A Saheti student uses Google Earth to learn about geography. The school has been trying new approaches
Reflecting on a year of growth and success in 2016, Saheti School’s executive headmaster Warwick Taylor comments on some of the highlights. “Last year we had the hard work, yet privilege, of completing both the IQAA (Independent Quality Assurance Agency) and the Umalusi (Council of Quality Assurance in General and Further Education and Training) audits. We received our accreditation with Umalusi and have had positive feedback from our IQAA audit.
“Among other favourable comments, the report said: ‘Collectively [Saheti] portrays a very happy, vibrant and productive school, and it is indeed inspiring to consider the school has served the Greek community of Johannesburg so admirably for over 40 years.
“In all our planning at a senior management level, we are making use of the IQAA report and its input from all stakeholders to take the school from strength to strength.”
New growth
In 2016, the school stepped up the quality of its sports coaching and sharpened its focus on a host of cultural activities including dance, drama and music. Saheti also started a facilities upgrade programme that included the addition of a new 100Mbps optical data line, an upgraded primary school computer centre, a new high school science research laboratory and a new educational environmental centre. “Although these improvements in the facilities are important, they are just the outward visible signs of a dynamic school that constantly seeks to grow and improve,” says Taylor.
Applied learning
The school also ran a pilot programme called SAM (Study and Assessment Module project) in which the grade 10s immersed themselves in project-based work that saw them take education out of the classroom. “Although this demanded extra effort from teachers and learners, it was received exceptionally well,” says Taylor. “Learners willingly came in to school after hours to work on their SAM assignments, and other grades expressed the wish to have similar projects in their years. Initiatives such as SAM are an example of our ongoing efforts to innovate in teaching and learning, to better engage pupils.”
Sparkling achievement
This focus on academic excellence and innovation reflects in the school’s matric results. Continuing a long tradition of excellence, Saheti’s 2016 matric class achieved a 100% pass rate and a 99% degree pass, with a total of 202 distinctions and 92.9% of students achieving one or more distinctions.
2016’s top achiever Michael Stephanou achieved an average of 93% and a full house of eight distinctions. He was named an Outstanding Achiever by the IEB, ranking within the top 5% of IEB candidates nationally in six or more subjects. He was also ranked within the top 1% of IEB learners nationally in English, history, life sciences and Modern Greek.
Gabriela Steenekamp, with an average of 90%, scored a full house of nine distinctions, achieved 100% for mathematics and was ranked within the top 1% of IEB learners nationally in English and maths.
Marissa Diakoyannis, with a full house of eight distinctions, was ranked within the top 1% of IEB learners nationally in English.
Eleni Thomadakis, also with a full house of eight distinctions, was ranked within the top 1% of IEB learners nationally in life orientation.
Mark Mottian, with a full house of eight distinctions, was ranked within the top 1% of IEB learners nationally in mathematics.
In many subjects Saheti was up to 10% above the IEB subject averages and also had much higher distinction ratios than the IEB in most subjects. For example in mathematics, English, history and information technology, 50% of learners writing these subjects achieved As.
A commitment to improvement
Expressing his delight at yet another set of sterling results, Taylor says the school’s unbroken record of a 100% pass rate and its ever-growing number of distinctions and degree passes reveal Saheti’s ongoing commitment to improvement.
He notes that the school, founded in Senderwood, East of Johannesburg, over 40 years ago is built on a culture of stimulating personal development and growth across academic, sport, cultural and leadership activities. Saheti caters for pupils of mixed ability and this enhances the academic dynamics in the classroom.
Saheti’s small class sizes, its focus on individual development and its dedicated staff are geared to help each learner achieve their development potential and prepare them to excel at university level, without forcing them into a mould. The school is guided by the classical Greek maxim “know thyself” and encourages pupils from diverse backgrounds and cultures to strive for excellence while embracing their roots and individuality.
For more information, visit www.saheti.co.za or call 0861 724 384