2023 - Focus on Independent Schools in KZN Digimag

2023

Focus on Independent schools In KZn

2023 Focus on Independent schools In KZn

Focus on Independent schools In KZn

Al-FAlAAh College

AL-FALAAH College is making waves in the education sector with its commitment to provide a holistic education infused with Islamic values. The school, which caters for Grades 00-12, aims to nurture and develop the capacity for independent and critical thinking, provide learning experiences that advance the holistic development of the learner, cultivate leadership skills and a passion to serve humanity, and promote technologically-advanced and innovative teaching methodologies.

At Al-Falaah College, our vision is to inspire excellence in all our endeavours. We aim to nurture leaders whose actions are guided by the Qur’an and Sunnah, and to provide a learning environment where students can develop holistically, especially academically and spiritually.

This approach to education has clearly paid off, as the school’s recent Matric results demonstrate. Al- Falaah College produced the Joint Top Matric learner in South Africa, Husnaa Haffejee. This accolade comes just seven years after Al-Falaah was ranked the Best Performing School in South Africa. The school also maintained its enviable record of a 100% pass rate since inception, with a 100% Bachelor pass rate and 3.36 Distinctions per learner. This performance secured Al-Falaah College a place among the Top 5 performing schools in South Africa for 2022.

Through our holistic education programme, supported by a team of passionate, qualified and experienced educators, Al-Falaah College presents our learners with an opportunity to excel in all aspects of their development. The school’s commitment to promoting independent and critical thinking, as well as its focus on Islamic values, has had a profound impact, and will (God Willing) continue to shape our future leaders.

In conclusion, Al-Falaah College is an example of what is possible when education is approached with a commitment to excellence, a focus on holistic development, and a deep appreciation for the importance of Islamic values. The school’s recent Matric results are a testament to the impact that this approach can have, and we can expect to see many greater things from Al-Falaah College in the years to come.

DurbAn ChristiAn Centre sChool

DurBAn Christian Centre School is a safe, faith-based environment of academic excellence.

For over 23 years, we have produced intelligent and wellrounded learners who make an impact in society. With fully air-conditioned classrooms, jungle gyms, AstroTurf, new LeD Smartboards and qualified teachers, your child gets the best learning experience.

From two years old, your child is welcomed, nurtured, and motivated as they progress onto the foundation phase and senior phases. A diverse range of sports such as netball, soccer, cricket, swimming, athletics, table tennis, golf and Active Kids ensure that youngsters develop physical skills beyond the academic sphere.

This year, we will host an art exhibition and our very own production, Dream Quest, in which our learners showcase their drama skills. We offer a holistic learning experience through extra-curricular activities including chess, dance, art, pottery and more. Our aftercare programme ensures you can rest easy knowing your child is well taken care of throughout the day.

Our online high school is the perfect environment to equip learners for the working world as they become digitally inclined and independent. They are assisted by our committed teachers – in all subject areas –who have nurtured and produced students placing in the Top 5 in South Africa in the IeB examinations.

Our Alumni have gone on to excel at high school level and beyond, many with distinctions, and some pursuing studies in medicine and actuarial science. Joining the DCC School family is an investment in your child’s future.

Go on a tour of School on our Open Day – Wednesday, 22 February at 3pm – and enrol your child and be a part of raising a Godly Generation.

ePWorth sChool

THIS year, epworth School, which was founded in 1898, has much to celebrate. We have a proud, 125-year history behind us and a progressive future ahead of us. Our school and its activities are firmly guided by our motto of Fida (Faith) Humana (Compassion) Fortis (Courage) and our moral compass is set by the spiritual qualities embedded in our Christian faith.

Authenticity is central to all our pursuits, and we strive to promote an ethos of “true to who we are”. We encourage a journey of discovery centred on personal excellence, whether it be in the classroom, on the stage or out on the sports field. We believe strongly in co-education for younger pupils and passionately about the benefits, particularly to girls, of single-sex education in high school.

In our preparatory school, girls and boys from Grades rrr to 7 benefit from a nurturing atmosphere that encourages learning through positive affirmation. We focus on creating an environment that allows children to be children, whilst developing and celebrating their individual talents.

Day scholars and boarders are part of our high school community that provides an inclusive environment that equips young women to lead lives of significance. A balance of tradition with contemporary layers ensure that our pupils are challenged and nurtured to develop a love of growth and learning. Our pupils are confident, ethical leaders with a strong sense of belonging.

Our Core Focus Areas

Developing sound Islamic values and character in our young learners while entrenching respect and tolerance for all.

Empowering learners with 21st century skills to become leaders in the community and nation

Striving for excellence in holistic education in the academic, sporting, cultural and spiritual domains

While Orient Islamic School is a school with an Islamic ethos, applications are invited from learners of all faiths

highburY PrePArAtorY sChool

HIGHBury has a wonderful tradition of holistic boys’ preparatory education – our school has a long history that has stood the test of time since 1903. Our staff work ardently to create the widest variety of learning experiences that develop our boys into balanced and wholesome young men who have strong morals and are able to face challenges with creativity, integrity and tenacity.

