Embracing Every Moment
It is hard to believe that I have been part of the Kingsmead community for just over eight weeks. At times, it feels as though I have been here for much longer. At other times, I quickly realise that I am still navigating a brand new learning curve.
Arriving during the frenetic third term has meant stepping straight into the heartbeat of school life. “Hitting the ground running” is exhilarating and somewhat of an understatement. It has truly been a joy to join this incredibly special community. From my very first day, I have been struck by the energy, warmth and purpose that define this school.
It is remarkable when we consider all that has happened in the third term thus far. There have been such wonderful opportunities to witness the life of Kingsmead in action. The Art Exhibition was a true celebration of creativity and imagination, showcasing the incredible talent of our girls. Goodwill Day reminded us of the deep sense of community and compassion that makes this school unique. And, of course, we shared in the excitement of opening our newly revamped Grade 1 classroom area, a beautiful and inspiring space for our youngest girls to begin their Kingsmead journey.
At our 92nd Birthday Celebration, I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to host my new friend, Kingsley, as well as Mrs Gillian Wilkinson. In the lovely area of The Bricks, we noted the importance of gathering around the table for a celebration. A small cake was provided, but the message, which hopefully found its way to our girls and our staff, was that everyone has a seat at the table at Kingsmead.
As we now consider the fact that fewer than six weeks are remaining in the school year, we also find ourselves in that special season of both reflection and anticipation. Let us take time to look back with gratitude on all that has been achieved and to embrace every remaining moment of learning, laughter and connection as we bring this year to a close, together.
Staffing News
Having joined the Junior School in the third term, our staffing update comes a little later than usual.
At the end of the second term, the following members of staff tendered their resignations:
• Mrs Gabby Thomson (Grade 7 LEAD and Senior Primary Art Teacher) – Mrs Thomson will be relocating to the Western Cape after 11 dedicated years in the Junior School.
• Ms Esté Meerkotter (Music Teacher) – Teacher Esté has decided it is time for her to take a break from teaching, and that she is embarking on a new adventure into a different line of work.
• Ms Khuselwa Somlayi (PE Teacher) – Ms Somlayi has accepted a growth opportunity as a physical educational specialist in a new position.
We are incredibly grateful for the contributions each of these staff members has made to our school community. I wish them all the very best in their new endeavours.
Recruitment processes have been running since August 2025 and I look forward to welcoming new staff into the Junior School.
End of Year Progress Reports
As we approach the end of the year, our teachers are deeply engaged in the careful preparation of academic reports. This is a demanding process that requires significant thought, accuracy and reflection — ensuring that each girl’s journey is captured with care and integrity. The process at Kingsmead is indeed rigorous!
Having been at Kingsmead for only a short time, I have been doing my very best, with the brief opportunities afforded to me, to spend time with and engage as many students as possible. However, I feel it would not be entirely authentic for me to include a personal comment on each report just yet, as I’m still getting to know your daughters and their unique stories. I promise to find time to review all the reports before they are sent home.
I ask, with humility, for your understanding and a little grace in this regard. I am genuinely looking forward to deepening these connections next year and continuing to celebrate all that makes each of your daughters so special.
Brendan Quinn
Head of Junior School
Beyond the Classroom
This is an exciting time to consider what the best extracurricular programme looks like for our school.
• Putting the student and education first
• Instilling a healthy, active lifestyle
• Developing a lifelong love of service
• Encouraging a deep appreciation for the Arts
• Developing confident young people with a sense of purpose
• Teaching our students collaboration, teamwork, grit and resilience, determination, and persistence
Kingsmead is a trend-setting school, courageous enough to do things differently from everyone else, to ensure that we continue our tradition of ‘The individual matters first and foremost’ and give our students the best start for a fulfilling and happy life.
Acknowledgements of Achievements
We enjoy hearing about our students’ accomplishments outside of school and recognise them during assemblies and on social media platforms.
o To streamline the process, instead of contacting the marketing department, class teachers, grade coordinators or TICs, parents or guardians should complete this form: Student Achievements for Acknowledgement.
o Only achievements submitted through this form will be acknowledged.
o Achievements will be acknowledged in appropriate assemblies, newsletters and social media.
o We will no longer hand out medals/trophies or certificates from outside organisations; instead, students will be called to the stage for a handshake and applause.
o For all social media posts and newsletters, official school photos will be used, so parents/guardians do not need to share images with us.
Arts & Music
Impromptu Chatterbox
Nine Kingsmead Junior School students represented the school with excellence on Thursday 9 October, at the Impromptu Chatterbox Festival held at Pridwin. Each participant was randomly assigned a topic and given just five minutes to prepare a speech, which they then delivered to adjudicators, parents and fellow students. We commend them for their confidence, composure and creativity.
Grade 5
Sophia Roos
Ava Miltiadou
Vidhya Morar
Grade 6
Amiya Ganda
Akhani Mahlangu
Michaela Stephano
Grade 7
Grace Burman
Vuyo Mkwanazi
Bella Walker
Music
Well done to our Grade 3 and Grade 4-7 Choirs who performed brilliantly at the recent Choir festivals hosted by The Ridge. Both choirs were outstanding!
Individual Music Lesson at Kingsmead
Learning to play an instrument is the most wonderful gift and a lifelong enriching experience. Kingsmead is fortunate to have a team of exceptional, expert music teachers offering a wide variety of instruments. Apply for lessons by completing the application form in the Arts & Music folder. Contact Elsabé Fourie at efourie@kingsmead.co.za if you need more information.
