Board of Governors

Back row: Mr A Skosana, Fr B Mhlanga, Mr M Boden, Mr L Seperepere, Dr R Hwindingwi, Mrs L Klement, Mr D Jago Front row: Ms S Mohatla, Mr N Clogg, Dr M Bussin, Ms B Harie, Mr M Thiel, Mrs J Smit, Absent: Mrs K Schumann, Mr G Krog, Mr S Denny, Br F Makasara

BOARD OF GOVERNORS THE CHAIRMAN’S REVIEW 2021

CHOICE AND VALUE

Dear St David’s Parents and Community

At the end of our 80th birthday year, I have found myself reflecting on the past two years of constant change, and I am reminded that we are continually making choices about what should change for good and what should revert to how things were done in pre-Covid-19 times.

Is it fair for us to “judge” ourselves or others against the same metrics as we did before, when our parameters and imperatives have been so different over the past 24 months? My answer to myself is both “yes” and “no”, and relies heavily on how we define ourselves and our success.

“No”, I would suggest – we cannot measure ourselves quantitatively against the same markers as pre-Covid-19. The world has been in “survival mode” and globally, time, energy and resources have been focused on, well, survival. Saving lives, saving jobs, saving our relationships and even saving our sanity. There are many areas in our lives that have suffered as a result of different focus, and possibly where we have focused is a good indication of what is truly important in moving forward.

I would also argue that “yes”, we can measure ourselves qualitatively against the same Marist standards of excellence. The strength of our relationships, levels of kindness and compassion, commitment to our families, communities and values, passion for making a difference and having an impact, learning and growing. Our humanity is, more than ever, a strong marker for success.

While measuring our success as a school quantitatively gives one picture, and thankfully tells an impressively positive story, I choose to focus on our qualitative success where we have succeeded at even greater levels. Through times of tremendous loss, fear and anxiety, our school has continued to keep our boys’ and our families’ wellbeing central to our focus. We have continued to deliver a level of education that is excellent – both academically learning content and skills, and by harnessing the power of staying connected, providing stability, consistency and a sense of normality in a world turned upside down.

We recognised our responsibility to share our focus on

kindness and care to those within and beyond our gates and responded accordingly, and as a Marist school this is a true mark of success. While this has been a humanitarian response, it has also been a strategic imperative that has translated into stable enrolment numbers despite significant numbers of families either emigrating or semigrating within South Africa – families in Johannesburg have recognised the value of who and what we are and want to be part of this special community.

PTA, OLD BOYS AND FOUNDATION

We are blessed at St David’s to have an active and involved community, with many investing their time, expertise and resources to support the vision and goals of St David’s and Marist education, and to making the experience of the boys who pass through the doors of our school on a daily basis as rich as possible. Despite the many restrictions and challenges presented, our PTA, Old Boys and Foundation have found viable and creative ways to continue to connect and work towards their respective goals and mandates.

Our PTA organised a number of successful initiatives this year, and I need to mention in particular the beautiful Marist Gold rose that was officially registered through Ludwig’s Roses by the PTA in celebration of our 80th birthday. This rose is wonderfully symbolic of the journey of growth that our boys undergo through their time as St David’s boys and alumni. I encourage all of our families to purchase and plant one or more of these rose bushes as a constant reminder of your connection to St David’s Marist Inanda and all it represents. These, and all the initiatives and events planned by the PTA and all parent volunteer committees, are greatly appreciated.

The Marist Old Boys’ Association has leveraged the increase in online connection brought about by Covid-19 particularly well, and has been able to connect with many Old Boys, both local and international. The hybrid on-campus and online Old Boys’ Weekend and reunions that have included class groups meeting on campus as well as from remote locations around the world have been very successful. The increase in the number of Old Boys wanting to be involved in giving back to the school through mentorship, skills and resource-sharing and philanthropy, is very encouraging and we look forward to all these aspects growing exponentially over the next few years. It is wonderful to see so many of our alumni impacting in so many areas of society – in business, sport, church, education and civil society.

