#RED BLACK WHITE Directing potential since 1863 01/2018 From the Headmaster’s Desk Dear Parents and Guardians We are more than half way through the first term of 2018 and once again it has been a rollercoaster ride, although certainly with more highs than lows. We proudly acknowledged our class of 2017 and their superb results at the opening assembly at the start of term, and on Friday, we celebrated five staff who have given 20 years of committed and dedicated service to College. Our boys continue to excel in a myriad of activities both in and outside of the classroom; we are exceptionally blessed with the talent we have at our disposal, and the wonderfully committed staff who support them in achieving their goals. This weekend marks the end of our summer sport programme with a number of festivals for basketball and waterpolo, and at assembly on Monday we acknowledged the commitment of our top summer sportsmen, their coaches and managers. It is important to highlight that there are NO shortcuts to success on the sports field, and reaching the goals that you have set for yourself. Gary Player legendary quote is very appropriate: “The harder you work, the luckier you get.” Over the past six weeks, a number of boys have been recognised for excellence in the sports arena in various codes. These boys have all worked very hard to achieve their successes and their coaches have also spent considerable time assisting them in reaching their sporting goals. Collectively they have shown incredible passion and commitment to getting there. I would encourage every boy, as we approach the end of the summer sports programme, to acknowledge his coaches, managers, supporters and parents who have supported him and encouraged him all the way. As you know, College has embarked on a Social Awareness Forum involving staff and pupils (more later in the newsletter). Most recently our staff attended a three hour session with UKZN’s Professor Kevin Durrheim spent discussing key areas of concern. Two of these that were highlighted were tolerance and the need to have a growth mind-set. Further work will In this Issue… occur in this area with both the staff and boys and ultimately with Old Boys From the Headmaster’s Desk 1 and parents as well. Academic Achievements 2 I wish you and your boys an enjoyable and successful rest of the term. Chris Luman Cultural Collage 3 Sporting Spotlights 4 Campus Roundup 5 HONESTY * INTEGRITY * COURAGE * SELF-DISCIPLINE *COMMITMENT * RESPECT Page 1 Academic Achievements Elevate in Action As part of offering an enriched curriculum, College is again running the Elevate Education Workshops. Aimed specifically at our Form 2 and Form 5 boys, the programme began with study skills workshops to help kick-start the academic year. These sessions were given by Elevate Education, an international organisation with a reputation for achieving behavioural change. The company has become an international leader in education, working with the highest performing schools in South Africa, Australia, UK, USA, and Singapore. Later in May, there will be follow-up sessions with these groups of boys. Dedicated Service to Our School Red Cloak begins… Entries for College’s We are fortunate to have many unique Red Cloak Programme dedicated staff in our school – have opened. The programme and this was highlighted when aims to harness the innovative we recognised five staff and creative talents of our boys members for 20 years of while teaching them basic exceptional and committed business development skills, and service to our school. relies on staff and Old Boys partnering to provide financial and mentorship support to budding entrepreneurs. Started in 2017, the programme is open to boys from all grades to submit written business proposals during the first term. These are then adjudicated by staff members down to the top 5 or 6 boys who are then given the Excellence in Mathematics opportunity to present their business plans to a panel of Old Boys with an Teaching invitation to invest in the businesses. Mr Sihle Mabaso, who recently joined Likened to the UK’s “Dragons Den” the staff of Maritzburg College after the Old Boys, all successful teaching at Asibemunye High School, businessmen in their own right, was selected as the KZN representative choose a winner. Advice from past in the category Excellence in Teaching winners is to be innovative, unique Mathematics, in the National Teaching and competitive in pricing. Watch Awards. These prestigious awards this space for updates on this year’s presented by the Department of finalists… Basic Education, recognise and promote the extraordinary efforts of the country’s most dedicated teachers, while promoting and saluting excellence in the teaching profession. Mr Mabaso went through three stages of adjudications and screening, obtaining