Tag Archives: gumboot dancers

Positive Initiatives Bring Success

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Dear Parents and Students
We have wonderful opportunities coming up to reach out and support people less fortunate than ourselves in the coming months. The season of Giving is upon us and as we celebrate together as families, whether it be with Thanksgiving, Kwaanza, Hanukkah, Christmas or just reflecting on our good fortune, it is always important to remember that there are people who aren’t feeling so positive as Winter sets in around the northern half of the World.

All of you should have received information about our Giving Tree Program by now, I hope you are able to participate; this year has certainly been made easier for all of us with the option of being able to send in money and have someone else fill up a bag for us. I am excited to report on another activity you may not be familiar with unless you were a family at our school last year.

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The Kliptown Youth Program are coming to dance for our school on November 14th. I was so fortunate to be able to take my class to see this group last time they were here, and thrilled I get to do it again this month. The only downside to their last visit, was that when they were done, and they had danced, and shared their journey, all of us were left wanting to give, to reach out and help this community who were giving so much, and living on so little. However with little time to get something organized, we were unable to offer them much more than our best wishes and heartfelt admiration. I am dearly hoping that this visit will be different. I strongly encourage you to ‘dig deep’ if you are able, as the inspirational journey these people have been on is wonderful to be a part of, even if it is just a very small part.

Here is some more information including an easy way you can financially contribute to the Kliptown Youth Program. Alternatively, if you would like to send in money to me, rather than completing the form below, I am more than happy to make a donation on your behalf. Feel free to join us between 8.30 and 8.50 in the auditorium if you can. You won’t regret it. Have a great weekend!

KYP Program Poster

KYP Donation Form

KYP Poster 2011

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November already? Surely not…

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Alas, it is true…we can now officially start speaking of the Winter/Christmas break as being next month, and in between then we just have conferences, report cards, Thanksgiving, more narrative writing, some essay writing, lots of blogging, a couple of math tests, our cultural studies unit and have I forgotten anything???

Here are the conference times I have you booked for. I look forward to meeting with you all this Thursday and Friday. Please try and be there for the start of the conference as you can see the schedule is tight.

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Here are some great photos from last Friday’s Halloween Festivities. The kids had a really great day and I was proud of their behavior and attitude.

http://portal.saschina.org/video/flv_player/Main.swf

In other news…

Calling All Cute Pets – Photo Competition!

Do you have a cute puppy?  Does your cat pose for the camera like a bright-eyed model?  Then this contest is for you!

Pudong’s HS Animal Rescue Club is creating a calendar of animals to be sold just in time for 2011.  Submit your favorite photos of your pets and we will choose the best to be included as the months of the calendar.  But don’t worry – everyone’s photos will also be put in thumbnail size at the back of the calendar!

You can only submit two photos per family so make sure to pick your best shots!  And if you have a picture that fits a season or month, that is extra great.  Submit via email to marney.rosen@saschina.org by November 15th at noon at the latest.  Don’t forget to include names (yours and your pet’s!)

All proceeds from calendar sales go to Jaiya’s Animal Rescue.

Today we were so fortunate to have two special presentations at our school. The children met Canadian Chinese author Trevor Lai during their LLB block today and before recess they were treated to an amazing performance by Gumboot Dancers from the Kliptown Youth Center in  Johannesburg, South Africa. Here is a great example of their work you can check out if 1. you live outside of China or 2. you have a vpn!

What great additions to our cultural studies unit! Speaking of that, our amazing 5KP students raised so much money for Uganda that I was blown away. Special mentions to Calen, Maddie and Roxy who contributed over 1,000 rmb each through sponsors and a huge pat on the back to Carl Z who not only raised over 2,500 rmb, but contributed a large part of that himself! Our class raised close to the 13,000 rmb that we hoped for. I am so proud of your efforts.

You are all very special kids. x