3 october 2019 newsletter 31/2019 newsletter2222929/2018 · 10/3/2019 · rector’s message...

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3 October 2019 Newsletter 31/2019

Newsletter2222929/2018

Dear Parents, Old Boys and Friends of Michaelhouse

Please click on the headings below to navigate around the eNews.

Rector’s Message ................................................................................................................. 1 Staff News ............................................................................................................................ 3 Welcome : New Boys & Exchange Students ...................................................................... 3 Congratulations & Individual Achievements .................................................................... 4 Postponed: “A Trio of Concerts” – Sunday 6 October 2019 .......................................... 10 Speech Day Reminder – Friday 11 October 2019 ........................................................... 10 Old Boys’ Durban Branch Annual Dinner : Thursday 17 October 2019 ...................... 11 Condolences ...................................................................................................................... 11

Rector’s Message

Leadership at Michaelhouse

There are a number of opportunities for boys to develop their capacity to lead their peers and juniors at

Michaelhouse and to lead in the broader community outside Michaelhouse. Such opportunities may

present themselves in team sports, in cultural activities, outdoor education, in the School Council, in

House activities and in what may seem to be quite minor ways such as being on the Kitchen Committee.

There are also many opportunities for young men to develop attributes which become important to

leaders in areas such as public speaking through, for example, the Toastmasters’ Course, in debating

and in academic societies. All our boys are encouraged to complement this by striving to follow the

Michaelhouse Code demonstrating qualities of integrity, humility, compassion, courage and service.

Through doing so, we believe that they equip themselves to become men of understanding, thought and

culture and, thus, have the capacity to meet personal and social challenges. In simple terms, they are

able to make an impact on the world beyond Michaelhouse, regardless of whether or not they fulfil

leadership roles at school. The values which are articulated in the Michaelhouse Code are able to be

followed by all of our boys who, ideally, should aim to be the best that they can be in every sphere of

their lives.

As boys mature, their capacity to impact positively on others through their example, strength of

character, persuasiveness, the capacity to define and articulate the needs of others and their ability to

attract followers sees them emerge as potential leaders.

At Michaelhouse recently, we have given considerable thought to trying to map the passage of boys as

they grow into young adults and to support them as they discover more about themselves and others,

and to equip them to feel confident that they may make a worthwhile contribution to the lives of other

people at school and beyond school.

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In the Third Quarter of the C Block, boys undertake the Journey through which they begin to assess

their own character and that of others. It is a tough, physical exercise, but also provides a platform for

self-discovery and discovery about the real strengths of others.

In the Fourth Quarter of the C Block, boys are introduced to the programme which they will follow in

the B Block relating to Portfolio Selection and they begin a process of contributing to their Houses in a

range of portfolios such as: the Academic sphere, Christian Fellowship Committee, the Environment,

First Aid, Inter-House events, Marketing, Off Sport support, the President’s Award, the School Council,

Service activities, Social Awareness and other societies. Their work within the portfolios provides the

basis of their assessment throughout their year in the B Block by their peer-group in the House, their

Housemaster, Tutors, the Masters in Charge of the various portfolios and, finally, by the whole House.

During this year, they begin to have formal interviews/conversations about their portfolios with their

Housemaster and two assessments are made of their developing strength in terms of their integrity

(doing what is right when people are not watching, their honesty and their wholeness as a person);

humility (doing what is right without seeking reward and showing sensitivity to the needs of others);

compassion (supporting those who are having a difficult time and encouraging them); courage

(confronting peers and others who break the rules, standing up for what is the right but less popular

option and standing up against discrimination); service (helping junior boys and others and not

expecting others to do things for them but rather doing things for others); and example (setting an

example by appearance, orderly behaviour at school and away from school).

The portfolio Masters in Charge score the boys according to their attendance at meetings, punctuality,

organisation, contribution, task completion, communication with the Master in Charge and with boys

and the ability to work with others.

By the Third Quarter of the B Block year, the Housemaster and Tutors have assessed duties that have

been performed by the B Block in terms of punctuality, remaining committed to the tasks in House, the

capacity to maintain order and the ability to go beyond the call of duty by, for example, reporting back

on challenging issues after a particular duty. Concurrently, an assessment in the House by the boys takes

place regarding the integrity of the boys in the House and their capacity to lead – and whether they

would be inclined to follow such a boy if he were made a Prefect or Head of House.

