Page 36 - Bulletin 13 2009

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The Golden Jubilee of Star of the Sea in 1958 was celebrated by the announcement that
a start would be made on the plans for a new block in front of the convent. Work started

on this block in 1961. It consisted of an Assembly Hall, four classrooms, an art room, a
science lab, a music-room and a dining-hall, was completed at a cost of R40,000 and

was formally opened on 9 February 1963. (Fig. 1.20). Mother Gonzalva Nolan had been

appointed as overseer for the building of the new block. The strain on her took its toll
and sadly she had a stroke and died shortly after the completion.

Later that year in September the centenary of the arrival of the first six Irish Dominican

Sisters in South Africa was celebrated. They had arrived on the mail steamer Saxon
from their Mother House, Cabra Dublin, to plant the seeds of Truth in this distant land.

In 1973 the school roll was Senior School (143 pupils), Junior School (230 pupils) and

the Mission School, Kalk Bay (213 pupils) – a total of 586 pupils.

In 1981 a major decision was taken, i.e. to close the Senior School - due to rising costs,

to sell Maryville the pre-school (bought in 1966 for R15 000 and originally housing
twenty-five boarders), and to consolidate and concentrate the classes up to Standard

Five.

Today Star of the Sea has nearly three hundred and fifty-two pupils and the amenities
include an after-school care centre, a pre-school and Grade One (Sub A) to Standard

Five (Grade Seven).

The children coming to Star are indeed blessed as they have a wonderful environment in

which to learn. Learning at Star is done in a firm, yet relaxed atmosphere and the
children make use of the seaside facilities across the road for environmental lessons, as

well as using the swimming pool for PT lessons. Even though Grade 1 is a far cry from
Grade 7, there is an educational bridge between the two as the Grade 7’s come to the

Grade 1’s on a weekly basis to have literacy classes which they call Book Buddies. In

this way a caring bond is made between the older and younger children. Included in the
daily activities are Xhosa lessons in order to encourage the learning of a third language.