Blackmore Bulletin Blackmore House, Durban High School Producing well-rounded young men of sound character who will form the backbone of our school and eventually of our nation. From the Senior House Master As the end of the First Term looms ahead, I am reminded how quickly time passes. Many things have happened that have allowed Blackmore House to continue to grow into a place that embraces the diversity of all, yet builds a brotherhood that unites. We have seen a number of changes on the staff of Blackmore House. I arrived with my wife, René (Housemother) and my two daughters, Hannah (16) and Keren (12). Amos Muangwa and Angie Bond have both left the team and their positions are currently vacant. Blackmore House has benefitted from their contribution over the years and we wish them well for the future. The year started with building projects that needed to be undertaken to re-finish some of the aspects of the renovations of 2014. We have now completed the retiling of the shower areas and the front stoep. We have also just signed the contract that will see the installation of new boilers that would address the problem of no hot water on the Second Floor. In addition, this new system will allow us to shut down some tanks during low usage times, which should translate into some cost-saving. This project will take approximately eight weeks to complete. We are also in the final stages of approving the contract that will install 10 desk top computers in the Computer Room, as well as provide wi-fi access for boys with their own devices in the Prep Room. These will be for educational purposes only. The same policy that governs the use of computers at the school, will be used in the Blackmore House Computer Room. This project is long overdue and I have appreciated the boys’ patience. This should be completed by the end of April. We are also in the process of appointing service providers to ensure that all fire-fighting equipment is fully operational and compliant. Fire safety requirements mean that we have to replace Trellidors with access controlled doors, which are monitored by cameras. As you can hear, there will be many new projects undertaken and implemented, All of which will add significant value to the House, so we have to accept the inevitable inconvenience that this may cause. Mr R Hellenberg Senior House Master 23 March 2015 Issue 2/2015 Inside this issue: From the Balcony 2 Introducing the Prefects 2 The Backbone of the School 2 April Holidays 3 History of Blackmore House 3 Congratulations! 3 Staff Matters 4 From a Blackmore Old Boy 4 2 From the Balcony What a term it has been already. With a new man at the helm of Blackmore House, things were going to change-in addition to the usual array of issues that crop up when one has 104 young men living together. And change is a condition of which many DHS people, myself included, are suspicious about! Change is necessary but what has not changed, and this is absolutely vital, is the very soul of the BE. I do believe that we are moving strongly in the right direction, as we drive home with the boys the truly great aspects of a DHS education; the striving for excellence, emphasis on team spirit and group participation as well as the sense of identity and belonging which is geared towards making young men who are ready to make their mark in a dynamic and challenging environment. The cricket covers have been packed away and the rugby poles have been set up. The whole school has seemed to gain a new energy with rugby season upon us. The A teams have been hard at work in the gym and on the field in preparation for a tough season ahead. This does mean the early wake up call for gym, and the now infamous Trompie sessions. Some of our boys showcased their talents in the Performing Arts Competition and excelled in a truly wonderful evening. It is so great so see the different talents of the boys coming through. Introducing the Prefects The prefects of 2015 are an energetic, passionate group of gentlemen. They are led by Mthokozisi Ntuli (Headboy) and his two deputies, Hadyn Henning and Dylan Bothma. The prefects are: Dillon Bryan Hero Mpanza Lethu Mthembu Matthew Noot Dalvon Horsley Sizwe Malinga Ndumiso Ngcobo Tristan Ross. Haydn Henning (Deputy); Mthokozisi Ntuli (Headboy); Dylan Bothma (Deputy) The Backbone of the School As the Head Master always says, “the BE is the backbone of the school.” Blackmore’s surely lives up to that statement as you find all the boys that are involved in different aspects of the school. Blackmore boys excel in sport, academics and also cultural activities. Hostels of traditional boys’ schools are normally known for bullying and I thought Blackmore House would be the same. It didn’t take me long to realize that I had the wrong idea about Blackmore House. All that was required from me was respect. Another great thing about this house is the Brotherhood amongst the boys. There is “Blackmore House is the engine of DHS. It is the cream of the crop.” always a good vibe especially during the very dramatic rugby season. My biggest highlight in the BE is the Interhouse Gala at school once a year. We sing our lungs out and show the dayboys what living in the BE is all about. Blackmore House is the engine of DHS. It is “the cream of the crop.” Mvumeleni Mathenjwa Grade 11 3 3 April Holidays We will be accommodating touring sides participating in the DHS Basketball Tournament (16 April) and the Glenwood Rugby Festival (6-12 April). Please be