St David's Newsletter - 15 June 2018

From the Desk of Nick Clogg - College Deputy Headmaster: Academics

A few weeks ago I was made aware of a speech on ‘white privilege’ that has gone viral on social media. It was written by Kevin Leathem, a former colleague, and his wife, Tammy Bechus, a current St David’s staff member. With their permission, I would like to bring sections of their argument to the attention of our community, thereby allowing us to continue in this critical debate.

The speech employed an excellent starting point: white privilege is not the same thing as wealth. “Privilege simply refers to a right, advantage, or immunity that only a particular person or group get to enjoy.” For example, at St David’s, first team players are allowed to wear black and gold tracksuits - this is a privilege the boys enjoy. It does not imply that they are wealthy – it simply means that they get to enjoy something that the rest of the boys do not. I think the distinction is an important one. I know that I, for one, have certainly been guilty of falling into the trap of conflating privilege and wealth in the past. Conversely, privilege also does not imply that one cannot be wealthy.

The writers suggest that a reason why many people get defensive when they hear the term ‘white privilege’ is because they believe that their hardships and hard work are being dismissed - no one is suggesting that white people do not work hard or suffer hardships. As way of explanation, white privilege was compared to an unfair sporting pool. Adapting the analogy for the St David’s context, consider the performance of the St David’s 1st XI Hockey. In the past, the first team has been ranked in the top 10 in the country. The first team players have always worked hard - they train at 6 in the morning and most afternoons. Their hard work secured them a high ranking; but what if a magic wand could be waved and another 20 schools that excelled in hockey were added to the pool? Despite all the work in the world, St David’s would slip down in the rankings. The effort they put in would not have changed; but because the pool in which they are competing has changed, so too have their chances.
“No one is saying that white people do not work hard, but rather the hard work that white people do is allowed to amount to something because the pool is rigged in their favour.” (For the full speech, please see the link: https://deputyruminations.wordpress.com/)

I think a helpful way of approaching the subject of privilege is through the lens of ‘access’ or lack thereof: access to opportunity in which such opportunity is tipped in one’s favour. At a recent local IBSC conference, a presentation on privilege drew on a metaphor of a ‘privileged’ multi-plug whereby if one ‘ticked’ certain criteria, one would gain sequential access to this power-bank in order to receive the most benefit from the device. Each of the following allowed one to gain ‘extra’ power: being white, male, tall, English speaking, straight, Christian and able-bodied.
It reminded me of an interesting debate I heard a few years ago around access to University based on race. It appeared that some white matriculants felt aggrieved because they were not being accepted to their Universities of choice, whilst other matriculants of colour were being granted access despite having achieved fewer points from their NSC examinations. When I asked for an opinion on this from a university professor, he suggested one should consider the following: if a young person from a less privileged background attended a school with fewer resources and poorer teachers, and yet achieved a Maths aggregate of 60% - a University would then assume that if this same person of colour had access to a functional, well-resourced school, it is very likely that this same person would have achieved a distinction in Maths. Therefore, they should not be prejudiced from entry to a University simply based on having achieved a ‘lower’ mark or fewer points because the learner had been denied fair access to such facilities. Moreover, the majority of matriculants who were attending these under-resourced schools were of colour. The conclusion was simple: due to their racial predisposition, they were being denied access to opportunities.

These are ‘thorny’ issues that make many people uncomfortable. However, ultimately, St David’s Marist Inanda is committed to these ongoing discussions in which our South African society is engaging. We are always hopeful that our young men will find solutions to these and other pressing issues that arguably restrict our country from achieving her full potential. Each of us, as members of this St David’s community, needs to be equally committed to this goal.

CLOTHES TO GOOD CAMPAIGN

Our Clothes to Good clothing collection campaign starts next week. The boys will receive their bags next week and we encourage you to support this worthwhile initiative. The video takes you through the process of the Clothes to Good programme.

CLICK HERE TO READ: MINI MARIST NEWSLETTER

COLLEGE NEWS AND SPORT

OLD BOYS' ASSEMBLY
It was a pleasure to welcome many of our Old Boys to the Old Boys' Assembly last Friday.

A number of awards were made in this assembly.
Congratulations to the following boys who received their General Honours:

Keenan Heinzelmann - Music, Drama, Leadership
Simbainashe Kanyangarara - Athletics, Basketball, Leadership
Luke Rheeder - Music, Academic, Leadership

St David’s is proud to have a qualified pilot, Gerhard Human (Grade 11), amongst the student body.

Gerhard started training for the Private Pilot Licence last year in May at the FTS flight school at Grand Central Airport. This involved a practical and a theoretical component. For the theory, he had to write exams in eight subjects, and for the practical, he had to fly a minimum of 45 hours, some with an instructor and some solo. At the end of this process, he had to pass an intensive oral exam, based on all eight subjects and successfully complete a long navigation flight for which he had to do all the route and aircraft performance management planning. At the beginning of April this year, Gerhard obtained his Private Pilot Licence. Over 11 months he has flown 50 hours (with another hour of pre-flight for each flight), written eight Theory exams (achieving an average of 92%), undertaken some intense solo navigation flights (3 hours each) and passed a Prelim and Final oral and practical exam. He is now qualified to fly a Cessna 172 and flew with his first passenger (his dad) last month.

