St John’s College celebrates Gaudy Day
The annual Gaudy Day at St John’s College was held in celebration with the school’s 125th birthday and a rugby match.
A continental celebration was held at St John’s College in Houghton for their annual Gaudy Day. The celebration was held on July 8. Chairperson of the Heritage Committee at St John’s College, Jane Lane said Gaudy Day in Latin roughly translates as a celebration. She said, “at St John’s, it is a day when the school invites the Old Johannians back to school to celebrate their time here, engaging in many sporting and cultural activities together. This year it seemed fitting to launch the 125 story celebrating the school in its 125th year through the 125 Heritage Exhibition.”
Executive headmaster of St John’s College, Stuart West said the day was special to him as it was the first time that he had been re-united with his two predecessors. He also thanked the Eton College (England) staff for choosing St John’s for a wonderful rugby game and was thrilled to find out that they are 583 years old.
“You’ve all been shaped by this beautiful school, been part of it and we have to dream of what contribution we make in the next 125 years. In a country that is more complex and different, yet we have a calling to Johannesburg and this country and we have to define that, grow it and be confident. I certainly commit to being part of that,” said Stuart.
Adriénne van den Heever of Totem Media narrated how Totem Media came on board to work with St John’s College on bringing Lane’s vision to creating an exhibition that honours the heritage of St John’s for its 125th anniversary. “In October last year we had a workshop where we brainstormed. We wanted key elements of something that can celebrate 125 years while making a meaningful contribution to the day, how we could bring history to life and make it relevant to today and tomorrow. So we used that as a road map to develop the exhibition.”
Bea Roberts also of Totem Media said there was a wealth of material to work with. “We distilled the themes and divided them into three parts according to the motto of St John’s which is Lux Vita Caritas.”
Lux which means light, shone a light on the development of St John’s over the past 125 years, from its humble beginnings in Plein Street to the extraordinary school it has become. The exhibition’s second part is all about Vita – the lifeblood of the school: work, sport, arts and culture, clubs and societies, Houses, Chapel, social events, breaks and playtime. The exhibition’s final section is Caritas – the spiritual dimension of school life, the values and ethos underpinning Christian faith, which has shaped the St John’s community over 125 years.
Lane said the exhibition is permanent, “it has all been happening for 125 years, a quiet revolution and it is only in looking back that we see the change and understand that change is in response to our lives, the living breathing people who belong here. You!”
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