Dear Kingsmead Community,
February began with a most successful Open Day in the Senior School. It was a beautiful day, and our staff were most engaged in bringing the school alive with their demonstrations of what it is that they do daily. The feedback received was invaluable, as we stand differentiated by our interactive approach as compared to what most schools do, which is mostly tours and talks.
Staff have been busy attending online IEB conferences and have been able to network with educators across the country. This is a key staff development and ensures that our staff stay abreast of all developments in all subjects.
The Matric Dance on 8 February was another highlight in our calendar and all the girls looked amazing with their partners. Our students could certainly get used to the red-carpet treatment as they arrived in true celebrity style. Having this event so early in the year allows our students to now focus on other events like the upcoming major production, Noises Off and their Pre-Preliminary Examinations, amongst all the sport and service events of the term.
We are closely monitoring activities at our tuck shop, Jabula, to ensure better service and allow the queues to flow. Our half-hour breaks in our new timetable allow students to have proper rest breaks between lessons and I encourage you to ensure that your daughters pre-order their hot lunches as this does ease their time spent in queues.
I was lucky enough to be on an online Emma Sadlier talk last week and at a workshop on discipline in schools at Bellavista S.H.A.R.E this week; our leadership have gained immense knowledge about the risks involved in social media posts and this has also encouraged us to revisit our code of conduct. Further to this, attending the parent digital coffee morning this week aligns with what we are striving to accomplish, a digitally safe space at Kingsmead and one where we treat each other kindly and fairly. I was disappointed at the parent response at the coffee morning, and I encourage parents to continue to walk this very important journey with us. Thank you to the parents who did attend!
It was informative to note all the simple things we can do as parents at home, and I know that when my child says she is bored, I must not be quick to fix that problem. Instead, she must find something creative to do, rather than scroll through social media. Screen time stifles creativity and makes us socially awkward and withdrawn from society! Children have stopped doodling; great artists cannot be born! Children walk around with air pods pretending to be listening to music to avoid human conversations! Small nuggets of information can assist us overcome the toll of social media on our lives.
Half-term could not have come sooner, and I am hoping that we are recharged for the rest of the term.
Please be mindful of the early closure due to the JP Morgan Race on 13 March.
I wish you well for the rest of the term ahead.
Courage Always,
Sharekha Banwa
Acting Senior School Head
Academics
The Grade 10 Life Sciences students have had a fun and immersive start to learning about the basic unit of life – cells! They learnt all about microscopes, from the different types to the parts and the correct use of a compound light microscope. The students put their skills to the test by first making their own wet mount slides of onion cells and their own cheek cells! Then the real test was locating these specimens clearly under the microscope.
Our Grade 10 Life Sciences students recently conducted a practical using gummy bears to observe changes in size when placed in different salt solutions. The bears were soaked in petri dishes containing water with varying salt concentrations, and students recorded how they changed over time.
This activity helped students practice key scientific skills such as measurement, observation, and data recording. By comparing results, they could draw conclusions about how different environments affect materials.
Simple but effective, this practical was a great way to reinforce classroom learning through hands-on experience.
On the afternoon of 11 February, the Senior School Green Team invited Mark McClue from ARMOUR – Action for Responsible Management of OUR Rivers, a non-profit organisation, to present the A Voice for Water Workshop about the conservation of freshwater in South Africa. Mark inspired our students with his vast knowledge on the topic and his extreme passion for making a real impact through environmental activism. His theme around manifesting a positive future really spoke to our students.
Nozipho Magondo:
“I really enjoyed Mark’s talk once again. His passion for the environment is truly inspiring and palpable and has helped me realise that a better environment for all is truly achievable!”
Amelia Cadman:
“Mark’s talk was spectacular; his love for the environment really makes the talk even more stimulating and has helped me realise that there is a future for the environment.”
Jana Mostert:
“The water workshop, rather than critiquing, gave a space where viable solutions were collected and brainstormed. The talk gave inspiration and hope for a better future for the environment.”
As part of their Grade 12 River Studies, we visited Delta Park on a field trip to complete a visual survey of the Braamfontein Spruit.
