FOUNDER'S DAY REPORT 2023

In 2019 the old scholars who attended Founders’ Day asked me to change the format of Founders’ Day. 

Our wreath laying ceremony will now take place on the most suitable date nearest or on 11 November 2023. 

Westering High School celebrates its 53^rd anniversary this year.  We are therefore still a relatively young school but we have already established some good traditions and we certainly are producing excellent results academically as well as on the sportsfield.  Culturally and pastorally we are also producing excellent results and taking care of our spirituality and we are also caring for our community and environment. 

Education in South Africa is very concerned about the BELA recommendations (Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill.) 

Some of the concerns in this Bill is that it curtails the authority and powers of the SGB of a school. 

The Bill wants to enhance the authority of the Head of Department in relation to the admission of a learner to a public school; to provide that the governing body of a public school must submit admission and language policies of a public school to the Head of Department for approval and that the Head of Department may direct a public school to adopt more than one language of instruction. 

Further it lists the provision for centralised procurement of identified learning and teaching support material for public schools; to further regulate the withdrawal of the functions of governing bodies; to further regulate and refine matters relating to the budget of a public school. 

These are the specs of the BELA that concern many parents, educators and civil society at large.  The implications of the proposed changes could change the face of public education and could drive many parents to seek private education for their children.  I feel that it is imperative that the governing body of a school maintains its current powers as this body knows what is best for the children and parents of the community.  It is, however, important that we become involved in these issues and make our voices heard before BELA becomes law.

At the home front Westering High School is involved in many positive projects.  The governing body has approved many exciting projects: 

• We are currently upgrading our cricket nets at a cost of a million rand. Cricket is flourishing at our school as a boys’ and girls’ sport. 
• We are going to relay the Bruce Abrey Astroturf carpet at a cost of 4 million in October this year. 
• We have refurbished 5 of the old prefab classrooms at a cost of R881 120.00 They really are looking very smart and will last for another 20 years. 
• We are starting the building of 6 new classrooms in October 2023. These 6 classrooms will be built at a cost of 11 million rand and will be built at the back of the school in the Usendorff Quad. The stoep outside the old Woodwork Room or Art Room, depending on your matric year will become a corridor and will link to the new double story building with 3 classrooms downstairs and 3 classrooms upstairs.

We are very excited to see all these projects completed and back in use for sport. 

We are confident that when we have the Reunion in 2024 the old scholars will see the value these projects have added to the school.

 Founders’ Weekend 2024 : 16 & 17 August 2024