Horizons Term 2 2021

Term 2 2021 at The Ridge School will be remembered for a few reasons:

• At 15 weeks it was one of the longest terms we’ve had;
• We went from being at school full-time to blended and then to fully online and back again to full-time face-to-face school! No wonder boys, teachers, parents were spinning!
• Teachers all received their COVID vaccinations;
• Every Grade 7 boy got into their first-choice college and;
• It was one of coldest terms in some time!

But ultimately what this term will be remembered for is that it is the final term with our much-loved Headmaster, Richard Stanley. And so, the first half of this edition of Horizons is a dedication to him through tributes from the staff that have worked most closely with him during his time at The Ridge.

The second half of Horizons is dedicated to our next group of leavers who have only one term left at The Ridge, our Grade 7s! I hope you enjoy the wonderful insight into our school teens, or almost teens. Unsurprisingly their words show how intelligent, resolute, funny and wise our current school leaders and soon-to-be college boys are.

Wishing everyone in The Ridge community a safe and wonderful August break!

By Anton Pretorius

Dear Parents,

As Lucinda and I come to the end of a memorable and happy second chapter here at The Ridge School, we do so with so many mixed emotions and with our hearts full to the point of overflowing.

As we deal with and manage these cluttered feelings, we are aware that, with farewells needing to be said, we are able to communicate our heartfelt gratitude and sincere thanks to so many wonderful people who have walked this part of our life’s journey with us, and to The Ridge School family for so many happy and forever memories.

But before getting on to the thanks and farewells, I will take a moment to touch on a few final thoughts that I share in love and with an open heart.

A Final Word

Mahatma Gandhi is known to have said, ‘Be the change you want to see in the world’. He was a man who lived out and exemplified this deep wisdom throughout his life. If this great leader and humanitarian were alive today it is a pretty safe bet that he would be offering the same sage advice but with even more passion and voice.

It is my humble opinion that our schools ought to be equipping and empowering children with a far greater urgency to become resilient and mindful change agents and global citizens as they receive a depth of educational preparedness that will reach into their hearts as much as their minds.

These moral, emotional and social learning reflections need to awaken for them all a clearer understanding about what their role in society will need to look like into the future. It cannot simply be enough any longer for schools, teachers and parents to be hell-bent on their children achieving that one ‘all-important’ school leavers’ certificate that essentially. only measures intelligence through a narrow academic filter.

Schools will, in my view, need to be tasked to assist parents to bring to life even more within the children a purposeful depth of character, conscientised levels of integrity, sincerely felt instincts to serve and support humanity, and a built-in desire to connect with and meaningfully embrace what at The Ridge we refer to as the ‘Right Stuff’.

The world is crying out for us all to show our children the way. As another great leader, Nelson Mandela is known to have said, ‘We must use time wisely and forever realise that the time is always ripe to do right.’

As I reflect on what I have learnt in my 41 years of boys’ primary education and on what stands out for me in this twilight stage of my career as the essence of foundational learning, I would have to say that it is for teachers and parents to find better ways to unlock for our children what being truly human, purposefully relational and instinctively empathetic, kind and compassionate really means and what it needs to look like. If this is to be achieved and so set our children up to ‘be the difference’ that the world needs as they strive to make a difference, they will only truly catch these values if they are shown them each day by example-setting adults in their lives … their parents and their teachers.

Thank you and Farewell

It was in March 1989, that Lucinda and I, together with our very young children, Nicola and Joshua (Samuel was still only a twinkle in the eye), were first introduced to the beautiful Westcliff neighbourhood and, in particular, to this wonderfully unique boys’ prep school. Thirty-two years on (with a memorable and significant twenty-year Highbury Prep adventure separating the two six-and-a-half year tenures), it is now time to say goodbye.