The St David’s Marist Foundation celebrates 15 years since inception and has made remarkable progress under the stewardship of its trustees, surpassing the R55-million mark in income received through the support of our internal and external community, including corporates, trusts and philanthropists who share our vision. In this period, the Foundation has made grants to the school, primarily the bursary programme, of more than R21-million, with a commitment of R4,5-million to the school in 2022. The Foundation currently assists 18 boys through the bursary programme, with additional boys being supported in collaboration with the school – bringing to hundreds the number of boys who have received support to attend St David’s over the years. Creating access to quality education is an imperative as a Marist school and we are often humbled to see boys and young men realise their potential and find and follow their passions at St David’s and into their adult lives. The work of the Foundation is fundamental to our school vision as “an African school preparing boys to take their place in society – and to build South Africa – as enquiring, well-balanced individuals aware of their social responsibilities to the wider community, and ready to respond with compassion and justice to the realities of society”.

It was wonderful to see the inaugural Team Marist “Power of M” virtual event across the five South African Marist schools take place in June 2021. The event saw 1 322 participants on five continents, running/walking/cycling/ canoeing over 5 000km and contributing a combined R118 000 through entry fees and donations, to the five schools’ Champagnat Day Funds, Marist Mercy Care and the Three2Six Programme.

LOOKING AHEAD AND MAKING THINGS HAPPEN

It is time now to look towards the future with intent, without being naïve to the continued shadow of Covid-19 and its impact. It has been made abundantly clear to us that there is an imperative to sustain and grow quality education in our country and globally. The United Nations Development Goals speak directly to this. Just as important is that our education process is grounded in values and character formation. Our world needs leaders and citizens who are driven by a desire to do and be better for the collective good.

We have been gifted with the opportunity to reset, refocus and reimagine, and the school has already taken advantage of this opportunity. The executives have spent much time discussing the journey of your boys through St David’s and what the important milestones should be in their personal, educational, character and faith formation. A significant response to this has been a move to the eight-house system in the College, which allows for a far more focused pastoral care approach within smaller house units.

This system takes the number of boys in the College houses from around 170 to 85 so the amount of time and focus on each boy is greatly increased, which can only benefit the boys.The four new houses, which are partnered to become double-barreled house names in the Prep School are (Benedict) Daswa, (College) Selima, (Osmond) Plaatje and (The Bishops) Jude. The names of the new houses are proudly reflective of our Marist, Catholic and South African context and heritage and our boys have responded incredibly well to the change. The school has already seen benefits for the boys in this new structure.

After rigorous selection processes, we are very pleased with the appointment of staff into leadership and management positions in the school in 2022. We congratulate Mr Steph Bauer on his promotion to College Senior Deputy and we look forward to welcoming Mr Lewis Manthata, who joins us from St Andrew’s College, as College Deputy: Student Affairs. We have also increased capacity in both our Business and Advancement departments for 2022, strategic positions imperative to our sustainability, growth and governance.

At the end of 2019, the Board approved a detailed campus development plan that spoke to the school’s needs and vision for the future. These plans were placed on hold as a result of Covid-19, but we will be reigniting this process in 2022 to raise the necessary funds and finalise appropriate financial models.We will seek funding partnerships and donor support from those who share the vision for educational excellence and access in our country, who understand the imperative for us to compete on a global stage, and who have the means to assist us in realising this exciting vision. We invite anyone who would like to start a conversation to make contact with either of the heads.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND THANKS

It is incumbent on me to thank the many stakeholder groups who have helped to hold this ship steady in rough seas. Thank you to Brother Fortune and the Marist Schools Council for their guidance and wisdom. Thank you to the school executive for their leadership and to each of their executive teams and staff for their dedication, tireless work and care. Thank you to the members of the Board of Governors and the Foundation Board of Trustees, all of whom have given freely of their time, expertise and energy to the school. Thank you to the PTA and the Old Boys’ committees for maintaining and building relationships with vital stakeholder groups in our community. Thank you especially to you as parents for your ongoing support in so many aspects of our school life and importantly, to our boys who are our raison d’etre and who have shown resilience and have embraced being back on campus with such vigour and enthusiasm.

I take this opportunity to wish our Matric Class all the best for the remainder of their exams and for their life beyond the gates of St David’s. As young Marist men, I have no doubt that you will uphold the good name and excellent reputation that St David’s holds within the universities that our boys traditionally attend, and in society at large.

To all our families, I wish you a good rest when December comes, safe travels, a wonderful festive season and a blessed Christmas. Please join me in praying that the year ahead brings with it God’s favour and grace.

Yours in Marist service.

Dr Mark Bussin

Chair of the Board, St David’s Marist Inanda