We said farewell to our matric Academy gents, who have been with us for the past three years, and wished them all the best in their final exams at the St John's College Academy Valedictory Mass in the Crypt Chapel.
"Let's go out there and make a difference so that we can come back and say we did it!" - Atang Mngomeni, Head Boy 2018
Click to read the moving speeches by Mrs Agnes Nugent, Director of the St John's College Academy and Atang Mngomeni, Head Boy 2018 and to view the pictures from this wonderful celebration.
The St John's College Academy
The St John's College Academy is an after school enrichment programme for boys in Grade 10, 11 and 12 promoting excellence in Mathematics, Physical Science, English and Life Skills. The Academy, which will be celebrating its 10th birthday next year, caters to boys from disadvantaged backgrounds who attend the government schools in the surrounding community of Berea, Hillbrow and Yeoville. These boys are identified by their schools as having academic potential during their Grade 9 year. They are then invited to start attending the Academy from the beginning of Grade 10 and continue in the programme for three years until their complete their matric. There are currently 75 boys enrolled in the Academy, 25 per year.
The impact
The Academy operates three afternoons a week from 2.30pm until 5.15pm and provides the boys with extra tuition and skills development in the four subjects. The Academy brags an almost 100% attendance and the boys are commended for their commitment and determination as they continue to maintain their full-time studies at their respective schools.
The Academy offers full curriculum support as well as a life skills component that aims at empowering the boys for their future success. The programme takes place in the nurturing environment of the St John's campus and the boys are taught by the experienced College staff members. They are also provided with pastoral care by the College chaplains.
The boys are taken on various camps during the course of their three years - an Orientation Camp for the Grade 10s, a Leadership Camp for the Grade 11s and an intensive Revision Camp for the matrics. The learners also get to enjoy various cultural outings such as visits to the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre, The Cradle of Humankind and Apartheid Museum and boys are also addressed by various guests speakers throughout the year.
There are measurable and immeasurable results from the programme. The measurable ones are improvements to their grades in their chosen subjects. But the many immeasurable results help these boys to develop themselves holistically, enabling them able to stand up and compete with their peers as they go on to study at tertiary institutions or move into the workplace.
The aim
The assistance of these boys does not end with their final Grade 12 examinations. The most promising achievers are assisted with bursaries or placed in learnerships once they complete matric.
Each year, one boy is also granted a full bursary to study his A Levels in the Sixth Form at St John's College.
The aim of the Academy is to be able to place each Academy boy into a learnership or tertiary institution at the end of his time with us.
The cost
The cost of supporting one boy is approximately R10 000 per year. This amount includes their St John's College Academy uniform (which they wear proudly), all books, notes, handouts and stationery, transport costs to and from the Academy, a hot lunch, tuition as well as their annual camp.
How to become involved
For more information regarding the St John’s College Academy, please contact Mrs Agnes Nugent at [email protected]