HEIGH-HO, HEIGH-HO, IT’S OFF TO SCHOOL WE GO

For those with no set regulations regarding the choice of bag, consider the age of the child, the load they will need to carry and if they will need to carry the bag up and down stairs. Children are no respecters of wheels or handles and will merrily drag bags up and down stairs, or just drop them from the floor above. This can be very hard on a bag.

• Backpack – carried on the back with two shoulder straps

• Messenger bag – multi-sectional bag with a strap going diagonally across the body from one shoulder

• Tote bags – a big single space bag with two handles, basically a large material shopping bag

• Wheeled bags – similar to a backpack, but with wheels, a handler and straps, some also have a frame that can be removed so it can be a backpack or a wheely bag.

• Weight – This is a big consideration especially for younger children. The bag needs to be light-weight but sturdy. Even wheeled bags will need to be carried at times so this is a big consideration.

• Size – Again the age and size of the child is an important consideration as is the expected load they will need to carry. Match the size to the load as too small a bag and the child will need to carry things in a separate bag or in their hands.

• Lumbar support – basic backpacks will have shoulder straps, but the more ergonomic ones have padded lumbar support, and sometimes a stomach and a chest strap too along with an aluminium frame. All of these additional features help to make the backpack easier to carry for longer.

• Build – As children will invariably pick up and move the bag by the straps or handles, stitching has to be done with this in mind or the straps will tear off. Having a waterproof outer layer is also important as is having a base made from plastic or other sturdy material.

• Cost – Cost is possibly the biggest factor in purchasing a school bag. Generally speaking, the higher the cost, the better the build and the longer it will last. However, some brands lean toward popular images or designs that cost a lot but are not very durable. Look toward known bag manufacturers with good reviews and warranties or guarantees on their products.

• Colour – Depending on whether this is dictated by the school, choose a bag in a darker shade or pattern so that marks or dirt aren’t too evident. Lighter shades will look very shabby very quickly as children tend to be rather rough on their school bags.

Most bags are made from nylon or canvas, though messenger bags can often be made from leather. Nylon is easy to clean, is waterproof and lightweight. Canvas is waterproof to a degree and can be cleaned but not as easily as nylon and is a bit heavier. Leather, whilst waterproof and easy to clean can be heavy, though it certainly is durable, leather bags are really more suited to older children.

If aesthetics is more of a factor and the parents plan on replacing the bag annually at least, other materials like PVC can be considered. For school and sports bags, nylon is certainly the go-to as it’s hard-wearing, waterproof, lightweight, easy to clean and comes in range of colours and patterns.�

It is most important that children choose the right school bag at the right time.

The critical ages are between ages 10 -14 years. This is the time children are most vulnerable, as its during their allimportant growth spurt. Children that carry ill-fitting schoolbags with no support system to help lighten the load are far more susceptible to back problems, as it’s during these years that their bones, muscles and ligaments are still developing. Tense muscles that are continually under strain, cause discomfort and pain which can be on going, effecting concentration, causing headaches and often resulting in muscle imbalances.

Not are all parents aware that TOTEM has analysed and researched the problem and has come up with an Orthopaedic and Ergonomic schoolbag that deals with the problem head on.

Parents can help reduce the risk, by buying their child an Ergonomically designed schoolbag, which is researched to do the heavy lifting, lightening the load while protecting their back and spine.

Honestly, a schoolbag should be seen as equipment with a strong focus on functionality. Think of the different scenarios. When you’re a road runner you buy the right shoes for the job. When your carrying heavy weight up a mountain you’ll invest in a backpack that will help you support and lighten the load. Likewise, when children are carrying heavy weight on their backs, every day at school

They too should have the right equipment for the task.

When selecting a schoolbag parents should consider the function, the comfort, the support assistance, the durability, the quality and lastly the fashion appeal.

Not to say that the COOL FACTOR is not important. To the contrary, the child will not want to wear a bag if they don’t like the look of it.

A parent should look for value for money when buying a schoolbag. If a bag is high quality and lasts for many years, then they have a huge advantage. They won’t need to replace bags so frequently, which is a huge relief. This can become expensive and often a grudge purchase for parents as most bags don’t carry a guarantee and repair costs are expensive.

