FLIPPING BOOK CHRONICLE 2024

EXCHANGE PROGRAMME

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with their host families as well as official Michaelhouse organised trips to Nambiti, the South Coast for shark diving, the Drakensberg and local areas of historic interest. INCOMING EXCHANGE STUDENTS TERM 2 Aaron Pereira and Lawson Kirby from Christ Church Grammar (Australia) Fergus Attenborough and Hugh Shannon from Kinross Wolaroi (Australia) TERM 3 Daniel Richards and James Guest from The Hale School (Australia) Justus Van Hussen from Eltville (Germany) Jack Hawkins and Clayton Lindley from Montgomery Bell (USA) TERM 4 Lane Warren and Hampton Jones from Woodberry Forest (USA) Angus Messiter from Cranbrook School (Australia) MICHAELHOUSE EXCHANGE STUDENTS TERM 2 Connor Hatfield and Alex Bothner to The Hale School (Australia) Nicholas Hornby to Eltville (Germany) Sihle Ludonga and Gabriel Isabwe to Woodberry Forest (USA) Rhys Watson and Mnotho Mbuyazi to Metan (Argentina) TERM 4 Ewan Logan and Nkgwete to Christ Church Grammar (Australia) Nate Ross Kent and Callum Kernahan to Kinross Wolaroi (Australia) Khashane Maenetjie and Nkateko Mathebula to Montgomery Bell TERM 3 Luke Patrick to Cranbrook School (Australia)

ith the resignation of Mr Jaco Dippenaar from Michaelhouse and thus from the exchange programme of 2022/23, it was left to me to begin the challenging process of organising exchanges for 12 incoming and 14 outgoing boys. Most fortunately Mrs Leigh Kotze happily joined me in the second quarter. During the latter half of the year, Mrs Kotze did a great deal to streamline the way the programme runs and set in place a very specific procedure for the C Block class of 2025 to take this highly sought-after opportunity. Having to choose only 12-14 boys out of about 30 applicants is both draining and stressful as parents and boys have high expectations. However, I believe that part of this experience is learning to deal with disappointment. For those who are chosen to leave the country on an exchange, one hopes that the experience will foster humility and maturity in them. Some of our older exchange partner schools from the UK and Canada did not rekindle their programme, preferring to send their boys on short European trips instead. As a result this year we found ourselves mostly exchanging with Australian schools. The two American schools, Woodberry Forest School and Montgomery Bell Academy, remained steadfast partners. When Scotch College from Australia suddenly shut down their programme without notice, I had to scramble for a new partner school and was most grateful to the co-ordinator at Cranbrook School for stepping in at the last moment to host one of our boys. An extension of the exchange programme is also offered by an outside company, Innovated Travel Solutions, which organises a cultural immersion programme in Argentina. This year Rhys Watson and Mnotho Mbuyasi took the opportunity to spend a full term with hosts in Metan, where they attended a local school and were soon quite proficient in Spanish. The programme for 2025 has been completely revamped thanks to Mrs Kotze, with very specific application criteria available to the D Block applicants who would like to go on exchange in C Block. We expect all boys who travel abroad to be ambassadors for Michaelhouse and their country, to take part in all academic, cultural and sporting programmes and to be prepared to speak in front of their host schools. We also expect them to complete a rigorous post-visit questionnaire and report back to Michaelhouse at assembly. The boys who visited Michaelhouse were part of Michaelhouse sports teams and cultural groups. They went on excursions

MATRIC BALL

2024 – UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN

of months of planning and proved to be a magical experience for all involved.

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n 3 August the A Block celebrated their matric dance, which was set to the enchanting theme of Under the Tuscan Sun. Held in the Indoor Centre, the event transported staff, boys and their dates to the romantic landscapes of Italy, with a focus on the charm of Tuscany. This long-anticipated occasion was the culmination

The event began with the grand entrance of the boys and their partners, who arrived in an array of stunning outfits that added glamour and dazzle. From vintage cars to decorated tractors, the boys made a memorable entrance, greeted by a cheering crowd of parents, staff and younger Michaelhouse boys. 170