Newsletter #6 - 11 June 2025

Dear Parents and Students,

It's been some time since I last connected with all of you. This is primarily because May and June were very busy, joyful, and eventful for me. This year is particularly special as I celebrated a milestone birthday: 40! I'm also occupied with planning my first trip abroad, which is to a destination I've dreamed of visiting since childhood: Greece! With that in mind, I'd like to remind you of some important events happening in June and July.

SCHEDULE

JUNE

• In June, we will have our regular lessons.

• Be aware that Monday, 16 June is a public holiday. Therefore, there will be no lessons on that day, as we observe Youth Day.

JULY

• Lessons will continue until Saturday, 5 July. The unusual choice of Saturday is because some of you will be taking exams and may need additional assistance beforehand.

• From Sunday, 6 July to Sunday, 20 July, I will not be available.

• Please be aware that lessons during this period should not be rescheduled, as they were already excluded from the lesson fees at the start of the year.

• Lessons will resume on Monday, 21 July for the rest of the term.

• During this period, we will conduct our assessments before the term concludes.

• The term will end on Thursday, 7 August.

INVOICING

• There is increasing concern about invoices not being paid on time. I have already had to dismiss a student due to non-payment, which is always unfortunate.

• I will enforce stricter measures for the rest of the year. Please notify me if your payment dates need adjustment or if you cannot pay on time.

• For those who are behind, I will send a statement with the amounts owed, which must be settled by Friday, 13 June 2025, or I will discontinue lessons without credit until payments are received.

• This is my primary source of income. Late payments cause significant issues for me and result in administrative work that could be better spent on student-related tasks.

EXAM SCHEDULE

• Many of you will begin exams soon, while others will start in July.

• Please let me know your exam dates so we can advance the term's lessons and schedule them closer to your exams for greater relevance and efficiency.

• This is particularly for math and science students, but music students can also adjust their lessons to accommodate exams. However, priority will be given to math and science students.

• If you do not inform me of the dates, I cannot reschedule lessons after your exams, meaning you will have math and science lessons during your other exam weeks. This is non-negotiable.

SCHOOL MUSIC EXAMS

• Schools like St. Peter’s conduct a music exam every term for students enrolled in music classes.

• These students must create an exam video to submit when the exam period arrives.

• The video typically includes several scales and a piece we have been practicing during our lessons this term.

• I will ensure we have a video ready to send to the school before I depart for Greece.

• However, please check your exam or term planner for the specific dates and send me the date as soon as possible.

EISTEDDFODS COMING UP

• I participate in only one Eisteddfod each year, which is the Randburg Eisteddfod taking place every August.

• Registrations are now open and will close on June 20th.

• I am currently assessing students' eligibility and will inform you about those I believe will excel at this year’s event.

• Participation is not mandatory, but it offers a valuable opportunity to perform in front of other students and an audience.

ACADEMIC CONCERNS PICKED UP

MUSIC

• Some students are not dedicating enough time to practice.

• While this isn't a major issue, progress is always linked to the discipline of practicing.

• Ensure you maintain proper discipline to achieve proportional progress.

MATHS

• Math students are generally performing well, except for those in Grade 12.

• Grade 12 students! It's time to consider if your grades justify the extra-curricular activities you're involved in or pressured into at this time of year.

• If you're having trouble completing tutorials, performing poorly in tests or portfolio assessments, and haven't dedicated enough time to math, it's important to start making time.

• Ask yourself if you're still on track to gain admission to your desired undergraduate program.

• Like music, math requires a daily routine and discipline of reviewing and practicing.

• You also need to send me your questions and completed work so I can check for mistakes and provide feedback.

SCIENCE

• Most schools are currently focused on Chemistry. Since I only have Grade 11 students on my active roster, you are working on revising Grade 10 material extensively.

• Unfortunately, the new Grade 11 material has content issues across different teachers and schools on this topic. I am trying to address these gaps by sharing what other schools are doing in their lessons to make the content clearer.

• If all else fails, use your textbook. Most, if not all, of you have a Kevin Smith Chemistry book available to help fill in the gaps on your own and take notes.

• With your notes, I will then address any remaining gaps.

I am certain I I have forgotten some notes to share, but these are the main points I wanted to touch on.