Advice from the experts
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GRADE 11s: 3 MONTHS, 3 FLEXES TO SET YOU UP FOR MATRIC SUCCESS

Although the focus is firmly on the Matric Class of 2019 currently writing their NSC exams, their successors in Grade 11 are also now heading to exam rooms across the nation, and they should not underestimate the importance of these assessments, an education expert says. “The last two years of school should not be viewed in isolation. Rather, Grade 11 should be approached as the foundation upon which Matric success is built,” says Peter Kriel, General Manager at The Independent Institute of Education, SA’s largest and most accredited private higher education provider. “So any idea that your performance in Grade 11 doesn’t count, and that you can chill and make up for it next year, should be discarded,” he says. “Apart from the obvious benefit of doing well in these exams, it should be kept in mind that these marks can be submitted to gain provisional access to public universities or private higher education institutions, which means you can get in the gates before the flood of applications come streaming in next year,” he says. Kriel says although the thought of getting the exams over with and then taking a well-deserved break in December will no doubt be appealing to Grade 11s at this stage, there are 3 things they can take care of during the next 3 months which will see them start their final year of school with a distinct advantage over their peers, and with optimal chances of ending Matric on a successful note. 1)     DO AS WELL AS POSSIBLE IN YOUR EXAMS “As mentioned before, your Grade 11 results can be used to gain provisional access to university,” he says, “which means that your performance could mean the difference between having a wide range vs a restricted range of options. “But more than that, if you put in your best effort now, and invest in getting to grips with the study methods that work for you while ditching those which do not, you’ll start to get a good idea of your current capability. If you find that, despite your best efforts, you don’t do well, you’ll know that something needs to be tweaked or adjusted going forward. “However not putting in your best effort, means that you will enter your Matric year not understanding your potential, so the lessons you could have learned during these exams will have to be learnt during your final year at school, when you could have directed your focus to something more productive.” 2)     REVIEW YOUR RESULTS & STRATEGISE Kriel says the next step, after the exams are done and the results are in, is to honestly assess your situation. “Did you do your best? Could you have worked harder? Could you have worked smarter? Are there subjects that you know are going to need extra attention, or even extra resources in the form of, for instance, tutors or supplementary materials? “The key here is to look at how you performed, and your experience writing these important exams, and then use that information to plan your final year. Sometimes, if you identify serious red flags, it may even be necessary to consider your subject choices. But keep in mind thatonly one subject can be changed in Grade 12, and it must be done within a few weeks of school opening.” 3)     SORT OUT THE UNIVERSITY ADMIN Too often, the decision about what to study and where is left until way too late, because it seems like such a straightforward thing to decide and apply, says Kriel. “Nothing could be further from the truth, however. Choices about qualification and institution are major ones, which will have a substantial impact on your life after school, and your future prospects. “These are not decisions that can be left until June next year, and then you wake up and start to scramble to secure a place somewhere, anywhere. That is an ineffective approach and a potentially costly life and financial mistake, not to mention the fact that you simply won’t have the time or energy to do the groundwork next year,” he says. Grade 11 learners should therefore take a week or so timeout to rest after their exams, but then get to planning their post-school life. “The benefit of doing it now, during your holidays before you enter Grade 12, is that time is on your side. So you will be able to do extensive research about the job market and opportunities in the field or fields that interest you. You’ll be able to visit campuses and speak to career counsellors, you’ll also likely find careers and qualifications you’ve never even heard about. “Doing proper research now means you’ll be able to make an informed choice about your future, and, should you come to a decision, you’ll be able to get the extensive and exhaustive admin of the application process out of the way. Then on to Matric where you will start out on your strongest foot, and without the mountain of planning and additional stress that will be waiting for those who decided they’ll cross these bridges when they get there next year.”

