It is very hard to believe that this is the last Take Note of the first term of 2017.

INSIDE

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24/03/2017 I TERM 1 I NEWSLETTER

ISSUE

44

UNIFORM CHANGE

THANK YOU

CREATIVITY FLOWS

MiMS

2

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the School community for producing yet another great MiMs weekend. In particular, I would like to thank all the boys for their tremendous resilience, dedication and professionalism during the preparation and the event itself. We

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MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE HEAD

We bid farewell to Mrs Tracy van den Broek at the end of the term. Tracy and Eggie have been at the school since April 2013 in Griffin House. Tracy has also worked in the administration and clothing shop. She has done a tremendous job at both keeping our debtors down and our boys clothed. She joins her husband Eggie in Pietermaritzburg - I would like to wish them the best of luck in their new positions.

MIMs is around the corner and as I write this note, ticket sales are seventy percent sold. This is a wonderful position to be in and it is perhaps time to consider expanding this festival considerably in the future. I trust that all the parents have booked their tickets as the public are now able to do so. I hope that we can have a sold out sign on every concert poster before the weekend even starts.

I wish to extend a huge vote of thanks to the hardworking task-force we have in our staff. From the tireless administrations of the house-parents of Griffin and Tungay; the constant productivity of the Kitchen ladies; the able-assistance of the ground-staff and cleaning-staff who keep us ticking over; the many ministrations of our teachers, both academic and music, and the glue that keeps us all together and on the straight-and-narrow, the Admin staff. We wish you well over the break and hope you take a rest from the constant pressures of Drakie life. You need to refuel for an action-packed time, next term.

May I take this opportunity to wish you all a happy Easter holiday with your son and have a wonderful time during this short break? Please find in your son’s possession an envelope which will include:

the calendar, Term 2

MiMS flyer

report

ABRSM and UNISA certificates from last year’s examinations

Thank you

Andrew Stead

MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE HEAD

THANK YOU…CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

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NEWS FROM THE MUSIC DEPARTMENT

Sihle Manonyane (Griffin House - upstairs)

CHOIR AWARDS FOR THE PAST WEEK

COMMENDABLE PERFORMANCES CONCERT CHOIR

Lefa Motshele

Nathaniel Stoffels

Anthony Ncube

Liam Muller

Michael de Goede

Siphe Maphumulo

Qhawe Mafika

Oratile Pega

Kabo Madi

Bandile Nzuza

Caleb Saks

Polane Moloi

JP van Heerden

Stephen Barnard

Kyle Kroats

Chorister of the week:

Soloist of the concert:

Voice group of the concert:

Tenors

Lefa Motshele Nathaniel Stoffels

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Commendable Performances New Boys Choir:

Karabo Machepa

New Boy of the week:

Brett Fernihough

Dylan Palm

Jayden Lubbe

Matthew Beuster

Mohau Tladi

Connor McKenzie

Marco Marais

Alec Gibson

Awande Kheswa

Reece Olsen

5

HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR WEDNESDAY CONCERT

Kenny Kabak, Yuichi Iwasaki (Journalist from Japan) and Bernard Krüger.

André Wears-Taylor

Matthew Beuster and Josh da Fonseca

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Old Boy, Jonathan Jenkings, singing his heart out in UP. Youth Choir.

UNIFORM CHANGE

Thank you so much for your understanding in changing over from the grey longs to the much better looking black pants. As part of the on-going changes and always mindful of cost, the second phase of the uniform change will take place at the end of term two – this is to coincide with the Japan tour.

Traditionally boys going overseas get a special shirt(s) for the trip. This year as two thirds of the choir are touring, I thought it an ideal time to make the change and ‘save’ costs while doing so. The boys going to Japan will be issued with new black and blue golf shirts with a modern design, school badge and South African flag. This is in a lighter, more durable and practical fabric that is 1,5% absorbent of perspiration and dirt rather than the current shirts at 8%. They are made at a cost similar to the current golf shirts (R160). Naturally, there will be a transition period for all the other boys but full integration of these shirts will take place by 2018.

We are also purchasing new sports shirts. These are designed with the same fabric, maintain the school identity but can be used in team sports events and inter house competitions. Once again, the transition period will allow boys to purchase these items in 2018.

I have attached pictures of the proposed new shirts, which have been readily accepted by both staff and boys. I hope you like them too.

