I must admit that Term 1 felt like a whirlwind, and I am surprised that it is almost coming to an end. I so enjoyed the ‘Noises Off’ production, I haven’t laughed that much in a long time! It was wonderful to see staff, students and parents support this amazing showcase of talent we have in our school. In the annals of productions, congratulations to Mr Kailin Pillay and his team who managed to orchestrate a pre-eminent production with an amazing cast!
Infused into the term was the inter-high diving and swimming and all the netball, hockey and squash festivals. Our students have shown commitment on and off the sports’ fields and for that we thank them. It is great to note that as a smaller school, we certainly have some distinct advantages compared to the larger schools and we pack some punch!
Well done to our students at Singing Sistas this week. It was a wonderful display of community building with our surrounding schools as well as exceptional musical talent from Mrs Fourie and her amazing team of staff and students who never fail to put on a brilliant performance!
The Easter assembly was a lovely integration of our core values with the messages of sacrifice, renewal and hope, which our SCA planned so well.
It has been a very successful term, and we look forward to some very exciting events coming up in May. I thank the academic staff for all their hard work, commitment and diligence this term.
As we head into the holidays, I would like to take this opportunity to wish our community a wonderful and blessed Easter, and safe travels. We look forward to welcoming you back in the winter term.
Courage Always
Sharekha Banwa
Acting Senior School Head
Academics
Grade 11 Life Sciences: Cooking Up Some Enzyme Action!
The Grade 11 Life Sciences students have been cooking up more than just theories in class—they’ve been investigating the fascinating world of nutrition and enzymes! From the foods we eat to the chemical reactions that keep us going, they’ve explored how these microscopic powerhouses break down food and keep our bodies functioning at their best.
To put their learning to the test, they conducted an enzyme investigation—a scientific “recipe” that revealed just how different foods are broken down by enzymes. But it wasn’t just about what happens; they also looked at the how and why! By experimenting with different pH levels and temperatures, they discovered that enzymes have a sweet spot where they work at their best—too hot or too acidic, and things can go sideways.
From bubbling test tubes to surprising results, this hands-on experiment gave our budding scientists a taste of how our bodies function at a molecular level. Next time they grab a snack, they’ll have a whole new appreciation for the enzymes hard at work behind the scenes.
pGLO Practical
Our Grade 12 Life Sciences students recently took part in an exciting genetic engineering experiment. Using a special pGLO plasmid, they introduced a gene from a glowing jellyfish into bacteria—making them light up under UV light.
This hands-on activity helped students understand how scientists modify DNA to change an organism’s traits. By carefully adding the gene and growing the bacteria under specific conditions, they could see genetic engineering in action.
This experiment not only made science fun but also showed how biotechnology is used in medicine, agriculture, and research. It was a unique opportunity for our students to see the real-world application of genetic engineering.
Grade 10s Get Creative with Mitosis Cake Models
Learning about cell division has never been sweeter! Our Grade 10 students recently put their knowledge of mitosis to the test in a fun and interactive way—by building cake models of each mitotic phase using sweets!
Divided into groups, students were assigned a specific phase of mitosis and tasked with creatively representing key structures like chromosomes, spindle fibers, and nuclei using edible elements. This hands-on activity reinforced their understanding of eukaryotic cell division while making learning both engaging and delicious.
It was a sticky but sweet way to explore science together, proving that sometimes the best lessons are the ones you can eat!
Grade 10s Explore the Human Skeleton Through Hands-On Dissection
Our Grade 10 students recently took their life sciences lesson to the next level by dissecting a long bone, allowing them to explore its structure and components up close.
As part of their study on the human skeleton and various animal tissues, this hands-on activity helped them understand the composition, function, and significance of bones in greater depth. By interacting with real specimens, students gained valuable insight into the inner workings of the skeletal system beyond textbooks.
A fascinating and insightful experience—well done, Grade 10s!
Grade 8s Take Flight with Science
Our Grade 8 students recently wrapped up their Curiouser and Curiouser Module with an exciting paper aeroplane experiment! Throughout the term, they have been learning about and applying the scientific method, and this final experiment put their skills to the test.
Tasked with investigating how different paper aeroplane designs affect flight distance, students conducted research, built models, and tested their hypotheses—learning from past experiments to refine their approach.
It was a fun and insightful few days in the sun, where science and creativity took flight!
