Dear Parents, Grandparents and Guardians
An outstanding week
The College grounds were pristine on Saturday and some of our teams, including basketball and cricket first teams (in both the Prep and Senior School) defended their territory in impressive style. On the basketball court, Einstein’s theory of relativity was proven correct – where I measured that eleven seconds on a basketball court can last just over two minutes. Perhaps some of the great team and individual performances, including at least three centuries, were inspired by an incredible Sports Awards Evening on Friday night, which was an outstanding first for the College and an incredible celebration of Senior School Sport for 2026.
Academic time victory in the Senior School
The main ingredient required for tackling a curriculum that expects you to actually understand what you study is time. Using modelling with our AI partner, Equitas, we have been able to remodel the timetable for next year to significantly benefit the boys and the staff of the College.
Time has literally been folded, taking the timetable from six to five lines for Forms 5 and 6 boys going forward. This gives an extra period per week for their three elected subjects – a staggering term-and-a-half of extra teaching time per subject over the two senior years. More time means less pressure, deeper understanding, and stronger preparation for examinations – and that is phenomenally good news for everyone.
Today is a special day
The Matric boys will today take their last walk together down Harwin Road to the Coach House to meet parents, ring the bell, receive their testimonials and be inducted into the Old Boys Association of the College. The purple carpet and the reality of these final moments will no doubt stir up many emotions as we accept that time proceeds regardless of how we use it. It is a moment to commit to holding the days we are given in higher regard.
Day 36
I can now swim a km comfortably, and today that happened at 5 am which is an unnatural pattern for me. I will be donating the 3 kg of fat I have burned to charity this week so that it never comes back. Someone crazy I know has suggested the Capital K at Midmar on November 22 - and I don’t have an excuse, but I don’t think I should be doing this on my own – please look out for a special reduced fee for Parents and Old Boys of the College and their direct family members to take the plunge and start a path towards healthier living. Remember, it’s not really suffering when the water is 26,5 degrees.
The quiet before the storm
The days seem strangely quiet as we head for elections. I sense that political parties that don’t get the work done are finding it hard to articulate their cases as ordinary people assess the future and simply expect better. We are fortunate that outside of the systems humans’ design, there is a place of shelter and refuge where real help comes from. Today, and this week, that’s where I will be.
“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” PSALMS 91:1-2
Yours Faithfully
Allen van Blerk
PRINCIPAL