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www.lebonecollege.co.za

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Welcome to Lebone II – College of the Royal Bafokeng!

My brother, Kgosi Lebone II, and I shared a passion for

the idea of bringing world-class educational facilities

to Phokeng, and building a school that would offer

the best academic opportunities in the midst of

natural African splendour, and a warm and welcoming

atmosphere.

My brother’s vision resulted in the founding of Lebone

II, one of his proudest legacies, and I have the honour

of expanding on his work by bringing the best teachers,

facilities, and learners together in this unique and

special environment.

Lebone II – College of the Royal Bafokeng, is an

inclusive and supportive educational environment for

learners of all backgrounds, while it foregrounds and

encourages exploration of the immediate context in

the Bafokeng Nation. The history and traditions of the

Bafokeng people form an integral part of the school’s

curriculum and culture. The College’s facilities are

designed as open, flexible and creative spaces, more

“structures for learning” than traditional classrooms.

Situated in the dramatic beauty of the Magaliesberg

Mountains, Lebone II regards the natural environment

as an important part of our learning process. Outdoor

activities and sport are combined with environmental

awareness and conservation in an explicit attempt to

promote environmentally sustainable practices.

As a child-centered community that views learning

as a lifelong activity, the Bafokeng Nation places a

very high value on education. Learning that is active,

collaborative, and geared to each child’s abilities is

at the heart of our educational philosophy. Lebone II

aims to foster intellectual curiosity, problem solving,

ethical decision-making, and creativity in every one

of its learners. We see our graduates entering higher

education equipped with a strong sense of self,

purpose and responsibility.

On behalf of the entire Bafokeng community, welcome

to our world of cutting-edge learning and exploration!

Kgosi Leruo Molotlegi

MESSAGE FROM KGOSI LERUO MOLOTLEGI

The resources and land are finite; the people’s potential is infinite.

Photos: Mark Lanning

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Lebone II – College of the Royal Bafokeng is a school

with an exciting and important purpose. We give many

young people from the area a chance to break out of

the all too common cycles of poverty and lack that are

seen in this country. It is through being afforded – and

embracing – the many opportunities of a world-class

education that our students are able to transcend their

circumstances and achieve their true potential.

At Lebone II, we humbly endeavour to offer a solution

to the desperate condition of rural schools in this area.

We are doing this by establishing and championing a

best practice teacher training model in our classrooms

– one which is reached through active participation

and observation. To this end we aim to be a resource

to neighbouring Bafokeng schools and, hopefully, one

with an ever-widening reach.

The journey of this remarkable school has just begun

and I invite you to partner with us as we embark on it.

Even as we are especially conscious of the challenging

and long path ahead, we embrace it with the fierce

urgency of now. We do this in the hope to effect

lasting, meaningful change in individuals’ lives –

both in this community, and beyond.

David Du Toit, Principal.

MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Lebone II is a place of dreams and dreamers – a school

where ordinary young people are determined to achieve

extraordinary things.

THE SCHOOL PREMISESPhoto: Christoph Hoffmann

We believe in

To change, to new thinking and new ways, to different cultures.

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The North West Province, in the northern part of

South Africa is a place of open horizons and tranquil

countryside. It is famed for its spectacular game

reserves, abundance of wildlife, rich cultural heritage

and platinum mines. It is here that the ancestral lands

of the Royal Bafokeng Nation are found. These are

centred around the capital of Phokeng and located

about two hours drive from the city of Johannesburg.

The Bafokeng Nation is a monarchy with a proud

history and a bright future, led by Kgosi (king) Leruo

Tshekedi Molotlegi.

It is in these surroundings that Lebone II – College of

the Royal Bafokeng sits, nestled in a quintessentially

African landscape. As an independent, primary and

secondary level school, we operate alongside the

national education system as a private option for

boys and girls from this country, and the rest of Africa.

Lebone means “light” in the Setswana language, and

the school was named after its founder, former Kgosi

Mollwane Lebone Boikanyo Molotlegi.

Our name has a powerful meaning for us and speaks

to our far-sighted royal history as well as our purpose.

Carrying the torch of education and providing

opportunities for students, teachers and the community,

we are proud to bear the name Lebone.

The Royal Bafokeng Nation is characterised by a

spirit of independence, adaptability and foresight.

A prime example of this was their response to colonial

encroachment on their ancestral lands in the 1800s when,

under the country’s pre-democratic law, Black South

Africans could not own property. Under the insightful

leadership of Kgosi Mokgatle, the Bafokeng men went to

raise money by working on the mines in Kimberley. The

Nation then bought the land with the help of Lutheran

missionaries, who fronted the purchases and then held it

in trust for the community.

