User:Srob21/stjohns sandbox

=St. John's College, Johannesburg=

POV Considerations

 * Reads like a brochure for the college at times (especially by noting the rankings in the lead)
 * too much information for a casual user

=Re-organization Suggestions=

Academics
Today there are five stages to a St John's education:
 * The Bridge Nursery School offers two classes for the three to five years old.
 * The Pre-Preparatory School is for boys who start Pre-Grade (Grade 0) at the beginning of the year in which they turn six.
 * The Preparatory School is for boys typically until they are 13 (end of grade 7)
 * The College for boys, where the main point of entry is at Remove (Standard 6, now Grade 8) typically at the age of 13 (although a few vacancies do become available at other levels from time to time) and boys typically leave at the age of 18. There is an entrance test, and the applicant's interests and cultural activities, sporting achievements and general demeanour are taken into consideration. A confidential report from the pupil's preparatory school Headmaster/Headmistress is requested. Special consideration is given to siblings, sons of Old Johannians, sons of Clergy and those who come from a disadvantaged background
 * The VIth Form for both boys and girls offers a Sixth Form year to enable students to focus on three subjects of his/her choice in preparation for Cambridge A-level exams (written in November); the class numbers average between 60 and 90 boys and girls a year.

Test Performance
The IEB is a standardized assessment used in South Africa to test quality of schools and education.

Rankings
St John's College was ranked 11th out of the top 100 best high schools in Africa by Africa Almanac in 2003, based upon quality of education, student engagement, strength and activities of alumni, school profile, internet and news visibility.

Section 1
Soon there were 180 boys, which was too many for the Plein Street premises, and St John's moved to larger premises in a wood and iron building near the Union Grounds between Joubert Park and the old Wanderers (now Johannesburg's main railway station). However, the British colonial government under Lord Milner was ideologically opposed to private schools believing that they were not beneficial to society. In order to Anglicize the Transvaal area during the Anglo-Boer war, Milner set out to influence British education in the area for the English-speaking populations. He founded a series of schools known as the "Milner Schools" in South Africa. These schools consist of modern-day Pretoria High School for Girls, Pretoria Boys High School, Jeppe High School for Boys, King Edward VII School (Johannesburg), Potchefstroom High School for Boys, Hamilton Primary School. Over the next few years the school's enrolment plummeted as a result of policies introduced by the Transvaal administration, including the creation of public schools (such as King Edward VII School) within a short distance of their private counterparts. By 1903 45 state schools were open across Johannesburg.

New Edit
Soon there were 180 boys, which was too many for the Plein Street premises, and St John's moved to larger premises in a wood and iron building near the Union Grounds between Joubert Park and the old Wanderers (now Johannesburg's main railway station). However, the British colonial government under Lord Milner was ideologically opposed to private schools believing that they were not beneficial to society. In order to Anglicize the Transvaal area during the Anglo-Boer war, Milner set out to influence British education in the area for the English-speaking populations. He founded a series of schools known as the "Milner Schools" in South Africa. Over the next few years the school's enrollment plummeted as a result of policies introduced by the Transvaal administration, including the creation of public schools (such as King Edward VII School) within a short distance of their private counterparts.

Section 2
1998 Is the school's centenary year. 100 year celebration is commemorated by a mass of thanksgiving is held on Burger Field for all three schools, staff, parents past and present, former pupils and friends of the school. During the year the school celebrated with a ball, a race day, a golf day, a pageant, an arts and crafts fair, a centenary rose, basketball, cricket, hockey and rugby festivals, performances of Death of a Salesman, Pirates of Penzance and Mozart’s Requiem. Eleven OJ dinners were held around the world. Commemorative gifts are presented by Jeppe, St Mary’s and St Stithian’s schools. President Mandela opens the rugby festival. The celebrations ended with a massed Carols by Candlelight service and fireworks display on Burger Field in November. On Gaudy Day a school birthday cake was cut by F.E. Rowland, the second oldest living OJ, and Brendan Pyke, one of the youngest Grade 1 pupils in the Pre-Prep. The Centenary Venture target of R12.5 million is reached. The college constitution is redrafted and the first schoolboy representative appointed to council. 25 Centenary Scholarships are introduced to be awarded at the rate of five per annum for the next five years. Owen Nkumane OJ selected as a rugby Springbok – the school’s first. Paterson and Wilkinson Houses named at the Pre-Prep. 68 pupils enrolled in the Sixth Form. The second school history Forward in Faith, written by Ian Grant-McKenzie, is published. Roger Cameron’s appointment as headmaster is announced on speech day; he started at the beginning of Trinity term 1999.

New Edit
In 1998, the school celebrated its centenary year. The 100-year celebration was commemorated by a mass of thanksgiving held on Burger Field for all three schools, staff, parents past and present, former pupils and friends of the school. During the year, the school celebrated with a ball, a race day, a golf day, a pageant, an arts and crafts fair, a centenary rose, basketball, cricket, hockey and rugby festivals, and multiple musical and theatrical performances. Commemorative gifts are presented by Jeppe, St Mary’s and St Stithian’s schools. The celebrations ended with a massed Carols by Candlelight service and fireworks display on Burger Field in November.

Old Johannian Association
The Old Johannian Association (OJA), in existence since 1903, plays a vital role within the wider St John’s community. A strong and united Old Johannian (OJ) network is needed to ensure that the values and ethos of St John’s college are maintained and carried forward outside of the school corridors. The OJA is of the belief that a world-class school requires a world-class network of OJs, and strives to be a central point through which all Old Johannians can stay connected with the St John’s community. The OJA is governed by a committee which is re-elected every year at a formal Annual General Meeting. This committee, which meets on a monthly basis, is composed strictly of Old Johannians and is tasked with overseeing all matters relating to the OJ community and ensuring the commercial sustainability of the association. The committee itself is divided into specific portfolios including finance, administration, reunions, sport and communication.

Aside from these core functions, the OJA seeks to provide Old Johannians with social and recreational facilities for the use and benefit of all members. As part of this service, the OJA contributes to Old Johannian sports teams and maintains the Old Johannian Club as a gathering point for all OJs. The association is also tasked with reaching out to all OJs across the globe and cultivating an ever-increasing number of OJA representatives in key cities such as London, New York and Sydney.

Importantly, the OJA also funds bursaries for selected pupils to attend St John’s College, at the discretion of the school, as part of its ongoing contribution to the St John’s community.

The OJA is committed to the role it plays in bringing all OJs together under the banner of St John’s. The OJ Annual Dinner, Gaudy Day and annual OJ sports and events allow ex-pupils to reconnect on a regular basis. The OJA also coordinates dedicated reunion officers in an effort to bring together as many OJs as possible in reunion years.

New Edit
The Old Johannian Association (OJA) was created in 1903. An elected committee oversees the association and is elected every year at an annual general meeting. This committee has meets monthly, and is divided into different specialized sections: finance, administration, reunions, sport and communication.

According to the official OJA website, this association "seeks to provide Old Johannians with social and recreational facilities for the use and benefit of all members." The OJA also supports Old Johannian sports teams and maintains a social club for members. The OJA also funds scholarships for students of St John's College.

Events hosted and attended by the OJA include the OJ Annual Dinner, Gaudy Day and annual OJ sports events. Officers within the OJA also organize reunions for Old Johannian members.