LEADERSHIP PERSPECTIVES

By contrast, when you decide to make a charitable donation, aside from a tax incentive, the return on your equity is not clearly defined. As we celebrate the 60^th anniversary of St Alban’s College, I honour our founders for making these charitable investments, in both time and capital. I honour those that continue to do so. We have occasion to celebrate Albanians who have been prepared for life. Business leaders, Olympians, World Cup winners and an array of committed citizens of the new South Africa. We are keenly aware of the challenges that our country faces and to paraphrase the words of Margaret Mead: “we do not doubt that our small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” St Alban’s College has a demonstrable return that is worth investing in.

St Alban’s College is no longer a young school. It is a school which was founded on the values of the Christian faith, embraced diversity and developed a culture of ensuring that every young man who walks through our doors feels as though he belongs here.Our school experienced an exciting albeit sometimes difficult infancy, grew stronger during the turbulent teens was an innovative and forward looking young adult and I am now confident that we are experiencing a modicum of maturity in our 58th year. This is a proud institution and you should be proud of it too!

St Alban’s is a school which is happy yet rigorous, it is a school which is modern yet grounded in traditional values, it is a school which is real yet compassionate, it is a school which lives in the present yet prepares for the world of tomorrow, it is a school which values individuality yet understands the importance of the team and the brotherhood, it is a school where freedom of speech thrives yet we place more value in listening, it is a school where diversity, respect and tolerance lives, it is a school where thinking is encouraged, it is a school where pupils’ opinions count, it is a school where dreams are fulfilled, it is a school of brothers!

St Alban’s College has always been known for its tightly knit community, for its sense of belonging, for its authentic manners and family values, for the way it hosts opposing schools on derby days and during traditional fixtures and, most importantly, for the way we interact with each other in a respectful, accepting and honest manner.

May we enter into our Diamond Jubilee with a confidence and sense of humility born from authenticity and stay firmly grounded in our values.

I join you in thanksgiving before God. From humble beginnings you have grown to take your place amongst the top schools in the land. Your alumni are to be found amongst the captains of industry, economics, social sciences and elsewhere, making important contributions to the quest for a better world. We acknowledge with gratitude the hard work of our exceptional staff and the achievements of our learners over the years. They have helped to bring us here.

Over sixty years an exceptional school was built. Now it is our time to help others get where we are. The St Augustine’s Diocesan LEAP School in Ga-Rankuwa is the youngest of our Church schools in this Diocese. We are hoping to elevate it to the same status as St Albans’. This we can do by coming alongside them by adopting them as a special corporate community investment project.

May you grow from strength to strength. God bless.

I had a dream that day of attending a unique boys school in Pretoria. Now 60 years later, having attended the College from its foundation, served on the staff as fourth Headmaster and now as a Trustee of the Foundation, I am proud that the dream has been realised.  We give thanks to God for the many blessings He has bestowed on the College during this time.

I now have a new dream! I dream of a College with a strong Endowment which enables the admission of talented young leaders, regardless of their economic background, who will serve our country and participate actively in building of the community of the city.

I invite you to share this dream and make this the focus of our Diamond Jubilee and the next 60 years.

Floreat St Albans College and Inkosi ikusikelele isikolo sethu.

A solitary new building (the Struben Block) rose incongruously above a miscellany of the well-used farming infrastructure. This edifice became the home to 43 boarders, day boys and academic and support staff. Their allegiance served as the bedrock upon which six decades of endeavor would serve to transform the College from a humble construction site into a monument of scholastic excellence and personal development – now acknowledged as one of the most exceptional educational institutions, with its ambassadors sprinkled throughout the globe.

The unique familial founding culture has been preserved through six decades of endeavour and, today it is an unqualified privilege to behold the integrity of young men that continue to graduate from this establishment.  The road from farm-site to a modern, world-class development has not been without hardship and, yet the College has prevailed – and prevailed with distinction. This dedication and resolve is the hallmark of the College and will ensure that its outreach will serve many future generations of young men who will traverse through its doors.

This is an incredible milestone achieved by the school and a proud moment to celebrate. It would not have been possible without the dedication and commitment of its key stakeholders namely the Founders, Headmasters, Council members, dedicated educators, parents, and Old Boys’ community, amongst other friends and supporters of the College. It is through pulling together in one direction, with one purpose and vision, that we are now able to celebrate the school’s 60^th anniversary in a really good place.

The school’s motto “It takes a school with vision to prepare a young man for life” is exactly what the school has done for me personally. It has prepared me for the peaks and troughs that life brings. May the school continue to deliver on this promise, developing young men who will make a positive impact in the different spaces they will occupy in the world – upholding the principle of Custos Veritatis (Guardians of the Truth).

Long may the College prosper!

For this reason, the words “it takes a school with a vision to prepare young man for life” deeply resonate with me.

Much of my boldness to taken on  the world with its many challenges come from the character building  which took place during my time at the  college.  My wish for Akani as he commences his journey at the college is he is set up to thrive in a highly turbulent global context for the future.  This is for him  to become  a well-adjusted, fully contributing member of society who can add to  solutioning of key societal challenges.  From my engagement with Shane and his capable team and the plans for the school, I am confident he is good hands.

I have been struck by how much the College has grown in stature during this time, but at the same time aware that the “feel” of the place has remained the same. So many people who visit the College for the first time comment on this intangible “feel”. It just feels good, and there is a special energy and presence.

At 60 years old, the College has matured into an exceptional school for young men, confident in its identity, and proud of its history, yet humble and grounded. It is unafraid to confront the many challenges of our society, brave in its determination to be better, and unyielding in its primary goal to prepare young men for life. The past sixty years of staff, leaders, pupils, and parents have all helped to mould and create an incredible school that we can all be very proud of. As a result of this solid foundation and intrenched set of values, there can be no doubt that St Alban’s will continue to educate and develop young men who will have impact and make a difference in the world.

Remembering  only some of the achievements, like being the first Anglican School in South Africa to admit pupils of colour.  Or, in 1982, being the first school in South Africa to start its outreach programmes for teachers and pupils from the townships.

Going forward, my wish is that St Alban’s College will continue to be in the forefront, and that the school will continue as a member of the top schools in the country – academically; on the sports fields – and that they never lose sight of caring for the poor and needy. I remain convinced that the College will always have so much to do in our lovely South Africa, and that the school must continue to evolve and develop strategies and projects where the College remains one of the thought leaders, and trendsetters in the country.