Dear Parents

As we embark on this new journey of 2023, it is my privilege to welcome you all back and to wish you all a wonderful, blessed and prosperous year! We also want to extend a special word of welcome to our new parents and we express the hope that you will soon be part of our St Andrew’s family!

This year is a special year in the history of St Andrew’s as we celebrate 60 years of excellence! We look back in pride as we remember the milestones along the journey and we are humbled as we recognize God’s grace and mercy in all of this.

As we reflect on the past, we also acknowledge the huge responsibility of protecting what is good, while at the same time adapting to the challenges of the present.

We are all stakeholders in the process of preparing our children for an uncertain future. Thus, it is important that we share our vision from time to time.

Firstly, we need to prepare our children to be able to rise to the occasion, irrespective of what the circumstances might look like! For that to happen, we believe that their character must be decisive and; therefore, we have to foster morals and values embedded in the Word of God.

Secondly, we need to develop hard skills that enable them to do what needs to be done; and basically I am referring to the academics and everything related to that.

Thirdly, we must equip our children with what has come to be known as global skills. These include that ability to communicate effectively, the ability to be a keen observer, to have empathy with people, to work in close collaboration with other people and to have critical and logical thinking skills.

The challenges of our daily lives require more than intelligence and hard work – we need people with humanity, who are mindful and aware, empathetic enough to tackle the ills we face ethically, with resilience and motivation to overcome the challenges, for the greater good of all.

1. Academics 2022

As already announced previously, St Andrew’s can rightfully be proud of the academic results of 2022. As a school (Grade 1 – 12), St Andrew’s achieved a 100% pass rate which is an excellent and commendable achievement! This will surely give momentum to 2023 and encourage all of us to maintain the set standard.

The detailed analysis of the matric results will only be officially released later during this month and we will keep our parents updated.

2. School discipline

It is important to note that the traditional understanding of the word discipline, meaning that rules and orders should be obeyed and if not, the offenders should be punished, is not applicable to St Andrew’s. We say that good behavior and doing the “right thing” based on a sound moral and ethical compass, inspired by the Word of God, must be encouraged. Should our learners deviate from that, they should be reprimanded and consequently guided back onto the right path. Our children must however, know that our actions have consequences and that we are held accountable for what we do or neglect to do.

We often encounter criticism, directed at our system of detention and we acknowledge the fact that there might be flaws. We are busy revising the system in order for us to address specific infringements with aligned corrective measures which will eventually discourage our children from repeating the same “mistakes”. We, however, need our parents to take our hands as we seek ways and means to serve the best interest of our children. It will also be a priority this year to get back to basics regarding the culture of “good manners” as we engage with one another on all levels.

Other matters that will require our serious attention and intervention would be the use and abuse of cellphones at school and also ensuring that our learners align themselves with the school’s official dress code and expectations related to general appearance. Again we trust and believe that our parents will support our efforts to ensure that St Andrew’s protects the proud history established over the past 60 years.

2. Finances

Parents are reminded of the importance of keeping school fee payments up to date. We are relying on the projected (budget) income per month to fulfil our fixed financial obligations and also to invest in school infrastructure, maintenance, academics and extra-mural activities. Our parents can be assured that the school’s finances are managed according to sound financial principles and that, despite a tight budget, Management and the Board of Governors will always utilize resources in a way that add value to the school and children.

2. Dates to remember

• School Athletics: Friday, 13 January 2023 from 07:30 – 14:00
• PTA election: Monday, 16 January 2023 at 17:30
• Grade 4 – 7 Parents information meeting: Monday, 16 January 2023 at 18:00
• Grade 1 – 3 Parents information meeting: Tuesday, 17 January 2023 at 17:30
• Grade 8 – 9 Parents information meeting: Wednesday, 18 January 2023 at 17:30
• Grade 10 – 11 Parents information meeting: Wednesday, 18 January 2023 at 18:30
• Grade 12 Parents information meeting: Thursday, 19 January 2023 at 17:30
• St Matthias: Dedication service: Sunday, 22 January 2023 from 18:00 – 18:40

Welcoming new staff member

We are happy to announce that the following staff members have joined St Andrew’s due to the vacancies left by Mrs Erasmus, Mr Hall, Mrs Gavine and Mr Nel.

• Mr Mel Marx (CAT / IT Grades 10 – 12 and IT Maintenance)
• Ms Sheriah Rose (English Grades 6 & 7 and Geography Grades 9 & 10)
• Ms Caydwen Bause (Accounting Grades 10, 11 & 12 and EMS Grades 8 & 9)
• Mr Edgard Molelekoa (EMS Grade 8, Mathematical Literacy Grades 10 – 12)
• Mr Sam Minne (Maintenance manager / supervisor)