Heritage Day Celebration of Diversity 2024 - One 4 All & All 4 One

St Stithians College was proud to host our inaugural whole school Heritage Day Celebration of Cultural Diversity. On Saturday 27 September, as a collective of 7 schools, we came together to honour the rich and varied heritage that forms the tapestry of our beautiful College and country as a whole. In a nation known for its vibrant cultures, languages, and traditions, celebrating our diversity is not just an act of acknowledgment but a powerful statement of unity and strength.

South Africa's heritage is a mosaic of influences, from the indigenous peoples to the descendants of settlers, from the vibrant townships to the serene rural landscapes. Each of these elements brings its unique flavour to our national identity, contributing to a cultural richness that is unmatched. By learning about and embracing these diverse cultures, we not only broaden our understanding but also foster mutual respect and appreciation.

This celebration was more than just an event; it was a testament to the importance of cultural exchange and collective growth. When we harness the unique aspects of our various cultures, we create a society that is innovative, resilient, and inclusive. These are important attributes we wish to nurture and shape in the young people who attend our great College. It is through this collective effort that we can build a nation that values every individual's contribution, ensuring that no voice is left unheard, and no tradition is forgotten. One4All and All4One.
The day was filled with a variety of activities for young and old – including: Story telling, Dance workshop, Bead workshops, an informative campus walk with our team from Kamoka, cultural stations with an opportunity to learn more about our unique cultures, an array of musical items and performances and an inspiring cultural fashion show.  We share some of the higlights of this amazing celebration below:

HERITAGE DAY CELEBRATION OF DIVERSITY - TILE PAINTING WORKSHOP

Our inspiring tile Painting Workshop, facilitated by our talented and passionate Girls' College Visual Arts specialist, Bronwyn Myles was hugely popular and much enjoyed by young and old. Each of the participants painted a tile with a flower or tree representing their heritage or country of birth as can be seen by the images. These beautiful hand crafted tiles will be glazed and installed in the passageway leading from the Girls' College reception to the Anne Van Zyl quad as a wonderful reminder of our inaugural whole school Heritage Day Celebration.
Thank you to #OneAndAll who supported this wonderful workshop.

HERITAGE DAY CELEBRATION OF DIVERSITY - ENTHOBOTANY TALK AND WALK

It was wonderful to welcome our Kamoka Bush School as part of the inaugural St Stithians College Heritage Day celebration. Deputy Head of Kamoka, Kerry Baytopp and Boys' College teacher Dr Joslyn Taylor presented an ENTHNOBOTANY walk and presentation aided by a wonderful guide book that they created specially for the occasion. ETHNO from ETHNIC belonging to a population or group. BOTANY meaning Plants. Therefore, Ethnobotany is a "Multidisciplinary science" between plants and ethnic people. Definition: "The study of Traditional Knowledge and Customs of people concerning plants and their medicinal, religious and other uses." It is knowledge that has been tested and has been continued to be used if found beneficial, and passed down from generation to generation. Both Kerry and Joslyn are practicing Ethnobotanists and herbalists with years of experience and having extensive knowledge of the plants of the Highveld, many of which occur at St Stithians. The guided walk was an eye opener as to the variety of traditional knowledge that lies hidden in the plants on our beautiful St Saints Campus, much enjoyed by those who joined in.
#InspiringExcellence #MakingAWorldOfDifference #HeritageMonth #One4AllAll4One #StrongerOneAndAll

HERITAGE DAY CELEBRATION - DRUM CAFÉ WORKSHOP

One of the highlights of our spectacular inaugural Heritage Day Celebration was the Drum Café interactive workshop. This was one for the whole family and our Saints community joined in with massive energy as we came together for group drumming. The facilitators were amazing and were backed by their outstanding musicians who got the whole crowd behind them creating musical beats.
Thank you to #OneAndAll that joined in for this event and to Drum Café for facilitating this fun family activity.
#InspiringExcellence #MakingAWorldOfDifference #One4AllAll4One #StrongerOneAndAll #HeritageMonth #HeritageDay

HERITAGE DAY - CELEBRATION OF DIVERSITY FASHION SHOW

St Stithians College is incredibly proud of our inaugural Heritage Day Celebration of Diversity that took place on Saturday 27 September. This one-of-a-kind event paid tribute to Heritage month and was a day on which we came together as a collective of 7 schools to honour the rich and varied heritage that forms the tapestry of our beautiful College and country as a whole. One of the highlights of this event was our Fashion Show which was a celebration of our college, nation and indeed our world's vibrant cultures, languages, and traditions. Showcasing our diversity in this way is not just an act of acknowledgment but a powerful way of creating unity and strength.
South Africa's heritage is a mosaic of influences and each of these elements brings its unique flavour to our national identity, contributing to a cultural richness that is unmatched. Our fashion show assisted the audience in learning about and embracing these diverse cultures, broadening our understanding and fostering mutual respect and appreciation.
Well done to our incredible students and the parents that joined in, for an inspiring showcase - and a shout out to our student MCs. Well done to #OneAndAll. 
#InspiringExcellence #MakingAWorldOfDifference #HeritageMonth2024 #StrongeroneAndAll #One4AllAll4One

