THEME OF THE WEEK – CAMARADERIE
From Scripture:
“I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.” – 1 Corinthians 1:10
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:11
A Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you that we have the opportunity to support one another in all that we do at College and please bring us even closer during this week of Reunion
Last week we focused on the theme of time, and today we focus on the theme of camaraderie as Reunion is upon us.
Quote:
“Camaraderie doesn’t happen by accident; developing a strong sense of trust, accountability, and togetherness around team goals requires intentional effort.’ – ~ Don Yaeger
Definition of Camaraderie:
“Mutual trust and friendship among people who spend a lot of time together “
We shared a video of the story of Zian Coetzia who tragically lost his parents, his grandmother and his brother, but fortunately was taken in by Ryan Davy – a conservationist and filmmaker, who is mentoring Zian. Ryan met Zian when he joined BOEAP – an outreach volunteer programme, founded by Ryan, equipping young South Africans with skills to start a career in conservation. This is an incredible story of the trust and friendship that has developed and a wonderful example of camaraderie.
U12 and u13 Craven Wek Inter-district Tournament and Trials
College hosted this tournament and trials from Thursday last week through to Saturday. A sincere vote of thanks to all the staff and boys who assisted in making it the success that it was.
SOPHIATOWN
If you have not had the chance as yet to watch the play, may I strongly suggest you do so either tonight or tomorrow and support our young thespians viz Jikijo, Mlambo, Ndaba and Pillay, plus another 10 boys in the male ensemble. Whilst it deals with a serious topic in South African history then are many comedic moments, amazing singing, superb acting and dance choreography. We wish Mrs Thaver, the cast and crew all the very best for the final two performances.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF DEPUTY PREFECTS
Ngobo, Mthimkhulu and Kisten, were all appointed as acting deputy heads prefects last term.
It is my pleasure today to announce that they are today being confirmed as Deputy Head Prefects and have received their badges and certificates from Mr Marwick .
MUSIC ITEM
Connolly (saxophone) and Jackson (guitar) are playing at the Roedean Music competition on Wednesday. This is one of the biggest music competitions in Gauteng featuring top musicians from around the country. Both boys performed their respective pieces for the assembly.
Best wishes for every success for Wednesday
SPORT AWARDS
Congratulations to all the following boys who have met the criteria of various awards.
SPORT’S AWARDS
LARGE WHITE BADGE
GOLF
JA TRUTER [FORDER]
LMN SIBETHA [CALDER]
RUGBY
DM ANTONIADES [BARNS]
KR AYLIFF [CALDER]
PJA BRITS [CALDER]
E EVERTON [SNOW]
KB GODDARD [FORDER]
B LUTHULI [NICHOLSON]
JWD MUNN [SNOW]
TP ROUX [NICHOLSON]
L SWANEPOEL [CALDER]
KH VAN DEN BERG [SNOW]
AL VAN DER LINDE [FORDER]
KJ WILKEN [SNOW]
SOCCER
SSM BUKHOSINI [FORDER]
TP CAPLE [FULLER]
ATL CELE [SNOW]
MD HORSTEAD [BARNS]
LLM MDLETYE [FORDER]
GL MENTORY [BARNS]
TL MTHEMBU [STRACHAN]
O MKHWANAZI [SNOW]
ST MYENDE [COMMONS]
KS NENE [STRACHAN]
WN NXUMALO [FULLER]
JC POWELL [COMMONS]
SK ZULU [SNOW]
TENNIS
RCD GONCALVES [PAPE]
COLOURS
HOCKEY
KH DOBEYN [COMMONS]
RDC GRAHAM [FULLER]
CL VAN DER VLIET [FULLER]
COLOURS & SCARF
HOCKEY
AC CARTER [FORDER]
A KHUMALO [PAPE]
L SESHEMANE [SNOW]
AD STYAN [NICHOLSON]
RUGBY
SR KADIRA [NICHOLSON]
LS KUNENE [CALDER]
MA KWEYAMA [COMMONS]
K MTHIMKHULU [LAMOND]
E MOUTON [PAPE]
HONOURS
HOCKEY
PA DLAMINI [BARNS]
CJ FULTON [BARNS]
MK PONTER [FULLER]
RUGBY
L BESTER [CALDER]
CERTFICATES OF RECOGNITION
The following boys excelled last week:
- RP Ramseyer for outstanding performance at National XCountry Motorcycle champs
- L Shangase 3rd place XCountry Juniors
- JR Werth 3rd place senior XCountry
- Congratulations to TV Zuma (Snow) who came 4th in the district for the Agricultural High Fliers Quiz.