On behalf of Lucinda and me, as we say farewell, my heartfelt thanks to:

• The Ridge boys who have breathed their boundless energies, free spirits and broad love of learning, in so many unique and individual ways. Your collective zest for life brings the school alive each day, lads, and has done so even at a distance, as experienced all too often during these past eighteen months;

• Our dedicated and wonderfully talented team of educators. It has been a privilege and a special honour to have observed each of you bringing to life a myriad magical boy-centred moments. Together we have shared in, grappled with and overcome daily challenges and have found time to celebrate your professional individualities, purposes and passions;

• Members of my faithful, devoted and hard-working Exco management team who go the distance and beyond every working day – and so often at other times – to navigate safe passage, to lead, manage and guide, to keep reliable channels of communication and information open, and to look after and care for boys, colleagues, parents and others;

• Members of our admin, marketing, secretarial and finance team who go about

their workday responsibilities in ordered, ‘behind-the-scenes’ ways that bring calm, add

value and help to instill trust;

• Our cheerful and loyal service and support staff teams, in the form of Housekeeping, Gardens and Grounds, Maintenance and Upkeep, and Security, who add so much into so many operational aspects of school life each day;

• The fine young interns and student masters who play such important roles not only as assistant teachers and coaches but in many other areas of daily operational support;

• Past Chairman of the Board, James Clucas, current Chairman, Itu Kgaboesele and their teams of governors who, as custodians and guardians of best practice, financial sustainability, and good governance, have continued to provide the oversight, the wise counsel and the legal knowhow throughout my seven-year tenure;

• Liz Wallis who has been, quite simply, a gift from heaven for me throughout my time back at The Ridge. There are good private secretaries, there are amazing PAs, and then there is Liz Wallis. This beautiful human being exudes each and every day warmth, love, sincerity of heart, kindness, and sensibility; all as underpinning virtues that amplify her efficiency, work ethic and love of all that falls under the banner, The Ridge School;

• You Ridge parents, past and present. I have said on a few occasions in recent months that amongst so many other lessons learnt, Covid-19 has reminded us all in education just how much we, the adults in our children’s lives need each other. I have missed so much the person-to-person contacts, the earnest debates about everything from boys’ lunches and lost property to sports’ team selections and the standard of coaching. It will be more important now than ever before, for school and home to be aligned for the sake of our boys;

• Thank you to so many for having placed your trust in me as Headmaster of The Ridge, for your collegial and professional support, and for so many friendships forged.

• To Lucinda who has stood by me through good times and the not so good, she has been my rock, my confidant, my shoulder to cry on, my counsel and my encouragement at time when the loneliness of the job meant that there was no other person in the world for me to turn to.

• Finally, my humble praise and thanks to my Father God, my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, and to the power of the Holy Spirit, without Whom all my efforts would have been nothing worth.

As I sign off, I do so with a beautiful verse of promise, peace and hope from the Scriptures that I pray over The Ridge and its family:

Thank you all for the memories. I shall cherish them all.

Go well, God bless you all and may His Spirit guide, guard, bless and keep you and your loved ones now and into the years ahead.

Richard Stanley

Headmaster

Richard Stanley Tribute by Nick Diana

With a heavy heart, we bid farewell to an inspirational leader, one who always put others first and whose servant and humane leadership remains unquestionable.

A man who continues to instil and see the best in all who he comes across and interacts with, a man with a heart of gold and selfless goals. Having had the privilege of working very closely with Richard, it was evident that he made you feel like the most important person in the room. His admirable way of dealing with difficult parents, opening his door to staff and embracing each and every boy makes him someone who will be very difficult to forget.

A man whose assemblies inspired us, whose knowledge of birding awed us and whose messages and conversations (off the cuff) wowed us. Richard’s leadership is not a case of hard work, it’s a sentiment of ‘heart’ work. This is what makes our school, The Ridge School, an environment in which we (boys, parents and staff) feel safe, secure and loved.

Richard’s leadership style is similar to that of geese. It’s not necessarily the quiet, tranquil way in which these birds fly delicately and admirably above you, spreading their wings in tandem to create a picturesque setting, but rather the way in which they:

• Communicate often
• Cooperate effectively to speed up progress
• Share leadership roles
• Encourage each other
• Protect each other
• Use this wisdom to pass onto others

And with these specific attributes, Richard, we thank you for the dedication and commitment you have given us, your ‘gaggle’, over the last seven years. Without you, many of us would not have had the courage to spread our own wings!

