attention Ms N Tom, Department of Basic Education, Private Bag X895, Pretoria, 0001.  ·
By sending an e-mail to: NCS.comments@doe.gov.za.  · By completing an electronic form on : www.thutong.doe.gov.za
By uploading a file to: www.thutong.doe.gov.za   
MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD!!  
The closing date for the written submissions is 04 August 2009
ISSUED BY: THE NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION          





Sapa on Friday
A ship in harbor is safe - but that is not what ships are built for.
(John A. Shedd, Salt from My Attic, 1928)

Most people try and make their lives as comfortable as possible. There is probably nothing wrong with that but unfortunately that attitude filters through to all areas of our lives so easily. So we end up in comfort zones and when challenges arise, we struggle to deal with them because we are not fighting fit in that area. When there are things making you uncomfortable and stretching your comfort zones, don’t sit back, but rather deal with it. The moment that you deal with it, you grow. And when you keep growing, you give yourself a better chance to live your life to the fullest.
I challenge you to identify areas where you have moved into a comfort zone. Now evaluate that area of your life to see if there is any way that you can grow. What can you do to start growing? Decide on the first step and take it. I know you can do it, but will you?
Make it a great week,
Christo Spies

Dear Sapa Members

I hope you have had a long restful weekend.  
Enjoy this weeks smile.

Regards
Cris

Never get smart with your Dad

A young boy had just got his driver's license and asked his dad if they could discuss his use of the car.

His father said he'd make a deal with his son. 'If you bring your grades
up from C to B, study your Bible and get your hair cut ....then we'll talk  about you borrowing the car.'

The boy thought about that for a moment, decided he'd settle for the offer and they agreed on it.
After about six weeks his father said, 'Son, I'm really proud of you.
You've brought your grades up and I've been watching you studying your Bible.
However, I'm a bit disappointed that you haven't had your hair cut.'

The lad paused a moment then said, 'You know, Dad, I've been thinking about that and I've noticed in my studies of the Bible that Samson had long  hair, John the Baptist had long hair, Moses had long hair and there's a strong  argument that Jesus had long hair too.'

To which his father replied, 'Did you also notice they all walked  everywhere  they went?'

Click here to view the SAPA news letter for May 2009.

Dear SAPA Members

Reminder tomorrows Pitstop at Sans Souci.  When you arrive you will have refreshments then Alta will welcome the delegates and speakers at 15:15 thereafter the two groups will split.  High school in one venue and primary school in another venue.  Thanks for informing me that you are attending we have almost 100 people attending.

Don't forget if you want to attend the Lead workshop in Caledon - SAPA AT THE SPA - Please let me have your registration forms asap as we are filling up very fast.

Enjoy today smile.
Kind regards
Cris



To Be 6 Again...
A man was sitting on the edge of the bed, observing
his wife, looking at herself in the mirror. Since her birthday was not far off he asked what she'd like to have for her Birthday.


'I'd like to be six again', she replied, still looking in the
mirror.


On the morning of her Birthday, he arose early, made her a nice big bowl of Lucky Charms, and then took her to Six Flags theme park. What a day!

He put her on every ride in the park; the Death Slide,

the Wall of Fear, the Screaming Monster Roller
Coaster, everything there was.


Five hours later they staggered out of the theme park.
Her head was reeling and her stomach felt upside down.


He then took her to a Mc Don ald's where he ordered her a Happy Meal with extra fries and a chocolate
shake.


Then it was off to a movie, popcorn, a soda pop, and
her favorite candy, M&M's. What a fabulous adventure!
Finally she wobbled home with her husband and collapsed into bed exhausted. He leaned over his wife
with a big smile and lovingly asked, 'Well Dear,
what was it like being six again?'


Her eyes slowly opened and her expression suddenly
changed. 'I meant my dress size, you idiot!!!!'


The moral of the story: Even when a man is listening,
he is gonna get it wrong.

Believe in the power of teaching

A SAPA Western Cape conference for dyanmic teachers and principals.

Teachers offer the only hope for a better future. The 2009 Teachers’ Conference offers all teachers and principals an opportunity to rekindle their love for children, teaching and learning.  Get inspired, invigorated and motivated by dynamic speakers.  Engage with colleagues and enjoy a Conference for Teachers. BELIEVE in the power of Teaching!

Friday 15 May 14:00 - 18:00
Saturday 16 May 09:00 - 18:00 
CTICC, Cape Town.

Download the Conference Brochure  NEW

Download the Registration Form

Download the Information Flyer

Dear SAPA Members

It is great to see how many schools are sending their educators to the upcoming conference in May. I know they will benefit from the conference and return to school recharged and invigorated. Thanks for faxing the registration forms as it makes it easier for me to keep the data base updated. To any schools who are intending to send their educators, please don't send the registration forms at the last minute as I have a lot of prepartion to do before the conference.

Another reminder is that on the 20 April we will be having a PITSTOP at 15:00. Once I have confirmed the venue I will inform you. The Presentation is from Gavin and Christine Boxall's, Learner Safety on the ‘Net, reinforces all the half-heard rules with graphic examples and videos. Learners and parents are often aware of the rules of Internet and cell phone interaction - don't give out personal details, don't access unsuitable content - but do not understand the reasoning behind these rules, and therefore ignore them. Dire consequences are paragraphs in newspapers, not real events that happen to real people. Parents themselves often do not know what their children are doing online, nor are they the people most trusted by their children. However, this is not an environment that can be controlled by adults making rules for children to abide by. The learners need to be empowered to keep themselves safe, and to educate their peers about proper and safe usage of online facilitie
s like Facebook and Mxit.

