When the Centurion and those guarding Jesus with him saw the earthquake and the other things that were taking place, they were terrified and said, "truly this man was the Son of God!" Matthew 27:54

I hope and pray you all had a wonderful, blessed and safe Easter break. 

I often wonder who this Roman centurion was, was he the one mentioned in Matthew 8:5-13 when Jesus healed his servant or Cornelius, the Centurion who became the first gentile (non-Jew) Peter brings to Christ Acts 10:1-22?

Before Jesus resurrection he is the only one who seems to get who Jesus is “…truly this man was the Son of God”. Not even the disciples, there all hiding in fear, Judas had hanged himself, besides John who was at the foot of the cross with the two Mary’s. But it’s this hardened soldier who gets it right and he’s not even a Jew.

In my experience I often see some of the most hardened unbelieving characters come to know Jesus, not by the words I say or deeds I do, but when God’s love invades their hearts. If God can turn the cross from being a symbol of cruel execution into the most powerful symbol of love, then He can turn the most hardened person back to Himself. Maybe it’s time to recognise on how hard we have let out hearts become, maybe it’s time for us to allow Jesus to invade and soften our hearts.

Welcome back to what promises to be another exciting and productive term at Thomas More College. The grade 6's and 7's have had the additional excitement of moving into their new classrooms. A spin off of this development is that we have also been able to create a specialized SP Art room and two other rooms have been modified for Afrikaans teaching. The SP IT room has also been given an extreme makeover. We will also soon be expanding the reception area in the Great House.

This week we are very privileged to be hosting the first ever South African exhibition of the photographic collection by past pupil Matthew Willman of his photographs of Nelson Mandela. This exhibition, “A Significant Life” has only ever been on display overseas. It has thus far been in Cincinnati, Munich, Cologne, Berlin, Antwerp, Paris, London, Tromso, Cardiff, Dublin, Regensburg and Sydney. The exhibition will run the whole week. If parents wish to view the exhibition, this will be possible from 4pm to 8pm this evening. There will be no charge and refreshments will be on sale.

While many rested at home these holidays the Thomas More brand was widely represented in a number of tours. Most significant was perhaps the high school tour to Nepal. 25 pupils and 4 teachers spent 2 weeks trekking to remote places to make a difference in the lives of impoverished communities. This was a huge experience in leadership. The pupils had to do most of the planning, fund raising and budgeting themselves.

The Senior Primary pupils thoroughly enjoyed the Cultural Tour to Cape Town. This was the seventh consecutive year that this very popular tour has taken place.

The High School pre-season winter sports tour to the St Dunstan's Sport Festival in Johannesburg was also a resounding success. A big advantage was that rugby, netball and boys and girls first hockey teams were able to attend the same festival and support one another.

The u14 boys and girls hockey teams attended a coaching clinic and tournament at the University of Pretoria. The boys won the tournament and the girls lost in the final.

The girls and boys high school first teams played in the Crawford La Lucia hockey tournament in the holidays. The girls won the final 2-0 against Westville Girls.

 

I hereby wish our Thomas More family members a warm welcome back after what I hope was a blessed Easter holiday for you all.

It certainly was a busy holiday. Our u14 boys’ and girls’ hockey teams had a most successful visit to the TUKS Hockey Academy. Similarly, our 1^st teams for netball, rugby, boys’ and girls’ hockey had an outstanding experience at the St Dunstan’s Easter Sports Festival. Our Nepal World Challenge Team had a perspective-shifting experience on their tour too. I must thank Mrs Edwards, Miss Venter, Mrs Steenkamp, Mrs Wolmarans, Mr Oberholzer, Mr Drew, Mr Belman, Mr Jeffrey, Mrs Mckenzie and Mr Camp for gifting their respective groups their time away from their families and loved ones to facilitate these dynamic opportunities.

We also welcome back Mrs Frisinger after her maternity leave.

Term Two is always a short, jam-packed one. Before we know it, the June examinations are upon us. I urge you to engage your children about adopting a prepared spirit. The REAL trick to pro-active examination preparation is almost disappointingly simple:

1. Remain fully engaged in class, because that’s where deep understanding is easiest to achieve;
2. Remain up-to-date with classwork daily.

All sports practices and cultural rehearsals have begun with immediate effect. I look forward to seeing more children grasping the myriad of opportunities which exist for them here at Thomas More College.

In closing, I want to thank the parents and alumni for the overwhelming response to our Homegrown invitation. I will be communicating shortly with those folks regarding more logistical matters for exhibition which we will be hosting on 29 June.

I wish you all a robust, vibrant Term 2. Be blessed.  

