Horizons Term 3 2016 FINAL1

HORIZONS 

The Ridge School 1 Horizons Term 3 2016

HEADMASTER’S MESSAGE 

Headmaster’s 

Report 

Dear Parents, 

My last headmaster’s message of the 

year is reserved for a final vote of 

thanks to the many who, in various 

ways, have contributed to all that 

has helped to make 2016 such a happy, 

memorable and successful year. 

Like any well-oiled machine, the successful 

working of the whole is largely 

dependent on and determined by 

the combined efforts and specialist 

functioning of each active part. 

Here at The Ridge we have many of 

these ‘working parts’ in the form of 

men and women who go to make up 

an important part of the extended 

family that together represent those 

who serve our school. 

There is, as always, much to give 

thanks for here at The Ridge. As we 

prepare to bring the curtain down on 

another year of teaching and learning, 

we can do so with the knowledge 

that our committed teaching 

staff team has gone the distance and 

beyond to breathe life, energy and 

learning into our carefully coordinated 

boy-centred environment. On 

behalf of boys and parents, I would 

offer a sincere thanks to our teachers 

for all that they have done in the 

interests of providing the best possible 

educational experience to each 

lad during the past eleven months. 

To The Ridge Board of Governors, 

a special thanks for many hours of 

sub-committee meetings and those 

often lengthy Board and Strategic 

Planning meetings, that each governor 

has been happy to attend and 

be a part of. Your loyal, focussed 

and dedicated labours are crucial to 

the ongoing stability and long term 

relevance of this fine school. 

No school, with our intricate assortment 

of dynamics, operational complexities 

and daily demands would 

be able to hold it all together the 

way we have during another, often 

taxing year, without the hands-on 

support, care and positive interaction 

of our parent body. My sincere 

thanks to all our Ridge mums and 

dads who, as the third arm of the 

educational triangle, have given so 

much time, energy and financial 

backing in support of your own boys 

as well as the broader scholastic 

experience. 

Finally, I would extend a warm and 

sincere thanks to the boys who individually 

have added so much spirit, 

flavour, and unique little boy flair 

to the kaleidoscope of memories 

that we can take away with us as we 

look back on 2016. As busy as the 

year has been, the vast majority of 

you boys are to be commended on 

the determined way in which you 

have stayed the pace, worked hard 

and applied yourselves in body and 

mind to all that has come your way. 

Well done! 

To The Ridge family as a whole, best 

wishes for a happy, relaxing and safe 

Christmas holiday, and a blessed 

time in which family, friends and 

festive cheer will be the order of the 

day. 

Richard Stanley 

Headmaster 

A special thanks, too, must also go to 

our hard-working admin staff team 

and the many men and women who 

go to make up our large support 

staff unit. Their combined, behind 

the scenes, efforts have again played 

a significant role in helping to create 

a wholesome, comfortable and wellcared 

for learning atmosphere. 


Di Louw 

Di Louw (middle of photo) has been 

a passionate, energetic and beloved 

teacher at The Ridge for 28 years. 

Her colleagues in Grade 3 had this 

to say about her: 

You have touched so many boys and parents 

lives and are truly a cherished colleague. 

It is so evident that teaching has 

been a true calling for you. How lucky 

we are that your journey bought you to 

The Ridge and allowed you to leave your 

mark for some 28 years. The Grade 3 

team will not be the same without you. 

You will be sorely missed and will always 

have a place in our hearts! 

STAFF LEAVERS 

Bev Schultz 

Bev Schultz has been a teacher and 

Senior Prep Librarian for 21 years at 

The Ridge. Her colleagues had the 

following to say about her: 

I know that many of the boys and staff 

would share the sentiments of Winnie 

the Pooh, “How lucky I am to have 

something that makes saying goodbye so 

hard.” Bev is leaving an amazing legacy. 

It is due to her diligence, passion and 

knowledge that the library has become 

a place which anchors The Ridge community, 

bringing boys, parents, and the 

outside world, together. 

On a daily basis Bev has masterfully 

juggled labelling, covering and cataloguing 

of books. She keeps abreast of what 

teachers and learners need and are interested 

in, constantly researching new 

books and approaches to media studies. 

Not to mention lesson preparations, 

which she puts so much thought and care 

into, expanding little minds with her 

depth and breadth of knowledge. She has 

really made reading cool. 


Shannon Wales 

Shannon Wales has been a teacher 

at The Ridge for 8 years. Her colleagues 

in Grade 4 had this to say 

about her: 

STAFF LEAVERS 

Shan has been an integral part of The 

Ridge for the last 8 years and I am not 

sure how we are going to tick without her. 

She is passionate about and committed 

to her role as a teacher, guide, advisor 

and even surrogate mother on occasions. 

I have truly admired her selfless commitment 

to ensur¬ing the well-being of the 

boys in her class and, in fact, every boy 

at The Ridge. She is com¬passionate and 

caring, firm but fair, bringing the best out 

in every one. The boys build a complete 

trust in her and feel safe and secure in 

her care. Even when they leave grade 4 

she continues to fulfil her commitment 

to them and take an active interest in 

their lives. 

Joan Pulling 

Some words from Janet fox Van Der Poel: 

Joan arrived at The Ridge in January of 2013. Very quickly we 

realised we had an amazing musician and teacher in our music 

department. Joan showed us that she had a great deal to offer 

our boys. Not only could she teach piano and recorder, she was 

also a brass player and a fine accompanist. Joan is a true musician 

and her boys have been very fortunate to have had her as 

their musical mentor. We hope you will continue to teach music 

to children. 

