AT A GLANCE 2024
In2024,weembracedatransformativeyearmarkedbyarebrandandarenewedfocusonexpanding ourimpactandourfootprint
Weweredeeplyhonouredtobenamedamongthetop10finalistsfortheWorld'sBestSchoolPrizesin theOvercomingAdversitycategory anachievementthatunderscoresthestrengthandeffectivenessof ourmodel Thisrecognition,alongwithotherkeymilestonesthroughouttheyear,highlightstheprofound impactofourtransformativeapproach.
Toourdonors,partners,stakeholdersandfriends,thankyouforyourinvaluablesupportthroughout2024. Yourinvestmentinourvisionhasempoweredustosustainourcoreoperationsandpursueambitious goalstoimprovethelivesofourbeneficiaries.Lookingahead,weareactivelyseekingpartnershipswith like-mindedorganisationstosupportouracademicandmulti-tieredsocialservicesmodel,our expansionprojects,andinnovativeyouthemployment-preparednessprogramme,YouthBridge.
Ournewtagline,FromClassroomstoLife,capturesourcommitmenttoempoweringstudentsforlongtermsuccessbeyondtheclassroom.Weinviteyoutobepartofthisimportantjourneyofenrichingyoung minds,touchingheartsandchanginglives.
MATRIC RESULTS
Weareproudtoannouncearemarkable95%pass rateforourMatricClassof2024,surpassingboth thenationalandprovincialaverages Additionally, 644%ofourstudentsachievedaBachelor’spass, whichincludes19distinctions,wellabovethe nationalaverageof548%Whileourpassrate declinedfrom100%in2022and2023,weanticipate anincreaseaftertheremarkingprocessand supplementaryexams.
Beyondacademicsuccess,werecognisethatmany youngSouthAfricansfacechallengesenteringthe workforce.Ourmatriculantshavethesupportofour CareerDevelopmentdepartment,whichprovides personalisedsupportforuptofiveyearsafter graduation Thankstothismodel,only3%ofour alumnifallintotheNEET(NotinEducation, Employment,orTraining)category Thisstandsin starkcontrasttotheapproximately42%ofyoung SouthAfricansaged15to34whoareneither employednorengagedineducationortraining mal
HIGHER ORDER THINKING (HOT)
SYSTEMIC RESULTS
OurGrade3,6,and9studentshaveonceagainachieved exceptionalresultsintheannualsystemictests,exceeding provincialaveragesbyimpressivemargins upto49% Theseoutstandingachievementsunderscorethestrength ofourschoolsystemsandourunwaveringcommitmentto provingthatpovertydoesnothavetolimitpotential Theseresultshighlightourstudents'remarkable performanceinbothMathematicsandEnglish:
Mathematics:Grade3–87.9%,Grade6–98%,Grade9 –72.4%
English:Grade3–94.8%,Grade6–98%,Grade9–93.1%
Theseresultsreflectnotonlyacademicexcellencebutalso theresilienceofourstudentsinovercomingthechallenges posedbytheCovid-19pandemic.Withanaverageof90% ofstudentsattainingmeritoriousresults,thisachievement reinforcestheeffectivenessofourwell-structured strategiesandtheimpactofourMulti-TieredSupport System(MTSS).Thissuccessisatestamenttothe dedicationofoureducatorsandthestrengthofour academicsupportsystems,ensuringcontinuoushigh performanceacrossallgrades
ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE
HOTcontinuestobeanimportantlensthroughwhichtoworkwiththecurriculum.Ourteachersareupskilledandableto workwithinthe21stCenturyLearningDesignframework,teachatalevelthatcanstimulatecriticalthinkingandpromote problem-solvinginunfamiliarenvironments Webelievethisisoneofthekeyreasonswhyourchildrenexcelledinthe latestMatificMathsOlympiadbyachieving8thplaceamongalltheschoolsthatentered
Weareproudtoannouncethat,forthefirsttime,wehaveastudentwhoqualifiedtoparticipateintheSAMC(South AfricanMathematicsChallenge) CongratulationstoLeahManuel!
