For most students, maths will prove to be as essential to career planning as air is to breathing. Lack of maths will, in most cases, lead to dead end jobs just as a lack of air will lead to a dead-end life.

 

Why do the majority of adults hate Mondays and love Fridays? Is it not because most of us are in jobs or professions that are not fully aligned with our natural talents or desires. For many who drop maths for the wrong reasons, this sadly could be the experience in their future career. As parents, none of us want this for our children.

 

I have seen a lot of dedicated, brilliant maths teacher in my time, but unfortunately, I have also seen far too many uninspired, or overly clever maths teachers completely destroy the confidence of their students. In fact there is such an unnecessary “fear of maths” today in students, who with just a little help would be more than able to perform.

 

Many adults reading this article are victims of these confidence destroying culprits, so you know what I am talking about. It generally only takes one bad maths teacher to destroy a student’s confidence for life.

 

There is hope!
With all of us being forced to stay at home, now is the time to help your child start an effective program of building up a rock-solid foundation on which to build their skills of mathematics.

 

I have proved it time and time again. Students ONLY need to master 5 Fundamental Skills in order to achieve competence in their high school maths curriculum. If these basics are missing, no matter how hard a brilliant Grade 11 or 12 teacher may try, the student will not have the foundation to link the new concepts to, and so these concepts hang in no particular order or meaningful manner and cannot be applied to further problems.

 

What can you do?
Find a tutor who is experienced, passionate and skilled in helping students to find their natural mathematical talent, which, contrary to popular opinion, is inherent in most of us. Let the Tutor determine exactly where the gaps may be and begin an intelligent program of building up the foundation, block upon block, until your child’s confidence is developed. The truth is that once a child has gained the confidence and skill to learn maths, it becomes one of the easiest subjects to master. It is my strong belief, developed over 30 years of tutoring, that the majority of students are more than capable of achieving a distinction for this crucial subject.

 

A word of caution!
Please don’t just choose any tutor or person to help your child with their mathematics. This can do more harm than good. Ensure that the tutor has the experience, understanding and love for teaching mathematics.

 

Check that their personality style will be conducive to the delivery of productive lessons. Make sure the tutor is in this for the long haul and not just as a side-line to make some extra cash. Ask questions about the structure of lessons, the program they will be using and how one can assess the effectiveness of the lessons in terms of assessments or regular tests. Ask about other students who are currently using his or her services. Armed with this, you should be able to find the perfect tutor for your child.

 

Should you wish to find out more, you are welcome to contact me on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or leave a WhatsApp message on 061 544 7393.

 

Greg Shapiro
Maths Tutoring Specialist
www.mapf.co.za

 

News supplied.

PLEASE TAKE NOTE! GAS TO GO

As gas is essential we're allowed to assist you during lock down.

Services can be rendered during business hours.

Please feel free to contact
Wayne @ 072 409 0047,for your needs, he will make arrangements to assist you with pleasure.

 

News supplied by Gas to Go.

 

Google reveals clear skies over China, and much cleaner canals in Venice - not because the water is cleaner, but less traffic stirring up the sediment beneath. Love the idea of Attila the Hun invading Italy in 453AD forcing the Veneti people to take refuge on islands and in the nearby swamp, and so Venice came into being. Speculation abounds regarding improvements in the Ozone layer, particularly over Antarctica, with vastly reduced jet streams.

 

All clouds have silver linings and these examples above cheer me no end. What about lives spared during lockdown, given our shocking statistics. Never mind the reminder not to take freedom of movement for granted again, by any means.

 

The uncertainty created by this invisible virus is enormous, creating anticipatory grief as our sense of safety is destroyed. As a result, for many their imaginary fears become very real. Blessed with an active, vivid imagination, I have always had to work hard at separating imaginary and real fears. It is my fervent hope that as we are forced to slow down, take stock and prepare for life after Covid19, that others are able to control their imaginary fears. Concentrate instead on the real fears, the matters one has control over and create a sense of perspective. What is the worst thing that can happen to me/us? Has it happened, and adjust one's anticipatory grief/response accordingly. All kind enough to read this are infinitely better off than so many in South Africa and all over the world. Consider their fears for some time, please - real or imaginary.