The outing allowed them to see river landforms in their natural environment and observe for themselves the human impact on the river channel and riverbanks. It also introduced students to commercial urban settlement concepts and allowed them to visit a thrift shop, which is part of developing future sustainable and mindful consumers.
We finished off our exploration with a “green meal” at Fresh Earth at the end of our walk.
“I loved being able to visually see what we are learning about in class. I’m able to learn in class when we are looking at photos, videos, reading texts… but being able to look at it in real life helps me to fully understand the concepts.” Emelie Thompson
“Really exciting day in Delta Park after seeing a large number of dogs – which were all greeted. Great being able to see our textbooks come to life in front of us.”
Amy Falcon
“BEST DAY EVAAA!! It was such an amazing and valuable experience being exposed to the material we are learning first-hand.”
Annabelle Smith
“I enjoyed our geography outing. It was fascinating to see how humans and their surroundings have such a large impact positively and negatively on the river system. The excursion also showed us how geography morphs into everyday life in so many different spheres. I loved being out in nature and putting our learning into practice. The lunch afterwards was also very delicious.”
Lucy Davis
“I enjoyed the outing as it allowed me to see the features in real life. We met a nice lady who told us about how the river channel had changed from a very narrow channel 27 years ago to the channel we see today.”
Jana Mostert
Bianca Rademacher
Head of Geography
Beyond the Classroom
Arts & Music
Redhill Physical Theatre Bootcamp on 8 and 9 February
My experience at the Physical Theatre Bootcamp was far better than expected, and it was because of the people. If I was not surrounded by such amazing, energetic and welcoming souls, I would have had a more difficult time. Most of the students who attended the event were people I admired and looked up to. I was able to be myself without being judged, which gave room for my creative side to shine. This freedom to express myself helped a great deal, especially when we were creating choreography. The physical activity was great fun. Although I was thankfully well equipped, there were some things I struggled with, which made it even more fun as I had something to work towards and strive for.
Paula Anderson, Grade 10 Drama student
The Physical Theatre Bootcamp was really enjoyable and a wonderful experience. We learned so many new skills that we can now use to create a physical theatre piece in anticipation of the St Stithians Phyzz Fest. The Bootcamp gave us more ideas with moves, lifts, and other basic skills. Meeting many new people was great fun. We worked in groups with people we didn’t know, allowing us to bond and create something unique. It allowed me to step out of my comfort zone and gave me a safe space to work and collaborate with new people.
Nehema Mlobela, Grade 10 Drama student
Grade 11 Open Day Drawing Experience
Drawing on campus with people moving around me was an experience I found both enjoyable and stressful. Initially, I was overly focused on trying to focus. Becoming increasingly uncomfortable and eager to create something that impressed those around me, I felt frustrated as I kept drawing, altering, and erasing, trying to capture as many details as I could. However, before I knew it, I had run out of time with a pencil sketch depicting less than half of what I had intended to draw. I enjoyed the experience, especially when I started to truly concentrate on the drawing rather than the people around me. This taught me how to adapt in situations that make me nervous. This came in handy during my second attempt at the skill, this time using charcoal and only 50 minutes to draw. I was able to reach a state of focus quickly, marking confident lines to capture a full image before time slipped away. This approach worked well, and it goes to show that when we focus on what we are doing rather than what we are trying to achieve, it can lead to better results as it allows us to be fully present in the moment.
Shihaam Bux, Grade 11 Visual Arts student
Visual Arts Outing: Esther Mahlangu Retrospective at Wits Art Museum
On Wednesday, 19 February, the intrepid Visual Arts students and enthusiasts attended our first outing to the Wits Art Museum (WAM). Esther Mahlangu’s retrospective is currently on display and showcases the development of her work over an extended period. Those of us who attended truly enjoyed her work, which is inspired by her upbringing and heritage as a Ndebele woman. Her vibrant patterned pieces created a space for us to learn about and understand part of our rainbow nation. From A4 sizes to sprawling canvases, beadwork, drawing, and modeling, Mahlangu is a master of these patterns, refined over her 70 years as an artist. A standout moment was seeing the original BMW that she painted by hand with a chicken feather in 1991! Additionally, WAM, as an exhibition space, was gorgeous and incredibly well-designed, with a second exhibition downstairs showcasing several different artists who inspired the Grade 11 students for their collage work this term and reminded us all of the joys of lino printing from Grade 9. It was a truly wonderful afternoon, and the Visual Arts students and enthusiasts are incredibly grateful to everyone who made it possible. A special thank you to Ms. Wepener, Mrs. Pereira, and Ms. Rademacher for accompanying us on this outing.
