14 June 2024

Parents, friends, family, and teachers,

“Courage is not the absence of fear, but triumph over it.” – Nelson Mandela

As we close term 2 of 2024, at Thorntree we emphasize the importance of courage. This term, I witnessed courage demonstrated on the netball courts, on the side of the soccer fields, little Grade R students saying speeches on a stage in front of strangers, students encountering their first set of exams in a new phase, Little Sprouts coming to school alone through the big gates, there have been so many chances to witness courage.

I would also like to bring attention to our teachers and the courage they have shown this term by changing subjects, changing to grades which were not always their forte, taking on a leadership role for a sports team or showing absolute courage by putting their hands up to do something they have never done before. Salute, Thorntree Teachers.

Parents, your courage to trust us again this term has been a beacon of light. Your unwavering commitment to our sports teams and the love and passion we all witnessed together was a huge highlight this term. I hope we have many more opportunities to literally scream with pride as we walk through your child’s education career.

Term 3 brings light and attention to culture at Thorntree. We have always focused on the Bosveld Kunsfees with great excitement. This encourages your child to learn the importance and rhythm of dancing with words in Afrikaans. This year we will be hosting our internal English Poem competition again, which we look forward to. Spelling Bee competitions for the WOW Spel Fees and Mitchell House annual Spelling Bee will also take place.

Mini cricket will be the sport available for our Grade 1 – 3 students, this sport is excellent for learning the basic skills for Cricket. We encourage you to enroll your children to these practices.  InterSen students will have the opportunity to gain skills in hockey and Cross Country. Please be reminded that for hockey practice your child will need a hockey stick, ball and shin guards for practice sessions. We have also introduced Padel which will be encouraged, however as an additional expense, as this requires hiring of the fields and bats.

Presentation of our school is a very important part of our integrity at Thorntree. How you present yourself in the classroom, on the sports field or on the playground is important as you need to look neat and proud of the school you represent. With emphasis to this we will be enforcing strict rules with regard to the uniform worn to school. We are aware of limited uniforms for sale at Arons Sport and we will be making sure this should not hinder you from insisting your child is in the correct uniform.

Raymondt Coleman has been nominated the Head of our Parent Association group which will be becoming very involved from Term 3, of 2024.The group of representatives will be
available in Term 3 and we would like to encourage you as parents to talk to the members should you feel you want certain change. As our stakeholders, you are very important to us.
We are excited for you to have a voice.

René Kruger, a longstanding member of Thorntree and Head of Sprouts Academy has taken the decision to resign from her position. We thank you René for your invaluable input to our
school and your unwavering support within the management team of Thorntee. We wish you the most success in your future endeavors. With this being said, my office will move to the Sprouts Academy and I will take the responsibility of overseeing this space.I am excited to get to know you as parents and your children more actively over the course of the remainder of this school year.

Alma Oosthuizen will be taking a break from teaching and sharing her time with her grandchildren, Alma will always be insightful and share a guiding light on our Afrikaans language journey which we are grateful for. In her position we have a appointed a male teacher which we are very excited have join our team, Mr Ruan Linde, Ruan has experience running Tina Cowley language center in Mokopane and continues to drive this franchise in Naboomspruit he has all the necessary remedial and insightful approach to Afrikaans and with his expertise in language we believe he will bring a diverse dynamic approach to Afrikaans and English languages at Thorntree.

This term was exhilarating to say the least, I loved every second of it, I loved getting to know you all more and grow as a school together. I feel the pride you have for Thorntree.

Thank you for protecting and loving this space as much as we do.

Be safe this holiday, take time to spend with your family and rest.

See you soon.
All my love, always,

Helyn Pope
Head, Thorntree