Dear Parents, Staff and Students,
I cannot believe that we are nearing the end of the year and that we are well into the exam season.
On 5 November, we are holding what has become an annual Thanksgiving event to honour and celebrate the many volunteers at Kingsmead who give tirelessly of their time to the school.
As we race towards the end of the year, we reflect with gratitude on the past year. Thus, I would like to focus on gratitude in this newsletter, as we have much for which to be deeply thankful.
In a Harvard Business Review article entitled “Gratitude is more than just saying thank you,” the writer Lory Hough gives some tips to children– in particular – to understand what they’re thankful for. I believe that this relates as well to adults:
Four key steps:
1. Practise looking for one person or one thing you are grateful for.
2. Think about the “why”: consider why you are grateful for that person or thing. Be specific in naming the action or the person and the gratitude.
3. Share your gratitude: together, share what you are thankful for.
4. Make it a habit: Practice noticing and thinking about gratitude while doing everyday activities.
There are so many wonderful volunteers at Kingsmead for whom I have much gratitude. I would like to say a specific thank you to Ann Wayt, who has worked in our school shop for many years. She has built it up from a tiny shop that did not have much in it to a fully functioning shop on the property that supplies most items needed for school, not just uniforms.
Staffing News:
English Department:
Mrs Joanna Klopper is the Faculty Head for Home Languages at Reddford House. She is a cluster leader of the Johannesburg West Rand cluster and a Matric marker.
Ms Samantha Gibb has been at the Deutsche Schule in Johannesburg for the past 14 years. She is also a teacher of Further Studies English and a Matric marker.
Both of these teachers have a wealth of experience and excellent references, and we look forward to welcoming them to Kingsmead in January.
We will be saying special farewells to the following staff at the end of the year and thank them for their many years of dedicated service to the school:
Nelson Shumba – retiring after 21 years in the Maintenance Department.
Johannes Monyeki – retiring after 15 years as a member of the Support Staff.
Fikile Khuboni – 15 years in the isiZulu Department.
Mia Loock – 13 years in the Arts Department.
Lynette Jonker – retiring after 12 years in the Visual Arts Department.
Francina Nyao – retiring after 12 years as a member of the Kitchen Staff.
Itumeleng Sehaswana – 5 and a half years in the Junior School Reception.
Robyn Hillowitz – 3 and a half years in the English Department.
Paige Dott – 3 and a half years in the Junior School.
Nonhlanhla Lahta – 3 years in the Junior School.
Thank you, and farewell to the following interns:
Basetsana Dibetswe
Lesego Mnguni
Ditebogo Lesufi
Palesa Tladi
I wish you well for the remainder of the term.
Fond regards,
Lisa Palmer
Executive Head: Kingsmead College
Academics
2024 Kingfisher Awards
Kingfisher, a module based on the real-world Loerie Awards, is one of the most anticipated module of Grade 9. This year, we were tasked with creating an array of advertisements for Kingsmead’s very own Growth Curriculum. The 2024 Kingfisher Awards ensured that this module ended with a bang! Excitement and anticipation filled the air as we walked into the Mackenzie. Everyone’s nerves were shown when the whole grade managed to keep quiet in record time. Watching each team’s advertisements allowed our grade to celebrate our peers’ creativity, hard work, and amazing editing skills. The chorus of “oohs” and “ahhs” that erupted while we watched the advertisements were certainly memorable. Tension quickly returned as the judges – experts in the field of Marketing and Strategic Brand design – began announcing the winners across the various categories. These different awards ensured that each group’s unique ideas were recognized. We held hands, anxiously waiting as the winners of the 2024 Kingfisher Awards were revealed. As the winning group was announced, the Grade 9s gave a heartwarming amount of love and support. The Kingfisher Awards will remain a treasured part of my Grade 9 year. A huge “thank you” to the judges: Mike Mc Callum, Ahvãna Bhageloo, Lushca Brink and Georgina van der Poel. Thank you to the Marketing department, our teachers and our fellow students for making it such a special day!
