At Kingsmead, we have much to be proud of. We offer a bespoke and outstanding academic programme, our students continue to excel beyond the classroom, and we are fortunate to spend our days on a beautiful campus.
Some time ago, at a school’s marketing event, a prospective parent asked me whether I believe we intentionally teach resilience in a world where this is necessary for young people to succeed. It made me reflect on how we interact with our students, both inside and outside of the classroom. In my research on the value of resilience, happiness, gratitude, a sense of purpose emerged as core needs for developing resilience and grit. When we feel content, we can ‘dig deep’ and find the strength and determination to persist.
We have had such a joyful term, filled with dress-up days, inter-house activities, the Grade 7 production, service projects, lots of sporting fun, music performances, painting and dancing, making and creating, Bee Day, Fairy Day and even a unicorn in assembly. We celebrated a special person in our community and her incredible legacy. We create opportunities for each student in our school to find their place because, at Kingsmead, the individual truly matters. Happiness at Kingsmead is not by chance; it is by design. When students are happy and content, they flourish and develop essential skills like resilience to succeed in this world.
As parents, we must ensure our narrative remains positive and kind, emphasising opportunity and possibility to our children.
At the end of this term, we thank Lisa Palmer for stepping into the role of Acting Head in the Junior School, for her dedication to Kingsmead and her tireless efforts to lead our school. We look forward to welcoming Mr. Brendan Quinn to Kingsmead in September.
Warm regards,
Elsabé Fourie
Director of Arts & Music
Arts & Music
Dance Achievements
Well done to Ava Uhlmann and Sophie Storey, who recently completed their ballet assessment with the Orlovska Dance School in the Rising Stars 1 Grade.
JoziDance
The Kingsmead Jozi Dance dancers recently participated in the South African part of the International Dance Open. Since all of our dancers achieved at least a bronze medal, they have all qualified for the finals.
Lyrical Junior Category:
11th Place – Zoe Schloss
10th Place – Taylor Simpson
8th Place – Aimee Schloss
6th Place – Caitlyn Jewell
Lyrical Kids Category:
7th Place – Jagger Jo Wellsted
2nd Place – Fallon Grundlingh
Ballet Mini Kids Category:
1st Place – Ava Wild
Ballet Kids Category:
2nd Place – Amy Page
1st Place – Fallon Grundlingh
Ballet Category:
7th Place – Aimee Schloss
5th Place – Scarlett Larsen
Open Kids Category:
3rd Place – Owethu Sibisi
2nd Place – Nala Modiselle
Contemporary Kids Category:
9th Place – Sebabatso Kumalo
8th Place – Mishka Duncan-Chundra
6th Place – Alayna Mohamed
3rd Place – Fallon Grundlingh
2nd Place – Jagger Jo Wellsted
Jazz Formation Category: Junior Team Grade 2 & 3:
1st Place
Amy Page, Ava Wild, Emma Green, Giulia Allan, Laura Van Zuydam, Lesedi Thabethe, Musiiwa Tsatsawane, Sebabatso Kumalo, Sienna Ackerman, Skylar Chirindja, Azania Sweeney, Stephany Patricios, Amelie Perera, Olive Griffiths
Lyrical Formation Senior Team Grade 6 and older:
2nd Place
Aimee Schloss, Caitlyn Jewell, Nalayethu Mkhize, Scarlett Larsen, Surayya Sidibe, Taylor Simpson, Zoe Schloss, Luthando Kobus
Contemporary Formation Category: Pre-Senior Team:
1st Place
Alayna Mohamed, Clara Scheuermaier, Fallon Grundlingh, Jagger Wellsted, Juliet Ackerman, Mishka Duncan-Chundra, Nala Modiselle, Rorisang Ngumba, Ruby Mcdonald, Zanengebe Dlamini, Owethu Sibisi
Jazz Junior Category:
10th Place – Zoe Schloss
Mini Jazz Duo Category: Grade 1:
1st Place – Emma Sloley & Mila Snyman
Mini Jazz Group Category: Pre Junior Team Grade 1:
1st Place
Asmaa Maasdorp, Emma Sloley, Joy Ajaera, Mikaela Kokinos, Mila Snyman, Olivia Louw, Sizakele Modiba
Hip Hop Solo Category:
1st Place – Chengeto Munyaradzi
Hip hop Group Grade 5 Category:
2nd Place
Fallon Grundlingh, Jagger Wellsted, Charlotte Cederwall, Zanengcebo Dlamini, Owethu Sibisi, Clara Scheuermaier, Chengeto Munyaradzi, Vuyolewthu Mabindisa
Contemporary Junior Category:
7th Place – Aimee Schloss
10th Place – Taylor Simpson
Well done, girls, we are proud of you!
MUSIC CONCERTS
We have had the most magical month of Music Concerts, with students from Grade 0 to Grade 7 sharing their learning with us. It is a privilege to see our girls grow and develop their musical skills, confidence and love of music. Gillian Wilkinson joined the girls and performed at the Grade 7 concert, demonstrating what lifelong learning looks like! Thank you to all our families for supporting our young musicians.
