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THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF MARIANNHILL SECONDARY INDEPENDENT SCHOOLP.O. BOX 11003 • TELEPHONE: 031 7002824 • FAX: 031 7003349

Website: www.s!ranciscollegemariannhill.co.za

VOLUME: 5 SEPTEMBER 2015

The Under 15 Soccer Team crowned Provincial Champions

ST FRANCIS’ COLLEGE NEWSST FRANCIS’ COLLEGE NEWS

The school Principal, Mr Nzama, said the team didthe school proud and they are flying the school’s flaghigh. They have put our school on the map bywinning the Provincial Coca-Cola tournament inUlundi. He also commended the organisers of thetournament for giving the learners a chance toshowcase their skills and talents. Meanwhile, the school soccer coach, Mr CyrilMthembu, said the tournament was organised byCoca-Cola and the aim is to help develop youngtalent so as to enable them to compete at the highestlevel. “The tournament is run at three distinct stagesnamely: District level, Provincial level and Nationallevel”, said Mr Mthembu, adding that the school isnow set participate at the National level, which willbe hosted by KZN. According to Mthembu when he started as coachthree years ago one of the things that he had in mindwas to guide the team to greater heights within ashort space of time. “Today we have won the Coca-Cola tournament at provincial level, and it is inspiringto see young boys display their talent with exuberanceand passion”, said the Coach. With such success the school is now recognisedprovincially and also seen as pioneers of the skillsdevelopment in the country as far as sports isconcerned. However such sporting success needs tobe balanced with the academic excellence that theschool is also well-known by. According to the school coach the University ofKwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) - Edgewood Campusfacilities where the team trains added value toenthusiasm and confidence. “We are grateful to theuniversity for allowing us to use their facilities andthis has been a major progress to the learners”, hesaid. Now the school is urging all the educators and staffmembers to rally behind the Boys as the Coca-ColaNational title is well within their grabs.

St Francis College soccer team did the school proudwhen they were crowned KwaZulu-Natal Coca-ColaU/15 Champions in a tournament held in Ulundi –northern KZN recently. The school reached theprovincial finals after they were successfully crownedwinners of the Pinetown District of the sametournament which was held in Anderson Park –Pinetown at the end of the Second Term. Therefore,the school soccer team participated in the tournamentrepresenting the Pinetown District. The under 15 boys were crowned the Coca-Colachampions after they defeated Ilembe District (4-2)on penalties after the game ended (0-0) after full time.It was a thrilling final, as the entire tournament wascharacterised by a high standard of play and skills. Atotal of twelve districts participated in the provincialtournament. On the road to the final the U15 boys in the groupstages beat Sisonke District (2-1), drew withMkhanyakude District 1-1 and defeated UthunguluDistrict (1-0). With these results the team proceededto the semi-finals where they defeated AmajubaDistrict (1-0).

The under 15 Soccer Team together with School Principal.

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A new startThe Principal’s Column

School PrincipalMr. J.B. Nzama

Notice: On the 17th October 2015 the school will host St FrancisAlumni Lecture at 11.00 a.m. Later in the evening there will be a

Gala Dinner at Elangeni Hotel.Telephone: 031 7002824 – Fax No: 031 700 3349

Email: administrator@stfranciscollegemariannhill.co.za

From the beginning of the 2015 academic year,we have had a very full programme – inacademic work, sports, spiritual formation andwide enrichment. About the learners The admission of more day-scholars has notaffected the work ethic of learners, as thedistribution of prizes for top performance ineach subject and grade indicates that many day-scholars have scooped these coveted awards.While this is true, the advantages of beingtogether in the hostels, and life lessons learnt bybeing in the hostels, will always remain. Many of the traditional activities have continuedunchanged at the school. Among those that wetruly value, is the blood donation which that isheld at our school in every term. It is alwayspleasing to see the young donors generouslycontributing to the blood bank, and we trulyappreciate also the commitment of the team thathelps to organise each visit, as it is always a longday for them. One can already see theirleadership, initiative and responsibility. You have already read in our lead story in thisnews letter about the success that our U/15Soccer team have achieved, and we can only lookforward to greater heights for them, if they canremain focused and determined to reach thoseheights. We urge you all to encourage this, as wewould all be proud to see them in future playingfor large national teams.