Neo Mkwanazi, Baily Napier, Shy-yu Hsieh and Hannah Mills
2024 Kingfisher winners
Arts & Music
MUSIC
Congratulations!
- Rosa Stewart passed her Grade 1 Alto Saxophone examination with a distinction.
- Safiya Vally, Mira Naidoo, Rorisang Mamathuba and Nishka Makan participated in the Jan Celliers Eisteddfod where they achieved outstanding results.
- Amy Hill performed a piano solo and her own composition at the Central Gauteng Eisteddfod. She received 100% for her own composition, winning the category and was invited to perform at the Gala evening!
One-Act Play Festival
The Grade 10 and 11 Drama students staged their one-act plays on Wednesday, 30 October. The Deadline was written and directed by Jaydon Adams, and Vuyokazi Nkonyeni designed the lighting. The Deadline follows Claire, a frantic writer racing to finish an article just before midnight. She is surrounded by her laid-back roommate Lucy, advice-giving friend Sophie, and Evelyn, who keeps trying magic tricks. Chaos builds when their nosy neighbour, Mrs Le Roux, and Claire’s strict editor, Megan, drop by. Loadshedding threatens her progress… will Claire finish her article before the Deadline? The cast included Sanda Tuku, Sophia Pearse, Lola-Rose Jooste, Elena Rovelli, Ariana Boyd, and Ofentse Dikgale.
Mors Certa was written and directed by Meagan Stewart, and Vuyokazi Nkonyeni did the lighting design. At an annual high school reunion, everybody believes they know everything about each other’s lives. Their values of tradition, honesty, and respect are ones they each hold close to their hearts. But when secrets start spilling, and things take a turn for the worse, can they still uphold their values? Or is death certain in the end… The cast included Carla Führi, Lwethu Mzotsho, Nubia Nelson, Grace Gilfillan, Caitlin Pon, Mohale Mlobela and Bethany Sinclaire.
Thank you to Ms Tillier and Ms Mnguni for their guidance and support of our drama students in this process and to Mr Pillay for creating opportunities for our young actors, directors, and sound and lighting designers to develop and showcase their skills.
Grade 11 Site-Specific Exhibition
During your daily walk around the school, you may have encountered some unique artwork scattered throughout the campus. Perhaps you have seen a pig face peeking out from between the bushes by Kingsmead House, placed there intentionally by Emelie Thompson. Or maybe you’ve spotted a colourful pair facing each other on certain ledges, cheekily positioned by Katherine de Sousa to tickle your understanding of these spaces. Or perhaps you’ve been mesmerised by the transportation of pastel fabrics just outside the museum installed by Amelia Laburn. You would have seen some of the site-specific artworks our Grade 11 visual artists have made. The Grade 11s have been working hard to share their artworks, which all resonate with the world around us. You may have seen Daniela Murillo-Nicolau’s hanging figures in the Learning Centre or Banothile Makhunga’s artwork in the Science Block. I implore you to walk around the school and look at a few of these impressive artworks. Perhaps take a stroll by the tennis courts to see Isabella Piccolo’s sprawling red artwork, or maybe go a little to the chapel gardens to view Megan Meadows-Taylor’s and Matsie Mageza’s masterpieces that will stun you. Just by walking around the school campus, you can see the thought-provoking and inspiring work of Thiya Naidoo. Siyanda Mhlongo and Juliana Hlazo have challenged viewers outside and around the Koch block. The school campus has come alive with Spring and Art. Take a walk and enjoy the works of our incredibly talented Grade 11s, and even if you don’t, stop to appreciate the fantastic art all around our school.
