St David's Marist, Inanda

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St David's Marist, Inanda
Location
St David's Marist, Inanda
36 Rivonia Road, Illovo

,
South Africa
Information
School typeAll-boys private school
MottoConfortare esto vir
(Take Courage and be a Man)
Religious affiliation(s) Roman Catholic
Established27 January 1941;84 years ago (1941-01-27)
Founder Marist Brothers
Sister school Brescia House School
School number+27 (011) 215 7600
HeadmasterMike Thiel
Exam board IEB
Grades00–12
GenderMale
Age3to 18
Number of students640 (Prep School)
750 (High School)
LanguageEnglish
Schedule08:00 – 14:00
CampusUrban/suburban
Houses  Benedict
  Bishops
  College
  Osmond
  Jude
  Selima
  Plaatje
  Daswa
Colour(s)  Black
  Gold
  Blue
Rivals
School feesR105,000 (boarding)
R154,400 (tuition)
Website www.stdavids.co.za

St David's Marist is a private English medium Roman Catholic preparatory and high school for boys in Inanda, a suburb of Sandton, South Africa. The school was established in 1941 by the Marist Brothers. [1]

Contents

History

The school's roots began in post-revolution France. The Marist Order, also known as the Little Brothers of Mary, was founded by the Father Marcellin Champagnat to educate young children, especially the neglected or those suffering from poverty. The order has since spread throughout the world. The Order arrived in Johannesburg in 1889, three years after the founding of the city. They were among the first to establish a boys' school in the little mining town that was to become the centre of business and finance in South Africa. The location was at Koch St in downtown Johannesburg.

A second school was established in Observatory but it became apparent that the school premises in Koch St were becoming inadequate as the city grew and encroached on the property. Additional property was sought for a new school. Land was purchased in Inanda, then a semi-rural area north of Johannesburg, and building commenced in 1940. St David's opened in 1941 as a private boarding school, and by 1953 the school had 475 pupils, 200 of them being boarders. In 1963 the school acquired another 45 acres (18 hectares) of land, making it the largest Marist establishment in South Africa.[ citation needed ]

St David's today

As of 2022, the school has 1,400 pupils. The school is separated into Junior Preparatory (Grade 00 and grade 0), Preparatory (Grades 1–7) and High School (Grades 8–12). The Preparatory School has 640 boys and the high school 750 boys.[ citation needed ]

Uniform

Students wear a navy blue blazer with vertical gold stripes and a navy blue tie with diagonal gold stripes. The Marist Monogram (an intertwined "A.M." for "Ave Maria") appears on the pocket of the blazer. A "Half Colours" tie is awarded to students excelling in academics or any of the school's sports, cultural, or service activities. "Full Colours" are awarded to individuals who distinguish themselves as being one of the best in their sport or other disciplines. [ citation needed ]

Hierarchy and student structures

The Matrics (grade 12) constitute the leadership body of the school, known as the Matric Leadership Group. Between twelve and fourteen grade 11 boys are elected by the school in October to constitute the Prefect body for the following year. They take over the leadership of the school in mid-October when the Matrics commence their study leave.[ citation needed ]

Sporting tradition

Students participate in summer and winter sports, teams are arranged according to age groups (Under 14, 15, 16 and Open) to compete against other schools. The primary sports in the high school are rugby union, cricket, soccer, swimming, waterpolo and hockey. In winter, the school fields about 15 rugby teams and 13 hockey teams every week. The school also has tennis, canoeing, cross country and basketball.[ citation needed ]

The sports that are offered in the school are:

Cultural tradition

The school has choirs, bands and private instrument tuition. Annual events include inter-House music and play competitions, as well as yearly major dramatic productions.

Notable alumni

See also

References

  1. "St David's Marist Inanda". www.cso.za.org. Retrieved 1 February 2024.