Appreciation Month
If I could rename October, I would call it Appreciation Month. With Teachers’ Day, the International Day of the Girl Child and Boss’s Day all falling within these past few weeks, it has been a time that reminds us to pause and give thanks to the many people who make St Mary’s Junior School such a special place.
My heartfelt gratitude goes to our Parent Association, Class Representatives and Mrs Howard for the beautiful ways they celebrated the teachers. Their kindness made our staff feel seen, valued and appreciated.
I was also deeply touched by the Junior School staff’s messages on Boss’s Day. Even though I have only been at St Mary’s for six months, their warmth and encouragement meant so much. It reminded me that teaching and leadership are a calling - about planting seeds of possibility, nurturing potential and believing in what young minds can become.
The International Day of the Girl Child was another meaningful moment this month. As educators and parents, we share a profound privilege of shaping the minds and hearts of girls who will one day lead, create, inspire and make a difference in the world. As Michelle Obama so powerfully wrote, “When girls are educated, their countries become stronger and more prosperous.” This sentiment captures the essence of what we do at St Mary’s: empower every girl to believe in herself, her abilities and her boundless potential.
October is also Mental Health Awareness Month, an important reminder to take care of our emotional well-being. Around 970 million people worldwide live with mental health challenges and in South Africa, approximately one in four people will experience them in their lifetime. I am proud of our Centre of Growth for designing a 31-day challenge to encourage our community to prioritise well-being. Our staff were also encouraged to wear green on World Mental Health Day to show support and raise awareness.
Beyond the awareness and reflection, October has been a month brimming with activity, energy and joy. The Athletics Interhouse event was certainly a day filled with fun, colour, spirit and teamwork. In the arts, our Grade 5 and 6 girls are hard at work preparing for their upcoming play, and our Grade 7s have started auditioning for the school production which is always an exciting milestone. They also had the opportunity to meet their future Grade 8 teachers, which will make the transition to high school feel real and special.
Our Grade 3s enjoyed their first camp and along with the Grade 6s, completed their International Benchmarking Assessments in Mathematics and English. Finally, our Grade 0 and 00 girls met their 2026 teachers, a truly special moment.
October has reminded us to celebrate one another, nurture our girls’ potential and care for our collective well-being. As Noam Shpancer wisely said “Mental health is not a destination, but a process. It’s about how you drive, not where you’re going.”
God bless.
Mrs Thobeka Mngambi
Head of Junior School
