PHILOMENA PRE-SCHOOL

There is no more noble occupation in the world than to assist another human being – to help someone succeed”

St Philomena’s Pre-Primary School is playing an active part in the service of the children’s needs in the community and in residential care.

The School has always lived up to their Mission to be commited to quality education, by mainteining high standards in developing each child holistically in a safe and caring environment.

Thanks to the interest shown by the community, our pre-school continues to operate with a manageable compliment of learners.  The introduction of a management committee which consists of parents and the educators, has certainly proved to be of benefit to the running of the school.  Regular meetings are held to discuss ways in which we can improve services to the school, and thus make it more conducive to learning.

The involvement of the parents has proved that they have embraced the school and the vision we have adopted.  It is encouraging to see that every parent meeting we held was exceptionally well attended.  All fundraising efforts are extremely successful, thanks to the interest shown by the parents.

This year we enrolled a total of 37 children at the beginning of the year, 23 are full day and 14 half day. We continue to have 3 groups: red group – 3 years; orange group – 4 years; and blue group – 5 years old (Grade R).

It is pleasing to report that our enrolment for 2014/2015 has not decreased, and that there is every indication that our enrolment for 2016 will increase.  If this need does arise, we are well prepared and have planned for a capacity of 60 children.

 

Apart from Montessori method of teaching,our calendar is accupied with the following activities:

* Excursions / outings once a term.

* Theme day (Once a month).

*  Sports Day

* Extracurricular activities are optional at a fee (Swimming and Karate Lessons).

We have decided to increase lightly our fees for the 2015 for full day children, while the half day remind the same as last year, we do realize the need to be affordable to most.

Despite this, we are aware that there are many children in the community who cannot afford these fees, hence our ongoing efforts to secure extra funding.  you can certainly assist by contributing to a bursary fund which we will soon be setting up.  Your contribution to this fund could mean one more child getting the early interventions they so vitally need.

Thanks to the board of Management, the Pre-school committee all the parents and the community for the ongoing support, also to the management committee for your interest and support and to the teachers for their sterling work.

SAINTS HOSPITALITY CENTRE

Saints Hospitality Centre continues to offer to our diverse groups and clients, a good conference and function venue and a place of rest, at very low prices.

We continue to commit ourselves to providing the best service at the lowest rates possible and to maintain our buildings as best as we can.

We offer cottages that accommodate up to 14 people; flats that accommodate up to 4 people and flatlets that accommodate up to 2 people.

For conferencing we offer a Hall that accommodates up to 200 people cinema style, a training room that accommodates up to 35 people in a  “U” shape setting, the board room, which seats up to 15 people and the classroom that accommodates 11 people.

 

FROM THE CHILDREN HOME

It gives me pleasure to present a report on St. Philomena’s Childrens Home.

It has been a challenging but awesome five months for me at St Philomena’s getting to know each child with their different personalities and character has been a fulfillng experience. It is indeed a blessing to try and mould each unique individual into a wholesome being.

Currently we have 29 girls in our care, they are housed in different sections viz: Bethany, which houses 9 girls from the ages of 6 – 12; Eden, housing 13 girls from the age of 13 – 18 and Galilee which houses the after care program, girls age from 18 to 21. The aftercare programme is an initiative of St Philomena’s which runs for a two year period. The main objective if the programme is to encourage and foster independent living amongst the girls.

We have exciting programmes and outings planned for the girls in the months to come and hope to fulfill each and every item and outing listed. Our children are also allowed on their individual school excursions. We have been on a few outings to the parks, the movies and visiting other homes. A group of our girls belongs to the NACCW youth forum, where they attend sessions on a monthly basis. Two of our older girls attend the Kip McGrath Centre at westville, In a Cell C bring a girl child to work initiative. They fared very well at the centre and have been invited over again. We have also encouraged the centre to assist our girls with tuition in Mahts and English.

WE have also arranged talks and programmes with students from Unisa – Law Department; UKZN medical students; Boston Medial College to name few, creating opportunities fir the girls to be exposed to different careers.

We have a dedicated, hard working staff at the children’s home and our main aim and goal is to strive to do our best for each child placed in our care.

We face obstacles and challenges every other day, but through God’s grace, our team work and assitance and guidance from each of you, we know we can achieve greater heights of success.

Many thanks goes out to our donors and sponsors who so willingly dedicate themselves to assist us in cash or kind, we appreciate every gesture whole heartedly.

When we think of the aims of the year of the consecrated life, we can also adopt those aims in the home.

To look at the past with gratitude: Every obstacle that has hindered us, we are grateful that we have conquered and overcome.

To live the present with Passion: whatever project we undertake, we are giving it our 110% effort.

To embrace the future with hope: Let us look at our girls making a success of themselves as adults of the next generation.

In conclusion I would like to say thank you once again to each of you and may you be richly blessed for the impact you have made at St Philomena’s.

Nadine Govender

Childcare Manager

It is unbelievable that it is 4 years since Mr. Carey passed away, since then I have been walking in his footsteps in St Phil’s. I have to admit that St Philomena’s lost a very good Director. It has not been easy but if I put my trust in God, everything will be fine.

This year I would like to share a reading from the Gospel of Luke 24:13-35.

“That very day two of them were going to a village name Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened.   While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.   And he said to them, what is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?. And they said to him, “concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man that was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers deliver him up to condemn him to death”. And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken, was not necessary that he Christ should suffer these things and enter into his Glory?” So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he was going further, but they urged him strongly, saying, “stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent”. So he went in and stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took the bread and blessed it, broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were open and they recognised him.

Many times during the past year, I felt like the disciples of Emmaus, I felt like to leave everything and going back, I felt I was loosing my energy and it was necessary to leave. Then on my walk I found many people that appear as Jesus to me on the road, these people are:

The board members, those that have been always there for me and who extend their hands to me and show me that there is still a long way to go and that I am not alone, they are also walking this road with me.

The other people that also played the role of Jesus on my journey during the past year was Mandy Goble who is always ready to help me when I come with my challenges to her, Mandy thank you very much for yout constant help and support.

Debbie Bowes from St Theresa’s, Thank you Debbie for helping me during the absence of the Social Worker, I learnt a lot from you regarding quarterly reports, claims and contacts for the Department of Social Services.

In all these people I found the presence of the good Lord walking with me, and I knew I was not alone on this road, they were the ones whom I shared what was happening during these days in St Phils and they always showed me the way.

I am very grateful for all the help and support from the Management team. Devena from KZN Book keepers, Cathy, Ntombi and Zeph. Thank you very much for everything and I think together we form a good team.

 

To all my staff ;

At the children’s home, thank you, it is not easy to work with children, but I know you are managing.

At the Hospitality Centre, thank you to you all for the hard work and let us keep it up.

To Zane Jacobs, and Chris Pretorius, thank you for the great effort you are putting into our Centre and Saints Students Accommodation

At the Pre-School teachers and staff, thank you for being so caring toward all the children that come to the Pre-school.

Its been a year since we welcome on board,” Hands on People Empowerment”, who have revive the Skills Centre for women and will run it in our name, Thank you Debbie, Claudine, Jacqui and Yvonne, thank you for believing in us, I know Sister John Mary is dancing in heaven, knowing that the Skills Centre whom together with Sister Monica they made it a reality to help the women in crisis, is coming back to life.

I will keep on praying so that the good Lord will always keep us afloat and that He will be with us always on the road we walk every day, and that we always recognise him walking with us but especially in the breaking of bread together.

Thank you.

Herman Giraldo