Term 1, edition 2 2019

From the Head of School’s Desk My address to the school at final Assembly focused on transformation and diversity. I would like to take the opportunity to share

this message with you.

I am sure you have been in conversation with your parents or family members or friends about “the future”. And of course it is

usually about your future! What we do know about the future is that often:

it is not predictable

it is not programmed or set

it will involve change and uncertainty

it will not be like the present or the past

it can be influenced by how we choose to respond

A School where I Belong by Wray, Hellenberg and Jansen says the following about transformation in schools: “Transformation in

schools needs to begin with us looking inward at ourselves and our identity. That’s where we need to start transforming. We need

to begin to reflect on who we are as the adults in the school [staff and parents]. How do we see ourselves and the world? How do

we see others? How might this be shaping how we react to what is happening around us and how we react to what the young

people in our schools are trying to tell us? Perhaps, if we can begin to take the time to listen to ourselves and understand what we

think and how we react, we can begin to really listen to and understand the young people in our classrooms.”

At Epworth, you know our Vision or Purpose Statement (which describes what we hope to achieve): To free the potential in

individuals to become relevant, resilient and ethical leaders who contribute to our ever-changing world, i.e. to free the possible

capabilities in each person to become appropriate, significant, strong, decent, spirited, and principled leaders who can make a

difference to our ever-changing world.

You know and commit to the Epworth Mission Statement (which describes who we are and for what purpose we exist): Our

Methodist ethos, diversity, innovative and relevant education, promote the development of character and enable individuals to

realise their full potential in an ever-changing world. This is provided in a nurturing and enriching environment where our values

are fostered and honoured.

Methodist ethos – which is encapsulated in our motto FAITH COMPASSION COURAGE and our values:

We keep faith in God, ourselves and others.

We serve all with compassion and respect.

We nurture hope.

We take the courageous option.

Our integrity is above reproach.

Our lifestyle cares for and sustains the social and natural environment.

Our mission naturally takes us to our focus areas which include:

PUPILS: to provide an engaging 21st century learning environment that teachers appropriate skills, knowledge and values – open curriculum – more opportunities in many areas of learning.

STAFF: to attract and retain excellent, creative, motivated and diverse staff, who are enabled to succeed.

MARKETING: to be recognised as an outstanding, diverse South African school.

PARENTS: to foster and maintain effective relationships with parents, in order to enhance their understanding of the education of the 21st century child.

SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY: to create responsible South African and global citizens, imbued with the spirit of “Ubuntu” and an ethos of service.

FUNDING AND FACILITIES: to provide and effectively manage financial resources and facilities.

So where is Epworth along the journey of transformation and diversity?

Epworth School, since its inception in 1898, has had embedded in our core values the courage to challenge societal norms, in part through the Methodist belief in the significance of education as a driver of social change. Our Deputies, Mrs Munro and Mrs Neethling, attended an ISASA Transformation and Diversity workshop in 2018 and came back full of enthusiasm for the inter-active, communicative and constructive way in which Claire Hock (an Epworthian) led a diverse group of people towards common under-standing. Mr White (Principal of the Prep school) and I attended the workshop in 2017.

Girls, you have been involved in various workshops, presentations and group discussions since the end of 2016 (which started with discussions with the grade 11s of that year). Since then all grades have been part of discussions under the headings of WOKE and now IDEAS. And a huge thank you to Mrs Neethling who has been arranging and organising speakers and topics for discussion. At the end of 2018 we published our Statement of Transformation and Diversity: Intent and Purpose.

At the beginning of 2019, Claire Hock from ISASA facilitated a transformation and diversity workshop with academic and support staff, parents and Board members. Key diversity issues relating to the different areas of school life, as well as activities to address these issues, were identified.

We have put together a Transformation and Diversity Task Team with representatives from all Epworth stakeholders: Board, staff (High and Prep Schools), Human Resources (employment equity), pupil representatives, representatives from the Prep and High Schools’ Parent Associations, and Epworthians.

In keeping with the ISASA Guide to Transformation and Diversity in Schools, we aim to set out a three-to-five-year plan for transfor-mation and diversity at Epworth.

All decisions that we make at our School are subject to certain touchstones:

1. We are guided by our Vision, our Mission and our Values.

2. We are guided by the Christian identity of our School, specifically our Methodist ethos, as well as the Constitution of South Africa.

3. We are inspired by our drive for educational excellence.

4. We are driven by the long-term sustainability of our School. Epworth School is committed to making a positive contribution to the transformation and development, through inclusivity and diversity, of our South African society. We will continue to exemplify “Ubuntu”; to personify the notion of humanity being developed by our understanding that the individual is humanised through a “compassionate” community driven by “faith” and “courage”. A further quote from A School Where I Belong : “The challenge to school leaders is to seek out difference – to push against the human attraction to sameness and the comfort of familiarity. School leaders need to deliberately create more diverse staffrooms and classrooms, not only because learners need to be able to navigate through and succeed in a multi-cultural and diverse world, but also because it is morally right to do so.” May this be Epworth’s journey into the future! Ms Laura Bekker

FIDA HUMANA FORTIS

Mudman...with a difference The aQuellé Epworth Mudman took on a different slant this year as a result of having to eliminate all water activities due

to recent sightings of crocodiles in the dam. Undeterred by this challenge, the organisers devised a challenging run-cycle

-run format that appealed to all ages and abilities. Cool, cloudy conditions, in contrast to the usual scorching heat,

greeted participants who entered either the full (5 km trail run, 20 km bike ride, 2 km trail run) or half-distance (2.5 km

trail run, 10 km bike ride, 3 km trail run) event. A major highlight was the Irritech water-spray system, set up for the

Mudskippers (11 years and under), which lined the running course.