Nelisiwe Ndlalane 

Some words from Nelisiwe’s colleagues: 

Thank you for the time we have been priviliged to spend 

with you, we have cherished every moment and you will be 

sorely missed. Thank you for your disciplined nature, the 

respect you show for your fellow man and not to mention 

how hard you have worked each and every day. We wish 

you the very best in the next chapter of your life. 


Head of Junior 

Prep Report 

From the moment you walk down 

the stairs of Ollie’s garden towards 

the reception, you can share the 

anticipation of what the day might 

hold. The boys approach their days 

with interest, optimism and joy. 

The relationships of those who 

work within are highly valued and 

the education of our boys takes 

place within this context of rich relationships. 

The boys feel safe and 

secure and can build a strong sense 

of belonging, both within their 

class and grade. 

Grade 2 – Dads and Lads, Knights 

and Castle theme that culminated 

in a Medieval Feast and delicious 

dining, and our boys were lucky 

enough to be knighted by ‘King 

Stanley’! We thank the Grade 2 

mums who have been supportive in 

working with the vegetable garden. 

Grade 3 – The Grade 3 Camp was 

a hit! We took 66 happy campers 

to Camp NELU in Hekpoort for 2 

nights and the boys and staff had 

an amazing time. Reading at The 

Hope School, water week, making 

boats, Rhino day and dress up days, 

and most recently, the thanksgiving 

service 

For the first time this year, we have 

highlighted a number of different 

religious celebrations in assembly. 

Di Wellard, together with our 

Muslim, Jewish and Hindu Grade 

3 boys and their parents, each took 

a turn to present at Junior Prep assembly. 

This was really meaningful 

and a tradition that we hope tocontinue 

annually. 

I am honoured to work with an 

amazing team of ladies and a gentleman; 

all of whom have a passion 

for little boys and making sure they 

reach their full potential. Our little 

boys are a delight and we so enjoy 

the time we spend together. 

JUNIOR PREP REPORT 

We are so blessed with incredible 

teachers at The Ridge School and 

in the words of Michael Oakeshott, 

‘teaching is a variegated activity 

which may include hinting, suggesting, 

urging, coaxing, encouraging, 

guiding, pointing-out, conversing, 

instructing, informing, narrating, 

lecturing, demonstrating, exercising, 

testing, examining, criticizing, 

correcting, tutoring, drilling...” Our 

teachers support, guide and enrich 

each child’s thinking by providing 

provocations for learning. 

Mandy Herold 

Our days are full of age-appropriate, 

boy-friendly fun and here is an overview 

of 2016 with many highlights 

and memories: 

Grade 0 – Hope School visit, Rhino 

money box, Bird Park outing, Vegetable 

Planters, Christmas Concert. 

Grade 1 – Gorgeous stars, angels 

and gum boot dancers in the Nativity 

play, the outing to Bester Bird 

Park where our were great ambassadors, 

and the task money collection 

– especially for the rhinos 


SENIOR PREP REPORT 

Head of Senior 

Prep Academics 

There is no codified list of best 

practices. That means you get to 

explore like an astronaut, experiment 

like a scientist, design like an 

engineer and create like an artist. 

Like any other skill, it takes a lifetime 

to perfect. There’s no point 

where you “have arrived”, and 

there shouldn’t be. As a teacher, 

you’re always exploring, always 

experimenting, always innovating. 

Reflecting on 2016, and the academic 

pulse that drives the teaching 

and learning, it is clear that we 

are blessed with the best teaching 

staff. Staff who offer advice, a 

helping hand, who drive our boys 

to be the best that they can be, but 

also understand that holistic development 

is essential in the growing 

and knowing of every boy who 

attends The Ridge School. 

Whilst sitting early mornings and 

late afternoons in my office, it’s evident 

that the buildings are quiet, 

with a gust of wind that channels 

its way through the corridors, or 

an ominous cloud that decides to 

dissipate once the sport has been 

cancelled. It’s too quiet – yes, the 

beautiful buildings that we are 

aesthetically spoiled with remain as 

the “framework” for the teaching 

and learning to take place, but 

it is the boys and the staff who 

ignite the fuel when the school day 

begins and ends. 

much wider than traditional scope 

speaks more powerfully to the lives 

of learners likely to live. 

We ran an interactive Making 

Thinking Visible workshop earlier 

this year, with a focus on the 

parents actively participating in 

various tasks that their own son 

has been exposed to. Interestingly 

enough, there was a hesitance 

at first. Not many parents were 

keen to share ideas, fearing they 

could be wrong. We often use 

past experiences (such as when 

we were in school) to navigate our 

way through another experience. 

Ironically, the boys feel empowered 

when working alongside each 

other. They realise that they don’t 

always have to be right. They have 

the confidence to ask questions 

and learn through discussion. 

They have opportunities to genuinely 

enquire as well as a chance to 

speak and be heard without fear of 

getting an answer wrong. 

The statement “Life’s a journey, 

enjoy the ride” lends itself well to 

the way in which a school runs. 

You cannot enjoy a journey without 

passengers, you cannot enjoy 

the ride without a driver. It is this 

that encapsulates the destination 

– one in which the experience and 

outcome of the journey can be 

enjoyed by all. 

So what do we want our boys to 

look like when they leave The 

Ridge School? I know many parents 

have a different set of ideas, 

but let me end with some food 

for thought – will you remember 

in a few years time the day that 

your son played cricket for the C 

team, will you remember the day 

that your son achieved 70% for his 

spelling test or that time when he 

was a reserve for the first team? 

