Horizons Term 3 2018

Blink and you’ll miss it; In the blink of an eye; Before you can blink.

Blink …

… and the 2018 academic year is finished.

Do I write every year about how quickly the time has passed? I’m sure I do, and this year is no exception, except that this year I have science on my side! Christian Yates, a lecturer in Mathematical Biology at the University of Bath proposes that time is perceived to move more quickly for older people due to a slowing heartbeat, breathing and metabolism, making our lives feel busy and rushed. At the same time, time moves slower for children.

So, when my son, Zach, said to me the other day how quickly the year went, I was thrilled to realise that it wasn’t in fact just me aging, with slow metabolism, a slow heartbeat, and slowing breathing!

Just last week I had 22 young fresh-faced Grade 5 boys shuffle into my classroom, chattering eagerly about the year ahead. Sadly, I now have had to say goodbye to them as they go onto the next step of the journey at The Ridge in Grade 6. My Grade 5 boys, though, happily leave my classroom for the next one having grown and matured. For a teacher, that’s a good end to a year.

I was made even more aware of both the passage of time and the development of boys at The Ridge at the recent Grade 7 Leavers’ Dinner. While listening to the wonderful messages to each Grade 7 boy given by Mr Diana, Mr Motsepe and Miss Naidoo, I found myself thinking about the photo we would put up for Jude in a few years and what he would be remembered for. How quickly time has passed since his start at The Ridge, a blink of the eye ago…

At this event, I also saw mature, young (almost) men ready for their journey to high school, and I was very proud to have been a part of their maturing and developing on their journey to this point.

As you will see here, Horizons is now being published as a blog. Over the years, Horizons has gone through various formats in order to give you the most informative and user-friendly version. We realise that many of you were reading Horizons on a mobile phone, and the previous format was not suitable for this use. By publishing Horizons as a blog, we hope that your reading experience is as good as what you are reading about and that it means everyone is able to enjoy the many wonderful things that happen at The Ridge over the course of each term.

I don’t wish to end on a depressing note, but in closure as I write this, I am drawn to the wonderfully melancholy quote from Dr Seuss:

“How did it get so late so soon?”

On that note, happy holidays to you all. See you in 2019!

By Anton Pretorius

 

Grade 7 Headmaster’s Leadership Programme

Towards the end of the Grade 6 each year and as the following year starts to come into view, the excited crop of young lads, begin to give some serious thought to their role as Grade 7 student leaders here at The Ridge. Some of the discussions held with them all revolve around their involvement in the Headmaster’s Leadership Programme.

This initiative, which was started some years ago, focuses on giving each Grade 7 boy a chance to demonstrate his developing leadership skills by thinking through, planning towards and then actively engaging in four important components that reflect on or enhance his growth towards a deeper understanding of leadership. These components are: Service, Development of Self, Physical Development, and Organisational Skills.

It has been a real pleasure for me as headmaster to be able to monitor and manage the boys as they have dreamt up an impressive and diverse range and assortment of ideas and activities that together have made up their collective Grade 7 Leadership Programme contributions through 2018. Every boy is expected to plan for and complete two components, the compulsory one being Service. On having successfully completed two components boys have been awarded their Blue Leadership badge. On the completion of all four, the boys receive a special Headmaster Leadership Programme certificate at Prize Giving and their names appear in the Prize Giving brochure.

It is important to note that in every instance, when the boys have come up with their chosen service or activity for each component, they have had to also submit a form detailing exactly what they will be doing, how, when and with whom. This form then comes to me for signing off. Once the activity has been successfully completed, they submit evidence in support of what has been achieved and some information on what they have learnt from the experienced.

It would be unfair of me to single out individual boys and their initiatives or activities from the plethora of ideas chosen by the boys during this past year, so I will rather share some of the more unusual ones that have certainly captured the imagination. Some that have made their impact in the lives of others, added value to each of the Grade 7 boy’s own understanding of self, and/or allowed boys to venture into some unusual adventure, face the challenges head-on, and come out the other side knowing that they have achieved something that they could never have dreamt possible.

A few examples:

• Service:
  • Soles for the Souls … shoe collection for the needy
  • Collecting clothing for the St Lawrence’s Children’s Haven
  • Collecting shoes for the children of Matwabeng
  • Raising money to provide cataract surgery to those in desperate need
  • Water collection for Cape Town
  • Working at the Jabulani Khakibus Kids Home
  • Spring cleaning in the Salvazione Christian School’s Art Room
  • Honouring the care-givers at the Park Care Nurses’ Day celebration
  • Working at the Wood Rock Animal Shelter
  • Cleaning up Clansthal beach

• Development of Self:
  • Learning how to cook Sushi
  • Learning to speak Spanish
  • Learning how to sail
  • Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro
  • Climbing Mount Kenya
  • Losing weight
  • Learning to play the guitar
  • Riding in the 94.7 Cycle Race
  • Completing a CPR and First Aid Course

• Physical development:
  • Paddling the Orange River
  • Scuba Diving Course
  • Aiming for competitive status in canoeing
  • Snake handling and awareness
  • Swimming the Midmar Mile – twice in two days
  • Learning how to box
  • Work experience at the Gas Agency
  • Four-day cycle race in Botswana
  • Learning how to rock climb

• Organisational Skills:
  • Arranging a big brother’s 21^st birthday party
  • Organising a Fathers’ Day lunch
  • Organising of a golf day for mates over the half term weekend
  • Organising a Kids’ Polo Exhibition Match
  • Hosting of a dinner party for parents and friends
  • Organising of a clothing collection for a local Children’s Home
  • Arranging a morning Tea Party for the nurses of Park Care
  • Arranging of a games event for a mother and friends
  • Organising of a shoelace sale for charity

By Richard Stanley

 

Wendy Schultz

Wendy Schultz has been an educator at The Ridge for 18 years, in the position of Grade 1 teacher.  What a privilege it has been to work with and get to know this amazing lady.  As a colleague, Wendy is the most supportive, honest and dedicated educator to work with.  She is the first person we seek out for advice, ideas and encouragement.

The most important part of Wendy’s day is the time that she spends with the children in her care, making sure that each child has a happy day at school. She knows her boys so well and takes the time to connect with each one. We love it when she shares quirky anecdotes about what the boys have said and done. Her infectious laugh can be recognised immediately.

When old boys visit, she recognises most immediately and reminds them of the kind of boys they were in Grade 1.  She has long chats with their parents, asking about the family as if they’d just left the previous year.  Ms Mafunise, your ‘Maths expert’ says, “I won’t let you down, I will keep shosoloza maths!”

Wendy talks to everyone, colleagues, parents and boys with the utmost respect and never wavers in that regard.  As a friend and Grade 1 team mate, our love and respect for Wendy is immeasurable. She is the example we aspire to.  Wendy will laugh with you, lift you up and ‘set you straight’ when you need it. She is our ‘3 C’s’; our Conscience, Confidant and Caring Friend!