About the new Rector and Interim Committee After more than eight years of service at StFrancis College, Fr. Ngidi is leaving. While we arevery sad to see him leave, we are deeplyappreciative of his presence, time and all that hedid while he was with us. We also wish him allthe best among the congregation where he willnow be placed. Thanks to our bishop, and the

interest that he has in the well-being of theschool, today Fr. Ngidi’s successor, Fr. Xulu willbe officially introduced to us all. Thus thecontinuity of the management and spiritual well-being of the school will not be affected. Today also, the Interim Committee appointed bythe Bishop and chaired by Dr B. Mkhize, will beintroduced to us. From time to time, in the lifeof any large institution, there will be a need forintrospection, if that institution is to grow andascend to greater heights. It was for this reasonthat this Interim Committee was appointed, andwe hope in the months ahead, we will all worktogether to achieve this goal of building up theschool and enrich the educational experiencethat we offer to all our learners. As the Trial Examinations will soon begin, wewish our Matriculants all the best, as they mustcontinue to uphold the record of success forwhich our school is known.

Fr Ngidi: The outgoing Rector of the school.

Bishop Pius Mlungisi Dlungwana is set to introduce the new Rector and the Interim Committee.

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SFC NEWSEditors: Mr. M. Langa and Miss Khuboni

The Alumni set to establish their association

The alumni and some staff members of StFrancis College descended in their numbersto their former school as part of the MandelaDay commemoration to engage in variousactivities of goodwill for 67 minutes. Theyalso used the occasion to show theircommitment in establishing the St FrancisCollege Alumni Association (S.F.C.A.A). The alumni came prepared for the occasionand they chose to spend their time cleaningand planting flowers within the schoolprecinct. Their involvement in such acts ofgoodwill could be viewed as part of theircommitment to give back to the institutionthat contributed significantly to their holisticeducation and also inspire the youngergeneration to give back to their communities. Their commitment was further emphasisedby their resolve to establish the SFCAA,aimed at assisting the school in differentways. Such commitment should be viewed orunderstood in terms of the rapidly changingenvironment where the missionary fundingfor the school has dwindled completely, thuscontributing to the financial hardship in theeffective running of the this historicinstitution. According to Fr. Mxolisi Ngcobo, the co-ordinator of the association, one of theobjectives of the association is to raise fundsfor the school in view of the structural

development as well as to assist the schoolon administrative level. He said the intention is also to create avibrant network amongst the members ofthe St Francis College Alumni Associationand, “Our intention is to protect and upholdthe heritage of St Francis College”. This commitment is further envisaged by theorganisation of the two main eventscheduled for the coming month of October.On the 17 October there will be a St FrancisAlumni lecture which will be given by DrBen Ngubane who is currently thechairperson of the Eskom Board. The topicof the lecture is: Ora et Labora: The role ofblack intelligentsia in nation building”. “On the same day later in the afternoon wewill have a Gala Dinner at Elangeni Hotel.The key note address will be given by MrSizwe Nxasana who is the CEO of NSFAS.He will be speaking on: Black EconomicEmpowerment in South Africa”, said FrMxolisi Ngcobo. As part of the commemoration of theMandela Day the Alumni also organised abring and share gathering where they usedthe occasion to share their memories andexperiences about their stay at the school aslearners back then. For some of the alumniit was their first time to visit the school aftermany years since they had left school.

The Alumni planting flowers as part of the Mandela Day

The Alumni discusing establishment of their association.

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In the morning of the 15th of April 2015 we,learners of St Francis College, assembled towitness the installation of our schoolprefects. On this very day, Ms. Ngcobojoyfully announced the names of the learners(apart from our school principal, Mr.Nzama). It occurred to me that all hard workreally does bring profit for the learners whowere making their way to the stage, as theyhad initiated just that from the day theybegan at this school.After all the cheers and jovialcries from that day, one maystill question the true essenceof such an honour / a duty,“what does it really mean tobe a prefect?” Prefects arelearners who have shownrespect, discipline andleadership skills and have beenproving their abilities fromtheir entry to school. These arelearners who are chosen by theprincipal and teachers, toadhere to particular dutiessuch as assisting the educatorsand ensuring the smoothfunctioning at the school. At St Francis College, ourprefects are tasked to maintain(uphold) the good Christian

The role of PrefectsThobeka Nkabinde

The girls’ prefects.

The boys’ prefects.

rules and discipline that have kept theschool running well for 106 years. Theyassist in the enforcement of friendliness,abiding by school rules and soundcommunication between new learners,teachers, staff members, parents andvisitors. It is important that we aslearners acknowledge the prefects andnot feel intimidated by theseenforcements, but to assist them wherewe can as this will enable us to abide bythe rules much easier. The school is aplace to acquire knowledge, it thereforeplays a vital role in our lives.Cooperation goes a long way!

