Dear Parents
SCREEN TIME
As with most things, you can find supporting or opposing evidence as to the impact of too much time spent in front of a screen. At school, we attempt to find a balance for our girls and ensure that students have time to experience learning through all of their senses. In the past, it has been difficult to monitor device usage at home and at school. We have previously encouraged parents to load applications which assist us in this process. The good news is that with the new IOS update, most of these needs have been covered.
Faye Hastings (Head of JS IT) has assisted us by compiling this communication for our community:
As of last month, the new operating system, iOS 12 launched a feature called Screen Time. As with any parental controls, they’re best used along with guidance and ongoing conversations to help your daughter learn to manage their own media use. Screen Time lets you see exactly how much time your daughter spends on their devices, the times of day they’re most active, and which apps they use the most. You can also set app time limits, filter inappropriate content, and schedule “downtime”.
Some of the settings will be familiar if you have used Apple’s Family Sharing and Restrictions. But iOS 12 adds a slew of new features. You can set up Screen Time to manage your daughter device remotely (using Family Sharing) or you can simply use the device itself (which you can password-protect).
So what will you see and what can you control?
- Usage tracking
Screen Time gives you a weekly report showing how long your daughter has used their device that week and at what times of day. You can also see what categories of apps (Productivity, Entertainment, etc.) and specific apps (Snapchat, Fortnite) they use the most.
How you can use it:
Since you can see your own usage information, too, it’s a great conversation starter around balance and goals for the whole family. Take a look at which apps you’re using most and when, and talk about the whys (why you use it the most) and hows (how you feel after using it).
- App limits
If your daughter is using apps that you’re concerned about, you can use App Limits to cut them off after a certain amount of time or on certain days. You can set App Limits by category, such as Social Networking or Entertainment, and for specific apps. If you want to limit everything, you can go into App Limits and select All Apps & Categories.
Once their time limit has been reached, they can send a request for more time; you can either approve it or not. You can also disable those requests altogether.
- Downtime
This feature lets you block off a chunk of time when the device can’t be used, such as from around bedtime until they wake up.
However, you are able to set specific apps during “downtime” to always allowed should this be a need.
How you can use it:
Downtime is helpful to have for critical times, such as bedtime, meal times. Consider setting Downtime about an hour before bed until morning. This helps them wind down before they go to sleep.
- Always allowed
This is where you can select apps that can always be access, even during Downtime. The device is always allowed no matter what your settings are, but you can turn off core apps like Messages, FaceTime, and Maps so that they won’t come on either.
How you can use it:
You might decide to allow access to certain apps that you don’t mind being used at any time for any reason. These may be educational, soothing, or otherwise beneficial.
- Content + privacy restrictions
This section is basically the old Restrictions section, and you can control everything you could before: music, TV shows, apps, movies, web content, multiplayer games, and more. The iOS default is Allow All, Unrestricted, and Explicit (for music), so if content is a concern, you’ll want to change those settings. In this section, you can also turn off in-app purchases and location services, and prevent your daughter from changing your settings by locking them with a passcode.
I encourage all parents to take the time to familiarise yourselves with these guidelines. I am sure that you will find them useful.
Regards
Kim Lowman – Head: Junior School
WEEK AHEAD:
Wednesday, 10 October:
- Kingsmead’s 85th birthday
- ABRSM Theory exams
Thursday, 11 October:
- Grade 000 2019 Orientation
Friday, 12 October:
- JS Inter schools athletics
Saturday, 13 October:
- U13 and U14 Water polo festival
Monday, 15 October:
- JS Assembly – NEST
Tuesday, 16 October:
- 17:00 Evening of Wonderment and Awe
Thursday, 18 October:
- JS Birthday Picnic
- 10:00 JS closes for Half term
- Aftercare will operate till 17:00
- JS Water polo tournament
On Tuesday 16 October, we celebrate what has become a compulsory annual event at Kingsmead Junior School – ‘An Evening of Celebrating with Wonderment and Awe’. The purpose of this evening is twofold, firstly for your daughter to celebrate and speak about her thinking/learning journey thus far within her learning space, where she will showcase her Visible Thinking processes and how she developed a certain Habit of Mind, including the she strategies used. Then secondly, to introduce and share the insights of an exciting guest speaker – Richard McKibbin who will have you enthralled by his passion for nature.
