9 November, 2018
Ekukhuleni Hostel Refurbishment Campaign
Ekukhuleni
Hostel - the place for growing - is home to our Form 1 to Form 3
boarding students. Built as part of the original Waterford campus in the mid-1960s,
the residence has been home to many of WK’s alumni. This hostel originally
housed only girls, then the Form 2s and 3s and now all Form 1 - 3 students.
Although the students living within its walls have changed, the physical
structure has not. A hostel built to accommodate 50 students now houses 96.
This is why we want to refurbish Ekukhuleni Hostel. We have been actively
asking alumni and past parents for donations for this dorm for the past few
months, and now we are asking current parents for help.
Albina Owuor,
previous Ekukhuleni Hostel head from 2009 - 2018, had this to say:
“It is
rewarding to see the young individuals grow and transform before your very
eyes. Relationships nurtured in this residence are sure to last a lifetime...As
the head of Ekukhuleni, I have had a great time and memorable experiences that
will remain fond and close to my heart in the years ahead. This is an
experience I wish other people could encounter and thus the reason why
Ekukhuleni needs a guaranteed future.”
Visit our website to learn more about the campaign and to see the plans for the refurbishment.
Please make a donation, of any size, to this campaign today!
Form 5 Graduation
As I
mentioned last week, today is the 2018 form 5 graduation ceremony. The event
takes place this afternoon in the school’s Michael Stern Hall. I would like to
take this opportunity to congratulate our form 5 class of 2018 for this
milestone.
To those of
you who are going beyond Waterford in 2019 we wish you every blessing and
remind you that your presence is imprinted in our hearts just as we hope you
always remember your time here with appreciation and fondness. Please remember
that “once and Phoenix, always a Phoenix”. We will always welcome you back in
the years ahead.
Congratulations Xochitl Toress Small
Yesterday
we woke up to exciting news: Waterford alumna Xochitl Torres Small (USA, WK 02-03)
has been elected to the US Congress. Xochitl was elected in New Mexico's 2nd
Congressional District, making her the first-ever woman to serve as this
District’s Congressperson. Xochitl’s story, alongside numerous others
pertaining to our alumni, confirm that Waterford successfully carries out its
historic mandate of laying the foundation for its students to become
responsible citizens who have the skills, knowledge and sense of purpose to
provide leadership in both Africa and the world. Please join me in congratulating
Xochitl.
Appointment of Advancement Director
Early in the week the school announced the appointment of Ms. Elizabeth Mhangami, current Executive Director of Vanavevhu - Children of the Soil, Inc. Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, as Waterford’s Advancement Director, effective 1st February 2019. Elizabeth will succeed Anne Rein Muller who has been Advancement Director since July 2011. Read more about the announcement.
PSA: Thank You
I would like to thank Waterford’s Parents-Staff Association (PSA) for the kind and generous gifts to our support staff on Wednesday. Read more
College Presentation
Next week
Wednesday 14th November we host our last college presentation
of the year. Trinity College will be talking to interested students at 7pm at
Emhlabeni residence. Parents are welcome as usual.
IB2 Graduation
The IB graduation ceremony is scheduled for next Saturday 17th November 2018, at 17h30 at Esibayeni Lodge. Esibayeni Lodge is located near the Matsapha International Airport, off the main Mbabane highway. Further information is available here. 115 students from 39 countries are graduating. The ceremony will include the presentation of certificates, speeches, a variety of musical performances and a slideshow. It will be followed by dinner served around 19.30 and further entertainment. Please note that we are aware that traditionally graduation events can be an opportunity for some for excess and poor decision-making. In this regard the College has a policy governing Graduation and I invite both students and especially parents to be aware of its contents.
Reminder of important
dates
●
Saturday 17th November – IB2
Graduation – 17:30 start
●
Friday 30th November – School
closes: WK bus departs for Johannesburg @ 06:15
Any Questions?
If you have
any questions and feedback, please don’t hesitate to drop me a line at principal@waterford.sz. If the question is of
broad interest, I will publish the question (with the permission of the writer
and without the name) and my reply in the newsletter.
Parents are
encouraged to be in touch with their child’s tutor or residential head for any
matters they may be concerned about.
Kind Regards
Stephen Lowry