AGENCY
ThiswasoneofourTop5strategicfocuspointsfor2024 Upwardeconomicmobility(perourmission)iscloselylinkedto aninternallocusofcontrolandtheconfidenceandvisiontochartone’sownjourney Weworkcloselywithourteachers andlearnerstofosteragencyandastrongsenseofself-efficacyandself-determination
ChristelHouseSA’sChiefAcademicOfficer,DrRonaldFortunebelievesthattheessenceofouracademicandlife preparednessprogrammeliesinempoweringourstudentswiththeagencytotakeaction,especiallyinthefaceof adversity
Hecomments,“Thisisfundamentaltoaddressingthechallengesofpoverty Weaimtocultivateanentrepreneurial mindsetinourstudents,encouragingthemtotakeownershipoftheirlearningandcarrythemselveswithconfidence andpurposeinalltheydo Agencyisaboutequippingstudentswiththeskills,confidence,andmindsettobeproactive problem-solversanddecision-makerswhocanadaptandthriveinthefaceofadversity.Thisemphasisonstudent agencyiswhyitremainsacentralfocusofourworkatChristelHouseSA"
ROBOTICS - THE WAY OF THE FUTURE
Lastyear,ChristelHouseSAhadthehonourof hostingtheProvincialWorldRobotOlympiadfor thesecondtime.Theeventbroughttogetherover 300talentedstudentsfromrightacrosstheWestern Capewhoshowcasedtheirroboticsskills,engaged inproblem-solvingandhadafantastictime competing.Ourteamsachievedoutstanding results,securing1stand3rdplacesintheExplorer Primecategoryand2ndplaceintheRoboMission Seniorcategory.Theywentontoparticipateinthe nationalcompetitioninJohannesburg.Oneofthe keyreasonsourteamsachievedoutstanding resultsintheProvincialWorldRobotOlympiadwas becauseofthegenerousdonationfromDell Technologies.Wecontinuetobeenormously gratefulforDell’sinvestmentinandsupportofour learnerandcommunityprogrammes
TABLET DONATION
InJune2024,ChristelHouseSAdonated40Dell tabletstooneofourSimunyepartnerschools,Die DuinePrimary,demonstratingourcommitmentto wideningimpact.Previously,DieDuinePrimary(a no-feeschool)hadacomputerlabwithonly27 workingcomputersforclasssizesofnearly40 students Thismadeincorporatingmodern technologyintolessonsverychallenging.Thepayit-forwarddonationoftabletshasgreatlyenhanced theschool’sproductivity Ithasprovidedmoreelearningopportunitiesandissupportingthe educationalgrowthofDieDuine’sstudents.
MICROSOFT SHOWCASE STATUS
Weareextremelyproudtobeoneofonlyfiveschoolsin SouthAfrica(andtheonlyschoolintheWesternCape) withMicrosoftShowcasestatus,demonstratingour commitmenttodigitaltransformationandinnovationin teachingandlearning Wearealsocelebratingour seventhconsecutiveyearasaMicrosoftShowcase School.
AsaShowcaseSchool,ourstudentsarebetterprepared forasuccessfulfutureinanincreasinglydigitalworld becauseweintegrateSTEAM(Science,Technology, Engineering,ArtsandMathematics)education,coding, anddigitalliteracyintoourcurriculum 39Educatorshavetakenadvantageoftraining opportunitieswithMicrosoftandhaverecentlyreceived theirMIEE(MicrosoftInnovativeEducatorExperts) certificatesandMCE(MicrosoftCertifiedEducators) certificates
TECHNOLOGY
CODING
InJuly,13JuniorSchoolstudentsparticipatedinaminieventaspartoftheMadibaCodingCompetition,hosted byTangibleAfrica Thiscompetitionwasacollaboration betweenNelsonMandelaUniversity’scomputing departmentandthenon-profitLevaFoundation,andit tookplaceattheLotusRiverLibrary.Ourstudents demonstratedexceptionalskillandteamwork,earning 1st,2nd,and3rdplaceoutof12competingteams We areparticularlyproudoftheirabilitytoproblem-solve underpressure.
SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS
BUILD OUR BOYS
WeheldourBuildOurBoyseventinMarch2024The goaloftheprogrammeistoempowerourboyswith thenecessaryskillsandknowledgetoachievetheir dreamsandmakeapositiveimpactintheir communitiesandtheworld Lastyearssession delvedintocrucialtopicssuchasbuildingselfesteem,mentalhealthmaintenance,goalsetting, deportmentandbodylanguage,chivalry,and diningetiquette,andengagedindiscussionson gender-basedviolence
MATH OLYMPIAD
OurGrade3-7learnersachievedanimpressive8th placeoutof225schoolsintheStandardBank MatificMathsOlympiad,theworld’slargestonline competitionforprimaryschoolstudents Heldfrom 29Julyto2Augustlastyear,theeventattracted over30,000participants.TheOlympiadturned learningintoanexcitingadventure,withstudents navigatingthroughadventureislands,interacting withvariouscharacters,andcompletinglevelson differentmathematicstopics.Thefocuswason accuracy,withparticipantsearningstarsbasedon theirperformance,makingtheexperiencebothfun andchallenging
MUSIC
Oneofthecentralpiecesinoureducationmodelis providingourchildrenwithawiderangeof opportunities,includingexposuretothearts Webelieve thatsuchexposureisessentialtofosteringwellroundedindividualsandresponsiblecitizens.
Wearethrilledtoreportthatourschool’scombinedjazz bandwasselectedasoneofonly12schoolstoperform attheSchoolBandConcert,partoftheprestigious ArtscapeYouthJazzSeriesinJune2024 Thiswasa significantachievement,showcasingthetalentand dedicationofourstudents The14-memberband successfullyauditionedfortheevent,wherethey performedbothvocallyandwithvariousinstruments, includingthetrumpet,drums,andkeyboard
TheArtscapeYouthJazzSerieswasanimportantpart oftheArtscapeYouthMonthprogramme,which celebratedandamplifiedthediversevoices, expressions,andtalentsofSouthAfricanyouth The programmetookplaceduringYouthMonth,andthe 2024editionmarkedthe21strenditionoftheYouthJazz Series
CAREER DEVELOPMENT
SPEED INTERVIEWS
On26April2024,wehostedanothersuccessful roundofSpeedInterviews,bringingtogether59 matricstudentsandadistinguishedpanelofCape Town'stopHRprofessionals
Thisdynamiceventisanintegralmilestoneinour learners'journeytowardfuturesuccess,providing themwithavaluableopportunitytosharpentheir interviewskills,buildconfidence,andcultivatea senseofprofessionalism.Ourinterviewerswere highlyimpressedbyourlearners’preparedness, poise,anddetermination,underscoringtheimpact ofthisannualinitiativeinshapingcareer-ready graduates.
MONEY MOVES 4 ME
WehostedaMoneyMoves4MEeventinOctoberwhich focusedonentrepreneurship,andwasattendedby150 peopleincludingparents,alumni,alumniparents, unemployedyouthfromourYouthBridgeProgramme, andmembersofR-LabsandtheAmyFoundation The initiativeembodiesChristelHouseSA'sdedicationto empoweringcommunitiesbyinspiringparticipantsto embraceentrepreneurialtraitssuchasinnovation, resilience,resourcefulness,andadaptability By fosteringasenseofinitiative,leadership,andvision,it encouragesindividualstocreatewealthandbuild brighterfuturesforthemselvesandtheirfamilies.
EACH ONE TEACH ONE
OurCareerDevelopmentdepartmenthostedtheir annual'EachOne,TeachOne'eventwherealumni returnedtoChristelHouseSAtosupportourGrade 12studentspreparingforlifeafterMatric Our alumniworkedwithour59matricstudentsona21pointplantohelpthemsucceedintheirfinalexams andbeyond,sharingtheirpersonalexperiencesand offeringadviceontransitioningintothepost-matric world.
