I have thoroughly enjoyed the last 2 weeks of term. The girls were able to participate in Interhouse events and a fabulous array of activities organised to enrich and provide authentic opportunity for learning. Today we chose to celebrate Heritage Day. It was the first time since March 2020 that we were able to gather as a Prep school family. Seeing the girls and their teachers moving onto the Astro made me smile. Each girl had chosen an outfit to wear today that reflected their identity, religion, culture, heritage or that they were proudly South African. The excitement and joy was visible and audible. The girls led onto the field to a selection of South African music as they took their places they continued to dance and sing.
The message today was shared by Mrs Kieffer-Walker and the girls listened in awe as she shared the following: Why is it important to celebrate this day? Mr Nelson Mandela spent much of his time trying to heal our nation when he became the President of South Africa as people were still very cross at the old government for not allowing everyone to enjoy our beautiful country together. Before 1994, it was called Shaka Day where the Zulu people honoured the Zulu King for uniting them. Mr Mandela wanted the whole South Africa to unite and celebrate one another’s culture, traditions, language, race and diversity so in 1996 we celebrated our first Heritage Day and Archbishop Tutu in 2005 called it National Braai Day for family and friends to connect and share tradition and culture.
There are many traditions in our families that we still continue to celebrate. They were handed down from generation to generation, but many of them have changed because we have changed. Our family values and love have remained constant and today as the Herschel family standing on the eve of Heritage Day, we asked the girls to think about which message we could leave behind as our legacy for all the Herschel girls that are still to come. Mrs Kieffer-Walker explained to the girls what her heritage is and that she is extremely proud of who she is. She encouraged the girls to look at each other with new eyes and when seeing somebody, see them for all that they are, rather than judging them. The girls made a commitment to stop judging one another in a negative way and celebrate each other with KINDNESS. Each girl who wanted to make the commitment raised her hand to show that she would be part of a legacy of kindness. She encouraged the girls to be the change that they want to see at Herschel and commit as staff, family and girls.
Let’s remind each other that Kindness Starts with Me.