Congratulations to the winning team and their dedicated coach

On the 17th March 2022, 116 learners from Unitas High School, Rheederpark Combined School and Welkom Technical School in Welkom (Free State) were awarded with the certificates. The leaners successfully achieved the first quarter Safer South Africa Foundation programme of mobilising the under-resourced communities to build awareness and ability to work together in the 'fight against crime.

Postbank, member of Banking Association of South Africa together with other stakeholders such as SAPS, POCRU, Correctional Services, NPA and Safer South Africa Foundation delivered various  activities to the learners in   order to ensure the smooth and successful running of the programme. The event was honoured to have the attendance of Ms Riah Phiyega, CEO of Safer South Africa Foundation, who gave words of  wisdom and guidance to the learners and also expressed her gratitude to Postbank for  showering learners with gifts during the day. 

Writer: Isaac Tsotetsi (Principal: Free State Central Region Financial  Education).

Woensdag-waardes

 

Maandag-motivering

"Hou jou gesig teen die sonskyn en jy sal geen skaduwee sien nie." - Helen Keller

Sunday thoughts: Give your time

 

Tekkie-parents

You are your child's life-teacher. 

They are going to follow your example.

They will learn from you how to handle life.

They will learn from you how to handle problems, 

how to handle finances,

how to handle relationships. 

What are you teaching them?

Do you give them skills to handle their future?

Ek is ‘n ‘TEACHER’

 

Hierdie brief is spesiaal vir alle onderwysers en opvoeders regoor die wêreld wat motivering verloor het en soms nie waardeer word nie. Ek hoop dat dit jou sal bemoedig om met die groot en belangrike werk wat jy doen, voort te gaan!

“MÔRE KLAS!”

As dít die manier is waarop jy mense by jou werksplek groet, is dié spesiaal vir jou geskryf. Volgende week begin die skole weer. Hoekom gaan jy terug? “Want dis my werk!” Is dit jou antwoord? Jy is die juffrou of meneer wat ander mense se stoute kinders of tieners deur nog ‘n jaar moet help, met baie moeite en min waardering. So ja, dis jou werk. Jy’t dit mos gekies.

Ek glo dat baie dinge in ons lewens beter kan word as ons net sou stilstaan vir ‘n oomblik en onsself ‘n paar vrae vra. So om terug te kom na my eerste vraag: Hoekom gaan jy terug? Of eerder, hoekom het jy onderwys gekies? Wat het jou gemotiveer om ‘n onderwyser te word? Kom ons wees eerlik, geen tiener maak klaar met hoërskool en dink ‘ek kan nie wag om terug te kom nie’! So wat is dit wat jou lewe in hierdie rigting gestuur het? Ons almal weet dit was nie oor geld nie… Miskien vier vakansies? Of was dit ‘n liefde vir kinders, vir mense…?

Jy sien, motivering speel ‘n baie groot rol in ons lewens. Hoekom ons sekere dinge doen sal uiteindelik bepaal hóé ons dit doen. As jou motivering baie laag is, sal jy tog nie jou beste insit in ‘n les wat jy al twintig keer aangebied het nie. En as jou motivering baie hoog is, sal jy daardie selfde les vir ‘n een-en-twintigste keer aanbied asof dit die eerste keer is wat jy dit vir enige iemand leer. Dis hoekom motivering verskriklik belangrik is.

Ek hoor jou – en al die ander onnies (kan ek julle maar so noem?) – wat met teleurstelling sug en sê dat motivering saam met dissipline by die deur uit is. Daarna is dit doodgedruk deur ander onderwysers wat kompeteer vir posisie en leierskap wat geen simpatie en belangstelling toon nie.

Maar hierdie realiteite was nie daar toe jy jou lewe gekies het nie. En niks van hierdie probleme behoort invloed te hê op jou motivering nie.

Ek wil jou uitdaag om terug te gaan na die tyd toe jy opgewonde was om skool te hou. Die motivering, my liewe juffrou en meneer, was binne-in jou – nie buite nie. Jy was opgewonde. Jy het liefgehad. Jy het hoop gehad. Ek wil jou uitdaag om hierdie jaar anders te begin as vorige jare. Begin met ‘n hart vol verwagting en opgewondenheid. Miskien sal die volgende paar punte jou moed gee vir hierdie nuwe skooljaar.

