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About us
St Stithians Boys' College
is a leading monastic school within a village of
schools, which prides itself on excellence while
providing a relevant and rigorous education.
The Statement of Strategic Intent to be 'a South African
School Making a World of Difference' underpins the
College's philosophy and vision.
As a Methodist school there is a conscious focus of the
'Saints Honour', namely to 'Honour God, Honour Others
and Honour Self'.
The College strives to allow each boy to realise his
maximum potential as a significant citizen of this
school, and our country, in a stimulating and safe
environment.
Our Academic Philosophy
St Stithians Boys’ College prides itself in offering
Academic excellence, and we have built a strong
tradition of providing quality education in a Christian
learning environment. As part of our comprehensive
enrolment policy, students with differing academic
abilities attend from all parts of South Africa, Africa
and abroad. We strive at all times to be a truly
academic educational establishment and the classroom
interrelationship between student and teacher is
paramount to the College’s holistic approach to
educating all students. Boys are constantly challenged
to strive for their highest personal achievements in a
stimulating environment that encourages creative
learning in all spheres of school life.
A core value of our educational philosophy is that boys
are expected to work hard and teachers to motivate their
pupils; boys are expected to be interested in the
educational process and teachers to cultivate this
interest; boys are expected to enjoy the discipline of
study and teachers to teach in a disciplined
environment. An education at the Boys’ College prepares
its students to leave school and progress into tertiary
study or employment with confidence.
In keeping with the influence of technology on
education, St Stithians Boys’ college offers a range of
computing and information technology systems that enable
all boys to understand and utilise latest technical
innovations for learning. There are specialist
facilities such as the Resource Centre, Computer
laboratories, graphic and visual arts classes, the
extensive Music department, the acclaimed Drama
department, as well as the core academic studies, that
allow for a wide range of interests. We provide a core
curriculum leads to the development of age appropriate
skills, concepts and critical thinking. At all times,
the College sets benchmark standards in educational
outcomes to maximise students’ results at all levels.
Boys come to St Stithians to be educated and teachers
who are passionate about their subject and the learning
process strive to ensure that this happens. We believe
this is vital if learning is to become a life-long
passion in the lives of the boys.
Culture
The spirit of the Boys’
College is the spirit of the boys who are its students.
The College nurtures that spirit through academics, its
sporting activities, its involvement in community
service and by encouraging an interest in the arts and
in cultural activities.
The College has a comprehensive music and performing
arts programme. The school has developed the nationally
and internationally acclaimed group known as the Duke of
Cornwall Singers (The Dukes). The boys audition for a
position in the group and it is considered the same
honour as being selected for a first team. The Duke of
Cornwall singers have been invited to perform before
some of the country’s leading dignitaries and have
toured to countries such as Argentina and Scotland where
their performances at the Edinburgh Festival were sold
out.
Service
"….it is through service
to others, that you come out of yourself, discover
self-knowledge, grow and become most fully who you can
be." This is a quote from the first Rector of St
Stithians College Mr David Wylde. At the Boys' College
we encourage the boys to serve both the school and the
wider community. This approach underlines the College's
philosophy of Servant Leadership whereby leadership is
based on service to others. It is also part of the
College's commitment to the Round Square philosophy to
which we subscribe.
Boys have always been encouraged to serve the school in
various ways. However in 1998 the Boys' College
introduced a Programme of service to the wider
community. This commitment to the wider community has
grown over the years and boys now serve various
communities both locally, nationally and
internationally. In serving the wider community boys
come to appreciate their own good fortune, they develop
an understanding of the plight of those less fortunate
than themselves and their humanity is extended as they
grow in compassion, caring, kindness and generosity of
spirit.
Our Chaplan's Philosophy
The St Stithians Chaplains, seeks to create a holistic,
Christ-healed stillness in the School through a social,
pastoral care, preaching, teaching, evangelistic,
healing and prophetic ministry, based upon a relational
presence. It is through different executive meetings,
life orientations, R.E. classes, in sports field and in
community outings that we continually try to make the
world of difference and respond to prophetic issues.
The College's spirituality philosophy reflects the
SAINTS HONOUR, namely Honour God, Honour Others and
Honour Self.
Sports
“While there are sports of
individual achievements, men’s connections to other men
are nowhere more palpable and unashamedly acknowledged
as in The Team. Through it a boy experiences an intense
sense of belonging, of community, even of love that he
may never find elsewhere. Sport is a rite of passage. To
know the satisfaction of scoring the winning run, the
stinging pain of a crunching tackle, the teams resolve
in preventing the penalty corner from being converted
are all rituals of manhood.”
(‘Boys at Play’ – W. S. Pollack)
Sporting activities provide important arenas for boys to
extend their talents and their self–knowledge while also
learning the art of teamwork and leadership.
Leadership
The Boys’ College values
tradition and promotes sporting events and ceremonies,
which attempt to foster each boy’s identity and appeal
to their loyalty. A visit to the Boys’ College dining
hall will allow a young Saint to experience the sporting
history of the school.
St Stithians Boys’ and
Girls’ Colleges joined the Round Square Association of
Schools in 1998 and have become very active members of
the organization. The Round Square association currently
has a membership of over 60 schools world wide, in
countries as diverse as Japan, Peru, Kenya and Thailand.
Round Square schools share a commitment to the
educational philosophy of the late Kurt Hahn, a German
educator who believed that character in young people is
best developed outside of the classroom. Boys and girls
in Round Square schools are encouraged to take part in
challenging and demanding activities. It is through
taking responsibility and extending themselves in these
situations that the students develop self-reliance,
compassion, understanding and tolerance of others. Kurt
Hahn firmly believed that there is more in each one of
us than we think and he made it one of his life’s goals
to help young people realize this about themselves.
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