Dear Family and Friends of St Anne’s
I really enjoyed the change in routine last week as I visited the Grade 11 camp at Greystone one day, and then went across to visit the six different groups of Grade 9s on their epic Great Adventure in the Winterton area. I am grateful to our staff who arrange and oversee the various camps as they form such a vital component to our offering of holistic education. Being in the outdoors, with one’s peers, is a unique experience and our girls learn so much about themselves, and others, that will serve them well in the future.
Hearing the Grade 11 House groups presenting their vision of how they would like to lead their Houses and the greater college next year, filled my heart, as their ideas were so values-driven, thoughtful and aspirational. I felt so proud hearing the maturity and wisdom from these young women who were little tots sitting on the couch for their interview for admission only what feels like a short while ago, and seeing the transformation into these confident, kind and brave young women is astounding!
Spending some time with each Grade 9 group in their various camps was such a privilege as I was exposed to the banter, camaraderie, deepening friendships, and humour.
In contrast, I also witnessed the raw emotions of the personal struggle for some. In talking quietly to one or two who looked like they needed a chat, I respected the vulnerability and honesty, and was moved by their quiet tears. They had had to dig really deep and some were so hot and tired. I was very pleased that I had the opportunity to encourage them and to tell them how proud I was of them, as their effort and strength of character were evident. Truly, we have such precious girls.
Words can’t encapsulate accurately enough the honour it was to spend time with these special young women. I was only sorry that time didn’t allow me to venture to St Lucia to visit our Gade 10s, and to Nyala Pans to see our Grade 8s. The time away for the various camps was so valuable for the character education and socialisation. It was well-timed too, allowing our matrics to have a few days of quiet to focus on their Trial exams, and they appear to have faced these calmly, in the main. And so another year starts melting into the next…
Warm regards
Debbie Martin
COLLEGE HEAD
THE GREAT ADVENTURE
BY MRS MORAG LE ROUX, HEAD OF GRADE 9
It’s been a week since the Grade 9s were “out in the wild” for their much anticipated Great Adventure. The Great Adventure is not just a camping trip; it’s a rite-of-passage that forms a vital part of the Grade 9 year and embodies the philosophy of a holistic education. The lessons learned on this trip are not “how to solve for x” or interpreting and understanding the nuances of Shakespearean English, and they may not even be immediately obvious to the girls themselves. However, given time to reflect, the girls will invariably arrive at the understanding that they learnt how to persevere when things got tough, or how to be empathetic with those less physically gifted than them, or how to lean on others in times of need. Most of all, they realise that they are so much more capable than they ever thought they were. The resultant character growth and self-belief evident after just a week of adventuring is staggering and I truly hope that the girls hold on to the memories they made for years to come.
HEAD GIRLS ANNOUNCEMENT
We are delighted to announce our student leaders for 2027: Head Girl Frances Chisanga and Deputy Head Girls Beayu Chiang and Tori Pearson.
We also extend our heartfelt thanks to Kate Sardi, Jamie Buchan and Zoey Kihara for their outstanding leadership throughout 2026. They have served St Anne’s with humility, strength and dedication, and we are deeply grateful for the positive example they have set for our community.
As we look ahead to St Anne’s landmark 150th anniversary year, we are excited to see Frances, Beayu and Tori step into their new roles and help lead the school through this significant chapter in our history.
Please join us in congratulating Frances, Beayu and Tori on their appointments. We look forward to seeing them build on the strong foundations established by their predecessors and continue to foster a spirit of unity, pride and belonging across the St Anne’s community.
We wish them every success as they begin their leadership journey and have no doubt they will make a lasting contribution to our school.
FOUNDATION DAY & WOMEN’S DAY PROGRAMME
By ms penny mullan, deputy head: pastoral care
On Friday 7 August, our usual school timetable was paused as the themes of our School’s birthday and our nation’s Women’s Day were woven together in a special programme that was engaging, relevant and memorable.
The use of the word ‘re-assemble’ in a clip from the Natal Witness of 24 January 1878, confirms that St Anne’s had been operating since 1877. This makes 2026 our 149th year.
A few years on, the College moved from Pietermaritzburg to the village of ‘Hilton Road’ and the foundation stone for our new premises was laid on 8 August 1903. As the exact date on which Miss Cresswell founded St Anne’s in 1877 is unknown, 8 August was chosen to mark the School’s foundation.
Each year, our foundation is celebrated as the whole school gathers in the Chapel for a Eucharist service. In her sermon, Revd van Niekerk reminded us of our firm foundation in faith and how this foundation has sustained the School for 149 years and will continue to shape St Anne’s as we journey towards our 150th anniversary and beyond.
In the sessions that followed the Eucharist service, the girls listened to guest speakers who addressed them on issues that are pertinent to women and girls.