We asked her boys what they liked about Mrs Schultz, and besides the usual “she is kind”, “she gives us nice work” there were these extra gems:

‘She lets us play in the morning.’

‘I like everything about her!’

‘She always takes care of us when we’re sad.’

‘I like how Mrs Schultz looks.’

‘She is a good teacher and I’m just happy I’m with her.’

‘She always speaks to us in a nice voice.’

‘I don’t know…. I just like her!’

We are going to miss you so much Wendy, but we know you’re just a ‘giffy’ and a call away. May your next adventure be a fulfilling and happy one!

With so much love and respect.

By Lauren Baines-Fourie, Tracy Beukes and Miriam Mafunise

Karen Durandt

I have known Karen for many years.  I first met her when she was teaching at St Katharine’s. She taught my daughter in Grade 1, 12 years ago. Georgie absolutely adored her and the academic foundation she received from Karen was exceptional.  Karen left St Katharine’s after many years to take up a Grade 2 teaching post at The Ridge.  The St Katharine’s staff really missed her when she moved across, and she has remained in close touch with many of her former colleagues.

Our current Grade 7’s were her first Ridge boys. I asked the boys in her first class of their memories from their time in her Grade 2 class and this is what they had to say:

‘Mrs Durandt was always very kind and caring to us all, she was a very nice teacher.’

‘Mrs Durandt was always there for us, and always looked after her boys. She was a fantastic teacher.’

‘Mrs Durandt helped me through a very difficult time as I was repeating the year. I felt very alone but she really made sure I settled in well and found new friends.  She was one of my favourite teachers.’

Karen comes from a family of teachers, and teaching is in her blood.  She commits to high standards, is an excellent teacher, and has inspired many girls and boys over years.

Karen is always immaculate, stylish and professional in her approach.  She has a wonderful family and is devoted to the boys in her care. She is courageous and strong in her outlook in life and, although reserved, is deeply sensitive and caring. I have taught two of her sons, Kieran and Jamie, and she is an amazing mother to them all.

Karen leaves us to spend more time with her children and we will miss her.  I know that she will be back in the classroom before too long.

By Janet Fox van der Poel

 

Carole Newman

Carole is a remarkable person, to say the least! She started her professional life as a musician, having studied music at UCT.  She then married Dennis and they had two lovely children, Johnny and Lesley.

With a busy, young, growing family, her career path changed somewhat. She furthered her studies at UNISA in English and Special Needs Education, which have since been her areas of specialist knowledge.

Although Carole’s focus changed when she became involved in Education, her exceptional skills as a musician – dedication, intelligence, commitment, passion and flair, were transferred to a different domain.

Carole has been at The Ridge for 25 years where her excellent reputation precedes her. She has given unstintingly of her time and knowledge to the boys in her care. If ever boys were “known and grown” it has been with Carole’s expertise and encouragement. She has a strong sense of justice and always supports the underdog.

Carole is dignified, kind and loyal, and is a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and friend.  When she has any “me time”, she loves reading, gardening and various cultural activities.

Carole, as The Ridge School bids you farewell, we thank you for your remarkable service to the school and wish you many years of well-deserved time to kick back, read, listen to your much-loved music and smell the roses!

By Jane Lamb and Sean Coughlan

Justin Wardle

Justin joined us just over two and a half years ago from the Cape. Most people gravitate to the Cape, but we were fortunate that Justin chose to come to us! He arrived at the start of the second term in 2016 and became a huge asset right from the start.  With all his experience and expertise, Justin became part of almost every aspect of the music department.

He is a hugely accomplished musician with a love of wind instruments and concert bands, ensemble playing and arranging. Justin has assisted Euphane in this area throughout. He has also been a vital part of two very successful music tours, one to KZN, and this year to the Western Cape.  Justin has, of course, also accompanied and been an integral part of our various choirs and all their performances. His musical arrangements are legendary. From the start Justin knew that ‘The Sound of Music’ was our forthcoming major senior school production, and it was fantastic working with him. Justin’s contribution to the production was extraordinary.

Justin demands absolute focus from boys, and by his own admission he is ‘not quiet’!  The boys have grown to admire and respect this fine musician and they know exactly where they stand with him. Justin has made an invaluable contribution to our music department, and he leaves a great void.

Justin, go well and we hope your new chapter is exciting and fulfilling. I am certain you will be successful at whatever you put your mind to.  I have a feeling that you will be back in the music world before long. I think you will miss it enormously.  In the meantime enjoy a ‘quieter’ time away from music education and just know that you have left an indelible mark on ‘music at The Ridge’.

By Janet Fox van der Poel

Guinevere Versfeld

It is with a heavy heart that we have to say goodbye to Guin. She has been an incredible asset to the English department and she has always been a wonderful support to the boys and the school as a whole.

Employed as an English specialist in the senior school, Guin’s role at The Ridge was more than that. On arrival, Guin bravely took on the school reports and soon became the in-house Ridge editor. From editing the school magazine, to our recipe book, she was the ‘go to’ before any of these were sent out to the greater community.

Guin played a pivotal role in the school production of Shrek, often displaying her very own acting skills to help mentor the boys. Guin’s dedication to her boys and making sure their very best interests were considered were her priorities, and is one of the reasons why we worked so well together. Her energy and enthusiasm is often seen in her lessons, and her passion for teaching English is something that the boys benefited from. With her proficient English knowledge, the boys were challenged, nurtured and guided in the subject. The boys in Guin’s care were not only given expert guidance in English but were respected, supported and cared for in all aspects of school.

It has been easy, effortless and a pleasure having Guin to work with in the English department. We wish her well as she says goodbye to The Ridge and spends time with her wonderful boys and family.

By Urvasi Naidoo

Neo Motaung

Neo joined The Ridge family 3 years ago as part of the Realema internship program. Before long he had made himself indispensable; in the class, on the sports field and in the arts.  Neo is a disciplinarian and a stickler for time. He has a suave dress sense, coupled with impeccable manners that make him the darling of those he comes into contact with. With his easy manner and broad smile, Neo makes friends easily and can communicate with everyone and anyone on campus.

Neo is ambitious and very driven. With his zest for life we can expect great things from this young sir. He has from day one displayed the characteristics of a teacher: he is gentle when there is a need but also firm with his boys. He is supportive of lads that need a helping hand but is not prone to spoon feeding. Neo believes in boys taking the initiative to find information for themselves.

