Spare a thought
Alyson Engelbrecht • May 6, 2020
Written by Caroline Correia
On Friday 1 May, we will go from Stage 5 to Stage 4 Lockdown, but we will still be in lockdown. We must still stay at home, wear masks, practise social distancing, wash our hands continuously and limit our trips to buy essentials. Whilst we bemoan these facts, let us remember that we have a roof over our heads and a place to call home, we have a plate of food to eat, a hot bath or shower and a comfortable warm bed to rest our weary bodies at the end of every day. How blessed and fortunate are we? Most importantly, our loved ones are safe.
While I was thinking of what to write about this week, I thought of the many people who are not as fortunate or blessed as I am, and I wondered how they were coping during this time.
Covid 19 has sure thrown a spanner in many people’s plans and it is these people that I would like to acknowledge and spare a thought for in this article.
All the people who own their own businesses and are not allowed to work during lockdown as they do not provide an essential service. All those who are without an income now and are anxious as to where the next pay-check is coming from. Spare a thought for these people.
All those people who cannot self-isolate and have nowhere to go. Spare a thought for them.
All the weddings that couples have spent months planning for, awaiting their big day. Invitations sent out, venues booked, and wedding dresses made and fitted to perfection. Spare a thought for the couples who have had to put their big day on hold.
All the babies that are going to be born during this time. Couples who have eagerly awaited their baby’s arrival for the last nine months. Fathers are not allowed in the delivery rooms, so what was to be a monumental bonding moment in their lives is now just a nurse telling them that all is okay, and that baby is healthy. Spare a thought for these moms and dads.
All the elderly who live in old age homes, who eagerly await the visits from their children and grandchildren. Spare a thought for the elderly.
All the people celebrating their birthdays with their immediate families or alone. No parties with their friends and extended families to celebrate the special day that they were born. Spare a thought for these people.
All the Grade 12s who have spent the last 11 years of their schooling looking forward to the last year of school. The year they get to lead, to be counted as equals, to plan matric dance outfits and to revel in the fact that they have made it. Spare a thought for these young adults.
Over the last couple of weeks, social media platforms have been awash with stories of people helping, people performing random acts of kindness, communities coming together and showing ‘Ubuntu’ towards each other.
If you have the means to lighten someone’s load, lessen someone’s pain, brighten someone’s day, then do it. Buy someone groceries, bake your neighbour a cake, leave a message of encouragement for someone. Be a ray of sunshine in someone’s cloud!
During the next stages in lockdown, and for the rest of our lives, let us practise ‘Ubuntu.’
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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