The Latin motto Nihil tam Altum provided by Northcliff High School‘s founder, Dr Ged Dickerson, has echoed through the school’s corridors since 1969 and is said to mean ‘nothing so high.’
Even after about 50 years of service to the community, one assumes there is still no greater high than seeing the success of another group of matrics. With a pass rate of 99.40 per cent and 219 distinctions to commend, it’s fair to presume that Dr Dickerson would be proud.
Deputy principal, Andrew Wilkins expressed his pride over the achievements the class amassed. “They worked hard, put in the hours and those results have paid dividends.”
He said the school was very pleased with the results, considering they had a class of just under 300 learners. “When you look at a very big group like that, you realise the collective gave their best.”
He beamed with pride as he acknowledged how this class truly rose to the occasion considering it was a tough year that had its challenges. Exams started in June and, from then on, the learners were bombarded with exams and preparations for their finals, “It was a very long road for them to travel academically which required them to have mental endurance. So, we say hats off to the matrics. They have done it, they have made themselves, their families and school proud.”
Ashlynn Wilkins, one of the school’s top achievers, obtained seven distinctions, a feat that was five years in the making. “When I was in Grade 8, I said to myself that I want to get seven distinctions and I did it.”
She realised this dream after she suffered a major shoulder injury that saw her work with physiotherapists and, through that, she saw how their work changed people’s lives and knew it was something she wanted to do. Ashlynn now heads to Stellenbosch University to study physiotherapy.
For the matrics of 2020 and beyond, Ashlynn firmly believes that you are not defined by the number of distinctions but rather what is important is that you give your best. Her best friend, Nicole Hassle, echoed her sentiments adding she worked hard to attain the distinction she received but said that having one did not define entrance into university. Hassle looks to study towards a BSc at the University of Pretoria where she hopes to branch into veterinary medicine.
The principal’ parting message to the Class of 2019 was to go out there and make your mark as leaving school is just the first of many steps you will be taking towards your future. To those who might feel disappointed in their results, he said, to use this a life lesson – in life one will face disappointments but that should not make you give up, just keep working towards your next goal. As for the Class of 2020, he said the bar had been set and it is up to them to rise to it!\
Related Article:
https://www.citizen.co.za/northcliff-melville-times/304068/counselling-available-matrics-need/
