Zoe's Journey
Katie de Chaves • February 22, 2021
2020 was particularly poignant for me as a parent as my daughter completed her Matric year. She arrived at Pecanwood in 2005, joining in the first Grade 000 class the school had to offer. There she flourished under the care of Mrs Coetzee and Mrs Fikkert and, although painfully shy at the time, emerged ready to tackle the challenges of Grade 1 in Mrs Nortje’s class. During her Prep years she had the opportunity to participate in a number of different sporting and cultural codes and found her academic footing.
High School came far too quickly and soon we were sending her off on the very first Pecanwood LEETO, introduced by Mr Barrett, to experience 11 days in the wilderness with her peers. The teenager that returned from LEETO was not the same one we sent away. This one returned with not only hundreds of stories to tell, but also a new level of maturity and independence. The once shy child from Pre-Prep days had gained confidence and was ready to make her voice heard in the world. We were delighted with her appointment as prefect, holding the Academics portfolio and watched our little girl, who used to hide behind my legs in company, address a hall full of parents and children in her public addresses.
All of a sudden, I am parent to an adult. One that drives a car on her own, takes herself shopping and is capable of mapping her own path in the world.
It’s terrifying.
The speed at which this all took place is dizzying. You can’t slow it down or stop it if you try. What you can do is enjoy every moment
because every phase of their development is different and you will miss the challenging parts too. When they enter the high school phase, they will be moody and sullen and have a tendency to backchat, spending unbelievable amounts of their time sleeping. They do emerge from this cocoon eventually, although at times you despair that your sweet child is lost forever.
Looking back, my future self would tell me to stop sweating the small stuff. A failed assessment is a learning opportunity, not the end of the world. A poor report card is an opportunity for reflection, not a time to panic. I can see in my Grade 9 son that academic rigour does eventually set in, sometimes it just takes an agonisingly long time.
Don’t interfere!
Trust the school. There are times in my daughter’s school days where I felt the need to question class placements and the splitting of friendships and the disaster that ensued from my interference did no good for my child. I should have trusted her teachers. That lesson was one I did not forget.
What I did not regret, was letting her work at her own pace, play sport at her ability and not place any additional pressure on her. She was responsible for her own performance and results. The end result is a goal orientated individual who has self-motivation and works because she wants to.
To all three campuses and the dedicated teachers and management who have helped my child along the way, thank you! To those beginning the journey. All the best. You are in good hands.
Twenty years of trusted education meets expanded opportunities, greater accessibility and future-ready learning from January 2027. Families across Hartbeespoort can look forward to an even stronger independent school offering as Pecanwood College becomes Pinnacle College Pecanwood from January 2027. The transition brings together two decades of local educational excellence with the academic strength, innovation and opportunities offered by the expanding Pinnacle Colleges network. Current and prospective families stand to benefit from a school that retains everything the community values while opening the door to even greater opportunities. Pinnacle College Pecanwood will preserve the school's caring culture, close relationships, boarding facilities, IEB curriculum, sporting tradition and vibrant co-curricular programme, while providing students access to a broader network recognised for academic excellence, future-focused learning and preparation for life beyond school. Pecanwood College has proudly served the Hartbeespoort community for 20 years, offering education from the early years through to Grade 12, including boarding. Dedicated teachers, a nurturing environment, strong IEB academic results and diverse sporting and cultural opportunities have established the school as a respected educational institution in the region. That solid foundation will now be enhanced through the wider Pinnacle Colleges network. Students and teachers will benefit from shared academic expertise, established operational excellence and opportunities to participate in broader academic, cultural and sporting initiatives across multiple campuses. Pinnacle Colleges equips students for tertiary education and successful careers through a balanced approach that combines academic excellence with innovation, career guidance, coding and robotics, technology-enabled learning and holistic personal development. Respect, responsibility and a strong sense of community remain central to every campus experience. Academic success already defines Pecanwood College. The Class of 2025 achieved an impressive 98.59% matric pass rate, a 94.36% Bachelor's Degree pass rate and an average of 1.9 distinctions per student. Pinnacle College Pecanwood will build on these achievements through strengthened academic systems, shared expertise and continued commitment to outstanding IEB education. The name Pinnacle College Pecanwood honours both the school's proud heritage and its exciting future. Twenty years of commitment by students, teachers, families and the wider community remain firmly embedded in the school's identity, while its new name reflects membership of one of South Africa's fastest-growing independent school groups dedicated to innovation, accessibility and student success. Hartbeespoort families can now enjoy the best of both worlds: a close-knit community lifestyle paired with access to a high-quality independent education close to home. Pinnacle College Pecanwood is well positioned to become the school of choice for families seeking exceptional academic opportunities, future-ready skills and an environment where every student can thrive.
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