Letter to Knoll House Start of 2019

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 Private Bag X01
www.stalbanscollege.com Lynnwood Ridge
Email: [email protected] 0040
South Africa
David Mukhari
Knoll Housemaster

Dear Parent!

2018 was an outstanding year for which your son is to be commended for his
perseverance, input and contribution. The brotherhood in Knoll house is slowly taking
shape, which in 2018 manifested into a rich environment that promotes quality through
the emergence of participative, engaging and output – driven young men. Sustaining
such standards hinges on a collaborative effort and partnership between our
leadership team of prefects, house management of tutors, boys of Knoll and parents
in our community. To this end, we aspire to challenge boys to greater heights. By
shaking them out of their comfort zones, and by setting higher goals, we anticipate
independent thinking and problem – solving attitudes in boys displayed on a consistent
basis.

So, what have been some of our highlights in 2018?

Academically, as many as 54 out of 89 boys averaged above 70% by the start of the
third term. The Form 3s of 2018 have amassed a whopping 15 out 19 boys on House
and School Positive. Since their arrival in grade 8, the current crop of Form 2s have seen
their collective average improve from 67% to 72%, and their diligence from 3.2786 to
3.57. The Form 1s of 2018 have collectively improved from a 64% to a 70% average,
and a group diligence from 3.2 to 3.5 in the third term from the start of the year. The
above statistics are some of the indicators by which we will measure our strategies
mentioned above. It’s risky, but worthwhile undertaking.

In the Inter - house competition category, the overall winners of the Spirit House trophy
competition was determined from the Swimming gala and Cultural Week. Knoll house
shared joint 1st position with MacRobert House in this category, an achievement which
speaks to the “gees” the boys continue to display in the house and around the school.
We are a highly energetic and exuberant boarding house, which bodes well to
sections of our development and transformative outlook.

Having achieved 3rd position over the last 5 – 7 years in the Todd House trophy
competition, this year was different. The boys stretched themselves and throughout
the whole year strategized better. This finally culminated in an overall 2nd position in
the Todd House trophy competition. It was pleasing upending Murray House in this
section.

It takes a school with vision to prepare a young man for life

On leadership, thus far, 9 out of 32 sets of Honours Awarded around the whole school
came from Knoll house boys. They include the following:

Max Berry – Scholarship
Nick Boutoulas - Rowing
Luke Teixeira - Rugby and Leadership
Phathu Maswanganyi - Athletics
Aidan Ridgway - Rugby
Jean Tognia - Basketball
Warwick Purchase - Golf
Yangeni Saidi - Public Speaking

This is the most sets of Honours awarded in 2018 out of any house.

Furthermore, the leadership of 2019 set the bar higher. For 2019, an overall 21 portfolios
were allocated to Grade 11’s around the school, of which our grade 11s in Knoll
managed six of those appointments. The appointment of portfolio holders is school-
centered, where both the interview and actual appointments are completed at the
top levels and structures of the school. The following are Knoll House school portfolio
holders and College prefects for 2018/2019:

Andiswa Mufumadi - Head of House; College Prefect
Luyanda Mpafa – Being and Belonging; Dep Head of House,

Tumi Mateletele College Prefect
Sahil Govind - Corporate Social Responsibility, College Prefect
Onthathile Tladinyane - Speaker of Parliament, College Prefect
Phathu Maswanganyi - Public Relations, College Prefect
- Sports Portfolio, College Prefect

I commend the Knoll community for all the accolades and achievements produced
in 2018 by the boys. Notwithstanding, to any measure of success, there remains the
danger to develop a blind spot. Sometimes, in a pool of success, we may neglect boys
in the lower – end of the spectrum, boys that struggle, boys that hide in the corners,
and most importantly, boys that are unhappy. We need to guard against the
characterization of ourselves as a house on the basis of the top – end achievers alone.
If this is the perception, it needs to change.

Re – inventing the wheel behind momentum gathered is sometimes a risky
undertaking. Alternatively, there can be no other way forward for Knoll if boys
considered to linger on the sidelines are deprived of opportunities under the spotlight.
In this regard, some inroads have been made. While there have been observable
improvements across a number of facets where Knoll boys stretched themselves from
diminished levels to higher standards in academics, cultural participation and sports
activities, we want to sustain and upscale these levels through the establishment of
active, supportive structures. These structures include mandatory, weekly mentorship
structures. It’s a vertical system comprising of a small grouping of boys between
Grades 8 to Grade 12, headed by a senior, and meeting every Thursday evening to
action and evaluate house strategies. In the past, boys have often found a voice
through such focused groupings. We look forward to its upside and results.

It takes a school with vision to prepare a young man for life

2019 has got off to a rigorous start and the new boys have hit the ground running. The
prefects will returned on the 12th of January, and the new boy’s camp has come and
gone. This is followed by the Inter – house swimming gala on the 18th of January. On
the 20th of January, there will be an outing to Sun City for all boys. In order to avoid a
number of payment - related setbacks around this trip as we did last year, I’ll send a
reminder regarding costs with the hope that payments are settled timeously. Lastly, we
will have our Family Night on the 27th of January, which is combined with The Mentor
Rookie Function, is compulsory for all boys. I would like as many of you parents as
possible to attend. One of the Knoll House staff will be performing that evening……that
I promise (I hope this doesn’t chase you away).
Last but not least, Mr Oldnall, as you may all know, takes leave of us and undertakes a
Housemaster position at PBHS as from 2019. He has served the house with sagacity,
and will be missed. We wish him all the best in his new post. Mr Justin Brits will take over
as Deputy in Knoll, and I look forward to working with him. Already, he has been to roll
call and started in his role through presenting his approach, which the boys appear to
support.
Once again, thank you for all your contribution this year. Enjoy the festive season, and
see you next year!

Regards
David Mukhari
Knoll Housemaster

It takes a school with vision to prepare a young man for life