aware that if your son is participating in either tournament, it does not mean that he may stay in the BE unless the Master-in-Charge of his sport has agreed to this as part of their team’s requirement and will be paid for by that sport’s code. The arrangements then for the end of the First Term are as follows: Wednesday, 1 April is the last day of school. Breakfast will be the last meal that will be served and no boy will be allowed upstairs after school as the dorms will be cleaned for the touring teams. School will close at approximately 10h30 and all boys must be signed out by their parent or guardian by 12h00. Please note that boys will have to clear out all their things as their lockers and storage spaces under their beds will be used by the touring teams. Boys who live far away may approach Mr or Mrs Hellenberg about storage space during the holidays. ALL boarders must be back at the BE between 15h0017h00 on Sunday, 12 April. All boarders will attend supper at 17h30 on that day. This will be the routine for the start of every term, unless indicated differently by Mr Hellenberg History of Blackmore House During the years 1902 - 1903 there were not many schools around the Durban area. This led to Mr Belcher's idea of having houses. This was to promote competition in the school. At first there were two boarding houses and this was due to the fact that the houses combined were just “too strong", or "too fast", and there was an uneven distribution of talent in the school with the boarding houses taking the majority of the numbers. to one house, yet it was only in the year 1932 that the boarding house was named Blackmore House after the late master Mr Blackmore. There have been many senior house masters in charge of the boarding establishment, one of which was Mr D G Nourse who ... “Fredric got bitten by a shark” ... The year 1913 saw the combination of the two houses taught at Durban High School and had the second field parallel to the main field named after him. His legacy surpasses those of a normal man after countless acts of bravery and great leadership, one of which was in the year 1940 at the beach when his friend Fredric got bitten by a shark and he did not hesitate to jump in, swim up to him and carry him to safety on his surfer board. Libo Mngomezulu Grade 11 Congratulations! Congrats to Brian Cele and Sicelo Dzingwa, who have been selected to represent KZN Basketball at the National Tournament in July. The following boys have represented DHS 1st Teams in the various Term 1 sports: Cricket: Dillon Bryan (Captain), Nick Fletcher, Matthew Noot, Zipho Mngcete, Tinashe Nenhunzi Basketball: Brian Cele, Sicelo Dzingwa Golf: Ross Welfare, Nick Fletcher Waterpolo: Aston Lawson 4 Blackmore House 70 Windmill Road Musgrave Durban 4001 Phone: 031-277 1520 Fax: 031-277 1555 E-mail: [email protected] Parents may call boarders Mon-Fri between 16h30-17h15 and Sundays 14h30-17h15 Staff Matters We would like to welcome Mr Erasmus into Blackmore House at the end of March. He will move in with his wife, Mrs Erasmus and daughter, Cassandra. Renovations are still under way in Mr Hellenberg’s flat as well as in Mr Erasmus’s soon to be flat. Mr Gcilitshana has packed away his cricket whites and bought the trusty leather boots out of retirement and has been attending Crusaders rugby practices. He is coaching the 2nd XV rugby and is wanting to showcase his talents, I do believe. Mr September has also bought the rugby boots out after a sabbatical and is plying his trade at Varsity College Old Boys. Mr September will be coaching the U16A rugby side. We’re on the Web! We wish both a good season. www.durbanhighschool.co.za From a Blackmore Old Boy My Blackmore's career started in 1994 after begging my parents to re-think the idea of sending me to a school that allowed only one weekend home per term. Being someone who very much enjoyed the home luxuries and free weekends to the beach, the thought of having to look after myself and "skivvying" for a senior was not an attractive one. In 1998 when I matriculated as Head Prefect of the school and prefect of Blackmore’s, I realize now it was easily the best years of my life. The friendships that were developed in Blackmore’s have and will last a life time and these friends quickly became my second family. You can meet a Blackmore’s Old Boy anywhere in the world today and you can be guaranteed that you will share similar stories of comradely, friendship and togetherness that Blackmore’s instilled in you. I will never forget the clinking of Mr AJ Human’s keys ringing through the corridors on one of his evening patrols, or the voice of a senior shouting for a second former from the other side of the building. Through the good times and the tough times I can honestly say Blackmore’s made me a better person and I hope that the Boarding house continues to be the backbone of our School. A bit about me: I moved to and lived in the UK for 7 years after my studies and returned to Durban in 2011 where I am now happily married with two gorgeous little girls. I’m currently working at Unilever in National Accounts and have been since returning from the UK. I try to keep as close to the School news as possible and regularly support the School functions, golf days and sporting events. This weekend I have the pleasure of presenting the 1st XV rugby jerseys before the clash with our old foes, College. Good luck chaps or should I say - GO THE HORSEFLIES!!!! Calvin McGregor ‘98
© Copyright 2024