Go well, Motaung, motho wa ha Hlalele, Sebata se maro. Represent us well where you are going, remember that a teacher is a teacher no matter where they are. Hold on to the values of Great Teachers: fairness, putting the needs of your learners first, being mindful of those in need of a friend, defending the vulnerable and giving praise where it’s due, while you yourself maintain being a life-long learner too. Teaching is a way of life, embrace it. Remember that the profession chose you, that you will be conscripted to a life of poverty,  but that great personal fulfilment will be more in abundance. Lastly, take comfort in the knowledge that you are a farmer, the seeds you planted will germinate and bear fruit long after you left this stage.

Realeboha, and ndlelantle!!!

By Moeketsi Motsepe

 

Tennis

2018 has been another successful tennis season indeed!

More and more boys continue to join and play tennis at The Ridge, some at a social level and some at a competitive level. As tennis is one of the select few sports that is on offer at school throughout the year the numbers of boys participating is growing exponentially.

Playing tennis allows the boys to develop many skills such as: a good work ethic, learning sportsmanship, accepting responsibility, managing mistakes, enhancing discipline and teamwork, learning to cope with pressure and adversity and developing healthy habits.

The Ridge tennis teams performed with grit and excellence, achieving outstanding results during the inter-school leagues this year. The boys showed great competitiveness, sportsmanship and professionalism. The first team in particular were victorious in all their fixtures in the KZN tennis tour. Well done!

The Ridge also has a number of boys participating in the South African junior tennis circuit. They too have performed with excellence and are to be congratulated on their fine personal achievements.

All the boys are to be commended for their enthusiasm and participation this year, whether they represented the school or attended social practices. I look forward to another successful year in 2019 in terms of interest, passion and love for this wonderful sport which is widely regarded as the “sport for a lifetime”.

By Damian Pakkiri

 

Swimming

Captain:                       Weston Davis

Vice-Captain:              Richard Stagman

2018 has been another happy year for the swimming teams. Once again, we were able to field three teams on a Friday afternoon, which is a great feat from our relatively small school.

The league galas were much bigger this year, with as many as eight schools at some of the competitions. Throughout the leagues, our Ridge teams generally finished in the top 4. The C team always had a tough ask as only a few schools have a C team so they are often competing against B teams.

Our B team was probably our most consistently strong team this year, whilst the A team results often depended on availability owing to a few cricket and water polo clashes. However, as true Ridge boys, they were always prepared to dive in and swim wherever and whenever they were needed!

The highlight, once again, was the Boys Prep Schools Gala in which the A team retained their very impressive 3^rd position while the B team achieved an exciting and noteworthy 2^nd place.

Rose retained the title at the Championship Gala with Dunn finishing second. Rose again won the year-end Tabloid gala, with Nicolson finishing second.

A big thank you must go to the Grade 7 swimmers for their commitment and dedication to the swimming teams over the years. They have certainly done us proud.

By Erica Kinnear

Cricket

The 2018 cricket season was a really good one for The Ridge. In total Ridge boys played a massive 155 matches! There were a number of tours that took place this year, the most significant one being hosted by WPPS during the drought. The Ridge also toured to Clifton and Cordwalles, which is always great fun for the boys and always produces tough opposition. A highlight of this tour was when the U10 and U11 boys visited Hilton College where they were greeted by Mr David Millar (arguably the most explosive 20/20 batsman who plays for the Proteas) and Mr Dale Benkenstein (Hilton 1^st team coach and Proteas batting coach). This proved to be a highly exciting morning.

As a school we had five U9 teams, four U10 teams, three U11 teams and five Open sides playing this year, which was most pleasing to see. From all these teams and the 155 matches we played, The Ridge managed to achieve a 53% win ratio across the board against all opposition.

A very big thank you to all the coaches and umpires who spend hours out on the field coaching our boys, your dedication to keep the boys positive and motivated is really appreciated. We look forward to an exciting 2019 season.

By Bennie du Preez

Climbing

Although the climbing season this term was a relatively short one, it ended on a high note with The Ridge winning the Bouldering school of the year award at City Rock. This was the first inter‐schools climbing competition hosted by Offwidth. The boys also participated in four Gauteng Climbing competitions featuring tight rope and bouldering. Once again, our climbers excelled, and three of our boys were selected to climb for Gauteng Climbing at National level. This is a phenomenal achievement. Alex Hutton received a gold medal for Top Rope and a gold medal for Bouldering. Oliver Hutton received a silver medal for Top Rope and a bronze medal for Bouldering. Davrin Gillot was placed in 4th position overall. The boys have shown true signs of resolution, steadiness and determination. Heartiest congratulations, boys!

We enjoyed an increase in the number of boys choosing climbing this year. A total of 16 boys, each with their own individual climbing objectives, be it recreational or competitive, balance climbing with other sports that they participate in at The Ridge. Climbing does not only draw on the physical attributes of the boys but it is also a huge mental game drawing on their self‐reliance and confidence, and the boys enjoy it. Unfortunately, there were no Grade 7 boys participating in climbing this year, hence the positions of captain and vice‐captain were not filled.

By Shanitha Ramsurwaj

 

The professional climber

We had three open outdoor climbing afternoons during the year in which boys participated in and recently, over the October half-term break, we had a number of boys and their families join us at Waterval Boven for a weekend of outdoor climbing. This last event was booked out by March and is extremely popular, with climbers having an opportunity to climb higher routes than what is generally available in Johannesburg as well as being in a most spectacular environment.

The Ridge climbers have done well this year and 2019 holds opportunity for more fun on the walls, harder and higher sends, all while mastering techniques and skills in a variety of contexts.

By Sonja Thomas (Offwidth)

 

A boy’s perspective of climbing

Hanging by a rope off the side of a mountain, about 40m up, looking at Johannesburg is what I think climbing is all about. This is what we do when outdoor climbing at the Crags. I have been climbing for 2 years and have learnt so much. I love climbing because you are able to see yourself progress. In the beginning the routes that were: “Just too difficult” become: “Ah! That was easy!”

We are a small group of boys and we all have a love for climbing in common. We talk about climbing a lot. When I first started, my goals were to make the climbing team and to climb a difficulty level 15 route. Once I reached these goals I set myself some new ones. I would like to make the National Team and hopefully one day, with enough practice, I’ll be able to top a difficulty 20 route. I love climbing and it has helped me mentally and physically.

