Inside Story
ST JOHN'S | CHRISTIAN BROTHERS' COLLEGE PRESCHOOL | JUNIOR SCHOOL | SENIOR SCHOOL
D E C E M B E R
|
F I F T H
E D I T I O N
|
2 0 2 3
@cbcstjohns | www.cbcstjohns.co.za | 021-556-5969
01 HEAD OF COLLEGE DEAR PARENTS,
Our students continue to shine as change-makers, as evidenced by their
Thank you for being so supportive this
support of Our Head Prefect, Miccah
year. Together, we managed to
Ladouce’s campaign highlighting the
accomplish so much.
plight of people experiencing homelessness.
The year began on a high as we welcomed students from our Edmund
Next year, we celebrate the College’s
Rice schools in Uruguay and India.
21st birthday. We must acknowledge the many positive changes and
The solar project provided a welcome
achievements over the past years.
relief during load-shedding and
However, the Board surveyed the staff
allowed the College, particularly the
and parents to ensure our future
computer technology classes, to
sustainability.
continue as usual. The insights gained from the surveys The Junior School production of
will guide our new strategic direction
Moana was an enormous success and
statement. The management of the
showcased our immensely talented
College will present the new strategic
students. Our Netball girls came home
plan in the new year, and we thank all
as the victors of the inter-CBC Winter
who contributed to the survey.
Festival, a first for our College.
HEAD OF COLLEGE In closing, we thank the following staff
“Once in our world,
members, Mrs Philander, Mr Willmot
a stable had something in it
and Mrs Ruygrok, who leave us at the
that was bigger
year’s end.
than our whole world.”
Our best wishes and love accompany them as they embark on their new journeys.
We have several new staff members joining the CBC family in 2024 and look forward to formally welcoming them to the College community at the start of the new year.
I wish you and your families a blessed Christmas and a peaceful New Year.
SHARON VAN VUREN
C S Lewis
02 IDENTITY + MISSION DEVOTION ADVENT SEASON REFLECTION
Precious Lord, as I embrace
We are in the liturgical season of
this Advent Season, please
advent in the Church’s liturgical
open my eyes to see Your
calendar. As our children can tell us, Advent is a season of preparation.
Incarnation's great value and blessing. Help me to discover
During Advent, we are invited to enter
Your hidden presence in this
more frequently into silence, prayer
world and within my soul. We
and reflection, scripture and
who have so much to do seek
participation in the sacraments offered
quiet spaces to hear your
by God through the Church (going to confession and receiving Jesus in the
voice each day, and we who
Eucharist), all to prepare for
are anxious over many things
celebrating Christmas.
look forward to your coming among us.
May our time of waiting and preparation be a blessing for ourselves, our family, and our friends. May we find ways to make this time a time of reflection and reach out to those most in need.
IDENTITY + MISSION Our College has celebrated four
This Advent Season is an
sacraments, three of initiation and one
essential time of preparation
of healing. By baptism, Rylie Sousa was welcomed into the Christian community in the Parish of the Resurrection.
and reflection for the birth of our loving Lord and Saviour. Our hope and prayer is that it leads to our willingness to give
Our First Confession and Communicants have been preparing to receive these sacraments for a year. We pray for God’s strength and blessing on these children and their families.
Our Senior School students have been journeying for two years towards their commitment as adults to God in His Church by the Sacrament of Confirmation conferred on them by Bishop Sylvester David. What a time of grace and blessing for our College Family.
our giftedness and time to those in need.
SACRAMENT OF CONFI RMA T I ON 14 OCTOBER 2024
IDENTITY + MISSION As the year draws to a close, we can
Durbanville Children’s Home was in
reflect on the good things we have
much need of toiletries – thank you to
done as a College to carry forward the
all those families who donated to this
mission of our church and our
cause; it is very much appreciated!
Founder, Edmund Rice.
Just as God came to us, we Our students from both the Senior and
also can go into this world to
Junior Schools were involved in many
share his love, and as we enter
Connecting Classrooms projects in
the period of advent, we are
which they discussed the Sustainable
reminded to continuously
Development Goals and what being a
share God’s love and serve
leader means in our society today.
others in our community.
This past week, the College has been awarded a certificate for its involvement in the projects, in which we hope we have ignited students to become change makers.