 

I am going to be sharing some short stories online, hoping to entertain adults and youngsters alike during this lockdown period, and beyond should the response be favourable. Once travel bans are eased, I hope those who have threatened for years to visit the battlefields will realise those aspirations. There is no substitute for being on the battlefields themselves, allowing these stories to transport you. A fine reminder too of just what human beings are capable of, should you require reminding.

 

Adversity does not build character, it reveals it.

 

As a storyteller I share human stories and behaviour, particularly in the most challenging of circumstances. Lessons in intuition, interconnectedness and human endeavour will positively challenge the way you interact, work and lead your life. In this age of entertainment overload, when last were you offered the opportunity of being entertained in the theatre of your imagination via the powers of great stories well told?

 

Contact: Karen de Haan
Cell: +27 (0)82 344 9999 or +27 (0)82 4000 470
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

 

News supplied.

 

Sarah Day, a Grade 2 learner at Laddsworth Primary School, competed in a Gymnastics competition at the Pietermaritzburg Sports Development Centre on Saturday 14 March 2020.

 

Sarah received a Bronze medal for Level 1 Under 8.

 

 

News supplied by Laddsworth Primary School.

We would just like to let you know that UP.Ed are still working during lockdown.

 

Don't be bored! Learn IsiZulu with us.

Get your free app by emailing Kim at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Also check out our YouTube channel, UP.Ed Official.

 

From 27 March, we will be releasing short videos that will help you start speaking isiZulu immediately! Look out for them on our YouTube channel every day at 10AM.

 

Follow the link below to our channel, subscribe and click the notification bell  to get reminders of when our videos are posted.

 

https://www.youtube.com/ch…/UCjix5D31tIL3Kyym3OYl4JQ/videos…

 

News supplied by UP.Ed

 

The Rotunda Farm Stall will still be OPEN during the lock down period. Please also make use of our delivery service if you don’t want to leave your home.

 

Email or WhatsApp your order through

Email : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
WhatsApp : 079 525 4589

 

News supplied by Rotunda Farm Stall.

ALL Msunduzi Municipality Service delivery challenges during the 21 days of Lockdown can be reported to 033 845 5900 or 033 392 2945.

 

This will replace the Call Centre for Water, Sanitation, Electricity, Security, Traffic etc. for this lockdown period.

 

News supplied by Msunduzi Municipality.

News supplied by Bode's Barber Shop.

CoronaFighter presents us with the opportunity to be calm and mindful about our health status daily – screen for COVID-19 and stay empowered in the #CoronaFight

 

During this uncertain time, it is all too easy to feel powerless in the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic. Now more than ever, many of us are looking for a way to educate ourselves with accurate information, soothe our anxiety and most importantly to monitor our health. CoronaFighter is a web-enabled app found at www.testforcovid.co.za – the app allow you to track your symptoms through a simplified automated self-monitoring process.

 

The CoronaFighter platform is at the forefront of a medical revolution that puts you at the centre of quality informative Covid-19 information you need. It provides you with reliable statistics, resources and validated research that are crucial in catching cases early and helps to communicate efficiently with medical staff. By providing you with the tools and information they need for self-monitoring, CoronaFighter reduces pressure on testing points and protects its users from the risk of infection presented by the testing centres themselves.

 

Due to COVID-19’s tendency to present symptoms slowly and be passed along incredibly easily, we should start self-monitoring as soon as possible. The health status and symptoms of patients with Coronavirus also change over time, and pre-testing will ensure that there are fewer false negative tests. By gathering updated information on a daily basis, officials will be able to identify patterns in symptom development that can lead to earlier diagnosis and limit further spread.

 

The easy-to-follow test gives you and all South Africans an accessible way to compare your current health profile to the latest NICD1 guidelines. To test yourself for COVID-19 simply sign-up on www.testforcovid.co.za with your email, phone number or Google Account, where you’ll give CoronaFighter a brief medical and travel history, and the app will be able to tell you what the latest NICD guidelines suggest you do next.

