It is an exciting time to be at St Peter's College
As we come to the end of our first term at St Peter’s College, it is a good time to reflect on what we have achieved, update you on some important changes as look forward to an even more successful Term 2.
It is an exciting time to be at St Peter’s College. We have a great leadership team which thrives on change, diversity, and progress. I am proud and honoured to be able to reiterate that I am fortunate to be working with some of the best educators that I have had the privilege to work alongside. The drive, passion, and determination; underpinned by skill, knowledge, and empathy, has seen Teaching and Learning continue to raise progress and achievement, despite the ever changing social, learning and emotional needs that we are confronted with.
Our students and staff are working hard to ensure that 2022 continues with real momentum; there is such positive energy in our school and it’s great to feel it. I’ve been delighted with how well our Grade 8 students have settled into life at the College. It’s been wonderful getting to know them and to meeting so many of their families at the PA New Parent’s Welcome Evening on Friday, 18 February, as well as hearing the stories from their first Grade 8 Camp to Klein Kariba.
It’s not only our Grade 8s though who have settled in well; of course, our Grade 9 -12 students have too. It’s been a very focused term of hard work and I would especially like to acknowledge the early work that has been done by our student leaders, who have stepped into their leadership roles well. It’s very exciting working with this student leadership team.
Term 1 has seen students participate in an extraordinary number of co-curricular activities, through which they have demonstrated outstanding levels of engagement, creativity, and resilience.
Our school environment generates a great deal of positive feedback from the wider community. On Open Day on Saturday, 26 March, we had many comments from prospective parents and students who were impressed by the number of outstanding facilities and what the College has to offer. We are adding to the already impressive array of facilities with the building of our new state of the art Maths Centre and Indoor Basketball Centre, which are due for completion at the end of June and September respectively.
Our teachers have been amazing! The fact St Peter’s College has continued to operate seamlessly, with a consistently high standard of professionalism, is a tribute to their resilience and sheer strength of character.
Sadly, leaving us this term are also some wonderful teachers - some here for just a short while, while others have been part of our community for a long time:
- We bid farewell to maths teacher Mr Liam Smorfitt, an alumnus of St Peter’s College who is moving to KZN. Mr Sonny Dlamini, who was the HOD of Maths at CBC Mount Edmund in Pretoria has joined the College in place of Liam.
- Mrs Camille Koukoutsis, who was an intern and then a teacher at the College will also be leaving at the end of Term 2 and is replaced by Mrs Oriana de Villiers, who teachers senior IEB English at Hyde Park High School.
- Mr Ray Naidoo, who has been in the IT department at St Peter’s College for several years has accepted a post in a corporate environment.
- Our HOD of Maths, Mr Siyabonga Dzingwa is leaving St Peter’s College to take up a wonderful opportunity as the Principal of a Curro school in KZN. We wish Siya all the best in his new post. Mrs Winnie Khanyile who is a teacher at OWLAG, the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls, will be joining the College at the start of Term 2 to replace Siyabonga.
To the families leaving St Peter’s College this term, thank you for being part of our unique and special community, your contribution has been appreciated. To the students at St Peter’s College - thank you for making this such an amazing place. We look forward to a more settled, but equally amazing winter term.
In Futurum Fortiter
Rui Morais
Headmaster