CANNONS CREEK ADVENTURE WEEK

Each year, all Cannons Creek Independent High School pupils and teachers go on Adventure Week, to varying locations and enjoy activities such as paddling down the Orange/Breede River or hiking the Ceres/ Cederberg Mountains. The aim of Adventure Week is to develop grit, cement friendships, and build camaraderie amongst peers in the group. It is the highlight of the year for many pupils. This year, the first group to depart on 23 February were the Grade 9s who spent 10 days hiking and participating in fun-filled activities in the Matroosberg Reserve. Shortly thereafter, the remaining grades departed - the Grade 7s went to Rusticana Estate where they did several team-building activities, the Grade 8s paddled down the Breede River, while the Grade 10s and 11s hiked in the Cederberg. The Grade 12s spent three days paddling the lower section of the Breede River, as the normal destination for this group, the Orange River, was in flood.

Comments from the pupils: Joshua van der Vinne, Grade 8 "The whole Adventure Week experience was incredible and I can't wait for the next camp!"

Amaal Cassiem, Grade 10 "Adventure Week was definitely the highlight of my year! It was five days filled with hiking, swimming, learning life-skills and making memories. I can honestly say that Adventure Week made me realise that I am much stronger than I had thought. I am so thankful for being able to spend five days out in the mountains, making memories with my friends! My favourite part of Adventure Week was when we finally got to our destination for the day and everyone would play cards, talk and get to know each other better. I returned home more confident, self-sufficient, mature and with so many stories of adventures with my friends."

Stella Melunsky, Grade 7 "Absolute 10 out of 10." Nihal Bardien, Grade 8 "I learnt how to canoe and work as a team. I really enjoyed the river and the outdoor experience. It was nice to get to know my classmates better and to learn more about canoeing."

Sarah McCrorie, Grade 10 "As strenuous and exhausting as the hiking was, the evenings were blissful. We interacted with people we otherwise might not have, if it weren't for Adventure Week. I learned that sometimes you need to push yourself a little bit and set small goals, but to also go outside of your comfort zone a little to expand your mind and learn properly. I formed strong bonds with my classmates and I'm honestly so excited for next year!"

Sophia Stamatiadis, Grade 9 "There is a 24-hour solo day. You each have separate areas so you can't interact or talk. As an extrovert, I was surprised that I enjoyed the 24-hour solo day. The only downside was that a baboon was stalking me while I ate my can of beans. A plus side of Adventure Week was the 30m abseiling and the 7m rock-climbing."

Aidan Marais, Grade 11 "It was quite an experience sleeping in the wild. For the most part it was fun and exciting." 

By Julian Cameron Principal

St George's Grammar School

My journey at St George’s Grammar School began in 2011 and I’m proud to be leading this incredible school as we mark our 175th Anniversary this year. Words that come to mind when reflecting on our school and its history include: generous, empowering, courageous, authentic, humbling. Allow me to share snippets of history that underscore the above words. The generous cobbler, Mr. Schikkerling, started offering reading and writing classes to young children in his shop on New Street in 1844. Mr. Schikkerling had noticed young children whiling away their time in the new town and generously began sharing his knowledge and skills with them. In 1845 the school moved to the premises of St George’s Cathedral. The school was inclusive from the start, with children of “European descent”, black African, and “other persons of colour” being on the school roll from 1845[1]. Mr. Schikkerling sought to empower the young people with literacy and numeracy skills. The school still strives to empower young people today,

PERSONAL REFLECTIONS ON THE 175-YEAR HISTORY OF ST GEORGE’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL

with knowledge, understanding, values, self-knowledge, and a yearning to make a positive contribution to society.

The School, with its motto of Virtute et Valore (The courage to do what is right), has certainly modelled and embraced courageous decisions, actions, and leadership. In 1936, the Principal Mr. Tugman dipped into his own pocket for the purchase of the Bloemendal Estate in Mowbray[2], believing and visioning the school’s growth and future needs of bigger premises with playing fields. In the early 1960s, principal Canon Peacock stood up to the Cape Education Department and admitted Chinese pupils to the school despite the Nationalist Government’s classification of Chinese persons as non-Europeans[3]. In the late 1970s, the apartheid government was again defied when St George's and other religious schools opened their doors to persons from all races. Cutting-edge curriculum innovation was the norm in the 1980s[4] More recently, the way in which the school has embraced White Paper 6 and Inclusive education has been bold and at the forefront of education in South Africa. Our school community is often described as authentic, real, and genuine and that has certainly been my experience here.

Young people are, nurtured, given a voice and their dignity and potential flourish. The school, in its long history, has successfully negotiated two world wars, the great depression, government opposition, and, more recently, Cape Town’s 2018 Day Zero water crisis, the Covid-19 pandemic and we currently face an energy crisis. In each scenario, the school community bands together and faces the realities with unity, hope, and great resilience.

Looking back over 175 years of the school’s contribution in genuinely empowering young people through education and character formation is humbling. It is humbling to be building on the legacies of Mr. Shikkerling and Bishop Robert Gray, founders of the school; Sir Herbert Baker designer of the school buildings in town in 1904, visionary Deans of the Cathedral, bold past principals, teachers, staff members, and young Georgians. One realises that one’s contribution, humble as it may be, forms part of a much bigger and more significant history of an incredible institution. 

[1] Randall, Peter. (1982), Little England on the Veld: The English Private School System in South Africa, Johannesburg, Ravan Press, p.189

[2] Coyne, Patrick. (1997). Cross of Gold- The Story of St George’s Grammar School 1848 – 1998, Cape Town, Ampersad Press, p. 59.

[3] Coyne, Patrick. (1997). Cross of Gold- The Story of St George’s Grammar School 1848 – 1998, Cape Town, Ampersad Press, p.108

[4] Cliff, Alan and Cannon, Paul. (1990)., St George’s …. setting the pace, Cape Town, Arrow Publishers.

ST GEORGE’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL

FOUNDED 1848

Thursday 20 April

April is birthday month at St George’s Grammar School as we continue to celebrate our 175-year milestone with special events. We look forward to commemorating our history with the Georgian community, young and old, making new memories while appreciating the road we’ve travelled to get here.

St George’s Cathedral, Cape Town ST GEORGE’S DAY SERVICE

A commemorative service where, as a community, we will share in a time of reflection and thanksgiving.

Thursday 4 - Saturday 6 May

St George’s Grammar, Geof Burton Hall TIME WILL TELL

Time Will Tell, a production by St George’s Grammar High School pupils, where they will take us through a journey in time, sharing memorable moments in the history of the school.

Saturday 27 May

St George’s Grammar, Geof Burton Hall

175

Celebration Gala Dinner

An elegant celebration of our 175-year milestone, where all in attendance will enjoy a night of fine dining and great entertainment. Save the date. Tickets will be on sale soon.

July 2023

175 BLANKETS FOR MANDELA DAY

The school community will collect 175 blankets to commemorate our 175th year and donate them to those in need in support of Mandela Day.

Wednesday 13 - Saturday 16 September

TIME

St George’s Grammar, Geof Burton Hall Time, is a production by St George’s Grammar Prep School pupils. Time travelling pupils take us on an adventure through the ages.

Dr Mark Stodel

SYLVIA’S

Fridays R250 / month WHEN: COST:

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