St Stithians Boys’ College is a leading monastic school within a village of schools, which prides itself on excellence while providing a relevant and rigorous education.

Its Statement of Strategic Intent to be “A South African School Making a World of Difference” underpins its philosophy and vision. As a Methodist school there is a conscious focus of the “Saints Honour”, namely to “Honour God, Honour Others and Honour Self”.

The College strives to allow each boy to realise his maximum potential as a significant citizen of this school, and our country, in a stimulating and safe environment.

WATERPOLO

PREFECTS FOR 2007

After a lengthy and thorough process involving voting, interviews and discussions the Boys’ College is pleased to announce its leaders for 2007. We have every confidence that these young men will serve the Boys’ College with commitment, loyalty and dedication and be a role model for ONE AND ALL. Our congratulations to them all.

Whilst these are the boys who have official recognition, it is important to remember that each and every Matric boy plays a critical leadership role in the school. At the “Bezants to Knights” evening at the end of 2008 this will be reiterated when each Matric boy receives a citation from his House Director and is awarded a Bezant.

Dear One and All

APPOINTMENT OF THE BOYS’ COLLEGE DEPUTY HEADMASTERS

It is with great pleasure that we announce the appointment of the new Deputy Headmasters in the Boys’ College.

The process has been a comprehensive one – fifty-six applicants responded to the advertisement in the Sunday Times.  A shortlist of twenty applicants was interviewed in Gauteng, Cape Town and KwaZulu-Natal. Eight candidates were finally interviewed by a selection panel comprising Messrs Stephen Lowry (Rector), Colin Smith (Vice-Chairman of Council), Ray van Gass (Deputy Headmaster, Boys’ Prep), Dr Tshepo Motsepe (Parent and Member, Boys’ College Committee) and Dave Knowles (Headmaster-Elect, Boys’ College).

During the course of the process, it was decided to restructure the Deputy Portfolios, and add a third Deputy.  We have managed to achieve this within the current Staff budgets. The three portfolios are thus:

Deputy i/c Academics

Deputy i/c Student Affairs

Deputy i/c Administration, a broad term that will cover a number of aspects in the Boys’ College, including Daily Routine, Discipline and the Grade Camps offered from Grade 8 – 11.

Please join us in congratulating the following in their selection to the respective portfolios:

DEPUTY I/C ACADEMICS:  MR ANDREW BAKER

Mr Baker has been Head of Department, Biology, at the Boys’ College since 2004, and is the current IEB Portfolio Moderator and Practical Examiner for Biology.  Before his appointment to St Stithians College, he was a founder teacher at Reddam House College and Noordhoek Private School in Cape Town, and also taught at Camps Bay High School.  He has extensive cultural experience, including as a director of a variety of plays and musicals, public-speaking and debating, and as the tour leader for a number of overseas cultural tours to the USA and Far East.  He was educated at Sea Point Boys’ High School and UCT, and has published in academic journals.

DEPUTY I/C ADMINISTRATION:  MR PIET VAN TONDER

Mr Van Tonder was appointed to St Stithians College in 1983, and has served the Boys’ College in various capacities over the last twenty-four years, namely Head of Department: Afrikaans, Senior Housemaster of Mountstephens, and Master-in-Charge of Rugby and Waterpolo.  He is currently responsible for the Grade 10 Camp, Rugby Festival and is a member of the Boys’ College Executive i/c of Discipline.  He has coached both Rugby and Waterpolo at 1^st Team and schools provincial level, as well as arranged three overseas schools tours.  Before arriving at St Stithians, Mr van Tonder taught at Prince Edward School in Harare.

DEPUTY I/C STUDENT AFFAIRS:  MR MICHAEL  MCCONNACHIE

Mr McConnachie is currently Deputy Headmaster at Pinelands High School in Cape Town, a position to which he was appointed in 1998.  Whilst at Pinelands he has held various portfolios, including Business Manager; Head of Houses; Chair of the Colours Committee and Head of Grade.  He is currently the Head of Leadership Development and trains the School Councillors (or Prefects), as well as chairing the Integrated Quality Management System.  He has extensive experience as a Hockey coach, including as SA U16, U18 and assistant U21 Coach, Western Province Senior Men’s, U21 and U18 coach and 1^st Team level.  He is an Accountancy teacher, and a product of Christian Brothers College, Cape Town (where he was Headboy) and UCT.  We look forward to welcoming Mr McConnachie to St Stithians. 

We believe that these are three exciting appointments, and wish them all the very best in their roles as Deputies at the Boys’ College.

Yours sincerely

Ian McLachlan                                                           Dave Knowles
Headmaster                                                                  Headmaster-Elect
St Stithians Boys’ College                                  St Stithians Boys’ College

20 September 2006

ATHLETICS NEWS 

Results of the Independent Schools Pentangular Athletics Meeting held at St Albans College on Saturday 16th September 2006.

1. St Stithians   311

2. St Albans     297

3. St Johns       233

4. St Davids     192

5. St Benedicts 132

Results of the Inter House Athletics Championships – 2006

1.        Wesley               805
2.        Penryn                744
3.        Mt Stephens       716
4.        Collins                 680
5.        Tucker                662
6.        Mears                 652
7.        Webb                  611
8.        Krige                   594
9.        Pitts                    544
10.      Henning              503

HOCKEY SPORT RESULTS

The Hockey Sport Results for 2006 are now available.

