Rector’s eNews 31: 9 October 2024
/ UncategorizedI do hope that your boys have had a restful holiday at home with you even if, in some respects, it has been a busy period with so many sporting, musical and other festivals drawing on their talents. We ended the term with some severe weather conditions from which we did not have refuge until well into the holiday and the sight of snow covering the main quad with boys simultaneously taking part in water polo matches in the snow will remain etched on the memories of many in the years ahead.
Over the course of the holidays, I attended the HMC Conference (Heads in the UK and International Schools) in Belfast, Northen Ireland, and presented a paper of the work of Michaelhouse in our sixteen footprint schools. While we still have much to do and are by no means complacent, the outreach of Michaelhouse to 6400 students in so many schools was considered by other member schools as being at the forefront of the endeavours of schools. Naturally, the disparity of wealth in South Africa is different from many other countries such as Australia and New Zealand, but our role was commented on favourably and our aspiration, for example to raise R100 million for our neighbouring schools as a target for the next seven years, was lauded.
Congratulations go to all of those involved in the Community Partnership Trust at Michaelhouse:
Ms Akhona Sikhakhane who leads the team comprising Ms Ayanda Ntombela, Administrator, interns Mr Nkanyiso Zuma and Ms Ayanda Gwamanda as well as Ms Peta Roberts who oversees the boys’ contributions and Mrs Frances Fleming Bolttler who is responsible for overseeing the fundraising initiatives. Huge credit must also go to our Chairman, Mr Andrew Schaefer, who has steered the Community Partnership Trust over the past number of years with passion and purpose.
At the end of last term, we were delighted to hear that Michaelhouse has been selected as the International STEER School of the Year due to the consistently high-quality use of STEER over the last academic year.
As you are probably aware STEER is a pastoral assessment and tracking tool in which all our boys participate under the guidance of our School Counsellor, Mr Tim Jarvis. This tool has provided an additional and important part of our pastoral jigsaw, enabling us to track each pupil’s social-emotional development. In turn this facilitates the provision of pastoral support to the right students at the right time and in the right way.
STEER is used by some of the top schools in the UK and across the world, as well as several English Premier League academies.
Therefore, this award is an achievement of which we can be incredibly proud. We look forward to the ongoing use of this insightful assessment tool to continue to provide excellent pastoral care.
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