College reaches the stars as top school in KZN
STAR College was established in 2002 with a mere 20 learners. Since then, the college has grown in numbers and in academic excellence. Star College boasts a 100% pass rate since inception. In March 2020, on hearing the president’s release that the country was on lockdown, Star College swiftly moved into offering training workshops for educators to immediately begin teaching through virtual media. The dedication of the staff was phenomenal. Because of this, our students from Grade R to matric were offered a continuous flow of teaching excellence. Not only were workshops organised for the staff, but for parents as well so that they could fully equip the learners for an easy progression across to online teaching. Once the college was able to open, it continued with a hybrid teaching formulae which worked tremendously well, offering both online and contact classes.
Star College is proud to announce that its matrics crossed all obstacles and hurdles like the true gentleman and ladies that they are. With the support from teachers, they managed to overcome the anxiety and stress presented by the pandemic. They achieved in total 322 distinctions which averaged a 3.22 distinction pass per learner. Top student, Shaylen Pillay, achieved a 96.14% aggregate pass with Sailen Vadivelu following with 90.63% and Ethan Naidoo with 87%.
The college would like to congratulate the Matric Class of 2020 for their outstanding results, and parents for their support and staff for their dedication! The college achieved the position of the top school in KZN and second top school in South Africa.
EVERYONE is facing their own Covid battle
Our whole community is feeling the impact of Covid-19. Events and competitive seasons for all sport and regardless of the level at which you are competing, have been postponed or cancelled. Businesses are limited to the number of staff allowed to work and schools have had to limit the personal space and contact. Schools have had to learn how to reshape the learner’s school experience but still allow them to feel safe and loved in an environment so that they learn to grow. Most training facilities are closed and non-contact training fitness for professional sportsmen/teams has limped to a start. Athletes, coaches, parents, and teachers are creatively developing unorthodox programmes and plans to progress young children’s skills, without hindering their holistic development. Schools have had to ban traditional games such as “Catches”, “Open Gates” or “Stuck in the Mud” and this has opened young minds to develop and create their own variations on the “traditional approach”. Covid-19 has changed our understanding of “normal”.
The emotional rollercoaster is real
Amid this current global crisis, it is normal and understandable to feel the effects of a turbulent emotional rollercoaster. The constant influx of valuable and mind-blowing information, the erratic changes to a daily routine, the uncertainty linked to our personal health and the health of loved ones all contribute to the feeling of being in a tug of war event. The list is endless. We are often caught up in the rapidly changing reports and spikes in positive cases and we keep our eye on the changes in the levels of lockdown all while abiding by new laws.
These changes are physically and emotionally draining. It is important to know how you feel, and how you react to those emotions. Some common feelings are fear, anxiety, loss, relief, confusion, disappointment, exhaustion, frustration, depression, and anger. It can be mentally difficult when you lose the opportunity to interact with family and friends. It forces us to miss or postpone important events. We have all had to adapt and learn new technologies to interact with one another and these technologies have become prominent in our daily lives.
The importance of virtual communication
It is important to understand that the human race is hard-wired for personal connection and interaction. This is the main genetic reason that people want to see and be with family, friends, and others. While face to face meetings are limited, we can use technology to have virtual interactions. We have an opportunity to use virtual platforms, such as WhatsApp, FaceTime, Skype, Zoom, and other social media to stay connected. These interactions and connections provide some form of normality in the middle of a pandemic that has pulled the world to its knees.
Exercise is gold
Exercise is the foundation to help manage stress, fight off illnesses, and maintain positive mental health. While at the moment you may not be able to or want to go to the gym, there are other creative alternatives to help you to be physically active. If you decide to go for a run or engage in physical activity outside, make sure to abide by the social distancing recommendations. If you choose to exercise within your home, use what you have at your disposal. For example, if you do not have exercise equipment, you can use stairs, chairs, or cans of food to replace weights. There are a variety of home fitness workouts on the internet. Exercise is a wonderful tool to give your mind a break, regardless of your age.
Monitor your mental and emotional health
Stressful events causing uncertainty, fear, and anxiety can contribute to a variety of emotions and lead to a slippery slope of “why me” and “what ifs.” Individuals with a history of mental health concerns, those more susceptible to contracting Covid-19, and those who may be significantly economically impacted by this pandemic, may experience heightened mental health symptoms during this time.
Now, more than ever, it is important to pay attention to your mental health, extend compassion to others (at a safe distance), and work to create some semblance of normalcy in your day-to-day life.
In this time of uncertainty, focus on what you can control, even when it feels as if there is little that you can. Utilise your family, friends, and network systems to guide you in taking one day at a time. As we keep moving forward, remember that kindness is always free and we will get through this by supporting each other.
“Always be kind, for everyone is fighting a hard battle.” – Plato
Byron is counselling psychologist based in Kwa-Zulu Natal. “I believe everyone can change and reach their potential through a respectful, creative, and ethical journey,” he says.