New Traditions for Founders' Day - SDC turns 13!

13 Years ago, a school started. A school that no one knew. A school with only one class per grade. A school situated between dirt roads, uncleared trees and natural surroundings and barely visible from the nearest road. Little did we know, that this school would become a home to so many.

On the 27th of February 2020, Southdowns College celebrated its annual Founders’ Day. A day to commemorate the founding of the school and the people who made it possible. It is a time for pupils and teachers alike to reflect on how far we have come together and to enjoy the satisfaction of knowing that we are part of this incredible community. This year was Southdowns College’s 13th birthday! It seems almost surreal to conjure up memories of how the school has changed and grown over the years.

This year, Southdowns started a new Founders’ Day tradition. Each high school grade planted a tree on the campus. This tree symbolises growth and prosperity, representing the development of all the pupils in their respective grades for that year. Mr Kok, the school’s Dramatic Arts teacher, very aptly addressed the grade 11’s in saying, “A tree signifies being rooted in your values and anchored in who you are. No matter what happens in your life, this tree will always be here to show you how far you have come.”

In addition to the tree-planting initiative, each pupil also received a cupcake. It is, after all, the school’s birthday! This was followed by an entertaining assembly, where the school was serenaded by the choir’s mellifluous sound after being welcomed in by the tuneful playing of the school’s marimba band. It was a magnificent performance, consisting of a medley of euphoniously performed songs with harmonies, actions and more; captivating the audience from start to finish. The choir’s magnificent Founders’ Day performances have almost become a tradition in their own right.

Finally, the day came to a close, when all the pupils departed for mid-term break; an excellent way to conclude the festivities. It seems almost funny the think that just a few years ago, the entire school from grade 000 to 12 was able to fit into the SAX Arena for Founder’s Day assembly. And now, the high school can barely fit by themselves. It is truly amazing to see how far we have come, and even more amazing to think how far we will still go.