May was filled with so many wins for our Kingsmead girls – current and past! From celebrating Book Week to participating in school voting, and being rockstars on stage, our students excelled. Read our full May 2024 highlights below.
In May we gathered to celebrate and thank our incredible team and partners for their dedication and hard work on the new additions to our beautiful Mkwanazi Theatre. Their tireless efforts have transformed our spaces, paving the way for endless opportunities for growth and learning for our girls at Kingsmead College.
Theatre seating, a green room, co-working space and a foyer are all part of the renovations. Here’s to creating environments where our girls can thrive and flourish.
Thank you for making it possible!
Service is such an integral part of what we do at Kingsmead College. We ensure that we are giving back to our surrounding community and like to offer as many opportunities as possible on the school campus. 12 May was an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of new mothers and their babies as we hosted a Grace Factory packing event.
The Grace Factory is an NPO that gives practical assistance to moms and babies in need during the first few weeks of motherhood and infancy. Packs contain necessities such as clothes, blankets, toiletries, nappies and items for the moms. The Grace Factory delivers the packs to hospitals and clinics for moms in need. We put 100 packs together in record time impacting 100 new mothers and their children. What a beautiful experience and an incredible turnout from our students and staff.
We have been so busy in May! As part of our space strategy, we considered all teaching and learning spaces and explored ways to maximise the spaces in line with the changing needs of Generations Alpha and Beta.
Our Business Studies teaching space was originally the boarding house, but the natural light and high ceilings offered the perfect canvas to create two new spaces. With the inclusion of an aluminium stacking door, the space serves as a separate venue during exam times. The carpets have been stripped, magnificent wooden floors revived, and new ceilings and lighting added.
We were confident that our students would love this space when they returned from the holiday – and we were right!
Congratulations to Lucy Davis (Grade 11) who was selected as a non-travelling reserve for the South African U18 waterpolo squad to take part in the World Aquatics Women’s U18 in China. This team was selected from the Swim South Africa Currie Cup held in East London in Term 1 where Lucy and the Central Gauteng U18 girls won gold.
Congratulations to these talented girls for making it into their respective Gauteng water polo winter training squads!
U12 Squad:
- Grace Burman
- Vera Collocott
- Georgie Kennedy
(Missing from photo: Keodirelang Maqubela)
U13 Squad:
- Jemma Cederwall
- Madison Botha
- Lucy Berry
- Georgie Dalling
- Kennedy Wagner-Read
U15 Squad:
- Emma Renshaw
- Milan Williams
We are so proud of your dedication and hard work. 💪🏼 Keep shining in the pool, girls!
In May we were honoured to host Adrienne Wright at our author talk, where she shared her powerful book, Hector.
Set against the backdrop of June 16, 1976, the tragic loss of Hector Pieterson’s life during a peaceful protest echoes through history. Adrienne’s poignant graphic novel-style storytelling gives voice to Hector, his sister, and the photographer who captured their image amidst chaos. Through vivid mixed media art, she brings to life the vibrancy and struggle of Hector’s world, shedding light on the harsh realities of apartheid-era South Africa. Hector isn’t just a book – it’s a catalyst for discussions on global history and race relations, offering a poignant lens for adults to engage children in understanding the past.
Thank you, Adrienne, for sharing this important narrative with us.
Congratulations to Maya Rono, Olona Mbele, and Mikayla Rono for their outstanding performance at the Bergen Open International Diving Competition in Norway.
Maya secured an impressive 12th place in the 1m category out of 32 participants while achieving 16th position in the 3m category out of 28 divers. Additionally, Maya and her partner demonstrated great synchronicity, earning them a commendable 11th place in the synchro event. Mikayla’s exceptional talent earned her 11th place in the 1m category, while Olona’s outstanding performance secured her an impressive 5th place in the same event.
We are incredibly proud of these accomplished young divers!