By Giulio Cianfanelli

Canoeing

We had a highly successful first official season of canoeing as a sport at The Ridge. This is a brief summary of some of the main highlights and facts from canoeing this year:

• Number of boys in the Canoeing Team: 47 boys from Grade 4 to Grade 7
• Number of Schools League events in 2018: 11 races (including SA Schools Sprint Champs & SA Schools Marathon Champs)
• Primary school standing in the schools league: 2nd place
• Individual standings: Nicholas Faure (2nd place in Gauteng in the U12 age group)
• Participants in the 2018 Tugela 20s River Marathon: William Mills, Leo Lund, Michael Butcher, Sean Ruwodo
• Participants in the SA Schools Sprint Champs at Roodeplaat Dam: William Mills, Nico du Preez, Leo Lund, Sean Ruwodo, Tsibisi Phalafala, Nick Faure, James Stapylton-Smith, Joseph Rosmarin, Luke MacKinnon, Ryan Herold and Alex Hutton
• Participants in the SA School Marathon Champs in St. Francis Bay: Nick Faure and James Stapylton-Smith
• Race formats: 500m, 200m and 100m sprints and Long Distances races varying between 2km for the U10 age group up to 6km for the U14 age group

A big thank you must go out to Mr McLachlan who has taken it upon himself to really build on our canoeing and for taking it to a new level. We look forward to the team going from strength to strength in 2019.

By Bennie du Preez

Basketball

Basketball was introduced at the start of 2018 and has become a very popular sport at The Ridge School with over 30 boys from Grade 6 and 7 playing for the A and B Teams. The sport is run by professional coaches who have taught the boys many skills, both on and off the court. Being a new sport at The Ridge, we have continued to show marked progress throughout the season with three practice days a week. The boys have played inter-school fixtures against schools like Saheti, Marist Brothers, Ballers, Jeppe Boys Prep, St. Peter’s Boys Prep, St Benedict’s Prep and Sacred Heart.

The Ridge School was invited to the St John’s U/13 Tournament on the 1^st to 4^th March 2018 and played against St John’s, Jeppe, St Peter’s and Soweto Academy. The highlight of the day was when they beat St John’s 19-16. The boys made it through to the quarter finals which was a great achievement for the team. On the 27^th October the Grade 6s were invited to an U/12 Tournament at the American International School of Johannesburg (AISJ) and played against AISJ, Dominican Convent, Morris Isaacson and ISSA. On the 8^th November the A Team was invited to the St Benedict’s Basketball Tournament. The B Team at the Saheti School Basketball Tournament did extremely well winning all their games. To finish off the season, the U/11s played at University of Johannesburg on the 10^th November and won all their games.

This year has been very exciting for both the coaches and the boys. The sport will continue to grow and the boys will thrive while learning new skills and focusing on fitness and enjoying themselves on the court.

By Mbulelo Ntshingana

 

Hockey

Our 2018 hockey season was a competitive one where our boys showed a lot of grit on the astro. The Ridge put out 14 junior sides and 15 senior sides this year and it was a very enjoyable season, including all the bus rides to and from practices. With much planning we were able to ensure that every team practiced on an astro at least once a week and played a fixture every week.

Our first side toured to East London for the annual Prep Schools Festival. Our boys punched well above their weight and one of the highlights was going 1-0 down in the last 30 seconds to a coastal side with 7 provincial players in the team. The boys truly showed the Right Stuff and can be proud of all they have achieved.

A big thank you to all the staff and coaches who made this such a fun, exciting and energetic season. The boys really enjoyed themselves.

By Bennie du Preez

 

Water polo

The 2018 water polo season has been quite successful for The Ridge. This year we were able to have 3 junior and 3 senior sides participating in fixtures, the most teams we have had since we started water polo at The Ridge. Our teams have really competed well against the other schools and at times punched well above their weight.

The highlight of the year is always the SACS Festival where 22 schools from around the country participate. This year The Ridge finished a respectable 10^th and the boys can be proud of what they achieved. We were also very proud of our U11A side who finished 3^rd in the annual Willy Castle Tournament this year.

2018 has also produced the most provincial players the school ever had in one year, with five in total making the Gauteng squad. A big thank you to all the coaches for their time and dedication throughout the year and we look forward to an even better 2019.

By Bennie du Preez

 

Music

We have come to the end of another fantastic year of music at The Ridge. All our boys have been part of, and have participated fully in all the various musical activities. Our Music tour with St Katharine’s to Cape Town was a fantastic success. 170 very excited and happy children delighted the Cape Town audiences to several wonderful concerts. It was fun and fabulous on every level. The standard of music was very high and the children loved it.

During the term we have held, and been part of several choir festivals, performances and ensemble concerts. Our bands and voices have also enhanced endless school performances throughout the term, up to and including the last day of the year! We are delighted and proud of the high standard of our music and musicians. Our music exam, competition and eisteddfod results bear testimony to this.

Our annual Grade 0 concert “In the Garden” was delightful with every Grade 0 boy involved. The Nativity play, our African themed, ‘Jesus’s Christmas Umghubo’ was colourful and spectacular. Every Grade 1, 2 and 3 boy was involved and appeared to love every moment. The Senior Prep Carol Service at St Martin’s-in-the- Veld Church was utterly outstanding. The extended choir and orchestra was superb. These were all magical evenings with glorious singing and fantastic music. All the boys can be very proud of their performances.

My thanks go to all the music staff for their commitment and hard work, and particularly to Euphane Richardson and Justin Wardle for their invaluable assistance throughout the year in all regards. Sadly we say good bye to Justin Wardle after 2 ½ very successful years.  We will miss him enormously. Enjoy the next exciting chapter Justin!

Lastly I would like to thank the boys who give of their best and with such energy and passion! Without them none of this would be possible. Grade 7 boys, go well and enjoy your new adventures.  We will miss you!

By Janet Fox van der Poel

Music Tour – Western Cape

 Music Tour… A boy’s perspective

Do – The parent’s money

Re – The Lack of Sunshine

Mi – My account of the Western Cape Music Tour 2018

Far – A long, long way to run, would definitely describe the distance from Joburg to Cape Town, but luckily enough we were able to fly there!

On our arrival in Cape Town we were shuttled down to the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront where we enjoyed a boat cruise around the harbour. The highlights of this activity for me was spotting some seals playing about in the harbour and listening to a Marimba band play in the square.

Our first concert was on Wednesday 19^th September at Bridge House Preparatory School. Despite the miserable weather conditions, the concert went really well, and the music was enjoyed by the audience and performers alike. It really showed how the joy of music can lift up people’s spirit and bring happiness, no matter what the weather is doing.

Sew – A needle pulling thread.

This is merely one of the hobbies that the French Huguenots practiced, as we observed on their emblem at the Huguenot Monument in Franschhoek. On our tour of the museum we were shown many interesting relics and apparatus used by the Huguenots, a few of which were: their old medicinal kits; old doll’s tea party kits made out of real china; different types of bibles of which they were renowned for hiding in loaves of bread; and my personal favourite – their old waffle making machines!

Our lunch at the Vineyards of Blaauwklippen Wine Estate was a picnic inside the old wagon shed, as the weather was still not so great outside. Luckily by the time we had finished eating it had improved, and we were able to enjoy the luxury of warm sun for the first time. We were educated by some of the Estate staff on the history of the estate and all of its owners, as well as all the low-downs of wine and champagne making for those interested!