SOCIAL SERVICES
RECOGNISING OUR PARENTS FOR SHOWING AGENCY
Eachyear,ourSocialServicesDepartmentrecognisesparentswhohavegoneaboveandbeyondinvolunteeringtheir time Thispastyear,weintroducedatwist–insteadoffocusingsolelyonthetopscorers,wecelebratedparentswho demonstratedagencyandmadeameaningfulimpact.
The45parentswhoattendedmettheminimumrequiredpointsaspartofourSebenzaSonke(WorkingTogether) parentprogramme Theyalsowrotemotivationallettersdetailinghowtheyappliedthelessonsfromourworkshops tocreatepositivechangeswithintheirfamiliesandcommunities Thecelebrationfeaturedalightbreakfastwithfun gamesatChristelHouseSA,arefreshingwalkthroughtheKirstenboschBotanicalGardens,andadeliciouslunchat Moyo Formany,thiswastheirfirstvisittoKirstenbosch
BRIGHT EYES, BRIGHT FUTURE
Studentswhostrugglewithvisionproblemsfacesignificantbarrierstolearningandacademicsuccess Lastyear,all 840ofourstudentsunderwentcomprehensiveeyeexaminationsresultingin139learnersreceivingmuch-needed spectaclesinOctobertoimprovetheirvisionandoverallqualityoflife
Byworkingwithleadinghealthcareandsocialwelfareorganisations,wecanenhancethequalityofcareweofferand createamoresupportivelearningenvironment.Initiativeslikethisnotonlyimproveourlearners'academic experiencesbutalsofostertheirconfidenceandpotentialforlong-termsuccess
WIDENING IMPACT
After24yearsthereisamoralimperative todomore–andourworkinnation building,addressingyouth unemployment,buildingsocialcapital, andsupportingmorestudentsby buildingmoreschoolsarewhereour focuslies.OurproprietaryYouthBridge, Simunyeand2025–2027Expansion Programmesaretakingcentrestageas wedomoretoreachandteachmore learners,andimpactmorelives.
YOUTH BRIDGE
Thisyouthdevelopmentprogrammehassuccessfullytrainedandsupportedover200individualstodatewithover 73%ofthemfindingwage-earningjobsorlearnershipsasadirectresultofour6-monthworkpreparednessprocess
Thisintensiveprogrammecombinesasix-weekin-personprogrammeandfourandahalfmonthsoflongitudinal supporttotransformparticipantsfrombeingunemployedanduninspiredtothosewillingandabletotakeonthe challengesofworkinglife
YouthBridgehascelebrated10graduationceremoniessinceitsinception,withonegraduationtakingplaceoutside oftheWesternCape,inDurban YouthBridgecontinuestoseeksponsorshipsandpartnershipsfor2025
OngezaVuka’sJourney:ourYouthBridgegraduateOngeza,embarkedonanexcitingnewchapterinherlifelast year,travelingtotheUnitedStatestoworkasaCampCounsellorinRaquetteLake,NewYork
SIMUNYE
Thishome-grownprogrammeprovidedmoreopportunitiesforyounglearnerstomeet,engageandshareschool exchangesacrossthewealthdividein2024.
Indaba:
Following4yearsofactiveparticipation,ourSimunye programmeclosedoutwithafulldayIndabaentitled “BuildingSocialCapitalinanunequalworld”
50leadingPrincipalsintheWesternCapeattended andexchangedviewsonthepowerofsocialcapital andtheimportanceofcreatingopportunitiesto engagewithpeopledifferenttothemselves
Giventhesuccessoftheprogramme,we’rethrilledthat fundinghasbeenmadeavailabletooffera“Simunye 20”foranother2to3years
Simunyebook:
“SmallSteps,BigImpact”,wasreleasedafterfouryears ofcollaborationbetweenfiveschoolsacrossthewealth spectrum,includingChristelHouseSA Theproject focusedonbuildingsocialcapitalandfosteringlasting connections.
