St. Catherine’s School – History

 

This Convent School was founded in the new Mining town of Germiston in 1908.
It was to fill the need of education for the children of the miners and merchants in this growing township that the Dominican Sisters of Newcastle, Natal, stepped in. The founding ideal of the sisters was to provide a solid education based on Christian values for young people.

 

With this in mind, St. Catherine's Convent was founded as the first Convent on the East Rand and the first High School in Germiston. There were two other Primary Schools in the District. The first building was erected on property purchased from Simmer and Jack near Rose Deep Mine, in Hardach Street. In a short time boys and girls were attending School from Primary level to Matric. Most of the old Germiston families have had generations of children at St. Catherine's.

 

 

 

The first premises in Hardach Street.

 

 

By  1948, with the industrialisation of the original section of Germiston, and the movement of the urban population to the South and North of the town, St. Catherine's Convent was transferred to the new site in the attractive suburb of Parkhill Gardens. Here there are fairly spacious grounds and apart from Tennis and Netball courts, and a Soccer field, there is a fine swimming pool.

 

Towards the end of 1968, the Convent decided, in conjunction with St. Dominic's, Boksburg, to cater for Primary pupils only - girls up to Grade 7 and the boys up to Grade 3. In addition to this, in 1970 St. Catherine's Pre-Primary School was recognised and registered by the Transvaal Education Department.

 

In May, 1985, St. Catherine's Principal, Sr Aelred, approached her Regional Superior about the possibility of extending the school to accommodate boys up to Grade 7. Sr Aelred then proceeded to put forward a proposal to the parents. The response was overwhelming and as from January, 1986, it was with pleasure that the Sisters and teachers of St. Catherine's opened a totally co-ed Senior Primary department.

 

1986 also saw seating and garden construction being done to the school's East wing, resulting in a beautifully paved area, complete with shrubs and flowers - a definite 'plus' to the exterior beauty of the school.

 

Towards the end of 1991, the Sisters of St. Catherine's moved into a private house, leaving many open rooms for a fast-developing school. New classrooms and toilet facilities were beautifully devised in what used to be the Sisters living quarters.

 

St. Catherine's has always been a place in which peace and harmony has stretched itself over all nations and creeds. It has been a place for pupils, teachers and parents to chat, laugh, cry and pray together. St. Catherine's has always been seen as more of a 'home-away-from-home' than a school.

It has long been the desire of the Board of Governors and many parents to re-open the High School and as from January 2001, the first Grade 8's since 1968 were admitted to St Catherine's.

From November 2003 to March 2004 the new wing was under construction. This wing comprises two new classrooms and a new Science laboratory.

 

Phase 2 of the new wing started in August 2006. This involved filling in the ground floor classrooms under the existing 1st floor classrooms.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The project was complete by the end of the year and the classrooms were occupied at the beginning of 2007.

 

2008 was a very special year for St. Catherine’s as we celebrated our centenary with a very beautiful Mass, followed by activities and much catching up with old friends.

 

The Mass was held in a marquee on the field and attended by ± 800 pupils, parents, staff and past pupils and staff.

 

A group of “Old Girls” who attended St. Catherine's in the 1950’s.

 

The pupils made a big 100 on the field to celebrate.