We now wish you and Lucinda all the best as you spread your feathered plumes and migrate to your beautiful family. Although you will be sorely missed, don’t forget that all you need to do is think of us here, at the Ridge School, where we all learnt, under your steady leadership, to fly!

A poem for Richard Stanley By Nick Diana

And so here we are, this day has come

We sadly bid farewell

To a gentleman, and servant leader

But I’ve got a story to tell

Mr Stanley joined in 2015

A brave and courageous head

Always putting others first

Ubuntu is what he said

In 2016 we learnt that

Birding was his game

Not one to shy away from lengthy assemblies

We still enjoyed them all the same

2017 saw a man who

Used the head, hand and heart

To unpack the importance of who we are

It’s a catchy phrase, quite smart

A year later we saw, what we eagerly awaited

The preparation for the hundred

Luckily he had experience with this

And the bursar helped him fund it

The centenary year brought with it

Fun, flair and vigour

Thanks to our good old head

This was a year to remember

And with 2020 came a new direction,

COVID was its name

Our head was calm, cool-headed and without a fault

He was happy to play this game

And as he did so, we came to learn

That decision making wasn’t easy

What’s in the best interests of the boys

Is where his heart lay, quite breezy

You see this is a man, who understands young boys

And has continuously moved with the trends

There’s nothing that has stood in his way

Of this, we cannot pretend

So we bid farewell to our humble leader

He leaves us in twenty-twenty one

There will be no other like him

With Richard Stanley, The Ridge has won

By Nick Diana

Richard Stanley Tribute by Mandy Herold

Where do I begin to pay tribute to this incredible human being? The following words come to mind: humble, trustworthy, empathetic, honourable and kind… SO KIND!

You are a family man and always talk about your beloved Lucinda, Nicola and Ian, Sam, Joshua, Benjamin and Jack with so much love and affection. I’m beyond delighted that you’re going to be closer to them. Benjamin and Jack are so blessed to be your grandsons!

You relationship with your Heavenly Father is so special. Thank you for always keeping Him front and centre, and for sharing your thoughts and inspiration from your quiet times. I’m going to miss the reference to pertinent scriptures in your Monday HM bulletins.

Thank you for gifting me with the autonomy to run the Junior Prep. Your faith in me has helped me to grow both professionally and personally. You have loved and cared for the JP staff, parents and boys, always making time to listen to me when I needed a sounding board.

I’ll also never forget travelling to conferences and workshops with you. You would always open the car door and make sure that I had a refreshment. Those chivalrous habits are few and far between in this day and age.

We drove past you taking Layla for a walk the other day. Robyn turned to me and said, “I’m really going to miss Mr Stanley, mom. He is always so kind to me.”… after taking a deep breath and biting back my tears, I said, “Me too Robs, me too!”

Richard, I have loved working with you and I can’t wait to see what the next steps of your adventure will entail. Hamba Kahle, Mr Stanley.

By Mandy Herold

Richard Stanley Tribute by Gillian Dippenaar

I have been extremely lucky to be blessed with some exceptional bosses over the years, but none quite as exceptional as Richard, who has to be one of the most upstanding, humble, learned Saints I have ever met!

Richard and I started here at The Ridge at the same time in 2015, although for Richard it was his second time – this time as Headmaster; and me as the new Bursar. From day one we were on the same page on all manner of levels, from financial control, our outlook on life and how to form meaningful relationships whilst getting the job done.

Richard has remained a teacher throughout, the vocation which remains closest to his heart and his reason for being here, always putting the boys first, as well as his staff. Always genuinely caring for everyone and always putting himself last. I say he has remained a teacher throughout because I have personally learned a great deal from him – his people skills are unmatched, his levels of empathy should put some of us to shame and his kindness is endless. Besides quite a bit of financial acumen from looking at things from a different angle, he has taught me life lessons which will remain with me forever and a level of empathy which I thought I possessed, but didn’t. Hopefully those levels have improved.

