Session 1: What we are here for (The Headmaster)
The Headmaster pushed the point that after 12 years at school the prefects were now at the top of the pile and that they could have a huge impact on the year. This he stressed should be cause to be humble and not arrogant. Basis of our leadership lay in service.
Outlined the bedrock material for life lay in three areas:
Self Knowledge what am I good at? / not good at?
Integrity/ character/ moral courage/ responsibility
Attitude School motto: resilience/ try new ways/ don’t hang back
Personal Skills Time management/ communication/ sleep, diet and exercise
Ended with a paraphrased quote by Francis Drake:
“It’s not the beginning, but the ending, that yields the true glory”
Session 2: Dealing with complex Scenarios (Gunther Marx)
Scenario One – groups 1-4
Group One
You are a prefect looking after a Grade 9 dormitory and have an unruly angry individual, Max, who is making life tough for all the others. You arrive in the dorm and Max is mentally bullying another of his peers.
Group Two
You are a prefect looking after a Grade 9 dormitory and have an unruly angry individual, Max, who is making life tough for all the others. You arrive in the dorm and Max is mentally bullying another of his peers. You are aware that Max’s parents are in the process of a divorce.
Group Three
You are a prefect looking after a Grade 9 dormitory and have an unruly angry individual, Max, who is making life tough for all the others. You arrive in the dorm and Max is mentally bullying another of his peers. Max happens to be a family friend and the brother of another prefect.
Group Four
You are a prefect looking after a Grade 9 dormitory and have an unruly angry individual, Max, who is making life tough for all the others. You arrive in the dorm and Max is mentally bullying another of his peers. Max has just arrived from another school and has been ostracized by the dorm from day 1.
10 minutes preparation time
2 minute report back by each group
5-10 minutes discussion
Scenario Two – Houses
It is the first House meeting of the year, an important event. You want to use the opportunity as the house prefects to set the tone in your House. Prepare to make a 2-minute speech, deciding on the points and themes you will emphasise. One of you will present the speech.
10 minute preparation time
6 x 2 minute speeches
5-10 minute discussion
Below are some of the common major themes which were emphasised in this exercise:
• Welcome back
• Happiness
• Belonging
• Discipline
• Tolerance
• Respect
• Team spirit
• Work hard
• Talk about problems
• Brotherhood
• Help each other out
• Achieving goals
• Pride in House
• Pride in school
• House spirit
Scenario Three – groups 1-4
A Grade 10 boy in 2007 was known to smoke and bunk regularly. The prefects in 2007 did nothing to stop this; they looked the other way. You want to start the year on a good footing.
You decide to call this chap into your study on the first evening of term. Prepare yourself for the interview. Decide what you want to achieve, how you will reason with him, what you will say.
10 minute preparation time
2 x 2 minute speeches
5-10 minute discussion
Scenario Four – groups 1-4
A fellow matric has pitched up for meals late and improperly dressed on at least three occasions in the first month of term. It annoys you. You confront him, and even though he is a mate of yours, you expect him to toe the line. But you also know that he is a difficult bloke, who is angry at not getting rank.
As you walk back from lunch, at which he was properly dressed and on time, you ask him to come into your study for a chat. Prepare yourself.
10 minute preparation time
2 x 2 minute speeches
5-10 minute discussion
Session 3: Beachwalk and Eucharist
After an hour’s walk on the beach, the prefects and senior staff attended a Eucharist led by the Chaplain. The sermon focused on the relationship between Jesus and St Peter, and leadership lessons learnt from this relationship. The chalice used was brought to College by Bishop Armstrong when he founded the school in 1885.
Session 4: Prefects of 2008 (Richard Strydom & Benoit Morkel)
Various discussions took place with regard to:
• Respect self/ others
• Honour
• Doing it for ourselves
• Unity
• Backbone
• No undermining
• Responsibility
• Assertiveness
• Reasonable
• Instill pride in junior grades / self/ house/ school
• Fairness
• Attitude of matrics filtering down
• Interaction between grades
• Communication
• Trust
• Honesty
• Manners
• Influence vs Power
Plan was to:
1. Set boundaries
2. Be consistent
3. Reasons for punishment need to be clear
4. Reward system as well as punishment system needed
5. Lead by example
6. Motivate boys to participate
7. Show pride and interest in boys
8. Start small
9. Communicate effectively with teachers, housemasters, parents etc
10. Good attitude important
Vision for 2008:
“To serve and influence a school united by pride”
Session 5 :Role of The Prefect / Andrean Handbook
5.1 Role of the prefect (Mick Paterson)
• Challenges
• Wellness facility
• Role – area of responsibility
• Relationship with Housemaster, portfolio heads etc
• Start of the year
• Meetings and record keeping
• Roll calls / House prayers
• Newboys – protection / bullying / reciprocal favours / communication with parents
• Record keeping – punishments
• Quiet periods
• Fire drills
• House visiting
• Pizza deliveries
• Town/ movie leave
• Duty day
• School – dress / behaviour in corridors/ punctuality/ assemblies
• Chapel – attendance and noise
• Dining halls – food complaints etc
• Cheer leading
• Sports fields
• “Cops coms”
5.2 The Andrean Handbook (Tim Nuttall)
• Provides an overview of the life of College, from its vision to its basic organization, key information, and school rules.
• It is vital that every prefect studies the Andrean Handbook carefully and promotes it in the school community.
• How can the prefects contribute to fulfill College’s vision: ‘To be the boarding school of choice in Africa’?
• What roles should prefects play in living out the mission objectives.
• The school motto should be part of the blood stream of College.
• There is comprehensive information about the Council and Staff of College, and their various roles and responsibilities.
• The application marks are explained and it is the responsibility of the prefects to ensure a good work ethic.
• The school hymn and commonly used prayers are included.
• The long history of College is summarized in a few pages.
• The school rule is at the core of all rules of College.
• The ‘Headmaster’s Offences’ are listed so that every boy can know them clearly.
Session 6: Housemasters
Various and differing approaches were put forward to Prefects by their Housemasters to set the tone for 2008 in the Houses.
