Deputy Head Prefect Khawulani Thwala – Academic Prize Giving Speech

Congratulations to all our Achievers at our Academic Prize Giving.

Deputy Head Prefect Khawulani Thwala addressed the school and parents:

Success is never an accident; it is the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction, skilful execution and the vision to see obstacles as opportunities.

Good morning to Mr Viljoen, members of school management, staff, parents and most importantly to the squires and knights seated here this morning. I stand this morning proud to see so many of you here and it makes me prouder to know that you all have earned a right to be here because, you worked hard and it paid off. You have succeeded!

Success is defined as “the fact that you have achieved something that you want and have been trying to do or get ‘’ what can be concluded from this that success is different to each and every individual, but there are common characteristics of success.

A wiseman in Mr Barry once told us as his grade 11 English class that if you do something you love you’ll never have to work a day in your life .This statement entranced me, I wanted to find out why it was true and, as our generation does when they faced with knowledge they can’t understand , I went to google .I found that, this is because of PASSION, the first characteristic of success, a feeling of intense enthusiasm towards or compelling desire for something. To be successful you need to motivated because what you want to achieve and what you have achieved is not easy. A study done at the McGill University, in Montreal found that being harmoniously passionate for an activity contributes significantly the outcome by providing one with hedonic and eudemonic happiness, emotions that you experience when you achieve success.

I over my high school years developed an understanding that we all will face adversity and failure as these are both steps in the path to success. The solution to these setbacks is the second characteristic of success Persistence. Persistence is not the failure you face in the journey to success it’s the ability to pick yourself up dust yourself off and go at it again. The adversity is a given be it trying to balance the work load of all your subject and it not working out, or studying very hard for attest and not achieving you desired mark, you have to try again because giving up is not an option if you want to succeed.

A crucial factor in continued success is self-improvement. In every achievement there is always an opportunity to improve weather you have achieved 75% and want to improve to 80% 90% to 95% and for those of you with 100%’s and think there’s no opptunity to improve.Improve by doing it again or by getting it for the year and not just a term. That  Desire to Improve is The fourth and penultimate characteristic of success. It is what separates a one good mark and a good end of year report. 

Our school’s motto has the Latin phrase Quisque Sibi Verus which means to thine own self be true which perfectly defines the fifth and final characteristic of success which is Self-Accountability. You know yourself, your strengths, your weaknesses and your potential. You know when you have worked hard or when you could have worked harder, this introspection is the first step to self-accountability. You have the right to hold yourself accountable for your success because ultimately you where in that exam venue writing that exam, alternatively you should hold yourself accountable when you don’t achieve your goals. This self-accountability it allows you to learn from your mistakes and eventually improve.

Gentlemen you have exhibited these characteristic’s hence why you have succeeded academically but the hard part now ,and is to maintain and improve this excellence, maintain and improve on the success that has brought you here today. I say this so that in a years’ time you find yourself succefull again and not regretting the choices you have made because the ball is in your court. I shall leave you with a quote by a famous Greek Philosopher Aristotle it reads ‘’the roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet’’ . Endure the bitter roots to eventually enjoy the sweet fruits.

– Khawulani Thwala

Northwood Knighting Ceremony 2022

Our Class of 2022 received their Knight pins during the Knighting Ceremony, a special milestone moment in their high-school career, made more poignant by each parent and guardian pinning the Knight to their son’s blazer. Thank you to previous Head Boy (2018), Cameron Ciaglia, who was guest speaker at the event.
We wish our young Knights all the best for the year ahead.
“Acquit Ye Like Men”
Cameron Ciaglia Speech:

It’s quite amazing actually, everything you have ever done in life has led you to this moment right now. Every decision, every word spoken every reaction and every bond formed has cultivated your very existence. Enjoy it, don’t destroy it, Embrace it, don’t deface it, send it, don’t end it. Becausewe are the revolution to our evolution, the architects to our prospects and the engineers to our careers.

Good morning Mr Viljoen, teachers, parents and of course the class of 2022.

It’s been almost 4 years since I’ve last stood on this podium but my legs are still shaking  more than  ever. I think the only time one feels more nervous is when Mr Govender calls you by your full name.

