Counting Backwards, Dreaming Forwards: A Beautiful Milestone for Our Grade 5s
Our Grade 5 students recently celebrated a rite of passage in their school journey with our traditional "Counting Backwards, Dreaming Forwards" ceremony. Centred on the theme of growth and blooming, this special event served as a "powerful pause", a sacred space to look back on all that has shaped the girls so far, and to dream forward with hope and purpose.
The day was filled with symbolic gestures, starting with a heartwarming pathway formed by our Grade 1 students. This path represented the journey ahead and celebrated the special "buddy" relationship these Grade 5 girls will share with the younger students when they eventually reach Grade 7.
Our current St Stithians College Head Girl, Mihle Luthuli, shared an inspiring guest address that compared the girls' school years to a storybook. Reflecting on her own time in Grade 5 back in 2019, she spoke about how that pivotal year sparked her own audacious dreams to pursue the performing arts and to one day lead the school.
Mihle encouraged the Grade 5s to view their current place in the school journey as "Chapter 5: The Compass".
"You are mid-voyage, still on your path forwards, needing to introspect and reflect on the core values and dreams that will guide you home," she shared, urging the girls to actively write, illustrate, and direct their own unique stories.
In the opening address, our Head of School, Mrs Kim Lowman, highlighted the deep significance of this halfway point in the girls' primary school journey. Special guests walked hand-in-hand with their daughters to the venue, a walk reflecting the quiet, persistent rhythm of all the steps they have taken together from the very beginning.
During the service, each girl was gifted a smooth, engraved pebble featuring her name and the image of a labyrinth. As Mrs Lowman explained, the stone represents time, patience, and the unique beauty of each girl's individuality. The labyrinth symbol serves as a comforting reminder that life is not a straight path, but a thoughtful, reflective journey. This very same symbol will welcome the girls again when they take their spiritual and reflective walk into Grade 8. Along with these keepsakes, parents gifted their daughters heartfelt, personal letters of encouragement to carry with them.
This meaningful event was made possible by the dedication of our wonderful school community. We extend our warmest thanks to our Grade 5 teachers, Mrs Kyd, Mrs Tshituka, Mrs Lancaster, and Mrs Louw, as well as our assistant teacher,Nomkhosi Magudulela, for their unwavering care and leadership. We also thank the Grade 4 Parent Committee for creating such a beautiful, welcoming setting, and our talented students who brought the morning to life with exceptional marimba, violin, and piano performances.
To our Grade 5 girls: may the stones in your hands always remind you of how far you have come and inspire you for the journey still ahead.
Our hearts see your hearts.
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