INSIDE:

GRADE 5 OUTING

OUTWARD BOUND – GRADE 7’S

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24/08/2018 I TERM 3 I NEWSLETTER

ISSUE

93

As a young boy, one of my evening chores was to run to the bottom of our

garden to lock the garage door. The return journey took me past the

gaping entrance to the space under our house and I remember running as

fast as I could past the doorway, fearful of the huge bears that I knew lived

there in the darkness.

FEAR AND REALITY

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I would like to take this opportunity to thank the School community for producing yet another great MiMs weekend. In particular, I

would like to thank all the boys for their tremendous resilience, dedication and professionalism during the preparation and the event

itself. We

GOODBYE TO STEVEN AND MELANIE…CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

MESSAGE FROM THE

EXECUTIVE HEAD

MESSAGE FROM OUR

EXECUTIVE HEAD

FEAR AND REALITY… (Continued from page 1)

Yet my fear, irrational as it was, was very real to me. Off the back of the Grade 8, “Passed Thru Fire,” (PTF)

experience this weekend past and the Outward Bound adventures undertaken by the rest of the boys, we spent a

little time in my assembly on Monday unpacking what it means to be fearful.

I certainly saw fear manifest itself on PTF. Some boys were afraid of the dark; others of the supposed dangers

lurking in the African bush. Some feared being alone and others were fearful of the snakes, scorpions and spiders

that were sure to found in a sleeping bag, or hiding in a hiking boot.

Jaimal Yogis, writing in, “The Fear Project,” says that all sentient beings - whether rabbits, guinea pigs, lions,

dolphins or humans - feel fear. Yet, he says, not a single lesson on how to deal with fear is taught in school and most

of us know very little about how to deal with it, when it stands in our way.

Theories abound on fear, one of which dates back to the 1870s, when a Dr M Roth published a list of people

predisposed to extreme states of fear, including, alcoholics, sexual deviants and “people educated on false

principles”. Charles Darwin believed that, “…as fear increases to the agony of terror, we behold, as with all violent

emotions, diversified results. The heart beats wildly, or may fail to act and faintness ensue…utter prostration soon

follows and the mental powers fail.”

Generally, humans don’t like to feel afraid and our boys are no exception. The lesson we tried to impart over the

weekend was that one has to rationalise the fear, which, in the case of the boys, was almost always a fear of the

unknown challenges that awaited them on the course and about which the details were deliberately sketchy. We

tried to show, instead, that seeking and gaining knowledge, understanding and wisdom leads one to a point where

the fear is understood, placed in context and so reduced, or even eradicated completely.

Interestingly, though, men are also attracted to situations where fear abounds. Just prior to the outbreak of World

War 1, the Antarctic explorer Shackleton, advertised for men to be part of a crew on an adventure that, “may end in

certain death.” His office had an avalanche of applications!

The founding principle of PTF is to set boys on the journey to Godly manhood. Facing and overcoming fears through building courage is part of that process. William James, the American philosopher and psychologist, saw the ebb of fearful situations as part of society’s evolution. “The progress,” he said, “from brute (in our case, boy) to man is characterised by nothing so much as the decrease in frequency of proper occasions for fear.”

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Rick Bundschuh says that, deep inside the heart every boy and man, is a hero struggling to get out. Time may have

tarnished the image of the Marlboro man, but within all men is something he hopes might mark him as extraordinary.

Gallant, courageous, determined and utterly selfless - these are the raw materials we as men hope to possess, when the

chips are down, or when fear walks into the room.

One of our intentions then on Passed Thru Fire, was to put the fears the boys had into perspective, to help them

understand them better and then, through the experiences we created, help them to face those fears and to overcome

them.

I wish someone had told me this when I was dealing with the bears!