For those of you that dont know me, my name is Cameron Ciaglia and I had the amazing opportunity to lead the school as Headboy back in 2018. I am currently in my fourth and final year of studying Civil Engineering at the University of Pretoria.

A lot has changed in the 4 years that I’ve been gone. Corona changed from a beer to a virus, tiktok changed from the sound a clock makes to a social media app, and apparently Mr Stanley trimmed his moustache. But most importantly  you guys changed from squires to knights. A journey  different to mine due to the pandemic, but a journey that will stay with you till the day your children become squires.

Having the opportunity to stand here and speak to you today is very special to me considering you were my group of grade 8’s. I don’t know if it was the fact that the majority of you were taller than me or down to the fact that we had the same maturity level but I felt something special about your year. And that feeling aged well as this may be the most crucial year in terms of keeping traditions and the true morals of a Knight alive.

These last 2 years have been interrupted by pandemics and civil unrest which had the potential of derailing the progress made in your daily lives. The current Grade B’s, 9’s and 10’s have not experienced even 50% of what makes Northwood, Northwood. The monumental days of turning goldstones into bluestones. The old boys day victories on this very field that give you goosebumps and the camaraderie between the grades as you sing the Northwood Call till your voice has completely disappeared. These are the  days that will stay with me forever. But my challenge to you, the knights of 2022 is to refuel that fire in the grades below you and be remembered as the year that Northwood went from good to great. Work harder than any year before, not just for personal success, but to be an example  that people desire to imitate. These lower grades need you more than ever and the time is now to step up.

I speak to the first team captains, the prefects, the headboy, the games room boys, the tech team, the guys that sit at the back of the class, then I say put your differences aside and come together as the  knights of Northwood. I’ve always said it’s not the size of the knight in the fight but rather the size of the fight in the knight – and that fight gents, is what I see in you.

But damn it was one hell of a fight. Knights of 2022, I wish you good luck. Thank you.

Northwood School Announces Cambridge Education from 2023

While 2021 saw the opening of the state of the art Victor Daitz Centre for Innovation, Northwood have set their sights firmly on 2023 with the exciting planned opening of The Northwood Cambridge Academy as part of their academic offering.

This, along with the dynamic industry relative inclusion of vocational NSC subjects, affords their learners the opportunity to work to their unique strengths and potential within a world class traditional boy’s high school environment.

As an internationally recognised education programme, the Cambridge Assessment International Education offers easier access to international tertiary education. It is a valuable extension to the schools’ current education offering in meeting the needs of parents and students considering overseas tertiary opportunities.

The Northwood Cambridge Academy, which will officially open its doors for students 2023, will offer the Cambridge IGCSE, AS Level and the A Level courses taught during timetabled lesson times by qualified, experienced teachers. Cambridge students will be fully integrated into all other activities of the school, including assemblies, award ceremonies and all extra-curricular activities. Class sizes will be limited to 15 boys per class, with access to state of the art technology. Students who are interested in the Cambridge programme will be required to write an entrance exam and demonstrate the set aptitude for the curriculum.

2023 will also welcome the introduction of CIVIL TECHNOLOGY as an addition to the school’s current NSC Subject package.

This industry relative subject incudes skill based development aspects such as construction, electrical work, plumbing and electronics, and as a vocational subject, further future-proofs Northwood boys, equipping them to leave school as potential entrepreneurs into the world.

Paul Viljoen, Northwood Headmaster:

“We are excited about these additions to our curriculum as this will further speak to the significance of each boy and will create opportunity to future proof our boys.”

Northwood will host various Open Evenings which parents and prospective students are invited to attend for a tour of their school and two Boarding Houses.

Northwood Cambridge Academy: 17 February 2022 Information Evening

Northwood Grade 6 Open Evening:

15 February 2022 (Tour of Facilities, Boarding Houses and Presentation)

Northwood Grade 7 Open Evening:

16 February 2022 (Tour of Facilities, Boarding Houses and Presentation)

Should you require further information regarding our Cambridge programme, please E-mail Mr Chetty:

cambridge@nwood.co.za or Call: (031) 563 6501

For General School Admissions

Please E-mail: admissions@nwood.co.za