Reflections from the Rector’s Desk Dear Parents, Old Greys and Friends of The Grey We are experiencing an ‘action-packed’ start to 2015! Best wishes to all members of The Grey Family for a successful, happy and healthy year. May all we do continue to be in the best interests of The Grey and those we serve. This is also our School Governing Body election year – and we will need to find some additional, suitable candidates amongst our Parent Body to fill a number of vacancies. Many thanks to those who have already expressed an interest and who have made themselves available. MR DIETER PAKENDORF – RECTOR : 1977 – 1992 Our esteemed former Rector passed away on Thursday 12 February. His funeral was held on Wednesday 18 February in the Lutheran Church, Cape Town City centre. Dieter’s incredible support and love for his school continued long after his retirement – and this with his good wife, Maureen, as ever, at his side. And so it is hugely fitting that his ashes be interred in the wall of the Memorial Quad alongside former Rectors of The Grey – this to be done in May, before our Friday Reunion Assembly, and in the presence of the School, members of the Family and all assembled Old Greys and Friends. The numerous tributes which have poured in from Old Greys all over the world bear ample testimony to the fact that he made a massive impact on a generation of Grey boys and that his masterful hand guided many to success. MATRIC RESULTS 2014 We were generally very happy with the academic performance of last year’s Matrics. Congratulations to them and congratulations to Director: Academic Studies, Mr George Symons, and all members of our academic staff. ACADEMIC AWARDS DINNER Our annual Academic Awards Dinner was held on Thursday 16 January to recognise and acknowledge our ‘top achievers’ in each grade – all based on 2014 results. Dr Merrick Bryans (Old Grey – Class of 2005) was our Guest Speaker and delivered an excellent address to all assembled on this prestigious occasion. We were also delighted to screen a video clip of 2 of our Old Greys being capped by UCT Vice-Chancellor, Dr Max Price, at a recent Graduation Ceremony – Dr Gordon Audley (Old Grey and Dux Grey High School College Drive, Mill Park, Port Elizabeth Tel: +27(0)41-374-3300 e-mail: [email protected] Private Bag X0002, Greenacres, 6057 Fax: +27(0)41-373-1096 web site: http://www.greyhighschool.com Page 2 of 12 2015-03-06 in 2008) and Dr Sarvesh Balkaran (same class). Gordon was awarded the Gold Medal and Honours for being top of his class in his final year at Medical School (the first ‘male’ to achieve this in 10 years) and Sarvesh for achieving his Medical Degree with Honours. These are just some of the many and varied successes of our Old Greys – and we are immensely proud of them! Nicholas Audley (our Dux of 2014) is also on his way to UCT Medical School – talk about ‘keeping up the Family tradition’! ACADEMIC AWARDS FROM NOVEMBER 2014 NEW AWARDS: FULL COLOURS: Grade 11: Josh Parker, Ryan Holdstock, Ross Anderson, David Baker-Effendi; Stanley Davenport, HP Duvenhage, Bram Thorpe and Kofi Nyarko. HALF COLOURS: Grade 11: Stuart King, Matt King, Dominic Hill, Jarryd Barnard, Greg Kotze, Tyler Archibald, Jateen Nagar, Ross Edwards, Jason Haggard, Mohammed Allie, Ross Annear and James Burmeister. RE-AWARDS: FULL COLOURS: Grade 11: Jason Evezard, Ruan Bellingan, Anthony Abrahamson, Arno du Toit, Gary Kibble, HP Huisamen, Travis Clarke, Stefan Ungerer, Zalin Strydom, Hans Putziger, Dylan Warwick and Tiaan Coetzee. HALF COLOURS: Grade 11: Bryce Howarth, Jason Howarth, Josh Loyson, Matthew Nom Chong, Tristan Comley, Reece van Oudtshoorn, Hanno Minnaar, Stefan Minnaar, Kyle Hibbert, Michael de Marco, Mvume Mdidimba, Rory Clarke, Ryan Burmeister, Joshua Naidoo, Kendal Wright, Liam Roodt, Ben Keeton, Lee Stevens, Pierre Stemmett, Dean Rishworth, Nathan Starbuck, David Rowley, Caldwyn Lewis, Theo Swart, Joshua Newton, Josh Wiggill. STAFFING Both Mesdames Ina Meaker and Mariette Schreuder have been officially ‘boarded’ and are no longer with us – their official documents of approval came through early this year. Both have served The Grey, over many years, with distinction. We took our leave of them at an assembly held on Friday 27 February. Mrs Amore Kember (Afrikaans and Accounting) has re-joined the Grey Staff and Afrikaans Department. The other Afrikaans post has been filled by Mrs Celesté van Vuuren (ex-Framesby and with Honours in Afrikaans from the NMMU). Mr Brent Janse van Rensburg, Director of Rugby, departed our shores to take up a position with the Lions Franchise – and is presently in the process of returning to Port Elizabeth where he has accepted an appointment with the Kings. Mr Tim Fraser will coach the 1st Rugby XV, together with his back-up team. The appointment