From: “The Fear Project: what our most primal emotion taught me about survival, success, surfing…and love.” (Jaimal

Yogis)

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For any parent who might be interested, I have copies of the excellent little book, “Passed Thru Fire,” available for

purchase. At a cost of only R100, it will provide you with a clear understanding of why we put our boys through the PTF

experience every year.

To purchase a copy please deposit R100 into the school’s account with the following reference:

First National Bank

Branch Code: 220325

Acct Number: 50880023227

Reference: PTF (and your son’s surname)

Once payment is received, your son can bring the book home with him over mid-term break. Alternatively, we will hold onto it, until you can collect it from the school.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

The suggestion at the recent AGM, that we hold a Dads ‘n Lads Repair and Maintenance Weekend, in order to deal with

the myriad repair and maintenance problems facing the school, was met with loud approval.

We have compiled a list of items needing attention and identified the items/resources in our possession, needed to effect

the repairs.

We have earmarked the weekend of 6 and 7 October for this project. This is the weekend before school reopens for Term 4. We should have enough space in boarding to accommodate and feed all dads and boys who volunteer their help. Please see next week’s In Tune for exact details.

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Last Word:

I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear. (Nelson Mandela) Till next time,

Greg Brooks

Executive Head

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CONCERT STATUS

Congratulations to Lethu Mashazi and James Jooste, on receiving their Concert Status!

To their mentors Luke Brown and Nduduzo Sibiya, congratulations on a job well done.

Lethu Mashazi Lethu Mashazi and his mentor Luke Brown

James Jooste James Jooste with mentor Nduduzo Sibiya

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WEDNESDAY CONCERT AWARDS

COMMENDABLE PERFORMANCE

Kieran Griffin Kevin Smith Alec Gibson Jesse Barth

Qhawe Mafika Itebogeng Machobane Sean Morrick Reece Olsen

Seth Brown Daniel van Jaarsveld Angelo Mekonnen Brett Fernihough

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CHORISTERS OF THE WEEK

OUTSTANDING SOLOIST

Sabelo Skosana Tshiamo Boikhutso

Neo Ramalitse

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NEW BOYS OF THE WEEK

NEW BOYS: GOOD PROGRESS WITH TESTS

Lethu Mashazi James Jooste

Aidan McArthur Stefan Pretorius Wade Breedt

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SNIPPETS FROM THE SAN

It is always a relief when the troops return from their Outward Bound excursions in one piece – a sentiment I

am sure many parents share. Although bodily intact, some returnees had great difficulty with mobility for

several days post-hike. My prescription of squats and star jumps to loosen-up those stiff muscles didn’t go

down too well.

As expected, it was primarily the Grade Nine guys who were temporarily crippled. I can only imagine what

their dads were like back at home. Poor wives. All the other grades - aside from being a little damp and

bedraggled – were in fine spirits and gushing with tall stories about great hardships and huge heroics. And

snow, of course.

Since the week has subsequently been rather mundane, I think I’ll use this opportunity to clear up a

misconception or two. The first is about Apple Cider Vinegar – a substance with which my name appears to

have powerful associations. Our parent group are not subtle people and, from comments passed over the

years, it is evident that they have an image of me manically sloshing ACV down the throats of all and sundry. It

is thought that I use the remedy for everything from bruised knees to blocked noses. On second thoughts,

why disenchant you?

The boys also nurture their own Sister Lianne myths. According to them, cough syrup is my weapon of choice

– used to treat an even wider range of ailments than the legendary ACV. Word has it that one fellow suffered

the agony of an infected ingrown toenail in silence for over two months. He never reported to the San

because he isn’t fond of cough mixture.

Now for one final word about ACV – the elixir of sadists. A DBCS father attending a Wednesday concert several

weeks ago shared an experience with me that I reckon all the rest of you can mull over. He was recuperating

from a medical condition that had required the services of a maxillo-facial specialist. Part of the prescribed

treatment – wait for it - entailed taking a dose of ACV three times daily. Now fancy that!

