Sacred Heart College head of college Colin Northmore has reached the end of his journey with the school.
After 16-and-a-half years of serving the school, he is moving on to his next journey.
Heather Blanckensee, principal of Sacred Heart High School, shared with the EXPRESS Northmore’s achievements in the school and the kind of person he is.
She describes him as a visionary leader.
“Northmore had been involved in Catholic education for some time, but he found his home here at a time when the college needed a visionary leader.
“The thing about visionary leaders is that they want the world to be a better place and to make a difference to their world,” said Blanckensee.
She said Northmore is deeply Marist and that the five Marist values resonate with everything he does.
“I have never come across somebody with such passion and drive to make a change. I am confident you will continue to change the lives of others. Thank you, Mr Northmore.”
She said he was the true definition of one of Marist’s values: the way of Mary.
“He has a deep sense of service and like Mary was an agent of change,” said Blanckensee.
Northmore has done a number of good deeds for Sacred Heart and the community surrounding the school.
“Farewell, Mr Northmore. Your courage and bravery has transformed the community forever. I am eternally grateful for the existence of Three2Six and hope it continues to change lives.”
Four years after joining Sacred Heart College, the school got involved in a school for refugees in the inner city.
In 2008, he established the Three2Six educational project at the school.
His reasons for establishing Three2Six in the school was that he believes everyone should have the opportunity to achieve more than they ever imagined.
Reinventing how children learn was his passion.
“Mr Northmore, you have served the community of Sacred Heart with love. You may be the epitome of innovativeness and activism, but if you were to be proud, you should be proud of manifesting and providing that mindset to the learners of Sacred Heart. Thank you for that gift.”
In 2011, he introduced iPads to the pre-primary school and by 2013 Sacred Heart was one of the first iPad project schools in South Africa and, once again, leading the way in curriculum and innovation.
Blanckensee said even though he was busy inspiring change and being a principal, he never lost his passion for teaching.
“His passion for teaching meant that despite all the responsibility and hard work that went with being the head of college, he was determined to be in the classroom and teach. His app design classes with the Grade Seven learners were legendary,” she said.
“Mr Northmore, thank you for the wonderful work you have done in the school and community. I’ve always had respect for you as a principal, but even more as a man. Your work with Three2Six has changed lives and it will continue changing lives.”
She said he was always willing to learn from his mistakes and others.
“He wasn’t afraid to make mistakes and to use these mistakes to learn. This was his philosophy around discipline as well,” shared Blanckensee.
Northmore saw his teaching and the daily decisions of running the College as a joy and a privilege.
“You could often here him singing along the corridors and I was never quite sure what song I would be listening to through my office door as he grappled with his college work,” said Blanckensee.
She said he has served the school until his last day at the school.
“There may have been times when you thought he may have forgotten the value of presence and wasn’t as present as you would have liked.
“However, even up until his last day he still attended meetings with education faculty deans at the three main universities in Gauteng to encourage them to teach student teachers about thinking and talking about refugees. It has been his leadership that has set the tone of service and servant leadership,” said Blanckensee.
She said through his years with Sacred Heart his family spirit has been seen in his care for all members of the community.
“He has helped matric learners with finding a suit or a dress, he freely gave his cell number out on the evening of the matric dance so that if one of the matric’s found themselves in trouble he could help them, no questions asked.
“He has secured medical treatment for several staff members who may not be alive today if it weren’t for his care and intervention,” said Blanckensee.
She said Northmore is one of the giants now.
“Mr Northmore has often spoken of standing on the shoulders of giants,” said Blanckensee.
