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DAINFERN COLLEGE
Advertorial

The best of times

The inaugural Cambridge Studies Dux Head Boy and IEB Dux Scholar, Matthew Joshua Gobalsamy was this year's
Scholar was Xiaoya Huang Pretorius and Principal Matthew Davies recipient of the King Constantine medal
s Matthew Davies, Valediction service and then staged as the recipient of the prestigious
Principal of Dainfern a magnificent Matric Dance to Arthur Dean Memorial Trophy.
ACollege, pointed out at the ensure the Class of 2020 were able
Valediction Service of the Matric to end their High School career in a As a member of the International
Class of 2020, these famous lines truly memorable way. Round Square School network, the
from Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two College awards the King Constantine
The Walk of Honour was Cities perfectly encapsulate the “Our Grade 12s have been Medal each year to a Grade 12
redesigned to adhere to experience the Grade 12s have had
social distancing in this ‘coronacoaster’ year. incredibly brave and resilient student who has lived out the
throughout the challenges of
Round Square IDEALS and Discovery
THE BEST OF TIMES At Dainfern College, the hard lockdown and we were delighted character traits. This year, the medal
to be able to celebrate them on
went to Joshua Gobalsamy.
lockdown meant a near-seamless
campus as best we could while
observing COVID-19 protocols,” said
transition to a remote learning
The service ended with the traditional
programme and the students
certainly benefited from the Mr Davies. Walk of Honour as the Matrics made
their way off campus one last time.
technological sophistication of the The Valediction service was held The Walk was redesigned to ensure
College systems which ensured in the Multipurpose Hall at the social distancing and the Grade 12s
It was the uninterrupted delivery of the College. This hall can accommodate therefore walked from Grade 0 to the
best of times, it academic programme. Students 1 500 in normal circumstances, but Junior Prep, through the Senior Prep
was the worst of gradually returned to their was restricted to 250 for the service. to the High School, and finally past
”
times, it was the classrooms as restrictions were Staff, Matrics and their parents the staff, cheered on their way by the
age of wisdom, lifted, and the Grade 12s were attended this often-emotional entire student and teacher body. The
it was the age able to write their Preliminary service that recognised the Matrics were visibly moved by this
of foolishness, it examinations on campus at the achievements of the Grade 12s with symbolic revisiting of their school
was the epoch end of Term 2. However, it was subject prizes, Values Awards and a journey and emotions were high as
of belief, it was only with the move to Level 1 number of trophies. they hung their school ties on the
the epoch of that staff were finally able to put tree before leaving campus.
incredulity, it arrangements in place for some The College offers both IEB Matric
was the season of the important Matric rites of and Cambridge A Levels and this Despite the challenges, frustrations
of light, it was passage. year the inaugural Cambridge and disappointments of the year,
the season of Studies Dux Scholar was Xiaoya there is no doubt
darkness, it was The College certainly lived out its Huang. Head Boy Matthew that, for the Class
the spring of hope, motto of ‘Celebrate’ as, in just three Pretorius, who in his speech of 2020, their
it was the winter weeks, the High School organised laughingly described his peers as school days at
of despair. three Colours assemblies, hosted the Matrics with the cleanest hands Dainfern College
The class of 2020 just The matric ties - a ” the Grade 12s at a relaxing Matric in the history of Dainfern College, were indeed the
before the lockdown much-loved tradition Retreat off campus, held a moving was the IEB Dux Scholar as well best of times.
3 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT DAINFERN COLLEGE Please contact the Marketing Manager Mrs Deidré Proxenos on 011 469 0635 or email: dproxenos@dainferncollege.co.za