The newly appointed Headmaster of Glenwood High School, Mr Pierre Jacobs was officially welcomed to the school on Tuesday 11 October 2022 at a Welcome Assembly in the School Hall.
Mr TT Mthembu, the Circuit Manager of the Ethusini Region introduced Mr Jacobs to the School.
𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐛𝐲 𝐌𝐫 𝐏 𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐨𝐛𝐬
It is an immense honour and privilege to serve Glenwood High School in this role as Headmaster.
I would like to start by giving honour and paying tribute to Dr Barnes.
I know that we will still have the opportunity to thank you at an assembly in your honour later this week Dr Barnes but it is fitting to pay tribute to you on this occasion.
Dr Barnes took over in what can arguably be the most difficult time in the history of the school and shortly thereafter the world was hit by a pandemic that almost brought everything to a standstill.
Dr Barnes not only steadied the ship but managed to turn it back onto its course and captained the ship well.
Great sailors are not made in the safety of a harbour but rather on the stormy high seas.
Dr Barnes is a leader who was equipped and prepared by the Lord for a time like that.
He chose you Dr Barnes and you served Him incredibly well as you lead the school.
Dr Barnes’ courage, care and leadership is indeed an amazing example to us all.
Her strength of character, her integrity and her passion for Glenwood High School has most certainly inspired me.
May your next chapter be filled with love, joy, peace and well-deserved relaxation.
I try to live by a simple but powerful motto in life and that is “𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒌 𝒍𝒐𝒖𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒔.”
In saying this I will always hold myself and those around me to the highest possible standards. Standards that will benefit and add value to this fine institution.
Accolades and praise are earned through actions and not mere words.
I am seldom impressed hearing how good someone or something is, or hearing how much they care or how passionate they are but I am always interested in their actions and I will scrutinise and evaluate those actions to determine whether words and actions align.
My message this morning is a simple biblical principle and that is “𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒅𝒐, 𝒅𝒐 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒆𝒍𝒍” (𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒕 𝒃𝒆 𝒂𝒄𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒎𝒊𝒄𝒔, 𝒄𝒖𝒍𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆, 𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕, 𝒃𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝒔𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒓 𝒂 𝒃𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓), 𝒅𝒐 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒅𝒆, 𝒅𝒐 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒑𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏, 𝒅𝒐 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒅𝒐 𝒊𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒂𝒃𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒊𝒏 𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒐 𝒈𝒍𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒇𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑳𝒐𝒓𝒅.
Use your God-given gifts and talents to add your unique value and make your impact felt.
As mentioned talk is cheap but true pride, passion and commitment only mean something if there are actions to back it up.
How are you displaying your pride, passion and commitment in your everyday life at Glenwood?
• 𝑯𝒐𝒘 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒅𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒖𝒆?
• 𝑯𝒐𝒘 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈?
• 𝑨𝒓𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒊𝒑𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅?
• 𝑨𝒓𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒕𝒆𝒐𝒖𝒔?
• 𝑨𝒓𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒇𝒖𝒍?
• 𝑨𝒓𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒑𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈? (𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒐 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒃𝒚 𝒊𝒅𝒍𝒆 𝒑𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒋𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒚).
It is a blessing to see the sign that Glenwood boys are different.
My question to you young men and to the staff is why are Glenwood boys different?
What is it that sets us apart from others?
It cannot merely be our words it has to be our actions.
Your parents sent you, their most prized and precious possession to Glenwood, for a reason? The reason is that Glenwood High School is the best place for you.
We are all here for a reason, we have a purpose here, the Lord doesn’t deal in coincidences He has a plan for everything and so if we are here at this particular time in our lives and we are in it together we have to make the most of the opportunity and give it our all.
“𝑮𝒐𝒅 𝒈𝒊𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒖𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒂 𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒒𝒖𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒂𝒕 𝒂 𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒒𝒖𝒆 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒊𝒏 𝒂 𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒒𝒖𝒆 𝒈𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒑 𝒐𝒇 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆, 𝒕𝒐 𝒇𝒖𝒍𝒇𝒊𝒍 𝒂 𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒒𝒖𝒆 𝒑𝒖𝒓𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒆.” 𝑨𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒓 𝑩𝒆𝒈𝒈
To a large extent, we cannot control what happens outside of our campus.
But what we can control are our efforts and our actions on this campus.
Glenwood boys are known for their humility and that is incredible but we will never settle for walking in anyone else’s shadows.
Humility is a blessing but mediocrity is a disease that will bring any institution to its knees.
We are not mediocre and we never will settle or accept half-hearted efforts from anyone.
𝑰 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕, 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒇𝒇 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒃𝒐𝒚𝒔, 𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝒊𝒏 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒃𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒔.