Our Junior SERV Students had an eventful programme of preparing for outreach and involvement in games and activities with our Grade 00 to Gr R Students. We ended our activities with a visit to La Culla, where our children spent some time with the babies.
LEADERSHIP TEAM 2023 SENIOR SCHOOL
Back (from Left): Priav Naidu (Edmund House Prefect), Jack Brennan (Rice House Prefect), Sara Daniels (Deputy Head Prefect), Matteo Tramontano (Head Prefect), Luke Langford (Head Sacristan), Ryan Josephson (Prefect of Community Development) and Emma Ing (Prefect of Sport & Culture) Front (from Left): Rebecca Braude (Ignatius House Prefect), Tristy Morris (Prefect of Student Affairs and Compassion), Aaron Pilkington (Prefect of Community Development), Daniella Gaadt (Prefect of Juniors) and Chloe Clarke (Prefect of Outreach & EREBB Ambassador)
03 LITTLE SAINTS IN THE PRESCHOOL
A Specia
l Visit f rom Father C hristma s
Grade O Graduation
Splash D Sports’ Da
y!
ay!
04 SAINTS IN TRAI NI NG IN THE JUNIOR SCHOOL 01 #COOLESTPROJECTS
Congratulations to our students on the
Congratulations to our Junior Coding +
hard-work that they have shown
Robotics Team who participated in the
throughout the year. Aside from
Coolest Projects Technology
academics, our students’ sporting
Showcase. #CoolestProjects is a
achievements were also highlighted.
celebration of young digital creators and the amazing things they make
These Gratitude Mornings are also an
with technology.
opportunity to highlight the growth and personality that our new students
Special mention to Devon Powell and
to our Junior School have
Akhikhaya Cazes for receiving
demonstrated. Thank you to all our
trophies! Thank you to all students for
CBC Family members who joined in
your hard work and dedication and to
the celebrations.
our Parents for your support.
02 JUNIOR SCHOOL GRATITUDE MORNINGS From our Grade Rs in the Foundation Phase to our Grade 6s in the Intermediate Phase, our two Gratitude Mornings were an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate our students in the Junior School.
05 SAINTS AMONG US IN THE SENIOR SCHOOL 01 EXAM SEASON
Fortunately, there were no
The NSC Grade 12 examinations have
examination irregularities thanks to
run smoothly and efficiently. Kudos to
our diligent students and their
our Chief Invigilator and Centre
teachers. Reports to parents will go
Manager, Ms Fox and our invigilators
out electronically on the 7th
from the community, Mrs Juanita
December 2023 and we hope that
Maree and Mr Adrian Smuts.
your children's results are a reflection of their concerted efforts to achieve
Our Matric results will be
their best.
available on the 19th of January 2024 at 11:00 in the pavilion. All Matric parents are invited to this event and
Let the children decide by Don Mattera
communication will go out in the new year. We look forward to celebrating with you!
Let us halt this quibbling of reform and racial preservation saying who belongs to which nations and
The internal examinations, Grades 7 –
let the children decide it is their world.
11, have also run smoothly. Our papers are of an extremely high standard, having been moderated by HODs and
let us burn our uniforms of old scars and grievances and call back our spent dreams
proofread by the members of the
and the relics of crass tradition
English Department.
and hang on our malignant hearts and let the children decide.
MATRIC CLASS OF 2024 THE VALORIANS Top Row: Dieter du Plessis, Lithalethu Mazana, Matthew Radloff, Jared Tyler, Troy Schemel, Precious Palmer, Zukhanye Mquqo, Owam Ngcingwana, Thato Malunga, Tayla Hall Middle Row: Aidan Burgess, Luke van Tol, Dean Hirst, Amanda Gumede, Sinazo Damane, Luka da Silva, Amalia da Costa, Tayla Mackrill, Kirsten van Aken, Rhys Little Bottom Row: Moses Ezeh, Neo (Suge) Chembeya, Cheyenne Stewart, Ande Xhegwana, Azola Mafenuka (Deputy Head Prefect), Micah Ladoucè (Head Prefect), Nishika Jayakody, Leonardo de Andrade, Ashley Holding, Sebastian Turnbull
stC O john's L L E G E ST JOHN'S
CHRISTIAN BROTHERS'
PRESCHOOL | JUNIOR SCHOOL | SENIOR SCHOOL
@cbcstjohns | www.cbcstjohns.co.za | 021-556-5969