of a new Director: Rugby will be considered in due course. Mrs Pam Thomson and Mr John Clarke are at their posts, despite still undergoing treatment and being on medication – both remarkable colleagues! We welcomed Mr Francois Holder to the staff this year – he is our new Biokineticist. Mr Tyrone Green (Old Grey – Class of 2011) has joined the staff as a ‘Learnership Student’. Mr Beän van Eeden (ex- Brandwag) has joined Meriway as a resident Junior Housemaster. We congratulated Mr Byron Schmidt on the announcement of his recent Reflections from the Rector’s Desk 2015-03-06 Page 3 of 12 engagement. Mr Greg Thomson has notified us of his intentions to ‘spread his wings’ and to travel abroad where, hopefully, he will secure a teaching position. He will take his leave of us in June. This English post will be advertised shortly. ‘BODAS’ We have a full Boarding Establishment of close to 150 ‘Bodas’. Our new intake of 30 Grade 8’s arrived on Monday 19 January for their orientation programme. New parents and their sons were all welcomed in the Hostel Dining Room at 09:30 on the same day. We are delighted with a number of improvements made to our Boarding Establishment during the December break – ablutions, painting of corridors, sanding and varnishing of floors, etc. GRADE 8 CAMP – WEDNESDAY 21 JANUARY – FRIDAY 23 JANUARY Our Grade 8’s were transported to Van Staden’s River Mouth for their annual camp and all 191 returned safely and intact at 13:00 on Friday 23rd – Hallelujah! Many thanks to Grade Head, Mr Pieter Rademeyer, for his arrangements, Pastoral Head, Mr John Clarke, and all Staff and Prefects for accompanying the ‘troops’. Mrs Sue Atherton was, again, magnificent in looking after the ‘inner man’! Our Prefects are to be congratulated on the manner in which they managed our new intake. Our Grade 8’s of 2015 are a great group of young men. CAMPUS PROJECTS Numerous Campus Projects are taking place – the outbuildings (domestic quarters and store rooms) of the Hostel are being converted into much-needed changing rooms; several structural changes have also been planned for the area adjoining the Music Block and ablutions. A new electronic Waterpolo scoreboard is in the process of being completed and, after the construction of our new Spectator Stand, a new Rugby scoreboard will also be placed on the Sports’ Office side of the Philip Field. A new Sight Screen for the Pollock Oval is also ‘work in progress.’ Our Estate Manager, Mr Danny Daniel, and his team are to be commended for the immaculate campus surrounds in which we find ourselves. OLD GREYS – STAFF WELCOMING We are most grateful to President, Mr Bryan Knox, Executive Chairman, Mr Ian Pringle, and members of the Old Grey Exco for hosting this gathering on Monday 26 January – always a great opportunity for good fellowship as we introduce new members of staff to our Junior Grey colleagues. We continue to value the excellent relationship that exists between our schools. PARENT- PREFECT DINNER A most enjoyable evening was held on Thursday 29 January in the Rectory Garden together with our newly-appointed Prefects and their good parents. It was on this occasion that we reaffirmed our support for our Leadership Team as they approach the challenges which lie ahead. Reflections from the Rector’s Desk Page 4 of 12 2015-03-06 OLD GREY AND PROSPECTIVE NEW PARENTS GATHERINGS The first of our PR outings was held on Wednesday 4 February at the ‘Angler and Antelope’ Guest House in Somerset East. What a great turn-out of positive prospective parents and Old Greys! It was a pleasure and privilege being in their good company! Well done to Mr Ian Pringle for his organisation and to Messrs Bryan Knox (Old Grey National President) and Lindsay Pearson (Headmaster) for their valued input. It was also my pleasure to meet with our Old Greys in East London – this on Friday 13 February at the East London Golf Club. NEW PARENTS SOCIAL AND WELCOMING This gathering of New Parents to The Grey took place at 17:30 on Thursday 5 February in the de Waal Hall – thanks to so many of you for attending . We look forward to a healthy and enjoyable partnership for the next 5 years. OPEN EVENINGS Prospective parents and their boys were provided with the opportunity of visiting our School on the evenings of Tuesday 17 February to Thursday 19 February – I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity of meeting so many great families. Thank you for considering Grey High School as your No1 choice for the furtherance of your son’s education! A fantastic ‘vibe’ was especially evident on the Thursday evening when our Grey Junior parents attended their ‘Open Evening’! MATRIC PARENTS INFORMATION MEETING Many thanks to the majority of our Matric parents who attended this information meeting on Monday 2 March.