Dear Junior School Parents and Guardians,
I have been reading “Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World” by Kristen Welch, and it has inspired me to share some thoughts with you. As a school, we take great pride in providing a well-rounded education, ensuring our girls excel academically, participate in sports, and explore their creativity through the arts. However, beyond these essential pillars, we also recognise the importance of nurturing the soft skills that will shape them into confident, kind, and resilient individuals.
In an ever-changing world, academic excellence alone is not enough. The ability to communicate effectively, collaborate with others, show empathy, and demonstrate resilience will be the defining traits that help our girls navigate their future successfully. These soft skills—often called character strengths—are the foundation of leadership, personal growth, and emotional intelligence. By focusing on character development, we empower our girls to become not just achievers but also individuals of integrity and compassion.
One of the core traits we aim to instil is gratitude. In a world that often prioritises instant gratification and material success, teaching children the value of appreciation and contentment is more crucial than ever. Kristen Welch’s Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World provides practical insights into how we, as parents and educators, can foster a culture of gratitude at home and in school.
Here are ten valuable lessons from the book:
1. Gratitude is Taught, Not Automatic – Children learn gratitude through modelling and intentional lessons.
2. Entitlement is a Cultural Norm – We must actively counter entitlement by teaching contentment.
3. Set Clear Boundaries – Saying “no” helps children appreciate what they have.
4. Gratitude Requires Sacrifice – When children work for something, they value it more.
5. Teach Contentment – Encouraging appreciation for what they have fosters happiness.
6. Gratitude is Rooted in Perspective – Exposure to different experiences builds appreciation.
7. Consistent Conversations Matter – Ongoing dialogue reinforces values.
8. Delayed Gratification Builds Character – Learning patience cultivates appreciation.
9. Generosity Fosters Gratitude – Giving to others nurtures empathy and thankfulness.
10. Modelling Gratitude in the Home – Children learn most from the behaviour we exhibit.
At Kingsmead, we are committed to reinforcing these values through daily interactions, service-learning projects, and mindful discussions in the classroom. We invite you to partner with us in this journey by creating moments of gratitude and reflection at home. Small actions—like encouraging children to write thank-you notes, involving them in community service, or simply modelling appreciation in everyday conversations—can have a profound impact.
Together, let’s continue to nurture a generation of young women who are not only academically capable but also kind-hearted, responsible, and deeply grateful for the opportunities they have.
Saadia Ebrahim
Deputy Head: Head of Junior School and Academics
Academics
During the month of March, the Junior School participated in various mathematics events and initiatives.
We kicked off this exciting time with a Tour de Maths competition on 4 March, hosted by St. David’s Marist, Inanda. Ava-Mae Dampier, Aria Ramchander, Taylor Simpson, and Zazi Gaetsewe from Grade 7 represented Kingsmead College at this event.
On 12 March, the Grade 5 to 7 students participated in the South African Mathematics Challenge (SAMC). This was an extraordinary opportunity to push the boundaries of mathematical thinking. SAMC is a national competition designed to cultivate problem-solving skills and mathematical creativity among Senior Primary students. Organised by the South African Mathematics Foundation, the challenge encourages students to develop a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts beyond the standard curriculum.
World Maths Day took place on 26 March. To celebrate, the Junior School dressed up with a touch of maths, and the Grade 3 to 7 students participated in this global event by actively engaging in online maths activities designed by Mathletics. Both students and teachers had loads of fun while learning and exploring the world of mathematics.
Parenting in the Digital Age: Staying Ahead in a Fast-Changing World
As a mum and an educator, I am constantly trying to upskill myself on teens, tweens, and technology. Just as I feel I am getting a handle on things, they change, and to me, it all seems so complicated. Luckily for us as parents, there are people out there who are in the know and do the hard work for us. So, I thought I would share some of their wisdom.
A great parental resource for all things techy, but also books, TV, and movies, is commonsensemedia.org (also available as an app on both iOS and Android). This site provides quick and easy access to reviews from Common Sense Media, other parents, and kids on specific content such as “Violence and Scariness,” “Language,” and “Drinking, Drugs, and Smoking,”. The reviews are honest and specific, sharing key points that you should know as a parent.
Another significant resource is Emma Sadlier – The Digital Law Company. I was distressed last week by a post on their Instagram feed where Emma described a call from a mother of a 14-year-old boy who had been arrested for something he had done on his cellphone. What was most shocking was the fact that this was not the first but one of many such cases The Digital Law Company has dealt with in the recent past. The laws surrounding what is and is not acceptable can be complicated. With Emma’s blessing, I have included her Social Media Law Cheat Sheet as a quick reference.
As a school, Kingsmead is committed to ensuring that our teachers are kept up to date and abreast of new developments not only academically but in terms of safeguarding, social and emotional learning, and general wellness. The Attachment Aware programme has equipped our teachers with advanced skills in supporting students emotionally. We have engaged Dr Melodie De Jager of the MindMoves Institute to better understand the neuroscience behind learning and how important movement is in optimising and igniting our neural pathways. Dr De Jager regularly shares wonderful tips on the institute’s Facebook page.