Sister Lianne

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NEWS FROM THE ACADEMIC DEPARTMENT

On 20 August, the Grade 4s and 5s, along with Ms Dookey, Mrs Ayliffe and a driver, went for an outing to the

Eskom Hydro Electric Scheme in the Northern Drakensberg. After choir, we boarded the bus and left for Eskom,

where we were welcomed by a gentleman. We saw a map, machines and a bicycle that turned on a light. We

were then given a presentation which had amazing photographs. Afterwards we went to the underground power

station. We saw amazing things, such as turbines and generators. The power station is powered by water. We

went 52 storeys below the ground! It was an amazing and extraordinary experience! We went down in a lift – I

was terrified it would stop! I loved it and enjoyed the meal that the kitchen staff gave us.

Tjama Keta – Grade 5

GRADE 4 AND 5 OUTING

The Grade 5 group enjoying their outing

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ACADEMIC AWARDS

Alex Brits Kevin Jordaan Sean Morrick

Angelo Mekonnen Henno Klopper Jordyn Fraser Connor McKenzie

Congratulation to the following Drakies for being recognised for their excellent work ethic regarding academics.

WELL DONE!

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Saterdag, 18 Augustus 2018,

Liewe Dagboek,

Ek het vannoggend wakker geword, maar dit was te koud en stil om op te staan. Nkazi het eindelik wakker geword

en ons het lekker begin gesels, en kort daarna was Sihle ook wawyd wakker. Ons het so sewe uur opgestaan en

begin water kook vir ontbyt. Dit was koud en onplesierig, maar my slaapsak het darem lekker snoesig gebly. Ons het

stomende “hot chocolate” en beskuit geёet om ons behoorlik wakker te maak. Dit was te koud om rerig enige iets

to doen, so ons het vir ‘n hele ruk net karate gespeel.

Een oomblik het ek net daar gestaan en die volgende oomblik dog ek, ek was in Europa, dit het gesneeu! Ons het

opgespring en besluit om in die sneeu te gaan speel. Na ‘n ruk het dit opgehou sneeu en my sprokies wêreld het

verdwyn.

Dit was so vervelig na die sneeu, so ek en Sihle het bietjie gaan stap. Terwyl ons gestap het, het ons ‘n

wandelpaadjie gesien en gevolg. Na ‘n hele ent se stap het ons by ‘n asemrowende mooi rivier uitgekom. Daar was

die mooiste blomme, bome en selfs ‘n waterval by die rivier.

Die honger het begin knaag en ons moes terug gaan om kos te begin maak. Lekker hoender noodles en kaas (om dit

dikker te maak) was ons aandete! Daarna was die talent kompetisie, en ek, Sihle en Nkazi het ‘n grappie uitgespeel.

Ons was baie trots, want almal het begin skater toe ons klaar was.

Dagboek, ek moet vir jou se, ek is nou poegaai!

Geo Kirsten

GRADE 7 OUTWARD BOUND

Grade 7’s taking a break

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Merle Branch

1 September

Kwanele Dlamini

24 August

Heath Houston

29 August

Lethu Mashazi

7 September

DATE EVENT TIME

24 August Festival in the Hills

24 August Mini Roadshow

26 August Chapel 18:00-19:00

29 August Wednesday Concert 15:30-17:30

30 August – 2

September

Mid –Term Break

30 August Buses Depart

3-4 September ABRSM Practical Exam

5 September Wednesday Concert 15:30-17:30

6 September Legacy Project

7-8 September Open Weekend

Calendar 24 August to 7 September 2018

DRAKENSBERG BOYS CHOIR SCHOOL

PRIVATE BAG X20 | WINTERTON 3340 | KWAZULU-NATAL | SOUTH AFRICA

Tel: +2736 468 1012 | Fax: +2736 468 1709 | Email: administration@dbchoir.com | www.dbchoir.com

INCORPORATED ASSOCIATION NOT FOR GAIN - NPO 002-106

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