ROUND SQUARE UBOMBO COMMUNITY PROJECT, AUGUST 2006

Ubombo was and continues to be an important event in my life. Not because I was reminded that I was “privileged” with opportunities, but because it showed me that South Africa, as one nation, has a long journey to travel before people in communities like Ubombo can receive great healthcare, a solid education and jobs that give dignity to people. It is amazing to see what a huge and positive impact Saints has had on a community over 400km from it. This has been done through the unwavering resolve and dedication of the teachers, parents and students involved. Saints boys and girls will continue to grow immensely from the challenges they tackle in Ubombo as long as this Project continues to run.

I would like to thank Mr and Mrs Hacking for constantly taking care of us even to the loss of their own time. It is amazing and rare to see people who are about changing the lives of others and empowering the youth. I would also like to thank the teaching staff for helping us to tackle the challenges we faced in the classroom. Thank you Mrs Kerr for allowing us this opportunity as moments like these are few and far between.

Tinashe Chandauka
August 2006

 MY EXPERIENCE ON THE UBOMBO COMMUNITY PROJECT

The Community Project known as Ubombo has built an unrivalled reputation for being an amazing opportunity to explore and help the disadvantaged community of Ubombo. It is for this that I applied to be part of the Project and it remains a decision I have never regretted. In the town of Ubombo, what one sees is what one gets. The atrocious conditions that the people live in are visible in all areas of their lives, from schooling, to sleeping, to eating. Our first challenge though was to set up camp. Through constructing the large tents and canopies required for our campsite we managed to meet the various people on the camp that we had not known before. Straight away a strong bond between all group members was formed. 

Once the rules and conditions were clearly stated it was off to work. We started by getting the brief of what was needed to be done during our time in Ubombo. Once the different objectives were understood people assigned themselves to a task for each day, often suited to what he or she was best fit to do. These tasks were:

Ø      Teaching at the local High School
Ø      Building furniture for the Ubombo Children's Care Village
Ø      Supporting various in town organisations
Ø      Taking care of the children at the Care Village
Ø      Playing sports with the children
Ø      Designing an interior room for the Care Village. 

Throughout the camp the members of the group were divided to make sure that all the tasks were completed in due time. Many people found that the teaching aspects of the Project were of an extremely difficult level. Often lessons were too short or the work quantity was too much. The more constructive aspects seemed to be more rewarding as the final product was right before your eyes. The various lunch benches and bed side cupboards that were designed and made were accepted with great gratitude and thanks. A small dance and party was held at the Care Village to say thanks. 

Overall the Project was a success, within the camp great friendships were formed an a positive outlook was upheld at all times. I wish to thank all involved with the Project for giving me this opportunity and especially Mr and Mrs Hacking for their support and organization.    

Christopher Thompson
August 2006  

ROUND SQUARE UBOMBO COMMUNITY PROJECT AUGUST 2006

I was very pleased to be selected to go on a Community Service Project to Ubombo. We left early in the morning of Sunday, 6 August 2006. The trip down was most enjoyable; I used the time to get to know the other learners from Saints Boys' & Girls' College. We arrived just after lunch. On arrival we pitched our tents and formed our “Saints Village”.  Gareth Dixon and I shared a tent which was very comfortable and spacious. The surroundings were very picturesque, especially the sun setting behind the Ubombo Mountains, every afternoon we watched this spectacular sight. The week started fairly early for breakfast. At breakfast we were briefed on the day’s activities and basic house keeping rules.  

Our first task of the week was constructing a set of shelves in the nearby orphanage. After lunch we taught Maths & Science to the local High School learners. I found this task quite a challenge as it was difficult to get the necessary concepts across to the learners. Language on occasions proved to be a barrier to imparting the subject content.  The suppers were delicious; we all contributed to the cooking of the evening meals.  

On Tuesday we returned to the Care Village and my task was to paint a mural on the lounge wall. I really enjoyed this creative exercise.  The afternoon was spent teaching once again. We even managed to fit in a game of tennis. Wednesday morning was filled with excitement, we were teaching Biology and part of the lesson would entail dissecting a kidney. The soccer game in the afternoon also proved an exciting fun event.  It was lovely to see the natural talent amongst the local players. Thursday was a very early start, we were up and about before sunrise. We watched the sun come up from a nearby mountain, this was a very spiritual moment for me counting my blessings. The rest of Thursday was a busy day, finishing off the mural as well as making and painting picnic benches and tutoring. At  the Sewing Centre it was inspirational to see how local women were given the opportunity to learn a skill and thereby to make a living for themselves and their family. Friday morning was spent visiting the local Junior School where previous Saints trips had built classrooms and as well as a jungle gym. We interacted with the children and had a party with them. The afternoon was spent finishing off projects and playing with the children. Saturday was a teaching day and saying goodbye to the High School learners. Saturday night was an evening spent around a campfire and sharing experiences. Sunday arrived all too soon and it was time to pack up and return home. For me the trip to Ubombo will always count as one of my special life experiences, it is easy to get caught up in our privileged day to day living,  it takes a week like this one to take stock of life. 

I enjoyed every moment of the week, my thanks to the educators that accompanied us as well as Mr & Mrs Hacking who made the trip so very worthwhile. I felt great pride in having contributed to  a less fortunate community. I think each and every Saints boy and girl should take part in an experience like this.

Jarryd Byron
August 2006

SENIOR INTERHOUSE DEBATING 2006