Beyond the Classroom
Arts & Music
GOLDEN GIRLS
Kingsmead College participated in the 14th annual Phyzz Fest at St Stithians Girls’ College. We entered three physical theatre pieces in the festival, achieving GOLD for every performance!
The Silent Frontline
Performed by Thandeka Nzimakwe, Boikanyo Lehlongwane, and Cebile Danisa.
“The Silent Frontline” is a powerful physical theatre piece that highlights the hidden yet devastating conflict between the DRC and Rwanda. Through movement and imagery, we explore the unseen impact of war on individuals and communities. In the end, we come together – a symbol of hope and unity – imagining a future where division is healed and peace is restored.
Take a Chance
Performed by Chloe Chapman, Paula Anderson, Imani Thomas, and Caitlin Liss.
The Zama Zamas are illegal miners in South Africa. They operate in abandoned or unused mines, often in dangerous and unstable conditions. The name “Zama Zama” comes from a Zulu phrase meaning “to try” or “to take a chance,” reflecting the desperate gamble many take to earn a living through unregulated mining.
Worn to Worth
Performed by Jaydon Adams and Vuyokazi Nkonyeni.
When two women – one born into luxury, the other into struggle – are forced to swap lives, their worlds collide. Through the stripping away of status and the exchange of clothing, they confront what it truly means to be “worthy.” As layers fall away, so do the illusions of class and control — revealing that sometimes, what we wear holds more than just fabric, but the weight of who we are expected to be.
We are incredibly proud of our Grade 10 and 12 girls, who managed to balance their commitments to the Major Production and create thought-provoking and creative work in a short space of time. Thank you to Ms Tillier and Miss Lightfoot for managing and facilitating the process.
Singing Sistas
In the past week, all our choirs, from Grades 2-12, performed for appreciative audiences. On 17 March, our Grade 4-7 Choir participated in the annual St Mary’s Singing Sistas event. On Wednesday, 19 March, Kingsmead hosted the first of our Choir festivals for the year – the Kingsmead Masicule Sonke Junior Primary Choir festival, where our Grade 2s and 3s stole the show. On Tuesday 25 March, the Senior School Choir participated in the St Mary’s Singing Sistas event for high schools.
We are proud of our students, who always give their best on stage, representing Kingsmead with flair!
People never forget being in a band. People never forget being in a choir. People never forget being in an orchestra. You never forget the music, friendships, feelings, concerts, laughter, emotion, or the sense of belonging. There’s nothing like making music with other people. ~ Vaughan Fleischfresser
Wathint’ Abafazi, Wathint’ Imbokotho: A New Production of an Iconic South African Play.
By Grace Gilfillan
“We’re still marching, the march just looks different.”, remarks Rorisang Motuba, Kingsmead alumna and the director of a new production of “You Strike a Woman, You Strike a Rock” at the Lesedi at Joburg Theatre, starring Ziaphora Dakile, Kitty Moepang and Barileng Malebye.
Originally created in 1986, at the height of apartheid, by Phyllis Klotz and performers Thobeka Maqhutyana, Nomvula Qosha and Poppy Tsira, the play focuses on three characters — Sdudla, Mambhele and Mampompo. These women live and work in a Cape Town township, thirty years after the pivotal Women’s March in 1956. They sell chickens and oranges, and as the play progresses, they share their stories and experiences of living as black women during apartheid — stories of familial struggles and joys, trauma, poverty, and surviving under an oppressive system. Rooted in the protest theatre and poor theatre style that flourished in South Africa in the 1980s, this new production also adds some modern elements to a classic piece and reminds us of how relevant its message is to a contemporary audience.
The poor theatre style is rooted in minimal props and costuming and focuses on the relationship between the actors and the audience. While this production honours that tradition by having no huge set changes or extensive use of soundtrack and auxiliary mediums, lighting techniques are effectively used to enhance the production by representing the ever-present and glaring oppression of the apartheid government in the form of the police. The powerful opening scene, for example, uses two bright white lights rapidly swirling around the stage to represent a helicopter surveying the area of a location where the three women live. Later on, red and blue lights are also used to represent police lights. Towards the end of the play, long rectangular slabs of white light are thrown onto the stage, representing propaganda pamphlets thrown onto the ground by the police. This production strikes a perfect balance between staying true to the original style of poor theatre and South African protest theatre and using innovative modern techniques to make it fresh and unique.