HERITAGE DAY CELEBRATION OF DIVERSITY - GIRLS' COLLEGE FOLKTALE BOOK LAUNCH

Our Girls' College's beautiful folktale book, 'The Night Has Ears and Other Stories' was launched at our inaugural Heritage Day Celebration. The stories have been written and illustrated by Girls' College students and translated into isiZulu, Sesotho and Afrikaans.
Copies were on sale at the Heritage Day Celebration and it was well supported by our Saints families with some of our community buying copies to donate to our community engagement partners - thank you #OneAndAll. All sale proceeds go towards the printing of more books that we can give away.
We are so proud of our students' incredible work in this celebration of African storytelling, heritage and languages and what better way to launch this ground-breaking initiative than at our whole College Celebration of Diversity. Well done #OneAndAll.
#One4AllAll4One #InspiringExcellence #MakingAWorldOfDifference #PassionDriven #PurposeInspired
 

HERITAGE DAY CELEBRATION OF DIVERSITY - MUSICAL PERFORMANCES

Music is an integral part of all cultures and the musical performances at our Heritage Day Celebration of Diversity were a treat. From our little Saints and their parents and teachers at the Junior Prep Singalong to the ever-popular Marimba ensembles under the magical guidance of Mike Sibanda, (we even had a fabulous performance by our Saints Mom's group) and incredible vocal showcases from our Girls' College Harmony Choir and Boys' College Duke of Cornwall singers and our Thandulwazi Maths and Science Academy choirs - there was a huge variety of beautiful music on offer.
We congratulate and thank our performers, #OneAndAll.
#InspiringExcellence #MakingAWorldOfDifference #HeritageMonth2024 #StrongerOneAndAll #One4AllAll4One

 

HERITAGE DAY CELEBRATION OF DIVERSITY - STORYTELLING WORKSHOP

One of the highlights of our Heritage Day celebration this past weekend was the storytelling workshop titled, "Multilingual Storytelling - a treasure trove of fun, values and problem solving tools” which was run by the inspiring Dr Nokuthula Mazibuko Msimang.
The workshop explored our diverse languages, cultures and stories which are treasures shared across generations. Attendees learnt how folktales in indigenous languages pass on songs, values and ways of seeing and solving problems that build resilience and tolerance. The workshop shared ways to create memorable multilingual stories for all ages and seasons.
Dr Nokuthula Mazibuko Msimang is a writer and research fellow at the University of Pretoria’s Centre for the Advancement of Scholarship.She is the recipient of the 2022 South African literary Chairperson’s Award for her body of work which includes her acclaimed Sunday Times Awards long-listed novel, The Daughters of Nandi. Her children’s picture books Qhawe Mokgadi Caster Semenya and Soweto Tea Party have been performed at prestigious children’s festivals around South Africa. Her latest book is on jazz legend Dolly Rathebe.
Our thanks go to Dr Msimang for this enlightening workshop and to our partners at Landrover Bryanston for partnering with us on this event.
#InspringExcellence #MakingAWorldOfDifference #StrongerOneAndAll #One4AllAll4One #HeritageMonth2024

 

 

HERITAGE DAY CELEBRATION OF DIVERSITY - NEURODIVERSITY WORKSHOP WITH CANDICE LAMBERT

Candice Lambert held an insightful workshop delving into the dynamic concepts of neurodiversity and neurodivergence, helping attendees understand the critical differences between the two. This session explored how neuroscience intersects with ethics in shaping the neurodiversity movement and examined the wide range of conditions under the neurodivergence umbrella.

Participants gained insight into key statistics and prevalence rates, working models of neurodivergent experiences, and the nuances of empathy, including the Double Empathy problem. The workshop covered diverse styles of learning and functioning, along with the importance of affirming language and dialogue in neurodivergent communities. Foundational neuroscience elements were integrated throughout the session to deepen understanding.

This workshop was a treat for all the educators parents that attended, giving them the tools to embrace a more inclusive approach to neurodivergence.

 

 

HERITAGE DAY CELEBRATION OF DIVERSITY - KHOI SAN WORKSHOP BY PIETER VAN DE ERVE

This workshop allowed attendees to step back in time and experience the rich heritage of the Khoi San people in this unique workshop led by cultural expert Pieter Van De Erve. This immersive session offered a rare opportunity to witness and participate in an Ancient Fire demonstration, where participants learnt traditional fire-making techniques passed down through generations. Participants discovered the deep connection between the Khoi San and their natural environment, as they engaged in this interactive hands-on experience.

The workshop also featured Traditional Storytelling, where ancient myths, folktales, and wisdom were shared in the oral tradition that is central to Khoi San culture. This session was not just a performance, but a cultural exchange, where participants were encouraged to engage, ask questions, and reflect on the timeless lessons embedded in these stories.

This workshop offered an enriching journey into one of the world’s oldest cultures, where tradition, community, and history come alive through fire and storytelling. 

The day was an amazing celebration and we thank #OneAndAll that joined us and our incredible Saints community for coming together to create this inspiring celebration. Thank you to our partners, Absa South Africa and Landrover Jaguar Bryanston for your support.

 

#OneAndAll #InspiringExcellence #makingaworldofdifference #HeritageMonth #HeritageDay2024 #StrongerOneAndAll