During some of the free time that we were given, I was able to think a little about how all my beloved pets at home were, including my cat, but those thoughts would have to wait for a while until after we had visited the much bigger relatives of the modern-day housecat, Cheetahs! Our next visit was to the Cheetah Sanctuary in Somerset West. Most of the Cheetahs come from breeding places in Pretoria, Oudtshoorn and Limpopo, and are brought there to be raised as ambassadors of their kind so that people can admire this beautiful species before they are extinct because of us.

A very cold and early start on Thursday 20^th September (6.45am departure!) was enjoyed this morning, but despite this, a beautiful sunrise over the nearby skyline of mountains was admired. We arrived at W.P.P.S. at 7:50, unpacked and tuned all the musical equipment, before being allowed some free time before the first concert of the day. Some people decided to play a ball game or two, while others tried to pick up the school’s pet – a chicken!

The concert went really well. Thanks to having a little more time than our last concert, the bands were all able to play a variety of songs, and the audience enjoyed every minute. The highlight was the vibe created by the Marimbas, which was so great that even the Ridge ground staff who had driven the bus and trailer down, decided to join in and have a little fun dancing to the beat of the music.

La – A note to follow sew.

In our case, a concert to follow a concert. Almost immediately after finishing our first concert at W.P.P.S., we had a quick refreshment break, packed up the instruments, and were on our way again, down the road to Herschel Junior School for our second concert.

Tea – I drink with Jam and Bread.

For us it would be more correct to say Chicken and Chips, with Coke, as we enjoyed a lunch delivered to the school from Spur.

Our afternoon’s activity was to head up Table Mountain on the cable car on a spectacularly sunny day. It was really cool to be able to breathe in the fresh, but crisp, air at the top, smell the beautiful Fynbos, and to look over the sea and everything down below. This was merely one of the things that contributed to Mr. Stanley’s song choice for today of Chris De Burgh’s “At the end of a perfect day”.

Our last concert at Somerset House was great, as we had really saved our best performance for last. The Marimba band got to play even more songs than usual, and a few of the Jazz band members got to test out their talents on improvised solos. Each concert that we performed was equally amazing in my eyes, and the performances did vary slightly from one to another, but they all followed a general layout. This was:

– The Orchestra plays: A 5th of Beethoven and Special Star.

– The String Ensemble plays: You’ve got a friend in Me.

– The Jazz Band plays a selection from Cantaloupe Island, Blue Room and Real Africa.

– The Choir sings: Africa by Toto, From Now On from The Greatest Showman and The Mandela Medley.

– The Marimbas finish off strong, as always, with their selection of music.

After we had finished performing, we packed everything up again (everyone’s least favourite bit), and headed to the airport at 10:30. We checked in at 11:45, possibly a little late for boarding time at 12:15, and made our way to boarding gate A10. This was done, but not before most people bought themselves lunch, however I was unable to, as I had spent all my money on presents for family members! So, stomach rumbling and all, we boarded the plane, and by 13:15, we were in the air on our way back to Joburg!

And that will bring us back to Do, o, o, o, home.

By William Mills

Art

Each year we await with anticipation, the huge display of artworks that have been produced over the year. Boys thoroughly enjoy seeing what the other grades and classes have been up to for the past 10 months. The younger boys love identifying older brother’s, SALT member’s and friend’s artworks. Boys can be heard enthusiastically discussing the merits of each other’s art, sharing and developing their unique aesthetic sensibilities.

The highlight of this year’s Art Week had to be the Grade 7 Self Portraits and the Mandela Works series. While the Grade 7 boys wowed us with their expressive and personal renditions of themselves, capturing an important moment in their journey to adulthood, The Mandela Works were nothing less than impactful. This series of four panels was a rare opportunity for an entire grade to work on a single art work. It took an important and significant occasion to do this- the celebration and remembrance of Nelson Mandela’s life and work! The four magnificent collages were a very fitting artistic tribute to a remarkable man and his journey.

As usual, Art Week afforded us the opportunity to award and reward some of our very special talents from Grade 4 to 7. This was done through a Top 5 Gold award for the top 5 artworks on display in each grade, an Exceptional Achievement certificate for boys who had made a substantial contribution to the exhibition and who have thus produced work of a consistently high standard throughout the year, and a Parents Favourite reward.

More and more we are becoming aware that in our fast changing world where AI and IT are dominating, it is the things which make us uniquely human, which machines can’t replace, that we have to develop and nurture – that is compassion, critical thinking and creativity. Art classes at The Ridge make a substantial contribution to equipping our boys with these ‘softer’, but soon becoming ‘core’ skills.

By Nicci Kurz

Media

This term, we kicked off with a visit from South African award-winning author, Lori-Ann Preston. She visited the Grade 3s, 4s and 5s to launch the first book in her series, Thabo the Space Dude. The boys loved listening to her story of how she became an author, and were lucky enough to be have their books personally signed by her.

A week later, we had another fabulous Reading Breakfast in honour of Roald Dahl’s birthday. Boys were asked to come as their favourite heroes from a book and, as usual, they accepted the challenge with enthusiasm! The quad was scattered with superheroes, sporting heroes and literary heroes, all picnicking with their families and sharing stories from books.

During this term, Mrs Glanz also brought her CLAW-rescue, Timmy, to the library to cheer him up after his best friend passed away. The boys loved cuddling on the couch with him, reading out loud to make him feel better.

On the decorating front, the library has had a make-over, with a beautiful new accessioning desk installed. A dedicated chill-space (keeping to the HOMAGO theme – Hang Out, Mess Around, Geek Out) has been set up in the corner where the old desk used to be. The boys are very excited about this change and we’ve had many visitors pop in throughout the weeks to come and see the progress.

By Hanlie Glanz

Chess

Any member of the chess team who has played in an away match with The Ridge Chess Team would know what each host school serves for supper and the break between matches or after them. For example, St John’s always serves potatoes and chicken whereas we here at The Ridge always serve chicken prego rolls. Schools that serve pudding are regarded very highly! St Benedict’s, St Peter’s and Pridwin have come up with Doughnuts, Peppermint Crisp Tart and Ice Cream. All of which were very much enjoyed. Sugary treats add to a, hopefully, sweet victory!

So as you can see, being part of the chess team is not just about learning strategy, or skills of the game or even eating delicious food. It is more about the camaraderie and friendships that develop while being part of this somewhat small team at The Ridge. On a Wednesday morning, the library is full of enthusiastic and eager boys who want to participate in a game that has become popular at The Ridge. Our early morning starts together with our evening matches, have not deterred Ridge boys from playing chess.