TOTEM products are exceptionally durable and genuinely last, even with the kind of treatment kids dish out. Totem is confident of our QUALITY and stands firmly behind our 3-year guarantee. �

framework – lightweight and contoured, to fit the natural curve of the spine. This Spinal

Support System offers stability and helps support the load and prevents posture problems and back injuries. This frame acts as a second spine.

feature - allows for perfect contact between the shoulders and the lower back which ensures even distribution of the load between the shoulders and the lower back.

This built-in infrastructure helps to support up to 20% of the it which makes the bag feel lighter. Designed to carry the weight with ease.

• Thick back padding – is strategically placed along the length of the back muscles and across the lower lumber section. Helps to cushion the load comfortably. High quality foam padding that won’t compress over time.

As a result of the restrictive legislation employers threaten to close down their businesses. But it is not necessary for employers to take such drastic steps merely because the labour law interferes with their right to make business decisions.

This is because every employer has the ability and opportunity to acquire the expertise necessary to implement business decisions without transgressing the law and still maintain a viable business.

Employers are not required to get their employees’ “permission” to retrench. That is, they are not required to negotiate retrenchments but only to consult with the trade union or other employee representatives (if these exist) or with the employees themselves. However, it is in the employer’s interest to negotiate the criteria for choosing retrenchees because, if the employees agree, then the agreed criteria are legal.

The difference between consultation and negotiation is most important. Negotiation means that the parties must reach agreement before any idea can becomes a decision or is implemented. This is not required in retrenchment law although the trade unions are pressing hard for this to be legislated.

On the other hand, the law of consultation provides that, as long as the employer can prove that it disclosed relevant information and tried thoroughly and in good faith to reach consensus, it does not have to actually reach agreement with the employees /representatives.

The halls of the CCMA and Labour Court echo endlessly with the groans of many thousands of employers (and some exemployers) who refused to believe the labour law requiring fair or agreed retrenchment criteria and who failed to acquire the knowledge and expertise necessary to reconcile business pressures with legal requirements.

Countless cases have been decided at the CCMA and Labour Court where employers have either had to reinstate retrenchees and/or have had to pay huge amounts in compensation. This is often a disaster for the employer because the biggest reason for retrenchments is financial weakness and these awards against employers can place an unbearable burden on the already strained finances of the employer.

A case in point is that of Toyota SA reported in the Business Report of 30 November 1999. Here, the employer was required to reinstate 280 employees and to pay them R15,2 million because Toyota had failed to disclose to the employees sufficient information necessary for effective consultation.

In Wolfaardt & another vs IDC of SA (Pty) Ltd (2002, 11 BLLR 1127) the employer failed to give the two employees a chance to apply for alternative posts before retrenching them. The Labour Court found this to be procedurally and substantively unfair and awarded a total of R600 000,00 in compensation. The employer was, in addition, required to pay the employees’ legal costs.

In Ntshanga vs South African Breweries Ltd (2003, 8 BLLR 789) Ntshanga, a commodity manager, was retrenched as part of a restructuring exercise. Prior to his retrenchment he had applied for a post in the new structure but was rejected. He therefore lodged a dispute of unfair retrenchment.

� There were a number of available posts in the new structure that would have suited the qualifications of the employee � The employer failed to consult with the employee with respect to those other available posts � The employer failed to offer the employee one of the available posts because it was dissatisfied with his work performance � Employers may not misuse retrenchment to get rid of poor performers � The retrenchment was therefore unfair and the employee was awarded compensation.

The courts will often tolerate the employer retaining the employees with the most appropriate skills. However, employers are warned that this does not mean that the employer can misuse the re-application criterion in order to get rid of poor performers. In other words, if the criterion chosen is Necessary Skills then the employer will be required to show in court that: � This was the criterion actually applied in every case � Employees not given the available posts did not have the required skills.

