A busy week...

Of course, we are still waiting to post photos from our reunion on Friday last week. We had about 30 ex-pupils visit us at the school. It was heartwarming to see and hear how Tabeetha has influenced the lives of so many special people. Many stories and memories were shared, which made the day really memorable.

We are nearing the end of a really busy week! We started the week with Eid-ul-fitr celebrations, marking the end of Ramadan for the Muslim members of the Tabeetha and Jaffa community. On Tuesday, grade 3 had a lesson in modes of human powered transport and had races out on the playground (running, roller-blades and bicycles). A great object lesson! Today we had our Student Council back-to-school BBQ. Well done to our SC and senior pupils for such a great job. The atmosphere was wonderful, the food was excellent (meat donated by a local ex-Tabeetha butcher in Jaffa) and organisation practically flawless. We even had a staff vs. pupils football match (I still don't know who won the game!)

We look forward to a long weekend this weekend, as Monday is Yom Kippur, when the entire country shuts down for 24 hours. Our daylight savings time ends on Saturday night, when we turn the clocks back one hour.

To the Jewish members of the Tabeetha and Jaffa community - G'mar hatima tovah - "May your finished sealing be good."

Gardening!

Our grade 7 and 8 class had a morning in the sun getting their hands dirty! We had some money left over from last year's Student Council, so it was decided to use this to buy some flowering plants to add some colour to our gardens.

The grade 7 and 8 registration teachers and classes offered to help with this project, and so spent a morning buying the plants from a local nursery here in Jaffa, then spent another morning planting their purchases (yes, they do go to regular lessons sometimes!) Each class will take responsibility for the watering of their new gardens.

Tomorrow we have our big reunion day with many ex-pupils of the school coming to visit. A report will be posted in the next few days.

Reunion

We are all very excited about a reunion of alumni on Friday, 18 September. Plans are underway for a special assembly, a breakfast prepared by the senior class and classroom visits.

We invite all ex-Tabeetha pupils to this special event. Come and tell us how Tabeetha has changed your life!

First week

We have reached the end of the first week back at school. Teaching and learning is well underway and everybody is getting back into routine.

There have been a few hiccups with the timetable, mainly with the grade 11 and 12 classes due to the complexity of subject choices, time, space and teacher limitations. Most teachers and students have had to create custom-made timetibles to accommodate the complexities and have managed to start their courses.

We now look forward to having the primary parents in to meet the teachers and hear about what to expect from the coming year. This is planned for next week. This is always a good opportunity to establish relationships with the parents and community.

The first newsletter of the year has been sent out to parents and can be downloaded from our website.

Back to school..

Some of our students enjoying the new seating and playground on the first day of school.

The day went very smoothly, with lessons beginning by 9.30am. Thanks to the teachers for helping to make it such a good first day.