From the financial side, I have to comment on what has been achieved due to Richard’s leadership. He sees the big picture at a glance. He slowly and gently put an end to unnecessary expenditure, to extravagance, and made sure the reins were tightened just as gently, without ever compromising our core business. And look what we have today, at the end of his tenure: a fantastic, seamless Centenary celebration and all that went with it (a year before Covid, thank goodness!), fundraising for capex, bursaries and Outreach through reconnection with Old Boys the world over, a magnificent new state-of-the-art JP building (Richard’s vision), renovations or rebuilding of almost all staff residences in some form or another, a beautiful revamped music quad (remember those old criss-cross paths in a field of hard sand!), completion of all our indigenous gardens, upgrades and additions too numerous to mention. All carried out with the minimum of fuss and with no attention drawn to himself.

My hope is that every one of us has learned something from Richard in how to treat others and how to show kindness before all else.

I have enjoyed a wonderful friendship with Richard and Lucinda and will continue to do so. Everyone at The Ridge will surely miss them and I wish them all the very best for their new, exciting chapter. May the future hold the most wonderful, blessed times with your precious family and may you enjoy and cherish every moment. The Ridge will miss you madly and you will certainly never be forgotten. God Bless.

By Gillian Dippenaar

Richard Stanley Tribute by Elizabeth Wallis

This is probably one of the saddest moments in the twenty-two years I have worked at The Ridge School – to have to say good-bye to our beloved Headmaster, Richard Stanley.

I have known Richard since 1992, and it has been my enormous privilege to have been his personal assistant since 2015.

Richard has always inspired, motivated and trusted us all to be the best possible people we can be. He has always seen the good in every boy, parent and staff member, and his passion and commitment to The Ridge is extraordinary and selfless. He is a deeply devoted Christian and is guided by his faith in all he undertakes to do.

Richard gave ‘cohesion’ a new status when he joined The Ridge as he took it upon himself to unify the staff into one big family as never before. As I page through the function file so many happy and fun memories emerge; Be a Winner – August 2015; special teas with the staff, the lost property Mums, School shop Mums, Mums who gave endless time to school functions – no one was forgotten or unappreciated. We have all enjoyed Richard and Lucinda’s gracious annual hospitality in their home.  The long table lunches Under the Oaks and looking forward to ‘red letter’ day and all the invitations to the end of year functions. “Schools’ Out” lunches at the end of each term; Buck’s Fizz & Bagels; National Teachers Day and Administrators/Secretaries Day get togethers. The fun and laughter as we tore around the track for The Grand Prix, and who will ever forget the Potjie Competition in 2017; Numerous Frolicking Fridays at the Zoo Lake Bowls Club; Walking on Sunshine through Johannesburg; a Blast from the Past and the Covid Nineties Revival Evenings. Croissants and Cappuccinos; Coffee and Muffins; Celebratory Teas; Welcome Teas for new staff members, the opportunity to celebrate and be together has never been underplayed.

Richard always know how much you are loved and appreciated.

I will miss you more!

Big hugs.

By Elizabeth Wallis

Richard Stanley Tribute by Janet Fox van der Poel

When Itumeleng (Chairman of the Board) asked me to say a few words about Richard, I was hugely honoured, and then I thought, “Oh my word Richard, where do I start?” Recently, at the dedication and opening of the Music Fountain on Friday, I realised that we have known each other professionally and socially for over 35 years!

We first met at St Stithians in 1984. You and Cindy were newly married and you were by far the most glamorous, admired and best looking couple for miles. You were definitely one of the most popular teachers, and Standard 4S was the class to be in! You coached the unbeatable swimming team, and I’m reliably told that the swimming mothers didn’t miss a swimming training session either. We worked very happily together for those 7 years. You left to take up the Deputy Head position here at The Ridge, and I left…. to have James.