Or, will you remember the time 

that your son played the vital role 

as the tree in a play, the time when 

he created his own interactive 

game during an IT lesson, the 

point where he climbed out the 

car by himself and carried a dozen 

bags through the main school gate, 

or even designed his own band 

t-shirt and sang in front of the 

School. If it is the latter, then we 

have got it right. 

When the destination has been 

reached, you will find a successful, 

confident and responsible individual 

whose effective contribution 

to society means a lot more than a 

mark on a piece of paper. 

Nick Diana 

It is here that life-worthy learning 

takes place. According to David 

Perkins, author of “Future Wise: 

Educating our Children for a 

Changing World”, when teachers 

introduce twenty-first-century 

skills, new advances in disciplines, 

interdisciplinary studies and so on, 

they foresee that a curriculum of 


Director of Sport 

Report 

SPORT 

2016 has been a good year for The 

Ridge Sport and there has been a 

definite mind shift amongst the 

coaching staff and boys. What I 

have realised is that our boys have 

learnt to become far more competitive 

on the field and that is our aim 

as coaches, for the boys to have fun 

and yet still be competitive. An over 

emphasis on results in the past is, 

for me, the reason sport has been 

on the decline at various schools. 

Our aim has shifted to up skilling 

our boys in all sporting codes, this 

will lead to the results taking care of 

themselves in the long term. By also 

changing the mind set to having the 

correct attitude will also have a huge 

impact going forward, by instilling 

a sense of belief and confidence in 

our boys. 

We have committed to designing 

Ridge specific blue prints in a number 

of the sporting codes which we 

will be rolling out from 2017. We 

do realise that these will be working 

documents that will most definitely 

change as we try and shift our mindsets 

from good to great. We look forward 

to an exciting 2017 in which 

the boys show the right stuff in all 

areas and continue to punch above 

their weight. 

Bennie Du Preez 

Cricket 

The cricket season has been quite 

a successful one for many of the 

teams and our boys can be proud 

of what they have achieved. We are 

aware that there are one or two age 

groups that have struggled this year 

but overall I am proud to say that 

we have won approximately 52% 

of the matches we played this year 

across all the age groups. One of 

the greatest achievements this year 

was our 2nd XI who went through 

the year not losing a single match. 

Our first team also had a fantastic 

year winning close to 65% of their 

matches. They have represented the 

school well in the festival and tours 

they attended and we look forward 

to an exciting 2017 season. 


Swimming 

Our 2016 swimming season was a 

fantastic one. Our boys competed 

well in the 1st term with both our 

A and B teams holding their own. 

In term three we decided to move 

our B team into the A25 league 

and enter a C team into the B25 

league. Once again our boys didn’t 

disappoint and exceeded well above 

all expectations in all three leagues. 

The proof was in the pudding 

when we swam at the inter-schools 

gala and came third in both the 

A and B league galas, this was 

an outstanding achievement and 

especially with the A team missing 

second place by a single point. A 

very special mention needs to be 

paid to Ms Kinnear & Mrs Wales 

who have been the backbone of our 

swimming success and have created 

such a positive swimming passion 

at The Ridge. Mrs Wales we wish 

you all the best at Pridwin, you will 

be greatly missed. 


Rugby 

Soccer 

SPORT 

2016 was a tough year on the rugby 

front when one looks at the overall 

performance of The Ridge across all 

the age groups. Our boys, were, however 

better prepared and competed 

far better than 2015. We are working 

close with Bafana Nhleko from 

the Golden Lions to create a Ridge 

brand of rugby going forward. One 

needs to remember that this is a 

process that will take a few years and 

also requires a whole school buy-in. 

We won’t see immediate results, 

however, the process will eventually 

take care of itself. The goal is that 

we all speak one language and read 

from the same page from U9 – 1st 

XV level. A big thank you to all the 

coaches and I hope to see more of 

the same in 2017. 


Hockey 

The hockey season was a very exciting 

one, especially considering that 

as a school we don’t actually have 

our own astro. Our 1st touring side 

did really well on their pre-season 

tour to Bloemfontein for the SA 

Prep Schools Hockey Festival. A 

most memorable match was coming 

from behind to draw to DPHS. The 

local season also went well for The 

Ridge with an average 50% win ratio 

against every school we played, 

excluding a nearby rival on-top of 

the hill. One phenomenal achievement 

was the unbeaten season experienced 

by our U12A, B, C & D 

sides. Our hockey is growing from 

strength to strength and 2017 seems 

to be a promising year. A big thank 

you to all the coaches for their hard 

work and dedication. 


This term saw a transformation in 

soccer as a whole. A set formation 

and playing style was introduced to 

the staff. The rewards of this will 

only be seen as time goes on. The 

1st team were introduced to Friday 

morning training sessions which 

included a breakfast, which in-turn, 

built the team spirit. Every player 

played for one-another. It is not often 

that, as a coach, you come across 

players that understand the necessity 

of hard-work and dedication, not 

through words, but in attitude and 

in actions. I’d like to thank the parents 

of this team for supporting every 

game and believing in the team. 

The highlight of our season was the 

game against St Stithians where our 

attacking style of play began to pay 

off. Considering the soccer season is 

only 5 weeks and to have only lost 2 

league games is a big step forward in 

soccer at The Ridge School. 

Shannon Diedricks 


Tennis 

Scientists and doctors around the 

world point to tennis as one of the 

healthiest activities you can participate 

in because it delivers overall 

physical, mental and emotional development. 

The Ridge enjoyed its 

most successful tennis season in its 

history to date, as the First tennis 

team went through the entire season 

unbeaten. The Ridge also claimed its 

maiden South African, private primary 

schools tennis championships, 

held in Sun City in August, with a 

dominant performance throughout 

the championships, and in the process 

did not lose a single fixture. 