The next part of his journey is the Night Rating and the Instrument Rating and his ultimate goal is to fly Boeings for one of the world’s big airlines. Gerhard is thankful to his teachers here at St David’s who have been incredibly supportive and continue to inspire him! He is humbled by the way in which they live the Marist values and equip their students for life beyond the classroom.

St David’s looks forward to following Gerhard’s next step in following his dream to become a commercial airline pilot.

Old Sports Equipment

PLEASE donate any sport’s equipment (such as bats, rackets, hockey sticks, balls, tackies, shin pads, gloves) to our collection drive. These items can be put in the cage just in front of room 224 before the 4 July 2018 when members of the Johannesburg Junior Council will arrange for their distribution. THANKS in advance for making an effort to help those who will be most appreciative of these items.

COLLEGE RESULTS

COLLEGE WEEK AHEAD

PREP NEWS AND SPORT

FIFA WORLD CUP FEVER

Our different Grades in the Junior Primary have drawn a country for the World Cup to support. These Grades will get together and gather facts about their country. The boys are very excited for the World Cup!

BLESSING OF THE CHAPEL KNEELERS

The Grade 7 boys from the year groups of 2016 and 2017 raised sufficient money to have custom made kneelers manufactured and installed in the school chapel, the Chapel of Mary. These were blessed during this morning’s Senior Prep assembly. We extend our appreciation to the boys and their parents for their contribution to our chapel. This has certainly enhanced our worship and Mass experience.

RUGBY vs St Stithians

Grade 3:                                                          Grade 4:

3A: L 10-20                                                      4A: W 45-0
3B: W 35-5                                                       4B: W 40-10
3C: W 35-0                                                       4C: D 15-15
3D: L 10-30                                                      4D: W 40-15

Grade 5:                                                           Grade 6:

5A: L 7-19                                                        6A: W 22-0
5B: W 24-12                                                    6B: W 38-19
5C: W 62-0                                                      6C: L 38-5

Grade 7:

7A: L 19-21
7B: W 22-5

Mid-Term Soccer Clinic

Monday 25th June-Friday 29th June 2018

Grade 1-3 8:00-10:00

Grade 4-7 10:30-12:30

Cost: R 100 per day

Please click on this link and fill in the form to book: https://goo.gl/forms/YTiZQylrBXZTW0ZD2

PREP WEEK AHEAD

TODAY	15 June	Inter-house rugby
Saturday	16 June	YOUTH DAY
Monday	18 June	Drug Awareness Week commences
Tuesday	19 June	Grade 7 Science expo
Wednesday	20 June	7:00am Pop-Up Coffee chat Viewing of Grade 7 Science expo Old Boys Committee meeting
Thursday	21 June	Grade 6 Science expo ‘Power Hour’ open afternoon
Friday	22 June	School closes for half term: Grade 1-3 at 11:00 Grade 4-7 at 11:30
	23 June to 01 July	HALF TERM BREAK
Monday	02 July	School reopens for the remainder of term 2 PTA meeting

FATHERS’ DAY

We wish all dads a happy Fathers’ Day on Sunday. May you be blessed and celebrated!!

Click here to visit the Land Rover Sandton website. To book a test drive please email Leona.fourie@smh-group.co.za

REFLECTION

This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.

"Jesus is the one of whom the scripture says: The stone that you builders rejected has become the most important stone. Salvation is to be found through him alone; for there is no one else in all the world, whose name God has given to me, by whom we can be saved". Acts 4:11-12 Let us pray:
Lord God, you brought us healing through the Easter mysteries. Continue to be bountiful to your people: lead us to the perfect freedom, by which the joy that gladdens our way on earth will be fulfilled in heaven. Amen.

Fr Teboho Matseke

LITURGICAL

17 June 2018 - 11th Sunday of the Year

Ps 92: 1-2, 12-15

Mt 4: 26-34

Fr Teboho is leading a Holy Family Pilgrimage to the Holy Land and Cairo in August 2019. If you are interested in joining his external tour please contact him on matseket@stdavids.co.za and he will forward your details to the tour organiser.

SUPPORT THE PTA BY SIGNING UP FOR YOUR
MY SCHOOL CARD TODAY

We urge all parents (and grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends) to sign up for a My School Card with St David's as the beneficiary. This is an easy and effective way to help raise funds for the PTA, in support of projects at St David's.
Application can be made on-line (click here) or by downloading the My School App in the relevant App Store.

UPCOMING EVENTS

ADVERTISE HERE

VISIT THE DIRECTORY

ST DAVID'S SWOP SHOP 2018

Day	Open	Close
Monday	07h15	08h30
Tuesday	13h00	15h00
Wednesday	07h15	08h30
Thursday	07h15	08h30

ST DAVID’S MARIST INANDA 2018 CALENDAR

Term 1
Start	Wednesday 17 January
Close	Wednesday 11 April
Half Term	CLOSE	Thursday 1 March
	RETURN	Tuesday 6 March
School and Public Holidays	Wednesday 21 March (Human Rights Day) Friday 30 March (Good Friday) Monday 2 April (Family Day)

Term 2
Start	Wednesday 2 May
Close	Friday 3 August
Half Term	CLOSE	Friday 22 June
	RETURN	Monday 2 July
Public Holiday	Saturday 16 June (Youth Day)

Term 3
Start	Tuesday 4 September
Close	Thursday 6 December
Half Term	CLOSE	Thursday 18 October
	RETURN	Tuesday 23 October
Public Holiday	Monday 24 September (Heritage Day)

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