Being a prefect too should not be consideredas a burden, for it plays a massive role in thefuture of past prefects. It is well known thatmost successful people held positions of highresponsibility in their school years since theexperience teaches one about leadership,integrity and respect for others.Therefore, I wish all of us as learners for thebest of this year. May we continue to worktowards our highest potential, keeping theschool environment one of safety andharmony.

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A weekend that will never be forgotten

It was on the 8th of May 2015, when thegrade 12 boys embarked on a Spiritualjourney to the Vuleka Centre in Bothas Hillto seek spiritual upliftment. On the way, ourhearts were overwhelmed with joy andexcitement, as we could not wait to reachour destination.We were welcomed with warm hands andmade to feel at home. Our retreat master, Fr.Mlaba began our retreat weekend with areviving Holy Mass just before our dinner.Early the following morning we woke up toa series of soccer matches against the otheryoung men who were also at the Centre fortheir purposes. This brought us together asbrothers as everyone sacrificed their sleepand woke up at 6:30am to go and offer theirsupport to those who had made it into thelineup of their respective teams. Later that day, we were blessed to have a 3

Langa Biyela

hour reviving session with Fr. Mlaba, whereeach one of us had to select a verse of ourchoice which corresponded to some of ourlife experiences and shared them with thegroup. The hospitality was of high order andwe helped ourselves to a series of meals thatjiggled our taste buds. Our weekend retreatwas wrapped up with another uplifting holymass.It was depressing to depart from the VulekaCentre. It was indeed a weekend never to beforgotten. We would like to thank Fr. Mlaba,Mr. Nzama (The school Principal), parents,the boarding masters and all the teacherswho have made this once in a life timeexperience possible for us. I encourage all theparents of upcoming matriculants to takepart in ensuring that their children engagethemselves in this important spiritualexperience.

Before the sports day could begin we wereoverwhelmed by anxiety as we couldn’t waitfor the only special day on the schoolcalendar where we spend the entire day onthe sports field. Our hearts were filled withjoy and each and everyone wanted to maketheir team the best in every possible way. Wewere all certain that it was going to be fun.Not to forget that St Francis College is aCatholic school, we first placed our faith inGod for the fulfillment of the blessed day wehad always longed for.The Zebras, Lions, Tigers, and Springbokswere all fighting each other to emerge aswinners at the end of the sports day. All theteams were ignited in flames and theyshowed great optimism and enthusiasm ineverything they did. They all believed,including me, in the power of winning. Butafter all it wasn’t only about winning but

also about having fun as it was a wonderful,sunny day. We all descended onto the playingground in song and dance, flashing placardsand banners of our respective teams. It wasan utterly blissful moment to see all thelearners participating in the manner they didand behaving themselves, and of course ourhearts were overwhelmed with joy. While participating in different sportingcodes on the day, came the funniest momentof them all. The dancing competition wasindeed a time to showcase one’s talent andcreativity in dance and entertainment. Theweather did not disappoint, the skies wereblue and a perfect day for an outdoordisplay. The day ended when Miss Sithole, the sportscoordinator at the school, announced thewinners of the event. The Lions werecrowned the Champions.

Our most special day on the school calendarNondumiso Dlamini

D D D D

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In a world of violence, intolerance, anger andother despicable social ills there is often littleroom for peace, especially inner peace. Thatis why it is imperative to have special forumswhere people can discuss and address issuesof concern in the society where they leave. Inother words, communities who worktogether for peace, for instance, yield betterresults than self-centered individuals. It is on this note that a collective ofenthusiastic learners from different grades atSt Francis College unanimously decided toreignite the flame and the spirit of peacebuilding by forming a youth forum at theschool. The members of the Peace Forumhave already started an important projectcalled Make a Difference, Bring a Smile. Theproject is aimed at encouraging learners andeven staff members at the school to willinglydonate clothing, toys and shoes to the needyor less fortunate children. All of the collecteditems are to be donated to St Vincent’sChildren’s home. Other initiatives (projects)of these enthusiastic learners include Cake

Make a difference, bring a smileSinethemba Gwala noNosipho Mdletshe

Let’s have fun and clean our surroundingsOlwethu Mngadi and Sthabile Sokhela

Sales, Mandela Day Celebration, Peace Day,Cancer Day, and Project Get-Way as well asCollect a Can.