Proper strategic thinking and understanding of these complex legal principles would have prevented these costly awards! Managers therefore require advice and training on how to restructure businesses and how to deal effectively and legally with poor performers.�

People use diaries for many reasons primarily because it stands as a reminder to get the work completed on time. It allows us to keep record and to dot down our commitments so we don’t forget. Whilst this habit starts at school, most adults still keep a diary whether in the traditional form of a physical paper diary or an electronic version.

Some schools allow devices and therefore keeping an electronic diary is a possibility, but most schools still recommend and prefer the traditional way of diarising homework, activities and exams.

School diaries are usually a page-a-day A5 book - not too big or too small, exactly right! These usually have a section in the front for personal information and for a timetable. We have seen some diaries offering a space to add extra-curricular activities, as well as the day and time of the start of the activity. The daily sections should be big enough to write homework down for multiple subjects, without needing to write it in over weekends.

A diary should include some blank pages for notes and a section for friends’ details and numbers. A list of all the public holidays and the school terms in also included – planning time off is equally important when you’re at school.

There should also be a calendar for the year ahead and possibly for the next year included.

As the year progresses and task build up, the diary becomes a helpful tool for reference. It helps to keep you organised and will ensure that you complete tasks or attend meetings on time. It is also a suitable place to write down items of interest that you want to research or contact details of friends or teachers.

A diary can be a tool for drafting your personal timetable. By planning for the following day in a detailed manner you are able to also set aside some free time. Through this technique, you can plan for your personal studies around the exams as well.

Keeping a record of homework and assignments, and completing them, will help to ensure that you are on top of your work. It will mean that you are less likely to suffer bad grades or punishment for leaving tasks undone. By fastidiously completing and ticking of the work daily will furthermore give you a sense of accomplishment.

There is nothing worse than forgetting something crucial like the deadline for an assignment. Diaries allow us to keep track of what we still need to complete. Remembering birthdays, outings and sports commitments are also vital to social and developmental progress.

As mentioned, diaries in the workplace are nothing new. Most of us use them in one form or another - whilst many people nowadays rely on the digital format and the subsequent reminders that are emailed to the user, some people still prefer to write down appointments and commitments in a traditional diary. A work diary is usually an A4-sized book, with a hard cover. It has a page per day, with the dates at the top of the page, though some people prefer to use a diary without dates as they use multiple pages per day.

This is usually a calendar printed on plastic that can be attached to a wall or that can be used on a desk. It can be written on using dry erase markers and gives an overview for the year. These can be used in conjunction with a diary. The year planner can be colour coded to indicate school and public holidays, specific days for a specific extra-curricular sports or clubs. This will allow a person, at a glance, to see what their month ahead is going to be like.

These are useful for families and companies to coordinate the movements of all members and to plan ahead, keeping commitments in mind.

A diary will have much more detail than a year planner, but a year planner can also be used to create a visual reminder of a goal or target that one is working toward. Again, this a tool that is highly effective in promoting organisation.

Colour coding on a year planner or in a diary can be an effective way of seeing, at a glance, where people are or what tasks need to be undertaken.

Colour coding subjects will not only allow the viewer to see which subject homework is set for, but it will make the diary look vibrant.

Crossing out or ticking off completed tasks is very satisfying and gives a sense of accomplishment.

This method will also allow for the student to look back over the week and instantly see any uncompleted or incomplete tasks that need attention.

For everyone looking to get some order into their lives, we at SHOP-SA strongly recommend a diary. Used daily it will help to organise and structure your time, both work and leisure time.

It can be amazingly effective in structuring your day so that you have time for hobbies and pastimes that you enjoy, whilst still ensuring that you get around to doing everything else; this can also assist those with stress and anxiety.�

It does depend on where the label is but suffice to say that there are better ways of removing a label than breaking a nail.

Before choosing a method to remove a label, always think about what the label is stuck to and whether the method will damage or alter the underlying material. If the label is on a painted surface, do not use a solvent as you may strip the paint in the process. Similarly if the label is on a porous surface like card, liquids would damage the card.

There are commercially available label and sticky residue removers, but the good news is that we have most of what is needed in our homes anyway.

Try adding heat with a hairdryer. This should make the adhesive tacky and allow you to peel it off. Gradually heat it up so that you can find the best temperature for the adhesive so it doesn’t make it worse. Start at a medium heat for about 20 seconds at a time and gradually increase the duration rather than the heat.

