Headmaster's Speech Guests of Honour, Parents, Visitors, friends, Staff and Students: Welcome! It gives Sharon and me great pleasure to join with you this evening in celebrating the achievements of our students, your children. We have good reason to celebrate. It is good to come together, like this, to recognize excellence, progress and effort. In Matthew 25 we read about the parable of the talents: how the master had entrusted his servants with talents of money (one with 5, another with 2 and one with 1 talent) . He did so as he was leaving on a journey. I'll pick up the story from verse 19... Boys and girls: to each one of us God has given talent. Some of us have been blessed with more than others. I'd like to draw your attention to the master's response to each of the servants. The servants who had used their talents well were congratulated and received an award. The master said, "Well done good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share in your master's happiness." Both servants received the same reward. Interesting. Its not a matter, therefore, of how much talent you have, but rather of what you do with your talent. The servant who did not do anything with his talent was scolded and made his master unhappy. In fact, he ended up losing everything. The servants who used their talents well were rewarded. God expects us to multiply and grow in that which he has given us. Boys and girls: may I encourage you tonight to make the most of your God-given talent, following in the footsteps of our three previous Matric classes, all of whom achieved 100% pass. Although we only honour a select few tonight, please know that we are proud of all our students who give their best. For those of you who have not made use of your talent, may I challenge you again tonight to rise up and make the most of what God has blessed you with. Ladies and gentlemen, I consider it a privilege to have been entrusted by the Board to lead this school. It is an honour to follow in the footsteps of the men and women who have previously led this school. I have not arrived with an agenda for change, but rather with a desire to build on what my predecessors have established in partnership with the parent body. To continue to uphold and promote those values that Mrs McCabe, Mr Holloway and Mr Meaker worked so hard to establish. Whilst on that note, may I take this opportunity to thank Mrs Lorrain Els for Acting in my place during the first 2/3rds of this year. This is not to say that change is not necessary. Change is often required in order to move on. We cannot afford to rest on past success, nor can we afford to stand still. Together we need to continue to seek after God and do our utmost to walk in what we believe God has called us to. Our first priority at MCS is to honour God by ensuring that we feed His sheep, that is, to nurture the God given talents of the children entrusted to our care. Some will say that traditions of integrity, good-manners, loyalty, hard work, honesty and participation are old fashioned. I believe that such values should never go out of fashion and that these values are what our country so hungers after. Traditions such as these must never change. I will therefore not sit back and watch a generation get lazy. Boys and girls, you have learnt by now where I stand on such matters. School and life is about getting involved and making the most of opportunities afforded to us. Even if it makes us as parents and staff unpopular, let us never tire of doing what is right and good. Boys and girls, we're in this together. Life is exciting. Lets enjoy and give our all for God. We're part of a busy school. Our prize giving ceremony is evidence of just how much goes on at this school. I wish to thank the staff in all departments for their commitment to our students. I am able to testify to their work of love. Boys and girls, if you could see just how much time your teachers put into you, you'd be so proud. I know you already are. MCS's biggest assets are her staff. More important than the buildings and grounds, our staff are so valuable. Tonight, to my staff, on behalf of your students and their parents, I say a big thank you. Staying with staffing matters, we do need to say a few sad farewells: Mr Goddard leaves to further his studies. He'll be doing his Masters at the UKZN Pmb Campus. Mr Goddard has worked extremely hard this year and made wonderful progress in our English Department. We wish Mr Goddard every success with his studies. Miss du Plessis leaves us to work in the USA. She has been an enthusiastic member of our staff and our best wishes accompany her for the future. We said our sad farewells to our two bursers, Mrs Tweddle and Mrs Haskin, at the end of the third term. Our new burser, Mrs Alta Muller, has been with us since the start of this term. She has slotted in very well and has already proven to be of great value. It also gives me great pleasure to announce that Mr Rodrigue's position as HOD of the GET phase and Mrs Fairweather's Deputy Head position have been made permanent with immediate effect. Ladies and gentleman, boys and girls, we're part of something special here at MCS. There is no other place like this. I can honestly say that I love this school. I enjoy being here. There's a special vibe. At which other school do the students lead worship like this? When you hear our choir later this evening you'll feel this vibe. We are going places. God has a wonderful plan for MCS. Let us make the most of every opportunity that presents itself, enjoy what we're doing, honour God and be proud of MCS. Enjoy the rest of the evening. Thank you. Headmaster's Speech PS Chairman of the Board and Mrs Pretorius, Mr Mouton, the Head of MCS Junior Campus, guests of honour, visiting Principals, parents and friends, on behalf of the staff and students of MCS, I'd like to thank you for joining us at MCS's 22nd Prize Giving Ceremony. Sharon and I would like to extend a warm welcome to you all and to our guest speaker, Mrs Ingrid Roberts. MCS stands and strives for excellence in education in a Christ-centered environment. Our educational goals are derived from a biblical Christian philosophy of education. Small class size and support programs challenge student potential. Students are encouraged to think critically in order to be able to make moral decisions about life and act on them as godly servant-leaders. MCS staff help children "grow up into Him (Christ) in all things," Ephesians 4:15; that is, come to know Christ personally and learn to honour and glorify the Lord Jesus Christ spiritually, intellectually, socially, and physically. We refer to MCS as "God's School" and this is not just a cute phrase, but something we firmly believe. We pray that all we do is from the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and that we follow the biblical calling