Parenting Hub

Sugar Bay: A dream holiday destination for children

Kids all over the world are ditching their cellphones, and switching off the TV in favor of spending a school holiday at Sugar Bay Kids Resort in KwaZulu Natal. But that’s not the surprising part, the real surprise is that kids are going on holiday for an entire week (or two) without their parents. That’s right, Sugar Bay is a kids-only resort where children 7-17 years old can enjoy a safe, fun and parent-free holiday. For the working parent, this eliminates the stress of trying to arrange supervision and entertainment for their kids when the school holidays approach. Sugar Bay provides 24/7 supervision and all-day entertainment. Simply book online or give them a call, and they will handle everything for you, even your child‘s transport!  Transport to the Resort Your kids can catch Sugar Bay‘s private bus service from Sandton, or catch a flight to King Shaka International Airport. The camp counselors, which are basically au-pairs also trained in Emergency First Response and Child Psychology, will escort your little ones safely to Sugar Bay – whether from their flight or during the bus trip. These transport options allow children from all over the world to enjoy a tropical beach holiday, and to make new friends from around the globe – without a cellphone in sight.  Safety and Security With the highest staff-to-child ratio in the country (1:3) and over 18 years of experience, parents can rest assured that their little ones are safe and supervised. All water activities are supervised by qualified lifeguards, the property is secured by electric fences, 24-hour armed response, 25 CCTV surveillance cameras, night watchmen and fire alarms. The resort boasts facilities like a sports field, 25-metre pool with waterslides, paintball arena, indoor sports hall, theatre, infirmary and a waterfront with private access to the lagoon and beach. Unique themes every holiday Each school holiday is guaranteed to be a unique experience with different themes informing the itinerary and décor. Children are welcomed by superheroes, cartoon characters (and more) in an entirely new and imaginative setting from their previous visits. Accommodation Sugar Bay is a three-star establishment graded by the Tourism Grading Council. Nestled among trees and surrounded by sugar cane fields, the children sleep in spacious wooden cabins with en-suite bathrooms which are allocated according to age and gender. Additionally, all bed linen is provided and laundry is done for guests who stay longer than one week. Activities for all interests: Unlike other holiday camps, there are no compulsory activities at Sugar Bay. The children are free to choose from over 100 activities. Some popular activities include: Paintball and Airsoft Zip Lining Waterslides Bungee Trampoline Surfing Dance Lessons Skateboarding Kayaking Rock Wall Climbing Bmx Standup Paddle Boarding (SUP) Yoga Arts, crafts & baking. Kids deserve a great holiday break too – this is the concept behind Sugar Bay, which has created a winning formula for extraordinary fun and impeccable safety. Sugar Bay is an ideal getaway from today’s distracting technologies, and a perfect opportunity for kids to learn how to enjoy the outdoors. This children’s paradise is situated just 30 kilometers north of Ballito in a little seaside village called Zinkwazi Beach. The cost of a typical 7-day holiday includes accommodation, activities, three meals per day and 24-hour supervision. Naturally, parents may have concerns and questions before being convinced to send their kids away on a holiday alone. Sugar Bay’s friendly office will gladly chat to parents about their individual concerns for their children. Give them a ring on (032) 485 3778 or pop them an email at holidays@sugarbay.co.za . You can also watch this video for a preview of the camp’s facilities and the activities on offer. Get In Touch: www.sugarbay.co.za holidays@sugarbay.co.za (032) 485 3778

Parenting Hub

How to help kids deal with anxiety

No parent likes to see their child worried, stressed or anxious. The good news is that your response and support can make a big difference. Here’s what you can do to help.

Parenting Hub

A Positive Comparison Approach to Assist your Child

No two children are the same; they have different talents, interests, develop at different rates and have different strengths. As parents, it is essential to tread carefully as one can either build or break the confidence and self-esteem in one’s children.

Impaq

How bullying can affect your child’s mental health

We’ve all heard the saying, sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. But recent research shows that that is not the case. In their book Words Can Change Your Brain, Andrew Newberg, M.D. and Mark Robert Waldman write: “A single word has the power to influence the expression of genes that regulate physical and emotional stress.” The saying would perhaps then be more accurate if changed to sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can change my brain.

Parenting Hub

How to study for Languages

Many learners place very little emphasis on studying for a language exam – after all, we use language every day so how difficult can an exam be, right? Wrong!

Parenting Hub

No spanking, what now?

South Africa has just passed a law prohibiting the spanking of children as a way of punishment. The debate as to whether this is ‘right’ or not rages on, with parents on both sides of the argument expressing their points of view. In fact, Cindy Glass, Owner and Co-Founder of Step Up Education Centre says, “there is little that causes the intensity of emotions and opinions as that of whether or not spanking your child is helpful or whether it is simply something that has been passed down from one generation to the next, with little or no workable alternatives.”

Parenting Hub

Environmental Education

Education in any realm is important for changing oneself as well as the community in which we live. Education is the only way that people can build the knowledge to affect any change. I am not merely referring to the learning of facts and theorems but more critically, learning how to effectively question, explore and think about issues, change one’s mind (and the minds of others), innovate and create.

Parenting Hub

Brands on-board to help SA families build bursaries for school

As any parent knows, when it comes to affording quality education for our children, we need all the help we can get. Escalating school fees, continual costs of uniforms and many extras make educating our children a significant, long-term family expense. Quality education features high on the UN’s list of 17 sustainable development goals, and South Africa is a signatory to the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development which recognises the vital role that education plays in improving lives.

