Editorial – A Message from Mr Taylor

Reflecting on the term, I am very grateful for the wide variety of opportunities that we have been able to provide for our students. Music evenings, talent shows, a host of sporting festivals, tours and camps have been the order of the day. Our new Grade 8 students have settled in well and our Matrics are making steady progress.

We have enjoyed some significant sporting achievements this term and I am particularly pleased about the revival of water polo after a number of years of not competing. Rowing has produced some top results. Athletics and most of our other sports have shown huge improvement in results, but more importantly the levels of participation have increased significantly. What is most pleasing is that numerous individuals across many sports are succeeding at provincial level. Over the first weekend in April, by way of example, Chelsea van Dyk won some significant events at the SA Athletics Championships, running fantastic times. It would be remiss of me not to mention that our Netball 1st Team came second at the St Andrew’s Festival. Their wins against St Stithians Girls’, Herschel, Durban Girls’, St Mary’s Girls, Eunice and Kingswood College places them in a strong position to do well at our own Easter Festival this year.

In my closing assembly this term, I encouraged the College students to maintain a healthy, balanced perspective in light of the term reports that were published and the many sporting achievements of the term. We live in a society where success is measured in a very material way. We often value wealth, position and power above qualities like humility, service and meekness. It is easy to fall into the trap of comparing ourselves with others and measuring our human worth against achievement. Our value as humans, however, does not lie in what we achieve. Our worth should lie in our service to others and in our relationships. It was Mahatma Gandhi who said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” That said, purpose in life and our human worth should ultimately be measured in how God sees us and our obedience to his call upon our lives.

The plans for the new academic STEM build and the multipurpose hall which will be called ‘The Memorial Hall’ are making good progress. We will hopefully be breaking ground at the end of April this year. The Memorial Hall is the name of the early school hall on the campus downtown and reflects the reason for our wonderful school’s existence. The school was started as a ‘living memorial’ in honour of those who had given their lives in the First World War. The desire of the early founders was to establish St Dunstan’s College to serve the Benoni community.

At the end of the term we said goodbye to Mrs Wurts and Mr Ellse, who both retired after serving the school for 19 and 20 years respectively. They have led lives in service to others and exemplify our motto, “I Serve”. We congratulate them and thank them for their commitment, dedication and service to our school. Their passion for teaching and support of the school goes beyond merely a place of work. The positive impact that a teacher can make on the life of a student is very special. It is true that teachers who love teaching, teach children to love learning. We pray that God would continue to bless both of them as they move into the next phase of their lives. As both Mrs Wurts and Mr Ellse were in a Locum position this past term, we now look forward to the return of Mrs Roux, and the start of Mrs Terri Coulter who will be teaching Mathematics. Mrs Mdhluli will also be returning from maternity leave, and we thank Mrs Ruthven for her contribution to our school this term.

Mr McIlrath resigned in February to take up a position of Executive Headmaster at St Paul’s College in Namibia. He has managed the Preparatory School for over a decade with aplomb – particularly through the difficult Covid period. Through his leadership, St Dunstan’s Preparatory has upheld its premier position in Benoni and has grown in reputation within the broader Independent School Association of South Africa (ISASA). Mr McIlrath is to be congratulated on serving St Dunstan’s faithfully for 12 years as Head of the Preparatory. We can be proud that we are sending out a leader who has grown in stature and who will carry the St Dunstan’s flag with pride.

Mr Matthew Moolman has been appointed as the new Head of the Preparatory School. He brings with him 20 years of experience in education and a proven record of leadership in the pre-primary and primary school phase. He is currently serving as Principal of the Preparatory School at CBC Boksburg. Mr Moolman holds a BCom Degree and a PGCE, and he began his teaching career at Benoni High School, where he taught Business Economics and Mathematics. He also taught Business Studies at St Dunstan’s College for six years. During this time, he was involved in strength and conditioning coaching for the rowers and rugby players. His vision for St Dunstan’s Preparatory is to collaborate with staff to enhance our standing as the leading primary school in Benoni, across all aspects of our holistic offering. His experience at college level brings valuable insight into the holistic development of a student and their progression through our College, and we look forward to his contribution to who we are.

As we rapidly move towards Easter, I trust that it would be a time of rest and a time to build in some good family time. Please join us for the Easter Sports Festival if you are in Benoni, which, weather permitting, is going to turn out to be a grand event. Alumni are asked to visit the information table to receive a small token of our appreciation for your support and
attendance at the festival. Easter is a very special time in the life of our community. I am reminded of the following scripture, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45 NIV

Mr Taylor