Mayfair Convent School Centenary Celebrations – 100 Years’ Dedication to Mercy Education in South Africa
Mayfair Convent School turns 100 – a year to celebrate a very successful past! A year filled with hustle and bustle by learners and teachers to open our doors to the past and the present. Things had to be done!
Situated as the only Catholic, Christian school, entirely surrounded by Muslim mosques and Indian schools, we continue to further Catherine McAuley’s Mercy Ethos in an educational institution. Learners are being bused in by taxi from as close as 10km to as far as 50km away. Not a single child lives in the immediate vicinity and yet we hold 647 learners from Gr. 0 – 7.
The first two “Sisters” assigned to Mayfair
It was decided that a musical “A Dream Come True” presented during the evenings of 9th, 10th and 11th September and a Mass celebration on Friday 13th September would be our celebration focus.
Interpreting “You raise me up” in dance
Researching history began in earnest and Mrs Stols-Morubane, one of the teachers, turned what history we could trace into a musical, telling the story on stage. 215 learners were auditioned and work started! Every Wednesday during extra-mural times different teachers honed the skills of the different groups. Mrs Antill trained the Gr. 0’s for a dance sequence and appropriate costumes were sourced. Mrs Boekhoud-Kruger waltzed until she counted “one, two, three, up” in her sleep! Long drives with the cameras to capture old school scenes for backdrops were undertaken. Miss James and Mr. Cresswell spent hours rehearsing with the choir.
The week before the event, things started to happen and the play came together with tweaks being made here and there. Gosh we were getting very smart, renting sound equipment with stage lights and even a fog machine. Excitement mounted, nerves were frayed, tears started flowing, but our children did not let us down.
My African Dream
The concert played to packed audiences for three nights, entertaining proud parents, past teachers and students and all the Mercy Sisters from the province.
At the same time preparations for the Centenary Mass were being attended to. New vestments were bought, a huge 32cm host was acquired, new candlesticks and a fancy new altar cloth were purchased. We even bought new podium covers on which were printed “Year of Faith”, a Mercy Cross and the Mayfair Convent School badge. Birthday banners and pictures showing Mercy life in South Africa were displayed on the walls.
The new banner for the lectern
On Friday 13th September at 8.30 am, Archbishop Thlagale, Fr. Lazlo and Fr. Bailey concelebrated the Mass. This proved to be a very spiritual and special experience for all who were present. After the Mass, Gr. 0’s released balloons with butterflies on which they had written “God Bless You”.
The day ended with oohs and aahs as Sr. Kathy Rule, the Provincial Leader, cut the birthday cake.
A well deserved party followed.
Amalia Filiantris
Principal, Mayfair Convent
South African Province