The acting in this production is nothing short of extraordinary. All three actors displayed incredible skill and stamina throughout the play. As the characters delve into their respective memories and experiences, the three actors seamlessly switch between characters of various races and genders, with different accents and body language. In a Q&A session after a performance, Ziaphora Dakile, who plays Sdudla, explained how she used props as a mechanism to bring out the emotional memory needed for her to switch between different characters. In one scene, for example, a piece of cloth is used — first as the scarf of a woman in a post office, then as a blanket for a baby held by a mother on a bus. Another fascinating device used in this production was the use of the actors’ voices to create sound. When the women are selling their chickens, the actors create chicken sounds in between dialogue, similar to when a door or window is being knocked on, or a baby is crying. Barileng Malebye, who plays Mambhele, also mentioned how she played with her voice in the rehearsal process — making different sounds and using different pitches, and understanding where those pitches sat in her body, to be able to make a chicken’s cluck or a baby’s cry as believable as possible.
Music and singing also played a major role in this production. The powerful acapella protest songs sung by these characters add emotional depth and a charged energy to the story, and honours a history of resistance. The music weaves a thread throughout the production, culminating in an explosive performance of “Wathint’ abafazi, wathint’ imbokodo” at the end.
“You Strike a Woman, You Strike a Rock” is a moving piece that is still relevant today. Highlighting the complex struggles that come with sitting at the intersection of racism and sexism as black women under apartheid, as well as the community, joy, family, friendship and humour that these women felt despite oppression, it strikes an emotional chord with an audience who still live with the long-term effects and generational trauma of Apartheid. Because yes, the march might look different, but we are still marching nonetheless.
Elsabé Fourie
Director of Arts & Music
efourie@kingsmead.co.za
Sports
Swimming
Congratulations to the following swimmers who qualified to attend SA Level 3 Nationals and achieved outstanding results.
Eva Del Cin
2nd – 200m IM
4th – 100m & 200m Breaststroke
6th – 50m Backstroke
12th – 100m Backstroke
16th – 50m Freestyle
17th – 200m Freestyle
19th – 100m Freestyle
Eva also competed in five relays, earning two bronze medals in the Women’s 16-19 4x100m & 4x50m Free relays.
Marguerite Cockeran
3rd in 50m Breastroke
3rd in 100m Breastroke
3rd in girls 13 – 14 Medley Relay
4th in 200m Breastroke
6th in 200m Individual Medley
9th in 50m Backstroke
Kristin Billett
2 Gold Medals in 100m Freestyle & 200m IM
3 Silver Medals in 50m Freestyle, 200m Freestyle & 100m Backstroke
Karate
Congratulations to Lamia Bux who practices karate outside of school and has achieved her Second Dan Black Belt. This incredible milestone reflects her dedication, skill, and perseverance. Well done, Lamia!
Festivals
Congratulations to all our players for the tough festivals this past weekend. These pre-season festivals certainly prepared our students for the tough league matches ahead.
Roedean
U14 Netball – 12th out of 23 schools
U14 Hockey – 15th out of 24 teams.
St Andrews
U16 Squash – 7th out of 12 schools.
U16 Hockey – 17th out of 24 teams
U16 Netball – 13th out 24 teams.
Brescia House
U17 Netball – 20th out of 21 teams.
Diving
Congratulations to Maya and Mikayla Rono who attended the CGA Diving Championships held at St Andrews.
Maya Rono
Group B Elite Platform – 1st position
Group B Elite 1M – 1st position
Group B Elite 3M – 1st position
Group A/B Open mixed synchro – 1st position
Maya was also declared the Group B 2025 Champion for this age group winning the trophy.
Mikayla Rono
Group B Elite 1M -11th position
Water Polo
We are very delighted that Leila Connoway-Chang has been selected for the South African u15 Development water polo team that will take part in the African u15 women’s water polo tournament in April this year.
Erin Boyd and Kyla Hall have been announced as non-travelling reserves for this team.
U15 Water Polo Team Shines at the Trinity Trophy Tournament
Our U15 water polo team recently travelled to Chisipite Senior School in Harare, Zimbabwe, to participate in the prestigious Trinity Trophy Water Polo Tournament. This exciting opportunity saw our players compete against top schools from across the region, and they rose to the occasion with skill, teamwork, and determination.
