Ruimsig April 2024

April 25, 2024

PRE-PRIMARY

Powder War

Did you know that sensory play is a vital part of early childhood development? At Grade 00, we believe in the power of sensory experiences to stimulate young minds and bodies.

Recently, we had an exciting sensory play session with powder, which unexpectedly turned into a fun powder war. This spontaneous activity not only engaged the children but also taught them valuable lessons about textures, creativity, and social interaction.

Sensory play is crucial as it helps children build nerve connections in the brain's pathways, supporting cognitive growth, language development, and problem-solving skills. It also enhances fine and gross motor skills, making it an integral part of our daily routine.

Two little girls are playing with each other in a park.

A group of children are standing around a large bowl of soap bubbles.

Earth Day

Crawford Ruimsig joined the global celebration of Earth Day

Since 1970, Earth Day has been a symbol of environmental protection, with events worldwide coordinated by Earth Day Organisation. This year's official theme, "Planet vs. Plastics," highlights the urgent need to address plastic pollution.

The school took action by switching off lights during lesson 5, conserving power for an hour. Our Preparatory students pledged to make changes that benefit the planet, and we sorted waste into categories like plastics, food, and polystyrene for recycling and reuse. In addition to this, our Pre-Primary Crawfordians also got involved, making wonderful masterpieces while learning about Earth Day.

Together, we are making a difference for our planet. Happy Earth Day!

A group of children are standing around a table with handprints on it.

A group of children are holding a paper plate with a map of the earth on it

PREPARATORY

Ambassador Announcement

On Friday the 19^th April 2024, we had a special celebration at our grand hall, announcing our new ambassadors! Parents joined us to honour and congratulate our new Grade 7 Ambassadors for 2024, and they kept the surprise from our Crawfordians.

Their pledge:

To make a positive impact on the school during their time as ambassadors, stand up for what is right, respect all students, parents, and teachers, be an active example for upholding the code of conduct of our school, provide support to all students, be active in school events, help even when not asked to, work collaboratively with the other Ambassadors and consider many perspectives, act with integrity and honour the role, be devoted to their position, and make their school proud.

With immense pride, we announce the following students as our Grade 7 Ambassadors for 2024:

Aisha Minty
Andriana Kaladelfos
Cherlize Johnson
Johnson Okafor
Jordan Godfrey
Kiyash Harrichand
Kyle Buys
Laone Mothibinyane
Leago Mothibi
Leeya Singh
Loagilwe Direro
Madison Bakewell
Makanaka Munetsi
Mikateko Chawane
Nala Hlabolwa
Nicholaos Kaladelfos
Noah Mokgoro
Nonhlanhla Mdakane
Ntandonhle Dlamini
Nyakallo Selepe
Phoeboe Khangale
Rami Makwela
Sinenhlanhla Gwebu
Siphelele Sibanze
Siyanda Dikiza
Sky Domijan
Tshenolo Molete
Zahra Klasen
Zander de Lange

A group of people are hugging each other in a dark room

A large auditorium filled with people watching a concert

Dragon’s Den

On 19 April 2024, our Grade 7 students embarked on a journey of innovation and entrepreneurship. Under the mentorship of our Grade 7 teachers, our students delved into the needs of local and global communities.

You may ask, what was their mission? To develop creative business ideas addressing these needs and pitch them to our panel of "Dragons"; Shereen Whitcombe, Janette Seton-Rogers, and Ntuby Mokhethi.

Our Crawfordians performed a market research, SWOT analyses, crafted business logos and slogans, and defined visionary mission statements.

The Dragons were impressed by the students' ingenuity and dedication. While the winners are yet to be finalised, all participants showcased exceptional talent and entrepreneurial spirit. We are proud of all our Grade 7’s!

A man is standing in front of a group of people sitting in chairs.

A group of children in school uniforms are posing for a picture.

COLLEGE

Celebrating World Book Day

Penguin Random House visited our College Campus to kick off the countdown to World Book Day. The global celebration was just around the corner, taking place on Tuesday, 23 April 2024.

Our students got a sneak peek at some fantastic young adult novels and even had the chance to purchase them from Penguin Random House.

We were stunned by the creativity as students and teachers dressed up as their favourite book characters. The energy and enthusiasm were contagious!

But the celebration doesn’t stop there. We’re also spreading the joy of reading by collecting old books for donation. Help us share the love of reading with those in need by donating your old books.

Every book counts.

A woman in a suit and hat is holding a magnifying glass.

A group of people are posing for a picture in a room.

Ruimsig-Lonehill Matric Executive Body Meeting

The Executive Body of Crawford Ruimsig had the privilege of welcoming the Executive Body of Crawford Lonehill to our campus for an afternoon team-building event hosted in the Innovation Station on the 19^th of April.

