ANNUAL MAGAZINE | 2013 DEDICATION CONTENTS DEDICATION This Dominican magazine is 75 OUT IN THE WORLD 3 UNCOMMON LEADERSHIP who leaves Dominican in December 2013, after 85 DCS FAMILY 14 years of service. 13 RELIGION AND FAITH 97 SPORT Marina joined Dominican in 2000, as the high school was growing 21 ACADEMICS, PRIZES AND AWARDS through to its first matric group, and she grew with it, first as a teacher, 109 PROGRESSIVE EDUCATION then as a Deputy Head and ending as Head of the High School, a position 41 CREATIVE EXPRESSION she has held for the past six years. While teaching languages (Afrikaans and 117 FACES OF DCS English) is Marina’s passion, she more recently taught Life Orientation, which 69 CARING FOR OTHERS allowed her the freedom to build the skills for discovery which she worked so hard to instil in all our children. While knowing that a matric certificate is an important passport to success in life, Marina knew too that it was equally important to build the person, to develop the resilience and to remind our children that it is the consequences of their choices with which they need to live. Many groups of Dominican learners have passed through the hands of Ms Burger, and they are the richer for it. They have been called “sunshine” (for want of any better name!), and they have been at the end of a tongue that IN MEMORY required them to find a solution for whatever problem they were trying Sr Natalie These are the fruits of your love You were like a mother hen, Your love was like a waterfall person who cared. She cared about them and about their school, she a breastfeeding woman, Like a flowing spring wanted them to succeed and she expected this of them. Here is a a cow that fattened us. In winter and summer. person who truly understood what the Dominican family is all about. You were Godsent Rest in peace, mother of beautiful While we will miss her in the DCS corridors next year, we know indeed. things. that her input has been an important part of the growth of You were a peaceful, loving and wise our school, and that she will always be welcome back at person 14 JUNE 1931-27 JUNE 2013 Dominican in the years to come. What can I say; SISTER NATALIE KUHN OP You educated our children. Original in Xhosa We have homes because of you. Authors: M Mcongwane, M Mbatha, Our tears never fell on the ground. S Phahlamohlaka for their contributions – without you You were always there for us. Read at Sr Natalie’s funeral by N Soma FOREWORD there would not be a magazine; to Mr Condensing the many and varied Thiel for his encouragement; to Flow academic, sport and cultural activities Communications for their creative across pre-school, primary school and design work and, last but not least, to high school, attempting to capture my husband and daughter for their special moments and to include outings, patience and support. visitors, boarding life and family events of our vibrant, active school was no I have thoroughly enjoyed creating easy task, and I hope the 2013 magazine and compiling this edition, and I hope captures, for the readers, the essence it brings you many hours of happy of what Dominican Convent School reading and helps retain memories of 2013 was all about. Thank you to all another special year. who have contributed: to Mr Horn for his always willing mentoring and Enjoy! his vast contribution to the stunning photographs which capture special Renata Haywood moments more than words ever could; to Mr Reddiar for his readiness to assist with photography; to staff and pupils MARINA BURGER ‘FAMILY OF DOMINIC’ In Dominic we claim to be, through all the world one family, O praise God, laudare! A living heritage we share, of study, common life and prayer. Laudare, Alleluia, Benedicere, Alleluia! Praedicare! To east and west to south and north; O sisters, brothers now go forth Be a blessing, Benedicere! Throughout the universe release, God’s reign of justice, love and peace! Laudare, Alleluia, Benedicere, Alleluia! Praedicare! How beautiful upon the earth the feet of those who bring God’s word Preach the Gospel, praedicare! The path we walk is holy ground, the word we speak a holy sound Laudare, Alleluia, Benedicere, Alleluia! Praedicare! MF Fleishaker OP UNCOMMON LEADERSHIP 1 FROM THE HEADMASTER FROM THE BOARD Towards a life of learning The Dominican Congregation, and change … the Board of Governors and Committees The growth and success of taken in a structured manner. The courts, and safety renewals like replacing Dominican has come at a cost, Joint Management Forum faced many electricity distribution boards and both financially and in terms of challenges in the day-to-day operation of addressing plumbing issues, the ongoing the human efforts needed to the school, but continued to focus on the maintenance of the school will continue sustain