McKenzie House
March 2008
Term 1: Newsletter 14
Various Updates

“One’s work may be finished someday,
but one’s education never.”
Alexandre Dumas, novelist and playwright

Dear McKenzie Family

We have had glorious weather in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands over the last few weeks. The large plain trees in the McKenzie avenue are starting to shed their leaves and the campus is looking magnificent.

On Monday the first Mark Order closes and the marks will be available shortly with reports to follow at the end of the term. There are a number of boys who have been working hard but there are some who are still to get into top gear. I look forward to looking at the schedules and seeing how the boys have done. I encourage you to scrutinize your son’s results and have a fruitful discussion with him on where he can improve. It is important that we have high expectations of our boys and they must realize that mediocrity is not something synonymous with Hilton. We want each individual to maximize his potential.

Periodically I invite each Form group to my house for hot chocolate and eats or a braai. These are good occasions to chat to boys and I always enjoy having them around. They are always keen to join me at my home even though it is only an hour or so after supper! This past Friday, the Form III group came to my home. Here are some pictures capturing this event.

Rory Murtagh, Matt Hopkins and Njabulo Buthelezi

Braden Snyman, Kasonde Chiti, Chris Pappas Jonty Campbell, Johnny Polinati and Andrew Kvalsvig enjoying the hot chocolate and cake.

 
Andrew Bayley, Mick Thurston, Wesley Janse van Vuuren, Dave Borthwick and Gerrie Heymans chilling!

Our Family Day will take place on Sunday the 8th June which is the weekend we play Maritzburg College. It will be held at the Henley Lapa and I ask you to diarize this important date. It is a good occasion to socialize with the McKenzie Family as well as have a chat with your son’s tutor. I look forward to seeing you on the 8th of June.

On Tuesday the 4th of March I will be in Johannesburg with the Headmaster and Counsellor at the Inanda Club. I look forward to seeing many McKenzie parents at this function.

Our Golf Day takes place on the 16th of March and there are still quite a few spaces left in the field. I encourage parents to help Matt van Asche with this venture and to join us for the day. He still needs a number of prizes and I appeal to parents to assist him in this regard. We would like to give player a prize on the day. The four-balls will soon be published on the web.

I remind parents to please send us the flight details for boys who will be flying home at the end of the term so we can make the necessary transport arrangements.

I have had a number of e-mails from Adam Duxbury (Eton) and Kyle Forder (Gordonstoun) who are having a great time on exchange at their respective schools. We look forward to hearing from them on their return.

I hope you all have a good week.

Kind Regards

Paul