The team delivered an impressive performance throughout the tournament, securing victories against Peterhouse (12-3), St Stithians College (12-5), Girls’ College (15-4), Falcon (7-1), and Hellenic (5-3). In a tense group-stage match against the hosts, Chisipite, the game ended in a 4-4 draw and went to penalties, where Kingsmead emerged victorious with a 5-4 win.
Their consistent success earned them a place in the final, where they faced Chisipite once again. In a tightly contested match, our team narrowly missed out on the title, with the final score standing at 4-3. Kingsmead proudly claimed second place overall.
This tournament was not only a competitive highlight but also a memorable and enriching experience for our students. They embraced the opportunity to compete internationally, build camaraderie, and represent Kingsmead with pride and sportsmanship.
We are exceptionally proud of their achievements and look forward to returning to Zimbabwe for future tournaments.
The JP Morgan Corporate Challenge took place on Thursday 13 March, and 14 staff members from across the school took part in the event.
We were scheduled to run the 5.6km course but walked down from Kingsmead, joining the other 15,000 runners and started through the streets of Melrose – running and walking.
We all looked amazing in our new Kingsmead Running and Walking t-shirts, soon to be available from the school shop – thank you, Karen Landi.
All 14 staff completed the event and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
The fact that the school closed early to assist parents and staff who were not part of the event was also very well received as students were able to take an afternoon off.
Many more staff have asked to join the event for 2026 and we will ensure that the school calendar in 2026 again accommodates this event.
Well done to all the runners and walkers:
o Amy Bunce
o Bianca Meyer
o Bianca Rademacher
o Carolyn Grainger
o Liezel van Lith
o Nobuhle Ngwenya
o Phelokazi Nomvalo
o Philisiwe Malevu
o Roxy Harman-Leak
o Russ Stroud
o Tammy Stippel
o Tessa Stobie
o Tracy Gardner
o Tracey Lee Minnie
Thank you, Kingsmead, for the assistance in entering the team and for our wonderful t-shirts.
Rob Pullen
Director of Sports
rpullen@kingsmead.co.za
Spirit
Inter-High Aquatics: We’ve got spirit, YES, WE DO!
What an incredible day of passion, pride, and power at this year’s Inter-High Aquatics event. As the Head of Spirit for Kingsmead College, I could not be prouder of how our students showed up, not just in the pool and on the diving boards, but in the stands, where our green and gold colours lit up the swimming pool. What truly set Kingsmead College apart was our unmatched spirit. From the first war cry to the last cheer, our voices echoed with unity, strength, and sisterhood. Spirit is more than noise. It’s belief. And on this day, we believed in each other. Win or lose, Kingsmead showed up loud, proud, and together. Our blood runs green!
Robyn Dixon
Head of Spirit 2025
Timlin’s Birthday: A Day of Blue Joy and Memories
Timlin’s birthday started bright and early on Thursday, 13 March in the morning with excitement in the air. The gym hall was filled with blue, from uniforms to cupcakes and smiles all around. The Matrics set up a fun photo booth, making the celebration feel even more like a party. The House meeting was a beautiful moment of reflection. Our House parents, Mrs van Lith, Miss Minnie and Mama P, opened with prayer, setting the tone for the day. Emma, our Head of House shared Timlin’s history, reminding us that we have always been a strong House from the start. Cameron Haskins and Thandeka Nzimakwe shared their favourite Timlin memories, bringing laughter and nostalgia. Students wrote messages on blue sticky notes for a time capsule to be opened in the future. Throughout the day, little sparks of blue reminded us that Timlin is more than a house. It’s a family and this was a birthday worth celebrating.
Cameron Haskins
Grade 11
Why Running Club is the best part of my week!
Let me paint you a picture: it’s 5:30 am, your alarm goes off, and your bed feels like the warmest, cosiest place on earth. The idea of getting up to run might sound insane and trust me I’ve had those thoughts before. But somehow, I always get up, get dressed and head to school… because it’s Running Club in the morning. And it’s honestly completely worth it!
Running club on Wednesdays and Fridays feels like a mid-week and end-of-week reset. It’s a mix of exercise, laughter, conversation, and a lot of heavy breathing. It’s not about being fast or super fit, it’s about showing up, getting outside, and being surrounded by good happy energy.
One of the best parts? The people. Our Kingsmead Running Club has this amazing way of bringing everyone together in a way that feels natural. I’ve met Grade 8s, bonded with girls I don’t normally speak to, and chatted with teachers, all the while building the connections that make Kingsmead the school that it is.
