IN February 1954, 60 years ago 110 boys and girls were enrolled at what has become one of Durban North’s most iconic schools – Our Lady of Fatima.
Over the years the school began enrolling only girls and today a total of 614 young women are taught and administered by 60 staff members
Over the years the school has been making news. This week Our Lady of Fatima marketing manager, Meagan Ward, got stuck into the archives and unearthed some of its earliest memories.
A clipping from an article in the Durban North Sunday Chronicle from 7 February 1987 read: “For some months Durban North has watched the new Catholic school slowly rearing its stately head above Northway.”
On 21 February 1954 Arhbishop Dennis Hurley officially opened the school’s doors and in 1971 the school wished its last batch of boys farewell and the year after became an all girl school.
Tragedy hit the school when a fire raised what is today known as the front block of the school in January 1987. Ironically the iconic Statue of Our Lady was not touched by the fire. The statue can still be seen at the school today.
A Northglen News article on the front page of 29 May 1987 stated that the Sisters of the Dominican Order of St Catherine of Sienna sacraficed their living quarters for the expansion of the school following the devastating fire in January that year.
A year later Archbishop Dennis Hurley, at the official opening and blessing of the then newly built extensions, said: “In transformation of a burnt out convent to a modern school, we celebrate a mystery and all that goes with it. The pain and anguish have turned from agony to ecstasy. We look forward to the future with hope.”
The school was also one of the first to have multi-racial enrollments.
In 1989 Our Lady of Fatima held its first junior primary gala and a newspaper clipping from that year read: “All 80 children took part, many of whom were terrified of the water until very recently. With Sheila Rostron’s help their fears were largely overcome and their first gala was cause for great excitement.”
The year 1998 saw the opening of the Catherina block, which was dedicated to Sister Catherina Dunne, who was instrumental in the establishment of the school.
“The biblical core values of the school and our motto, Veritas, comprisethe heart of the school’s credo and provide strong roots that ground and support our girls to soar in an open ended and fast-changing world,” said the current principal, Dee Horsfall.
“We have concrete plans and processes in motion for the development and expansion of our school in 2014. What drives this vision is our belief that we add value to our community. We are rooted in sound educational practices and strive to ‘grow’ young women to become skilled, competent, compassionate and creative decision-makers with a dedicated sense of social justice,” she added.