“It is important to note that, so far theworkshops that we have attended at theMethodist Church in Berea have mainlytaught us how to appreciate diversity”, saidNomacusi Sibeko, a member of the PeaceForum. She added that, “as members of theYouth Forum we understand that perfectionis not in us but nonetheless we aim topromote a better future which ischaracterized by peace, caring and toleranceto diversity”, said Sibeko.

“As a developing youth we are called orencouraged to make our own contributionin making the world a better place. We arethe ones who should appreciate the diverseworld that we live in by working together inpromoting peace through the Peace Forum,which is our way of giving and making achoice to improve the lives of people”,concluded Sibeko.

Sports day is always a much anticipated dayespecially if you are a captain and yearn to seeyour team win. This year the excitement andanticipation were there too, in spite of the hotsun piercing through our skin. It may havebeen a sports day but that did not stop us fromenjoying snacks such as popcorn and coolingourselves off with cold drinks.It was a long fun-filled day and so you canimagine the amount of litter that filled thesports field from the empty drink cans andempty snack sachets that the learners wereindulging in throughout the day. After a longday of fun under the hot sun, everybody justwanted to rush home (hostels) for a coldshower and relax or have a nap, which theydid of course. As house captains we all desiredto do the same but we had to first clean-up our

sports field – the benefits of being a captain. After my team, the Lions, beat the Tigers,Zebra and Springboks in broad daylight I waspleasantly suprised that as house captains wemanaged to put our competitive, yet bruisedegos, aside and cleaned together. My litterpartner was Sthabile and together we did ourshare in keeping the environment spotlesslyclean. It is very important to clean our schoolprecincts and try all the means at our disposalto keep it spotless, and it is our duty as seniorlearners to set a good example to the younglearners by keeping our surroundings clean.This shows that we are neat individuals whodon’t only care about the health of fellowlearners at the school but also care about theenvironment, therefore, “Let’s have fun andclean our surroundings”.

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The great trip to HluhluweLondeka Radebe

The day for the much anticipated matric triparrived, as we reached the school grounds bysix in the morning looking beautiful in ourall white outfits, beaming with excitement.We could not wait to board the bus and ‘hitthe road’. Our mode of transport was notvery fancy but we soon learnt to love ourOlympic companion. The journey to Hluhluwe was a long butthrilling one, and it was made shorter by ourvibrant spirits and vibrant music in the bus.Our first stop was at the UniZulu ScienceCentre where our knowledge about sciencearound us was broadened. Variousinteresting experiments were conductedbefore our watchful eyes. Our final activityat the Science Centre was the career Expowhich included a wide variety of possiblecareer paths for us matric learners. A fewhours later, our Olympic companion was onthe road as we made our way to theIzinkwazi Mall in preparation for ourmouth-watering braai at the Richard’s BayBeach. We finally arrived at Hluhluwe –Dumazulu Lodge later than expected but thetiredness was overlooked as we werewelcomed by the friendly staff that had beenwaiting for our arrival. The accommodationwas splendid because we got the Africanexperience with the meals following anAfrican cuisine. Our rooms were alsothatched grass but with beautiful strikingexterior and interior designs, displaying arepresentation of South African Culture. Day two began in the early hours as we

prepared for our game drive at five in themorning. The beautiful sight of our ‘majestic’animals gave us the opportunity to reconnectwith nature. We saw the ever gracefulgiraffes, buffaloes, rhinos, impalas,elephants, and so many more. Afterfreshening up, we took to the snake and crocshow and thereafter our much anticipatedboat cruise at the Isimangaliso Wetlands – StLucia, where we caught sight of the bighippos, crocodiles and indigenous birds andplants as well. It was indeed a beautifulexperience. All the learners looked gorgeousin their relaxed outfits, with everyonespotting a pair of sunglasses. This wasproven true when we passed by Umtubatubaand to our surprise even the local councillorcame to great us. We dreaded the last day because it meantthat we had to come back to St FrancisCollege. We said our last goodbyes with afew taking a dip in the swimming pool. Wehad a scrumptious breakfast before loadingour luggage onto our Olympic companion.Before we knew it we were saying goodbyeto the lovely Hluhluwe as we once again hitthe highway, making our way back to StFrancis College. The trip was exceptional and it shall foreverbe treasured as part of our last high schoolmemories. Thank you to the school fororganising the trip and a special thank youto Mrs Mkhize, Mrs Lushozi, Br. Mkhizeand Mrs Ntazi for accompanying us.

Exciting experience for Grade 12 learners during the excursion.

Printed by Mariannhill Mission Press

Scenes from various school activities