SPORT 

Tennis has certainly taken off at 

The Ridge and the tennis season has 

now officially been extended to all 3 

terms. We have seen a huge interest 

from the boys with mass participation, 

so much so, we were the only 

school that entered 4 teams in the 

SA primary schools championship. 

The boys developed many skills 

such as: a good work ethic, learned 

sportsmanship, accepted responsibility, 

managed mistakes, enhanced 

discipline and teamwork, learned 

to cope with pressure and adversity 

and developed healthy habits. 

All the boys are to be commended 

for their enthusiasm and participation 

this year, whether they represented 

the school or attended social 

practices. I look forward to another 

successful year next year in terms of 

interest, passion and love for this 

wonderful sport which is widely regarded 

as the “sport for a lifetime”. 

Damian Pikkiri 

Water-Polo 

The 1st and 2nd water polo teams 

displayed an incredible amount of 

passion and determination this year, 

with both punching above their 

weight in many regards. The boys 

braved the chilly waters during early 

morning sessions at school and late 

afternoons at Zoo Lake in an effort 

to develop their skills. After a very 

short 1st term, where both teams 

only managed to play one match 

against KEPS, water polo went into 

hibernation for the winter. 

The 3rd term was far more eventful 

and included highlights such as the 

1st team tour Cape Town to participate 

in the SACS tournament and 

the St Stithians Festival here in Johannesburg. 

Despite the preparation for these 

competitions being hampered by 

scheduling conflicts with other 

sports, the boys trained 6 days a 

week and the improvement was evident 

in the quality of their play. 

The 2nd team deserves a special 

mention this year for their commitment 

and desire to play the game, 

giving 100% at practice week after 

week with limited game time. This 

attitude is ultimately what earned 

many players a call up to the 1st 

team, providing me with some serious 

selection headaches each week. 

I thoroughly enjoyed coaching this 

fantastic group of boys and I wish 

them all the very best in the future. 

Mike MacFarlane 


SPORT 

Kayaking Report 

The goal for 2016 for the kayaking 

club was to become more actively 

involved in the Gauteng School 

League, and this milestone was 

achieved in a wonderful fashion. 

The Ridge competed in two Sprint 

events held at Florida Lake and Victoria 

Lake, as well as four Marathon 

events held at Emmarentia Dam, 

Benoni and Victoria Lake. Nick 

Venter and Matthew Maccelari were 

the two standout paddlers for The 

Ridge, and went from strength to 

strength as the year progressed. After 

only two years in a boat, Matthew 

managed to achieve a highly 

impressive 2nd place overall for the 

season in his age group. 

The profile of the kayaking club has 

continued to grow in 2016, and this 

year we have had over 20 boys participating 

in the Monday and Friday 

afternoon sessions held at Emmarentia 

Dam. The goal for 2017 is 

to have a larger contingent of Ridge 

boys representing their school in 

the Gauteng Schools League, as well 

as to organise another “Dads and 

Lads” Orange River trip in the April 

holidays. 

Daniel McLachlan 

Climbing Report 

2016 has been a defining year for 

climbing at The Ridge. Probably the 

biggest achievement is that it was 

the first time that we won the interschool 

climbing competition! It was 

especially meaningful as Mr Mitchell 

leftTthe Ridge so we felt it was 

a fitting send off for a great Coach. 

Our team then went on to take part 

in the Nationals competition held 

at City Rock on 1 and 2 October. 

Six boys made it into the Nationals 

selection – they were Nathan Berlin, 

Rho Mathee, Alex Setterberg 

Rees-Jones, Nico Setterberg Rees-Jones, 

Alex Hutton and Jack Solomon 

in their respective ages and 

categories. 

It was an action-packed weekend of 

climbing covering the full range of 

‘the agony and the ecstasy’ . Unfortunately 

the boys struggled in this 

competition. Many of the competitors 

are our friends so it was a good 

test of sportsmanship - climbing 

really teaches us a lot of camaraderie 

and positive support towards all 

who take part in this great sport. So 

even though the boys didn’t make 

it through to the next round, they 

stayed to cheer on their friends. 

Ridge boys making it to these stage 

of the competition, they were there 

to offer support. I felt very proud 

of this because it was my first time 

taking part in the Nationals and I 

was a bit stressed, yet the team was 

there to support. In addition to this, 

I felt the pressure because my family 

weren’t there as my brother was 

having surgery. But then he came 

straight from the operating theatre 

to watch me in the finals and I came 

first in South Africa in U13 Top 

Rope. So it really was a personal and 

meaningful highlight for me. I hope 

that the Captain next year has the 

same experience of the Gold Medal! 

I hope that 2017 continues for the 

Ridge success and the team goes 

from strength to strength. I wish 

the next Captain all the best – it has 

been the best year for me not only 

personally but that the team has 

won so many awards and achieved 

so much. Thank you for a great opportunity 

to be Captain of a great 

team in the best sport. 

In case you didn’t know, climbing 

is now an Olympic sport and part 

of Tokyo 2020. Perhaps we will see 

some of these talented Ridge boys 

flying the SA flag? 

Alex Setterberg Rees-Jones 

We have another distinction in that 

Nico Setterberg Rees-Jones fell in 

the qualifying round and broke his 

arm in a dramatic fall. The ambulance 

arrived and the organisers of 

SANCF (South African National 

Climbing Federation) were really 

great in their support. It was only 

later we were told that his fall was 

the first broken bones at City Rock 

– but he didn’t get a medal for that! 

