The St James Roman Catholic Primary School in Kalk Bay, which is celebrating 150 years of existence, marked the milestone with a special event on Thursday.
The school was established in 1874 by an Irish priest, Father Duignam, to teach the children of the Filipino fishing community in St James, and was formerly known as the St James Mission School.
It has a rich history and served as a hospital during the 1918 flu epidemic. The St James Station overlooking the beach is named after the school.
The St James Church occupied the spot where the station was, in 1900. The Cape government decided to build a station on the spot where the church stood.
At a meeting between Duignam and the manager of the railway authorities, the priest suggested that the station be named St James. The church building was then demolished and rebuilt at its current location.
Today the school has just under 300 pupils from Grade R to Grade 7. Principal Lynette Saunders described the school’s 150th anniversary as a major achievement.
“To be able to remain relevant and to have such far-reaching effects on the lives of those both present and past is testimony to the school’s mission statement of having Jesus Christ as its cornerstone and to place the wellbeing of the learners first,” said Saunders.
Over the years, she said, the school had received amazing accolades and consistently achieved excellent pass rates.
The school choir participates in the annual Catholic Schools Choir Festival, and in 2023 it achieved first place in the Sustainable Schools Marine and Coast category. Several learners have also gone on to Western Province trials in soccer, as well as in chess.
There are two buses providing transport to learners from Ocean View, Masiphumelele and Fish Hoek. The school also works closely with SOS (Save Our Seas) and spends two terms with the organisation. Regular beach clean-ups are conducted and the school has a vegetable garden.
Principal Saunders said: “I know of no other school that has continued to keep its feet firmly planted in the community. Over the years the community has expanded to include Ocean View, Masiphumelele, Fish Hoek, Capricorn, Muizenberg, Steenberg and Retreat.
“The school has worked hard to establish partnerships with organisations in the community. Despite its phenomenal role in the community, it remains one of the lowest fee-paying schools in the area and has a long list of people who want their child to attend the school.”
At the 150 year celebration on Thursday, the learners and staff enjoyed a fun-filled day of entertainment, with each class putting on a skit, dance or song.
The school’s birthday party was made special by donations from Fish Hoek Pick n Pay, Olympia Bakery and Salt Restaurant in Kalk Bay.
