Pupils, teachers at Christel House ‘Rise Up’
PUPILS and teachers at Christel House South Africa, which serves children from disadvantaged communities in Cape Town, were celebrated for their achievements during the education-based charity’s year-end special assembly.
With “Rise Up” as the theme of the event on November 7, special awards were given to pupils and teachers who achieved outstanding results inside and outside the classroom.
Acknowledgements included academic, art and sports awards, highlighting the integrated curriculum of the school.
Grade 12 student Charanick Schrader, who achieved outstanding academic results this year, was given the valedictorian award.
“I almost can’t believe that I started at Christel House as a Grade 1 student 11 years ago. I look forward to pursuing a BCom degree at the University of the Western Cape next year. I attribute all my success to the teachers,” she said.
The morning’s proceedings included performances by the school’s 200-piece brass band, the school choir, percussion band, various dance groups and a solo performance by Grade 8 pupil Melvina Barnes, who got a standing ovation from the audience.
Special acknowledgement was given to Christel House pupils who got provincial colours in sport. These included Sikhona Sajini for sevens rugby, Sibulele Baartman for hockey, Leveldro Booysen for volleyball and Thimna Fesi for soccer.
In addition, the junior school kite festival team were honoured for winning this year’s Edukite competition at the Cape Town International Kite Festival in Muizenberg recently. This is the seventh time Christel House has won the competition.
Christel House enrols 750 pupils from 20 disadvantaged areas in Cape Town, with the purpose of breaking the cycle of poverty.
On display were various works of art produced by Christel House pupils for a new hotel in Spain, the Son Don Pablo. The hotel commissioned the pieces and asked that the school’s best pupils paint Spanish-themed artwork to be displayed in the hotel.
Christel House is a global charity that operates eight learning centres around the world. The school in Ottery, which has been running for 17 years, is the only one in Africa.