It’s this sense of community that keeps me coming back. You feel it when we all start off tired and grumpy and end off smiley because we actually had the best time. You can feel it when you realize these people that you weren’t that close with slowly start to become your Wednesday and Friday family.
Some mornings are tough and then some mornings you feel like going that extra kilometre. And every single time, I leave feeling a lot better than I did when I woke up. It’s the part of my day where I don’t feel stressed. It’s the one time I can let go and enjoy the moment.
Running Club is open to everyone, no pressure, no expectations. Whether you’re a runner or a run/walker. It’s not just about running – it’s about friendship, community, and connection.
See you back out there in Term 3!
Kirsten Lamb and Mulalo Ramabulana
Grade 12
Operational News
Over the past few months, the school has installed 550 Photovoltaic solar panels to support the school’s electricity needs.
The project has run exceptionally well and on Monday, 24 March the City of Johannesburg provided their sign-off and the system is now live. We entered into a Power Purchase Agreement and there will be a substantial saving to the school’s electricity costs moving forward.
But the best outcome of this project is that we will be using energy from the sun.
We have not used batteries in the plant as most of the school’s electricity needs are through the daylight hours. We are also investigating supplying additional electricity back to the grid. Our generator is still part of the school’s electricity solution.
Positioning of the panels took into account all our established trees. Roofs were initially repaired and upgraded to ensure a stable base for the panels. All buildings with PVs have been addressed to ensure they are protected from lightning strikes.
The school’s main municipal switch will be replaced in the week of 7 to 11 April and for the duration of this project, there will be no electricity (municipal, solar or generator) on campus.
Service
Inter-School Volunteering
The Inter-School Volunteering Collaborative has become a cornerstone of our volunteering efforts here at Kingsmead. Member schools, including De La Salle Holy Cross, Kingsmead, Marist Brothers Linmeyer, Roedean, and St David’s Marist Inanda, continue to work together to make a positive impact. This term, we’ve had one event and another is scheduled for 29 March.
Our first event of the term was hosted by St David’s Marist Inanda at their Alexander campus, where the focus was on intergenerational volunteering. Student volunteers spent the morning with residents from the Joseph Gerard Home for the Aged, engaging in activities such as playing Bingo and cards, gardening, serving tea and cake, and listening to stories – learning so much about the residents and fostering meaningful connections between generations.
F.E.E.D SA
Partnerships play a crucial role in the success of volunteer programs. They involve strategic collaborations between organisations to increase impact, extend reach, and ensure the sustainability of volunteering efforts. One important goal of these partnerships is to offer opportunities for social cohesion. As our Muslim community observes Ramadan, this period provides an invaluable opportunity for the Kingsmead community to learn more about this sacred month and the values it embodies.
Ramadan is a time for reflection, compassion, and community for Muslims worldwide. During this holy month, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset, cultivating spiritual discipline and developing empathy for those who experience hunger daily. It is also a time when kindness, generosity, and service are at the heart of the faith. Throughout March, Kingsmead was honoured to partner with F.E.E.D SA, a youth-focused organisation dedicated to sustainable poverty alleviation. Our students actively contributed by packing and distributing food hampers to those in need, engaging in meaningful acts of service that reflect both the spirit of Ramadan and the values we uphold at Kingsmead.
Many students generously gave their time, and their efforts have made a tangible difference. This collaboration was a wonderful opportunity for our community to connect, contribute to a greater cause, and embrace the spirit of generosity that defines this special time of year.
We are deeply grateful to all who participated and look forward to continuing this important work in future service initiatives.
~ Ms Aaliyah Osman
San Salvador
At Kingsmead, we strive to live a life of service in all that we do. By nurturing intentional partnerships, exploring social cohesion, and fostering inclusivity, we are proud of our blossoming partnership with San Salvador, which has developed into a true friendship. Every Wednesday, Cathy from San Salvador joins us in our School Shop, assisting Wehlemina and Ayanda with our shoppers. We are so grateful to have Cathy as an integral member of our team. Additionally, once a month, team members from San Salvador help us with shredding. One of the young men commented, “I love it here.”
Share What You Can
As we approach the final stretch of our Share What You Can campaign, we encourage each family to donate at least one item. Imagine the difference this collective effort can make for our beneficiaries.
Let’s continue to live a life of service, always.
Karen Landi
Director of Service