20 September 2017 Newsletter No 30/2017

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1 20 September 2017 Newsletter No 30/2017 Dear Parents, Old Boys and Friends of Michaelhouse Please click on the headings below to help you navigate around the E-news. Rector s Message... 1 Staff News... 2 Congratulations & Individual Achievements... 3 Blood Donor Drive Tomorrow : Urgent Need... 4 Personal Appearance : Important Reminder... 4 Memorial Service : former Rector Mr Rex Pennington... 5 Michaelhouse/Treverton Combined Art Exhibition : Closing Function... 5 Old Boys Durban Branch : Annual Dinner... 5 School Office Hours : September Holidays... 5 Rector s Message This letter was written some time back; at the end of the activities of the #Don tbethatguy theme held this quarter. It now seems so dated for all sorts of reasons but nevertheless continues to be relevant. In one of my previous newsletters I expressed my anticipation about the guest speakers that we had lined up for the remainder of that week. The first being Roy Gluckman and the second Rebecca Groome. I would like to give you some feedback on Roy s presentation in particular. While he challenged us deeply I have thought a great deal on what it is that he had to say, and frankly thought he was profound. He took the tired (his term before making it fresh) subjects of equality, diversity and transformation and examined them in ways that got us thinking about them, and in fact discussing them in front of each other in a way that I have seen no one else being able to do. Before describing his methods I would like to give some of his explanations. Transformation he said was simply moving from where we are to where it is that we would like to be. He also said that equality was treating different people differently to enable them to have access to equal opportunity. He spoke about the growing sense of voicelessness in South African institutions because of assimilation. He spoke eloquently on the dominant emotions in South Africa being fear on the one hand and anger on the other, and looked at voicelessness as being one of the major causes of the former. He said that we need to talk about them and understand in what he called a language of love, because they came together in issues such as race, sex and disability. He also challenged us to re-open (indeed start) the conversation on matters such as this. He showed us that while we might not agree on something, we still needed to have a conversation about it. 1

2 In order to do this, one of the powerful exercises he completed was to ask us what truth was. Indeed what a question. There were many definitions by the boys, and in fact many truths were ventured. He went on to say that these were truths that were individual, and that the truth for all of us was slightly different. He then supported each of the boys who had ventured their truth and said it was valid and asked that they did the same for others. He took us through an approach that had in fact been shown to him by a mom of a boy at Michaelhouse - simply put, it is not to call people out, but rather to call them in. When someone says something that has hurt you, do not shout out that they have hurt you, rather say come in and listen to how you have violated me and hurt me. Getting back to truth - his suggestion was that it was far more important to listen to others, whether you agreed or not with what they said, as ultimately it has nothing to do with you because actually it is about the truth of the other person. He also, as a white male, challenged the boys on white privilege, and said ultimately that this was not about money or opportunity but about trust. That it was not about giving up my stuff as a white male, but about understanding and opening up the space around the conversation to discuss things around it. That it was about repurposing privilege. That transformation was not about excluding white people but making the space fuller. Lastly he challenged us to get comfortable around conflict and said rather that it was about how we managed it that was important. His last act was to take the constitution and change it subtly by taking out we and substituting I into it. So that it now read as follows: I recognise the injustices of the past and I honour those who suffered for justice and freedom in South Africa. I respect those who have worked to build and develop our country, and I believe that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, united in our diversity. I therefore through my freely elected representative, adopt this constitution as the Republic s supreme law so as to: Heal past divisions and establish a society based on democratic values, social justice and human rights. Lay the foundations for a democratic and open society in which government is based on the will of individuals and every citizen is equally protected by law Improve the quality of life for all and free the potential of each individual, and Build a united and democratic South Africa. This is a really powerful tool. The boys gave him a spontaneous standing ovation. Staff News We are very sad to inform parents of two resignations that will be effective from the end of this year. Resignations Mrs Nancy Rouillard, the school s Human Resources Manager, will be leaving us at the end of this year. Nancy came to work at Michaelhouse in January 1997, as a teacher in the Zulu Department. During that time she also taught Geography. In 1999, Nancy started up the HR Department at the school and has been the Manager of that department since that time. We will therefore being saying goodbye to Nancy after 21 years at Michaelhouse! Nancy will be relocating with her husband, Adam, to George where they will be pursuing an exciting business opportunity. The Rouillard 2