After opening addresses made by Mr Maree and Mr Hughes, the Lonehill Executives were divided, based on their individual interests, into four groups that corresponded to the four pillars of our Executive body, namely, the Academic, Cultural, Service and Sport pillars. The groups then met with their corresponding pillar and the two Executive Bodies discussed their own roles and responsibilities, and shared insights into the running of each body.

These discussions provided many fascinating insights into how the two bodies have adopted different styles of leadership. There were far too many points made for them to all be fairly discussed here. By far, the most interesting of these points is how we have adopted vastly different organisational structures.

The Crawford Lonehill Executive Body is divided into 8 portfolios, each with their respective tasks. Furthermore, their three-person Judiciary forms a separate portfolio wherein they act as liaisons between the Crawford Lonehill Staff and the rest of the Executive. This has been necessary for them to manage many groups of Executives and has resulted in the Judiciary leading via delegation and management of tasks.

This structure is very different to our own wherein each of the four-person Judiciary at Crawford Ruimsig are responsible for one of our 4 pillars and are included in all the decisions made in their pillar. This integrated approach has resulted in the Judiciary of our school adopting a more hands-on role in the leadership of our Executive Body.

It must be pointed out that neither of the above approaches have any distinct superiority over the other. The two styles of leadership serve as two different methods that have the same end effect in tackling the same problem. That is, to effectively lead a Crawford College.

After some light refreshments and reports back on the results of our discussions to the entire group of Executives, Mr De Klerk, the principal of Crawford Lonehill, and Mr Jason Smith, the head of leadership at Crawford Lonehill, made their closing remarks. After which, everybody involved went their separate ways, surely to reflect on everything learnt over the course of the afternoon.

This event was highly beneficial for both Executive Bodies and the lessons learnt will undoubtedly improve the quality of leadership at both Crawford Lonehill and Crawford Ruimsig.

This contribution was made in conjunction with Aedan Yates, Academic Judiciary at Crawford Ruimsig.

A group of people are sitting around a table in a room.

A group of people are sitting at tables in a room.

CSI initiative Ruimsig

We have started the year with a bang and have already visited FORA twice this year – Friends of Rescued Animals Our biggest challenge is always to socialise the animals – they are wary of humans as most of them have been abandoned. and abused by people who were supposed to look after them and care for them.

Our Crawfordians always take their challenge to attention every animal on site very seriously. FORA is an NPO and rely on any assistance they can get: food, money or cleaning agents.

A group of people are posing for a picture in a field.

Two men are walking two dogs in a grassy field.

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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: DYLAN BIZJAK Crawford International Sandton From the classrooms of Crawford International Sandton to the forefront of aeronautical engineering in the Netherlands, Dylan Bizjak’s journey is one of ambition, resilience and innovation . Pursuing a Passion for Engineering After matriculating in 2019, Dylan initially pursued Aeronautical Engineering at Wits University. However, six months into his studies, a new opportunity emerged, one that would take him beyond South Africa’s borders. He secured a place at Inholland University of Applied Sciences in Delft, Netherlands, where he embraced the challenge of international study, even navigating his first year remotely due to the pandemic. Now a graduate with a BSc in Aeronautical Engineering (2024), Dylan has stepped into the professional world, joining Eve Reverse, a pioneering start-up dedicated to climate-positive innovation. What began as an internship in his final year evolved into a full-time role as a Research and Development Engineer, where he contributes to the creation of sustainable, carbon-negative materials. His proudest achievement? Playing a key role in the development of the Eve Dry Tile, an innovative flax fibre material designed to reduce emissions and waste in manufacturing. Achievements at Crawford International Sandton Gareth Beach Award (2019) – Recognised for bravery, dedication, self-development and outstanding achievement in swimming. Sportsman of the Year (2019) – Acknowledged for excellence in swimming, basketball and boxing. Reflections on Crawford Dylan credits his time at Crawford for preparing him for both academic and personal success on the global stage. “Crawford’s approach equips you for university and beyond, whether in South Africa or internationally. It’s not just about academics but about becoming a well-rounded critical thinker and team player. Exposure to diverse cultures, teamwork, individuality and taking responsibility for my outcomes were invaluable lessons I carried with me.” Words of Wisdom To his younger self, Dylan would say: “Step out of your comfort zone sooner. Growth happens when you challenge yourself. Leaving home was tough, but the personal and professional growth was worth every stumble along the way.” Dylan’s story is a testament to courage, hard work and the power of embracing the unknown. From South Africa to the Netherlands, he is proving that the sky isn’t the limit, it is just the beginning.

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