• Jy het net sowat 200 skooldae om ‘n groep mense se lewens te verryk. Ja, daardie klomp wesens wat nie kan spel nie en heeldag na elektroniese toestelle in hulle hande staar, is die volgende generasie – en JY het 200 dae van hulle lewe in jou hande! Hou op om jou vak aan te bied. Leer mense. Dink aan jou gunsteling onderwyser toe jy op skool was. Wens jy nie daardie onnie kon al jou vakke aanbied nie? En wat het daardie onderwyser spesiaal gemaak? Jy kan vir die kinders en tieners in jou klas, ‘n “gunsteling onnie” word. Aan die einde van elke dag, vra jouself of jou leerders beter af is omdat hulle vandag met jou tyd spandeer het. Die antwoord sal jou sê of jy lewens verander het of net tyd laat verby gaan het.

• Moenie vergeet dat daardie leerder wat voor jou sit dalk die enigste liefde van ‘n volwassene by jou as onnie gaan kry nie. Jou woorde en jou dade gaan ‘n lewenslange uitwerking op daardie kind se lewe hê. Ja, hulle kan jou mal maak en jou moed het dalk in jou skoene gesak toe jy uitvind ‘n sekere mannetjie is hierdie jaar in jou klas! Maar dis juis daardie kind wat jou nodig het. Doen bietjie moeite met onmoontlike kinders. Gee ekstra aandag en liefde. Die grootste verandering kom net as gevolg van groot liefde. Jou woede en kwaai woorde gaan geen verskil maak nie. Dit gaan waarskynlik net die seer wat alreeds diep gewortel is, verskerp. Jy kan die kwaai onnie wees vir wie almal bang is of jy kan die onnie wees wat lewens verander.

• Elke leerder wat voor jou sit, het potensiaal. Hulle besef dit dalk nie eens self nie. Maak ‘n keuse om elkeen se potensiaal raak te sien, maak nie saak hoe stil of hoe stout die kind is nie. Jou geloof in hulle is dalk al wat hulle nodig het om suksesvolle volwassenes te word. Die beste en mooiste geskenk wat jy vir jou leerders kan gee is om in hulle te glo wanneer hulle nie eens in hulself glo nie. Moenie net in die 80% en 90% leerders glo nie. Kyk vir daardie outjie wat 50% kry en sê vir hom julle gaan saam werk om dit 55% te maak!

• JY HET POTENSIAAL! Potensiaal is ‘n saad wat nooit doodgaan nie en dis binne-in ons almal geplant. Wat is jou potensiaal? As jy dieselfde mens is as wat jy laas jaar was, het jy nie gegroei nie. Verandering is nodig! Jy moet groei. Jy moet jou potensiaal najaag! Jy moet ‘n beter mens en onderwyser word! Jou potensiaal eindig die dag wanneer jy jou laaste asem uitblaas. Moenie dat dit vroeër eindig nie. Gee jou alles – vir jou man of vrou; vir jou eie kinders; vir jou leerders; vir jou kollegas; vir jou hoof; vir jouself. Moet niks terughou nie. Leef voluit!

• En dan laastens, hou passie lewendig in jou hart. Ek ontmoet onderwysers op ‘n daaglikse basis wie se passie-vlam lankal geblus is. Ek besef dat daar baie redes is, maar passie is ‘n hartsaak. Wanneer jy passie het vir wat jy doen, het jy nie motivering nodig nie – jou passie motiveer jou. Steek weer daardie vuurtjie aan die brand en raak opgewonde oor die invloed wat jy op mense se lewens kan hê! Jy is SO NODIG in ons samelewing! Ons het jou nodig! Die wêreld het jou nodig!

Ek wil graag eindig met ‘n ietsie oor myself. Ek het jare gelede ‘n woord gekies wat ek dink my as mens 100% beskryf. Sonder om vir iemand daarvan te vertel het ek toe vir my man, my ma en vir ‘n vriendin ook gevra om vir my ‘n woord te kies. Ek het nie woorde om vir julle te sê hoe opgewonde ek was toe hulle almal dieselfde woord as ek gekies het nie. My woord is “teacher”. Ek gee nie skool nie, maar dis WIE ek is. Ek IS ‘n “TEACHER”. Daar is nie ‘n dag in my lewe wat ek nie vir iemand iets wil leer of self iets wil leer nie. Dis asof dit my hartklop is. En dit is die rede vir hierdie brief aan jou. Ek het ‘n passie vir onderwysers en ek wil jou graag help om jou passie lewendig te hou.