Cindy Dalling
Senior Primary Learning Support Specialist
Beyond the Classroom
Arts and Music
What a wonderful time we’ve had!
Over the last few weeks, we have experienced a true celebration of music. Our Grade 4-7 Choir performed beautifully at St Mary’s annual Singing Sistas Choir event. In the same week, we hosted our Kingsmead Masicule Sonke Junior Primary Choir Festival where our Grade 2s and 3s stole the show.
Last week, our Grade 1-7 musicians performed at various term concerts to the great delight of the audiences. This week we hosted our Kingsmead Ensemble festival where our Orchestra and Wind band performed.
What a wonderful way to end a term!
Thank you to our community for your continued support of Music at Kingsmead.
We are grateful to our committed and exceptional team of Music teachers who nurture, encourage and grow our young musicians.
There’s something very special about Music Education. It can light a fire that can never be extinguished. It can open a door that can never be closed. It can forge a path of perpetual growth and comfort. Music Education is like no other, and it is for the benefit of us all. ~ Vaughan Fleischfresser
Elsabé Fourie
Director of Arts & Music
efourie@kingsmead.co.za
Sports
The Netball Season is off to a Flying Start!
The netball season began with one goal after the other as our girls took to the courts with determination and passion. Our first matches were played on Friday, 14 March, against St Teresa’s. The Grade 4 and 5 teams played away at St Teresa’s, while the Grade 6 and 7 teams competed on home ground at Kingsmead. Our teams put in outstanding performances, securing victories in most of the matches.
On Saturday, 29 March, we continued our strong start with matches against St Mary’s Waverley and Roedean. The Grade 4 and 5 teams played at Roedean, while the Grade 6 and 7 teams faced off against their opponents at St Mary’s. Our girls played their hearts out and once again delivered fantastic results:
Grade 4 Results:
• 4A: Won 10-3 vs. St Mary’s | Won 5-1 vs. Roedean
• 4B: Lost 2-1 vs. St Mary’s | Won 6-1 vs. Roedean
• 4C: Won 7-0 vs. St Mary’s | Won 19-0 vs. Roedean
• 4D: Won 7-2 vs. St Mary’s | Won 6-1 vs. Roedean
• 4E: Won 8-4 vs. St Mary’s | Won 6-1 vs. Roedean
Grade 5 Results:
• 5A: Lost 5-4 vs. St Mary’s | Draw 2-2 vs. Roedean
• 5B: Won 7-0 vs. St Mary’s | Lost 4-2 vs. Roedean
• 5C: Won 2-1 vs. St Mary’s | Won 3-0 vs. Roedean
• 5D: Draw 0-0 vs. St Mary’s | Won 2-0 vs. Roedean
• 5E: Lost 3-0 vs. St Mary’s | Draw 1-1 vs. Roedean
• 5F: Draw 0-0 vs. St Mary’s | Won 2-1 vs. Roedean
Grade 6 Results:
• 6A: Draw 6-6 vs. St Mary’s | Won 5-3 vs. Roedean
• 6B: Won 4-3 vs. St Mary’s | Won 6-4 vs. Roedean
• 6C: Won 12-0 vs. St Mary’s | Draw 3-3 vs. Roedean
• 6D: Won 7-4 vs. St Mary’s | Lost 1-4 vs. Roedean
• 6E: Draw 1-1 vs. St Mary’s | Won 4-1 vs. Roedean
Grade 7 Results:
• 7A: Lost 6-8 vs. St Mary’s | Won 9-0 vs. Roedean
• 7B: Lost 2-5 vs. St Mary’s | Lost 1-4 vs. Roedean
• 7C: Draw 4-4 vs. St Mary’s | Won 7-1 vs. Roedean
• 7D: Lost 1-3 vs. St Mary’s | Won 9-1 vs. Roedean
• 7E: Lost 1-5 vs. St Mary’s | Draw 6-6 vs. Roedean
We are incredibly proud of all our netball players for their dedication and teamwork. A heartfelt thank you to our parents for their unwavering support and our coaches for their commitment to developing our teams.
As we head into the holidays, we look forward to resuming our fixtures on Friday, 9 May. The Grade 4 and 5 teams will play at Kingsmead while the Grade 6 and 7 teams will play away at Assumption.
A special mention to our Grade 5, 6, and 7 girls who will be participating in the Saints Sports Festival from 3-5 April. We wish them the best of luck – play hard and enjoy the experience!
Netball is more than just a game – it’s teamwork, dedication, passion and a whole lot of heart. – Coach Annie
St Stithians Sports Festival
Wishing all the students participating in the St Stithians Sports Festival the best of luck! Go out, have fun, and fly the Kingsmead flag high! Please refer to the live calendar on the Kingsmead App for the fixtures.