There are two chess coaches, Bruce Young who sets all the chess problems and gives us chocolates when we get the puzzles correct- we have been recipients of a chocolate bar or two! Kunda is a grandmaster and it is an absolute privilege to be coached by him. The coaches have taught us different types of strategies that have helped the chess team develop their skills in the game.

After all the amazing experiences that we’ve had during our time as Captain and Vice-Captain and even prior to that, we can strongly recommend joining The Ridge Chess Team.

By Sam Labe (Captain) and William Mills (Vice-Captain)

 

Grade 0

 

With the celebration of ‘Heritage Day’ earlier this term, our boys spoke warmly about different cultures and what they thought ‘Heritage’ was. It was very pleasing to see how their understanding was translated onto paper. It was even more heart-warming to see happiness, brotherhood and the South African flag don their work. The boys participated with grandeur in cultural and sports outfits, and left at the end of the day with a closer connection to each other and their special practices.

Our term ended with the magic and wonder of Christmas. Over the year, the boys’ artistic interpretations have evolved beautifully. They not only managed to draw Father Christmas free hand but also on A2 paper. It is in the spirit of Christmas that each Santa has a beautiful smile, ready to reward each of our boys for always showing ‘The Right Stuff’. Wishing you a blessed and safe holiday season!

By Kathryn Rossouw

Grade 1

Grade 1 boys rounded off another exciting year. Enjoying serious work, Santa fun and honing those organisational skills – getting ready for next year.

Your teachers are going to miss you!

By Lauren Baines-Fourie

Grade 2

The Grade 2 boys have been learning about famous landmarks and countries. As part of their Learning Journals, they had to build their own famous landmark from recyclable materials. We held a grand exhibition and the boys proudly displayed their imaginative creations!

By Tessa MacMurray

Grade 3

Before school we packed our bags with the things we needed. When we got to school we put our bags below the bus in the hold. The bus drive was about 2 ½ hours. I sat next to Zuko and Reza. We ate sweets and talked about basketball on the bus.

When we got there, we sat under a tree. Mark introduced us to the facilitators. Their names were Ntombi, Mishak, Clement, Michael, Candy and Shadrak. My facilitators name was Michael. I have a bad short memory so I can’t really remember who was in my group. But we were called ‘Banana Baboon’.

With Clement’s team we went looking for fish. Josh, Seb and I were in a group. Seb and I caught a big fish. Well, actually it was small, but compared to other fish it was big! After fishing, we went to the bum slide/ tummy slide/ knee slide. The knee slide was quite sore but you went so fast on your knees. After this slide we went back to our dorms.

Then we went to the tree climb. The tree was very tall and had a curve at the end which made it quite difficult to climb. I got to the beginning of the curve. I tried not to look down otherwise I would get scared. I could feel the gravity pulling on my body. When it wasn’t your turn we made bracelets (with beads, but mine broke during dinner time). After the tree climb we went back to camp for a very short rest.

Quite soon after we met the other teams in the warrior and chief grounds (that’s where we played it). The rules were quite simple, your chief had to hide and could not move. Everyone else had a tail and tried to find the other chiefs. If your tail got pulled off you were out and went to jail. After the game we went back to camp and it was a long walk.

By Felix Jackson

 

Grade 4

The enthusiasm and energy of the 2018 Grade 4s contributed to a happy transition into the Senior Prep. They grasped every new opportunity with both hands and enjoyed a busy, fulfilling year.

In the classroom, they were introduced to Natural Science and the experimental nature of the subject inspired their inquiring and inquisitive minds. The making of ice cream proved to be a particular favourite! The boys also produced an Expo project of their choice which they presented and then put on show, alongside the Grade 7s, at the Expo evening.

The library, with its wealth of books, combined with the incentive scheme, encouraged many boys to increase their volume of reading in order to attain their reading club awards. They were also treated to two presentations by well-known authors which they enjoyed.

On the sporting front, the Grade 4s showed their prowess with some wonderful results across the board. Their secret to success was that everybody played their part in their team and enthusiastically fulfilled his role.

Outings this year included a day at Gold Reef City to learn about the history of Johannesburg and an informative walk through the Melville Koppies. The three days at Camp Konka are always a highlight of the year where the boys participated in a wonderful range of team building and physical challenges. They come away having made new friends and having attained a belief in their ability to take on and overcome new challenges.

This has been a happy year of growth for each and every Grade 4 boy.

By Erica Kinnear

Grade 5

Grade 5 STEAM 2018

It would be difficult for a Grade 5 boy to convince you that they don’t enjoy their weekly STEAM lessons. This is because twice a week, the Grade 5 boys eagerly make their way to their mentor teachers to participate in a lesson where they have fun while learning

Off the back of introducing STEAM in Grade 5 in 2017, this year we have consolidated and improved on the implementation of the STEAM programme. Boys have continued to participate in lessons that allow the them to learn and practice 21^st century skills, from critical thinking to problem solving and from collaboration to innovation.

• At the start of the year we looked at the planet Mars. We watched and analysed a wonderful movie, The Martian, and brought in several themes that we explored further:
• Boys initially explored the idea that astronauts have to have some sort of spaceship to carry them to Mars that needed to be a living space. We asked boys to make a spaceship out of 3D shapes.
• The idea of being isolated allowed the boys to explore the concept of loneliness and the necessity of communicating with others. We asked the boys to write digital letters to NASA explaining their feelings and asking for help.
• Once on the planet Mars, boys had to consider how one would get around. So boys had to learn about vehicles and make a working model of a Mars Rover.
• In the movie, the lead character makes a daring escape. We asked the boys to storyboard their own interpretation of a Mars escape, then create a coded digital animation showing this using the Scratch coding platform.
• We also suggested to the boys that life is probable on other planets somewhere in the universe, although unlikely on Mars. But if there was life, what would it look like, thus we asked the boys to make an alien head out of papier mache.

2018 has also been a significant year in the life of South Africa as we celebrated what would have been Nelson Mandela’s 100^th birthday. We asked the boys to investigate his life in a bit more detail and then design and make a Mandela board game that allowed the player to play a game and at the same time learn about Nelson Mandela.

In the last term of the year, we directed the boys’ attention to a wonderful television series called Mythbusters. In this series, the presenters identify common myths and attempt to debunk these myths using correct and careful scientific experimentation. We challenged the boys to identify their own myths or scientific ideas, and then to design and practically investigate that myth or idea and then film themselves doing this in order to create their own Mythbusters type episode. This project required a large amount of upskilling the boys in scientific language and on how to complete scientific experiments. Boys had to plan their experiments very carefully as well as storyboard their episode. Once this part was completed, boys then did their experiments, filmed themselves and then used the footage to edit and create their episode.