Dietitian Amy Burt and Counselling Psychologist, Nosipho Namntu, presented a talk entitled “Food and Feelings” to each of the junior and senior groups, allowing for age-appropriate questions to be raised. They emphasised the connection between mental health and nutrition and the girls were able to ask and answer questions during the presentations.
Dr Claudine Lee, a GP with a special interest in women’s health, spoke to our Grade 8 and 9 girls about a range of important women’s health topics. Her open and direct approach created a comfortable space for our girls to ask questions and gain valuable knowledge. Dr Lee not only educated our girls but also inspired and empowered them, reminding them that they are the future.
Specialist Gynaecologist, Dr Leneque Lindeque, spoke to the Grade 10-12 girls about issues relating to women’s health, including the importance of the HPV vaccine and monthly breast self-checks. With her vibrant personality and no-nonsense professionalism, she set her audience at ease and the girls were able to ask important questions in a safe environment.
Tea time was celebrated on Front Lawn with birthday cakes, samoosas and sunshine.
The session after tea presented a unique opportunity to listen to acclaimed historian and story-teller, Michael Charton. We were deeply moved by his account of four ordinary women from very different backgrounds who came together to achieve an extraordinary outcome for women and for our country. Their story reminds us that courage, conviction, and unity have the power to shape history.
The women of 9 August 1956 were not famous because of their titles or positions. They became remarkable because they chose to stand together for what they believed was right. Their legacy continues to inspire South African women today, reminding us that every voice matters and that meaningful change often begins with ordinary people who are willing to act with extraordinary courage.
Charton captivated the audience for 55 minutes, and you could hear a pin drop in the Indoor Centre as our girls soaked up this powerful story.
Days of Difference such as this provide far more than a welcome break from routine. They create opportunities for our girls to engage with important ideas, learn from inspiring role models and deepen their understanding of themselves, their community and the world around them. By bringing together our history, faith and commitment to the development of young women, the day’s celebrations strengthened the culture of St Anne’s and reminded us of the values that continue to shape our School. These shared experiences not only enrich learning but also foster a sense of belonging, pride and purpose that will remain with our girls long after the day itself has passed.
INTERHOUSE THEATRE
by ms lynn chemaly, head of theatre
Interhouse Theatre is a project specifically set up for the Grade 11 Dramatic Arts students to apply the range of practical skills they learn in the classroom to a specific project that is in fitting with the IEB Matric practical syllabus for Dramatic Arts. The students get valuable entrepreneurial skills in learning how to create, produce, direct, design, organize and administrate a theatre production from beginning to end. The ensemble nature of the format allows for junior students to be involved in a production and gain exposure while simultaneously providing leadership opportunities for the seniors.
With the recent explosion of AI, this year each participating House was asked to create an experimental piece of theatre in which they explored the concept of ‘Fake News’. The Houses put in a tremendous amount of hard work, creativity, time and effort to create a diverse and interesting programme. Frances Baines won the trophy with their play, DISTORTED, designed and directed by Phebe Tyson and Madison Pike, which explored the rapid spread of fake news in an all-girls school and the destructive effect it can have on a community. The Runner-up play was Marianne Browne’s He Said, She Said which explored the concept of how, like a broken-down telephone, fake news travels around the world and gets taken out of context by four separate countries in different ways. Five students, Mbasa Dinwayo, Nompumelelo Ngubane, Akabongwe Sibeta, Mia Wilson and Tyla Young, were singled out by the adjudicator, Miss Nandile Khumalo, for their excellent performance.
The high standard of the programme and the thought provoking issues presented made for a most entertaining and meaningful production.
GRADE 11 FORMAL DINNER
TWC MATHS FEST
by ms aNDREA morgan, head of maths
Ten of our Grade 8 girls recently participated in the 2026 Mike Nicholson Maths Fest, hosted by The Wykeham Collegiate. The event welcomed learners from a variety of schools across the region and provided an exciting opportunity to strengthen their mathematical thinking and problem-solving skills.The Grade 8s were placed into random teams of four, each comprising learners from different schools, encouraging collaboration and the opportunity to meet fellow maths enthusiasts. The evening began with an individual bonus question and was followed by four rounds of challenging team activities. Learners tackled thought-provoking problems involving number patterns, 2D geometry and problem-solving. We are incredibly proud of all our Grade 8 girls for the enthusiasm and teamwork they displayed throughout the event.
A special congratulations to Rachel Shen-Yu, who won the individual bonus question, and Maddison Potgieter, whose team achieved 1st place in the group competition. The girls thoroughly enjoyed the experience and returned feeling inspired and excited to have shared their love of mathematics with learners from other schools.
NEWS FROM THE FRENCH DEPARTMENT
BY MME CATHERINE CRAMPTON, HEAD OF FRENCH, & MME SALLY EVANS, FRENCH TEACHER
My French Speech Festival – Crawford International School, La Lucia – le 12 août
All St Anne’s Grade 8 and 9 French students, inspired by Martine Tandree, from Crawford International School, learnt traditional French poems “par coeur” (off by heart). We had some Grade 9 pupils who learnt Jean de la Fontaine’s “La Cigale et le Fourmi” and Jacques Charpertreau’s “Le Reunion de famille” – Matric level poems. We are very proud of you!
