The third term saw the successful ending of College’s proud winter sports programme – the most widespread in the country – and the change-over to summer sports, a wonderful Sport and Cultural Awards ceremony and, for our 6th Formers, the writing of their Trials Examinations. As we boldly move towards the fourth term and the end of-year examinations for all our boys, the entire schoolboy community is being prepared for those all-important examinations – the fundamental focus of any worthy school. Herewith please find the important arrangements and details, and key dates, for the fourth term.
Important dates in the fourth term:
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Tuesday, 11 October: |
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Term 4 starts with a Dedication Assembly |
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Thursday, 13 October: |
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Sixth Form Old Boys’ Induction Ceremony |
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Friday, 14 October: |
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Speech Day and Valedictory Service |
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(Special routine and compulsory attendance for 6th Form) |
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Friday, 21 October: |
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Special Assembly: Passing of the Drum |
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(Confirmation of the 2023 prefects and the announcement of the senior prefects) |
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Wednesday, 26 October: |
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Goldstones Club fund-raising evening with Michael Charton |
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Friday, 28 October: |
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Parents’ Annual General Meeting (2023 tuition and boarding fees) |
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Friday, 11 November: |
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Remembrance Day Service |
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Wednesday, 30 November: |
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College Christmas Carols |
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Friday, 2 December: |
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Writing of a compulsory test for all boys in 2nd to 5th Form (2023 curriculum) |
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Prize-giving for 2nd to 5th Form (compulsory attendance) |
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Term 4 closes for boys in 2nd to 5th Form |
2022 Final Examinations:
National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations:
Monday, 31 October: NSC examinations start
Tuesday, 6 December: NSC examinations end
Please note: 6th Formers are expected to attend school as usual in the first week of Term 4. Thereafter, 6th Form teachers will be available to boys during their usual 6th Form lessons in their classrooms, and boys are welcome to engage individually with their subject teachers, should they require academic assistance.
End-of-year examinations for Forms 2-5:
Monday, 31 October: End of Year Examinations – 2nd to 5th Form begin
Thursday, 24 November: End of Year Examinations – 2nd to 5th Form end Friday, 25 November: Mark checks
Please note: It is compulsory for boys to check their scripts on Friday, 25 November, as no changes will be made after this date. In the week of 28th November to Friday 2 December, the academic programme for 2023 will commence.
The work covered during this week will NOT be re-taught in 2023, and all boys will write a compulsory test on the morning of Friday, 2 November. The test will be marked, the mark will be utilised in the term 1 assessments, and the mark will be reflected on the boys’ Term 1 reports. Boys who do not write the test, and do not produce an original medical certificate, will receive 0%.
School reports:
2nd to 5th Form reports will be emailed to parents at the end of term 3.
6th Form Trials reports will be emailed to parents early next term.
Textbook returns:
Please ensure that your son returns all his textbooks to his subject teacher on the mark check day, ie Friday, 25 November. Books must not be dropped off anywhere other than being handed personally to your son’s subject teacher on that day. Books not returned in this manner, and returned after this deadline, will be charged to your account. Please impress on your sons the importance of this instruction.
Co-curricular commitments:
Fixtures are indicated on the term calendar. This is a firm reminder that all boys are expected to follow through with their full sport and cultural commitments until the end of the season or term. Sports and cultural practice times will be amended during the exam period, to try and accommodate the finishing times of exams and the logistics for parents and staff.
Parents’ Annual General Meeting – Friday, 28 October at 14:00 in the Victoria Hall:
The SA Schools Act requires that parents be invited to attend a meeting to discuss and vote on the proposed 2023 budget. This legislation requires that parents be informed of the basis for the preparation of the budget, the proposed school and boarding establishment fees for the next year and the equitable criteria and procedures for the total, partial or conditional exemption of parents who are unable to pay school fees. A formal notice has been sent to all parents on 23 September 2022, and the budget is available for viewing from 10 October 2022.
Christmas Carols Concert for 2022:
The Maritzburg College music department will be presenting its yearly College Carols Concert. This year, we are returning to One Life (South Site) Church with Merchiston & Epworth joining us. We will be giving thanks for all the blessings we have received over this last year. This event will be presented on 30 November. Please follow the College Facebook page for more details.
Speech Day and Valedictory Ceremony – Friday, 14 October at 11:00 in the Alan Paton Memorial Hall:
This is the final farewell to our 6th Form boys, and attendance at this event is compulsory for all boys (Forms 2-6). All 6th Form parents/guardians have been emailed an invitation to attend this ceremony. A light lunch for 6th Formers and their parents will be served at the conclusion of this function.
Prize-giving – Friday, 2 December at 11:00 in the Alan Paton Memorial Hall:
This function celebrates the academic success of boys in 2nd to 5th Form. Attendance is compulsory and full school uniform is to be worn. Parents are invited to attend.
Admissions 2023:
If your son will not be returning to Maritzburg College in 2023, we would like to remind you that you need to give a term’s notice, failing which you will be liable for a term’s fees in lieu of notice. The correct procedure is to notify Mrs B Parker in the admissions department on admissions@mcollege.co.za. In turn, she will inform the relevant staff members.
Grooming:
Please ensure that your son returns to school at the start of the new term clean shaven and with his hair cut. Boys who fail the hair and shaving inspection that will take place on the first day (and, where they have slipped through that test, in the days that follow), will not only have to immediately take care of the issue but will receive an immediate Friday detention. 6th Form boys writing the NSC examinations are reminded that they are wearing their school uniform, and as a result are expected to abide by the school regulations in terms of hair, dress and shaving. There will be a hair inspection in the BE on Monday night when the boys return. If a boarder’s hair is not to standard he will punished, it will be cut by Mr S Mkhwanazi on the night and his sundries account will be charged.
Dress:
In a similar vein, we have been very disappointed at the number of boys who do not wear the appropriate school uniform at all times. Boys who do not subscribe to the dress code must expect to be punished. In this regard – • A dayboy walking to and from school is required to wear an appropriate basher at all times.
- Boys who wear full school uniform to school are required to wear a blazer – they may not arrive at school or leave from school without a blazer. A school jersey does not suffice.
- Boys are to wear the appropriate tie. Boys who wear a tie for the inappropriate Form/s are in breach of the dress code.
- The “stove-piping” of grey longs is not allowed, but has infiltrated the dress code for especially senior boys for some years.
General discipline:
There were occasions in the third term when we, as a staff, felt especially let down by the misbehaviour of a small minority of College boys – a phenomenon that is not uncommon at this time of the year. We will continue to manage and cajole the College boys in the 4th term, and will be on the look-out for boys who do not subscribe to the College “Code” of behaviour, including our “College Culture” (as displayed on the website) and our Core Values. We have also been dismayed at the tone of the correspondence that we have received from some parents, who are at times not respectful of our profession. Once again, ladies and gentlemen – we sincerely ask for your support, as we continue to ensure that the high standards set at College over 159 years are continually reinforced.
School fees:
Whilst I fully appreciate the financial difficulties that many of our families have endured, I wish to sincerely thank you all for your continued commitment to your son’s education. I respectfully request that you please continue to do so – but if you are experiencing any hardship please contact our Mrs A Trout in the finance department on trouta@mcollege.co.za. Thank you very much.
In closing, I sincerely wish you and your sons a restful, safe and enjoyable end-of-term holiday. I look forward to welcoming back the College boys to school on Tuesday 11 October – invigorated and positive, for the weeks that lie ahead of hard work in the classroom and enthusiastic sporting toil.
Pro Aris et Focis
CL Luman (Headmaster)