On a personal note, when Nico was 

having his surgery the next day to 

put wires into his broken bones I 

continued through to semi and then 

finals. Despite none of the other 


CULTURAL 

Chess Report 

Chess is an intellectual sport and 

it is played by people who are able 

to plan and think ahead. Every boy 

that took part in the chess season 

enjoyed it and learned a lot. The 

number of boys involved in chess 

has increased this year, which is 

a sign that the sport is becoming 

more popular at The Ridge. We had 

a very successful season this year, 

but most of all we had a lot of fun. 

We can attribute our successful season 

and growing numbers to our excellent 

teachers, they are always encouraging 

and supportive. In every 

chess practice we learned something 

new. The weekly puzzles challenged 

and encouraged boys to participate 

in the lessons. The boys who attend 

weekly chess practices through the 

year must be commended on their 

commitment to the sport, I am sure 

those cold winter mornings were 

not pleasant but they were there. 

Chess is a growing sport at The 

Ridge, hopefully it will go from 

strength to strength. It teaches boys 

to think, plan and strategise, but 

above all it encourages boys to enjoy 

themselves. 

Samuel Kahanovitz 

St Katherine’s Daisy 

Chain Mosaic 

A wonderful collaboration between 

a group of keen mosaic artists and 

enthusiastic Ridge boys, resulted in 

the making of a 4 meter long Daisy 

Chain. The beautiful blue, yellow 

and white creation is a gift from 

The Ridge school to St Katherine’s, 

in celebration of their centenary 

birthday. 

Mosaicking is one of those things 

that can really get under your skin. 

It’s like the challenge of needing 

to complete a puzzle. You need patience, 

good fine motor skills and 

spatial awareness. 

And if you don’t have any of those, 

then a good sense of fun and enjoyment 

of team work will get you 

through! 

The boys delighted in piecing together 

this giant puzzle, finding just 

the right place for their piece. The 

mosaic took a month to complete, 

with boys taking time out of their 

busy schedule to be part of this wonderful 

gift project. The mosaic now 

features as a colourful backdrop 

to the pool area at St Katherine’s 

school. 

Nicci Kurz 


Art Week 

This year’s Art Week was a spectacle 

of colourful, joyful and thought 

provoking work by our Grade 3 to 

grade 7 boys. With over 500 works 

on exhibition, there was something 

for everyone to enjoy. Many parents 

were delighted to put their blue 

stickers on their favourite art work 

on show, in addition to a red “sold” 

sticker on their boys’ work. The 

school was able to raise a substantial 

amount for the Rhino Fund, 

due to these generous pledges, and 

the boys learnt that there are different 

ways to make a contribution to 

our broader community and environment. 

CULTURAL 

2016 saw many of the boys being 

able to consolidate techniques they 

have practiced over the past few 

years in the studio. Art classes have 

stretched our boys to not only think 

creatively and to problem solve, but 

to produce work of beauty, value, 

and interest. The variety of work 

was testimony to boys as makers, 

preparing them to be 21st century 

learners. In other words, to be curious, 

to have intellectual courage, to 

explore, problem solve and collaborate, 

to be adaptable, resilient and 

committed! I am very proud of their 

achievements and look forward to 

another year of creative exploration 

in the magical world of art making 

at The Ridge School. 

Nicci Kurz 


CULTURAL 

Reading Breakfast 

On Friday 14 October, there was a 

distinct nippy breeze about, but no 

sign of rain. Johannesburg’s clear 

blue skies looked down on the quadrangles. 

Would this unasked for chill 

this morning deter the breakfasters 

and readers? Would The Book People 

feel let down by the poor turnout? 

Maybe it was time, after nearly 

nine years of breakfasts, to let go of 

this twice-yearly event, along with 

my 21 years at The Ridge? 

But no, the new Librarian for 2017, 

Hanlie Lombard had arrived to experience 

this Ridge phenomenon, 

so that she could carry it through. 

Mums, dads, boys and siblings started 

arriving, and spreading out their 

blankets and chairs in the early 

morning sun. Others found nooks 

and crannies and the library stairs, 

sheltered from the breeze. Gaps appeared 

on the bookseller’s table, as 

children and adults devoured the 

stock and joined the paying queue. 

One of the card machines took on 

a mind of its own at the speed with 

which it was asked to operate, and 

just opted out. 

My last Reading Breakfast was legitimately 

over. 

The amazing cleaning staff were 

washing up cups and saucers; The 

Book People were tallying their takings 

and packing away, with more 

empty boxes than full ones. Boys 

had gone off to classes and parents 

to their commitments. Time had 

stopped for me. 

It was time to look to the future and 

all the new opportunities that it will 

bring. Thank you all for your wonderful 

support and encouragement 

over these many years, and may the 

photos bring you as many happy 

memories as they do me. 

Bev Schultz 

Roald Dahl Day - In 

Celebration of his 

100th Brithday 

Boys without accompanying parents 

poured into the Art Studio to be 

read to by Nick Dianeaand Moeketsi 

Motsepe while Nicci Kurz listened 

in, while busying herself with the 

Art Exhibition preparations. 

We walked around and Hanlie was 

able to meet a number of boys and 

their parents so that she, and they, 

will not be totally new faces in the 

new year; together we choose some 

books to be added to the library. 

And suddenly, the quad was emptying.... 

I looked at my watch, 07.30. 

Why? Had the chill got too much? 

Had disinterest set in early? The Art 

Studio was empty again. Nicci, what 

is going on? My watch had stopped; 

it was actually close to 08.30. 


Music Tour Report 

St Martins-in-the-Veld Carol Service Photos 

Music tour was a great experience 

and the boys had a wonderful time. 

Our first performance was for Highbury 

Prep School in Hillcrest, a spirited 

performance followed and we 

soon got into the swing of things. 