Amelia Laburn, Head of Visual Arts 2025
Major Production 2025: Noises Off!
Called “the funniest farce ever written,” Noises Off by Michael Frayn presents a manic menagerie of itinerant actors rehearsing a flop called ‘Nothing’s On. Doors slamming, on and offstage intrigue, and an errant herring all figure in the plot of this hilarious and classically comic play. The play opens with a touring company dress-rehearsing Nothing On, a conventional farce. Mixing mockery and homage, Frayn heaps into this play-within-a-play a hilarious melée of stock characters and situations.
Don’t miss out on this outstanding production!
🗓️ DATES & TIMES:
📌 Sunday 9 March Family Show 15h00-17h30
📌 Monday 10 March Evening Show 18h30-21h00
📌 Tuesday 11 March Evening Show 18h30-21h00
📌 Wednesday 12 March Gala Evening 18h30-21h00
🥤🍪Refreshments are available before each show.
Book Here: https://www.quicket.co.za/events/302103-noises-off-by-michael-frayn/
If you have any questions about the Arts & Music offering at Kingsmead, please get in touch.
Elsabé Fourie
Director of Arts & Music
efourie@kingsmead.co.za
Sports
Water Polo
Kingsmead participated in the Shaun Fuchs U15 and Old Petrians 1st Team Water Polo tournaments over half term. Shaun Fuchs was held at Crawford Lonehill and Reddam Helderfontein and the Old Petrian’s tournament was held at St Peter’s Girls Preparatory School and WAHOO Indoor Aquatics Centre.
Our 1st team placed 19th out of 28 teams and our U15 team placed 13th out of 24 teams while competing against top teams in the country with some very favourable results.
Swimming and Diving
Both sports are now preparing for their respective Inter High events. The Diving team are competing in their Inter High on Tuesday 4 March at St Marys, while the swimmers will compete on 6 March at St Stithians.
Squash
The season is coming close to the end, and we are wishing all the teams the best of luck in their remaining fixtures.
Tennis
Their season is also coming to an end and we wish all the teams the best of luck for their remaining games.
Synchronized Swimming
Congratulations to Sienna Fry who has been selected to represent Team Phoenix Cosmo Dolphins at SA Level 3 Synchronized Swimming Championships 2025. We wish her the best of luck in her preparation for Nationals.
Biathlon
Marguerite Cockeran placed 3rd in the girls u17 in the biathlon inter-provincial champs. She placed 2nd in the Central Gauteng biathlon champs and has been selected to represent Central Gauteng at the SA champs In Oudsthoorn later in March.
Karate
We would like to congratulate Georgia van der Schyff on being selected to represent the Gauteng Karate Federation team at the upcoming Karate South Africa Nationals taking place in Durban from 7-9 March 2025.
Service
February: A Month of Love, Service, and Giving Back
In February, we not only celebrate the month of love, but we also work to instil a culture of service and giving back to our community.
On Valentine’s Day, we hosted our annual Footloose Friday collection, adding Outfits of Hope to this year’s efforts. In addition, we held our Term 1 Blood Drive.
Our Peer Promoters did an outstanding job, not only decorating the gym in red and white but also ensuring that all donors were comfortable and well-supported during their blood donation. Thanks to their efforts, we had 49 blood donors, each donation potentially saving three lives. That means 147 lives were impacted by Kingsmead’s blood donations. With blood stock levels exceptionally low, it was heartening to see a 30% increase in donor participation!