By the end of the year, the Grade 5 boys had participated in many lessons that sparked creativity, that forced them to be independent thinkers, to problem solve and then innovate solutions, to collaborate with others and to gain confidence in showing others what they learned. We look forward to continuing to improve the STEAM programme into 2019 and to bringing in even more unique, creative and most of all, fun ideas.

By Anton Pretorius

Grade 6

The boys were privileged to take part in a number of varied activities to expand their cultural and civic learning this term. The Game of Life was one of these activities. The game allows the boys to develop a deeper sense of their strengths and attributes as they play, particularly during elections where boys canvass support from peers. Ultimately, the intention of the election process is to allow the boys to create a holistic awareness of themselves in order to prepare them for their upcoming College interviews. The term culminated in a very exciting election, where one boy per class was elected mayor.

Boys that remained at school during the music tour week were gainfully occupied in a cultural musical venture of their own. They had to form their very own band. Not only did the boys have to create their own music and perform live on stage, they had to also manage their own resources to create posters and costumes. This activity demanded hard work, collaboration and creativity whilst allowing the boys to have fun. The boys thoroughly enjoyed it. They had a blast!

A few boys volunteered to participate in an external STEM project over the mid-term. It was a two day programme aimed at technical problem solving skills. Boys built an actual drone submarine and tested it by manoeuvring it through an obstacle course in the swimming pool.

Just after the mid-term, boys wrote the IBT tests. The IBT allows individual student performance to be tracked against international standards. This year we chose to do the online version and the boys enjoyed the process. All went well and we look forward to our results next year.

In STEAM, boys were involved in the Garden Project and the Forensic Investigation Module. Skills covered in the Garden Project were: soil analysis, research, planting techniques, plant care and digital documentation. In the Forensic Investigation Module, boys explored how forensic science is used in criminal investigations and had to apply the principles of the scientific process to solve a fictional crime.

The Grade 6 year is the first year the boys write exams and for many boys it is the toughest part of the year. However, our Grade 6 boys made us proud when they displayed the mental and physical capacity to overcome the frustrations and anxieties that inevitably arise when facing exams.  They remained focused and followed the exam protocols.

We concluded the year with our annual preparation for the Grade 7 Valedictory song. We were delighted with the musical talent and co-operation that the boys demonstrated throughout this endeavour.

By Shanitha Ramsurwaj

Grade 6 STEAM

Grade 6 STEAM has remained a highlight of the week for this group of boys, the first to experience this cross curriculum learning last year in Grade 5. The STEAM process engaged them in a huge variety of activities, beginning with the discovery of water systems, understanding structures and materials, and tinkering with electrical circuits. All this investigation went into building the skills needed to design and make a 3D model of a water-wise house. The design was rendered in three parts- a technical drawing, a Minecraft version, and then finally a model. Recycled materials were used as much as possible.

Moving into more uncharted territory, the boys were asked the big question of ‘’what’s worth fighting for?” This allowed them to come up with their own project, which had to be relevant to their immediate school context. Boys investigated bullying, litter, subject and uniform changes etc. They had to work in groups to research their issue, find a solution, and ultimately present their findings in a unique way. This resulted in an improvement in their writing, research, analysis and synthesising skills.

A break out room scenario completely flummoxed the boys as we kicked off our Space programme. The excited chaos of being locked in a room with 14 other boys allowed for some interesting results. They then ventured deeper into the solar system, and learnt some animation skills.

Real life situations are immersive and result in better retention of facts. With this in mind, October saw the boys embark on a garden project. Soil analysis was done, and plant care strategies and schedules had to be drawn up. Getting hands, and feet, dirty was part of the experiential learning which STEAM embraces.

Forensic Studies were another highlight of the year, engaging boys in a crime scene investigation. Finger print, hair, blood, soil, and handwriting analysis were all woven in, expanding their science skills. It was a roller-coaster of excitement as teams drew closer and closer to nailing the suspect.

Learners and teachers alike have embraced and enjoyed these authentic learning opportunities. The ability to identify problems and create solutions bring 21^st Century skills to our boys.

By Nicci Kurz

STEM Competition Grade 6

Imagine getting the chance to build one of South Africa’s first drone submarines and learn technical problem solving skills along the way. Well, in October, eight Grade 6 boys got the opportunity to do this. The first day we split into teams of two and were given a kit to build, with nothing but a manual to guide us! My team made one mistake, which we learnt from and managed to fix so that we caught up with the other teams. The next day was so much fun as we got to test the drones through an obstacle course in the pool. In all it was the best experience ever! Thank you to Mrs Ramsurwaj and Mr Mitchell from Interconnect Education for this amazing opportunity.

By Joseph Rosmarin

Grade 7

The Grade 7 boys often find Term 3 to be nostalgic but exciting. As much as they look forward to their college days ahead, they also want to enjoy their final days here at The Ridge. Most of the term is spent tying up the syllabus across all the learning areas and working towards the November Examination.

The boys spent their final few days of Grade 7 with their peers, and were involved in a few activities both on and off campus. They visited the Grade 0 area, reminiscing with the teachers about their time spent there, a time which started their Ridge School days. They visited Soweto for a day and also went to St John’s and played some friendly games.

As the boys leave us at the end of the year, please read through some of their poems. They have paid tribute to The Ridge, a place which holds a special place for many.

By Urvasi Naidoo

 

The Ridge is where I learnt to fly

We stand in the quad today

I’m all sad that this is the last day

There isn’t much left to say

I’m nervous and excited to

But before I go I say to you…

I’ll do you proud just wait and see

I’ll be the best student I could ever be

You have prepared me so it’s time to go

The rules have guided me

And my friends have helped me.

I’m moving to my new school

New teachers and new rules

It’s been fun but my day at The Ridge is done

I have one last thing to say

Thank you, The Ridge in every possible way.

By Leruo Mophatlane

 

Time to say goodbye

These last few years have been my best

And now I have to say goodbye

To the school that will never rest

The place that taught me to fly

And got my confidence sky high

From the teachers that helped me climb

To the friends that I will keep till the end of time

To the Ridge who built my foundation

I’m pleased that I’m near graduation

Thank you for all that you have done

It’s been very fun

By Marc du Plessis

 

Totsiens

 Tiny boys reluctantly waved goodbye to their mothers,

Tears crawled down my puffy red cheeks,

Unknowingly, I had just started my journey with strangers,

 But now I call them brothers.

We roamed the Hersov and ran all around,

We learned to read,

And even to count.

Through icy winter mornings,

We stood like soldiers in our lines,

We were briefed on what the day will bring,

And would fill up our precious time.

There were highs and lows and challenges were faced,

  But as life goes on,

I will always remember the solid foundations The Ridge placed.

Building an excellent school is certainly a mission,

 You can build the school,

 But excellence is only achieved through values and tradition.

Now like eagles high above,

 We have reached the bright blue sky. We will keep in our hearts the love,

 Of The Ridge,

Where we have learned to fly.