Elsabé Fourie
Director of Arts & Music
efourie@kingsmead.co.za
Sports
Soccer
Exciting Soccer Afternoon at Pridwin!
The Kingsmead Grade 7 girls had an exhilarating afternoon of soccer at Pridwin, where they showcased their skills and sportsmanship while playing alongside the Grade 7 boys. The energy was palpable as players dribbled, passed and scored, filling the air with cheers and laughter.
Parents and families gathered to support their young athletes, creating a vibrant atmosphere that celebrated teamwork and camaraderie. It was heartwarming to see the students bonding over their shared love for the game, forging friendships that extend beyond the soccer field.
A special shout-out to Pridwin for hosting this fantastic event! Their hospitality and commitment to fostering a love for sports among young learners made the day truly memorable. We look forward to more collaborative events in the future that inspire our students and strengthen our community ties.
Hockey
Kingsmead Shines at the St Anne’s Hockey Festival!
This past weekend, our Grade 6 and 7 touring teams showcased their talent and determination at the annual St Anne’s Hockey Festival. With fierce competition, including our Grade 6 team facing off against Grade 7 teams, our young athletes displayed remarkable courage and sportsmanship on the field.
We are incredibly proud of how our girls performed, bringing home excellent results and demonstrating the true spirit of Kingsmead! A heartfelt congratulations to all players for their hard work and dedication.
A special thank you to the parents for your unwavering support; your encouragement makes all the difference! We can’t wait to see what our teams will achieve next!
Celebrating an Outstanding Hockey Season for the Grade 3s!
The Grade 3 hockey team has truly excelled this season, showcasing remarkable talent and determination by winning the majority of their matches! They concluded their season with an unforgettable evening at the Roedean Night Festival on 24 July. Under the dazzling lights, our young athletes played with the heart and skill of true superstars. To top it all off, they had the incredible opportunity to meet a South African hockey player, inspiring them to reach even greater heights in the future. What a season to remember! Well done, Grade 3’s!
Grade 4 and 5 Hockey Festival – 12 July
Grade 4
C vs St Teresa’s C – Win
A vs St Teresa’s A – Win
B vs St Mary’s A – Loss
A vs St Mary’s B – Win
B vs St Teresa’s C – Win
A vs St Teresa’s B – Win
B vs St Dominic’s A – Loss
Grade 5
C vs St Mary’s C – Win
A vs St Dominic’s B – Win
B vs St Dominic’s B – Win
D vs St Teresa’s C – Draw
A vs St Mary’s A – Win
A vs St Teresa’s A – Win
D vs St Mary’s E – Win
B vs St Teresa’s C – Win
C vs St Mary’s D – Win
Grade 4 – 7 Hockey vs St Mary’s – 18 July
Grade 4
A team – Win
B team – Loss
C team – Draw
D team – Win
C team – Loss
D team – Loss
Grade 5
A team – Win
B team – Win
C team – Win
D team – Win
C team – Win
D team – Win
Grade 6
A team vs St Mary’s B – Win
B team vs St Mary’s C – Win
Grade 7
A team vs St Mary’s B – Win
B team vs St Mary’s C – Draw
Grade 4-7 Hockey vs St Andrew’s – 25 July
Grade 4
C team – Win
B team – Draw
Grade 5
C team – Win
B team – Win
Grade 6
B team – Draw
Grade 7
B team – Draw
Equestrian
Congratulations to the following students for the outstanding results at the Regional Championships, which took place on 26 and 27 July:
Bowden Jennings – 2nd place in both 60cm jumping classes
Anvita Nunna – 5th place in Equitation & 19th place in Prix Caprilli
Sophie Rohrs – 6th place in show jumping
Wishing the riders competing this weekend the best of luck!
Upcoming Events
31 July: Grade 3 Mini Olympics
31 July: Grade 4 – 7 Friendly Squash Fixture @ Roedean
1 August: Grade 4 – 7 Hockey Festivals
(Grade 4 – St Mary’s, Grade 5 – Kingsmead, Grade 6 & 7 – St Stithians)
4 August: Grade 7A Hockey Friendly vs Ashton College (12h00) @ Kingsmead
8 August: Grade 4 – 7 Inter House Hockey
Join Us for a Delicious Snack in Support of the St Anne’s Hockey Tour
Get ready to support the St Anne’s Hockey Tour Fundraising event! We’ll be serving up mouthwatering boerewors rolls, prego rolls, and delicious Breakfast buns at the upcoming hockey fixtures.
Don’t miss out on these tasty treats, come hungry and ready to cheer on our teams! Your support makes a difference. See you there!
A few reminders for parents & guardians:
1. A reminder to please join the Sports Community WhatsApp groups, as this will be the direct method of communication to parents on sports fixture days.
2. All team lists will be published on the app by no later than Tuesday for a Thursday fixture and the Wednesday before the Friday/Saturday fixture.
Yours in sport
Shavaun Hanekom
Head of Junior School Sport