Readthebookhere:https://heyzinecom/flipbook/53733aaf06html
EqualityTalks: ChristelHouseSACEO,AdriMaraisparticipatedinthe Equalitytalksentitled“theWealthInequalityInitiative”by TheJuliusBaerFoundationon1July2024
Watchthewebinarhere: https://wwwyoutubecom/watch?v=lK pzv7vTho
SimunyeSymposium: InNovember2024,weheldathree-daySimunye Symposium,whereour12participatingschoolscame togetherforthreenoderespectivesymposiumsto developanunderstandingonSocialCapitalandcocreatethebestpathtodevelopmutualrespectfor students,teachers,parents,andprincipalsacrossthe wealthspectrum
Theseworkshopsforprincipalsandteachercoordinators actasthestartingpointformanyfutureconnectionsfor our12Simunyeschoolsandweareexcitedtoseethe continuedgrowthanddevelopmentofthese connectionsaswelookforwardtoanotheryearof sharedlearning,empowerment,andcollaboration.
NOMINATED AS ONE OF THE WORLD’S BEST
SCHOOLS CATEGORY: OVERCOMING ADVERSITY
Weweredelightedtobenominatedasoneoften finalistsinthiscompetition!Thisinternationalevent helpstobringtogetherschoolsfromacrosstheglobe tohelptobuildcapacity,strengthenprocessesand mentorschoolmanagersandteacherstoprovide globalbestpracticeeducationtotheirstudents.We receivedincrediblesupportfromprominentfigures andinfluencers,includingWesternCapeMinisterof Education,DavidMaynier,andlocalcelebrated comedians,MarcLottering,andNdumisoLindi,to namebutafew
Tobenominatedasoneof10schoolsintheworld amongover15000entrieshasbeenatremendous honour
SPECIAL ASSEMBLY
Over200donors,partnersandfriendsattendedour annualSpecialAssembly.Theeventtheme,"ATimeto Blossom,"highlightedourexpansion,includingthe additionofanewHighSchoolonourcampusin2025
AlutaandBaphelele,twoofourincrediblestudents, welcomedguestsasourMCsfortheday Attendees enjoyedavibrantartexhibitionshowcasingstudent creativity,afacepaintingstation,livelymusicand danceperformances,andaroboticsdemonstration thatlefteveryoneinawe Theselfieareacaptured smilesandmemories,makingthedayevenmore special
Keymomentsincludedaninspiringspeechfromour CEO,AdriMarais,apowerfulcalltoactionfromour BoardChair,IanRussellheartfeltawardspresentedby ourChiefAcademicOfficerandPrincipals,aswellasa specialperformancebytwoofouralumni
FESTIVE GIFTS
Our2024festiveseasonwasfilledwithjoyand gratitude,thankstotheincrediblesupportofourlongstandingdonors.Everyyear,ourstudentsreceive thoughtfulpresentsandlastyearwasnoexception Thejoywasvisibleasallofourstudentseagerly openedtheirgifts
ourGrade3studentsalsohadtheamazing opportunitytoenjoyaweekoffunandrelaxationat ClubMykonosLangebaan
Fromsunnydaysbytheseatomomentsofpurejoy andlaughter,thisunforgettableexcursioncreated memoriesthatwillbecherishedforever
MANDELA DAY
Over100individuals,includingstafffromourgenerous donorandpartnerorganisations,dedicatedtheirtime togivebacktoourschoolforMandelaDay(18July). Volunteerscametogethertopreparesandwichesand engageinexcitingartandgameactivities
SaysTalentandCultureAdministratoratCapeGrace,a FairmontManagedHotel,CheryldeneDamons: “IwouldliketothankChristelHouseforhavingushere forMandelaDay2024
Wearethrilledtobeapartofthedayandhavelearnt somuchfromtheChristelHouseSAlearners Theyhave bigdreamsandwecanonlylearnfromthat”,In additiontotheMandelaDayactivities,wealsoexecuted afundraisingcampaignforschooluniforms,raising R42,500 Thiswillprovideuniformsfor47students
BUCKETS OF HOPE CAMPAIGN
WelaunchedourannualBucketsofHopeCampaign againlastyear,tosupportourfamiliesduringthe Decemberbreak
Whileourstudentsreceivenutritiousmealsduringthe schoolyear,theholidaysareespeciallychallengingfor ourlearnersandtheirfamilies WitheachR350 donation,a“BucketofHope”isfilledwithessentialnonperishablefoodsandtreatstohelpvulnerablefamilies duringthistime.