our place as a school of children in making decisions. In October to be a challenge. excellence, well known among they welcomed Mr Robin Howell to their the independent schools of ranks as bursar, the final staffing step The Board Ethos Committee is tasked Johannesburg. in providing the full range of support with ensuring that our policies reflect leaders for optimal operations. In the year our ethos, that our ethos is known In particular, the Dominican Board of ahead, this grouping will change with and understood in the school, and that Governors has been prepared to head into the appointment of a new headmaster for our religious base is protected and new directions, changing and growing Dominican, and new deputies in the transmitted in all we do. While not an in ways that have grown the enrolment high school. easy job, the importance of considering of the school, while safeguarding the who we are and how we do things ethos and traditions of our 105 years The Board Executive and Finance remains critical to our success. UNCOMMON LEADERSHIP UNCOMMON Nobody ever said that leading Schools should prepare children for So it is, that I have come to know of existence. The volunteerism that Committee struggled again to contain a school like Dominican would life, for practising in a safe educational Dominican as a place where we take underpins our Board, and those of the rising costs in the face of reduced donor The Dominican Congregation continues be easy! They also didn’t say environment both the hard and soft risks, where we don’t sit back and subcommittees of which it is comprised, funding, and the ongoing challenge of to provide support, both moral and that in providing this leadership skills that will make for a successful stagnate, and a place where we must is commendable and a special element bringing in all the school fees. In addition physical, and in particular through prayer I would find special rewards that adult. Dominican has taken a proactive continue to grow and change to sustain of our ongoing success. In thanking the to its financial role, it continued to and guidance, and we are grateful for have enriched my life experience route in terms of technological in future the success we have enjoyed Board for their work, we acknowledge expand its efforts in terms of regulatory that. The sisters are always willing to immeasurably, yet this is exactly development and continues to produce as a school. in particular the lengthy tenure of processes, the zoning of properties, get involved, share their knowledge, what I have experienced here an environment which supports such members such as the chairperson, Mr rates and taxes, and programmes to their history and their resources, and the since I took over the challenge learning. Change is seldom easy, but it is the Simon Morule, the chair of the Finance both increase the desirability of the school is richer for it. of leading Dominican Convent uncertainty surrounding it that makes it Committee, Mr Mike Leeming, and school for enrolment and the renewal School from Sr Natalie in January In particular, the introduction of iPads in difficult, not the actual new direction. As other members such as Mr Jethro Mbau of our ageing resources. At 105 years, The effective operation of the school 2005. 2012, and their extension to pilot projects soon as the desired destination is chosen, and Mrs Pat Sebobe, while being grateful we are not a young school, and while relies as much on volunteers as on across the school in 2013, has convinced and the general route to get there for the newer Board members who bring age brings tradition and legacy, it also employees, and our parent and alumni We teach the children that they need us of their value as a support to current decided on, change is always energising new ideas and energy to this important brings maintenance issues! These body are especially encouraged to to be lifelong learners, open to the learning programmes. These pilots will and fun. policy work. maintenance and renewal issues were step forward to offer their input LEADERSHIP UNCOMMON lessons of every experience, and then we continue in 2014, alongside the option worked on by the Board Infrastructure on the main Board, as well as the provide them with opportunities to do given to high school learners to use an Dominican has developed into a The Board subcommittees were Committee, which had the unenviable important subcommittees. We thank just that. The example of many of our iPad for their textbooks next year. structured school where we have the challenged this year to support many task of planning and implementing the the Board members, and all the Board’s staff who graduated with postgraduate expertise to support new directions, programmes and much renewal, physical renewal of the school.