 

The platform was developed as an open-source initiative to ensure you get the best possible CoronaFighter app. Over 35 hardworking and passionate doctors, software engineers, creatives and marketers were able, in the space of one week, to create CoronaFighter. The app was designed to collect data to provide medical authorities with reactive feedback on where COVID-19 hotspots are, and aids in providing crucial data so that medical resources can be used in the most efficient way possible.

 

CoronaFighter presents you with the opportunity to be calm and mindful about your health status, it makes medical care easy to find and gives you an active way to contribute to the research that will ultimately win the battle against COVID-19.

 

Join the #CoronaFight today!
Go TestForCOVID – an opportunity that is providing you with the chance to take care of yourself and your family. The CoronaFighter reminds us that we are in fact empowered in the fight against the virus and that together we can make a difference. Let’s stand together to #flattenthecurve – join the #CoronaFight cause by going to www.testforcovid.co.za and @testforcovid on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

 

Want to make a larger contribution?

To volunteer your time and skills or to donate to this cause in support of our collaborative #CoronaFight e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

News supplied.

 

 I have just been hit with a cold.

 

I haven’t had a cold for probably well over a year, so why did I fall victim to a cold now? Well, I am guessing that it’s largely because of an immune system that has become compromised because of the unexpected stress rising within me over the past three or four weeks. So where is my stress coming from? i.e. what are the underlying causes of my chronic stress?

 

Well, my training and ongoing research strongly suggest that my current stress is largely related to difficult or unpleasant emotions, both anxiety and frustration, in this case. These emotions are partly because my wife and I have agreed that I should self-isolate (from my family) because of my almost daily interactions with patients and staff at the nearby psychiatric care centre. I have moved into a small granny cottage on a nearby property, which means that I am no longer able to infect my family with the Coronavirus should I be carrying it…

 

And it also means that I am no longer able to get hugs and kisses from my two young sons, that I have to stand on the other side of the fence when I visit (with my face mask on), and that I spend no more than a few minutes each day engaging with them in conversation that often does not feel smooth-flowing or natural. This physical separation from my loved ones, together with the huge number of new and unexpected stressors that now exist, are quite clearly the underlying causes of my emotional stress.

 

Much of the above may resonate with you… but are you aware that there are also a number of other very important sources of stress that significantly impact the health of our immune system on a daily basis? If not, I hope to help build your understanding of stress and of the different potential sources of stress through a brief email newsletter that I will send out every few days, during this lockdown period.

 

Please keep an eye open for my newsletter and forward it to everyone you care about. It will be full of important information together with practical advice to help you and your loved ones to (pro)actively start taking small steps to remove the many possible underlying causes of stress from your life.

 

And don’t hesitate to send me your questions to my email address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

News supplied by Alistair Mork-Chadwick.

The Department of Small Business Development has introduced relief mechanisms for SMME’s impacted negatively by the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Please find mechanisms, criteria and processes to be completed below:

Debt Relief Financial Scheme

For businesses which are negatively affected directly or indirectly due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Qualifying Criteria

• Provision of a business profile;
• Ability to prove that the business has been negatively affected by the Covid-19 Pandemic;
• The business must have been registered with the CIPC by at least 28 February 2020;
• The business must be 100% South African owned;
• 70% of Employees must be South African;
• Business must be registered and compliant with SARS and UIF (Seda will assist micro-enterprises to comply and requests for assistance must be emailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., whereas small and medium enterprises must ensure own compliance);
• SMME Employers who are not compliant with UIF must register before applying for relief;
• Provision of company statutory documents, certified copies of directors ID’s & FICA documents;
• Provision of latest 3 months bank statements;
• Provision of latest Annual Financial Statements and/or latest Management Accounts (not older than 3 months from date of application);
• Ability to supply 6 month’s Cash Flow projections (where applicable);
• Provision of facility statements of other funders;
• Copy of lease agreements and proof of ownership if applying for rental relief;
• If applying for payroll relief: details of employees as registered with UIF and including bank details, as payments will be made directly to employees;
• Ability to supply a detailed breakdown on application of funds, including salaries, rent etc.
• Business must be registered on the National SMME Database – http://smmesa.gov.za; and
• Completion of the simple on-line application form.
Notes:
Priority will be given to businesses owned by women, youth and people with disabilities.