Our standard was very high this year, and it was hard to choose only 20 pupils, out of a possible 97, to represent St Anne’s at a festival of French poetry, culture and delicious food. As well as presenting their poems with confidence, the girls easily mingled with fellow students, building friendships and connectivity with other schools. What a wonderful opportunity for the growth of French in South Africa.
We look forward to having six of our pupils present their French poems in Assembly this term.
Journée des métiers – French in the World of Work
La visite de Sarah M’bodji et de Pauline Billaud de L’Alliance Française de Durban, et de Marine Carbonell de Campus France, Pretoria
Le 17 août, we were privileged to host Sarah M’bodji and Pauline Billaud from Alliance Française, Durban, and Marine Carbonell, from Campus France, who travelled all the way from Pretoria.
St Anne’s Grade 9, 10 and 11 pupils, taking French, attended the information morning, and pupils from Hilton College and Michaelhouse were invited to join us. It was amazing to have over 120 French pupils, teachers and guests in our Auditorium.
Sarah and Pauline spoke about the importance of French in the global environment and how French is the official language of numerous associations, including UNESCO, The Olympic Games and NATO. Our pupils were fascinated to hear that French is spoken by over 400 million people across 5 continents and that it is the fastest growing language in Africa. The advantages of studying French were further emphasised by Marine, who explained the nature of Campus France. Both Alliance Française and Campus France offer study opportunities at tertiary level. They encouraged our pupils to persevere with their DELF international examinations, which St Anne’s offers from Grade 9 – 12.
After the presentation, everyone had a chance to ask questions, socialise, and chat in French, over a delicious tea of pain au chocolat and chocolat chaud.
A warm thank you to all who helped make this morning such a success.
Academic Standards Awarded for DELF Excellence
Congratulations to our French students who were recently recognised for their outstanding performance in the DELF examinations. We are especially proud of our Grade 9 girls who achieved exceptional results in the DELF A1 examination, a level typically completed by Grade 10 students. Their success reflects remarkable dedication, including additional independent study and participation in French Department workshops.
A special congratulations goes to Katlego Ramuki, who achieved an extraordinary 100% in every skill assessed in the DELF A1 examination, a first for St Anne’s.
We also congratulate all girls who earned Academic Standards for their achievements in the DELF A1 and A2 examinations.
Bravo, les filles!
ST ANNE’S ANNUAL ATHLETICS DAY
St Anne’s held its annual Athletics Day at Laddsworth on Friday, 14 August, and it was a fun filled afternoon of exciting competition, school spirit and some outstanding performances.
Four records were broken during the afternoon’s events. The girls competed with great enthusiasm, supporting one another and proudly representing their houses. This year, Amy Baguley was honoured to receive the Marie Louise Lorentz Trophy for the U16 800m. It was a particularly meaningful moment as Amy learnt more about Marie Louise’s story and the history behind the trophy. Marie Louise Lorentz, a wonderful 800m runner who tragically passed away at the age of 15, exactly 32 years to the day. Marie Louise collapsed after running while suffering from bronchitis. Winning the 800m was therefore about far more than simply crossing the finish line first; it was an opportunity to honour the memory of a young athlete whose legacy continues to form part of St Anne’s history.
The Junior Victrix Ludorum was shared this year by Maya Mogale and Maya Kamanga-Dyrbak, while Jessica Buxton-Foreman took the Senior Victrix Ludorum title.
Well done to Macrorie who were the overall House winners! Frances Baines House took second place followed by Andrews in third position.
Congratulations to all our athletes for their commitment, enthusiasm and sportsmanship. A special congratulations to our trophy winners and to the girls who broke records. Most importantly, Athletics Day reminded us that school sport is about more than results. It is about celebrating achievement, creating memories, supporting one another and honouring the history and traditions that make St Anne’s special.
| Trophy | Age Group | Winner |
| Cartwright 100m Sprint | Open Girls | Maya Kamanga-Dyrbak |
| Marie Louise Lorentz Trophy | U16 800m | Amy Baguley Bonsma |
| Pereira Sprint Trophy | U17 200m | Jessica Buxton-Foreman |
| Junior Victrix Ludorum / Runner-Up | U14 & U15 | Layla Keates / Oyena Siyo |
| Junior Victrix Ludorum | U14 & U15 | Maya Mogale / Maya Kamanga-Dyrbak |
| Senior Victrix Ludorum – Runner-Up | U16, U17 & U18 | Emily Burnett |
| Senior Victrix Ludorum | U16, U17 & U18 | Jessica Buxton-Foreman |
| Inter-House Relays | — | Macrorie |
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