Onwards to Thomas More and 

we can safely say that both performances 

on day one were exemplary. 

Day two saw us perform in front of 

Umhlanga College where the choir 

and Marimba band stole the show. 

Later that day and under the blazing 

Durban sun we gave an admirable 

performance to Durban Girls College 

– but enough about music and 

onto the fun! 

MUSIC 

From the amazing breakfast waffles 

we had at The Blue Waters Hotel 

to the luxurious experience we had 

at Shakaland, which also taught us 

so much about the Zulu culture; 

we truly were spoilt. We visited the 

Durban Sharks Board and followed 

that with a tour of the Durban Harbour 

and after that we thankfully 

settled into John Dory’s for a well 

deserved dinner after a long day on 

the road. 

The highlight, aside from the music 

part of the tour, of course, was the 

visit to uShaka Marine World. We 

had three hours to spend there and 

we made full use of every minute. 

On behalf of the boys on tour we 

wish to thank Mrs Fox Van der Poel, 

Mr Stanley and the other staff who 

took us on tour and made the experience 

so enjoyable. 

Luca Genovese & 

Samual Kahanovitz 


Grade 0 Concert 

After much practise, the Grade 0 

boys were finally able to perform 

their Junior MasterChef concert to 

their mums and dads, siblings, and 

special grandparents on 2 November. 

The boys were bursting with 

excitement, and ran up to the hall 

to escape the thunderstorm that 

was rolling in. They performed with 

great enthusiasm, and made their 

parents and teachers very proud. 

Kitchen utensils that doubled as 

musical instruments added to the 

fun of the performance. These little 

chefs danced, sang and recited 

their poems beautifully, whilst donning 

their shiny aprons made by the 

women of Bethany House. 

Sarah Bear 

JP CONCERTS 

Nativity Play Grade 

1-3 

A true reflection of what a South 

African Christmas story would be 

like was the theme of this year’s Nativity. 

It had never occurred to any 

of us that the transport that Mary 

and Joseph were travelling in broke 

down, and that is the real reason for 

them ending up on a donkey! 

The scene was complete with angels 

and stars as well as the 3 wise 

men on their camels. The story still 

spread the message of peace, love 

and joy to all at this special time of 

year – with a few hyena, buffalo and 

zebra in the grasslands. 

Di Wellard 


OLD BOYS 

Leaving The Ridge for 

High School - Memoirs 

from our Old Boys 

Bongi Fleisher was recently appointed 

as the Head Prefect at Michaelhouse for 

2017. This is a great honour and a wonderful 

achievement for Bongi but also 

The Ridge. Nicolas Jeffrey was also announced 

as a school prefect at St John’s 

College. I recently asked them if they 

would be willing to share their thoughts 

and insight into life at high school and 

how they navigated their first few years. 

In true Ridge spirit they were more than 

willing to share in their experiences. 

It has been four long years since my 

last day as a Ridge boy but the memories 

make it seem far closer. Moments 

throughout every year have 

reminded me of the time I spent 

growing at The Ridge and one this 

year stuck out in particular. Reminiscing 

with friends and watching 

The Ridge’s recent promotional video, 

A Day at The Ridge, at an Old 

Boys’ function earlier this year filled 

me with nostalgia and I was immediately 

flooded with memories. The 

dreaded early morning water polo 

practices; smashing the marimbas 

at break; Founders’ Day festivities; 

many odd games; friendly teachers 

and the incredible atmosphere of 

inter-house galas – to name a few – 

all returned vividly to my thoughts. 

By the end of my eight years, I had 

been given so much to take with me 

as I moved on to the next phase of 

my schooling life. 

new place with different rules and 

unknown people always takes some 

time. Another change that many 

face, and one that had the greatest 

impact on me, is leaving home 

to board. Although the act itself is 

daunting to many and terrifying to 

some, I strongly believe that boarding 

has an immense positive effect 

on those who take it on. It is not 

always easy, and that is expected, 

but the challenges it presents imbed 

valuable skills in while teaching 

important lessons to those who go 

through the experience. 

How does The Ridge prepare you 

for all of these changes? In terms of 

academics, sport and culture, Ridge 

boys compete across the country at 

the top level, however, the unmeasurable 

things are more difficult to 

determine. The emphasis of The 

Ridge’s education is one that is holistic 

and provides boys with “the 

Right Stuff”. Characters who portray 

the qualities promoted by The 

Ridge will adapt successfully in any 

environment, whether it is a boarding 

environment or not. What The 

Ridge - and other prep schools - cannot 

prepare you for is adapting to 

high school. This is something that 

can only be done through personal 

experience. 

The most difficult and important 

part of this change is not to make 

new friends or succeed; it is to 

continue to display the core Ridge 

values and be significant in a new 

community. If this can be done, the 

rest will fall into place no matter the 

situation. 

The most valuable lesson I have 

learnt since leaving the Ridge, although 

it is incredibly clichéd, is to 

make the most of the opportunities 

offered. Before you know it, the five 

years of high school will have flown 

by and then the real world must be 

faced. As I near the next phase of 

my life, I know that the positive influence 

of The Ridge will continue 

to benefit me greatly. The massive 

emotion shown each year as the 

Grade 7 boys leave is only a testament 

to the great love this school instils 

in those who pass through it. I 

will often wish I had an opportunity 

to put on my Blues, walk down the 

road and experience a day at The 

Ridge one last time. 

Bongi Fleisher (2013) 

After The Ridge, life changes quite a 

bit. Boys get deeper voices and some 

start shaving while others deal with 

the drama of relationships and the 

pressures of school work. Sport is 

on another level and the busyness 

of school life sometimes seems overwhelming. 