Application Process

• Register on http://smmesa.gov.za
• Complete online Application Form (to be released on Thursday, 2 April 2020)
• Upload required supporting documents
Business Growth/Resilience Facilities

For businesses geared to take advantage of supply opportunities resulting from Coronavirus pandemic or shortage of goods in the local market.

Qualifying Criteria

• Provision of a business profile;
• The business must have been registered with the CIPC by at least 28 February 2020 (registration documents required);
• Provision of relevant industry certification(where applicable);
• The business must be 100% South African owned;
• 70% of Employees must be South African;
• Business must be registered and compliant with SARS and UIF (micro businesses who are not compliant may be assisted by Seda, requests for assistance to be sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.);
• Provision of company statutory documents, certified copies of directors ID’s & FICA documents;
• Provision of latest 3 months bank statements;
• Provision of latest Annual Financial Statements and/or latest Management Accounts (not older than 3 months from date of application);
• Ability to supply 6 month’s Cash Flow projections (where applicable);
• Ability to provide estimations for funding requested;
• Business must be registered on the National SMME Database – http://smmesa.gov.za; and
• Completion of the simple on-line application form available from www.dsbd.gov.za or www.sefa.org.za .

Notes:  Priority will be given to businesses owned by women, youth and people with disabilities.

Application Process

• Register on http://smmesa.gov.za
• Complete online Application Form (to be released on Thursday, 2 April 2020)
• Upload required supporting documents

Source: Pietermaritzburg & Midlands Chamber of Business www.pmcb.org.za

Tanglewood Nursery Lockdown Special 

 

For those of you who are busy planning your gardens during lockdown time, we are offering an amazing "Buy now, Plant later" deal!!

 

Buy a voucher of any value and get 25% off!!

 

Offer valid until Lockdown ends!

 

For more details, email us on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Whatsapp on 0844020624.

 

News supplied by Tanglewood Nursery.

Laddsworth Primary School received the WESSA Eco Schools Diamond Decade Award.

 

This award is in recognition of Laddsworth’s ten years of involvement and dedication to Eco Schools.

 

Mrs Jenny Raubenheimer and Mrs Wendy Line attended the Eco Schools award ceremony on Saturday 14 March 2020 in Pietermaritzburg, where they were presented with a certificate and trophy on achieving Laddsworth’s Diamond Decade Award.

 

Picture below : First Row L-R: Caleb Tyler (Grade 3), Mali Wylde (Grade 4),Isabella Bryant (Grade 3), Seth Moran (Grade 5), Matthew Keet (Grade 3), Emily Keet (Grade 6).
Second Row L-R: Mrs Wendy Line, Mrs Jenny Raubenheimer, Georgina Cotton (Grade 6)

 

News supplied by Laddsworth Primary School.

Flick Soccer

 

Thanks to some amazing sponsorship from Standard Bank - South Africa, we will be sharing a number of games and activities to enjoy with your children that use things you have in your home.

 

Check each day for the latest activity.

 

For your interest, the last picture will give you a description of one of the skills that you are helping your child to develop through this play, so that you can see how you are helping with your child's development as well as bonding with your child.

 

Feel free to share with friends that you think might enjoy doing these with their kids.

 

News supplied by Singakwenza.

 

 

Source Facebook; Temple - Wisdom Online

Dr Claudine Lee and Su Akerman, although not consulting from the Practice in Quarry Road during Lockdown, are available for telephonic and video consults throughout this time.

 

Please call Jen on 083 289 8351 to set up yours.

 

We are here throughout Lockdown, for you!!

 

The practice will be opened for any extenuating or special cases.

 

News supplied by Dr Su Akerman and Dr Claudine Lee.