When Alan Wyborn asked me to become Director of Music at The Ridge some 4 years later, I thought: “Well, this could be fun!” I would be teaching with you and Alan. You had now joined the legendary Ron and Trishie Parker, and so many other fabulous and passionate Ridge teachers. These were incredibly happy days.

At The Ridge, apart from being Deputy Head and acting Head for a while, you also coached the ‘A’ Swimming team and the 1^st soccer team. What formidable teams they were. The Soccer team had been unbeaten for several seasons and again in 1994. Incredible for the small school it was! They did have a brilliant coach of course!

Unsurprisingly, you were appointed Headmaster of Highbury in 1996 and you had 18 wonderful years there. Hillcrest must surely be one of the best places to raise children, and this was where Nicola, Joshua and Sam grew up. You were loved, respected and admired by all at Highbury. You left a huge gap when you returned to The Ridge as Headmaster in 2015.

I was absolutely delighted when you returned as Headmaster. You have often talked about the ‘Golden Thread’ and you always used this analogy in the annual Grade 7 Induction Service. Your returning to The Ridge spoke so much to ‘this Golden Thread’. This thread continues as we see many of our former pupils’ children join The Ridge. In your speech at The Centenary Founders Day Service in 2019, your theme, ‘The Circle of Life’ was equally inspirational, apt, poignant and of course musically inspired.

Over all these years you have always shown extraordinary and unwavering support for the Music department. You believed intrinsically in what we did. You embraced, supported and were part of our much anticipated combined music tours. You’ve always allowed us the independence to make our music our own, in our unique way, and,  come ‘show time’, with your support, everything else at school stopped. Every child was going to shine on that stage!

Your focus has always been the children, and unashamedly, they have always been your priority. You are the most empathetic, supportive, humble and remarkable man. It is never about you, you are extraordinarily generous with your praise and appreciation, and you always make everyone else feel important, honoured and respected. You did that for your staff and for me every day. I loved working with you, and if ever I became too excited,  (which was often) you would just laugh and say… yes Mrs Fox, and you just let me be me.

Your unwavering faith is of course the most important part of your life. Whenever we sang the Hymn “I the Lord of Sea and Sky”, I always thought, “This is you, and this is how you live your life.” The boys have always loved this hymn, and have sung it with all their hearts, as if they knew. I am going to end with words from that hymn, and as you know, a hymn is really words set to music, after all:

Here I am Lord,

Is it I lord?

I have heard you calling in the night,

I will go Lord, if you lead me

I will hold your people in my heart.

Go safely special friends, enjoy being with your beloved children. You will be sorely missed.

By Janet Fox van der Poel

Richard Stanley Tribute by Angie Chapman

On behalf of all of the current parents at The Ridge School, and specifically the Grade 7 parents (as we have travelled and all sadly aged on this current school path the longest with you…), I’d like to say that it is hard to believe that both our chapters at this wonderful school are drawing to a close.

Your relationship and history with the school of course goes back far longer than ours. But it was in 2015, when Paul Channon retired at the end of 2014 and you were brought back to take over the reins of this great school that our combined narrative began. Your mandate was, amongst many other things, to ensure that the Ridge’s Centenary was celebrated in a meaningful and mindful manner, creating a strong community and culture where everyone, not only the boys, were made to feel comfortable and at home.

I will never forget in our son Christopher’s Grade 1 year, being called into your office out of the blue. This is never a pleasant experience for a child or parent especially at the start of one’s school career and most especially with a new Headmaster! My first thought was that Chris had done some terribly deed like pea shoot a tadpole at a teacher and that we were being asked to leave.

Instead of asking us to leave, you kindly asked me to put together a team and strategy to appropriately celebrate the legacy of 100 years at The Ridge School. Approximately 988 meetings, and 460 samosas and koeksisters later (thanks to the lovely Liz), we pulled it off, ageing only 150 years in the process. Let’s not forget the many cortisol-inducing moments along the way such as Ridgie leaping out a helicopter ably escorted by Melissa Mussett  on the dustbowl that was the Hersov Field at the time, and James Pitman swooping down just a little bit lower than anticipated (and briefed) in the parking lot at the opening ceremony. But Richard this was not your first ‘Centenary rodeo’, so to speak, having led Highbury so ably through their Centenary a few years before, so we all felt completely safe in your solid and steadfast leadership.