Andrew Stead

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In between all the cycle test and normal class activities, the Grade 4-6 learners were given three weeks to set up their own group, write a creative dialogue – something interesting, funny or with a real twist in the tale…

They then had to “perform” this dialogue, keeping language and drama skills in mind!

We visited the Kruger National Park, and survived missing children and a lion attack (Huistaal Gr6), had a Thokolosi in a home (Daniel, Panashe and Blessings).

Watched a clash between two Greek Gods, Zeus and Poseidon (Pierre en Brett, Grade 4), and many more creative dialogues!

Well done Grade 4-6!

Mrs. Dowling

CREATIVITY FLOWS

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SOME MORE INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT JAPAN

In Japan, it’s absolutely normal to see a woman on the street wearing a skirt so short that it reveals her underwear or a part of her buttocks. However, dresses or tops with a deep neckline are considered vulgar.

The concept of honour is very important to Japanese people. Former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama resigned because he couldn’t fulfil his pre-election promises. The two ministers that preceded him had also behaved the same way.

Japan is the only country in the world where a one-minute threshold is considered the criterion of being late. The only reason for the delay of a train is a suicide under its wheels.

Japan has one of the highest suicide rates in the world. Sometimes suicides are committed just in order to support another person or because the head of the family has decided so.

Even today in Japan, about 30% of all marriages are arranged by the parents. This tradition is called "Omiai."

In all northern cities of Japan, streets and sidewalks are heated in the winter, so there is no ice. However, most Japanese homes and apartments don’t come with any form of central heating. Most homes rely primarily on oil heaters and gas or kerosene stoves.

The Japanese language has the interesting word “karoshi” that means, death from overwork. This diagnosis contributes to the deaths of more than 10,000 Japanese workers each year.

In Japan, you can smoke everywhere except on railway station platforms and at the airports. However, there are no waste bins, and one is not allowed to flick cigarette ash to the ground. That’s why every smoker in Japan carries a small ashtray with them.

Japan is the last country in the world that can be called an empire. The Japanese imperial dynasty was never interrupted. Akihito, the reigning Emperor of Japan, is a direct descendant of the first Emperor Jimmu, who founded the empire in 711 BC.

The Japanese love to eat and love to talk about food. While eating, it is necessary to praise the meal. It is considered very impolite not to say “delicious” several times during the meal.

Steven Wellbeloved

9

ROADSHOW TO THE FREE STATE

During our roadshow to the Free State, we visited Grey College. We were pleasantly surprised by the talent in this school. We look forward to welcoming these boys to our Open Weekend.

We were hosted by the Horing and Keta families. A word of thanks to both of these families for assisting with the hosting of our staff and boys.

An unplanned visit to an old age home was rewarding, in more ways than one. It is a humbling experience to see appreciation for small gestures.

Thursday evening, we performed at Eunice, at their Father and Daughter evening. The boys delivered a great performance and impressed the audience.

We ended our roadshow with a visit to the Spur in Bethlehem. In true Spur tradition, we celebrated Sihle and Keanu’s birthdays.

Thank you to Kenny, Lubi and the boys for another successful roadshow.

Belinda Espag

Small gestures, so much appreciation.

Celebrating birthdays at the Spur.

Grey College, so much talent.

Performing at Eunice.

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ROADSHOW WINNERS

As part of our roadshows we have decided to vote for the boy that represents the DBCS the best on all platforms. The vote is cast by the staff on these roadshows as well as the boys that participate in the roadshows.

Winner of the Natal Roadshow:

Jesse Barth

Winner of the Free State Roadshow

Kevin Jordaan

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JAPAN TOUR

The touring groups for Japan will be announced before the boys leave on holiday on 31 March – we will also send out a letter informing you of which tour your son is on. Please take note of this, as it will affect his holiday dates in July/August.

I will also be sending out a packing list for the Japanese Tour at the end of the term. Please ensure that your son has everything on that list and that everything is clearly marked. Laundry on this tour will be done by the 5 support staff on tour, therefore, to make their lives a little easier, we would appreciate it if everything has a name denoting the owner.

With regard to the medicines required on the packing list – please package this and send it back in a packet with your son’s name on it at the end of the midterm break. We will collect everything, reconcile it and then give it back to your son, when packing for Japan.

Steven Wellbeloved

GOLF DAY IN JOHANNESBURG

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13

There is always time for some fun!