Amy Boltt
Head of Visual Arts 2024
Grade 12 Visual Arts Exhibition
On Wednesday, 23 October, it was time for the Grade 12 Visual Art students to exhibit their final practical pieces. Matric visual art students must submit a drawing piece and an artwork in their chosen mediums for their final practical. Both works must be accompanied by a visual journal outlining the thinking processes, research, and experiments included in the final submissions. The drawings, artworks and visual journals were laid out for family, friends, teachers and peers to marvel at. Several of the students incorporated light into the presentation of their works, which created a captivating ambience and enriched the pieces. Other students chose to use mirrors, vinyl, beads, masks and glass to deepen the meaning of their projects within the theme of Truth and Fiction. Priya Hollis’ live performance accompanied the exhibition and a delicious spread of refreshments made for an utterly enjoyable evening celebrating our incredibly talented artists. We would like to thank Mrs Church and her team, the Arts Department, the examiners and all those involved behind the scenes in making the extraordinary night possible for the students who dedicated their whole year to these works of art and those who could come and enjoy it.
Amelia Laburn
Head of Visual Arts 2025
Elsabé Fourie
Director of Arts & Music
Sports
Diving
We are proud that Lily Hanson-Moore, Maya Rono and Grace Hefer attended the Gauteng Diving trials.
Congratulations to Maya (U14) and Grace (U15 ) for being selected for the Gauteng team.
Equestrian
Congratulations to our Gauteng riders who competed at Nationals.
Mila Hozack, Hannah Cooke, Emma Berry, Alexa Manchia, Lily Yorke-Smith
Squash
Our top 4 players were invited to the Tuks Squash Festival to compete against excellent squash schools.
Well done to Amy Falcon, Charlie Dalling, Kara Smith and Emelie Thompson for performing well during the event.
Water Polo
Congratulations to the 1st and U14 water polo teams participating in the St Stithian’s Invitational Stayers tournament and the Roedean U14 water polo tournament, respectively. Both teams faced tough opposition throughout the tournaments but performed well and obtained final placings of 13th for the 1st and 10th for the U14 teams. Well done to the teams and coaches on their performances and results!
Kingsmead is very proud to be part of the Roedean Cup Water Polo Festival. Schools are to run a Learn to Swim programme with a partner school to be part of this festival.
Kingsmead has partnered with Parkhurst Primary School for many years. Once again, we worked with the students this year, and we hope to expand our partnership to include teaching staff. All lessons take place at the Kingsmead Pool.
Gauteng Water Polo:
Congratulations to the following students for making the following Central Gauteng Water Polo teams:
Lucy Davis U19A
Holly Franks U19B
Clea Ellens U16B
Charlie Davis U16B
Ariana Boyd U16 Non-travelling reserve
Chloe Chapman U15B
Hannah Cooke U15 Non-travelling reserve
Erin Boyd U14A
Leila Connoway-Chang U14A
Kyla Hall U14A
Scarlett Grundlingh U14B
Olivia Piccolo U14B
Emma Clowes U14 Non-travelling reserve
Maryam Hassan U14 Non-travelling reserve
Parktown Sports Festival
Kingsmead Participated in the Parktown Spring Sports Festival held at Parktown High School for Girls. Our Fast 5s netball team, 5s hockey team, 5-a-side soccer team and water polo team played against some tough opposition from in and around Johannesburg but had some excellent results. Well done to all involved.
Athletics
Our athletes have trained hard this term and competed in the weekly meetings in preparation for the Inter-High competition. Kingsmead finished 5th in the A section and had some notable results.
U14
Maya Rono – 3rd 80m hurdles
U15
Grace Hefer is second in the high jump, long jump, 80m hurdles, and 100m.
Neo Mkwanazi – 1st in 80m hurdles, 2nd in 100m
Thandolwethu Mbatha – 3rd in 200m
Jada Williams – 3rd in 400m
U16
Robyn Herold – 3rd in 80m hurdles
Opens
Lucy Davis – 1st in 200m
Haala Hassim – 2nd in 80m hurdles
Synchronized swimming
A local club, Team Phoenix, ran a National Invitational event at Kingsmead. The competition lasted two days and went very smoothly. Attached are photos from the event, and Sienna Fry from Kingsmead is seen in the photos.