His Tutor assessment takes place at the same time and, in some instances, boys are considered for

Prefectship. At the end of the Third Quarter the B Block boys have a leadership camp and final

discussions with Housemasters are held. The staff are also asked to nominate pupils with whom they

interact at the end of the Third Quarter in terms of their suitability to lead and so the assessing of staff

opinion goes well beyond the particular House in which a boy has developed.

At the start of the Fourth Quarter of the B Block year, the school will nominate the Senior Prefect, Heads

of House and voting for prefects takes place in the Houses by the boys and this is used as a guideline to

Housemasters in selecting House Prefects. From 2019/2020, there will also be an opportunity for those

who were not elected prefects to serve in other school-wide capacities eg: marketing, environmental

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programmes and similar ways. This is the first year in which we have had such a programme providing

opportunities for those in A Block who are not selected as prefects and it is hoped that these prospective

other opportunities for leadership will be taken up by those who have leadership potential but are not

prefects.

Training for the School Prefects is held shortly after their appointment and a camp for all Prefects is

held prior to the school coming back at the start of the academic year. Principles of leadership are

consolidated in these settings and the role of E Block mentor is thoroughly evaluated and given impetus.

In any situation in which some are elected to lead as prefects and others not there will be disappointment

and a feeling of being overlooked. Specifically, going into 2020, the Senior Deputy Rector, Paul

Fleischack, and I have canvassed the entire B Block about whether there would be merit in promoting

boys up to prefect during the course of the year and, secondly, whether there would be merit in the

creation of leadership opportunities beyond prefectship in various portfolios. In the first instance, there

was a 60/40% vote against prefects being made up during the course of the year and in the latter instance

a 60/40% support for school-wide portfolios outside prefectship creating an opportunity for boys who

are not prefects to demonstrate their leadership and, thus, their value to the Michaelhouse community.

We will, on a trial basis, therefore be taking this idea forward and calling on boys who are not prefects

to engage with these portfolios. The Rector and Senior Staff will meet both with the School Prefects

and Portfolio Holders on a regular basis to underscore the importance of service to those who are

engaged in the leadership of others.

Staff News

Welcomes

We welcome Mrs Elmarié Kruger as a locum Afrikaans teacher for this term (Elmarié will be filling

in for Mrs Ilne Visage who is on maternity leave) and Mrs Palesa Ndlovu who has been appointed as

a part-time San Sister. We wish them success in their respective roles.

Welcome : New Boys & Exchange Students

This week we welcome three new pupils and their families to Michaelhouse and trust that they will have

successful careers here; in D Block: Shandu Etsane (East) and George Methner (Founders) and in E

Block: Giulian di Giovanni (Baines).

Exchange Students:

Five exchange students have also joined us for this term: Alexander Morgan (Pascoe) and Owen

Stothart (Mackenzie) join the school from Canberra Grammar School, Canberra, Australia; Fletcher

Bolte (Farfield) and Hugo Skene (Pascoe) join us from Kinross Wolaroi School, New South Wales,

Australia; while Joseph Beal (Mackenzie) is with us from Woodberry Forest School, Virginia, USA.

We are very pleased to have them here and wish them a wonderful experience at Michaelhouse.

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We have ten boys away on exchange at various schools around the world: Ryan Baker is at Woodberry

Forest School, Virginia, USA; Jason Morby-Smith and Jaden van der Merwe are at Christ Church

Grammar, Perth, Australia; Anthony Turner and Jason Williams are at Kinross Wolaroi School, New

South Wales, Australia; Ross Keep is at Radley College, Abingdon, United Kingdom; Gus de Villiers

and Stephen Perkins are at Canberra Grammar School, Canberra, Australia; while Richard Upfold

and Pierre van der Westhuyzen are at Montgomery Bell Academy, Tennessee, USA. We wish them a

fabulous exchange experience in their respective schools.