Rerouting Arts Festival

Epworth’s Senior Dance Company featured in the

Rerouting Arts Festival by joining other local schools to

perform a flash mob in the Pietermaritzburg city centre.

The festival was a site-specific, multi-disciplinary arts

festival that used alternate public spaces around the city

to showcase a full spectrum of visual arts, dance, music

and dance performances. It was organised by Teagan

Peacock, one of Epworth’s specialist dance teachers.

Recognition for environmental commitment

Epworth celebrates a Platinum 1 Decade award from Eco-Schools for its commitment and dedication to creating

a more sustainable planet. One of the two oldest Eco-Schools in South Africa, Epworth has received an award

every year for the past 16 years. KZN Eco-School’s project manager, Nomfundo Ndlovu, congratulated Epworth

on its achievement: “Through your sustained efforts, your school has seen positive transformation, improved

environmental education through project-based learning, as well as impactful community outreach projects.”

Camaraderie at Senior Girls’ Gala

Celebrating Pi Day

Pupils and staff engaged in a variety of Pi-themed activities – pie baking, digit reciting,

three-legged races and hat designing – in celebration of the mathematical constant of

Pi. Pi Day is observed around the world on 14 March as the digits in this date (3/14)

correspond with the first three digits of Pi (3.14). Epworth has been celebrating Pi Day

since 2007 and it first became an inter-house fixture in 2013.

Music at St Luke’s Matric art exhibition

Grade 12 musicians treated the Howick community to a

concert at St Luke’s Church in Howick on 22 March. It

provided a wonderful performance opportunity for the

pupils and highlighted Epworth’s music prowess.

Grade 12 art pupils attended the opening of the KZN

Midlands Matric Art Exhibition at the Tatham Art Gallery.

A variety of art works, produced by last year’s Grade 12

art pupils, were showcased.

On 21 March, pupils

and staff wore mis-

matched socks in

recognition of Down

Syndrome Awareness

Day.

Curl Up and Dye - theatrical realism at its best

Erin Burgess, Bassie Sithole, Asanda Zondi, Nokusa Mbatha and Isabella Kelly put on a superb performance of Curl

up and Dye, a South African protest play set in 1989 in a hair salon in a decaying Joubert Park area of Johannesburg.

The pupils played five women from diverse backgrounds grappling with the shifting social dynamics of a country on

the brink of a new democracy. Their performances provided audiences with a powerful social commentary on South

African politics, feminism, social relationships and hierarchies.

A showcase of talent Epworth’s Music

department organised

a musical talent show,

which highlighted the

pupils’ musical

expertise. It featured

instrumentalists, sing-

ers and ensembles.

Epworth Music

teachers, Mr David Orr

and Ms Ilse Myburgh,

also participated in the

show.

Delivery of matric dance invites by the Harley Davidson Club

Achievements

Debating

Faye Crawford was selected for the

Senior South Africa “A” Debating

team. She will compete overseas

later in the year.

Athletics

Margaréte Zietsman, Jade Miller and

Tia Terblanche were selected for the

KZN Athletics team.

Chloe Dundas-Starr was selected

for the KZN Artistic Swimming

team.

Epworth’s first tennis team came second at the

Independent Schools’ Tennis festival in

Grahamstown.

Nicolette Challenor was selected

for the KZN Biathlon team. She

also won a gold and silver medal

at the Lifesaving SA National

Championships.

Lisa McKenzie represented

KZN at the Inter-provincial

Tennis Tournament in

Pretoria.

For the second consecutive year, Epworth won

the PMB central region SPAR Hockey

Tournament.

Epworth won its 13th South African Schools’ Canoe

Sprints title. Lizanne Conradie, Cayleigh Shaw and Caitlin

MacKenzie took top honours.

Canoeing

Hockey

Biathlon & Lifesaving

Artistic swimming

Tennis

Achievements

Canoe Polo

Shea Sutton, Cara Waud, Amy Peckett, Jade Dundas-Starr, Amy Hutton, Shannon-Ann Parker-Dennison

and Chloe Dundas-Starr represented the KZN U21 Canoe Polo team and won the South African Canoe Polo

Championships.

Diving

Nompumelelo Memela (reserve), Margaréte

Zietsman, Demi-Lee Penny (reserve) and

Hannah Kelling (not present) made the KZN

Diving team.

Carla Meikle participated in the

SA National Junior Swimming

Championships and achieved a

top 10 SA ranking for the 50 m,

100 m and 200 m freestyle.

Shea Sutton came first in the Ski-

world Gauteng Open in the U21

category. She will receive

provincial colour for her

performance.

Water Skiing

Lexi Williamson, Chloe Bentley, Tannah and

Bailey Duncan were selected for the KZN

Midlands Action Netball team.

Abbygail Schwulst, Asanda Sithole and Nothemba Gulubane were

selected to represent the KZN Midlands Action Netball U17

mixed team.

Action Netball

Swimming