All Ridge boys must face 

a change of scenery. Adapting to a 

. 


OLD BOYS 

The Ridge’s motto – ‘Where boys 

are known and grown’ – is a lot 

more real than many people realize. 

Throughout my time at the school, 

The Ridge was successful in building 

my character, as well as allowing 

me to make many strong friendships 

with people I am still close to today. 

The unique atmosphere of the 

school provided an environment 

much like home to me, and because 

of this, my transition into St John’s 

College came with much difficulty. 

The move from a relatively small 

school where every boy was quite 

literally ‘known’, to an absolutely 

massive institution with many 

more unknown faces was terrifying: 

although The Ridge had built 

my character to a large extent, I was 

still a young and immature boy only 

just out of junior school, and this 

proved difficult for my transition 

into St John’s. However, what was 

most fortunate about my move to 

St Johns was the sheer number of 

other Ridge boys also making the 

exact same transition: around 20 

boys from The Ridge joined me in 

my move to the St Johns, providing 

me with many initial friends other 

boys from different junior schools 

did not have. The advantage I had 

over boys from other junior schools 

was a significant factor, allowing my 

transition to high school to be much 

smoother than anticipated. 

top academics in the grade. I have 

also found a passion for drama 

which was never really apparent at 

The Ridge – I always tried to get involved 

in school plays at The Ridge, 

however, I never saw drama as one 

of my strengths, which I do see now 

I think that the reason for this immense 

change in myself is not because 

of the different standards of 

both schools, but rather the idea 

that The Ridge allowed me to explore 

and find meaning in many 

things. Through the many ‘downs’ 

I had at the school (such as performing 

quite poorly in academics 

and sports), I was able to realize the 

potential I actually have. I firmly 

believe that one can only really be 

good at something when they have 

failed at it numerous times, and it 

is because of these certain ‘failures’ 

at The Ridge that I have become 

so much more successful today – I 

would never have become a prefect 

at The Ridge, whereas now I am a 

prefect at St Johns, one of the finest 

schools in South Africa. This 

really shows the large extent I have 

changed. 

In speaking about my ‘failures’ at 

The Ridge, I do not mean to create 

the idea that I was a complete and 

utter failure: there were still many 

aspects in which I was highly successful, 

such as being the top musician 

at the school in my grade 7 year. 

However, it is clear that The Ridge 

is significant for the role it played in 

shaping the person I am today. Because 

of the loving and accepting environment 

The Ridge provided me 

with, I was able to experiment and 

go through many ‘downs’ during my 

time there. This has allowed me to 

achieve many things I did not think 

I could ever achieve, and I still hope 

to achieve much more in my final 

year at St Johns. 

Nicolas Jeffrey (2013) 

What surprises me the most when 

I look back on my years at both St 

Johns and The Ridge is how much 

I have changed since leaving The 

Ridge. Although music is still an 

extremely important part of my life 

(which The Ridge laid the foundations 

for), I have found many new 

talents and hobbies I never thought 

I would have. While at The Ridge 

I seldom performed well in either 

sports or academics, while at St 

John’s I am currently playing at a 

first team level and am one of the 


Fraser Jones - Will he 

be the next Jacques 

Kallis? 

Fraser Jones (2013) got the call up 

to the Michaelhouse 1st XI cricket 

side early on in the 2016 cricket 

season as an opening bowler and 

middle order batsman. During 

this time Fraser was chosen as one 

of two cricketers at Michaelhouse 

invited to participate in practice 

sessions with the KZN Dolphins 

cricket squad and was selected to 

represent KZN Inland U17 to play 

in the CSA U17 Cricket Week in 

Johannesburg. 

OLD BOYS 

Truly a rare honour was when Fraser 

was awarded his Full Colours 

for cricket at Michaelhouse, this 

all being particularly impressive 

considering the fact that he is 

completing Grade 10 and therefore 

playing out of his age group. 

During his school holidays Fraser 

can still be seen The Ridge School 

cricket nets where he receives 

coaching from our resident cricket 

pro and 1st team coach, Brandon 

Buckley, pictured below on 

the right of the photo. 


GENERAL INTEREST 

Grade 3 Camp 

The Grade 3 boys, together with 

their teachers, had their camp adventure 

in September. The excitement 

and nerves were tangible as we 

boarded the bus for 2 nights away 

from our loved ones. 

It became obvious that it was the 

first time away as bag after bag arrived 

– and each one larger than 

those the teachers had brought with 

them. 

The activities ranged from wall 

climbing, hiking, swimming, shelter 

building and, of course, the muddy 

obstacle course. The boys conquered 

every challenge put before 

them showing the Right Stuff! The 

boys enjoyed the opportunity the 

build new friendships, show teamwork 

and the ability to face their 

fears. 

It was also an opportunity to learn 

more about the environment and 

understand the role humans play in 

trying to help save the planet. A reptile 

and nature talk ensured that the 

boys got up close and personal with 

a variety of natures best! 

The boys enjoyed everything on the 

camp – from the freedom of exploring 

nature in a safe environment to 

experiencing new challenges that 

differed from those at school or on 

the sports field. 

We were so proud of the way in 

which the boys handled themselves 

for the first time away from home. 

I am sure they learnt a lot about 

themselves and that they had their 

work cut out for them keeping up 

with the teachers! 

Di Wellard 

The Grade 0 Santa’s 

Shoebox Initiative 

Our Grade 0 classes worked tirelessly 

to design, decorate and most importantly 

fill their boxes in support 

of the Santa Shoebox Project. 

