St Dominic’s centenary celebration

This is a special year for St Dominic’s Catholic School for Girls as they are celebrating 100 years of excellence.

The celebration of the school turning 100 on July 25, started with the planting of 100 pink rose bushes near the entrance of the school on March 19.

The rose garden was designed and conceptualised by the former primary school principal, Yvonne Van Dyk, and was officially opened by Stephany Thiel.

“I’m so privileged to be part of such a beautiful legacy and we are so excited to reach this milestone. We indeed carried a legacy of honest, hardworking and talented people, which is what we also teach. We want to educate tomorrow’s leaders,” said the executive headmaster of the school, Roger Loring.

In line with the 100th festivities, St Dominic’s handed out beads to their students to wear proudly in representation of their centenary celebration. These beads came from an organisation in Kwa-Zulu Natal that gives local artists a platform to show their work.

The beads came with letters showing who made the bead and a little message of appreciation.

Furthermore, the school had a reunion for the girls that were in the school on May 6.

The girls were given an opportunity to show if they still had skills, they performed during the drummies competition which took place on the same day.

“The reunion gave us a platform to catch up with each other at our school. It is lovely to be in a room filled with people who used to attend the same school. Events like these remind you of where you came from and the ambitions you had when you left the school,” said some of the former learners.

St Dominic’s also celebrated a 100-year dinner dance and a drummie reunion and cocktail party on May 6.

History of St Dominic’s Catholic School for Girls
St Dominic’s School is an independent academic institution where all religions and races are welcome and was established in 1923.

Over the years a lot of catholic schools closed due to financial issues thereafter a lot of learners came to St Dominic’s convent in Boksburg.

St Dominic’s convent in Boksburg was founded by Rose Niland which was later changed to St Dominic’s Catholic School for Girls.

Over the years the overpopulation in the school made it financially impossible to have the kids stay in the premises of the school.

The school made a decision to turn the school from a boarding school to a modern-day school with traditional values.

“The school is 100 years and so is the building. The school has existed for a very long time and has developed in a lot of ways over the ways,” said Roger.

“The school’s education system differed because St Dominic’s wanted an alternative education system for Catholics, a Dominican value system and a school that is very diverse.”

St Dominic’s developed a preschool that is now 25 years.

Heritage room

The heritage room located in the original children’s chapel is a museum of all the catholic schools that existed in Gauteng.

Bits and pieces have been gathered from these schools to make this room and leave a legacy.

The room was initially Flora Mcglynn’s idea to start this room.

Former principal Geraldine Gous now takes care of the room and she has kept everything that was of importance to the school.

“I know this is a legacy that will live for more than I can so I hope the upcoming generation takes care of the museum the same way the other sisters took care of it,” said Gous.

The museum contains all history of the school’s existence including uniforms from the beginning of the school.

“We kept the designs of the school uniforms from the first one to the ones we have now. We also kept the drummies uniforms,” she added.

More 100th celebratory events
The school will commemorate its 100th birthday throughout the year.

A centenary mass will be held on August 4 at 10:00.

On September 16, there will be a centenary alumni reunion at 15:00.

Moreover, there will be a St Dominic’s Christmas market on November 30.

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