Parenting Hub

HELP YOUR TEENAGER TO ADOPT POSITIVE ATTITUDES

Positive attitudes in your teenager will help him to feel better about himself and his world. Help your teen to develop a positive and healthy attitude towards himself and those around him. You can do this by being optimistic yourself. Avoid making negative or pessimistic comments. Surely there must be something good in most situations? Don’t openly criticize yourself or other people. It sounds judgemental and negative. Constant criticism of everything becomes a bad habit. Try to be cheerful. You probably have a lot for which to be thankful!

Impaq

What bullying looks like and what to do about it

Bullying has three defining characteristics – it is deliberate (a bully intends to hurt someone), it is repeated (the behaviour continues over time), and it is power imbalanced (bullies pick on those they perceive as weaker).  While bullying takes many forms – verbal, physical, emotional – the results are always destructive. Recognising the warning signs is an important first step in taking action. The following signs may point to bullying:  Unexplainable injuries. Lost or destroyed clothing, books, electronics or other valuables. Feeling sick or faking an illness, and frequent head or stomach aches.  Changes in eating habits, such as binge eating or suddenly skipping meals.  Being unusually anxious, nervous, upset, teary, angry and withdrawn.  Difficulty sleeping, frequent nightmares or bedwetting. A sudden and significant drop in marks, loss of interest in schoolwork or not wanting to go to school. Avoidance of social situations and other activities. Feelings of helplessness or decreased self-esteem. Running away from home, self-harming or talking about suicide. What to do if you’re being bullied Tell someone If you or someone you know is being bullied the first thing you need to do is tell someone you trust (a parent, sibling, friend, uncle/aunt or a teacher) about the bullying. Tell them to stop Bullies often prey on individuals they perceive as weaker. Try acting confident and assertive and tell the bully to stop. Bullies might also be caught off guard if you brush their comments off with humour or say nothing and walk away.  Find safety in numbers  Keep yourself surrounded by people and always find a friend to walk with or to eat lunch with. To read more about what to do if you or someone you know is being bullied, click here. Remember that home education allows parents to offer their children emotional reinforcement, to help boost their confidence and self-esteem so they can learn and grow in a safe, supportive and loving environment.  By Danielle Barfoot

Impaq

A day in the life of a homeschooling family

So, you want to know what a typical day is like for a homeschooling family? That’s one of the best things about home education (also known as homeschooling) – there are no typical days! When educating your children at home, a “typical day” is as unique as each of the families choosing this education option.

Parenting Hub

Help! My Child is in the wrong crowd

‘All negative behaviours stem from fears rooted in negative self-belief. We cannot control the behavioural choices of others but we can do something to assist our children in making better friendship choices.’

Parenting Hub

When your teen wants out of summer camp

Teenagers have different reasons for not wanting to go to camp anymore, from feeling like they have grown out of the annual excursion to wanting to invest time in things that interest them outside of camp.

Abbotts Colleges

Choosing Engineering Graphics and Design in High School

Choosing Engineering Graphics and Design as a subject for Grade 10 provides fundamental knowledge and drawing skills required for several career opportunities, namely architecture, engineering, medical technician, industrial designer, interior designer, city planner, graphic illustrator and artisan.

Parenting Hub

The Best Gear for Family Picnics

The weather is getting warmer and it’s time to get outdoors.  One of the most exciting outings is to gather the family for a picnic. You can picnic in your own garden or venture to some of the great picnic spots around South Africa.  Here are some tips to have a fuss free picnic: 1. Pack light Make sure you pack smart and light. You never know how far you are going to need to walk to find the perfect spot. Picnic Baskets are great but can be clumsy if you are balancing a toddler on your hip as well. Backpacks make the best picnic bags. Don’t forget a good lightweight foldable picnic blanket try not weigh yourself down with heavy blankets that get damp and dirty.  2. Stay Hydrated  Keep a bottle of frozen water in your bag in summer, this will slowly melt and keep the water cold. For something sweeter for the kids the new Miracle 360° Fruit infuser cup from Munchkin makes for a healthy choice. Add your child’s favourite fruit like strawberries, oranges, or blueberries into the fruit basket, twist it into the bottom, then fill the cup with water. The twist-on fruit extractor breaks up the fruit allowing it to infuse into the water and make a fun flavourful drink! Bye, bye juice and unhealthy cooldrinks! Hello, healthy flavoured water! Plus, your kids stay hydrated and clean (or at least cleaner!) while playing at parks and scenic areas. 3. Keep the hunger at bay When packing for a picnic, it seems like there are never enough bowls to accommodate all the different snacks everyone wants.  Once again Munchkin have an answer Munchkin Love-a-Bowl comes in a set of four bowls with interchangeable lids, these come in handy when your little ones have not finished all the snacks and want to eat later. With all the tossing around in your picnic bag the lids need to be leak proof. Munchkin Love-a-Bowl are 100% guaranteed to be spill proof, leak proof and break- proof. Now that’s the kind of bowl I need on a picnic. 4. Keep the Insects away Flies and bees can be a pest on a picnic! Our top tip for this is take along your Camp Cot Mozzi net. It can come in handy if baby falls asleep in a pram or for just keeping those bugs off the food. 5. Snacks on the go If your kids enjoy food on the run, consider the Munchkin Deluxe Snack Catcher. It is designed to keep up with your toddler’s active lifestyle. This cleaver little bowl teaches self-feeding with a bit more dexterity and a lot less mess. It’s a multitasking bowl with soft flaps that are gentle enough for fingers to get through but sturdy enough to keep messes at bay (and insects out.) 6. No Stress  Picnics with kids need not be a challenge so stick to what you know your kids like to eat and drink and don’t forget something special for Mom and Dad Picnics can be a cost-effective outing, so go out and enjoy a bonding time with your family. Don’t forget to enter the picnic hamper competition on the competition page. Thank you to Munchkin for generously donating our favourite products for the prize. 

