September 2011 Letter from the SGB Chairman

Dear Parents, Staff and Rustenburg Girls

Co-opted non-voting members of the SGB
During the first term the SGB invited willing parents and staff to volunteer their skills to serve on the various SGB sub-committees. We wish to express our sincere appreciation to the following parents and staff who have been working with us as co-opted members of the SGB:

Simion George (parent) serving on HR & Policy Sub-committee
Johann Mettler (parent) serving on HR & Policy Sub-committee
Gina Denny (parent) serving on HR & Policy Sub-committee
Karen Schlemmer (parent) serving on HR & Policy Sub-committee
Jane Barnard (parent) serving on HR & Policy Sub-committee
Angela Bryant (parent) serving on HR & Policy Sub-committee
Lesley Shaw (parent) serving on Finance Sub-committee
Morag Rijs (member of staff) serving on Finance Sub-committee
Myles Siebrits (member of staff) serving on Campus Development & Maintenance Sub-committee
Rachel Walton (member of staff) serving on Campus Development & Maintenance Sub-committee
Jeromé O'Ryan (parent) serving on the Campus Development & Maintenance Sub-committee
Dawn Gottgens (parent) serving on the Business Development Sub-committee
Shaun Kannemeyer (parent) serving on the Business Development Sub-committee
Linda Simmons (member of staff) serving on the Business Development Sub-committee
Brian Keith Abdoll (parent) serving on the Business Development Sub-committee
Viv Williams (member of staff) serving on the Sport Development & Extra curricula Sub-committee
Nolundi Blayi (member of staff) serving on the Sport Development & Extra curricula Sub-committee
Dirkya Botha (member of staff) serving on the Sport Development & Extra curricula Sub-committee
Saranne Salmon (member of staff) serving on the Marketing & Communications Sub-Committee
Adrian Skelly (member of staff) serving on the Marketing & Communications Sub-Committee
Graeme Broster (member of staff) serving on the Marketing & Communications Sub-Committee
Linda Mallon (member of staff) serving on the Marketing & Communications Sub-Committee

It augurs well for the school that we have so many volunteers giving of their skills and expertise in critical areas of school governance and creates an excellent platform for succession planning.

Work of the SGB
This year, much of the work of the SGB has been implementing the work required to make the school’s vision a reality. Through the various committees this has involved, among other things, overseeing the development of business opportunities and fundraising opportunities as alternate sources of income. The SGB has appointed a campus manager to develop and oversee a comprehensive campus maintenance and development plan. A substantial amount of work has already been done to the gardens, sports fields and to the accommodation of those members of staff who reside on campus. The school's HR department and policies have been reviewed so as to ensure that all staff are professionally managed and cared for. An assessment was conducted to determine the staffing requirements for the administrative and educational needs of the school and an integrated plan was formulated together with the school's architects to ensure that the school will have a campus and facilities fit for purpose in the years to come. School policies have been updated and expanded to ensure good governance. A marketing manager has been appointed to attend to the marketing needs of the school including media liaison, communications as well as to provide support for the school newsletters, website and production and circulation of the magazine (our hope being that this can be rolled out to include our old girls as well). Underlying all of the above is the role of the financial committee that has the on-going responsibility to ensure that the school remains financially viable and is able to generate appropriate and sustainable levels of income to meet all operational needs, investments in its estate and campus development projects as well as provisions for contingencies.

School in the Mirror
The SGB also arranged for the Independent Quality Assurance Agency (IQAA) to do an evaluation of RGHS. The IQAA guideline instrument for internal evaluation of schools is entitled School in a Mirror and was conducted under the guidance of Sue Gardener. Much of the assessment is done in collaboration with an internal evaluation team that was selected with a good balance of senior and middle management and other members from various sections of the RGHS staff. The outcome of this assessment was a report presented as a narrative under each section of the various areas of operation. Strengths and areas of concern were accurately identified as well as a summary at the end entitled "Major Strengths and Areas of Concern", with "Recommendations for Action". These will be addressed with a view to ensuring that the school continues to provide a top-class education for its pupils. The recommendations for improvement have been made in light of the findings of the team and The IQAA report should prove a valuable tool for future evaluations - a baseline that will allow Rustenburg to accurately determine whether improvements have been made in the targeted areas of concern.

RGHS Development Plan
After a year of assessments during which the needs of the school could be objectively and professionally analysed, RGHS is on the threshold of a significant period of organizational and campus development. The details of the Development Plans will be circulated to all parents and a special presentation has been prepared for the evening of the 11 October. Parents will be required to approve these plans before they can be implemented. I cannot stress the importance of having all parents and members of staff attend this presentation on Tuesday the 11th October so that the whole school community is fully informed about the factors that have influenced the plans that have been developed for the future of RGHS.

Matric Class of 2011
To our matircs, we wish you every success with your matric exams and, as you take your leave of our special school, may you take with you fond memories of your years at RGHS, a commitment to excellence in all that you do hereafter and the courage to be an influence for the betterment of others.

There is much to celebrate at Rustenburg – the excellent record of academic achievement, the high quality of teaching, the cultural diversity and the confidence of the learners, just to name a few. The members of the SGB consider it a privilege to serve our special school community of parents, staff and girls and we are most grateful to the Principal, Deputy and staff for their support.

Warm greetings

Charles de Villiers
Chairperson of the School Governing Body