Dear Parents
BUILDING ON THE COLLEGE CAMPUS
You will have noticed and experienced the inconvenience of the extensive building works at the front entrance to the College. Like any building project, the end product is going to provide a major improvement; as the Principal wrote in his newsletter to College parents last week:
“Much progress has been made and we are confident that this will soon be over and that we will enjoy proper access to the campus again, certainly by the end of this term. The paving is well under way and the construction of the guard hut has begun. The addition of much-needed parking facilities will be an added benefit but the main purpose of the alteration has been to secure the campus effectively, proving a safe environment for our boys. In addition, the improved aesthetics will give visitors and regulars a beautiful entrance to our school.”
In addition, a very substantial addition to the College academic precinct is about to be undertaken: the new Learning Commons, with construction set to begin in April. Again, I quote from the Principal’s newsletter:
“The provision of collaborative learning spaces, seamlessly linked to the existing Molteno Library, will enable us to team teach, have large venues for learning and study collaboration and a conferencing venue for boys and staff in a centralised venue. This project, funded by the 175 Campaign and the Buildings Fund, has the full support of Council and has been driven by the Building and Grounds Committee of Council, both Executives (School and College) and by a committed user group, led by our Academic Deputy, Mrs Van Schalkwyk, our Buildings Manager, Mr Jonathan Holtmann and our Business Manager, Mr Sean King. We are very excited at how this addition can add to the learning experience of our boys.”
This is certainly something for our boys to look forward to.
Another innovation that has been introduced at College is the option of taking A levels as an alternative to the South African curriculum and examination. This option is available for Grade 11 boys who have showed exceptional academic performance and want the extension that this system can provide. Eighteen Grade 11s are doing their AS levels this year (with Afrikaans being a compulsory course) and in Matric will sit for their A levels. A number of our boys do pursue their undergraduate studies overseas (largely at UK and USA universities) and are accepted on their NSC results. Although there are a small number of UK universities where only A levels are considered for admission, the purpose of the A level programme is not necessarily to provide access to overseas universities but rather to provide the academic extension that it offers.
SPORTS DAY
This year’s sports day on a blisteringly hot February day was a great success. Boys were not deterred by the heat and did their best, although the fact that no records were broken probably indicates that the heat did have an effect.
I judged the Spirit Cup with the help of Mrs Sheard and I must say that it was one of the best years for House support. Boys were very focused and really worked together, supporting and cheering their athletes on. In the end, Bramley were the winners of the Spirit Cup, but it was not an easy decision as the competition was fierce. A burst water pipe on Riverton Road meant that there was no fresh water available at Lutgensvale for the duration of the day. Origin came to the rescue and 24 litre containers of water were delivered to quench the thirst of our boys, ensuring that they remained hydrated.
ASH WEDNESDAY
Thank you to all the families who managed to join yesterday’s Ash Wednesday Service. It was a special opportunity for us all to reflect on our lives and particularly our relationships with others. We were asked to consider how our actions and words affect others, whether we are holding grudges and encouraged to repair relationships and change the actions and words that demoralise or upset others.
All the best.
Kind regards
GREG BROWN
HEADMASTER |