 

Welcome back to all our Thomas More families after the Easter holidays and a warm welcome to those families who are new this term. Also a very warm welcome to Mr Sherwin Ganasen who is our new music and drama teacher, taking over from Mrs Candice Mordecai-Jones. We believe that all those new to TMC will soon feel at home in our warm, nurturing environment.

I hope you all had both a blessed time at this important time in our Christian calendar, as well as an opportunity to relax with your family and have an enjoyable break. We also trust that your children are rested and refreshed, ready for the challenges of a new school term.

I am glad that our Grade 7 cultural tourists had a terrific time and learnt much while enjoying themselves in Cape Town. Thank you to the teachers who gave up holiday time to accompany them.  Thank you to Mrs Steyn and Mrs Smith for taking a number of our Netball girls on a most worthwhile and enjoyable training camp during the holidays.

Our Grade 6 and 7 pupils and teachers are settling into their new classrooms, which look fresh and inviting although there is still some organisation needed as they were released to us only at the end of the holidays. We trust they will find them more spacious having store rooms to assist with better use of space internally. (The official opening for the Gordon Burnett block will take place during school hours on Friday 5 May). We also thank our Art teacher Mrs Purdon, and Afrikaans teachers for all the work they have out into their new venues to make them inviting, and also Mrs Ramasamy whose new venue is being worked on as we speak. Many thanks to Malcolm, Jerry and Innocent and their teams, as well as to the IT Support team for all the work that has gone into the venues. It is much appreciated.

The Inter-house Cross country takes place next week Tuesday during school hours from 08:00 to 10:00. Children may come to school in their Phys. Ed. shorts, house T-shirts and takkies and do not have to change after the run. It looks set at this stage to be a cooler day which will make for good running.

Parents are welcome to attend the first merit assembly next Wednesday at 07:30 in the Habberton Hall when academic merit badges and effort awards will be acknowledged.

As there are a number of PADSSA trials soon, sport commences as per the e-mail sent out by Mr Brimelow for the SP this week. Normal extra-murals (including art and computer club etc.) only start next week Monday.

All the best to you all for a busy and happy second term. 

 

Weekly Achievers 

Kindly sponsored by Wetrock Adventures - visit www.wetrockadventuresco.za for further info.

Will resume next week.

Irish Dancing

On 1st April a few of our girls competed in the first KZN Irish Dancing Feis for 2017. Congratulations to Emily de Klerk and Amy Marks who took part in their first Irish Dancing competition.  Congratulations also to Naomi Easson who received a 5th in her 2 hand ceili (12 years old and under); 1st in her Reel (9 and under); and 5th in her hardshoe dance, the Treble Jig (11 and under), and she is only 7 years old....well done Naomi!

BMX

Congratulations to Levi Smith (Grade 1) and Hannah Stiebel (Grade 11) who took part in the 1^st BMX National Age Group Series of 2017 in JHB over the Easter Weekend. It was a full day of racing on Saturday with a double header (8 races) Leg 1 & 2, and Leg 3 (4 races) on Sunday. Both Hannah and Levi raced their hearts out on both days. Levi clinched 2^nd place in Leg 1, 2^nd place in Leg 2 and 3^rd place in Leg 3 in the U7 class while Hannah raced against much older girls and kept hot on the heels of the top riders.  Well done to both Hannah and Levi.

Equestrian

Congratulations to Sydney Swanson (Grade 8) riding her pony "Highover Ferdinand" jumped the Open pony riders (1m10) classes and won a 3^rd in the speed class, a 2^nd in the championship class and finished 5^th overall for Presidents Cup. She also rode her other pony “Ra” in the 1m classes and came 1^st in the Precision & Speed class. Well done Sydney.

HS Girls' Hockey

TMC 1st Team vs Amanzimtoti 1st won 3-0

TMC 1st Team vs Crawford La Lucia 1st drew 1-1

TMC 1st Team vs Kloof 1st won 1-0

TMC 1st Team vs Reddam Umhlanga 1st won 5-0

TMC 1st Team vs St Mary's 2nds won 1-0

TMC 1st Team vs Westville 1st won 2-0.

1st team girls overall winners

Boys' Hockey

TMC 1st Team vs Crawford North Coast won 1-0

TMC 1st Team vs Glenwood 2nd lost 0-1

TMC 1st Team vs Northwood U16A won 2-0

TMC 1st Team vs Westville 2nd won 1-0

TMC 1st Team vs Kloof won 1st 1-0

HS Hockey (Tuks Tour)

U14 Boys:

TMC vs Noordheuwel won 2-0

TMC vs Pietersberg lost 0-1

TMC vs Menlo Park won 3-1

TMC vs Merensky won 7-0

TMC vs  Pieterseberg won 1-0 in the final

U14 Girls:

TMC vs Oosmoot won 6-0

TMC vs Pietersberg lost 0-6

TMC vs Mpumalanga won 1-0

TMC vs Menlo Park won 4-1

TMC vs Merensky won 4-0

TMC vs  Pietersberg lost 0-6 in the final

The following players were awarded special awards:

Top girls' goalkeeper of the tournament: Ilé Bothma

Top boys' goalkeeper of the tournament: Mitchell Barrett

Top boys' player of the tournament: Hayden Brimelow

Well done to all our players who toured.