PrEDA: a platform where creativity thrives and talent shines! These two nights showcased creativity, passion, and dedication as our girls took the stage to present their masterpieces before the grand FEDA event. Our budding playwrights from Redhill School, Kingsmead College, and St Mary’s Waverley brought their A-game with captivating performances:
🔓 “Unbound” by Redhill School
💙 “Bluecrest High” by Kingsmead College
👻 “The Ghost of Shakespeare’s Women” by Redhill School
📖 “A Girls’ Guide” by St Mary’s Waverley
Bravo to all the schools for their incredible performances!
In May we wished a happy Mother’s Day to all the incredible moms out there! We celebrated the love, strength, and support that you bless our lives with each and every day. Whether you’re a new mom cherishing those precious first moments or a seasoned pro navigating the beautiful chaos of motherhood, your dedication is truly inspiring.
We hope your day was filled with love, laughter, and moments that warm your heart.
This International Nurses’ Day, we proudly honoured our exceptional Medical Sister Yolanda at Kingsmead College! With her dedication, compassion and expertise, she embodies the true essence of nursing excellence.
This year’s theme, “Our nurses, our future: the economic power of care”, resonates deeply as we recognise the invaluable contributions nurses make to healthcare and society as a whole. From providing comfort and healing to empowering individuals and communities, nurses like Sister Yolanda play a vital role in shaping our future. This day, and every day, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to Sister Yolanda and all nurses worldwide for their tireless commitment to care.
The Grade 2s had a wild adventure at the Joburg Zoo in May, kicking off their exciting new ‘discovery learning’ topic, where they’ll dive into the fascinating world of wild animals, farm animals, and sea creatures. Wild adventures ahead!
Leading up to the Kingsmead Book Fair 2024, we officially kicked off Book Week!
Ms. Cressy and the Media team kicked off Book Week with a fun and exciting junior school assembly, presenting the journeys and new worlds that books take us to, and encouraging our girls to read more.
Congratulations to our Grade 4 & 5 A/B teams for their participation in the Holy Rosary Netball Festival. We are extremely proud of you!
The Grade 1s had a buzzing good time celebrating World Bee Day in May! They crafted adorable bee finger puppets and shared fun bee facts written inside colourful flowers.
From Kingsmead to the world stage, Julia Vincent, our remarkable alumna, dives into history once again!
As a two-time Olympian, Paris 2024 qualifier, and reigning 7th place finisher at the Diving World Cup Series Super Final, her journey inspires us all. Having taken 9th place at the 2024 Diving World Championship, Julia remains the highest-performing South African diver on the global stage.
Good luck to our shining star as she prepares for the Paris Olympic Games!
Our Grade 1s and 3s experienced the excitement of voting for the first time!
With their ID cards in hand, the Grade 1s lined up to cast their vote for a Storytime character, and the Grade 3s voted for their favourite event from Book Week. Such a fun and educational day for our young students!
Morgan Chen-Heyneke was invited and had the privilege of joining the Taiwanese Olympic archery team’s specialized archery training in Taiwan at the end of March this year.
She gained a wealth of knowledge and learned unique techniques from some of the world’s top archers. Additionally, Morgan has been invited to compete at the World Archery Indoor Series tournament in Taiwan this December.
Wishing you the best of luck with your preparations, Morgan. We are exceptionally proud of your accomplishments!
Congratulations to Sanchia Naicker and Laura van Zuydam from Kingsmead College for their incredible achievements in the Young Writers Competition 2024!
Sanchia won the age 8-9 category, while Laura was recognised as the runner-up in the age 6-7 category, standing out among over 600 entries. We can’t wait to see the masterpieces you will create in the future!
Ms L Palmer shared her experience from the alumnae event in London at Tasha’s in Battersea Power Station. The reunion hosted around 40 past students, including the ladies from the class of 1961.
Highlights included reconnecting with Serena Crawford, straight from the Chelsea Flower Show, and hearing about everyone’s amazing journeys, from doctors to opera singers, as everyone shared fond memories of Kingsmead’s traditions and values. It was a heartwarming gathering filled with nostalgia and lively discussions about our beloved school.
If you’re an alumna and would like to connect or stay updated on events, email alumnae@kingsmead.co.za. Join us for the upcoming American tour in Baltimore and New York!