Farewell to Mr Fredericks

May 19, 2022 | Boys’ Preparatory

Jakes Fredericks' Farewell

St Stithians College and in particular the Boys’ Prep, bade a sad farewell to Mr Jakes Fredericks and his wife Tania at the end of last term, as they embarked on the next part of their journey, this time in Makhanda.

An educationalist of 28 years standing, Jakes taught at four schools in Cape Town before moving to Johannesburg in 2002. He joined Pridwin Preparatory School as a Head of Department, teaching Mathematics and Science, and then moved to The Ridge School where he taught Science and headed up the Marketing and Diversity portfolios. Since 2008, he had been a Deputy Head at St Stithians Boys’ Preparatory and was appointed Head of School in 2015. In addition to this role, he also currently serves as the Chair of the Southern African Heads of Schools Association and is the Africa representative on the International Boys’ School Coalition Task force – “Recognising, Acknowledging and Addressing Inequities in the Lives of Young Men of Colour”.

Qualified to teach in both primary and secondary schools, Jakes has a Bachelor of Education Honours degree in School Management. In 2011, he completed the postgraduate Leadership Development Programme at the Wits Business School and in 2013, attended The Art of Leadership course at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education.

A testament to the high regard in which Jakes is held, is the number of people clamouring to wish him well as his stay at the College came to an end. The Boys’ College held a farewell chapel service in his honour, with many boys seated in the pews, having come through the Boys’ Prep during his tenure. The Head Boy James Lowman was one of these boys, and he paid tribute to Mr Fredericks during the service.

Our PTA and Class Reps presented Jakes with a gift as a token of their appreciation for his support. Mrs Gemma Theron, Chair of the PTA asked: “What do you say about a man who is more than a teacher, he is a guide, a mentor, a leader and a friend?” Mrs Jannet Nash, representing all the Class Reps, said: “‘It takes a village to raise a child’ and what a village you have created Jakes. A village where you have shown us the meaning of community and how important it is to get support from others in helping you raise your child.”

The Heads of all the schools and departments on Campus and past and current members of Council attended a formal farewell at the school, which was also attended by many present and past Heads of Joburg schools, other leaders in the industry and friends of long standing. Messrs Alistair Stewart, Head of Advancement and David du Toit, Head of the Boys’ College delivered heartfelt and emotional speeches, with David embarking on an impromptu duet with Jakes, of the song Ebony and Ivory! Our Rector Mrs Celeste Gilardi unveiled Mr Fredericks’ portrait and paid tribute to Jakes by acknowledging his massive contribution to the Boys’ Prep in particular, but also to the College as a whole. She recalled how invaluable Jakes’ support had been to her personally, particularly during the very difficult past 2 years. A light-hearted interlude was when the College Exco performed a specially choreographed dance in Jakes’ honour – let’s just say that some are better dancers than others! The evening was rounded off in typical Jakes style with a solo rendition of ‘My Way’, the Frank Sinatra song. And Jakes certainly did it ‘His Way’!

There wasn’t a dry eye in the house during the very personal chapel service which the boys of the Prep presented to Jakes and Tania. Special musical items from the choirs, the Barons, the soloists and our own Choir Master, and that final ringing of the Chapel bell, preceded by the long farewell walk down the aisle greeting every member of staff, will be remembered by all for a long time. The boys presented Mr Fredericks with a huge Dr Seuss card which had been signed by every boy in the school, and a special edition Boys’ Prep Leaver’s Cap. Mr Des van Wyk reflected on the way in which Mr Fredericks would be remembered in their own words by the students:

  • Takes pride in St Stithians
  • Keeps the legacy of the school alive
  • Engages with students
  • Makes me feel positive and happy
  • Sets an example by following The Five Stones

…and by the staff:

  • Commitment to the boys is first and foremost
  • Takes pride in his humble origins
  • Is kind and understands how important family is
  • Has our best interests at heart

In typical Jakes fashion, the chapel service was concluded by his solo performance of a hymn – he had promised the boys that he would be able to play the guitar before he left Saints. Not being able to accomplish this, it was important to him that he kept his promise in some other musical way! In another typical Mr Fredericks fashion, he dressed up as a giant blue Smurf to greet boys and parents as they arrived in the car park at drop-off on the last day of term. The boys loved it.

The Boys’ Prep staff farewell function was also held on the last day of term. Mr Olivier reflected that Jakes’ motto is: “My word is iron”, and taking those letters, thought that the following attributes were typical of the man:

I  - Integrity
R - Relationships
O - Opportunities
N - Naughty!

So, good luck to you and Tania as you take up your new post as the Prep Headmaster at St Andrew’s College in Grahamstown, sir. Our loss is their gain.

Hamba kahle.