Teen die muur in my studeerkamer regoor my lessenaar staan geskryf:

“I WAS BORN TO SERVE SPECIFIC PEOPLE! I HAVE GOT TO FIND THEM!”

Ek wil jou uitdaag om elkeen wat jou pad langs kom te sien as iemand vir wie jy gebore is. Jy is veronderstel om in hulle lewens te wees. Maak dit die beste tyd van hulle lewens en dit sál jou beste tyd wees.

Onnie-groete!

Debbie De Jager

debbiedejager@johnmaxwellgroup.com

Klik HIER vir die Engelse brief

Oplossings vir onderwysers: Kontak Debbie de Jager

Debbie De Jager: "Indien jy meer wil weet i.v.m. my program vir onderwysers, “The Extraordinary Teacher” of oor enige van my ander seminare vir skole, besighede en tieners, is jy welkom om my te kontak."

I am a TEACHER

This letter is to all teachers and educators around the globe who might feel demotivated or unappreciated.  I hope that this letter will encourage you to continue the great work you are doing in educating the next generation of leaders throughout the world!

“GOOD MORNING CLASS!”

If this is the way you greet people at your workplace, this letter is especially for you.  Next week the bells will ring at our schools again.  Why are you going back?  “Because it’s my job!”  Is that your answer?  You are a teacher to other people’s naughty kids or teens and have to get them yet again through another year with a lot of effort and little appreciation.  But it’s your job.  You’ve chosen this path.

I believe that many things in our lives could improve if we would just stop for a moment and ask ourselves a few tough questions.  So to get back to my first question:  Why are you going back?  Or rather, why did you choose to become a teacher?  What was your motivation?  Let’s be honest, no teenager leaves high school thinking ‘I can’t wait to come back’!  So what propelled your life in this direction?  We all know it was not about the money…  Maybe four holidays?  Or could it be a love for children, for people…?

You see, motivation plays a major role in our lives.  Why we do certain things will ultimately determine how we do it.  If your motivation is very low, you will not put your best effort into a lesson that you have given twenty times already.  If your motivation is very high, you will take that same lesson and present it for the twenty-first time as if it was the first time that you were teaching it to someone.  That’s why motivation is extremely important.

I hear you and all the other teachers out there who sigh with disappointment and say that motivation left when discipline walked out the door.  And life is sucked out of the little motivation left by teachers who compete for position and leadership that shows little or no sympathy and interest.  But these realities were not there when you chose this life.  And none of these problems should have an influence on your motivation right now.

I want to challenge you to go back to the time when you were excited to teach.  The motivation, my dear teacher friend, was inside of you – not outside.  You were excited.  You loved the idea of standing in front of a class filled with kids.  You had high hopes for everyone sitting in front of you.  I want to challenge you to start this year with a difference.  Start with a heart full of hope and excitement.  Perhaps the following might inspire you for this new school year.

• You only have about 200 school days to enrich the lives of a specific group of people.  Yes, those human beings who can’t spell and stare at electronic devices in their hands all day long are the next generation – and YOU have 200 days of their lives in your hands!  Stop teaching your subject.  Start teaching people.  Think of your favorite teacher when you were at school.  Don’t you wish that he or she could teach all your subjects?  What made them your favorite teacher?  You can become the “favorite teacher” to so many children and teenagers.  At the end of each day, ask yourself if your students are better off because they have spent some time in your class today.  The answer will tell you whether you are changing lives or just passing time with a career.

• You don’t know your students’ circumstances.  You might be the only adult who truly loves them.  Your words and actions will have a lifelong impact on their lives.  Yes, they can make you mad and you might have felt like running away when you learned that a certain young man was to be in your class this year!  But it’s exactly that child that needs you.  Put some effort into changing those “problem” children’s lives.  Pay extra attention and give some love.  When you truly love them, it will change their lives.  Your anger and angry words will make no difference.  It will probably only intensify their hurt.  You can be the strict teacher who everyone is scared of or you can be the teacher who changes lives.

