Page 4 - Southwell School Year Book 2020

PRIZE GIVING ADDRESS - HEADMASTER
It is great to be celebrating 2020 at Southwell. As people in 2020, we have been challenged by Covid-19 and personal situations and all felt successes, all helping us build and develop our character.
This year we lost two great Fellows and supporters of Southwell - Ken Holmes and Tony Beveridge. Tony attended Southwell from 1935-1939: an 85 year association with the School. Tony passed away on July 27. He was a Trust Board member, Fellow and father of four old boys. Ken Holmes was the father of two Southwell students, Glenn and Ken, both boarders, and two grandsons, Alastair and David. Ken assisted in forming the Southwell Foundation Trust, was a Board Trustee and Southwell Fellow. Rest in Peace Tony and Ken.
Thank you to our Fellows and Trust Board. Southwell is fortunate to have such good leadership and governance. Thank you to the Fellows for their support and passion for Southwell created over time. Thank you to the Trust Board for their considered navigation, judgements and support. To Board Chairman, Mr Gary Mollard, thank you for your astute and considered inuence. Your sensible, positive thinking and calm steady approach is greatly valued.
Thank you to the Senior Leadership Team - Mr Mills, Mrs Bindon, Mr Walch, Mrs Walters and Mrs Reddish. I enjoy your company daily and admire your all-round abilities to lead, guide and support the Southwell children, staff and parents.
Mrs Speedy, thank you for your action and everything you do for Southwell and myself.
Thank you Chaplain for your spiritual leadership and shepherding of our community.
Thank you to our staff for your great deeds through 2020. Your adaptability with Covid-19 as individuals, and collectively, was excellent. Every one of you leads. Thank you to our talented teaching staff for your dedication and ability to personalise learning situations. Thank you to our support and administration staff who allow the Southwell students and teachers to perform at their best, day in and day out.
Thank you to the following staff for their dedication and service, who share their nal day with us:
• Mr Mikkleson, who has spent 2020 with
us and heads to Auckland next year.
• Mme Shirley, retiring after 25 years (100
terms) of teaching French
• Miss Smit, Miss Steyn, and Mr Kriel, our
Gap Tutors, thank you for all you have done in the Boarding House and around school and best wishes on your return to South Africa.
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Thank you to our parents, who offer so much time and expertise to the wide range of activities we offer. You make a positive difference to our students and staff.
Boarders, boarding staff and boarding families, thank you for 2020. The all-round learning in boarding sets you up for life. You learn to navigate the social world of humanity around you which allows you to cherish so many positive moments that occur naturally every day.
Thank you Year 8 for leading yourselves and leading others through your attitudes and actions. You have been great role models to our younger students. All the best in 2021 and beyond.
Through the second half of this year, as staff and students, we have challenged ourselves to be our best selves. No matter what our age, by understanding how to develop strategies to create your best self, the outcomes for yourself, your loved ones, peers and people around you can be superb.
Simple basic foundational strategies of eating well, sleeping well and exercising well, with specic strategies to think and act positively with purpose, is great fuel to being our best self. When you think of your best self I am sure you see so many excellent personal qualities being shown and others love those qualities. What you read, what you listen to and who you engage with cultivates your ability to be your best self. Nourishing optimism, that is balanced with the realities of life, is important, as we encounter the disappointment and successes through the roller-coaster of life.
Thinking and being able to correct attitude are the keys to being your best self. Questioning yourself as to whether you are being your best self at times is a stimulant to act and improve yourself quickly. Through this term, and over a lifetime, I want to see our people ourishing and being their best selves and I will continue to communicate strategies and ideas to our people whenever I can.
past parent of two sons.
• Ralph Faulkner - has a 70 year association
with Southwell. Old Boy, Past Fellow, Board Chair and Foundation Board, past parent and current grandfather.
Founder’s Day, our 109th birthday, was a day where we celebrated the Southwell spirit on the Oval. Having fun, sharing relationship and activities across the age groups and celebrating our history and who we are today make this day one of the favourites on the Southwell calendar.
Some notable Southwell student achievements this year include
• 95 Achievement Ties awarded
• 32 Achievement Bars awarded. (25 points across the categories of academic,
service, cultural and sport.)
• Eleven students achieved over 50 points. • One Year 8 student achieved 100 points. • 51 Achievement Badges. Available to all
Year 4-6 students. Students must collect a minimum of ten points across three of the categories of academic, service, cultural and sport.
Specic students have been awarded prizes related to the academic, cultural, sport, spiritual, social and service moments in Southwell. Beyond these, however, are so many more moments of success that occur on a daily basis. Success is giving your best.
2020 has been a great all-round year of learning at Southwell.
Per Aspera Ad Astrum.
Jason Speedy
Through this year Southwell received three signicant donations from former parents to benet Southwell and its students into the future.
• Ken Holmes - past parent, Board Trustee and Southwell Fellow.
• Sally McKibbon - daughter of Noreen Johnstone, grand-daughter of our second Headmaster, Henry Sergel and
Senior Leadership
p Team 2020 Southwell School Yearbook 2020
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We have challenged ourselves to be our best selves.