By Ben Kok

 

Grade 0 Concert

In the Garden was the theme for the Grade 0 concert this year. The stage was miraculously converted into a beautiful fairy garden, complete with toadstools, spiders, snails and a gorgeous green caterpillar. The Grade 0 boys were transformed into Garden gnomes, garden creatures and an army of ants! All of this was hosted by the Beatles themselves.

The boys loved singing and dancing to the insect songs and recited their lines most beautifully. The show ended poignantly with the Fireflies song. The lights were dimmed and the boys switched on their special firefly light and followed actions in time with the music. The effect was spectacular.

Thank you to all the parents for helping their children learn their lines and for all the help with the costumes. This year we had a bright, colourful programme, for the parents to have as a keepsake. Thank you to Darshan Mistry for compiling this. Thank you to Musa Zwane for all his help with the lighting and sound.

This concert was Sarah Green’s first Grade 0 concert with The Ridge School and what a special evening it was. Thank you, Sarah for all your hard work with our boys, over the last year. We wish you many more Ridge concerts and musical times in the future.

By Kathryn Rossouw

Junior Prep Nativity Play

‘Jesus’s Christmas Umgubho’

Just when you thought Mrs Fox van der Poel couldn’t possibly improve on the previous year’s play, she does, and this year seemed to reach even greater heights. The Nativity story has been told so many times in so many countries, but this year we heard what Christmas is like in our beloved Africa, under an African sky.

Every aspect of the play had been meticulously prepared for and brilliantly executed. The song choice,  the costumes, the set-design, the wonderfully humorous script, but most importantly, the incredible enthusiasm of each and every boy on the stage added to a memorable story.

Our Grade 3 boys, as always, took the lead roles. The Grade 2’s were the  Shepherds and the Animals and the Grade 1’s were the Zulu dancers, the Stars and the Angels.

The most meaningful lines in the play was when the Shepherds were bringing baby Jesus their gifts and the following was said:

• “A little lamb because he is a baby just like you.”
• “A crook, to help over stony ways when you grow up.”
• “A cloak to keep Jesus warm.”
• “I bring you my love baby Jesus, it is all I have.”

King Herod was very scary indeed, pretending he wanted to worship baby Jesus, when in fact he wanted to kill him because he was jealous and didn’t want there to be any other king in the land.

Finally, we joined together with families from various faiths and we were lead in prayer: “We pray for our families and loved ones and for safe holidays. Bless all the children of this land that they too will feel your love at this special time. May we all spread this message to everyone we meet” Amen.

By Mandy Herold

Grade 7 Market Day

The Market Day project is an important event on the calendar for Grade 7 boys. The business project usually runs for 4-5 weeks, with the Grade 7 boys selling their products to the greater Ridge community. The initiative afforded boys the opportunity to show off their entrepreneurial skills, and to experience, to some extent, the demands and joys of the business world in a fun and collaborative way. Boys were tasked to sell at least one durable product, as well as other products of their choice, and many of them opt to sell food and drinks. On the respective Market Days, the atmosphere was lively and energetic and it was lovely to see our Grade 7 leaders manage their projects so wonderfully and efficiently. Market Day not only displays boys’ leadership and entrepreneurial skills, but is used as an opportunity for fundraising. All proceeds and profits made from the sales go towards the Grade 7 leaving gift for the school.

The Grade 7 boys would like to sincerely thank The Ridge community for supporting them so generously.

By Urvasi Naidoo

Lighthouse

The Lighthouse continues to be a place of learning, life, love and laughter. We have hosted many parent team meetings through the year as well as informal parent chats and visits. The many boys who visit daily so enjoy being part of this learning environment which for us as a Learning Support team is what we strive for. We have also had visits from a number of other independent schools as well as hosting the Learning Support cluster meeting which was extremely well attended.

We were privileged at the beginning of the year to welcome Ms Agnes Jooste and Ms Claire Lord as specialist remedial therapists. Mrs Candice Fletcher, our school Psychologist, was away on maternity leave for most of the year and gave birth to a beautiful baby boy, Gray Fletcher. We were very fortunate during this time to have Ms Catherine Cresswell, who with serenity and calm, took over this role and made a significant contribution to both the boys, parents and our lives. As the school psychologist for most of the year Catherine conducted classroom anti‐bullying role playing groups in the Junior Prep as well as class discussions on anxiety and other topics. This important role will be expanded into the Senior  Prep going forward. Parent coffee mornings have also been initiated to facilitate support and connection with parents in the Junior Prep which Candice will carry into the Senior Prep in 2019.

As a team we have also spent time at Japari, Crossroads and Bellavista schools, which was extremely helpful in understanding the extraordinary depth of learning that happens within the parameter of a Remedial school. In order to stay abreast of the latest research and trends in the fields of learning support, and to ensure that our techniques and methods are in accordance with evidence based practice, the Lighthouse team attended several training courses this year. These included the Professional Minds course on “ Anxiety Exposed” and “Have you heard or can’t you read”. The insights and research provided in these critical areas of child development have been extremely helpful. The Kathie Nunley course –“ Understanding your child’s brain from birth to adolescence” enabled us to think both as a parent and a teacher about the critical importance of brain development in today’s noisy and ever changing world.

Most importantly we have had the privilege of working very effectively as a team and sharing ideas, thoughts and challenges with both the Junior and Senior Prep staff. We feel very privileged to work in a beautiful heritage building which is extremely well resourced.

In the words of Hamzah Johnson, Grade 6 at the Ridge, “The Lighthouse is a place of bright colours, calm and laughter. Once you attend lessons there you will not want to leave. The teachers always have smiles and even if we have not completed a task they love us for who we are. Lessons in the Lighthouse also help if you are struggling with Maths, English or reading. The small groups that come down love being there. If you finish tasks there are fun games to play and bouncy balls and exercises that help your brain. The Lighthouse has created light in my life!”

By Jan Mallen, Agnes Jooste, Claire Lord, Catherine Cresswell, Candice Fletcher

 

The Ridge Golf Day

The weather was perfect, the field was full and the golf sublime! Once again, Parkview Golf Club played host to another successful Ridge Golf Day. This years a few welcome additions made the day that more enjoyable and inclusive. We were privileged to have staff and boys from both St John’s College and St John’s Prep join us for an afternoon of golf. In a new initiative this year, we entered a Ridge team who competed against St John’s Prep. In the inaugural event The Ridge proved too strong for the visitors. A new tradition has begun and we hope it will grow to include a few more of our competitor schools. The Golf Day, each year, is in support of our Outreach schools, and I would like to thank all those who participated in order that we may help to enrich the lives of others.

Thank you 

Special thanks to Tessa Graham for providing so many wonderful photographs for this edition and other Ridge School publications.