The GREEN issue! · treated to a roller-skate display at the Clifton Assembly, before heading off to “Wet ‘n Wild” for a morning of fun on the water-slides. On Saturday morning

The Ridge School

HORiZONSNo. 09 MARCH 2013

FROM THE EDiTORDespite the month of February being a short month, we have managed to schedule numerous events at the school. We have had a cricket tour, grade tours, a visit by a sporting hero, not to mention the countless sporting activities that have been taking place. The boys have definitely started the year with a bang and have embraced it with great enthusiasm.

In this month’s issue you can catch up on some of the events that have taken place so far. Read about the recycling initiative that the school is working on; both the junior and senior school are actively involved. You can also get to know some our new members of staff who started working at The Ridge in January; a warm welcome to them and we wish them all a successful stay at The Ridge. There are other articles in this issue that will enlighten you as to what has been happening at the school.

The half term break was a welcome one. Everyone is now rested and ready for the next half term, which, I am sure, is going to be just as eventful.

Urvasi Naidoo

FROM THE HEADMASTERThe concept of Emotional Intelligence is now well known and well accepted as a key determinant of success in life. The graphic to the left captures how school has to be so much more than a focus on passing academic tests, though we are rather keen that the boys can do that too!

By adopting a theme for the year, we are hoping that we can create a shared language which we can use in class and in assemblies to introduce and reinforce important values. Last year we introduced the 16 Habits of the Mind, and these are so important we continue to make reference to them. The one that boys are most often reminded of is – no surprises here: “managing impulsivity”!

HORiZONS Private Bag X10 Parkview, 212 2

26 Woolston Road, Westcliff, Johannesburg

Telephone (011) 481 580 0

Fax 086 299 1964

Website www.ridgeschool.co. za

Email [email protected]

The GREEN issue!

At a recent PA meeting I was asked to share some of our assemblies with you so the following is intended as a very brief synopsis. This year as our theme we have the “8 Habits of the Heart”, all of which are listed below. We will look at a couple of these habits each term. So far, we have introduced “a nurturing attitude” and “dependability. In introducing the first habit, I made reference to that lovely African proverb, “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together”. I used the won-derful clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_Lax4zFFoA which is taken from Sports Illustrated Sportskids of the year 2012. It shows how one advantaged brother took great care of his less advan-taged brother, and I discussed with the boys the “nurturing attitude” that goes with being a caring brother, son or grandson.

Mandy Herold gave a really super assembly last Friday on “dependability” in which she showed the dif-ference that hot water has on pumpkin, coffee and an egg. She illustrated how the same circumstances provoke different reactions in different people, and that the coffee bean did best because it changed the environment around it! You can surely depend on positive people who can change the world around them for the better.

Various other assemblies have taken place around these two habits of the heart but I can’t detail them all. Fresh in the mind is the one this morning by one of our new sirs, Daniel McLachlan. He used the Bruno Mars song, “You can count on me” as an explanation of dependability and then outlined the “Journey” undertaken at St Alban’s in which the boys have to know they can depend on one another.

I do hope that our choice of themes and assemblies is enriching for the boys, and I encourage you to talk about these habits of heart and mind at home.

Paul Channon

8 Habits of the HeartNurturing Attitude

DependabilityResponsibility

FriendshipBrotherhood

High expectationsCourageHope

GRADE 6 GARDENiNGThe Grade 6s are studying photosynthesis and plant structures in their Natural Science les-sons. To aid them in their exploration of these topics, we have planted a vegetable garden on site. Each class has planted a different veg-etable (maize, cabbage and Hubbard squash). The boys worked hard to prepare the garden and have watched eagerly as the seeds have sprouted. Weeding and the biological control of pests are problematic and we will try different methods in order to control these challenges. Hopefully, the crop will be a good one and we will be able to donate the harvest to a feeding scheme in the community, at the end of the season.

Brett Greensill

CLiFTON CRiCKET TOURTake 88 energetic and excited Prep school boys, 172 pieces of luggage and load them on to two Boe-ings. Even James Bond would call it outrageous or mission impossible. But nothing was too much for the nine Ridge staff taking these boys on the cricket tour to Clifton Prep School. For many of the boys it was their first school sports tour, particularly for the under 10 and 11 cricketers. While most of the boys had travelled by aeroplane before, this one was special, as it was one with ALL their mates.

