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Click here to catch up on some of our weekly newsletters or take a look at some recent highlights below.
AI Research Partnership
ST CHARLES COLLEGE AND EQUITAS LAUNCH AI RESEARCH PARTNERSHIP
St Charles College and Equitas recently announced a groundbreaking research partnership that has the potential to transform teaching, learning, and assessment. Rather than replacing teachers, Equitasโ AI-driven solutions empower educators to engage students more effectively, providing levels of insight, personalisation, and support previously unattainable.
At the launch event, Professor Alastair van Heerden and Mr Kurt Ferreira of Equitas demonstrated the platformโs capabilities, including advanced optical character recognition, AI-assisted assessment, and comprehensive feedback systems for students, teachers, and school leaders. Importantly, the technology has been developed in response to real classroom challenges, with applications shaped by teachers seeking practical ways to strengthen studentsโ conceptual understanding.
The partnership has already produced compelling research outcomes, highlighting the significant impact AI can have in enhancing teaching practice and
improving learning outcomes. Both St Charles College and Equitas recognise the opportunity this innovation presents โ not only for individual schools, but for education systems more broadly.
We are proud to be collaborating with such a forward-thinking organisation and are excited about the opportunities ahead. Together, we believe this partnership can contribute meaningfully to the future of education, enabling more effective teaching, deeper learning, and greater educational impact for students both at St Charles College and across South Africa. – Mr Allen van Blerk (Principal)
Saints Cricket Represents
Congratulations to Jayden Saville on his selection to represent the Switzerland U19 cricket team on the international stage!
Jaydenโs attacking approach with the bat and his precision with the ball have made him a standout performer. His ability to swing the ball and make an impact in key moments is a testament to the countless hours of hard work, dedication, and commitment he has invested in his game. We are incredibly proud of this outstanding achievement and excited to see Jayden take the next step in his cricketing journey. Representing your country is a special honour and one that is richly deserved.
Congratulations once again, Jayden. We wish you every success in Switzerland colours and look forward to following your international career with great pride. Your Saints family is behind you every step of the way! โ Mr Divan van Wyk (Sports Marketing)
Mini Comrades and Inter House Cross Country
Friday morning was filled with anticipation and excitement as our Prep School community gathered for the annual Mini Comrades and Inter House Cross Country event. With music echoing from the Pavilion and boys eagerly awaiting their turn on the start line, the campus was buzzing with energy from the very first race.
The morning began with the Senior Primary boys, as our Year 4, 5, 6 and Form 1 runners tackled a challenging 2km course that wound its way across a variety of terrains around the campus. The boys showed tremendous determination and resilience as they competed for valuable Inter House points, cheered on by their peers, parents and staff.
Following the Senior Primary races, the spotlight shifted to our youngest runners. The Scrummies took centre stage, beginning with the Year 0 boys before the Year 00 and Year 000 runners took on their courses. One of the highlights of the morning was seeing so many parents lace up their running shoes to join their sons on the course, creating special memories and adding to the wonderful family atmosphere that surrounded the event. All Scrummies participants completed a 1km course with enthusiasm and huge smiles.
The Junior Primary races followed, with our Year 1 boys running 1km, before the Year 2s took to the course, choosing either the 1km or 2km distance. The morning concluded with our Year 3 boys, who impressively completed the full 2km course. Throughout the races, boys demonstrated courage, perseverance and a willingness to challenge themselves, embodying the spirit of the Mini Comrades. The boys โregisteredโ to run this morningโs race by making a donation towards Rainbows and Smiles โ a community-based charitable foundation dedicated to supporting children, and the families, who are diagnosed with a life-threatening illness.
The event was made even more special by the incredible support from families who lined the course and enthusiastically encouraged every runner. The cheers and encouragement created an atmosphere that inspired boys of all ages to give their very best. A special word of thanks must go to our Senior Primary “hares”, who accompanied and guided many of the Junior Primary and Scrummies runners around the course.
Their encouragement, leadership and willingness to serve played a significant role in the success of the morning and exemplified the caring culture of our school.
The Mini Comrades and Inter House Cross Country once again proved to be a wonderful celebration of participation, perseverance and community spirit. Well done to all the boys who took part and contributed to such a memorable morning. โ Mr Matthew Coombes (Head of Prep Sport)
Tour to St David's
Over the weekend, more than 500 St Charles College boys, and staff, travelled to Johannesburg to join St David’s for their Old Boys Weekend. From debating and chess to a full programme of sporting fixtures, it was a weekend filled with competition, camaraderie and memorable experiences. Thank you to St David’s for their outstanding hospitality.
1st XV Rugby vs St David's
Our final fixture of the regular season saw us travel to Johannesburg to take on St David’s as part of a full school exchange. Heading into the fixture, we were coming off the back of two hugely demanding encounters against Glenwood High School and St Stithians College. Both matches had taken a significant toll on the group, not only physically but emotionally as well. As a coaching staff, much of our focus during the week centred around ensuring that the boys recovered well and arrived at the final fixture of the season fresh, motivated, and ready for the challenge that awaited them.