first position at a provincial level, and an outstanding 2nd position (runner up) in South Africa. The school extends its congratulations to Mr Mabaso and we know he will add significant value to our school and to the boys through his teaching. Last year’s Red Cloak finalists HONESTY * INTEGRITY * COURAGE * SELF-DISCIPLINE *COMMITMENT * RESPECT Page 2 Cultural Collage StepUp - Raising Funds to Feed Children Last year, our Form 4 Business Studies learners fundraised toward a meal-packing event at Cascades Lifestyle Centre, as part of the Step Up programme. Step Up embraces a culture of volunteerism fundamental in nation building, and in particular is focussed on the pivotal role played by the youth (learners). Last year, our boys packed 5 000 meals, which fed 19 children for an entire year as part the Early Childhood Development (ECD) Programme. This year, a group of 18 young men have embarked on this challenge again, setting themselves the challenge of raising over R1 000 each in order to reach a target of R20 000 to provide the meals needed. Currently three weeks in, they are tracking at R3 500. College’s Lisa Ackerman with Sharon Gregory Haripersad is 2018 Desfontaines Khanyisa Peer Tutor leader (StepUp) & Form 4 pupils Khanyisa Continues Running at Maritzburg College since 2009, Khanyisa (meaning to light up) aims to help teachers and learners from under-resourced schools in the greater Pietermaritzburg area to improve their understanding, skills and enjoyment of Maths and Physical science. It is run by Maritzburg College educators and top academic learners, who serve as peer tutors. With support from the local Department of Education, 20 schools have become involved in the programme, benefitting 25 teachers and some 120 learners. This week saw a packed Khanyisa Maths Grade 12 learner session in the Epoch Optima room facilitated by Mrs Suzanne Webley and assisted by College peer tutors. Thank you to Hulamin who have stepped in as the Programme’s major sponsor for this year. College Media Centre The Media Centre is considered the central hub of academics at Maritzburg College, opening before school at 7am and closing at 4.30pm, providing ample opportunity for boys to complete their various academic tasks. With almost 18 000 hard copy and e-books the Centre also ensures that recreational reading can contribute positively to academic achievement. Used as a venue for social chess, as well as a safe haven where the boys can relax after a tough day - the Centre is certainly fulfilling a multifunctional and much needed role in the school! Following a survey with pupils in 2017, UKZN’s Prof Durrheim recently led a workshop Social Awareness Programme with staff aimed at generating debate around how to accommodate Last year, College embarked on a Social Awareness Programme initiated by the diversity in the school and find ways School’s Executive Committee and the School Governing Body (SGB), which is to foster an inclusive environment in being driven by a Social Awareness Task Team made up of SGB representatives, which both staff and students feel a staff, parents and pupils. The overarching aim is to find ways to actively embrace sense of belonging. We will report and manage diversity in the school, ensuring it is an integral component of the on further developments in this quality education we offer. As a leading multi-racial school, College has a key role programme as they unfold. to play in nation building and supporting a post-Apartheid South Africa. In so doing, the school aims to significantly improve the quality of its educational offering, with transformation being viewed as core to the school’s sustainability strategy. HONESTY * INTEGRITY * COURAGE * SELF-DISCIPLINE *COMMITMENT * RESPECT Page 3 Sporting Spotlight From the Cricket fields, Rugby pitches, Full details of our Sporting Results are available on Basketball courts, Golf course, Pool and D6 and on the school website the River… www.maritzburgcollege.co.za/sport Last week, most of our fixtures were against long-time rivals Michaelhouse (MHS), starting on Wednesday with 1st team Waterpolo which unfortunately had no result due to lightening. For the rest of the Waterpolo games, we recorded 5 wins from 8 games. Our Basketball teams won 9 of their14 games against MHS, although 1st team honours went to MHS with a 19- point win over College (56-75). Our U16A team did the school proud at the St Stithian’s basketball tournament in JHB, winning all 6 of their pool games, and finished in a well- deserved 3rd place overall. Special mention must be made of N Ngcobo who was selected for the All Star Team (top 5 players at the tourney). On the Cricket fields, College enjoyed the lion-share of the battles against our Balgowan opponents, winning 9 of the 13 fixtures, 3 went to MHS and one was a no result due to rain.