3 Family are well known in the Michaelhouse Community and will be sorely missed. We wish them everything of the very best as they make a new life in the Eastern Cape. Mr Mike Bownes will be leaving us as he and his family relocate to Nelspruit where Mike has been appointed Headmaster of Nelspruit Curro School. We warmly congratulate Mike on his new appointment at Curro. Mike came to Michaelhouse, with his wife Helen and their family, in January 2008 and is a member of the Geography Department. He was promoted to Housemaster of Founders in January 2011, a position he still holds. Mike has filled many key roles at the school over the years: HOD Geography, teaching English, 1 st Team Hockey coach, Master in Charge of Hockey, Cricket coach, as well as involvement in various Outdoor Education programmes and cycle master for the C Block Journey. Helen has been involved in various aspects of Community Partnership, from the initial set-up of the St Raphael s Hospice/Care Centre, running sewing classes with ladies from Zenzane Village, to cleaning up and re-organising the library at Asithuthuke Combined School. We wish both Nancy and Mike, and their respective families, the very best for their futures and thank them all most sincerely for their considerable contributions to the school during their time at Michaelhouse. Their work and assistance is greatly appreciated. Promotion/Appointment We are delighted to announce that Mrs Lynne Moore, the school s current Human Resources Administrator, has been appointed the Human Resources Manager with effect from 01 December We are thrilled that Lynne has accepted this promotion and warmly congratulate her. We look forward to the valuable contribution she will bring to the school in this position and wish her the very best in her new role. Congratulations & Individual Achievements National Individual Debating & Public Speaking Championships The championships were held recently at St Albans in Pretoria. As usual, there was tough competition and some exceptional speeches. Michaelhouse had 5 speakers competing, who all gave of their best and did the school proud. The following top results were achieved: Bernard van der Berg went through to the Finals for the Impromptu Speech and placed 19 th overall. This Top 20 finish means that he has been offered a place on the World Team for 2018 where he will compete at an international level. The competition will be hosted in South Africa next year at Bishops, in Cape Town. Computer Programming Olympiad : First Round results During the week August, 27 Michaelhouse boys participated in the Programming Olympiad First Round. 2,368 students participated nationally. Certificates were awarded to the participants with above average scores. Congratulations to the following boys who made it through to the 2 nd Round: Shane Maartens, Christopher Ringwood, Bailey Green, Antony Fleischer, Brandon Roome and Benjamin Connolly. Congratulations to Bailey Green who achieved a 2 nd place in KwaZulu-Natal after participating in the 2 nd Round. 3

4 Congratulations to the following 7 boys who achieved certificates: GOLD certificates (top 7% of all participants countrywide per group) First Name Surname Grade House Shane Maartens 12 Farfield Christopher Ringwood 12 East SILVER certificates (top 21% of all participants countrywide per group) Bailey Green 11 Tatham BRONZE certificates (top 50% of all participants countrywide per group) Antony Fleischer 12 Farfield Brandon Roome 12 Farfield Benjamin Connolly 11 Tatham Richard Taylor 10 East Mark Richards 7 s Rugby Player of the Year Award This award was donated by Springbok Rugby 7's player Mark Richards in It is awarded annually to the most valuable 7's Player of the year, which is decided by the coaches. Congratulations to this year s recipient, Nicholas Kershaw, the Captain of the school s 7 s team. Blood Donor Drive Tomorrow : Urgent Need With our recent bus accident that has affected so many of our families, this past week has highlighted the urgent need for blood donation in KZN. With two of our students still in hospital, the blood bank have advised that there are only 2 days supplies left in the Province. This is extremely concerning and with this in mind, we have made arrangements to enthusiastically support an urgent blood donor drive. This will take place tomorrow, Thursday 21 September 2017 at the following venues: In Pietermaritzburg: St Charles College, Library, 07h30 to 11h00 And In Balgowan: Michaelhouse, Indoor Centre, 12h30 onwards, until mid-afternoon. Please may we appeal to all in our community to spread the word, gather friends and family and support this urgent need. Personal Appearance : Important Reminder Mr Allan Laing writes: Again, we would like to remind parents that boys must return to school with their hair cut according to the school standard. Please also ensure that your son has his buttons sewn onto his blazer. There will be an inspection during the first week of the term and the hairdresser will be called to the school for those boys who return with the incorrect haircut. A reminder too that only boys in A and B Block may wear slip-on shoes; all other students must have lace-up shoes. 4

5 Memorial Service : former Rector Mr Rex Pennington A reminder to all members of the Michaelhouse Community that a Memorial Service for former Rector Mr Rex Pennington will take place tomorrow, Thursday 21 September 2017 at 14h30 in the Michaelhouse Chapel. Michaelhouse/Treverton Combined Art Exhibition : Closing Function The combined Michaelhouse/Treverton Grade 10 & 11 Art Exhibition will be brought to a close with a function to be held on Wednesday 4 th October 2017 at 18h30, the first Wednesday evening of next term. Please see the invitation, attached separately to this newsletter, for further details. The Guest Speaker will be Claire Botha and refreshments will be served. Old Boys Durban Branch : Annual Dinner Please save the date for the Durban Old Boys Branch who will be hosting their Annual Dinner: Date: Thursday 2 November 2017 Venue: Durban Country Club The Dinner is for all Old Boys, Current, Past and Future Parents function for men only please. Further details will follow in due course from the Branch. School Office Hours : September Holidays Please note the office hours of various departments in the school during the coming holidays. All departments are closed on weekends and public holidays. Administration Office: 08h30 16h00 Monday to Friday Bursary/Accounts Office: 08h00 13h00 Monday to Friday Marketing Office: 09h00 15h00 Monday to Friday I wish you a safe and restful holiday before we return for the final Quarter of the year. Yours sincerely Greg Theron Rector /kab 5