In the 1920s, platinum deposits were discovered

on Bafokeng land, which led to a new wave of

encroachment, this time by mining companies. With the

coming of democracy in 1994, however, the Bafokeng

were able to control their own territories legally. This

empowered them to negotiate a mutually beneficial

agreement with the mining companies, with the Bafokeng

gaining a stake in the mines and earning rights from

their land’s use. With the profits from these rights, the

Nation is now able to invest in civil and infrastructural

programmes to uplift their community.

It was this type of forward-thinking leadership that led

to the Bafokeng Nation’s prosperity – a tradition that is

carried through in their investment in projects such as

Lebone II – College of the Royal Bafokeng.

A LEADING INDEPENDENT SCHOOL A ROYAL HERITAGE

Photo: Mark LanningPhoto: Joanne Thomas Photo: i-Line Films Photo: i-Line Films

At Lebone II, it is our vision to provide the inspiration,

education and opportunities that positively influence

the Royal Bafokeng Nation, and the world. This is a

school rooted in an extraordinary African tradition –

the Royal Bafokeng Nation – and at the same time

poised towards a global future.

Our school is a place of upliftment and positive

influence that encourages innovation whilst being

grounded in international research and best practice.

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OUR VISION A UNIQUE APPROACH TO EDUCATION

“Lebone II is here to unite people, to show people hope, to enlighten, to reveal things that people didn’t see about the world, about the value of education, about us as people.” - Joe Cossa, Teacher

VISIONWe believe in having

What we do now will shape the future of our nation and even the world. For, ultimately, the world is our community.

Lebone II has a unique approach to education and is

a place of curiosity and creativity. We do not simply

follow the examples of others, but build on them to

create a compelling learning environment characterised

by a spirit of excellence.

While our curriculum subscribes to the necessary

national norms, the College is a research-driven school,

and we draw on international best practice in creating

our own learning models. These address the academic,

personal and social growth of the student, combining

teaching with a wide range of extra-curricular activities.

We also engage in a very comprehensive selection

process with applicants in order to identify and

maximise the potential of our students.

Our world-class standards are complemented in turn by

an understanding of our local context. We operate on

a sliding, means/needs scale of fees, which makes the

school accessible without compromising excellence.

The College engages with the community in a

meaningful way, encouraging our students to take part

in service programmes. These include activities such as

assisting in providing food for pensioners once a month,

assisting in reading programmes for younger children

in less privileged learning places, tutoring Maths in

other Bafokeng secondary schools, and visiting old age

homes and homes for neglected or abandoned children.

Our international sensibility, grounded in community,

leads to a truly holistic education. By adding this third

factor of social engagement to the traditional mix of

academics and extra-curricular activities, we offer a

dynamic and relevant education to our students. We

develop their potential and allow them to realise their

talents, producing truly global citizens.

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REALISING OUR VISION – OUR NEW CAMPUS

“We have the most significant opportunity in education in South Africa right now – a chance to be a part of establishing a college of great repute that draws on a local heritage to create a compelling learning environment. It is also instrumental in creating opportunities for the training of teachers in our rural schools across the region.” - George Harris, Principal

Our new Lebone II campus, situated on the Tsufi Ridge,

overlooking Phokeng town and the Bafokeng land, is

a key part of our overall vision. It draws on the area’s

heritage to create a contemporary ‘village,’ housing

educational and boarding facilities situated in an

inspiring natural context.

The teaching, social and living spaces are all integrated,

and converse with each other in a complete synthesis

of learning and living. This holistic environment allows

our students to maximise their own potential and

become the best that they can be. Our responsibility to

the environment was carefully considered in planning

the new campus; rehabilitating a quarry into sports

fields, and using environmentally friendly methods of

temperature control such as sun screening. We also

harvest all the rain water, and grey and black water

from the school.

The new campus accommodates 800 students over its

80-hectare grounds. A courtyard in the centre of each

classroom space enables teachers to facilitate learning

both inside and out, so that creativity is at the centre

of education. The classrooms are large enough so as

to be a teaching laboratory space, allowing groups of

teachers to observe best practice first hand.

Photo: Christoph Hoffmann Photo: Christoph Hoffmann

Photo: Christoph Hoffmann

Photo: Christoph HoffmannPhoto: Christoph Hoffmann

Photo: Joanne Thomas

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BELONGINGWe believe in

At Lebone II, everybody belongs: parents, teachers, students, community and friends beyond borders.