• Each student in front of you has potential.  They might not even realize it.  Make a conscious decision to see everyone’s potential, no matter how quiet or how loud the child.  Your faith in them may be all that they need to become successful adults.  The best and most precious gift you can give them is to believe in them when they don’t believe in themselves.  Don’t just believe in the 80% and 90% students.  Look at your 50% student and tell him you are going to work together to make it 55%!

• YOU HAVE POTENTIAL!  Potential is a seed that will never die and it’s within all of us.  What is your potential?  If you are the same person you were last year, you have not grown.  Change is needed!  You need to grow.  You must go after your potential!  You must be a better person and teacher!  Your potential should die when you do.  Not a minute before.  Give your all – to your spouse; to your own children; to your students; to your colleagues; to your headmaster; to yourself.  Don’t hold back.  Live fully.

• And lastly, keep passion alive in your heart.  I meet teachers on a daily basis whose passion was smothered long time ago.  I realize that there are many reasons, but passion is a heart issue.  When you have passion for what you do, you don’t need to be motivated – your passion motivates you.  In fact, it pushes you.  Ignite your passion again and get excited about the opportunity you have to change lives!  You are SO NEEDED in our society!  We need you!  The world needs you!

I would like to end with a little story about myself.  Years ago I chose a word that I thought completely describes me as a person.  Without telling anyone I asked my husband, my mother and a friend to describe me in one word as well.  I was ecstatic when they all picked the exact same word I chose for myself!  My word is “TEACHER”.  I don’t teach kids at a school, but it’s who I am.  I AM a teacher!  There is not a day in my life that I don’t teach someone something or learn something new myself.  As cliche as it might sound – it’s in my blood and that’s the reason why I wrote this letter to you.  My heart beats with passion for teachers and I would love to help you keep your passion alive.

On the wall in my study just above my desk I have a quote that inspires me daily:

“I WAS BORN TO SERVE SPECIFIC PEOPLE!  I HAVE GOT TO FIND THEM!”

I want to challenge you to change the way you see every single person in your life.  If their paths cross yours, you were born to touch their lives and to serve them.  Make it the best moments of their lives and it will inevitably be your greatest.

Teacher greetings!

Debbie De Jager 

If you were inspired by this letter and would like to help us inspire every teacher possible, please share it on your social media pages, using the #ITouchTheFutureITeach and the link https://debbiedejager.com/the-extraordinary-teacher/i-am-a-teacher

Woensdag-waardes

Maandag-motivering

"Die verskil tussen gewone en buitengewone is daardie klein bietjie ekstra"

Human Rights Day 2022

 

Wise words ...

Wise words ...

HTS se hertogin van herwinning

Portia Kgopodithata, 'n 9-jarige wat nie vir 'n skoolprojek wag om haar deel te doen om die aarde te bewaar nie. Ander mense wag weer vir Nasionale Herwinningsdag. 

Sy het sommer vroeg in haar lewe besef dat baie dinge in die lewe 'n tweede kans kan kry - baie keer in 'n ander vorm, maar nog net so bruikbaar soos voorheen. Haar spesialiteit is die herwinning van papier en daarvan maak sy boekies vir kleuterskole in die droë Noord-Kaap om hulle te help. 

Sy het ook uitgevind dat om 'n ton papier te maak, is dit nodig om tussen 10 en 15 bome, 7 800 kilowatt uur elektriese energie en 'n groot hoeveelheid water te gebruik. Deur papier te herwin, sal bome, elektrisiteit en water bespaar kan word. 

Ons moet die aarde bewaar vir hulle wat na ons kom. Boonop beskerm ons insekte en voëls wat baie afhanklik is van bome om van te leef. En ons as mense het suurstof nodig, daarom moet ons sensitief wees vir die aarde se behoeftes.

Portia is die flukse en slim dogter van Madiba en Rebecca, albei personeellede van die skool.

 Portia het groot drome en daarom

begin sy reeds van jongs af haar

deel vir die gemeenskap doen.

Dankie, Portia!

RCL: 'n Geskenk aan die skool ...

