Dear Kingsmead Community,
This newsletter is the final ‘Connection’ for 2021 and therefore signals the end of a complex, yet very successful school year. I would like to acknowledge our staff for their ongoing flexibility and endurance to see all the reasons to celebrate come together at the end of the year. I have the honour and privilege of working with the most professional, dynamic teachers who continually seek to place your daughters at the centre of our purpose at Kingsmead.
Thank you to the PTA and the parent body for the beautiful Kingsmead Christmas Market last week. It was a joy to meet and see so many families!
Although we are starting to feel a whole lot more ‘normal’ in terms of our community events, functions and running of our school day, I would like to urge our families and staff to remain vigilant and aware of the possibility of a fourth wave of Covid-19, likely to arrive this holiday season. While we would all like to return to the way it was before, we need to persevere and ensure the safety of our community. I encourage all those who qualify, to get vaccinated as soon as possible so that we can return to the vibrant, personally connected community we love.
I wish you the most wonderful festive season. Enjoy every moment together. May we forever seek Faith over Fear.
Stay safe and return ready for the greatness that 2022 promises.
Love and Courage Always,
Kim Lowman
Junior School Head
A reminder of the final school closure arrangements communicated last week:
Senior Primary closing times from Wednesday 24 November – 3 December:
- From Wednesday 24 November to Thursday 2 December, school will close at 13h30, except for Friday 26 November when school closes at 13h00.
- Break-up day (Grade 5-7), 3 December – school closes at 10h00.
- Students are to be collected at the respective gates:
- Tottenham Gate: Grades 4 and 5
- Cecil Gate: Grades 6 and 7
Tuesday 30 November
Due to the year-end staff farewell function, the JS reception will be closed from 13h45.
Thursday 2 December
Final day of school for Grade 0-4. The final assemblies for Grade 0-4 students will be held on this day. The Grade 4 students will have the opportunity to formally welcome their Grade 3 ‘sisters’ into the Senior Primary. All students from Grade 000-4 will close the term on Thursday at the normal school closing time. Sherpa aftercare is offered as usual.
Friday 3 December
Students from Grade 5-7 attend school until 10h00. Grade 7 parents have been invited to join our final assembly.
Extra-Curricular Activities
Extra-curricular sport will end for the year on Friday, 26 November 2021.
Marimbas and Interhouse music will also have their last week of rehearsal this week. Music lessons and activities offered by external service providers will communicate their final date to parents directly.
SERVICE
ARTS & MUSIC
At the recent Music Assembly, we shared the song ‘When I grow up’ from the musical based on the Roald Dahl book Matilda, with the Grade 4-7s. Children have the most wonderful imaginations and see the world as a place of endless possibilities. Every day is an adventure of discovery and learning. Matilda sings, ‘Even if you’re little you can do a lot, you mustn’t let a little thing like “little” stop you.”
Tim Minchin wrote the song and it was later illustrated by Steve Antony. In September 2021, after many months, Broadway opened their doors again, and the cast of Matilda recorded the song ahead of reopening on the 16th of September 2021. Click on the link to watch the video: When I grow up story and song
As adults, we are lucky enough to learn through the eyes of our children and students and see the world as a magical place full of wonder.
In this assembly we also congratulated all our students who have played in the recent eisteddfod and practical examinations and wrote the theory examinations. These acknowledgements were in the previous newsletter.
Congratulations to the students who played digital examinations or are recording their examinations over the next few days.
CHESS: Congratulations & Well Done!
On 6 November, the Kingsmead Checkm8ers participated in the Ekhuruleni regional chess trials. This was their first competitive tournament and they excelled! The participants have been invited to the national tournament that will take place between 2 – 11 January 2022. The successful players can earn national colours and represent South Africa next year. We wish them all the best!
- Viola-Grace Asherson (Grade 1)
- Lyla-Jean Barbeli (Grade 3)
- Lalu Hu-Grobbelaar (Grade 3)
- Zahraa Laher (Grade 3)
- Milisuthando Mabuseka (Grade 2)
- Malaika Sibanda (Grade 4)
- Talia Sibanda (Grade 2)
For any of the Checkm8ers who were unable to attend the trials on 6 November, the second set of trials will take place on 27 November.
