This year, in preparation for Family Day services, I returned to the following quote by Archbishop Desmond Tutu: “A person is entitled to a stable community life, and the first of these communities is the family.” Archbishop Tutu’s words are a reminder that familial relationships are the cornerstone of a person’s social and emotional well-being. It is within the family that individuals often first experience love, support and shared values, shaping their understanding of community life. It is also a reminder that a stable family provides a foundation for individuals to grow, learn and develop a sense of belonging and identity.

St Mary’s educational philosophy cautions against the school taking on responsibility that is not ours.

Our relationship with parents requires full co-operation and mutual support and an acknowledgement that there are aspects of the child’s education which are the responsibility of parents and family and are not the business of the school (paragraph 9).

The educational philosophy also emphasises the importance of fostering collaborative relationships.

The St Mary’s educational philosophy is premised on a relationship between parents, girls and the school. Ours is a learning community which values its girls, their parents, their teachers and all who work in the school (paragraph 8).

As a Christian school, we are called to support families’ educational mission and we do so first of all with the light of the Word of God. In doing so, we can support the family in fulfilling one of their essential characteristics: to educate children to grow in responsibility for themselves and others. Together, we can model for children what it means to be a member of an ethical community.

REVD RAKGADI
KHOBO CHAPLAIN