Being an Independent school, we have the freedom to create a curriculum that is flexible and tailor made to appeal to the adventurous and curious nature of our boys. Highbury values a holistic approach to education and this means a healthy balance of classroom academics, cultural activities and sport. Our cultural activities include art and design lessons, drama and class music, along with opportunities for individual music lessons in a variety of instruments: djembe drumming, marimba groups and our school orchestra.

Highbury boys love to sing and the surrounding streets reverberate at 07h30 every day with the beautiful melody of our boys singing during the daily morning Chapel service. Again, our independence enables us to embrace the Christian faith which we hold as a central thread throughout all we do. entwined with our academics, cultural activities, and Christian ethos, is a passion for sport.

Highbury offers a full sporting programme where we compete against the strongest local schools and in the top national sports festivals. Our boys develop strong, respectful relationships with their teachers and peers; they learn to be tolerant, inclusive, and to walk a life of integrity. At Highbury, we grow boys who extend deep roots in sound values and show the fruit in their actions. I firmly believe that Highbury will give your son the advantage of growing into a young gentleman with manners, able to show grit in the face of adversity and the gentleness to express compassion for those in need.

sChool

One of the main purposes of education is to prepare the current generation of learners to confront societal challenges and to make the world a better place for themselves and the community in which they live.

With many independent schools, including Orient Islamic School, basking in the glory of excellent matriculation results, the question that needs to be asked is whether the more than 700 000 matriculants who are the next generation of leaders have been grounded in the skills and competencies to make a real difference to solving the problems facing our country?

As has been stated repeatedly, the class of 2022 has had to endure a torrid three years with the fallout from the effects of COVID-19, the lockdown, the severe impact on the economy and huge toll in lives, and the natural disasters that struck KwaZulunatal and other provinces. In addition, these impressionable young minds had to make sense of the looting and wanton acts of destruction that they witnessed either live or on television.

While the quality of their academic performance may not have been compromised as is evident in their matriculation results, the residual psychological and emotional effects of the trauma experienced by these children may only manifest in later years. Hence, the need for schools to re-evaluate their curriculum to ensure that our future leaders have the skills necessary to cope with life’s challenges and also to find creative and practical solutions to our country’s problems.

While there is an increasing and muchneeded focus on the STeM subjects and technology in our curriculum, there should also be greater attention paid to the soft skills relating to interpersonal relations, respect for property and people, and a real move towards inclusivity and transformation.

Let us hope that a realignment of our approach to education will assist in ensuring that the South African Generation Alpha and succeeding generations will at least find a solution to our load shedding and corruption woes!

Zaffar Ahmed – Principal

R Stevens – Principal

Roland Lacock –Headmaster Tracey Munro – Principal of Epworth High School Reynard White – Principal of Epworth Preparatory School

from the desks of the principals

Ebrahim Ansur – Executive Headmaster

orient islAMiC

achieve academic accolades and be successful if provided the right support and opportunities. Our teachers and staff are committed to providing all students with an appropriate and challenging educational experience in an environment that fosters learning and growth.

I am honoured to continue serving our community as I move into my first year at Star College Durban. I have an open-door policy, and my number one goal is that our school community continues to thrive! Mind, Body, Soul is our motto, and we stand strongly by it.

THOMAS MORE COLLEGE

THE DESKS OF THE PRINCIPALS

THOMAS More College’s mission is to provide: An Inspired Education for every student and member of staff at our school.

Our Inspired Education creates conditions in which Character and Values education, Cognitive Relevance, reCreation, Cultural Articulation and Community Impact can be nurtured explicitly. Rooted in our commitment to Christian love, Thomas More College is a learning community in which belonging, directed effort, purpose and consequence management are valued.

Our underlying Values of An Inspired Education, at a glance:

• Purpose: An Inspired Education provides a range of opportunities for students to find, explore and grow into their God-gifted purpose;

• Belonging – if a student knows that they belong and, therefore, trust their learning space, they feel safe to pour their energy into their work and learning opportunities;

• Effort – ongoing effort, when directed with intent, improves performance;

• Can-Do Attitude – by embracing challenge, we all cultivate a growth mind set and thereby improve our previous best.

All aspects of our programme (academics, sport, culture, and community and social partnerships) are based on the intentional relationship between content, values and skills in a space in which challenges are embraced as growth opportunities. As the only KZN school belonging to the Round Square International coalition of progressive schools, we are privileged to expose our children to international thought practice which sees regular international exchanges and conferences with some of the best schools in the world.

Our holistic approach to education is borne out by our magnificent campus facilities and excellence in sport and cultural pursuits.