SPORT
The Term 3 season has been one of our busiest ever, due to the sudden change in regulations allowing for sport to continue.
We managed to fit in a great amount of sport: Tennis, Diving, Athletics a short Soccer season as well as some preparation for the aquatics season. The students have performed exceptionally well as can be seen by the various results below.
Whilst we acknowledge that the length of seasons in some cases was not ideal, we are very happy to have had something, given the uncertainty of the last two years.
As we move closer to the end of 2021, I would like to thank all parents, coaches and most importantly the students for your support and dedication throughout the year.
A few reminders for parents/guardians:
- Please send any sport achievements (school & non-school) to Mrs. Hanekom.
- A reminder to please download the Kingsmead App as this will be the direct method of communication to parents on sport fixture days.
- Our extra-curricular sport schedule will end on Friday 26 November.
Diving
Congratulations to our divers who did a phenomenal job at the final diving fixture for the year which was against St Andrew’s and St Stithian’s. The results were as follows:
Grade 3
1st Stephanie Rees
8th Darcy Anderson
9th Kayley Browner
16th Madison Crozier
5th Sarah Jensen
12th Taylor Palmer
Grade 4 A
2nd Milan Williams
1st Kylie Dugmore
Grade 4 B
6th Charlotte McLay
10th Mikayla Rono
7th Olona Mbele
Grade 5 A
1st Maya Rono
7th Shané van Lith
Grade 5 B
5th Reneilwe Ramutla
4th Scarlett Haslam
3rd Piper Keizan
Grade 6 Elite
1st Grace Hefer
4th Jada Williams
1st Ella Watermeyer
4th Chloe Mandy
Grade 7 A
7th Amy Teeling-Smith
9th Camden Williams
Grade 7 B
1st Sophia Pearse
2nd Charlee Davis
3rd Victoria Kahwa
Congratulations to all divers on a very successful season.
Soccer
We were very excited to host our very first soccer fixtures at Kingsmead on Friday 12 November. We played our first matches against St Mary’s and did an exceptional job.
Results:
Grade 4 Inyoni: lost 2-1
Grade 4 Kingsley: drew 0-0
Grade 5 Inyoni: lost 1-0
Grade 5 Kingsley: won 2-0
Grade 6 vs St Mary’s Grade 6: won 1-0
Grade 7 vs St Mary’s Grade 7: lost 4-1
Our second round of fixtures against St Dominic’s on Friday 19 November also went exceptionally well. Our players went out and played their hearts out which resulted in an exceptional afternoon of soccer with amazing results.
Results:
Grade 4: won 2-1
Grade 5: won 4-0
Grade 6 Inyoni: won 1-0
Grade 6 Kingsley: drew 1-1
Grade 7 Inyoni: won 1-0
Grade 7 Kingsley: drew 1-1
Well done to our soccer players!
Outside sport
Club Swimming
Congratulations to Noa van Zalk who participated in an Eastern Gauteng Aquatics gala over the weekend which took place at the Delville Swimming pool in Germiston. Not only did Noa place first in all three of her races, but Noa competed against girls who were older than her and broke 2 Eastern Gauteng Aquatics Age Group Records for the 200m Individual Medley and 50m Fly. Noa truly showed her Kingsmead courage, Well done!
We would also like to congratulate Sienna Fry on her recent swimming achievements. Sienna participated in a Gauteng Aquatics gala over the weekend of 13 November and brought home 6 gold medals. Sienna placed first in the following events: 50m Freestyle, 50m Breastroke, 50m Backstroke, 50m Butterfly, 100m Backstroke and 100m Freestyle. Congratulations, Sienna!
Gymnastics
Congratulations to Chloe Mandy on her recent gymnastic achievements. Chloe participated in the Wanderers Club championships held on the 18th of November. Chloe came 2nd on Bar and 4th overall. Well done, Chloe!!
Shavaun Hanekom
Head of Junior School Sport