Junior Prize Giving

On Friday 14 February 2020, Durban High School hosted our Junior Prize-Giving Awards Ceremony to celebrate the academic achievements of our young men in 2019 for Grades 8 to 11. The event was attended by parents, invited guests, staff and boys, as well as Guest Speaker, Dr Kwame Adu Acheaw Spanos.
The Junior Academic Awards Ceremony is a learner centred ceremony, with most of the formalities being conducted by the boys themselves. The Head Prefects welcomed the guests, presented a reading, introduced and then thanked the Guest Speaker and the RCL Chairman, Quincy Hitler, gave an address. The audience was entertained by the DHS Choir and the Jazz Band.
The entire event was co-ordinated by MC and Head of Department, Mr Sunil Bodasing, who also presented the prizes.
Guest Speaker Dr Acheaw, Class of 2004, addressed the audience, sharing with them his journey through DHS and beyond.
He stressed to the boys the importance of having a vision as your vision determines your reality. He said he began his life at DHS without one, which made life difficult; he struggled with the rules, had no clear plan and just wanted to be popular. This resulted in him getting into trouble which disappointed his parents. However, the outcome was the setting two goals for himself – to improve his grades and to play for the 1^st Basketball team. He achieved both goals, representing SA Basketball for 3 years and becoming a medical doctor.
In conclusion, Dr Acheaw said the journey to achieving goals and living your vision is not easy. His advice to the boys was to have faith in themselves, surround themselves with a support system and to stay focussed and grounded. He said DHS has given them all they need to be successful and they should utilise all opportunities and soak in all the knowledge. He thanked the staff for their belief in the boys, which was invaluable. Finally, he asked the boys: “What is your goal for 2020? I know you can do it! Deo Fretus”
Dr Acheaw was then invited to present the awards to the deserving learners that had achieved at the end of 2019.
The ceremony ended with a love-ly touch … being Valentine’s Day, the prize winners each presented to their mother’s a rose and some chocolates. The Prefects then presented roses to all the lady staff members – a gesture which welcomed warmly by all the ladies in the room. Thank you to the Gentlemen of DHS!
Mr Bodasing then thanked the educators of Durban High School for their contribution to assisting the boys to excel. The audience rose to their feet, boys and parents, and gave the outstanding staff of DHS a standing ovation.
The Top three boys in each grade were as follows:
 Grade 11
Talon Sewnath – First in Grade 11
Certificate of Merit (Colours), subject prizes for Information Technology, Business Studies, Mathematics, (The Pricewaterhouse-Coopers Award), Physical Sciences and the UKZN Outstanding Achievement Award for Mathematics and Physical Sciences
Thiyashan Pillay – Second in Grade 11
Certificate of Merit (Colours), subject prizes for Afrikaans First Additional Language, Engineering Graphics & Design
Sachen Pather – Third in Grade 11
Certificate of Merit (Colours)
Grade 11 Cambridge
Adam Mohamed – First in Grade 11 Cambridge
Certificate of Merit (Honours), Computer Sciences and Mathematics awards
Grade 10
Mikail Kreuzer – First in Grade 10
Certificate of Merit (Honours), subject prizes for English Home Language, Afrikaans First Additional Language, Life Orientation, Music, Life Sciences, Mathematics, Physical Sciences
Tusani Mthembu – Second in Grade 10
Certificate of Merit (Colours), subject prizes for Accounting, Engineering Graphics & Design, Geography, Physical Sciences
Jadin Dayanund – Third in Grade 10
Certificate of Merit (Colours), subject prize for Physical Sciences
Grade 10 Cambridge
Naseem Essa – First in Grade 10 Cambridge
Certificate of Merit (Honours), Mathematics award
Sharik Ramjee – Second in Grade 10 Cambridge
Certificate of Merit (Honours), Mathematics award
Shaphan Govender – Third in Grade 10 Cambridge
Certificate of Merit (Colours)
Nathan del Fava – Certificate of Merit (Colours)
Grade 9
Michael Russell – First in Grade 9
Certificate of Merit, subject prizes for Afrikaans First Additional Language, Life Orientation, Creative Arts
Darian Robert – Second in Grade 9
Certificate of Merit, subject prizes for English Home Language, Social Sciences, Technology
Yash Haricharan – Third in Grade 9
Certificate of Merit, subject prizes for Natural Sciences, Mathematics (Trevor Wadley Prize)
Grade 9 Cambridge
Nureldin Mohamed – First in Grade 9 Cambridge
Certificate of Merit, Chemistry award
Yadav Nunnan – Second in Grade 9 Cambridge
Grade 8
Abhay Nunan – First in Grade 8
Certificate of Merit, subject prizes for English Home Language, Life Orientation
Finnley Wyllie – Second in Grade 8
Certificate of Merit, subject prizes for Social Sciences, Mathematics, Life Orientation
Dino Veludo – Second in Grade 8
Certificate of Merit, subject prizes for Creative Arts, Natural Sciences
Grade 8 Cambridge:
Zane Williamson – First in Grade 8 Cambridge
Certificate of Merit, Chemistry award
Sahil Bandulal – Second in Grade 8 Cambridge
Durban High School congratulates all the prize winners and thanks Dr Acheaw for taking time out of his busy schedule to share his story with the boys and guests.
Well done to the young Gentlemen of Durban High School on their achievements!