Elsabé Fourie
Deputy Head: Beyond the Classroom
Sports
Equestrian
We are thrilled to celebrate the outstanding achievements of our Junior School Kingsmead riders at the recent SANESA Equestrian Nationals! Your hard work, dedication and passion for equestrian sports have truly shone through.
Results:
Bowden Jennings
• 60cm Jumping Normal Competition Horse: 5th Place
• 60cm Jumping A2 Competition: 4th Place
Isabel Munro
• Dressage Freestyle: 3rd Place
• 1st Place: Gauteng Team Event
Well done, Team Kingsmead! We are so proud of you.
Water Polo
We congratulate the following water polo players for making their respective Gauteng teams:
U12:
Charlotte Cederwall
Non-travelling reserve:
Leah Renshaw
U13A:
Vera Collocott
Grace Burman
Keodirelang Maqubela
U13B:
Alexia Marvin
Ava Booth
Georgie Kennedy
Non-travelling reserve:
Olivia Talbot
Diving
Our divers are thoroughly enjoying the diving season this term. Unfortunately, our last fixture against St Andrew’s was rained out.
We are looking forward to our upcoming fixture against St Mary’s this Thursday, 23 October. On Saturday 25 October, the Gauteng Diving Trials will be held at Roedean. Our senior divers will compete in the morning, while our junior divers will take to the boards in the afternoon.
Representing Kingsmead in the Junior Phase are Ishvara Skosana and Amahle Mbele (Grade 5), Luthando Kobus (Grade 6) and Madison Crozier (Grade 7).
We wish all our divers the very best as they compete this weekend and continue to make Kingsmead proud!
UPCOMING EVENTS
23 October: Grade 3 – 7 Diving Fixture (Venue: St Mary’s)
24 October: Grade 4 – 7 Water Polo Night Festival (Venue: Kingsmead)
25 October: Grade 3 – 7 Athletics Fixture (Venue: St Peter’s Prep)
25 October: Gauteng Diving Trials (Venue: St Andrew’s School for Girls)
30 October: Grade 3, 4, 6 & 7 Diving Fixture (Venue: Kingsmead)
31 October: Grade 3 – 7 Athletics Fixture (Venue: St Stithians)
31 October: Grade 4 Splash Water Polo Festival (Venue: Roedean)
31 -1 November: St Mary’s Water Polo Tournament
1 November: Grade 3 – 7 Inter-Schools Diving (Venue: Brescia)
Some Reminders to Parents & Guardians
1. A reminder to please join the various Sports 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. Please inform the coaches in advance if your daughter is unable to attend a fixture.
Shavaun Hanekom
Head of Junior School Sport
Kingsmead College Alumnae
We are thrilled to announce the upcoming launch of the KCA (Kingsmead College Alumnae) Giveaway, a fantastic opportunity to celebrate our community, give back and stand a chance to win an extraordinary prize.
A generous Kingsmead alumna has donated an incredible prize, a fully inclusive luxury safari holiday for two to Botswana, valued at over R230,000!
The Myers Portfolio, in proud partnership with Natural Selection Travel and Mack Air, is delighted to offer this exclusive experience in support of the KCA fundraising initiatives.
About the KCA: Raising Funds to Uplift Our Kingsmead Community
The Kingsmead College Alumnae raise funds to support families within our Kingsmead community when they experience unexpected challenges.
The KCA currently assists with smaller, yet equally meaningful needs – such as matric dance tickets, uniforms, musical instruments or travel costs for learners representing Kingsmead, the province or even the country. These contributions make a real difference in ensuring that every student has the opportunity to participate fully in school life.
From time to time, the KCA has also been able to assist with a term’s school fees for families facing temporary financial difficulty.
With the continued generosity of our community, we hope to grow these efforts so that we can support even more families in need and, ultimately, provide full bursaries for deserving students.
Please note that support from the KCA is subject to the availability of funds and is guided by strict criteria to ensure fairness, transparency and meaningful impact.
About the Prize
The lucky winner and their guest will embark on a once-in-a-lifetime luxury safari adventure that combines two of Botswana’s most celebrated camps.
Your journey begins with two nights at Tawana Camp, followed by two nights at the breathtaking Tuludi Camp, seamlessly connected by Mack Air’s scenic internal flights. To make the experience even more effortless, the prize also includes return regional flights for two from Johannesburg to Maun. (Giveaway images attached)
Throughout your stay, you will enjoy:
• Luxurious accommodation in a double or twin room
• Three exceptional meals daily
• Local beverages
• Expertly guided activities
• Park fees and laundry services
• All-inclusive VAT
From exhilarating dawn game drives to peaceful sunset moments in the Delta, every detail has been thoughtfully included to ensure an unforgettable luxury safari experience.
Valid for travel between:
8–19 December 2025/2026
10 January–31 March 2026
1 April–31 May 2026
(T&Cs apply) Subject to availability upon booking. No under-18s may enter the draw.
Ticket Information
Cost: R250 per ticket – buy as many as you like! Answer the giveaway’s qualifying question correctly to validate your entry into the draw.
All proceeds will go directly to the KCA, helping to uplift and empower members of our school community when they need it most.
If you have any further questions, please get in touch.
We invite all members of our community to take part and make a difference.