After a morning of lessons, we were off to OR Tambo International Airport on a luxury bus. The check in and boarding procedure ran relatively smoothly, taking only two and a half hours to get all the boys and staff, with their 172 pieces of luggage through security and onto the Boeing. Arrival at King Shaka Airport was followed by another bus trip to Clifton Prep where the boys met their hosts for the weekend. The tour was now well underway and a reality for the boys who had so anxiously been awaiting this trip. Friday morning heralded the beginning of the business of the tour for the senior boys, as they headed off to their various match venues for their matches against Clifton. The under 10 and 11 boys were treated to a roller-skate display at the Clifton Assembly, before heading off to “Wet ‘n Wild” for a morning of fun on the water-slides. On Saturday morning it was the turn of the younger boys to display their talent on the cricket field. It was a very productive morning, as all the junior teams did very well on the day. While the senior boys headed off to the airport on the earlier flight, the younger ones took the opportunity to have a last dip in the swimming pool before donning their blues and heading for King Shaka Airport. The boys enjoyed their cricket matches; made new friends and also got opportunity to see a bit of Durban.



Telephone (011) 481 580 0

Fax 086 299 1964





Telephone (011) 481 580 0

Fax 086 299 1964



After retrieving some lost luggage, a quick stop at “Sweets from Heaven” for the boys and a delayed flight, we were finally on the flight back home. Credit must go to Mr Du Preez for his arrangements; as well as to all the staff members who accompanied the boys on the tour which was very successful.

Wayne Stuurman.

ALL THiNGS GREEN & RECYCLED2013 is already proving to be a busy and productive year. The re-cycling committee has put together a vigorous programme for ensuring that the school is actively driving a programme that aims to reduce, re-use or recycle materials from within and outside the school. The school appointed Enviro-serve as a service provider for all our recycling waste material in 2012. With that, came the challenge of defining what, in terms of the school, constitutes waste. The 2012 recycling committee did a survey to establish what the school generated in terms of waste and where the waste came from. It was concluded that paper, waste products from kitchen and lunch boxes accounted for more than 3/5 of the waste gener-ated at the school.

The present committee then went on to devise a plan as to how to deal with this waste material. Firstly, printing is to be kept to a bare minimum; electronic correspondence, such as emails and com-puter labs, will be used wherever possible, to minimize the use of paper. The waste generated by the kitchen will be used to make compost by using Bokashi bins. The Bokashi bins have been purchased and the Grade 4 team will take ownership of the project, beginning after half term. The black metal bins will be modified, so as to reflect the colour of the waste material in which it can be deposited. The modification will be limited to the tops only and we will use different colour refuse plastic bags, (in line with our recycling colours), to indicate which waste is to be deposited into which bin.

The recycling sub-stations are being rebranded to blend into the look and feel of the school. The bulk station is now the recycling village, with a flower bed making it more appealing to the eye.The Grades 5s are collecting bottle tops as part of their recycling contribution – art collaboration; they intend designing a mobile mosaic for school, using the bottle tops. The Grade 6 vegetable garden looks just about ready to harvest; all proceeds from the patch will be donated to a worthy cause. The junior school has a vegetable patch, worm farm and a compost heap to keep their little green fingers occupied as well. 2013 looks set to be an awesomely green year, with less carbon emission but more initiatives on being green. Everyone at The Ridge is actively taking part. So join in the fun and let’s make sure that all things at the school stay green and recycled.

Moeketsi Motsepe

GRADE 4 ViSiT TO SCi-BONOWhile some boys thought they were getting out of school by going on cricket tour to Natal, those who didn’t go on tour thought they were going to have to attend lessons. However, they were treated to a wonderful morning at the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre. This is the most amazing place for anyone who has any interest in Science. It answers all your questions about how things work, what makes things happen and why certain things react in the way they do.

The morning started with the boys pitting some of their soccer skills against the clock, whilst working out optimum speeds and angles. Then it was off to



Telephone (011) 481 580 0

Fax 086 299 1964



assist on a Murray and Roberts ‘building site’, where they competed in teams to build a wall as fast as they could. Later, it was with Prof, who inspired the boys with some exciting and enthralling chemistry experiments. (If your kitchen disappears under a growing foam fountain, Prof is the chap to blame!) The rest of the morning was spent rushing from floor to floor with enormous energy and enthusiasm, trying all the interactive equipment that help to explain so many fascinating scientific principles.

It was a busy and exciting day for the boys and after that, who would want to go on a cricket tour?

