Dear Parents, Staff and Friends
I trust that you have or had a most enjoyable December break and that you are ready for the challenges that 2023 will bring. I would like to extend a very warm welcome back to all our learners and a special welcome to all our new learners and parents. We wish you all the very best for your time here at MECS.
I would like to give a special welcome to the new members of staff who have joined us this year. Mrs Shani de Beer will be taking up the post of senior Life Orientation teacher and will also be offering some junior Afrikaans classes. Mrs Suné Swart will be teaching Grade 8 and Grade 9 Afrikaans classes, while Miss Mandy Makoro takes on the junior Social Sciences. We are also please to welcome Mr. Tiaan Struwig to coordinate our extra mural program. Mr Aubrey Mashuangako and Mrs Portia Manamela have join the ancillary staff. On behalf of all our learners, staff and parents I would like to extend a very warm welcome to all our new staff members and trust that their stay with us will be a long and happy one.
MECS welcomes new staff members
At the close of 2022 we said a farewell to a number of staff members who left us . Miss Lumari Smit, now Mrs Swanepoel has moved to joined her husband in Pretoria whilst Mrs Taybha Matola became the proud mother of a bouncing baby girl and will return to us at the start of term two.
During the course of December Charmaine Neethling and her family moved to the Western Cape to start a new business venture. I would like to take this opportunity to thank her for everything she did for the school in their Life Orientation department and also as the school counsellor. Her impact will no doubt continue to be felt for many months to come.
Mrs Helena Labuschagne has left us after more than 20 years of service to the school. It is impossible to put into words the impact and the effect that she has had on the school, and on the many, many learners that have passed through these doors and the many who have been under her care. Certainly, she leaves very, very big shoes to fill.Her passion for the school and its continued success will be sorely missed.
I would like to express our deep gratitude for the many years of dedicated service she has provided to our school. Her contributions, hard work, and commitment have been truly invaluable, and we will greatly miss her presence here.
Her dedication, professionalism, and positive attitude have been an inspiration to all of us, and we are grateful for the example she has set for our colleagues and the rest of the staff. Mrs Labuschagne’s contributions have been instrumental in helping us achieve our goals over the years and we are proud to have had her as a member of our team.
We thank her for the many years of loyal service. Her contribution to the success of the school will be remembered and valued always. We wish her all the best in her future endeavours.
Golf Day
e will be hosting a school’s Golf Day on Thursday 26 March at the Kameeldoring Golf Club. Following in the incredible success of the 2022 Golf Day, we hope to make this year’s event more than special. We have a number of sponsors who have indicated their willingness to contribute but we would really like to see our parents involved in the day with attendance, teams or sponsorship. More information to follow.
Important Dates
Please familiarise yourselves with the term calendar. Please note that as we source sporting fixtures, and other events, new dates will be added. These changes will be communicated to you as they are confirmed.
The following dates are of particular importance so please diaries were necessary.
January 2023
23 MONDAY Grade 4 and 5 Parent Meeting 17h30 to 18h30
24 TUESDAY Grade 6 and 7 Parent Meeting 17h30 to 18h30
25 WEDNESDAY Grade 8 and 9 Parent Meeting 17h30 to 18h30
26 THURSDAY Grade 10, 11 and 12 Parent Meeting 17h30 to 19h30
As we embark on a new academic year, we want to remind you that despite the challenges and uncertainties we may face, we are a strong and resilient community. Together, we will navigate this new journey with hope and determination.
We want to remind our parents and learners that the coming year will be filled with opportunities for growth, learning, and discovery. We are excited to see the progress and achievements you will make in your studies and extracurricular activities.
We want to remind you that you are not alone in this journey, we are here to support you, guide you, and encourage you every step of the way. We are a team, we are a family, and we will face any obstacle together.
Let’s start this new academic year with a positive attitude, an open mind, and an open heart. Let’s make the most of this opportunity and make this year a memorable one.
Warmest regards
Brian Dawson