Congratulations & Individual Achievements

Academics

Top 10 Results: Third Quarter

Based on their third quarter results, we congratulate the students below who earned a Top 10 placing in

their Block at the end of last term:

Name Position House Block

Huckleberry Finn Elliot 1st East A

Luke van Rooyen 2nd Founders A

Ruben Mitchell 3rd Pascoe A

Joshua Witherspoon 4th East A

Thomas Roberts 5th Mackenzie A

Barend Bierman 6th Founders A

Cyle Wilson 6th Mackenzie A

Harry Nel 8th Tatham A

Michael Buxton-Tetteh 9th Baines A

Tom Harper 10th Mackenzie A

Richard Taylor 10th East A

Nikhil Iyer 1st East B

Tapiwa Chikwanda 2nd Mackenzie B

Tristan Naidoo 3rd West B

Michael Gurney 4th Baines B

Tim Whitaker 5th Founders B

Hloni Mapetla 6th East B

Joshua Baillie 7th East B

Michael Ross 8th Farfield B

Tim Harding 9th Pascoe B

Sam Frost 10th Baines B

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Pierre van der Westhuyzen 1st Farfield C

Gus de Villiers 2nd Pascoe C

David Ferguson 3rd Pascoe C

Jaden van der Merwe 3rd Farfield C

Jadin Jordaan 5th Pascoe C

Danilo Ceronio 6th Baines C

Alex Brits 7th Baines C

Callum Porrill 8th Tatham C

Mitchell Flanegan 9th Tatham C

Kwande Dhlomo 10th West C

Reuben Baldry 1st West D

James Asherson 2nd Founders D

Adrian Hill 3rd East D

Timothy Evans 4th Mackenzie D

David Nienaber 5th West D

Ben Frost 6th Baines D

Lusanda Mrasi 7th Mackenzie D

Xihluke Marhule 8th Mackenzie D

Peter Woodland 8th Farfield D

Joshua Hadley-Grave 10th Mackenzie D

Kofi Asumaning 1st West E

Max Sutherland 2nd Mackenzie E

David du Toit 3rd Baines E

Oliver Healy 3rd Founders E

Aiden Jinnah 5th Pascoe E

Tom Lahaye 6th Mackenzie E

Sandiso Hlongwa 7th Tatham E

Aeden Turner 8th Mackenzie E

Andrew Woodland 8th Farfield E

Joshua Perkins 10th Pascoe E

Cultural News

National Debating & Public Speaking Competition

The competition was hosted at Michaelhouse during the past holidays. This was the first time that

Michaelhouse has hosted the event, despite our being the first South African school to host the World

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Independent Debating and Public Speaking Championships in 2002. This history made hosting

“nationals” even more of an occasion and we are very proud to have had the opportunity to do so. Over

60 students, representing 20 schools, competed over the four days which saw an astonishingly articulate

level of discourse. Competitors competed over two rounds in four categories as follows: Prepared

Speaking: incorporating persuasive or after-dinner speech; Impromptu Speaking; Interpretive Reading

and Debating. Our Michaelhouse pupils are a strong and talented group and they did extremely well.

Here are some of the top results they earned in the various categories:

After-Dinner Speech: Jadin Jordaan – 1st, Michael Gurney – 9th

Interpretive Reading: Reuben Baldry – 12th, Kwande Dhlomo – 13th

Impromptu Speaking: Jadin Jordaan – 1st, Michael Gurney – 9th

Debating: Jadin Jordaan – 7th

Kwande Dhlomo was placed in the Top 30 overall

Following this competition a team was selected from the top 15 competitors to represent South Africa

at the World Championships in Shanghai, China in March 2020. We are thrilled to announce that Jadin

Jordaan (3rd overall), Reuben Baldry (14th overall) and Michael Gurney (by special invitation) have

been selected for this team. Congratulations and well done to these pupils as well as all our competitors

and a special thank you to Mrs Candice Smith, the convener of the competition, (and our Head of

Debating and Public Speaking) for her excellent organisation and hosting of a very successful event.

We wish to thank the staff and boys who gave up of their time to assist with the competition in a variety

of ways and for helping to ensure that it ran smoothly.

Jadin Jordaan Ayanda Nene

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Sport News

It was an extremely busy holiday on the sporting front with our boys competing in various festivals and

tournaments around the country. Below is a brief summary of events and results.

Basketball: Independent Schools Stayers’ Tournament, Kearsney

Congratulations to our First Team who won the tournament at Kearsney. They were victorious in 8 out

of 9 games, beating Kearsney in the finals 48-46 to claim the tournament cup. Our Second Team also

did well at the tournament where we finished 4th overall in the B Division and beat a number of other

schools’ First Teams.