Thankstothegenerousdonationsfromsupportersand thepublic,weraisedR320000
EXPANSION
OurstrategyforthisyearistoexpandChristelHouseSAtoincludeanadditionalhighschoolonour existingproperty Weopenedourdoorstoanewcohortof60Grade8studentsonMonday,6January 2025andoverthefollowingfiveyears,weplantoaddanewgrade(oftwoclasseseach)annuallyuntila capacityof300studentsisreached We’reprovidingthesameInformationandCommunication Technology(ITC)integrationtothenewHighSchoolsothedrivetogettheinfrastructurereadyforthe newGrade8classeshadanextremelytighttimeline,butisavisiblewaytodemonstrateourprogress.
Inaddition,wehaveanambitiousbutessentialfour-yearplan toextendourfootprintandbuildtwoentirelynewschool campusesbetween2025and2029 TheReadinessto Replicateprogrammewillseeusbuildanotherschoolinthe WesternCape,andoneinanotherprovinceofSouthAfrica TheProgramme’ssuccessisreliantoncodifyingareplicable frameworktoguideouracademicstructures,schoolculture, procedurallearning,lessonplansetc
Inthisway,welookforwardtobroadeningourimpactand assistingmorevulnerablechildren,whomustnavigatethe difficultiesofseverepoverty,findqualityeducationandaway tobuildaprosperousfutureforthemselvesandtheirfamilies
CONSTRUCTION
WhiletheconstructionofournewHighSchoolis underway,temporaryprefabricatedclassroomswill ensurethatwecontinuetodeliverthequalityand holisticeducationthatChristelHouseisknownfor The newHighSchoolbuilding,expectedtobecompleted inoneyear,willaccommodate300studentsand feature11classrooms,includingaTechnologyLab, College&CareerHub,MediaLibrary,andSpecialty Rooms Thistwo-storybuildingwillcover1200m²on thegroundfloorand800m²onthetopfloor,withthe prefabricatedstructurecurrentlyprovidingtwo classrooms
SOD-TURNING CEREMONY
Wehostedasod-turningceremonyforournewHigh Schoolbuildingon10December2024toformally commemoratethedevelopmentandopeningofour newHighSchoolcampusin2025 TheWesternCape ProvincialMinisterofEducation,DavidMaynier attendedtheeventandwasjoinedbyourBoard Chair,IanRussellandboardmembers,Prof Linda RonnieandKhoabanePhoofolo Ourschoolleadership teamandafewstudentsalsojoinedforthe celebration.
Thissignificantmilestonereflectsthepowerof communitycollaboration,andwearedeeplygrateful forthesupportofpartnerslikeyou.
REBRAND
Wehavebeentransitioningtoanewlookwitha refreshedlogo,vibrantnewcolours,andauserfriendly,contemporarywebsite Thenewlookis perfectlytimedwithourexpansionandhonoursour Founder,ChristelDeHaan
It’samodernlookinfusedwithallthecareandlove thatChristelHouserepresents.Whileourappearance hasevolved,ouressenceremainsthesame Christel Houseisdedicatedtoempoweringchildrenfrom under-resourcedcommunitiestorealisetheir potentialandtransformtheirfuturesbyprovidingthe comprehensivesupportsystemtheyneedtothrive, fromclassroomstolife.Wehopeyoushareinour excitementaboutthisfreshnewlook,which encapsulatesbothourlegacyandourvisionforthe future.