ACADEMICS

The subjects offered at the College are in line with

the country’s National Curriculum, while carefully

maintaining independence and international standards.

We currently write the Independent Examination Board

exams, and are affiliated with the Independent Schools

Association of Southern Africa.

Our teaching methodologies reflect the school’s

culture of excellence, and we offer the following to

a Matriculation (Grade 12) level: English, Setswana,

Mathematics, Physical Science, Life Sciences,

Accounting, History, Dramatic Arts, Music, Engineering,

Graphics and Design, Tourism, and Geography.

In keeping with our aim of creating global citizens, we

are in the process of investigating the International

Baccalaureate as a future option for our students

hoping to further their studies abroad.

“Lebone II is a unique space to work in. it sinspires everyone to do their best at all times.” - Richard Sibeko, Teacher

We want our boarders to see the school as a home

away from home. The accommodation takes the form of

apartment-style living, with only a few students per room.

As well as creating comfortable living spaces, a number

of our staff also live on-campus, adding to the sense of

connection and feeling of family.

Boarding facilities are available to students from Grade

7 to Grade 12, on either a weekly or termly basis.

Eight boys and eight girls from each grade can be

accommodated presently. These facilities are both for

students who live too far away to commute every day,

and also for those who are in need of a structured and

safe environment in which to complete their education.

BOARDING

“Lebone II is a place called home” - Rose Bogopane, Student

Photo: Neil WeidemanPhoto: Christoph Hoffmann

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RESPECTTRUTH &We believe in

Truth & Respect are at the core of eveything worthwhile. We encourage respect for oneself, the individual, human rights, each other, the land, the Royal Bafokeng Nation and the world.

“What stands out here is the caring from the top down.” - Petra Marais, HOD “It is a place where potential is unleashed. It’s a place of bravery.” - Onalenna Montsho, Student

The school ethos at Lebone II is one that emphasises

respect and consideration for others. All our students

make, and then wear, their own “truth” bracelets as a

reminder of their commitment to be honest in everything

they do. Truth, respect and humility are qualities we

value highly, and lead to an openness that benefits all at

the school.

At Lebone II we understand a leader’s role as being

about service to those they represent. It is a tradition

at the school that when new student leaders take on

their responsibilities, they wash the feet of the youngest

students, symbolising a culture of leadership through

service. This gives a healthy understanding of one’s

connection and responsibility to other people.

We encourage our students to embrace a well-rounded

life, with sporting activities being an important part of

this. These provide the opportunity to teach valuable

lessons about teamwork and develop a healthy attitude

towards competition.

The many sporting activities available to students

include: athletics, swimming, soccer, netball, hockey,

and basketball. Our culture of excellence is applied

here too, through our high training standards.

The Royal Bafokeng Nation has invested significantly

in a broad sporting programme for children in schools

and Lebone II aims to provide opportunities for those

children with significant sporting talent, to excel

and achieve.

CULTURE OF RESPECT SPORT

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Exploring and excelling in creativity builds innovative

thinking and self-expression. At Lebone II we offer a

varied cultural programme, where students have the

opportunity to learn a variety of musical instruments,

join our choir and marimba band, and take part in

the debating club and drama productions. Our plans

for an orchestra and jazz band are also taking shape.

We have a number of different societies and clubs for

students to pursue their interests in an extra-curricular

programme, as well.

For learning, for teaching, for leading, for one’s heritage and for the future.

We believe in

“I really love this place! I feel it’s where my roots are. I wasn’t really interested in sports before, just my books. Now I play netball and I’m in the marimba band.” - Oreeditse Sedumedi, Student

CULTURAL ACTIVITIES

with pensioners and crèches, as well as reading to the

blind and spending time playing with orphans.

There are a number of disadvantaged schools in our

area and, in order to develop the broader standard of

education, the College has set up a teacher development

programme with them. This is part of our dual mandate

of being both a College of Excellence, and a resource

centre to the broader Bafokeng education community.

Through this teacher-training model, we remain rooted

in our community, and relevant to the broader challenge

in education in South Africa at this time. It allows us

to engage meaningfully with the area, and the country,

rather than being an institution removed from it.

We believe that our school is inherently linked to the

surrounding community. By being accessible to it we

become part of it and create a meaningful relationship.

Our enrolment is structured so that the majority of our

students are from the Bafokeng Nation, which means

that the College is closely connected to the area.