Girls are to arrive by 17:00 dressed in full summer school uniform and are to follow the agenda as per the invitation.
Grade 5 – 7 Enrichment Programme Feedback
In the last week, we had the enormous privilege and opportunity to be able to interact with our Grade 5s to 7s differently, in the form of an Enrichment Programme. As you may be aware, the Programme focused on 6 particular focus areas, namely Mindmapping and the Brain, Memory and Learning Strategies, Time Management and Organisation, Mindfulness and Water, Making Anxiety Work for You using Nia, Motivation and Goal-Setting and Teen Talks.
The Programme was an incredible success with both our staff and girls thoroughly enjoying the learning, process and interaction. Here are a few comments that the students shared in a reflection after the process, from each of the sessions:
“It motivated me to push to my limits.”
“It really inspired me to start creating my study file with good techniques on how to get started”
“I really enjoyed about learning about how my brain functions and learning it through a very effective colourful mind map”
“I really loved learning about different strategies to improve your memory and studying skills, such as how to study early to move information from short term memory to long term memory.”
“I found it really relaxing to become mindful of where we are right now and to learn the benefits of being active.”
“I absolutely loved this session, I loved being able to express myself in a free space and it certainly helped me with strategies to relieve my tension.”
“I liked this lesson as I learnt some skills on how to set goals and how to realize how to achieve them, and I learnt some valuable tips on goal setting.”
“Teen talks were really nice because I felt that we could all ask any questions and I thought it was an extremely informative session. I really enjoyed the safe space.”
The Enrichment Programme is certainly something that has added great value this year and we are already starting to discuss how to take this forward in 2019.
Mindfulness and Water with Coach Denenga
Making Anxiety Work for You with Janet Openshaw and Dr Dit
ARTS AND MUSIC NEWS
Upcoming event in September & October:
Well done!
Well done to our fabulous Grade 3 Choir who sang so beautifully at the annual ‘The Sound of Children’ Choir Festival! Thank you also to our supportive and encouraging parents who were there to cheer for us.
Upcoming events:
Please take note of the arrangements for the upcoming St Mary’s Ensemble evening
On 24 October, where our Junior School Orchestra will be performing:
The event will run as before, with each school performing their own items, culminating in the combined items. Girls are to wear their summer uniform with their blazers and look smart. There will be a room for us to leave our instruments; please remind your daughters to collect all their belongings before you leave at the end of the evening.
The final details are as follows:
- Venue: The Edge auditorium, St Mary’s School, Waverley
- Times:
- 15h45 Bus leaves Kingsmead
- 16h15 Arrive at St Mary’s and set-up for rehearsal
- 16h30 to 17h30 Combined rehearsal
- 17h30 to 18h00 Refreshments served to the children
- Tea, coffee and biscuits served to the parents
- 18h00 to 19h30 Concert
- The bus will NOT return to Kingsmead; please collect your daughter from St Mary’s.
Should you have any further queries please do not hesitate to contact Mia Loock.
Elsabé Fourie – Director of Arts & Music
SPORTS NEWS
I had the pleasure of attending the SANESA nationals this weekend. Whilst I was unable to watch all our riders, I did have the pleasure of catching the Performance Riding and the Prix Caprilli. There is always a debate in schools on whether Equestrian can be seen as a team sport and whether riders be excused from participation in school sport. Whilst there is always the concern that the riding does not offer the same lessons as team sport such as Soccer or Netball might, there is no doubt that there are many benefits for our young athletes.
Riders have to be physically and emotionally strong. The core strength required to maintain your balance as well as the use of your big muscle groups to control the horse which often weighs no less than half a ton is no mean feat. Riders also need to remove and carry the saddle and other equipment and that too gives the arms a good workout. Riders need to be mentally strong especially when executing different events. Learning to focus on one task at a time is a skill that many of our young people no longer know how to do. This skill can be used in many different settings in life. Riding is a wonderful confidence booster especially when a task is accomplished. There is no greater feeling for a person. However, the most important benefits for me is in the emotional realm. A rider cannot afford to have fear. The rider needs to have courage and both parties need to trust each other. But most importantly a rider learns to forgive. Nothing is perfect and mistakes are made but it is important to let the little things go and make room to try again.
