As the St John’s College headmaster prepares to retire, he wishes the community a joyful festive season
St John's College's 2025 highlights include donating 8000 canned food on Mandela Day
As we approach Christmas, St John’s College headmaster Stuart West is reminded of a story from what was once the Belgian Congo.
“A missionary, teaching the Christmas narrative, spoke of the wise men’s arduous journey, how they walked thousands of miles from Babylonia, searching for over two years for the Christ child,” he said. West emphasised that the true offering to the new Messiah was not the gifts they carried. It was their journey itself – the countless miles traversed, the perseverance and the compelling faith that propelled them forward. Their walk was a gift to the Christ child.
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The headmaster noted that 2025 at the school was the ‘walk’. “Our learners excelled across sport, culture, and academics. We’ve hosted national tournaments, toured internationally, and seen remarkable individual achievements.”
The chapel worship, sacred music and the care of the staff reminded him of what it meant to be a community of light, life, and love.
West highlighted that the school’s faith in action continued to flourish, ” Our Academy programme continues to thrive, our learners collected over 1 000 books through our reading initiative. 8 000 cans were donated on Mandela Day, extending the gift of education and care beyond our gates.”
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He said as he prepared to leave St John’s at the end of this year, he was grateful for the staff’s dedication, parents’ partnership, and to learners who understood that St John’s prepares them not only for successful careers, but for meaningful lives.
“For Joyanne [his wife] and I, these past six years have been a walk shaped by a community who have loved, challenged, and supported us. My walk at St John’s is the gift I will carry and cherish forever.”
West wishes the St John’s College community a Christmas filled with joy.
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