Our children – Tomorrow’s Leaders Today – are equipped to realise their purpose positively in an everchanging world.

“I regard it as the foremost task of education to insure the survival of these qualities: an enterprising curiosity, an undefeatable spirit, tenacity in pursuit, readiness for sensible self-denial, and above all, compassion.” – Kurt Hahn

Together here are (from left) Gary Balarin – Head of Senior Primary; Anny Breedt – Head of Junior Primary; and Matthew Davies – Head of High School.

2023 Focus on Independent schools In KZn

OUR LADY OF FATIMA DCS

The seismic changes of the past few years have shone the spotlight on the need for learners to be future-fit, antifragile and adapt to life’s curve balls.

At Our Lady of Fatima

Dominican Convent School we continue to move onward and upward, developing both hard and soft skills, and introducing new opportunities for technical fluency and design, including offering engineering, Graphics Design and Information Technology.

We also hone the aptitudes required for a strong tertiary learning foundation and our Class of 2022 did the school and themselves proud: the entire cohort achieved Bachelor Degree Passes, and 27% achieved aggregates of 80% and above, 76% earned B aggregates of 70% and above, while the whole group scored an aggregate of 60% and above. Our 2022 Dux was an Outstanding IeB Achiever, and the runner-up to Dux a Commendable IeB Achiever.

We are mandated by our Christian-Dominican ethos to endeavour continually to strengthen our girls’ spiritual, social and emotional competencies. We believe that spiritual awareness, allied to self-awareness, builds the capacity to withstand the storms of life.

At Fatima, we strive to equip our girls to be creative changemakers and proactive participants in a dynamic world, and we measure our success as a school not only by academic, sporting and cultural achievements, but also by the character and integrity of the young women we send out into the world.

ST HENRY’S MARIST COLLEGE

WhAT makes parents choose a particular school for their children? There are many factors such as the school parents went to, academic achievement perhaps or a particular sporting tradition. Many schools will also state they offer a “holistic” education, a description that is very much a buzzword.

So then, why choose St Henry’s Marist College?

The first step in getting the answer is to come to our Open Days on 16 February at the high School and 11 March at the Preparatory School and see for yourself.

You will see that we don’t just take “holistic” as a buzzword but something that is part and parcel of the life of St henry’s as a Marist school. Marist education is about the student developing to the very best they can be. Very importantly, this is done within a background of values such as integrity, fairness, generosity and self-discipline.

When you meet a St henry’s alumnus, you will not only see a successful doctor, lawyer, teacher, accountant, designer, business owner, technician, engineer, banker or entrepreneur, you will also see someone who has moral character, values and generosity of spirit.

You will see why you should choose St henry’s for your child.

ST JOHN’S DSG

Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:29-31

AS A record number of enthusiastic Grade 8 girls joined us at the start of this year and settled quickly into their new senior school routine, we celebrated yet another set of outstanding Matric results. St John’s D.S.G. remains known and loved as a school with a healthy blend of boarders and day girls, in in which girls are well known and individual potential is nurtured.

Our academic, sporting and cultural performances speak for themselves but it is the attentive care for and understanding of the needs of every girl which we believe differentiates our school. Our empathetic, caring ethos, our skilled teachers and outstanding facilities allow girls to flourish in a challenging world in which they are encouraged to explore, question and discover truth. We strive to inspire girls to embrace diversity through meaningful conversations; to respect and care for each other and their environment; and to understand consequences without fear of failure, encouraged by our caring, dedicated staff.

Our commitment is to continue to send out intelligent, articulate, graceful and significant young women prepared to flourish in the world with a sound faith foundation, where they can soar like eagles.

ST MARY’S DSG

GIVen the challenging years the class of 2022 had, it is with a great deal of pride and satisfaction that we celebrate their results. During times of uncertainty and many changing forms of instruction from 2020 when they were in Grade 10, these Matrics had to be adaptable and trust that their teachers and parents were navigating the uncharted waters as best they could.

Looking back at the regulations and constraints that were in place, it is without a doubt, a monumental achievement to have so many of our students obtain distinctions and record their personal best results in the final examinations. The teachers in particular have been resilient and innovative in their approach, solving problems that arose from the circumstances associated with the pandemic, the riots and the floods.

It takes a village to raise a child and the St Mary’s Community has been that village. People worked together to keep our students’ dreams alive. They maintained focus, showed kindness and compassion and encouraged one another throughout the difficult times. It is at a moment like this that we look back across their years in school and like the rings in a tree trunk, each one is a reminder of the growth that took place in each season. We can never underestimate the value of the early years and how a student’s identity and confidence is shaped during those foundational times.

These young women are inspiring and will certainly go on to lead successful careers because of the character that has been formed in them. The values and faith that we held onto during the pandemic will be a foundation for the rest of their lives.

I am reminded of a quote from helen Keller: “Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.”

from the desks of the principals