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Founders’ Weekend is a momentous occasion where we come together, not merely to mark the passing of time, but to honour the vibrant tapestry of our school's existence. As we gather in the warmth of this Founders’ Weekend, we celebrate not just a number, but the living spirit that has animated our institution for 151 years.
Sadly, in recent weeks members of the Graeme College family have been rocked by the untimely passing of the following Old Graemians and/or Graeme College parents : Monwabisi Mdyesha (Matric 1999) [father of Xolisa in Grade 11], Xolisa Ntusi (Matric 1995) and Ayanda Kota [father of Sibalwethu in Grade 11]. Our thoughts and prayers are bestowed upon each of these families who are all experiencing a time of significant loss and mourning.
The past few weeks' newsletters are an indication of how busy the school is. It is great to see the current hive of activity with a wide range of academic and cultural activities taking place. It is vital that your sons seize every opportunity that is available to them. Graeme College offers a myriad of opportunities for learners to flourish and excel.
DREAM PROJECT 2.0
A few years ago Andrew Swift approached me about a “Dream Project” regarding the school’s 150th year… We also know how that story ended – with a world-class indoor facility on our campus. We received incredible support during that process in so many ways, which was so humbling, and so appreciated.
It was pleasing to see a strong parent turnout at the various grade meetings. These meetings provided an opportunity for parents to connect with teachers and gain a comprehensive understanding of the academic year for different grades and phases. One dominant theme that caught my attention was the instilling of an academic culture at Graeme College.
Next week our examinations start and it’s quite normal for children to feel rather anxious and stressed. Children also can be distracted from studying from time to time and therefore want to avoid studying, especially during stressful exam periods or when they’re struggling to understand the work. Plus, the transition to digital school work and having the internet/social media right at our fingertips means that it’s never been easier to be distracted.
At this time of the year public schools around the country undergo “QMS” which is an education department performance management system for school-based educators. Part of this process involves interviewing staff on general issues. I thought I would share a summarised version of an interview with one staff member. “I had to find a more permanent position. The only advertised position was at Graeme College. People “in-theknow” told me I would never get the job, but I applied for it anyway. I was interviewed, and to my great surprise I got it!
This was some of Mr. Swift’s speech at the Junior School Prize Giving - and is the perfect blurb for our newsletter because not everybody was there to hear it obviously. He spoke about Graeme College being a ‘World Class’ school - and spoke about us striving towards excellence each day and moving away from accepting any form of mediocrity. Look out for the poem he shared at the bottom of the newsletter message!
On Friday, we hosted our Arts & Service Dinner which is one of the highlights of the year on our calendar. It was our biggest one yet, with learners from the Steel Band, Choir, Marimba Band, Blood Drive peer promoters group, Librarian group, Debating Club, Drama Club, SCA and the Community Outreach Portfolio all attending. Any visitor to Graeme College will easily be able to identify the key elements of our organisational culture. They will quickly notice how important these areas are within our daily routine and how important they are at the College. They are what drives our decision making on a daily basis and are important cogs of our value and norm structure at Graeme. It was amazing to get all these learners in a room with their parents, and celebrate all that is good and positive at our amazing school.
“Dragons' Den” is a reality television business programme, which allows several entrepreneurs an opportunity to present their business ideas to a panel of five wealthy investors. In the programme Dragons Den, promising entrepreneurs pitch their business idea/concept to the five Dragons (venture capitalists willing to invest their own money in exchange for equity).