From the Junior School Head
September has been such an enriching, joyful and inspiring month. One of my favourite moments was celebrating our school’s 146th birthday at the Fiesta. I loved meeting our Alumni and hearing their stories. It gave me such a sense of the legacy our girls are part of. Walking around and soaking in the buzz of the day, it was heart-warming to see Junior and Senior School families laughing, sharing meals and enjoying the festivities together. It truly felt like one big family celebration. My heartfelt thanks goes to the PA for their extraordinary efforts in organising such a vibrant and memorable event.
I am also thrilled that Mrs Jomari Miller has been appointed as the new Head of the Senior School. With her many years of institutional knowledge, I am excited to learn from her insights and experience. Together with our Executive Head, Mrs Odelle Howard, I look forward to collaborating with these phenomenal women as we continue to take St Mary’s DSG to new heights.
As September is also Heritage Month, as a school we honoured this special time in the most meaningful way by celebrating Grandparents’ Day on Friday, 26 September. It was a beautiful sight to see our girls, their grandparents and staff dressed in their traditional and cultural attire, a vivid reminder of the richness of our diversity and the strength of our shared heritage.
In addition, we had the privilege of responding to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s call to support the Ten Million Trees Programme. Partnering with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment, our Junior School received a generous donation of ten trees, made up of both fruit and indigenous varieties. In line with the president’s vision of 60% fruit and 40% indigenous trees, every grade from Grade 00 to Grade 7, planted a tree together with the grandparents. These trees were blessed by our Junior School Chaplain, making the day even more sacred. The department will track the trees for a year, and they will visit our school in September next year to see how much the trees have grown.
The National Greening Programme links directly to Goal 13 of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals climate action. It seeks to address the lack of trees in urban areas, beautify our cities, and mitigate the effects of climate change. As a Level 4 Platinum Eco School with WESSA, we are proud to contribute to this national initiative and to demonstrate what it means to build a “living heritage.”
Another incredible celebration was ArtBeat, held on Thursday, 25 September. The creativity and artistic expression on display was truly breathtaking. I was deeply moved by the originality and skill our Junior School girls demonstrated. A huge thank you to Mrs Boipelo Skhosana, Mrs Fiona Jadrijevic, and the parent volunteers who poured so much dedication into curating this magnificent exhibition. The event was a true celebration of the arts and a reminder of the importance of nurturing creativity in our children.
As we look ahead, October 5 marks World Teachers’ Day. I would like to take this moment to thank our dedicated Junior School staff for the remarkable work they do each day. It is in these formative years that children learn not only the foundations of literacy and numeracy, but also values, resilience and a love of learning that will shape the rest of their lives. Our teachers are nation-builders, planting seeds of curiosity, kindness and confidence in every child they teach. For this, I remain deeply grateful.
May we continue to honour and celebrate the vital role of education, heritage and community as we grow together in faith, love and service.
Ngiyabonga.