Service
Goodwill Day – in celebration of Kingsmead College’s birthday
Ms DV Thompson, founder of Kingsmead College, established Goodwill Day 76 years ago – to work for the understanding and fellowship between all peoples.
Decades later, Goodwill Day continues to celebrate the essence of Kingsmead and our Service ethos. It is about community, the spirit of giving, and the celebration of our Service partners.
As is tradition, the day started with a 5km Walk for Courage. Our community gathered at our Gates of Welcome and Belonging – “so that all who pass through these gates may feel included, accepted and cherished”. Following a warm welcome by Lisa Palmer – Executive Head, Tarryn McLaren – Head of the Junior School, and Neo Mamathuba – Chairperson of the PTA, the walkers took to the streets of Melrose. All funds from the Walk for Courage are for the PTA’s Bursary Fund.
Our Service partners are set up on the Cricket Pitch. All Senior School students had the opportunity to play Service Bingo – they were required to introduce themselves to 3 Service partners and ask for more information on what the Service partner did. San Salvador hosted a tea garden, and our brilliant Kingsmead student bakers baked and donated cakes, scones, muffins and brownies, which San Salvador could sell to raise funds. Hotel Hope created a pop-up charity furniture shop, QRate, that offered a period pain experience to men and boys – so that they could better understand period pain. The Sensory Space’s exhibition, “Mr Brain is a Garden” offered much food for thought, A Few Grey Hairs collected hair to make wigs for cancer survivors. Siyakhana Gardens sold organic veggie boxes, The Link Literacy created giant snakes and ladders and number counting games, and 51 donors donated blood to the SANBS – a new record for Kignsmead! The Kingsmead community packed 200 maternity packs for mothers and babies, Sarah Cressey from the Grace Factory commented, “it was such a joy working with the Kingsmead girls – as always.” The dogs from Paws4U stole the show and provided lots of love and cuddles. Special thanks to Global Education, which sponsored a stipend for each service partner to cover some of their costs on the day.
For many, the highlight was the inflatable park—loads of inflatables for all ages, water, sunshine, and fun! Through the sale of the inflatable park access bands, we raise money to donate to Service partners. Thank you to Nedbank for not only sponsoring bottles and bags for the walk but also contributing to our inflatable park.
Our VIPs for the day were the children from Hotel Hope, Rays of Hope, and Fight with Insight. The 75 children had the best time on the inflatables, enjoying cold drinks and snacks. At 12h00, they were invited to lunch hosted by our Grade 11s. Our Grade 11s transformed Mackenzie into a South African-themed party zone, with beautifully decorated tables, party packs and favours, and a delicious lunch and dessert.
“Goodwill also means being willing to do everything in one’s power to bring good to other people, not only to those we love most and know best. Moreover, Goodwill also means a willingness to see good in another man’s point of view.” – DV Thompson.
School Fun
Inter-High Spirit
The recent Inter-High Athletics event was an unforgettable showcase of athletic talent and School spirit, especially for Kingsmead College. Our green and gold shone brightly as a school as we rallied together to support our athletes. From the first race to the final event, the cheers of our crowd echoed across the stadium, boosting the morale of our team. It was not just about individual victories but about representing Kingsmead with pride, unity, and respect. Whether in triumph or defeat, the athletes carried themselves with grace, supported by an unwavering group of students with exceptional spirit. What was most inspiring was the mutual respect between all schools. Kingsmead students cheered not just for their own, but also recognised the efforts of other competitors and joining forces with other schools for War Cries. This event reminded us that School Spirit goes beyond competition: it’s about togetherness, pride in our colours, and celebrating shared achievements. We are, indeed, stronger together!
Robyn Dixon
Head of Spirit 2025