PAHS kicks off the year
PORT Alfred High School has embraced this year’s academic year with a total of 829 children, from the babies in day care to the young adults in matric.
The school reported that a number of children had to be turned away due to space and resource constraints.
“The school is filled to capacity and the challenge going forward is how best to secure and allocate resources to meet the growing demand for quality education in our town,” PAHS said.
“There have been few administrative glitches; these have been attended to as they have arisen and the patience and understanding by those affected is appreciated.”
PAHS extended congratulations to last year’s matric class, who achieved a 94% pass rate, with 20 distinctions across 15 subjects.
A total of 30 Bachelor passes were secured and the school looks forward to staying in touch as past pupils embrace the next step in their respective career ladders.
Three of the matrics will sit for supplementary exams later this year.
A number of the PAHS primary section pupils participated in the SA Mathematics Foundation Challenge and the following pupils were congratulated and presented with their certificates of achievement during assembly on Monday: Jessica Harty (silver), Lisa-Mari Coetzee (silver and bronze), and Adam Schultz (bronze).
The Grade 7 mentors enjoyed perfect weather last Saturday, when they went on an organised beach walk to interact with staff and get to know one another better as they tackle the year ahead as young leaders.
Also on Saturday, the PAHS Old Boys cricket team batted first in a T20 match against the PAHS first eleven.
Played in a spirit of camaraderie and fun, the Old Boys were all out for 149 runs. Pick of the PAHS first team bowlers was Joel Austin, who took three wickets for 29 runs in his four overs.
Dane Jacobs bowled at a good pace, conceding 10 runs in his four overs without taking a wicket.
The PAHS batting began poorly but the middle order picked up with Dane Jacobs scoring 31 runs, Preston Jacobs 25 runs and Kyle Lax 17 runs – a personal best.
This however, fell short with the PAHS first team out for 110 in 19.1 overs.
Man of the match went to Dane Jacobs.
Monday marked the official start of the Grade 8 orientation week, where they and other new pupils to PAHS are welcomed and shown the ropes.
The week involves a number of “edu-taining” yet sensitive activities, which includes the wearing of colourful cardboard name badges by the Grade 8s, a get-to-know-your-school quiz and a fun pool party.
In an assembly, the code of conduct, coupled with the theme of true and meaningful friendship concluded the week and principal Clive Pearson wished all a very good year.