Erica Kinnear

WELCOME NiCCi KURZ

I’ve been teaching formally for thirteen years, but I’ve taught adults and children about art for close on 18 years now. When I was young I thought, “I’d like to be an investigator when I grow up” and teach-ing just crept up on me. All my training and my interests pointed me in that direction and I decided to explore teaching as a career. The one thing that I really enjoy about teaching young people is that I have the privilege of opening minds. I love the exchange of ideas and knowledge between teacher and student and I am learning from them just as much as they are from me. I think art is an important part of the curriculum because the arts expand our world view. Art helps us to think laterally and to problem solve. It promotes intense and detailed observation, sensory exploration, prolonged concentration, experimentation, imagination, fantasy, analysis and synthesis. The brain is exercised in a way that no other school subject, or form of play, can do. In my spare time I enjoy cooking for friends - it’s simply another form of art. I also enjoy messing about with my girls 9 and 7 years old, visiting galleries and museums; any time and everywhere, and at any given opportunity, long road trips!

FAREWELL TO MR DHLOMOMr Sipho Dhlomo, our dynamic isiZulu teacher will be leaving us at the end of the first term. He has decided to take on new challenges at St Stithians Girls’ College, where he will be head of the Zulu department, and his daughter Bongi will be joining him in Grade 8 next year.

UMnumzane, Sips, ‘Mnuzane, and Mr D as he is fondly known as, has been at The Ridge School since



Telephone (011) 481 580 0

Fax 086 299 1964



1996, when he joined us from Wits, having just completed his degree in teaching. Sipho is loved by all who know him - from the JP soccer boys who have been coached by him, to the cricket second team. He is head of Cheales House and a compassionate master in the boarding house. Many of the boys in Grade 7 have said that they enjoyed his fun-filled lessons and his entertaining sense of humour; they also admired his commitment to his sport teams. Sipho is a passionate and enthusiastic Zulu teacher and he will be missed at The Ridge. He leaves behind a great legacy, one of them being “African Fire-side Tales”, which will be presented in March, before he leaves. Mnumzane, you are irreplaceable and we will certainly miss you. We wish you all the best for your new chapter at St. Stithians.

Shannon Rowlings

HOT LUNCH NEWSThe Ridge School is known for nurturing healthy minds through its outstanding academic programs and we are known for nurturing healthy bodies through our superb sporting programs. The kitchen also (together with its catering team) aims to complement this ‘nurturing of mind and body’ through its Healthy Eating policy.

South Africa is facing a challenge with regard to children’s nutrition. The findings of a recent research study (conducted by Nestlé to map out the South African nutritional landscape) found that key health contributors such as water, fruit and vegetables are lacking in children’s diets and that consumption patterns need to in-crease to ensure a healthier next generation. The study also noted that childrens’ perceptions of what they are consuming, often differ with what they actually consume.

Throughout 2012, we have spent time reviewing various aspects of our Hot Lunch offering. Engaging with con-sulting company C E Agency, members of the school community were invited to provide feedback on the Hot Lunch service while the quality and range of food on offer was reviewed by an independent nutritionist.

Some of the findings included:• The boys appear to eat healthy and varied meals at home comprising mainly chicken and fish.• Further, the great majority of boys appear to include vegetables, salads and fruit as part of the daily diets

(although parents who assisted with completing the survey indicate that they sometimes struggle to get their boys to eat them.)

• Home menus are varied and interesting – food ranges include curries, wraps, sushi, along with the stand-ards of roast chicken and pasta, amongst others.

• The majority of boys believe they eat a balanced and healthy diet, although some indicated their diet was poor.

The feedback from this review has been used to shape and refine our Healthy Eating policy going forward and we were excited to implement changes to our Hot Lunch menu, beginning in late February. So far, the re-sponse from the boys has been unanimously positive!

The HORiZONS Team

OLD BOY’S NEWS

Paul Potter (1982) commented “The best school years of my life were at the Ridge!!”

Alaric Jake Taylor (1983) “Would love to know where some of my old prep school friends are now.” His email address is [email protected]

Kit Howard-Philp (1984) writes “Since last writing, which seems like an age ago, I think I was still serv-ing in the Coldstream Guards, a unique British infantry regiment. After 11 very happy years travelling and soldiering in many different theatres of operations I transferred to the Australian Army and served with the Special Operations Command for six years. The normal tours of duty to Afghanistan came and went and finally I decided to move on. This time to the United Arab Emirates where I have spent the last five years training young military officers to be leaders of the future. More recently i have moved onto a new adventure and now work for a Marine Convoy Protection company also based in the UAE. As time has moved on I have no further contact with my fellow classmates from The Ridge, partly owing to the fact I went to England for senior school. Anyhow heaps of happy memories. I’d be intrigued to hear any news from those who left in 84.”

