The Ridge School Magazine 2020

GRADE 7N
TRIBUTE TO 7N
When I think about this year, I am always
reminded about Robert Burns poem, “To
a mouse” and think about best laid plans.
We meticulously organise, diarise and plan
to last detail, and just like the tractor that
destroyed the mouse’s plan in the poem,
COVID came into our lives and completely
turned 2020 on its head.
But the year is not completely lost, 2020
is the year we look at our lives and think
about the simplicity of life, and what really
matters: Family, looking after each other, our
good health and being grateful for what we
have.
In years to come, when you say “when
I was young” you can share a unique
and a one of a kind story that will be in
the history books. As the class of 2020
you get to tell the tale of surviving GC
classes, having online lessons with bad
Wi-Fi and how washing your hands became
international health and safety protocol.
When the only outing that you could get
done was shopping, you realise that there is
something unique about this time, the world
stopped, took a break and perhaps used
it as an opportunity to revive itself, maybe
we too needed to stop and take a breath.
Somewhere between all of that craziness
just when you think things couldn’t get any
worse, to add insult to injury, we had to
deal with a pandemic, online lessons with
load shedding and to top it all of there was
no alcohol.
My lessons changed, from my usual opening
to a lesson, ‘good morning boys, open the
windows it’s stuffy in here, to good morning
boys, turn on your cameras, I need to see if
you are still in the lesson.’ And some things
never changed, the everyday stories that
light up your day, COVID or not, you boys
brought fun, animation and life to the lesson.
Beyond the light-hearted moments lies a
tragedy that touched the lives of millions
of people around the world, the heartache,
the sadness and a devastation caused by
this invisible threat that came into our lives
will live in the memory of everyone. In the
darkest of times, we must look for hope
and inspiration. we must search for the light
that will keep us going. No matter how
difficult this year was, the Grade 7s of 2020
turned up, with a smile.
You are the chosen ones, the group of
boys who were asked to step up to the
challenges and boy did you. We are proud
of all you that accomplished, the charity
drive that helped our local community. The
many boys who made masks and distributed
food parcels and the boys who cooked and
helped with daily chores around the house.
You had to accept disappointment, that is
not easy to manage, but you stood tall, and
turned up in the face of what was truly
difficult. You learnt how to work from home,
goodness, that is a skill on its and many
many of you, worked quietly behind the
screen, adapted with a moment notice and
life carried on. So, for me the year isn’t lost,
you learnt new things, displayed courage
and resilience and showed the Right Stuff.
You lived this year with purpose.
In the slightly edited words of Barack
Obama, “More than ever this is your
moment, your generation’s world to shape.
You’ve got more role models, more road
maps, more resources than any generation
did. You’ve got more tools, technology
and talents than other generation. No
generation has been better positioned to be
warriors for justice and remake the world.”
This Grade 7s, is just the beginning. So,
tighten up your mask, sanitise your hands,
sit a few meters away and get ready for the
next chapter in your lives.
MS NAIDOO
7N
KEMKA
AMAONWU
With dedication and passion,
Nothing is too much
This gentle kind boy is an absolute gem
The ball’s in your court and
we know your future is a slam dunk
KABIR
BUDLENDER
The Ridge School is a place filled with
hearts of gold.
The Ridge, caring for their community,
being bold.
I only came here for two years but it is
as if I was here for four.
A school with an entrance to
opportunities like a door.
From the sports, teachers, facilities and
more.
A gentle soul and a gentleman too
With a helping hand and friendly smile
Lifting us through music as only he can
And wizz kid on the computer too
With such amazing talents you will be
a super star
THE NEXT CHAPTER
The Ridge - my home
and my family
Grade 0 - I was scared
but I knew that the
teachers cared
The best memories made
with my friends
Our memories made day
in and day out all the way
until the end
We were all known and
grown
We are all unique
But like a maths equation,
we all have one common
denominator
We love The Ridge
The time is near, it is time
to shed a tear.
KABIR BUDLENDER
I have never seen a school like this
before.
Leaving The Ridge will be bitter-sweet.
It holds memories with all of them like
a treat.
I will hold them for decades at least.
Each time I remember, it will be a feast.
The Ridge will have a place in my heart.
It’s storing good times like a cart.
KEMKA AMAONWU
44