This year, we expanded our Footloose Friday collection by introducing Outfits of Hope. This initiative was born out of a request from The Sunlight Safe House, part of Childline Gauteng, which provides a safe haven for children whose home environments are unsafe. As this was the first year for our Outfits of Hope collection, we had no expectations, but the Kingsmead community truly embraced the cause. In total, 1,198 full outfits of clothing were donated, alongside numerous individual items.
On behalf of Childline Gauteng and the children we serve, we cannot thank you enough for your incredible generosity. Your donation of clothing and shoes has brought immense joy to children who feel as though Christmas has arrived in February. The relief it brings to our staff, knowing we can assist children who sometimes arrive in rags, is truly heartwarming. Thank you, Kingsmead, from the bottom of our hearts.
~ Lynne Cawood, Director – Childline Gauteng
Footloose Friday was once again a resounding success. We collected 2,000 pairs of shoes, which were laid out in the shape of a heart on the cricket pitch. The heart symbolized not only Valentine’s Day but also our value of Courage. The collection featured shoes of all types – big and small, smart and casual, for both boys and girls – each pair given with love and intended to benefit someone in need.
Our Service Partners provided us with specific information about the types of shoes needed and the ages of the beneficiaries. With the help of Kingsmead parents and staff, the shoes were sorted, packed, and delivered to our partners.
The following Service Partners received shoes: Rays of Hope, Kids Haven, Dlala Nje, Little Eden, Little Stars, Moseka Day Care, The Sunshine Association for Children with Disabilities, Fight with Insight, The Chaylil Foundation, and Hotel Hope.
We are deeply grateful to every family who donated outfits and shoes, to the Kingsmead Community for their support, and to the Kingsmead staff and students who gave their time to sort and pack the shoes.
A special thank you from Fight with Insight: “With a step in the right direction, we’d like to express our heartfelt thanks to the girls and families of Kingsmead for your fantastic donation of shoes! Your generosity is helping to ‘lace up’ opportunities for children and young people at our gym, empowering them to stride confidently toward their dreams. Thank you!”
~ Sheri Errington, Director – Fight with Insight
Looking Ahead to March: Share What You Can Initiative
In March, we will launch our annual Share What You Can initiative, collecting non-perishable food items for those in need. The items we are seeking include: tinned food, legumes, beans, maize meal, rice, soup packets, cooking oil, oats, and cereals. Please tidy up your pantries and consider donating any grocery items. All contributions will be gratefully accepted.
Karen Landi
Head of Service
klandi@kingsmead.co.za
St Brigid’s Chapel
A gentle breeze filters through the trees, rustling the quiet of the garden surrounding the building of St Brigid’s Chapel. It is a haven for all those who enter. The Chapel is still and remarkably peaceful.
The Chapel was built in 1939 in what was then Mornington Garden. Miss D.V. Thompson, the founder of Kingsmead College, intended for the Chapel to be ecumenical. Whatever the priest is, that is the format of the service on any particular occasion. The name “St Brigid” was chosen in honour of the Irish saint, who set an example of supreme service—one of the Kingsmead values upheld to this day.
Worship took place in the Chapel from 1939 to 1999. Then, when the Boarding House closed, the weekly services ceased. The Chapel Committee remained, together with the SCA, to serve as a home for the girls who express their Christian faith. Their activities, along with the beginning-of-term Staff Eucharist and assemblies, contribute to the Christian essence of Kingsmead College.
At the time the boarding ceased, Rosebank Union Church moved to Sandton. People who did not wish to travel so far approached Kingsmead to hold services at 9:30 AM on Sunday mornings. Thus, the Kingsmead Fellowship came into being.
At present, Ms. Palmer addresses the Senior School grades on a weekly basis, Miss Wilkinson addresses Grades 4-7 once a week, and a Staff Eucharist is held each term just before the girls return to school.
Everyone is welcome to sit in the Chapel and experience its quiet at any time during the day. Additionally, everyone is welcome to attend the formal Kingsmead Fellowship church service held on Sunday mornings at 9:30 AM.
Miss Gillian Wilkinson
Kingsmead College Guardian