Abbotts Colleges

Choosing Visual Arts in High School

Visual Arts at high school level offers a multi-disciplinary programme that trains the hand and the eye, while engaging the intellect and the imagination in conceptualising and creating two-dimensional and three-dimensional artworks. This subject is about self-expression and helps students to engage meaningfully with, and respond to, their world in a non-verbal way. Students come into the art lessons often with a sense of relief, where they can be themselves, talk about all sorts of things and feel safe to do so.

Parenting Hub

The dark side of apps

In fact, according to recent reports, 6 Android apps that were downloaded a staggering 90 million times from the Google Play Store were found to have been loaded with the PreAMo malware, while another recent threat saw 50 malware-filled apps on the Google Play Store infect over 30 million Android devices. Surveillance malware was also loaded onto fake versions of Android apps such as Evernote, Google Play and Skype.

Parenting Hub

Choosing History in High School

History helps one understand the world by examining the struggles, failures and successes of our predecessors. Through this we learn how to examine ourselves and improve the world we live in. Studying History, equips us with all the qualities we require in a modern society: understanding, compassion & tolerance.

Parenting Hub

Teaching our children to have an attitude of gratitude

Have you noticed that we may be bringing up a generation of young people who feel so entitled to gifts, devices and whatever they desire, that gratitude is becoming a lost art? How often do you feel uncomfortable in choosing gifts for yours or other’s children because you know that the more affordable, ‘little’ things may result in a forced ‘thank-you’, or worse, a temper tantrum?

Impaq

To be, or not to be a homeschooling family: Our experience

Dené worked hard and obtained her National Senior Certificate through Impaq at the end of 2012. She got accepted to the University of Pretoria and started her BA Drama in 2013. Dené has passed her master’s degree in Drama and Film Studies from UP with distinction – with the feedback that she achieved the highest mark in the department’s history! She shares her advice to current and future Impaq learners, parents, guardians, and tutors:

Parenting Hub

The 5 best gifts that you can give your children, and they do not cost a cent!

parents have come to (unconsciously) rely on the buying of material gifts to let their children know that they love them while not fully understanding the negative implications of these well-meaning gestures.” She adds that joy in receiving material gifts and especially if the gifts are guilt-driven is most often short-lived and children are all too frequently left feeling confused, alone, miserable and frustrated and, in some cases, even a bit depressed. You see, it is not the receiving of many material gifts that they seek!

Parenting Hub

KEEP CALM & STUDY ON: DON’T LET FEAR OF FAILURE RUIN YOUR FOCUS

Many of South Africa’s Matric learners are approaching their looming final examinations filled with dread and anxiety, in anticipation that they won’t do very well or, even worse, fail the most important assessment in their academic life so far.

Parenting Hub

MATRICS: A PAST PAPER A WEEK KEEPS YOUR FINALS RESULTS ON FLEEK

The moment of truth has arrived for this year’s Grade 12s. With fewer than 100 days until the start of their final examinations, the Class of 2019 now has to pull out all the stops to ensure they achieve to their full potential, as their final results will play a decisive role in the options open to them in years to come.

Parenting Hub

Matric learners: Top tips for exam success

Matric learners all over South Africa have the finish line in sight as the race to complete their schooling career nears its end. Cindy Glass, Director and Co-founder of Step Up Education Centres explains “There is no doubt that the upcoming Trial and Final exams can be a source of anxiety and stress for most, if not all, Grade 12 learners-and their parents! The task ahead can feel overwhelmingly challenging and the resulting fear-of-failure can and, too-often, does become counter-productive in the learning process.”

Parenting Hub

FIRST YEAR FEAR: FACING UP TO STUDY CHOICE DOUBT & CONFUSION

After their first semester and first major university exams, many first years are sitting with an unenviable conundrum – the realisation that they may not have made the best choice about what to study for the next 3 years of their life.

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