The victorious Michaelhouse Basketball players at the Independent Schools Stayers’ Tournament

Canoeing: Fish River Canoe Marathon (South African K2 River Championships)

The canoe marathon took place over two days on the Fish River, Cradock, in the Eastern Cape. 30

Michaelhouse boys took part in this event; for 18 of them it was their first experience of this race. Our

top paddlers did extremely well and earned the following results: Ross Leslie and Chase Leisegang

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finished 20th overall and were 2nd in the U18 category. Matthew Millward and his partner finished

21st overall and were 1st in the U16 category and 3rd in the U18 category; Jack Edmonds and Pierre

van der Westhuyzen were 27th overall and 2nd in the U16 category. Michaelhouse also claimed the

Dippenaar Floating Trophy as the top school team at the event. In the short course event Kade

Reinhardt and his father were 1st overall while Peter Hein and his father were 2nd. Well done to all

our paddlers.

Jack Edmonds and Pierre van der Westhuyzen at the Fish River Canoe Marathon

Cricket

First XI at the Oppenheimer Michaelmas Week, Maritzburg College

Our First XI beat Hudson Park by 30 runs (Roeland van den Berg 41, Callum Porrill 31, Harry Nel

3/33) and a Development Team by 7 wkts (Oliver Morgan 4/12, Jared Meiring 80*). One game was

rained off against KES (Oliver Morgan 5/46, Luke Gammie 32*) while we lost to Jeppe Boys (Callum

Porrill 36).

Michaelhouse U17 Festival

We hosted this festival at Michaelhouse where we entered an U17 and an U16 team. Our U17 team beat

St Albans by 4 wickets and lost to St Andrews and St Charles. Our U16 team beat St Albans (Tom-

Tom Walters 49, Oyama Ntshona 3/32 and Robbie Lawrence 3/32) and lost to PBHS (Alexander

Vermeulen 4/21), KES and Kearsney (Joshua Naudé 47).

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U14 Festival at Hilton College

Our U14 Team narrowly lost their matches but some good individual scores were recorded. Against

Rondebosch: Murray Baker 40, Jack Walters 65, Joshua Hoatson 50; against St Stithians: Joshua

Hoatson 52, Murray Baker 72 and against St Albans: Nathan Hoatson 39, Kyle Walker 44 and

Michael Thornton 39.

Rugby Sevens KZN U17 Sharks Team selection

At the end of last term Mark Grant was selected for the KZN U17 Rugby Sevens Team which

competed in the National Inter-Provincial Rugby Sevens Tournament as the Sharks U17 Team during

the past holidays in Welkom. The team was very strong with six Craven Week players forming part of

the squad. The team did extremely well to go through, with an unbeaten record, to the finals where they

beat Free State and claimed the tournament trophy. Congratulations to Mark.

Mark Grant with the National Inter-Provincial Rugby Sevens Trophy won by the KZN U17 Team

Soccer: Inter-Provincial Tournaments

A number of our boys represented KZN teams at the Inter-Provincial Tournaments during the holidays.

Noah Stanger and Michael Ross competed for the KZN U19B team which lost to the A team in the

finals on penalties. Alexander Vermeulen scored 8 goals for the KZN U16A team and the team won

the event. Arden Scholtz and Joshua Stevenson represented the KZN U16B team, while Campbell

Ridl played for the KZN U14B team and, as goalkeeper, did not let one goal through the entire

tournament.

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Water Polo

First Team Tournament at Clifton College

Our First Team was placed 14 out of 15 teams, having played 6 and won 1.

U16 Tournament at DHS

We played 6 and won 2 matches, our notable victory being over KES 4-1.

U14 Festival at Hilton College

No official results were recorded as this was a festival where the emphasis was on game time and

enjoying playing water polo. Our boys played 5 games.

Fly Fishing: South African National Junior Championships

Tom-Tom Walters and John Hulley represented KZN in the championships which took place at

Barkley East from 25-29 September. There were 12 teams competing with 60 participants. Tom-Tom

represented the KZN A team which was placed 4th overall and John represented the B team which was

placed 7th overall. In the championships Tom-Tom won the Bronze Medal and was the 3rd individual

overall with 23 fish caught and John was placed 32nd overall with 10 fish caught.

