I have returned to the helm after my long leave and while I am delighted by the direction the School is taking, I am also amazed by how much things have changed in my absence.
I would like to thank Mr Rolf Hansen for taking over the reins so ably and together with my executive ensuring that life at King Edward ran as smoothly as possible. The grounds and facilities are in pristine condition thanks to the efforts of Mr Sim and Mr Matthee who continued to work whilst the school was on holiday, to ensure that the premises and fields were ready for the new year.
The fourth term is traditionally a busy period for the School and the time when the final examinations are written. The Matric finals in particular ran like clockwork with special thanks to Mrs Reynolds, Mrs Groenewald and Mrs Kiewitz, producing results on a par with 2010 in as much as the Class 0f 2011 produced a 99.5% pass rate with an 85% university exemption. An overall total of 209 distinctions were obtained with some excellent individual achievements. M Bheeka and L Zambetti each achieved a total of 9 distinctions apiece. R May achieved 7, J Brown, M Heming and N Tickle were awarded 6, R Klintworth, Z Lekoto, J Mc Wha, K Setshogoe, O Sivrikaya, D Taylor, B Wessels and E Wessels scored 5, N Mbokasi, B Mlaba, R Peche, D Snoyman and J Wareing were awarded 4, eight candidates achieved 3 each and over sixty candidates received either 2 or 1 distinction each. We are pleased to report that we have outstripped our fellow boys’ schools with these fine results. I thank my team of fine educators for their efforts in preparing the learners adequately for their final examinations. Congratulations are due to the parents for their support and of course to the successful candidates themselves on their fine achievements. We anticipate that there will be an increase in the number of distinctions after the results of the remarks have been finalised.
We welcome a number of new as well as a few returning staff members to join our existing vibrant and motivated staff. We wish them well and look forward to a long and happy working relationship together. We congratulate Mr and Mrs Jardim on the arrival of their new daughter at the start of the year. We also congratulate Mr and Mrs Parseramen on the occasion of their recent marriage. We extend our condolences to Mrs Naidoo and her family on the recent passing of her husband. We are sad to report the accidental death of Old Boy, Sean Manton and the passing of Mrs Debbie Golden who worked in the Association office, after a long illness. We extend our condolences to both the Manton and Golden families.
The 2012 School year has commenced in a most positive way. The staff returned on Monday 16 January with the prefects, boarders and mentors starting the following day, to introduce the new Grade 8 group to life at King Edward and to facilitate a smoother assimilation into high school. I am always delighted to observe the new faces and wide eyes on campus while the new boys scamper around trying to keep pace with the demands their new routine imposes on them.
Please take note of the important dates on our calendar. More information about our important fixtures will follow in time. The 2011 School magazine is reaching finality and will be available soon. In March we will be holding SGB elections to elect new members onto our governing body for the next 3 years. More details on this process will follow shortly.
This week the 2012 RCL representatives will be elected to represent their peers. Typically a president will be elected as well as new representatives to the SGB. This is an important facet of the School as it provides a forum for the learners to present their concerns, grievances and suggestions within a forum where meaningful change can be facilitated.
I am excited to be back and look forward to once again integrating back into School life by attending functions and taking my place on the side of the sport’s field enjoying the Red Army and their passionate and vital support of our young sportsmen at play. Our parents, Old Boys and supporters are our strength and form a vital and unique part of what makes King Edward so special and which sets us apart from other schools.
Work is progressing well on the Old Gymnasium making way for a new, state of the art Media centre which will house the School’s Library and Museum. We envisage completion of this project to be in March this year. We are also renovating the Hugh Wilson Theatre with some necessary changes which have been delayed by the relocation of the new School shop.
King Edward has moved positively into the ‘digital communication world’ and with our new website complete, we invite you to browse and view some of the commendable achievements some of our boys and Old Boys have accomplished over the past few months. We also appreciate updates on relevant achievements, newsworthy articles and supporting photographic material which keeps us in touch and up to date with developments regarding the King Edward family. All fixtures, results and events can be accessed via our website www.kesnet.co.za.
Further channels of communication also available to the King Edward community for updates and news are: School Communicator, Twitter and Face Book. I’d like to encourage all of you to access and join up to those channels of communication via the links given on our new website.
We urge you to subscribe to the My School card programme and name King Edward as your beneficiary. We thank those parents and staff who are already part of the initiative. While you are saving money, we are benefitting! Any queries in this regard can be forwarded to Mrs Terri Winslow or Mr Ian Sim.
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