For items that can be submerged, placing the item in a sink of hot water with a little dish washing liquid will also allow most labels to be removed. Before submerging, try to peel off as much as possible.

Usually, 30 minutes or less will be enough, but sometimes a good overnight soak is the only way to remove a stubborn label. You can also use the sponge type pot cleaner to lightly scrub over the label to remove the glue residue.

Warm white vinegar in the microwave and either place the object in a bowl containing the warm vinegar or wet a cloth with the solution and place it over the label for 15 – 30 minutes. You should be able to peel the label off after this. Although vinegar is a solvent, it is less harsh than most chemicals.

If a label is on painted wood or a plastic surface, dip your finger or a cotton ball in cooking oil and wipe it over the label. Allow to sit until the label appears to have absorbed the oil. You should be able to peel it off after this. To remove sticky residue, try using mayonnaise or oil if the item is non-porous. Some people swear by peanut butter, but as with the mayonnaise, this is probably because it is high in fat, so just use oil. If necessary, you can warm it up with the hairdryer and wipe off with kitchen towel or a cloth. Almost any oil will work from vegetable & seed oil to olive oil. If this is not available to you, using butter or margarine will do the trick. Mayonnaise and peanut butter are also high in oils so likely to work too. Even baby oil, bath oil and essential oils can make the sticky mess go away.

Rub alcohol or nail polish remover over the label. Peel off as much of the label as possible, then soak a cotton ball in the solvent and apply this to the label. Once it has soaked in, you should be able to peel the label off. As mentioned earlier, solvents can damage some plastics and may also alter the colour or peel paint so test this before trying it out. Start with a more conservative and less damaging method than going all out in round one. If you don’t have rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover on hand, a clear spirit like vodka or cane should work.

Label removal is not complex, but it does require a bit of patience. Take a bit longer and gradually remove the label than risk damaging your possessions.

If you would prefer to leave it to the experts, the hardware and certainly some craft stores or stationers will have a commercial label remover product for you.�

Labels adorn most things, yet they are not something we think about too much. Without labels, the human race would have died out centuries ago, trial and error can only take you so far before it catches up with curiosity killed the cat.

Making beautiful handmade labels for books, bags, stationery or jars is a fun and crafty project that can really create cohesion and add style, but for those that prefer order and uniformity, label printers or printed labels will be your go-to.

To make handmade labels, you need to choose the card or paper and whether you will be using a gummed paper or adding glue after; you can also buy A4 sheets of sticker and customise the size and simply cut out the label size that you want. If you are using paper and adding glue, ensure that the paper is heavy enough that it won’t lift and corrugate. You may even consider laminating the label to ensure that it doesn’t get damaged or smudged, or you can cover the book in plastic film or sheet as a means of protection.

You can add embellishments like stones, glitter, ink, paint, feathers and almost anything that will stick! If you are putting the label on a book or flat surface you can use glue, thin double-sided tape or even broad transparent tape over the top surface.

Creating a label for a gift or bottle using twine or ribbon to attach the label can make it look really special. The attachment can make the label really stand out, raffia, ribbon, twine, material strips, wire or even twinkly light strands or tinsel can be used to great effect.

There are a multitude of programmes available to design and print labels. Some are free on the internet and have predesigned labels, others allow for more creativity with different effects to really make the label stand out. Scale the size to match your sticker or label size and simply feed the sheet into your printer.

Creating labels whether via a computer programme or free-hand will personalise an item. Labels can be stuck on or attached to anything, well almost anything. For weddings creating labels for the wine bottles at each table commemorating the day is one possible use. Christmas is coming up, creating personalised labels for gifts adds a personal touch and conveys real thought and consideration.

Moving into the new school year, creating labels for books or stationery can be a fun project for children to do, as labels are small enough to hold a child’s interest, the project is easily manageable. However, if they get bored during the project, they can just leave it and there is no harm done. Whether the label is embellished or not, it will still be perfectly functional.

So, have fun and create, your spice and herb jars and jams can certainly benefit from a personal upgrade!! �