The Chronicle 2022

skills leading up to their end of the year examination.

way back by looking at the various routes to get to those careers. We had a strong focus on university degrees and gap years.

The D Block, on the other hand, started the year with the learning support department who helped them to set academic goals for the year ahead. In the second quarter, they met with the school counsellor to discuss relationships as D Block can sometimes be a tricky time to navigate. In the third quarter, they were with the learning support department again, this time to help with subject choices. They finished the year by discussing addiction and the impact it has on the adolescent brain with a strong focus on pornography. In C Block Life Orientation starts counting for marks. This year the focus was on two difficult, but important topics: Environmental Responsibility and Masculinity. We had some deep and meaningful discussions and I am confident that the boys finished the year more informed and equipped to engage with these topics with both confidence and sensitivity. B Block focused on careers. We started by looking at instant versus delayed gratification and the art of long term goal setting. We then looked at all the possible career options, working our Head of department: Mr Ernest Rindfleisch Staff: Mrs Win De Wet (A Block), Mrs Riette White (A-D Blocks), Mr Mark Blew (B-C Blocks), Mr Michael Sevenoaks (B-E Block), Mr Ryan Strudwick (D Block), Mr Brendan Gittins (E Block), Mr Richard Johnson (intern), Mr Lwando Saunders (intern) and Mr Bruere Venter (intern) t the beginning of 2022 we welcomed Mr Michael Sevenoaks into the Economics Department as a full time teacher after his previous involvement within the department as an intern. Michael is well known for going above and beyond to assist his students achieve to the best of their ability. Mr Mark Blew will be leaving us at the end of 2022 to take up a promotional position as a Deputy Principal at Uplands College. Mark has been teacher in the Economics Department for the past four years. We thank him for his vast contribution over this period and we wish him all of the best in his new position. He will certainly be missed by his colleagues and the Michaelhouse boys. Replacing Mark Blew in 2023 is Mr Richard Johnson. Like Michael Sevenoaks, Richard was an intern in the department prior to his appointment as a full time member of staff. Richard is a highly competent young economist who is passionate about teaching. I look forward to his involvement within the department, hopefully for many years to come. With a return to normality, post Covid, the D Block once again participated in the Banango Traders Business Simulation Game hosted in the Indoor Centre by Mr Morné Meiring of A

A Block started with their portfolio tasks from the start of the year. The first task was a Physical Education Task which included an introductory gym session, a one mile run, a three-week online health and wellness journal as well as a reflective essay. This was followed by a Mental Health Task. In the second and third quarters, our focus turned to the Common Assessment Task and the final Life Orientation examination set by the Independent Examination Board. The Common Assessment Task’s theme this year was Safer Spaces: A Collaborative Imperative . The CAT explored factors that help cause anti-social behaviour and civic dissatisfaction in general. The boys needed to consider alternative solutions beyond punitive measures to some of the problems that persist. In addition, they needed to identify an area of concern and thoroughly discuss a viable and sustainable intervention strategy. I am excited to hand over the reigns to our newly appointment Head of Department, Mrs Leigh Kotze. I have no doubt that she will take the department to even greater heights in 2023. the Johannesburg School of Finance. The boys thoroughly enjoyed the day. They were divided into groups of six and made various decisions to market their product to boost their profitability, all dependent on the literal role of a dice at strategic points in the game. A, B and C Block boys also participated in the Proverto Economics Olympiad for the second successive year. Congratulations to Matthew Kennedy in C Block who was the overall winner in the Grade 10 category. David Du Toit in B Block also impressed. After placing third in 2021 he did one better and placed second overall in the B Block category this year. Mrs Riette White arranged our inaugural Entrepreneurship Day for our B Blockers held in the Schlesinger Theatre. Mr Gavin Erasmus launched the day by hosting a dynamic and practical session entitled Ideation and Rapid Prototyping . This was followed by a session by Mr Matthew Binnington entitled The simplicity of starting a business where he explained how one can use platforms such as Shopify, Instagram and Facebook to market products online. The day was wrapped up by Mr Sean Lumley who spoke to the boys about a 20-year plan – holding a competitive advantage over the field. Thank you to these gentleman who generously gave of their time to inspire our budding entrepreneurs. Skulule Ngejane, Liam Brander, Mvelwenhle Guma and Oliver Currie (all in A Block) represented Michaelhouse in the South African Reserve Bank – Monetary Policy Committee Challenge. Private schools were permitted to enter this competition for the first time in 2022. The boys submitted an MPC statement

ECONOMICS

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