Individual/Team Performance of the Week

With so many superb performances during the holidays by our teams and individual boys, the Team of

the Week is shared between our Canoeing Team for winning the Dippenaar Floating Trophy for the

top school at the Fish River Canoe Marathon and the First Basketball Team for their Independent

Schools’ Festival victory – well done to our canoeists and basketball players.

Please visit the Michaelhouse Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/pg/michaelhouse.org/posts/

to see more information and photographs on events at the school and achievements by our pupils.

Postponed: “A Trio of Concerts” – Sunday 6 October 2019

Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, this event has been postponed at this stage. Should a

new date be confirmed for this term we will let you know. Please accept our apologies. Should you have

any queries please contact Angela Jonsson in the Music Department at e-mail:

[email protected]

Speech Day Reminder – Friday 11 October 2019

A reminder to our parents that the Annual Speech Day takes places next Friday, 11 October, in the

Indoor Centre at 13h30. The primary purpose of Speech Day is to recognise the achievements of our

matric boys as well as to acknowledge a few special prize winners from other grades. It is also an

important opportunity for the Rector and the Chairman of the Board to address the school community.

Rachel Nyaradzo Adams will address the ceremony as the Guest of Honour. If you haven’t yet replied

mailto:[email protected]

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and would like to attend Speech Day, please RSVP by this Friday, 4 October, by clicking on the

following link: https://forms.gle/G1eKAnqYDfZdMjpc6

Old Boys’ Durban Branch Annual Dinner : Thursday 17 October 2019

The Durban Branch of the Old Boys’ Club invites all Old Boys, as well as past, present and prospective

dads, to this evening to be held at the Durban Country Club. Please see the invite at the end of this

newsletter for the full details and RSVP information.

Condolences

Our condolences go to Murray and Kerry Witherspoon following the passing of Kerry’s mother. We

were also very sad to hear that Mr Ed Waller, father to Freddie Waller (Tatham-D Block), passed away

recently after a long illness. We hold both these families in our thoughts and prayers at this sad time.

With my best wishes

Antony Clark

Rector

https://forms.gle/G1eKAnqYDfZdMjpc6

Michaelhouse Old Boys’ Durban Branch Dinner (Durban Country Club)

M

ICHAELHOUSE

OLD BOYS’ CLUB

THE DETAILS OF THE EVENT ARE AS FOLLOWS:

Date: Thursday, 17 October 2019 Time: 18h30 for 19h00 Venue: Durban Country Club Dress: Black Tie / Dark SuitCost: R500pp or R5000 for a table of 10 including a 3 Course Meal | Cash Bar availableRSVP: Please RSVP by Monday, 14 October to [email protected] Please send special dietary requirements with your RSVP.

We look forward to your company and hope to see you there.

PAYMENT METHODSThe following two payment methods are accepted. Please use the reference: Initial/Surname AD19

Option 1: Electronic Funds TransferBank: FNB – WestvilleBranch Code: 223 526Account Number: 50853508404Account Holder: Michaelhouse Old Boys’ Club

Option 2: ZapperPlease scan the code below to make payment.

The Michaelhouse Old Boys' Durban Branch invites you to their Annual Dinner for 2019.

Our guest speaker will be Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi MP, President Emeritus: Inkatha Freedom Party

“Equipping the next generation: why education can make or break our nation”

Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi’s son, Prince Nthuthukoyezwe Zuzifa Buthelezi, served on the Michaelhouse Board of Governors for over 10 years, under the chairmanship of Jamie Inglis, Bruce Dunlop and Gary Ralfe. He chaired the Transformation Committee which was integral in the establishment of Vision 2015. Prince Nthuthukoyezwe’s son, Prince Zakithi Buthelezi attended Michaelhouse from 2005 – 2009 in West, and

was a Theatre Student Leader in his final year.

The evening will commence at 18h30 for pre-drinks, followed by a three-course meal in one of the main function rooms, starting at 19h00 sharp.

https://www.michaelhouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Prince-M-Buthelezi-Bio.pdfww michaelhouse rg/wp ntent/up ads/20 /01/Princee M Buthelezee.org/wp-content/uploads/201e 5//0011//PPri555//00011///PPPPrrri5 i010011/PP///PPPP01/Porrgg/wwpp-cconnteenntt/uuploaads//20ppww/w/oror pporrgg/wwpp-cconntenntt/uup oo 22lloaads//20

3 october 2019 newsletter 31/2019 newsletter2222929/2018 · 10/3/2019 · rector’s message...

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