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Roger Federer received an honorary Doctorate degree (Humane Letters) at a Commencement ceremony recently. In his speech Federer gave various tips for success.
One of the topics started with a question: “I played 1526 matches and won nearly 80% of those matches…
What percentage of points did I win?”
Pause on that, before continuing to read more about his speech.
As we approach the much-anticipated June holidays, it offers each family a valuable opportunity to reflect on their son’s achievements over the past six months of the year. This period away from the school routine provides a chance to pause and evaluate his progress, considering both accomplishments and areas of nonperformance, whether in personal growth or academic pursuits. It is important to celebrate any successes and to identify areas requiring improvement.
In recent years, AI via ChatGPT has made a massive impact within the classroom. There has been overwhelming positive support of that impact, with various comments suggesting or likening this change, to being similar to the addition of calculators, the initial internet search platforms or the initial use of wifi. There has been significant debate with regards to the pros and cons of ChatGPT. With that, the universal feeling is that it has to come with policy guidelines and education around the use of the application, which I am not sure we have done enough of.
Wednesday’s election was the first one that my daughter, now 20, was able to participate in. We spent a memorable 2 and a half hours in the queue, sometimes chatting to each other, sometimes chatting to others (Mr and Mrs Riddin, making the trek inland from Kenton) and sometimes wrapped up in our own thoughts. My mind drifted back to 1994, which was the first election that I voted in at the age of 22. It was a day that I will never forget, one that will always remain vivid in my memory. It feels like yesterday in many ways. I’m not sure how to put words to the ‘feeling’ of that day, but it was very real.
Courage was spotted surveying the savannah that is Somerset Field this week. Like our fingerprints, each leopard has a unique pattern of spots on its coat. In the same way, each of our boys at our school is unique and special to our Graeme Family. The Leopard is the most graceful and elegant of all the African cats. It is revered as a totem animal among the Zulu people, who call the leopard Ingwe. For them, the leopard symbolises all that is noble, courageous and honourable. Courage pictured above is given to a boy each week who shows and embodies some of the attributes above mentioned. What a special tradition to uphold at Graeme.
Last week, Mr Swift wrote a newsletter message, thanking the moms for what they do every week at Graeme College. Many people would have come across the letter that was written to ‘Dads’ in Pretoria recently. That too, conceded with what we sent out to our community recently, with regards to our own Supporter Code of Conduct. We too have had to have hard conversations with our own staff around this topic at times. I am just going to copy/ paste some of that letter written by the headmaster, and use it in this week’s newsletter in a challenge to our own dads at Graeme College:
A few weeks ago we celebrated the role of our gutsy Graeme Dads in our school community. On Sunday I trust that all Graeme Moms will be able to put their feet up and enjoy the adoration of their families.
With the mid-year exams looming on the horizon, it is so important that we all continue and/or intensify our encouragement and support of one another. Encouragement and support are the nutrients that sustain growth and foster success for learners, parents, and teachers alike. These twin pillars of positivity not only cultivate a conducive learning environment but also weave a tapestry of mutual understanding and collaboration among all stakeholders.
Celebrating 30 years of democracy yesterday. There was no better way to spend Freedom Day, than watching two great schools showing their talents (GC and SAC) and a new South Africa putting its best foot forward.
Graeme College recently released a Spectator Code of Conduct, pertaining to sports. Please re-visit this code on a regular basis, particularly on a Friday evening - to ensure that Saturday rugby (which seems to impact our emotions more than other sports) is competitive, yet peaceful and enjoyable.