Kgomotso Selebogo (2002) contacted Ridge,saying “It’s so good to be part of the old boys. I really had an awesome time at The Ridge. Thanks for providing me with the foundation to be the best per-son I can be.”

Oli and Rob Steadman (leavers in 2000 and 2003 respectively) play bass and drums in the UK rock band Stornoway. Their first album, “Beachcomber’s Windowsill”, sold 75,000 copies in the UK and led them to tour in Australia, USA, Europe and UK. A second album is being released this March 11th, called “Tales From Terra Firma”, and is already available through iTunes. They recently played two con-secutive sold out nights in the Town Hall in Oxford, where the band is based - and one of the guests at these shows was none other than Oli’s Grade 0 teacher Mrs Di Arthur! They hope to come to SA on tour later this year, if the album sells enough copies there.

Brady Rothschild’s (2006) father, Lance, wrote to Mr Channon, “As you know, Brady is at University in St.Charles, Missouri. As part of his curriculum, he had to give a formal presentation. It warmed my heart to see his BlackBerry status proudly proclaim that he is wearing his Ridge Old Boy’s tie. This gives rise to an idea that could play out on Facebook. “Where did you wear your Ridge Old Boys tie?”

I would be fascinated to see the answers”

Brady himself lifted our spirits by writing “The Ridge left me with Knowledge that I can still use and will still use for the rest of my life. In My opinion, The Ridge is the best primary school in South Africa.”

ENGAGEMENTOur congratulations go to Tari Papavarnavas (1999) and Nitsa Theodorides were engaged on Friday 21 December 2012

NEWS FROM SCHOOLSWe are dependent on the news we receive from Boys’ Colleges. Our thanks go to the schools who keep us updated so regularly on our past pupils; we are always interested to get news about our boys at their new schools.

Paul Guthrie, Director of Marketing at Hilton College sent us news of our old boys:

“It is always a pleasure to see how well boys from The Ridge School have done at Hilton College. It



Telephone (011) 481 580 0

Fax 086 299 1964



gives me great pleasure to inform you that:

Oliver Antonie was awarded Half Colours for Water Polo. He was selected for the 1st Water Polo Team and as a non-travelling reserve for the KwaZulu-Natal U19B Water Polo Team.

Nicholas Loxton came tie 2nd in Grade 10 in the National Life Science Olympiad.

Matthew Mackenzie was awarded a Certificate of Merit for Water Polo. He was selected for the U15A Water Polo Team and the U15A KwaZulu-Natal Water Polo Team.

Brian Pfaff was awarded Honours for Cricket.

Daniel Roy was selected for the 1st Cricket Team.

Thato Sekonya was awarded the Crookes Book Prize. This is awarded to a boy who has shown great interest in the Estate and who has involved himself in a wide variety of Estate Activities.

Ross Yammin was selected for the U15A Cricket Team.

Hilton has been fortunate to receive talented boys from The Ridge School and their achievements reflect well upon both of our schools. I trust that this strong relationship between our schools will continue to flourish.”

PREFECT WATCH!Ridge Old Boys - Class of 2008, Prefects of 2013

MichaelhouseChristopher Whiting Prefect – West House Matthew Joubert Prefect – Pascoe HouseJabulane Magubane Prefect – Pascoe HouseKyle Pyne-James Prefect – Pascoe HouseConnor Grealy Prefect – Mackenzie House

St Andrew’s CollegeStuart Stopforth Deputy Head of House - Upper

St Alban’s College Daniel Coughlan Deputy Head of MacRobert House St John’s College - HarrowAndrew Turner Prefect and Head of Newlands HouseToa

We would love to hear your news and also keep you updated about developments at The Ridge. Please take a moment to update your contact details and give us your news on the attached form, which can be emailed to Susie Thompson at [email protected].

The Ridge School Old Boys’ Information Update SheetIf your contact details have changed recently and/or you have any news you would like to share, please complete this form and return it to us. Most importantly, please supply us with your email address, as this is the form of communication we will be using.

Surname:

First Names:

Years attended The Ridge School: From: To:

School House:

Postal Address:

Postal Code:

Tel (Home): Work:

Cell:

Email Address:

Any news/information for the Old Boys’ News for our school magazine, “Horizons”:

Email to: [email protected]

Post to: Mrs S Thompson The Ridge School Private Bag X 10 Parkview 2122

Documents

The GREEN issue! · treated to a roller-skate display at the Clifton Assembly, before heading off to “Wet ‘n Wild” for a morning of fun on the water-slides. On Saturday morning