One headmaster has committed to saying goodbye to his school in the best way before he takes up a new position—by embarking on an ambitious fundraiser for the students he served for so long:
King William’s Town, South Africa (29 April 2024)—When most people leave a job (even if it was one they loved dearly), they tend to keep their focus on what’s ahead. Whether that’s a new opportunity, the chance to retire, or live out another passion. Much rarer, are those who decide to embark on a great act of kindness for their past workplace, knowing they will not be around in the same way they once were. But, this is exactly what one headmaster is planning on doing.
Despite leaving Dale College Boys’ High School to transfer to another school, headmaster Dr Garth Shaw is not leaving without a second glance.
In fact, he’s doing a lot more than glancing. Dr Shaw has announced he will be undertaking a fundraising cycle for Dale College which he likens to ‘paying his dues’ for the learners and staff there!
Says the headmaster:
“I might be leaving Dale College, but my dream to serve these learners doesn’t die.”
Dr Shaw explains that the decision to end his leadership at the College was one of the most challenging decisions of his life. But, even though he will be leaving at the end of term, Garth shares that there is still so much he admires about the school and is rooting for in its favour.
“Dale College faces many challenge in its future, but the most frustrating—hamstringing, in many ways—is the fact that the school wants to offer its learners a quality of education that rivals the best in the country, but can only realistically charge the community it serves half the school fees other similar schools typically charge.
“Ironically, this is the Dale College story from a different perspective: A school which punches above its weight, and has developed a reputation of being a factory of nuggety, never-say-die, fast, flair-filled empowered leaders who have creative confidence and the wherewithal to rise above themselves and their circumstances,” says Garth.
In an effort to get the school the facilities it needs to give learners more on a tight budget, Dr Shaw hopes to help cover some of the costs through the funds raised via his ambitious cycle which would help make up a Financial Assistance Fund.
Related Story
The Andy Andrews Financial Assistance Fund (a hope part of the school’s five-year plan) would help the school get some financial security, while helping learners who can only afford some of the school fees.
Dr Shaw and his 15-year-old mountain bike will be cycling 675kms from Dale College to his new school—Norwood in KwaZulu-Natal along the Wild Coast. He will be joined by his father, and Jacques Richter from Northwood’s Mountain Bike Club from 6-14 June, but everyone is invited to join the journey for however long they can!
“We will all pay our own costs for the cycle, with 100% of the donations going directly into the Fund,” says Garth.
There are four medals for contributions to the cause, and you lend support here!
“I truly believe that this fund will not only improve Dale College’s ability to serve its community with the excellence it deserves, but it will also give the new Principal (the appointment process is still in action) the bike needed to take Dale College along even more exciting roads.”—Dr Shaw.
Talk about a parting gift of a lifetime!
by 