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As the school year draws to a close, we reflect on an unforgettable final week at Graeme College. After finishing strong with exams, the Junior School staff brought joy and laughter to our learners with an incredible dance performance—truly showcasing the unique bond that makes our school a family.
I am often asked, "As headmaster, what is the most difficult part of your job?" Without hesitation, my answer is always, "To keep my composure".
Earlier in the week, I had a reminder how easy it is for people to lose their way with regards to our competitive nature. Strangely enough, that evening the amazing story of Mutaz Essa Barshim and Gianmarco Tamber popped up on my screen again. As if I was being sent a reminder of what is really important, and what the true nature of sport is; especially in our country. And in our town.
In 2022 the Graeme College School Governing Body endorsed the plan to establish the Ingwe Bursary Fund, which was implemented with immediate effect. We have, since then, established a NPC with the help of ngo Law, which has now been registered and will be used to govern the funds with regards to fundraising. A GBS bank account has also been opened to invest the funds raised.
As we enter exam season (certain grades in the high school start on Monday and the junior school starts in three weeks time), it is important to take note of a few key points. Firstly, exams really matter. For example, in Grade 7 the exams count 40% of the final year mark while in Grade 12 the exams count 75% of the final mark. It is therefore critical that boys (and their families) treat the exams with the respect that they deserve.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, the Graeme College boys had the opportunity to participate in the various photographs of the activities they represented this year. This together with next week's prize giving serves as an opportunity to reflect on one’s achievements and contributions to the myriad of activities Graeme College has to offer.
Every year we state that there are two major components to our Family Fun Fair...
1 - An important fundraising event.
2 - A major event to bring our community together for a day of incredible fun.
I was sent an interesting story about a small football club in Italy this week. For those who don't know anything about them, fair enough neither did I, which made the story even more interesting. Como 1907 is a small club in northern Italy, better known for its scenery than its football.
I recently read an interesting article by Mr Tim Gordon on what makes a good school. Here was the take home message of how to measure whether or not a school is ‘good’:
“the school's success in achieving its agreed-upon goals – i.e. the extent to which the school achieves what its own particular community expects it to achieve in respect of the young people en-trusted to its care.”
As we approach the end of the year, the school management is in the process of finalising the budget for 2025, which will determine the school fees for the upcoming academic year. This budgeting process has underscored the crucial role that the collection of school fees plays in maintaining the high standards of education and the breadth of opportunities available at Graeme College.