Enjoy the short break with your family and if you are travelling have a safe journey.

Regards
Cris

SAPA ON FRIDAY

"I know but one freedom and that is the freedom of the mind."
Antoine de Saint-Exupery

With the South African elections approaching, some words keep on popping up in articles, speeches and conversations: ‘freedom'; ‘setting free'; ‘fight for freedom'; ‘continuous struggle for freedom' and ‘then you'll be free'. These words are actually used to rob people from the only true freedom we have, namely the freedom to think and make intelligent choices for ourselves.
Then I hear grown-ups trying to get kids to do things exactly the way grown-ups want it done and sometimes they even point to their heads and say: "Just think!" But they actually only want them to think the same way they do.

The freedom of the mind is the only true freedom we have and we should protect it with everything we have. I challenge you today to think for yourself! The moment that you manage that, you will be able to make incredible choices for your own life that will enhance your potential and future. When you make any decision today, remind yourself to think for yourself and not to ‘go with the flow' or ‘because of popular demand'.
Think for yourself and encourage the people around you (especially your kids) to think for themselves. I know you can, but will you?

Make it a great week
Christo Spies

SAPA National Conference Registration is now open. You can download the registration form by clicking here.

SAPA Western Cape's annual teachers conference has opened registration too. You can download that form, by clicking here.

Dear SAPA Members

Tomorrow, Saturday 28 March is Earth Hour 2009.  The idea is that everyone turns off their lights for an hour on from 20:30 to 21:30. Hopefully 1 billion people in over 1 000 cities will switch off their lights in protest of climate-ignorant government policies and programmes.

You can find more information on the following website www.earthhour.org.za

One week left of school - don't forget to register your staff for the conference in May.

Today's SAPA on Friday is taken from the book Managing Teacher Stress by William A Rogers

An old story:  At the edge of the forest, on a rather hot day, a man could be seen stripped to the waist and sweating as he repeatedly hacked away at a tall tree with his axe.  He cursed and swore, as the axe made little impression on the hard wood.  However hard he swore or hit at the tree, little progress was made.  From a distance, another man observed this outpouring of energy upon the tree and thought he could see where the problem lay.

Coming alongside the sweating man, who paused in his work , he said:  'Friend, I see your axe is very blunt; it may be the cause of your problem.  Why not stop a while and sharpen it?'
Wiping his brow the other man said:  'Damn it! I haven't got time for all that.'.

If we make time now for necessary planning, we'll save time later.  It is often that way in teaching.  We get so busy, so hemmed in with reports, committee meetings and students to 'follow-up' that we may get a sense of being so busy; yet if we were to stop, step back a bit and reorder things, we might just reduce the amount of stress we are experiencing as a result of time and workload pressures.

Nowhere is this more important than in the day-to-day stress of classroom management.

Dear SAPA Members

Melodie de Jager will be having a workshop on  Mind Dynamix Profiling

The original Brain Organisation Profiling was developed by Drs Paul E Dennison and Carla Hannaford (USA) and later expanded upon by Drs Marlize Basson and Melodie de Jager resulting in the Mind Dynamix Profile.  The dominance of the eye, ear, hand, foot and three dimensions of the brain are established to gain insight into the inherent patterns of obtaining information, processing and applying knowledge.

If you would like more info let me know and I will email it to you.

We have booked the speakers for the conference on 15 and 16 May:  Believe in the Power of Teaching.

1. Dr Jesus Amaya is Professor Titular of Departamento de Educacion y Humanidades at the Universidad de Monterrey, Garcia, Mexico.  He is an expert on reaching and teaching boys and presents on gender-brain learning.  His dry sense of humour and deep research makes for a fascinating and thought provoking presentation.  Every South African teacher has to hear him.
   
2. Maryann "Mar" Harman, has over 30 years classroom experience from Pre-Primary through to University level. Mar began teaching in New Jersey after receiving her Music Education degree from College of New Jersey.  She moved to Florida and received her Masters Degree in Education from University of South Florida where she was an adjunct professor.  Using both her degrees, she writes songs that are educationally and musically sound.
   
   She has produced and recorded over 30 albums.  Several of her recordings have won national awards.  She is the founder of the National Music with Mar programme, a weekly programme parents come to with their children to learn how to use music to better prepare them for school and life in general.  Mar still actively teaches, but love to travel and sing.
   
   
3. Janine Shamos is a wellness coach, trainer and counsellor.  As an ex-high school educator, she has over 13 years psychology experience - focussing primarily on suicide and bullying prevention.  Janine works in association with the South African Depression and Anxiety Group, SA's largest mental health NGO, and also has her own practice teaching self-esteem skills to teens, young adults, parents and educators.  Janine will guide teachers in understanding how to reach and teach young people in times of hight stress and anxiety.

This Conference will inspire, invigorate and motivate you and your staff so book now as our early bird closes on 21 April.

Enjoy the rest of your week!