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HOUSES
St. Stithians Boys' College has ten houses, two boarding
houses (Mountstephens and Collins) and eight dayboy houses.
The most recent additions to the house system are Krige
and Henning Houses. They were introduced four years ago.
The reason we have so many houses to keep the number boys
in each house as low as possible. This creates much more
spirit and opportunity within each house and thus contributes
to the overall competitiveness amongst the houses. The
structure of each house is designed to ensure that each
boy in the house is able to develop close relationships
with other boys and staff in the house. Each house has
a House Director, and four or five staff who act as tutors.
Each tutor has a tutor group of approximately 15 boys,
form all grades in the school. The tutor is responsible
for his tutor groups' well being in the school, and keeps
an eye on each boy's academic and extra-mural progress
as well as his emotional well being.
There is also a School Prefect who heads up each house, and
he is assisted by other senior boys who act as the House
Committee. Their responsibility is to run the organisation
of the House, including House meetings, the various
inter-house activities, house social events and
communication via the House Notice Board.
As part of the House programme, St Stithians has embraced a
mentorship programme, whereby a relationship is promoted
between junior and senior boys. The Senior Mentor is asked
to communicate regularly with the Junior for whom he is
responsible, as well as the Junior's parents.
The school is becoming more and more houses orientated as we
have seen how discipline, sport and academic administration
have been controlled more in the house system than the
school. Each year there is an overall competition amongst
the houses for the Harris Cup. As well as this, there are
competitions for the best sporting, academic and cultural
house. Throughout the year, events and competitions are
held. Points are awarded not only for success but also
attendance and spirit. In fact it is possible to start an
event such as athletics on negative points if you do not
attend a qualifying round. Interhouse sports competitions
through the year include: athletics; touch rugby; swimming
gala; relay gala; rowing; soccer; basketball; squash;
tennis; cricket; water polo; hockey; and cross country.
Interhouse cultural competitions include: chess;
drama productions; debating; public speaking; and the
prefects' exam. Students are required to know which House
Director is in charge of their house and have a brief
knowledge of the other House Directors. They must also know
each House's name and colour.
Mountstephens | Collins | Tucker | Mears | Pitts
| Wesley | Webb | Henning | Penryn | Krige
This information is also available in the Boys
College Homework diary.
PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT
The Psychological Support Department
offers professional psychological services to all learners
at St Stithians Boys' College. Interventions may include
parents, families or staff where a learner is involved.
Referrals to the department are
made by parents, families or staff members through the
department's secretary, Mrs Fiona Schwartz. However,
a large proportion of cases seen are a result of self-referrals
by learners.
Counselling and psychological
interventions may include individual, group and large-scale
social interventions. Our work focuses on adolescent
developmental issues. This may include the areas of
family dynamics, relationships, self-esteem, psychopathology,
use of substances, bereavement, anti-bias work, bullying,
leadership training and workshops for parents..
Both Sue and Sean are members
of the Psychological Society of South Africa. They both
present at various conferences both nationally and internationally
on topics relating to adolescent development..
For information that may interest
our parents please visit the Parents Information page.
CAREERS
INFORMATION
Career decision-making and the
counselling process have become an essential part of
adolescent transition into young adulthood. In order to
facilitate an informed process, St Stithians Boys' College
offers the following career programme.
Psychometric testing is offered
by the Psychological Support Department in the Grade
11 year of study. All tests are selected and administered
in accordance with the Health Professions Council of
South Africa's guidelines for ethical practice. Testing
will be followed by an approximate two hour initial
interview where the test results will be discussed with
the learner and his parents. Further interviews may
take place..
The career counselling process
is the culmination of other initiatives that have taken
place during the learners progression through the College.
This would include academic modules regarding careers,
as well as a job shadowing programme.
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Student Affairs