SP Girls' Hockey

Congratulations to the following pupils who were selected as part of the Kwasanti teams which went to trials at St Mary's on 21 April:

U12:  T. Naicker, Z. Damakude, K. Balarin, A. Lütz

U13B:  T. Chetty, S. Simpson, T. Gregson

U13A:  J. Robertson

SP Boys' Hockey

Congratulations to the following boys who will represent Kwasanti on 26 April:

U12:  S. Mdladla, K. Mashiloane, J. Christie

U13B:  O. Zulu, L. Riddle, T. Sibisi

U13A:  T. Motsoahae, B. Mhlanzi, N. Riddle

Kick Boxing

Congratulations to Kyle Howat (Grade 9) who has been selected as part of the KZN Kickboxing team and awarded full KZN colours to represent KZN at the South African Kickboxing Championships taking place on 29th April 2017.  Kyle has committed 7 and a half years to the sport and has endured intense grading sessions over this period.  During the school holidays Kyle was also awarded his 3rd Dan Brown belt making him one of the youngest in the country to achieve this level, whilst also winning his fight in his weight class. Kyle is commended on his endurance, and commitment to the sport. Well done Kyle.

Mountain Biking

Congratulations to Anvia Bredenkamp (Grade 7) who took part in the 2^nd KZN Cross Country Cup held at St. Ives where she finished in 2^nd place in her age category and was the 6^th lady overall. She has also raced in Compendium Hill2Hill marathon race where she won her age category in the 15km and was the 1^st lady overall to finish the race. Well done Anvia.

Nippers

Congratulations to Dayna Deeble (Grade 5) who competed at the SA National Nipper Champs in PE. She came 1st in the Beach Flags, 3rd in the Beach Sprints and 5th in the Long Run. Sadly, due to dangerous sea conditions all the sea events for the U11/12 age group had to be cancelled. Well done Dayna.

St Dunstans Easter Festival (HS Hockey/Netball/Rugby)

1st Team Netball:

Won vs Woodlands 37-15

Won vs Veritas 30-7

Won vs Unity 18-10

Lost to Hans Moore 10-43

Won vs Petit 16-8

Lost to St. Dunstan's College 5-76

Drew to Tyger Valley College 19-19

1st Team Rugby:

Won vs Tyger Valley College 24-14

Won vs St. Dunstan's College 29-0

Won vs Ekurhuleni United 54-5

1st Team Boys' Hockey:

Drew to St. Dunstan's College 2-2

Drew to St. Dominic's Welkom 2-2

Lost to St. Benedicts College,JHB 0-2

Lost to Falcon College, Zim 0-6

Lost to Hellenic Academy, Zim 1-2

Lost to St. John's College, Zim 2-3

1st Team Girls' Hockey:

Won vs Tyger Valley College 7-0

Drew to Hellenic Academy, Zim 2-2

Drew to St. Dunstan's College 2-2

Won vs Watershed, Zim 7-0

Won vs St. Dominic's Boksburg 7-0

Won vs Hans Moore 11-1

Polocrosse

Congratulations to Joel Visser (Grade 12) who has been chosen to play Polocrosse for the South African U19 team. The team will play against Zambia and Zimbabwe in July.  Well done Joel. 

Rock Climbing

Congratulations to Faran Steenkamp (Grade 9) who represented KZN at the National Bouldering Competition, making the finals. Well done Faran.

Surfing

Congratulations to Courtney Sim who has made the KZN team and been selected to surf at the SA championships in Durban from 23 April to 30 April 2017. Well done Courtney.

Swimming

Congratulations to Simeï Bekker (Grade 6) who participated in the SA junior swimming nationals in Limpopo in the holidays and achieved the following excellent results!

3^rd (Bronze) in 200m Breaststroke

2^nd (Silver) in 50m Breaststroke

1st (Gold) in 100m Breaststroke

2^nd (Silver) in 200m Medley relay

2^nd (Silver) in 200m Freestyle relay

1^st (Gold) in 400m Medley relay

Swimming

Congratulations to Matthew Watts (Grade 11) who has been selected for the KZN Swimming team.  Well done Matthew.