OD11 digital HR - Flipbook - Page 8
A look back on the big 175
Principal Tony Reeler writes that 2024 will go down as a very special
year in the long history of Diocesan College
I
n our planning for 2024, a
special anniversary year, we
sought to make the focus of
the 175 celebrations outwardlooking, recognising the school’s
place in Cape Town and in the
South African context. With this
in mind, one of the highlights
of the year was the school-wide
Mandela Day project, where the
entire school, from Grade N to
Grade 12, and all staff, undertook
175 minutes of service to others.
Not only was this impactful
and well received by the various
communities who benefited, it
also raised significant awareness
of our position of privilege and our
responsibility to try to improve
the lives of those less fortunate.
Our thinking also revolved
around celebrating all aspects of
Bishops life – spiritual, academic,
sporting and cultural – and there
were a number of activities that
took place in each area.
The beautiful Brooke Chapel
was the focus of our spiritual
emphasis, with three new stainedglass windows installed: one in
memory of Christina Gwavu, one
of our first isiXhosa teachers and
a mother figure to many young
boys at the school at the time; and
one each for Archbishop Emeritus
Desmond Tutu and his wife Leah
(see p13). The funds were raised
through generous contributions
from Bishops families, ODs and
others; the end result is a truly
beautiful set of windows of great
significance to our community.
His Grace Archbishop Thabo
Makgoba dedicated these windows
and consecrated the Brooke Chapel
on one of his three visits last year.
6 | THE OLD DIOCESAN
The academic side of the College
was acknowledged by the opening
of the Ubuntu Learning Centre, a
hub of academic collaboration in
the heart of the academic precinct
and linked to the Molteno Library.
The magnificent new three-storey
building combines large and
adaptable teaching venues
with smaller breakaway rooms.
It was opened by His Grace early
in the third term and has been
popular with our boys as they
work there together. (See p11.)
Our cultural programme
consisted of a number of music
events, including the 175 concert
in the Memorial Chapel, in which
Bishops celebrated its 175th anniversary in fine style, says Principal Reeler.
