Welcome letter from the SGB Chairman

Dear Parents, Staff and Rustenburg Girls

Greetings from the newly elected School Governing Body (SGB). We are humbled by the trust placed in us by the school community and we hope to continue the good work done by Charles de Villiers and the previous SGB. 2012 is going to be a tremendous one for the school.

Congratulations

Since our last SGB communication, we have seen RGHS shine at the National Girls Schools’ Festival, winning seven awards for our 2012 production, “Bride’s Head, Revisited” and our debating team missing out on top honours by a hair’s breadth. Our Jazz Band also made an acclaimed television appearance. Our heartiest congratulations on these fine achievements which will undoubtedly reinforce the image of excellence we have among stakeholders.

Warm congratulations to Robyn Jepson, a member of our permanent Music Staff and Jazz band leader, who tied the knot in March this year. Two of our staff members, Zar Rabeh and Tarin Scharneck, gave birth recently – congratulations to them.

Our focus for the future

I have been asked what the new SGB will focus on for the next three years. I believe we will endeavour to maintain the incredibly high academic standard of the school, work hard to develop Team Rustenburg and deliver the first phase of our development plan – the new Maths and Science building. All three are vital for our future.

Development plans and progress

I have had feedback that the organizational changes that our outgoing Chairman, Charles de Villiers, shared with you are bedding down nicely. Our “School in a Mirror” process reviewing our Hostel, ICT provision and Maths & Science teaching, are ongoing. I hope that you have had the opportunity to take part in one of our surveys.

Regarding the building development projects, we are in the process of engaging with our bankers and potential sponsors to secure funding for Phase 1 of the ICDP (the Maths and Science Block). In summary, we have R3 million from WCED and a commitment from the parent body to fund a loan up to a maximum repayment of R1.6 million / annum. This means a maximum bank loan of around R10 million. This leaves us with a funding deficit of approximately R1.5 million. We need to raise at least this much via sponsorships. We are actually hoping to secure a greater amount which would translate into a lower loan requirement. We are told that banks do not easily approve loans to public schools so we may still need to find a willing parent or benefactor to support our loan application. On that note, we really would appreciate any support that you may be able to provide. I am aware of many projects at schools in the area that were made possible via loans or guarantees from parents.

We plan to keep the information pack regarding the ICDP up to date and you can catch up on the latest developments by following this link.

Involvement with the SGB

We have allocated portfolios for the new SGB. To see who is doing what, please follow this link.

Many thanks to those of you who have volunteered to support school projects, either directly via SGB sub-committees or indirectly by lending a helping hand wherever needed. The Sub-Committee chairs are sifting though these and making contact where necessary. We really do need and appreciate the help. In particular, if you have a fundraising project in mind and are willing to manage the project (with help from others), please make contact with Brian Abdoll (Chair of our Business Development and Sustainability Sub-Committee) at email brian.abdoll@sanlam.co.za and outline your plan.

A good example here was Shaun Kannemeyer who was the guiding hand behind the very successful 5-a-side football tournament held recently at UCT. It is likely to grow and become an annual event. Well done Shaun. I know one of the events that would be attractive to the school community would be a concert and picnic held on our fields in spring. Who is up for organising it?

Welcome to Team Rustenburg

I would like to take the opportunity to welcome René Forbes (Marketing Manager) and Gareth Milne (IT Manager) to Team Rustenburg.

ROGU

We are planning to do a lot more to develop relations with the past pupils of RGHS and to draw them into school activities to a greater degree than before. René Forbes, our new Marketing Manager (forbesr@rghs.org.za), is working on plans here. Phase 2 of the ICDP will see ROGU in a new home in the Leadership Centre that will be built as part of that phase. Finally, we are updating our Past Pupils database - please submit your information here if you are an Old Rustybug.

Kind regards
Wayne Hartmann
Chairperson of the School Governing Body