With this in mind, our training load was adjusted throughout the week. The preparation was positive, and the boys approached the occasion with a good attitude and intent, understanding the importance of finishing the season strongly. Unfortunately, we did not get off to the start we had hoped for.ย
The kick-off was delayed by 20 minutes, resulting in an extended period of downtime after we had already completed our normal pre-match preparations โ and it certainly impacted our early momentum and rhythm. Despite this, the boys competed exceptionally well during the opening exchanges. The match developed into a fiercely contested battle, with both teams showing plenty of attacking intent and physicality. We managed the first half well and were rewarded for our efforts, taking a deserved 12 โ 8 lead into the halftime break. We entered the second half with renewed energy, determined to build on our first-half performance. However, credit must go to St David’s, who emerged from the break with great intensity and managed to capitalise on several opportunities early in the second half. A couple of quick scores shifted the momentum in their favour and forced us to chase the game. While the result ultimately did not go the way we had envisioned, what pleased us most was the character shown by the group. The boys remained committed to the contest, continued to fight for one another, and competed right until the final whistle. There were valuable lessons to be taken from the encounter, lessons that will undoubtedly contribute to the growth and development of this group moving forward.
The final score saw St David’s emerge victorious on their Old Boysโ Day, 29 โ 19. Although disappointing to finish the regular season with a defeat, there were many positives to take from the weekend. Across the programme, our age-group teams delivered some excellent performances, while our open-age teams secured a number of impressive victories. From a programme perspective, we are pleased with the overall health and direction of rugby at St Charles College, and the foundations laid throughout 2026 position us well for what promises to be an exciting 2027 season.
Finally, a sincere thank you must go to all the staff involved in organising and managing such a large-scale exchange. The amount of planning, coordination, and effort required behind the scenes is immense and greatly appreciated. We would also like to extend our gratitude to St David’s for their outstanding hospitality throughout the weekend. We look forward to welcoming them to St Charles College in 2027 for the return leg of this special exchange. โ Mr Craig Dwyer (Head Coach)
1st XI Hockey vs St David's
The St Charles 1st XI travelled to Johannesburg on Friday morning to take on St David’s on their Old Boys’ Day, producing one of their most encouraging performances of the season, despite narrowly going down 2 โ 1. From the opening whistle, SCC imposed themselves on the game, controlling both possession and territory. The visitors moved the ball with purpose and created several promising attacking opportunities but were unable to find the finishing touch that their play deserved. Despite St Charles’ dominance, it was St David’s who struck first. A quick breakaway provided their first real opportunity of the match, and their attacker calmly rounded off the move with a composed finish in a one-on-one situation against the goalkeeper.
The setback did little to disrupt our rhythm. The boys continued to dictate proceedings, retaining possession well and applying sustained pressure in the attacking half. Their persistence was eventually rewarded when a well-worked attack resulted in a powerful strike from the P-spot area that crashed into the backboard at the near post, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance and levelling the scores at 1 โ 1.
The second half followed a similar pattern, with St Charles College continuing to enjoy long periods of possession. However, the physical demands of the contest began to take their toll, and the game opened up slightly as tired legs created more space across the field. This allowed St David’s to become more threatening on attack and ultimately earned them a penalty corner. The hosts made the most of the opportunity, converting with a well-placed drag flick to regain the lead. To their credit, St Charles College responded strongly and continued to create several quality scoring chances throughout the remainder of the match. Unfortunately, despite their attacking intent and territorial advantage, the final touch proved elusive, and the equaliser would not come.
While the result did not go their way, the performance was one of character, determination, and quality hockey. The boys can take great confidence from a display in which they matched and often outplayed a strong St David’s side on their home turf. โ Mr Matthew Coombes (Head Coach)
Year 1 and 2 Tag Rugby
On Wednesday afternoon, St Charles College proudly hosted a Tag Rugby Festival for our Year 1 and Year 2 boys, welcoming visiting teams from Underberg and Riverwood for an afternoon filled with energy, excitement and enjoyment. We were especially grateful to Underberg for making the long journey to join us, and it was a pleasure to welcome both schools to our campus. Events such as these provide wonderful opportunities for young players to develop their skills, build friendships and foster a love for sport in a positive and supportive environment.
The festival featured continuous action from start to finish, with fields buzzing as boys eagerly took part in match after match. There was no shortage of enthusiastic running, determined tagging, spectacular tries and moments of individual brilliance. Most importantly, the afternoon was filled with smiles, laughter and a genuine love for the game. It was heartwarming to see the sportsmanship and camaraderie on display, with players encouraging one another and embracing the values that make school sport so special. The enthusiasm shown by all involved was a reminder of why these festivals are such an important part of our sporting programme.
A sincere thank you to Underberg and Riverwood for joining us and contributing to such a memorable afternoon. We look forward to many more enjoyable encounters in the future. โ Mr Matthew Coombes (Head of Prep Sport)