The reality is this assembly is not about me, it’s about us, it’s about the Glenwood High School family and it’s about all of us in this together striving to make a difference in our areas.
It’s about pulling out all the stops to make this school as great as it can possibly be.
This school will only reach the greatest heights through a purposeful combined effort in which everyone is at their best, in all areas at all times.
My sole priority is this Glenwood High School and the impact we can all have while we are here. I will not accept anything less than your best.
Another principle that I hold very dear to my heart is service.
𝑱𝒐𝒉𝒏 𝑭 𝑲𝒆𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒅𝒚 𝒊𝒏 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒖𝒈𝒖𝒓𝒂𝒍 𝒂𝒅𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒅 “𝒂𝒔𝒌 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒚 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒅𝒐 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝒂𝒔𝒌 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒅𝒐 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒚”
And so I challenge you “𝒂𝒔𝒌 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑮𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒘𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝑯𝒊𝒈𝒉 𝑺𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒍 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒅𝒐 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒔𝒌 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒃𝒖𝒕𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒅𝒐 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑮𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒘𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝑯𝒊𝒈𝒉 𝑺𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒍?”
The sun does not revolve around the world and the world does not revolve around anyone of us as individuals – the Lord expects us to help and to serve others.
Serve in whatever area and in whatever capacity you may find yourself.
Look to always positively impact the lives of those with whom you interact.
The true sign of strength is to humble yourself and to serve others.
Your actions will have an impact on others around you. Ensure that your actions are positive and that in turn produce more positivity amongst others.
Be purposeful in your actions and make them count.
We need to choose significance over success and we do this through our actions.
And when we focus on making a difference we will ultimately become successful.
The most successful rugby brand in the world over the past two decades is the New Zealand All Blacks and they have a simple philosophy “𝒃𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑨𝒍𝒍 𝑩𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒌𝒔”.
At Glenwood High School we provide the framework for you to become the best version of yourself which will have a lasting impact.
I have seen the signs around the school “𝑷𝒓𝒆𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒑𝒖𝒓𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒆.”
What is our purpose?
Our purpose is beyond the here and now.
Although our actions may tell a great deal it is our heart and our intentions that count.
The Bible tells us that as men we look at outward appearances and actions but the Lord looks at and examines the heart.
𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒖𝒓𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑮𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒘𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝑯𝒊𝒈𝒉 𝑺𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒍?
We are merely the custodians of this great school that has stood for 112 years with its rich history and traditions and so it is our goal to leave this school in a better place than when we entered it and hand over the baton to future Glenwood men and challenge them to raise the bar even higher.
Our job is to honour those who have come before us and those who laid the foundation upon which we build.
We will all come into Glenwood High School and we all leave at some point but the school will remain standing.
So to a large extent, the success of this school hinges on you, your efforts, your pride, your commitment and on your discipline.
The staff and I are only the parts of the engine and we facilitate it but you are the fuel that makes this machine function optimally.
What are you pouring into this tank?
There is only one secret for a successful traditional all-boys school and that is a full commitment from all stakeholders in a well-disciplined, structured and caring environment.
𝑾𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒊𝒑𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝒘𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒇𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒇𝒂𝒊𝒍 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒔𝒂𝒅𝒍𝒚 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒂 𝒑𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒏 𝒊𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆. 𝑵𝒐𝒃𝒐𝒅𝒚 𝒆𝒍𝒔𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒂𝒔 𝒂 𝒔𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒍 𝒘𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒄𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔.
Make sure that you take care of the little disciplines in your life and to a large extent the bigger disciplines will take care of themselves.
𝑵𝒐 𝒆𝒙𝒄𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒔. Excuses mean that you never accept responsibility and if you lack a sense of responsibility it will in turn mean that you will adopt an inferior and victim mindset.
I acknowledge that many of you go through and have gone through much worse than what we can imagine but let us as the Glenwood family help you navigate your challenges, let us help you overcome those challenges and let us empower you to rise above those challenges.
The only disability in life is a bad attitude.
We cannot accept, allow or tolerate bad attitudes from ourselves or those around us.
I strongly urge and encourage you all to get on board and ensure that you have a positive and constructive attitude.
Make sure that when you walk out of these gates for the last time as a pupil of the school you will be remembered for the positive impact you made and for the growth and development you have shown, I challenge you to be an inspiration to future Glenwood men.
𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒃𝒔 𝟐𝟕:𝟏𝟕 𝑰𝒓𝒐𝒏 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒔 𝒊𝒓𝒐𝒏, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓. Hold each other accountable, don’t tolerate the bad, and expect the best from those around you.
Our aim must be to make Glenwood High School the pride and envy of Durban and KZN.
You have a very important and critical role to play in ensuring that the Green Machine is an unstoppable force.
1 Corinthians 16:13 Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. 14 Let all that you do be done in love.