Club Diving
Congratulations to Ishvara Skosana and Amahle Mbele for their recent achievements at the Central Gauteng Aquatic (CGA) Diving Championships which took place on 15 March 2025. Their results were as follows:
Ishvara Skosana
– Elite Group D 1M: First
– Elite Group D 3M: Second
– Elite Group C 3M Synchro: Second
Amahle Mbele
– Elite Group D 1M: Ninth
– Elite Group D 3M: Fourth
– Elite Group C 3M Synchro: Fifth
Keep up the great work Ishvara & Amahle! We are extremely proud of you.
Karate
Congratulations to Amelia Southey for participating in the JKA karate trials. Amelia won 2 gold medals (1 for Kata and 1 for Kumite). She has also been selected for the Gauteng team and will be participating in Nationals in May. Well done, Amelia!
Archery
We are thrilled to celebrate Morgan Chen-Heyneke’s outstanding achievements in archery! On 15 March she competed at the Tuks Archery Championships, where she secured a Gold medal in the Recurve Girls Under 13 category after a challenging elimination round.
This past weekend (March 29-30), Morgan showcased her skills at the Stuart Gates Archery Tournament in Durban, once again earning Gold in the Recurve Girls Under 13 category. Notably, she ranked 2nd overall across all categories after an intense elimination process and faced off against a South African Archery Olympian in the finals, where she finished as the runner-up.
Morgan is set to compete at the 75th Outdoor Archery Nationals this weekend (April 4-6).
We are incredibly proud of Morgan and her remarkable accomplishments!
Term 2A Extra-Curricular Schedule
Please be advised that the Term 2A extra-curricular schedule will undergo minor adjustments in preparation for the upcoming hockey season. We will be incorporating an additional weekly hockey session during the pre-season. It is crucial for the hockey players to participate in this session to ensure that our teams are adequately prepared. Participants are required to have shin pads and a gum guard for these sessions, as safety remains our top priority. While we do have spare hockey sticks available for students who do not have their own yet, it is recommended that students have their own sticks for fixtures. Once the netball season concludes, hockey sessions will be shifted to the current netball sessions for Term 2B (where possible). Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we make these necessary arrangements.
Upcoming Events
3 – 5 April: St Stithian’s Sports Festival
Tennis – Top 6 players
Squash – Top 4 players
Netball – Grade 5A, 6A & 7A
9 May: Grade 4 – 7 Netball Fixture
Grade 4 & 5 – Kingsmead, Grade 6 & 7 – Assumption
A few reminders for parents & guardians:
1. Please send any sports achievements (school & non-school) to Mrs Hanekom.
2. A reminder to please download the Kingsmead app as this will be the direct method of communication to parents on sports fixture days.
3. 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
Library News
It is so gratifying to see the increased number of students taking books out. Grade 2A and 3B are slugging it out to earn the Bookworms of the Month Jar, with ONE book difference between them!
As soon as new books come in, they are snapped up.
The Adopt-A-Shelf initiative continues to be popular with the Grade 2s booking shelves until May 24! Such excitement about reading warms my heart.
We had a few Reading Challenges happening this term. These included…
30 minutes a day for 30 days
Georgia 3L
Hannah 3B
Emma Abdo 6Z2
Mieke Pretorius 6Y2
Saliha Moosa 6X2
Imaan Bham 6Y1
30 day Reading Challenge (read in different places)
Riley x2 3B
Alisha 3B
Leocadia 3B
Sophie 3B
Joline 3B
Shivani Lakha x2 4Y
Teya x 2
Chloë
Advika x 2
Valentina
Liyana A Grade 2A
Shifaali Lakha 2A
Nala Mazibuko 4X
Zahraa Khalpey 4X
Amari Mangwedi
Mia P
Read More Challenge (challenge is to read 20 chapter books)
Mia Pretorius 3B
Liyana Angamia 2A
Advika Lunawat
The above students are true bookworms and received a small “prize” for their efforts.
Well done!
With one week left of the term, please encourage your daughters to keep reading every day. The benefits are priceless…
Have a beautiful, restful holiday…with a book in your hand.
Mrs Glenda Cressy
Junior School Easter Egg Collection
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to each and every one of you who donated Easter eggs for the Johannesburg Mini Council initiative.
Kingsmead Junior School collected 470 boxes of Easter eggs! Our Joburg Mini Councillors, Madison Brady and Keodirelang Maqubela injected a bit of fun with this collection and initiated a competition between the grades. Although the competition was very close, Grade 1 brought in the most boxes and enjoyed a civvies day!
These eggs were given to numerous charities across Gauteng which included, Save the Children, One Cross Ministry, the Teddy Bear Clinic and Feed SA. Madison and Keodirelang, worked tirelessly with the other mini councillors sorting out and distributing all of these eggs last Wednesday. Well done to everyone and Happy Easter!
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.
