The 2023 Chronicle

third term that Antony Clark had graciously agreed to extend his term of office for an additional two years up to the end of 2025. This tenure extension was very warmly welcomed by the Board, considering the outstanding impact he has had on Michaelhouse measured in numerous ways, but in particular the 21 growing momentum in annual intake, now with Michaelhouse at full capacity and a waiting list for most grades. A recruiting project plan has been agreed and finalized with an international recruiter specializing in educational appointments, to start with a recruitment exercise early next year in 2024. An advert will be placed in the educational supplement of the Financial Times in February 2024, inviting interest and applications from interested candidates across the world. In addition, ten highly regarded candidates have been identified and approached directly to apply, and a process of shortlisting, then first, second and final round interviews will start from March 2024. The objective will be to make an appointment by September 2024, to enable the successful candidate to give a year’s notice, which would be professional best practice. The recruitment committee who will participate in the interview and selection process will be Antony Clark and Antony Hewat, the previous chairman of the Board, together with the Nominations Committee, which is comprised of the chairmen of the Board and subcommittees. Motivated by Sean Lumley the Old Boys’ President, and based on international research and benchmarking, the Board is finalizing a generational plan for Michaelhouse up to 2046, which will be Michaelhouse’s 150th anniversary. The plan will be a public, one-page statement of strategic intent, outlining the shape and form of Michaelhouse envisioned at a significant medium-term milestone in 2046. The plan will, importantly, inform planning and management actions over the intervening years, aiming for the objectives outlined. Recognising that compounded annual school fee increases represent a growing risk for broad and representative accessibility to Michaelhouse over the long term, a Development Office was established at the beginning of the term with a key objective to raise funds for the Bursary Endowment Trust, to provide support for a growing number of boys to attend Michaelhouse. We are delighted that Fran Bolttler, who is in our audience today, has accepted the new role of Head of Development, and we wish her every success and growing momentum with the important work she will be doing ahead. Service is a cornerstone of Michaelhouse’s culture and educational experience, so I am very pleased to report the growing reach and impact of the Michaelhouse Community Partnership team. Now partnering 16 underprivileged and non-fee-paying schools from Lion’s Rover to Mooi River, comprising over 6,000 learners and 300 teachers, the team is involved in ten significant projects aiming to improve the leadership, instructional and infrastructure effectiveness of our

partner schools. Michaelhouse provides funding and financial management support, together with access to a range of meeting room and teaching facilities to the community partnership projects and schools. Michaelhouse boarding Houses have been involved in individual school partnerships to facilitate service exposure for boys, which is important for growing boys’ awareness, empathy and contribution to service initiatives. Personally, I think 2023 has been an exceptional year for Michaelhouse. There have been outstanding personal, cultural, sporting and academic achievements, some of which the Rector will refer to, and of which we should all be extremely proud. There has also been significant progress in pastoral care across the school, and great credit must go to Sibs Ncamani and Brendan Gittins for their efforts and numerous initiatives which are expanding the boundaries and reach of pastoral care and support. It is essential that every boy at Michaelhouse has the opportunity and support to reach and fulfil his unique potential. Coming to the end of my allotted ten minutes, I would like to leave a few simple thoughts with the matric leavers, gleaned over the last 36 years of personal experience since I sat in the same school leaving seat, contemplating tertiary studies and a professional career to follow. Firstly, hold on to, and build on, the values you have been taught and exposed to at Michaelhouse. You will increasingly confront challenges which are complex and unclear – relying on your value system will be important and necessary to guide you. Be kind, always, and especially respectful and thoughtful to girls, as you would be to your mother and sisters. You don’t need to plot your whole career trajectory now, so don’t waste time and energy on the uncertainty of what professional career you will pursue. Take one sensible step forward at a time and follow opportunities as they emerge to you. Build healthy routines into your lifestyle to set yourself up for success and to build habits which will increasingly become your routines and lifestyle. Make the effort to stay in touch with school and other friends – you will retain and grow the friendships that you make the effort to keep going. Remember, too, that as much as the matric exams ahead may seem a huge and stressful challenge, you can only do your best, but do focus on doing your best. In conclusion, two quotes I enjoy which may resonate: • Be yourself; everyone else is already taken. Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind. To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment. • You are your greatest asset. When you take care of you, your life and success will take care of itself.

Quis ut deus.

ADDRESS BY THE RECTOR, MR ANTONY CLARK

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hairman, distinguished guests, parents, staff, men of Michaelhouse. Good afternoon to you all and welcome to our Speech Day 2023, a day on which we traditionally

celebrate some of the key events of the year without endlessly repeating what you already know. It is also a day on which we focus on the matriculants who will shortly be moving on from

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