I have new found respect for the many riders but more importantly to the parents and team of coaches and horse minders who spend many hours in preparing the horse for its 1 minute of fame in the arena.
RESULTS
Equestrian
SANESA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS – 3rd to 6th October
Jade Anderson, Leeya Motara, Lesedi Moloi, Makhutsi Moloi, Paula Prinsloo and Rania Motara received School Provincial Colours and were selected to compete for the Gauteng Equestrian Team at National Championships. Notable results were:
Jade Anderson: 1st in Level 2 Dressage Test A, 5th in Level 2 Dressage Test B, 2nd in Level 1 Performance Riding and 8th in Level 3 Prix Caprilli Test B riding Galaxy Man. 3rd in Level 1 Dressage Test A, 3rd in Level 1 Dressage Test B and 5th in Level 1 Show Jumping Round 2 riding Surprise.
Paula Prinsloo: 1st in Level 1 Handy Hunter riding Nemo.
Rania Motara: 4th in Level 3 In Hand Utility with Bedazzled.
SANESA NEWCOMERS CHALLENGE – 2nd to 3rd October
Taylor Prinsloo competed in the Newcomers Challenge and did us proud by getting a 6th place in Level 0 Show Jumping.
Congratulations to our girls for a very successful year!
Picture from left to right
Top: Jade Anderson, Leeya Motara, Lesedi Moloi, Makhutsi Moloi.
Bottom: Rania Motara, Paula Prinsloo, Taylor Prinsloo.
Athletics:
On Friday 5th October, we competed at St Peter’s. All the athletes participated with enthusiasm and a positive attitude. We could not compete with our strongest team, due to the Influenza B virus, but our athletes did extremely well.
The following athletes ended in the first 3 positions:
Grade 3:
60m:
C-race: Laurinda Vitungayala 2nd
Isabella Abbate 3rd
D-race: Uma Banchetti 1st
Grade 4:
Long Jump:
Priyanka Geness 2nd
80m:
A-race: Jade Anderson 2nd
Kaitlyn Brown 3rd
B-race: Priyanka Geness 2nd
Emma Cruickshanks 3rd
C-race: Erin van Dyk 3rd
D-race: Hannah Schwegmann 3rd
150m:
A-race: Hannah Schwegmann 2nd
B-race: Emma Cruickshanks 3rd
Grade 5:
80m:
A-race: Carys Glyn-Jones 2nd
Morgan Easter 3rd
B-race: Zintle Papiyana 2nd
Jessica Stevens 3rd
C-race: Zahra Khan 2nd
D-race: Unathi Phala 1st
150m:
A-race: Morgan Easter 2nd
B-race: Zintle Papiyana 1st
Grade 6:
Hurdles:
A-race: Tessa Gutierrez-Garcia 1st
B-race: Zintle Papiyana 2nd
100m:
A-race: Tessa Gutierrez-Garcia 1st
Neo Shibambo 2nd
B-race: Lucia Sabbioni 1st
Gabriella Dodd 3rd
C-race: Sange Sibiya 2nd
D-race: Jessica Black 2nd
200m:
A-race: Sange Sibiya 3rd
B-race: Jessica Black 3rd
Grade 7:
Long Jump:
Natalie Morris 1st
Paula Prinsloo 3rd
Hurdles:
A-race: Paula Prinsloo 2nd
100m:
B-race: Tasmiyya Bham 3rd
Well done to all the athletes! You did Kingsmead proud!
Our next meeting will be at St Stithians on Friday 12th October. Please keep on attending ALL practices — KEEP ON KEEPING ON!!!!!
Water Polo
Congratulations to the following girls who have been selected to represent the Gauteng School Water Polo Association in their respective age groups.
U13
- Hannah Daniels
- Amy Dickinson
- Alison Gace
- Natalie Morris
- Scarlett Muirhead
- Anne-Marie Sutherland
- Lillian Turvey
- Gabriella Dodd (Squad Reserve)
U12
- Jessica Black
- Amelia Brown
- Kagano Khoncha
- Jessica Stevens
- Dihana Punjabi (Squad Reserve)