CAMARADERIE
College has 159 years of a very proud history, the oldest in KZN, and a traditional public boys’ school with an Old Boys’ Association celebrating 125 years this year – one of the oldest and most passionate in the country.
Apart from the last two years, annually hundreds, if not thousands of OCs from literally all corners of the world come back to their alma mater.
Why?
Why do we focus on “RED, BLACK & WHITE for life”
Why is our motto so important? Pro Aris et Focis and what does this actually mean? For Hearth and Home
It’s an attachment for everything that is very special to one i.e. the school, the BE, your College brothers, a specific teams or activity
Former Deputy Head boy Caiden Laing (OC 2007) and former English teacher at College asked the following in a poem:
“What is it in these walls that binds the hearts of men ?’
An excellent question
The legendary highly successful rugby coach and Deputy Headmaster, Skonk Nicholson, penned the following title ‘Álma Mater’ in his final address to the school in 1990:
“Walk along the top of Barns’ ground.
Go past the sentry box and sit on the terraces.
Pay your respect to the honoured dead on our war memorials.
Look at the ancient brick buildings that have housed so many of us and have mellowed and grown corpulent with expansion.
Wander through the dormitories in Clark House.
Gaze down on the Boarders’ Quadrangle and the Crystal Palace.
Stroll through the Victoria Hall.
Take a look at the gymnasium and the Commons Block.
Then walk across the playing fields, and memories of the flash and fire of schoolboy rugby will come vividly to mind, and you will recall the straw bashers going sky-high near Basher Ridge and the war-cry, “Jimeloyo-Ji!”, ringing out over the ground.
Do all or some of these things and a strange restfulness will come over you.
The years will slip away and ghostly memories will become very real.
The masters, the Pater Noster of assembly and the Benedictus Benedicat of Grace before meals, of long ago, will live again, and you will remember the days when we, as brothers, were very young, in our beloved College
Finally, I think the famous author and poet, former teacher OC Alan Paton had the answer in his poem ‘Old Walls’ written in 1963 (written 100 years after the school opened its doors – now almost 160 years)
Old Walls that echoed to our cries,
Our oaths and prayers and laughter,
And echo now to cries of those
Who follow after.
When earth has taken back to earth
Our unremembered bones’
Preserve the echo of our names
About your stones
For the three forms who have not experienced Reunion here is a short clip to whet your appetite
This week will see OCs returning in their droves to these Old Walls . I ask that you are all on your best behaviour as we welcome them back to their alma mater. There will be a special dedication assembly on Friday at 10am and we will jointly be celebrating their 125th year of the Old Boys Association. A current Springbok will be joining us as our guest to address you as well.
The majority of our fixtures will be against Hilton on Saturday and I ask that you prepare during the week to ensure that you are at your very best on Saturday so that the OCs, your parents, coaches and you can be proud of yourself and this special place i.e. College. The blazer display will be top notch as will be the support for all our teams and especially our 1st hockey and 1st rugby XV.
Finally enjoy what is a unique and special occasion and realise how privileged you are to be a part of these Old Walls and this incredible brotherhood.
I wish you all a very good week
Pro Aris et Focis
CL Luman (Headmaster)