Page 28 - Education August 2024

Game, set, and match for matriculant Isabella Basson,

who bags seven distinctions and a full 4-year tennis

scholarship to The University of Tulsa!

Written by Shannon Black She expressed that not only was the structured layout of the
content, quality of learning material, expertise of the teachers and
sabella Basson, a past Grade 12 student at Hatfield Online timely feedback a tremendous help, but she felt her online learning
School, has rightfully earned her place in the halls of academic experience was more personal. Due to the nature of online schooling,
Iexcellence whilst continuing to shine on the tennis courts, she found herself in a position where she had to reach out to her
proving that you can live out your sporting dream and excel in your teachers if she was unsure of a concept. Her heightened sense of
academics. responsibility for her academics fostered one-on-one, personalised
interaction with her teachers.
19 January 2024 marked a day of great excitement for Isabella
Basson after the IEB confirmed that she had obtained seven In addition to her excellent academic results, since joining Hatfield
distinctions in Accounting, Afrikaans FAL, English, Geography, Life Online School, her International Tennis Federation (ITF) ranking for
Orientation, Mathematics and Physical Sciences. Furthermore, Women’s U/18 improved from 3093 in August 2022 to 712 by the
she was in the top 1% of the country for Afrikaans and Geography. end of 2023. In her matric year, between writing her prelims and final
This remarkable set of results has secured Isabella a full 4-year examinations, she ranked 3rd nationally in the Girls U/18 section.
tennis scholarship to The University of Tulsa in the USA, where she Isabella’s mom expressed her deep gratitude to all staff at the school,
will study Business and work towards her goal of playing tennis “They have been amazing. If it weren’t for this vehicle and their
professionally. This was no easy feat – she was up against the best support and understanding, she would not have been able to do this.”
in the world and had to demonstrate a balance between academic
rigour and outstanding sports performance. The principal of Hatfield Online School, Ms Claudine van Tonder,
explains that Isabella is the quintessential example of how online
Isabella joined Hatfield Online School in her Grade 11 year education can help students thrive. “Isabella used the flexibility
when she realised she needed the flexibility of online schooling. that our school offered her. She worked exceptionally hard at her
Sometimes, Isabella only knew her tournament schedule a day in academics whilst simultaneously committing to a gruelling training
advance, yet her teachers would reschedule tests or submission schedule. We are so proud of her!”
deadlines to timeslots that worked for her. For Isabella:
Isabella is a true beacon of courage and commitment, proving that
“That was one of my highlights – the teachers’ attitudes sports and academics are not opponents; they flourish together
and understanding towards everything, even if they don’t under the right conditions.
understand tennis.”

But as Isabella explains, it is not only about a flexible test schedule:

“You have great teachers, you have access to them 24/7
wherever you are, you do your full curriculum, you get
the best learning experience, you can write your tests and
do your projects … and I could carry on with tennis the
way I was.”

Education | August 2024 | 26