to love and serve. Dear parents, MCS staff understand their calling to partner with you to "establish firm foundations". MCS is not about raising children in a monastic style, cut-off from the world and irrelevant to society.It is about raising children who love God and who are able to hold onto those values that please Him. We wish to nurture a generation with backbone, able to stand for what is right, to be real and decisive for God. With His help, therefore, we continue to "prepare minds and hearts to impact the world for Christ!" Tonight, ladies and gentlemen, is an occassion to honour and give thanks to God for our children and for their God-given talents. We are extremely proud of all our students. They are indeed a talented group who have a positive work ethos. For those of you not receiving public recognition tonight, please don't be discouraged. Instead, join with us in celebrating the achievements of those students who have achieved excellent standards. Boys and girls, know that your value is not in the awards you receive. Your value is in Jesus. We love you for who you are, not for what you achieve. Each one of you are special and unique. You have been created in the image of God! The advantage I have as team leader is that I get to go back-stage. Boys and girls, if you could only get a peak at what goes on behind the scenes, you would know beyond doubt that your teachers are completely and utterly committed to each one of you. Staff, on behalf of all our parents and students, I would like to say a massive thank you for all you do. It is said that all giving is sacrificial. This is doubly true of our staff. Personally, staff, it is a wonderful privilege to work with you. It is an honour. I say that sincerely.You are all super stars! Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, may I ask that you show your appreciation for our staff with a warm round of applaus? At this point I'd like to thank Mrs Lorraine Els for Acting in my place during the first two thirds of this Academic Year. Please accept my sincere thanks for all your hard work. Whilst on staffing matters, we need to say a few sad farewells: Ms Blackman has been with us since starting here as a student teacher in 2005. From the very start she proved to be a dedicated, skillful educator who boldly and selflessly goes beyond the call of duty. She is from what many experienced teachers would proudly call "old school", but in no way "old fashioned". Ms Blackman, you will be sadly missed and we wish you well for your travels. Although Mrs Grace Sparrow will not really be leaving MCS, but rather just the Senior Campus to join Mr Mouton's team on the Junior Campus, I would like to say a very big thank you for your commitment to Christian Education. Mrs Sparrow has been our prayer warrior and sounding board for how to integrate a Biblical world view. It is comforting to know that she'll continue to build into the lives of MCS students. Mrs Sparrow, we thank Jesus for you. We also wish Mrs Tammy Calder an enjoyable Term's maternity leave and rejoice with her in the birth of her daughter, Rachel, who arrived on the 17 November 2008. It also gives me great pleasure to welcome new members of staff to the MCS family: Mrs Jenny Moorcraft takes the place of Mrs Sparrow as one of two new grade 4 teachers. Mrs Moorcraft has over 30 years teaching experience, and fellowships at Holy Trinity. Ms Nicola Lindegar will teach the other grade 4 class. She has recently completed her PGCE, but has also had 5 years experience as a TA at Epworth. Ms Lindegar fellowships at New Covenant Fellowship. Ms Natasha Reid joins us as one of our new grade 7 class teachers in the place of Ms Maher, who moves to our High School English Department. Ms Reid is a history specialist and also a member of New Covenant Fellowship. Mrs Lisa Martin joins us from Eshowe, where she is currently the Principal of Eshowe Christian School. She'll be taking Ms Blackman's place and will also be HOD for Academic matters in the Intermediate phase. She has over 20 years experience and fellowships at Bisley Fellowship. Ladies and gentlemen, it is sad to say goodbye and we are naturally thrilled to be welcoming new members of staff, but I am so pleased to announce that Mr Derrick Zuma will still be teaching extra guitar and music lessons, Mr Dean Barber and Ms Michelle Morcom continue as Sports Coordinators, Ms Kerrylee Lupton stays on as our Grade 6 teacher, Ms Heleen Hitchcock continues as our Afrikaans teacher, Mrs Trish MacFarlane remains as our Music and Remedial teacher, Mrs Adelle de Marillac as our Grade 5 teacher and now our longest serving member of staff, and Mrs Fairweather as Head of Intermediate Phase and Deputy Head of School. This has been an exciting year, much of which will be evident throughout this evening's procedings. Our students have achieved academically, culturally and on the sportfield. You'll hear tonight how well our students have fared in the Olympiads, how two of our learners were selected for the Pmb Youth Choir, how two of our learners were selected to represent Midlands cricket, how our U13 soccer team won the most prestigious Soccer Tournament in the city by defeating Merchiston, Bisley and Pelham, and you would no doubt have read in the papers about the achievement of our Worship band, who have so ably led us in Praise this evening. Our school continues to grow. Our numbers will increase from 238 to 273 children in 2009. We are in the final stages of our plans for new classrooms, which will hopefully be ready by the start of the new academic year. Our drive-way is currently being tarred and includes a widened sectioned which will allow for our very first basketball court. Along with our recently revamped cricket nets, this will save us much travelling time and transport expenses. With growing numbers one of our major changes for 2009 will be the restructuring of our school day, with Primary and High School breaks taking place at different times. To accomodate this, school will close 5 minutes later and we'll be selecting permanent Grade 7 student leaders to assist duty staff on the playground. We've also restructured the timetable so that although our Primary school and High school are on one campus, they will operate seperately with the Primary School held entirely on the upper floor and the High School on the ground floor. Ladies and gentleman, boys and girls, we're part of something special here at MCS. As I have said at the Senior Prize Giving last month, there is no other place like this. I can honestly say that I love this school. I enjoy being here. MCS has a special vibe. God has a wonderful plan for MCS. Let us make the most of every opportunity that presents itself. Let's enjoy what we're doing. Let us honour God and be proud of our school. Enjoy the rest of the evening. Thank you and God bless.