We apply a means and needs scale to our fees,

allowing candidates with potential to access the

education that will allow them to succeed.

As a part of our social programme, the school closes

early on Wednesdays so that our students can get

involved in community activities. This includes work

A PART OF THE COMMUNITY

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HUMILITYWe believe in

Whatever we teach or learn here, we’re still people, and part of our community.

“I think Lebone II is about building a nation, about giving back to the community.” - Nhlanhla Phakathi, Teacher

Part of the uniqueness of Lebone II is that it is so

much more than a school. It plays many different roles,

touching the lives of many different people.

To teachers, it is a centre of excellence, where new

models of education are being explored. To the

Bafokeng Nation, it is the custodian of the bright

minds of its youth. To the community, it is a source

of help and assistance. Even with all of these aspects

in mind, the school always holds one group first, the

students themselves. The boys and girls of Lebone II

are, after all, the reason why we do what we do. These

are stories by three of our students, explaining what

Lebone II means in their lives.

THOUGHTS FROM OUR STUDENTS

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“Lebone is my beautiful home away from home.” - Nkele Kgolo, Student

A Place of Pride

For all my life, I have never lived in a financially stable

family. I have never had a big brother or sister to hold

my hand when I felt shunned. But, I knew there was

one thing I was good at, learning, and with the help of

our good God, I kept on aiming at least one percent

higher each day.

Applying for a scholarship was the best move I’d ever

made. I have always lived in a nutshell, but the world

had better brace itself because I am coming out.

Today I stand as a proud Lebone II – College of the

Royal Bafokeng student. This school has given me a

sense of belonging, from sport, drama, dance to music

and academics. Lebone II is truly a bright light worth

following. I am happy.

- Belardina Zunguza

A Bright, Shining Light

I came to Lebone II College in 2001. I have seen many

things happen around here such as educators coming

and going, students coming and leaving, but, with all

this, the light has always shone high.

As a young boy, I used to live by the mentality that

school and sport are enemies. I sometimes wish I could

go back to my first grade and start sporting activities

and music lessons back then – but I guess everything

happens for a reason.

Then in 2006, there came a man, Mr George Harris. He

and many other teachers in this school worked together

to shape a brighter future for us. Since his arrival, I

have involved myself in activities such as choir, hockey,

music theory and I get to do what I love most – play

musical instruments. I also did my part by succeeding

academically. I look forward to the “new school” and

the future.

- Onalenna Montsho

A Home

Coming to Lebone was like stepping into a world where

knowledge and skills are acquired through interactive

learning. A world where brilliant young minds are

nurtured and nourished through challenges, where

excellence is pursued. A world where others reach out

and touch the lives of those in need in a warm-

hearted way.

Being part of such a world strengthened my

determination to learn and discover new things. The

extracurricular activities make my time at school even

more fulfilling as I discover talents I never knew I had.

To me Lebone is more than just a school, but a home

as well.

Being the best is a goal and success, a virtue.

Attending this school means I never doubt or limit

myself. Opportunities come along and I am always

ready to grab them with both hands. I am receiving an

education and that, to me, is a blessing.

- Sedumedi Oreeditse

SPIRITUALITYWe believe in

Building on our Christ-centred heritage, seeking and living truth, we embrace people of all faiths and have faith in all people.

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DEDICATIONWe believe in

Dedication to education, fellow teachers, students, the community, Kgosi, the nation.

Mindful of our Nation’s rich and noble tradition,

we look to our future with hope and optimism.

With our spirit of excellence, we bring out the best in

all our students and know that when they graduate

and go out into the world, they will go on to achieve

personal greatness.

More than this, we know that one day, they will return

to bring their wisdom and skills back to the community,

to the place they call home. This is our reason for

being, and is something of which we are proud.

To find out more, and how you can be a part of

Lebone II, contact us on:

Tel: +27 (0) 14 566 1510

Email: admin@lebonecollege.co.za

Web: www.lebonecollege.co.za

LOOKING FORWARD

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PO Box 2623 | Farm Morgenzon 261 JQ | Phokeng 0335, North West Province, South Africa

T: +27 (0) 14 566 1510 | F: +27 (0) 86 606 1510 I E: admin@lebonecollege.co.za

www.lebonecollege.co.za

A member of the Independent Schools Association of Southern Africa (ISASA)

With thanks to the Royal Bafokeng Nation for the use of the following images: pages 2, 5, 7, 8b, 13c

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www.lebonecollege.co.za