60 boxes were delivered to the drop 

off point ready to be handed over 

to it’s less fortunate recipient on 

Christmas Day. The boxes were 

filled with a variety of items that 

were prescribed and then each boy 

was allowed to add in something 

unique and special to give his present 

a personal touch. 

Our boys have learnt that Christmas 

time is just as much as about giving 

as it is receiving. 

The Lighthouse 

The Lighthouse saw its official 

opening in the latter part of this 

year, a true celebration of a valuable 

resource for boys, parents and teachers 

alike. The team of Lighthouse 

professionals led by Jan Mallen, 

have been very busy over the course 

of the year extending their reach 

throughout the school. This lively 

centre of learning and development 

is proving to be a cohesive, supportive 

haven for all those who seek its 

warmth and care. It is establishing 

itself as a hub of creativity, fun, collaboration 

and learning in the heart 

of the school. 

The team’s time has been well spent 

working collaboratively to fulfill various, 

individual roles, among them: 

play therapy and counselling, occupational 

therapy, speech and language 

therapy, physiotherapy and 

remedial therapy. In addition to 

these specific therapies, curriculum 

based intervention has been provided 

in Grades Two to Six, either in 

the form of small breakaway groups 

or in the context of the classroom 

environment. Collaborative teaching 

in a number of these Grades has 

enabled us to enhance our understanding 

of the boys within both a 

classroom and individual environment. 

A committed and cohesive team 

within The Lighthouse has provided 

the platform for the sharing of 

specialised educational knowledge, 

skills and resources, allowing us to 

utilise the year to grow and develop 

as professionals in order to better 

serve the teachers and boys whom 

we support. It has been a privilege 

to work as part of this dynamic team 

who are making a difference to so 

many boys’ lives. 

Jan Mallen, Candice Fletcher and 



Golf Day 

The Ridge is proud to have our annual 

golf day back on the calendar 

after 4 years since the last event. 

Parkview hosted the 28 four balls 

neatly attired in Ridge blue golf 

shirts. We certainly could not have 

asked for better weather as the rain 

stayed away and the mercury rose to 

sweltering 34 degrees Celsius. The 

warm weather, however, did not detract 

from the quality of golf played 

with our winning four ball amassing 

90 points in the four ball alliance 

competition. As usual, The Ridge 

was spoilt by its numerous suppliers 

and corporate supporters with 

some amazing prizes. One of the 

highlights of the day was drawing 

the winner of The Lion Sands weekend 

away prize generously donated 

to the School by the More family to 

raise funds for our newly adopted 

Rhinos. 

Planning for next year is already 

under way and we hope to build on 

what was an extremely enjoyable day 

out. 

Joe Kotwal 

Ridge Mums take on The New York 

Marathon 

Past and present Ridge mums, after months of training, headed off to New 

York to take on a must have on everyone’s bucket list – The New York 

Marathon. Described by many as the only time a New Yorker will give way 

for you, the race is a test of ones focus as one can’t help but get caught up 

in the amazing sites made popular by Hollywood. All six starters finished 

the race in the allotted time frame and have vowed to reunite one day and 

do it all over again. 

Front Row left to right: Linda Kok, Debbie Thomas, Karen Short and 

Caroline Schnell 

Back row left to right: Lucy Gush & Kobie Claasens 



The School and the PA 

say farewell to Kath 

Robins 

After her two-year term of office as 

the chair of The Ridge PA, Kath 

Robins gave a heartfelt speech to 

parents and staff at The PA Cocktail 

Party in late November. Kath 

served with diligence and always 

had a calmness that filtered through 

to those around her. As is typical 

with Kath, her words gave praise to 

the volunteers mums of the PA and 

highlighted the amazing work they 

do for The Ridge but also Salvazione 

Christian School and The Hope 

School. Kath will be succeeded by 

the very capable Fanella Johns. 

Below, an excerpt from Kath’s 

speech. 

Judo (A letter from a 

proud parent...) 

Dear Mr Stanley, 

I am writing to inform you that the 

Junior and Senior Prep boys, who 

represented the Ridge School, at 

the judo inter schools competition 

on Saturday afternoon, 3 December 

2016, placed second in the competition. 

The junior school boys are 

Jaden Paxton, Joshua Barassa and 

Tate Millar. The senior schools boys 

are Cheyenne Paxton, Ross Ravelli, 

Lukhanyo Dongwana and James 

Weinberg. 

Now that 2016 is coming to an end 

and so is my time at The Ridge, part 

of me wants to start all over again 

as I have so enjoyed my experiences 

here and especially being a part 

of this very special family. Being 

Chair of the PA for the last 2 years 

has been an absolute privilege and 

I have been so lucky to work alongside 

such wonderful and talented 

people. 

To the PA of 2016 – thank you for 

sitting through hours of meetings 

and for all the organisation and efficiency 

you handle each and every 

task. It’s a big ask and it is so appreciated. 

I know we have made a huge 

difference and not too mention how 

fun it has been to watch you all sitting 

outside Cupped laughing and 

enjoying being part of the school 

and I can so recommend being a 

pertise and experience would have 

correctly seen them through to first 

place, as it did to reach the semi-finals 

against strong competitors like 

St John’s College. 

Penelope Paxton 

member of the PA to any parent. 

And in the words of the great Dr 

Seuss 

“Don’t cry because it’s over – smile 

because it happened” 

These boys were absolutely amazing! 

In my view the only reason they 

placed second in the competition 

was because they were matched 

against boys and girls who were not 

in their height and weight category 

in the semi-finals, yet took up the 

challenge. Had they been up against 

their respective peers, I have no 

doubt that their combined skills, ex-

Horizons Term 3 2016 FINAL1

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