Well done!

MiMS

Music in the Mountains is officially only five weeks away, and if experience is anything to go by, it will be 1st May before we know it and time to put our feet up after an awesome festival.

Thank you to all of the people who have purchased their MiMS Tickets, the response has been incredible and the current ticket sales are indicating that there will be a number of SOLD OUT concerts at the festival this year.

The final concert on Sunday afternoon will be at 15h00 for a duration of 60 minutes, so at approximately 16h00 your son will be ready to go home for the mid-term break if you are collecting him. If not, the busses will leave early on Monday morning for their respective destinations. Please do not request permission to take your son out before the final concert is over; unfortunately, the answer can only be NO.

Steven Wellbeloved

SNIPPETS FROM THE SAN

Although a couple of the three-week coughs still linger, business has been much slower lately. The sick-bay lies vacant and teachers have ceased whingeing while they level stern tea-time stares at me. I have become pretty adept at interpreting the various looks, the most common being the “What are you doing about it?” one. Music staff are particularly difficult. It’s their absurd obsession with boys’ voices that gets me. Oh well, everybody’s different, I always say.

On the subject of coughing; years ago, I discovered an interesting effect occurs when I enter a classroom. Mostly one avoids interrupting lessons out of sympathy to boys who may be busy calculating complex algebraic equations. I was also scarred for life once, while intruding on a lesson, when the teacher fired a math’s question at me. Regrettably, she was teaching grade nines at the time. I might have coped better if she asked a grade four question. It cost me a fortune in Post-Traumatic Stress counselling.

But I digress. While tranquility reigns as I stalk the academic corridors, outbreaks of frenetic coughing erupt when I walk into a class. Everyone coughs except the teacher. This has been corroborated by reliable witnesses on many occasions. Even the pseudo-coughers freely admit to getting in on the act. New Boys seem to get the hang of it quite quickly as well – usually within a few weeks. I can’t imagine why, as everyone simply gets the beady eye.

A thrilling and unexpected windfall came my way last Saturday. One bright young man had mentioned to his family that the San Apple Cider Vinegar stocks were low. Well, blow me down if his Grandmother didn’t arrive with four bottles of the beloved nectar for me! Lydia – I like you.

Wishing you and your boys a wonderful and healthy Easter holiday!

Sister Lianne

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Liam Muller, finishing the final leg of the Aquilla Cordwalles Mudman – 750m swim, 20km mountain bike, 5km run.

Well done Liam! We are proud of you!

MULTI-TALENTED

GOLF DAY IN DURBAN

15

Erika Linde

5 April

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Steven Wellbeloved

28 March

Mikkie Enslin

31 March

GRIFFIN HOUSE

Congratulations to our two March Boarders of the Month.

They are Okuhle Madondo and Ntando Mbele, who were awarded with a yummy Bar-One cake each.

Both boys are respectful, quiet and focused and play a very important role in Griffin House.

A reminder to all parents not to forget to make your transport bookings for the end of term.

Please remember to check your boys’ clothing for the new term, with reminders to buy a second pair of Luxions, secret socks and everyone must have a second set of linen.

Happy Holidays!

Regards

House Parents

16

Sean Morrick

30 March

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Jordyn Fraser

3 April

Brian Brits

9 April

Joshua Naidoo

9 April

Sabonga Mdletse

12 April

Luke Brown

16 April

Brett Fernihough

20 April

Bandile Nzuza

22 April

Dylan Palm

23 April

DATE EVENT TIME

24-25 March Open Weekend

24 March Staff Briefing 10:20-10:40

25 March Choir 08:00-12:00

26 March Chapel

Auckland Prep Visit DBCS

SCA

10:00-11:00

14:00-17:00

18:00-19:00

27 March Staff Briefing

Assembly

Prefects Tea

07:00-07:30

07:25-07:45

10:40-11:40

29 March Wednesday Concert 15:30-17:30

30 March Music Education Development Workshops

Assembly

09:00-13:00

10:05-10:25

31-17 April School Holidays

17 April Busses Return

18 April School Starts

19 April Wednesday Concert

20 April Assembly

21-23 April Closed Weekend

MiMs Prep Weekend

21 April Staff Briefing 10:20-10:40

23 April Chapel 10:00-11:00

Calendar 24 March – 23 April 2017

DRAKENSBERG BOYS CHOIR SCHOOL

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