Valentynsdag by Grey | Grey College
Valentynsdag by Grey 19 February 2017 12:02
Die afgelope Dinsdag was die skool in rep-en-roer met die gebruiklike opwinding wat net deur die viering van Valentynsdag by die skool gepaard kan gaan. Reeds vanaf Maandag is die Valentynsdaggeskenke by die skool afgelewer en is die voorportaal by die skool letterlik verduister soos wat die berge geskenke, wat gewissel het van die tradisionele rooi rose, teddiebere wat gewissel het van lewensgrootte tot die normale, en soetgoed van alle kleure en geure, aangegroei het. Hierdie oefening moes, en dit is my vermoede, veral ons moeders by die skool ’n fortuin gekos het en ’n mens moet onwillekeurig die motiewe daaragter onder die vergrootglas plaas. Tydens saalperiode op Valentynsdag, is die gebruiklike program in die Reüniesaal gevolg wat onder andere items deur Con Spirito-sanggroep van Oranje Hoër Meisieskool, Indomitus-sanggroep van die skool asook ’n sangitem deur die skoolkapteins, tot groot vermaak van die seuns, ingesluit het. Aan die einde van die saalperiode het die prefekte vir elke skoolleidster van die genooide skole, asook elke damespersoneellid, ’n rooi roos gegee om hierdie spesiale dag op die skoolkalender op ’n gepaste wyse af te sluit. Hierna is die geskenke in graadverband uitgedeel en kon die seuns se hormone uiteindelik weer normaliseer!
Grey Kollege het die afgelope Woensdagaand ’n baie suksesvolle en eerste “Night of the Coaches”-aand by die skool in die Reüniesaal aangebied. Gedurende hierdie geleentheid het bekendes in die sport- en sakewêreld, wat John-Laffnie de Jager, Franco Smith, Elize Kotzé, Sean Pollock, BC du Plessis en ander ingesluit het, hul ‘resepte vir sukses’ met die gehoor gedeel en ook ’n verskeidenheid onderwerpe, soos bv. die rol wat ouers in jong sportmanne se lewe speel, die belangrikheid van kommunikasie, hoe om druk te verwerk ens. aangespreek. Al die gassprekers het een onomwonde feit beklemtoon en dit was dat ouers ’n ontsettende groot rol in die uiteindelike loopbane en sukses van professionele sportmanne speel maar dat ouers nie onnodige druk op hul kinders moet plaas om te presteer wat uiteindelik die genot en liefde vir ’n betrokke sport negatief kan beinvloed nie.
I was again reminded that evening that parents only want what is the best for their children but that they need to encourage their children, preferably from a proverbial distance, without adding unnecessary pressure and that they must be so careful to not live their unrealised dreams through their children. Parents were also encouraged to interact and communicate more with the coaches of their children but that they need to remain as objective as possible especially when it comes to team selection. The best advice will possibly be to refrain altogether from getting involved and especially questioning team selection albeit extremely difficult as a parent. Sean Pollock, former Proteas captain with an international cricket career that spanned 13 years, gave the advice that children need to take part in as many different sports as possible before specialising in one particular sport and that this approach is very important to retain the fun-factor and to develop a proper skills set. Franco Smith also re-iterated that developing a skills set is imperative and that a professional rugby player, in particular, needs to have this in place so that good decisions with limited space available can be made. Paying attention to detail, proper preparation and a willingness to keep on learning from others were also some of the key concepts shared by John-Laffnie de Jager, former Davis Cup captain and international coach, in his dealings with the likes of Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic who have reached the pinnacle of their professional sports careers.
The “Night of the Coaches” was excellently orchestrated by Arnold Geerdts, current parent at the school, commentator and television personality and some of these key concepts were also shared by Mr. Angelo Mockie when he addressed the boys during the past Friday’s assembly. Mr. Mockie who has featured in several professional productions as actor, director, musician or choreographer and who currently holds the position of residence head at the University of the Free State, shared with those present the importance to distinguish between knowing and understanding a person. He was closely involved in the transformation process at the UFS during the past number of years and his message was that one should never categorise a person without really getting to understand this person. He also stated that one should be proud of one’s heritage and cultural background but that one must be prepared to embrace change and that this process starts but engaging others with a willingness to understand where this person came from and what causes him to act in a certain way. This message really hit home and provided some valuable food for thought to those present during assembly.
Die afgelope naweek was die Grey-seuns besonder besig gewees met die inter-hoër gala, die Grey-skaaktoernooi waartydens meer as 300 van Suid-Afrika se voorste skaakspelers skouers geskuur het, asook verskeie ander somersporte wat gedurende die naweek plaasgevind het. Grey Kollege skep werklik geleenthede vir elke Grey-seun om sy drome uit te leef en dit is belangrik dat hierdie geleenthede aangegryp sal word.
Grey se nuwe generasie