I had the privilege of monthly meetings with Richard for 5 years. Coming from the corporate world at Ernst & Young, I had been used to working with business leaders and CEO’s, and sadly many inflated boardroom egos. What I experienced in the boardroom and halls of The Ridge, however, was the polar opposite. In fact it’s what this country and the world needs more than ever right now – true servant leadership. Richard embodies this. He is a leader who adds true value to the people he leads, who works for the benefit of others and not just his own personal gain. He inspires and motivates rather than intimidates and manipulates. He lives with people to know their problems, and lives with God in order to solve them, and he follows a moral compass that points in the right direction regardless of trends.

The Ridge has often been described as a values-based, boy-centric haven of teaching and learning. Richard has always passionately advocated the importance of a values-based education and on instilling the correct values in order to raise boys who will hopefully become great men in our society. This has been especially appreciated by us parents during these dark and troubled times, so thank you Richard. We also thank you for the peace of mind of knowing that deeply rooted at the core of every decision you have made, is ultimately what is best for the boys at this school. A warm and caring Ridge community has been created by this humble, down-to-earth leader who always has the boys best intentions in his heart.

It is safe to say that the past 18 months have been the most challenging times for any educator. Many have equated the job as a school leader to walking a tight rope without a safety net; or sailing a tall ship into a storm with no navigation or sail. But you have navigated the way through these stormy waters with Ridge values and community intact, having made decisions that have been best for the boys and their families and have made us feel safe.

Richard if we were able to today (and if we thought that you would have  approved) we would, with Janet Fox’s support, had the full Ridge Marimba band here playing their finest tribute to you! We would have enlisted a brass band, South Africa’s finest praise singers, the orchestra, you name it! We would have got James Pitman back with his blue and cerise pink plane, Ridgie would have jumped out of a helicopter for you one last time, and we definitely would have brought back hundreds, if not thousands of old boys to the school to pay tribute to YOU and the role that you have played in shaping their lives and their destinies. We also would have brought back all of the colleagues and teachers you inspired during your remarkable career, including, of course, the young aspiring women and men from the Ithemba Community Early Childhood Development Programme that you started during your years as Headmaster at Highbury and more recently the hopeful young trainee teachers taking part in the Partnership of Hope programme that aims to empower and inspire future teachers thanks to your vision and leadership.

Richard, you are physically leaving not only the school, but South Africa, and that is sadly a huge loss all round. But our loss is the UK’s gain and we wish you and Lucinda all the happiness you deserve in your exciting next chapter in the UK with your precious family. We thank you for your dedication, passion, and commitment, not only to making The Ridge the remarkable school it is today, but also for the role that you have played in shaping education in South Africa as a whole, and for all of the lives that you have touched in your roles as teachers, mentors, friends and leaders. Your legacy will always live on.

I leave you with these words by Paul Berchtold:

You Live On!

You live on in days retired,

In the pupils that you inspired,

You lit the flame they carry high,

Now see it over the world fly.

You live on in parents’ hearts,

Together well you did your parts,

To see with growing satisfaction,

Training up this generation.

You live on in students’ lives,

Who have become husbands, wives,

Some are parents with children dear,

You have a part, deserve our cheer.

You live on for generations,

What you teach is building nations.

The seed you’ve been busy sowing,

Will day by day keep on growing.

You live on in memory deep.

Your legacy is what we’ll keep.

If every church needs a preacher,

Every person needs a teacher.

You live on in our grateful mind,

How hard it is the right words find.

To thank you for your work done well,

Where it will end, can scarcely tell.

You live on in grateful spirit,

May you rejoice when you hear it,

You’re an angel, a shining star,

May your light shine near and far.

Paul Berchtold

By Angie Chapman

We asked the Grade 7s to give us some feedback about their time here at The Ridge, as well as a bit of insight into their futures.