Baie baie jare terug, in die vroeg 1980's het Johann Vandenberg, 'n wiskunde-onderwyser, die skool se eerste mikrogolfoond vir die skool geskenk. Hy het aan een of ander kompetisie deelgeneem en het 'n oond gewen. Hy het egter reeds 'n mikrogolfoond gehad en besluit toe om hierdie een vir die skool te skenk. En hierdie kompetisie-mikrogolf het vir meer as 30 jaar diens gedoen. Maar op 'n dag skop die ouderdomspyne net in en besluit selfs 'n oond dat genoeg nou genoeg is. Die opvolger  het nie dieselfde deursettingsvermoë gehad nie en het sommer gou die handdoek ingegooi. 2022 se VRL het dit goed gedink om met die geld wat hulle tydens Valentynsdag ingesamel het, 'n mikrogolf te koop. Hier staan mnre. Henk van Vuuren en Ishaaq Dajee met die nuwe werkesel wat 'n groot paar skoene moet volstaan. Dankie, mnr. Johan Herbst, Karabo Tsotsotso (VRL-voorsitter), Hendrew Rantsie (o/voorsitter) en die res van die VRL vir hierdie wonderlike gebaar. 

Matrics, use this holiday wisely!

 

Plan your school holidays

 

Woensdag-waardes

 

Maandag-motivering

“Jy kry nie 'n net gelukkige lewe nie. Jy skep dit." - Camilla Eyring Kimball

Woensdag-waardes

 

International Women's Day

March 8 is celebrated as International Women’s Day to make women feel empowered and to celebrate their achievements. This day is dedicated to all women who have smashed patriarchy at every step and have taken a stand for themselves.

It is a day to acknowledge and appreciate the efforts that women put into their daily lives that often go unnoticed. So make the women in your life feel special and loved by sharing these thoughtful, inspiring and empowering quotes, messages, wishes and greetings with them today.

Happy Women’s Day!

Mentor Club: Best advice

 

	What is the best advice you have received from a mentor?
1.	“Get out of my office, and don’t come back until you know what you are talking about!”	Jess H. Brewer
2.	Don’t let your physical or emotional pain to be a obstacle for achieving your dreams.	Nivetha Govindan
3.	We are here to hunt tigers, don't get distracted by mosquitoes. You might lose your rare prey. We should be very focused on our work. We should never react for crappy things from crazy people.	Ranjani Rajasekaran
4.	Make changes to your surroundings before trying to bring change to the world. Instead of talking, do some meaningful actions.	Nivetha Govindan
5.	There is too much rush here at the bottom, but there on the top, there are hardly a few.  He always says that work hard right now because problems and crisis bug people at the bottom of the ladder. He dares us to work hard right now so that you get the top view.	Advita Bihani
6.	It is OK to afraid of failing as long as you are not scared of trying.	Ginny Salas
7.	"Always do right. This will gratify some and astonish the rest."	Dan Strayer
8.	Be true to your principles. Integrity drives every other decision you will make, personally and professionally.	Michele DeFilippo
9.	"The bigger your dreams, the bigger the sacrifice. When in startup mode, act like you are in prison. Eat, sleep and work, and do nothing else."	Ziver Birg
10.	A good mentor helps you to walk in your own shoes, even if you start out just wanting to walk in theirs	Li Cunxin
11.	If you're going to be in the room, be useful ...	Chris Toy
12.	Keep moving forward with eyes on your goal ...	Ju-Chun Ko
13.	Make something people want ...	David Rusenko
14.	Take care of number one ...	Konrad Billetz
15.	Attract positivity and take action ...	Michael Dweck
16.	The key to happiness is balance ...	Constantin Bisanz
17.	Always think about how to craft your story.	Emily Motayed
18.	Find a job you love.	Daniel Silberman
19.	Smile; breathe; don't quit.	Jean Brownhill Lauer
20.	Your success is defined by what you say no to.	Justin Evans
21.	Take short-term discomfort for long-term gain.	Elliot Tomaeno
22.	This too shall pass.	Colin Darretta
23.	Learn something from everyone you meet.	Healey Cypher
24.	“Don’t be too preoccupied with winning the battle, to the point where you lose the war.”	Will Cannon
25.	“Know your work like the back of your hand.”	Jeremy Boudinet
26.	“Aim to do three things that will get you closer to your goal every day.”	Courtney Cannon
27.	"Be your own best advocate. Nobody thinks about you as much as you think about yourself."	Kim Stockley
28.	Believe in your abilities and take pride in your work	Dean Karrel
29.	Let’s recognize those that help us on our journey everyday.	Danielle Guzman
30.	Don't let your mind fool you into thinking you've reached your true potential.	Shay Eskew