Extramural Matters

19/01/2011

INVOLVEMENT IN COLLEGE ACTIVITIES

St Benedict's, like other Boys' Schools, stresses the importance of participation in school sport and the various cultural activities. This is regarded as educationally important in that team-work can accomplish what no amount of individual talent or dedication can and there is nothing like sport and group activities for stressing the value of teamwork - and Christian values such as concern for other people.

We believe that without the lessons taught by school sport, our boys would be receiving a poorer education. We stand therefore for a broad and balanced education - and have moved increasingly to complementing top academic facilities and academic endeavour with top sporting facilities and top sports coaching!

Participation in sport (or the Pipe Band) is compulsory at the College because we believe that sport is an integral part of a boys’ education. Not only is participation important in its own right, promoting physical and mental health, but also because it underscores the values for which all good schools stand: honesty, loyalty, team-work and consideration for others.

The compulsory primary summer sports are:

• Aquatics (Swimming and Waterpolo)
• Basketball
• Cricket
• Rowing
• Swimming
• Tennis
• Waterpolo

The compulsory primary winter sports are:

• Rugby
• Hockey
• Tennis (First Team tennis players exempt from participation in Rugby and Hockey)

Boys may also opt to be part of the College Pipe Band during summer and winter months.

Sports practices for the primary sports take place twice a week during school hours and on selected afternoons each week. Inter-school matches take place generally on Wednesday afternoons and/or Saturdays.

On condition that a boy participates in one of the sports indicated above, he may, in addition, opt to participate in a range of secondary activities: Athletics, Cross-Country, Golf, Soccer, Squash and Tennis. Boys who do not participate in Athletics may not participate in Soccer.

A wide range of cultural activities are on offer;

• Bible Quiz
• Chess
• Public-Speaking
• One-Act Plays
• RAPS One-Act Play Festival
• Major Production (in conjunction with our sister schools, Holy Rosary School and Assumption Convent)
• Debating
• Music

THE SPORTS COUNCIL CONSTITUTION

The “St Benedict’s College Sports Council” is established to promote, foster and safeguard sporting and cultural activities as participated in by the boys of St Benedict’s College; to formulate and implement policy regarding all aspects of College and sports uniform and supporters’ kit including the nature, form, design and colours of such uniform; to ensure that the decisions of the Council are fully implemented; to ensure that the extracurricular programme of the College is efficiently and effectively organised; to ensure the implementation of the College House System; to award Merit Certificates; Service Certificates; Team Awards; Junior Colours; Half Colours; Full Colours; Honours Blazers and Magna Cum Laude Blazers and to liaise with the Headmaster and Headmaster of the College through the Chairman.

Should a parent or a boy need clarification on a decision of the Council, an appointment may be made with the Chairman who will clarify and, if necessary, investigate the matter further in consultation with the Sports Council.

HOUSE SYSTEM

The houses of the College shall be as follows:

• Allard (Red)
• Erasme (Yellow)
• Grandin (Light Blue)
• Mazenod (Dark Blue)
• O’Leary (Green)

Boys enrolled from St Benedict’s Preparatory School will remain a member of the house to which they were allotted at Preparatory School level. Boys enrolled from Grade 8 level will be randomly allocated to houses with the purpose of ensuring balanced numbers. Under special circumstances (e.g. sons of old boys and brothers of current/old boys), boys may request to be allotted to a particular house.

Grandin is the College Boarding House.

SPORTS CAPTAINS AND CULTURAL HEADS

Sports Captains and Heads of Cultural Activities are appointed by the MIC of each activity after votes received from each of the respective teams are reviewed. A Capping Ceremony is held at the first assembly of October each year.

Captains and Heads of Cultural Activities must be in Grade 12.

Captains and Heads of Cultural Activities are awarded a scroll which is worn on the College Blazer.

Sports Captains are officially appointed for Athletics (includes Cross Country), Basketball, Cricket, Golf, Hockey, Rowing, Rugby, Squash, Swimming, Tennis and Waterpolo. Heads for the following Cultural Activities are appointed: Bible Quiz, Chess, Debating, Drama, Pipe Band and Public Speaking.

Captains of 1st/Open Teams and Cultural Heads qualify to wear a Captain’s scroll.

AWARDS

No boy is permitted to wear any scroll or award earned at Preparatory/Primary School level.

GENERAL REGULATIONS FOR AWARDS

The Council will consider not only sporting ability and achievement when making Colours Awards. In this regard, the following general regulations will apply:

1. Awards are made only to boys who have always demonstrated outstanding behaviour, good manners, good sportsmanship, and loyalty to their school and respective school teams.
2. Awards are made only to boys who have participated fully in the life of the College - including full participation in both an official summer and an official winter sporting activity. (This regulation may be waived by the Council in respect of boys preparing for provincial / national competition in an official school activity.)
3. Awards are made only to boys who have participated fully in all practices and relevant camps, tournaments, festivals and tours. Awards are made in accordance with the criteria specified in the Colours and Awards Policy and are presented at an Awards Assembly at the end of each term, unless otherwise specified.
   
   The following awards may be made by the Sports Council:

• Merit Certificates
• Service Certificates
• Team Awards
• Junior Colours (Grades 8 and 9)
• Half and Full Colours (Grade 10, 11 and 12)
• Honours Blazers (Grade 11 and 12 but worn in Grade 12 only)
• Magna Cum Laude Blazers (Grade 12’s only)

A points system is used as a guide to decide upon the awarding of Junior, Half and Full Colours. The points system does not only recognise a boy’s specific sporting ability but also takes the following factors into account:

• Regular attendance at practices, matches, tournaments and events
• Level of participation within the activity
• Full participation in the life of the college, including full participation in a winter and summer sporting activity. This requirement may be waived by the Council in favour of those boys preparing for provincial or national representation.
• Attitude, behaviour and values displayed during competition, on and off the field

The Council reserves the right to:

• Review and/or alter the criteria on an annual basis
• Disqualify a recipient of an award for gross misconduct, within or outside of `the activity;
• Strip the recipient of an award who ceases to actively participate in an activity once he has received an award in said activity;
• Strip the recipient of an academic award when subsequent achievement reflects a gross deterioration or to strip the recipient of a sports award who ceases to actively participate in an activity once he has received an award in said activity;
• To deviate from the points system in exceptional circumstances

COLOURS POINTS SYSTEM

In order to be nominated for Half and Full Colours, boys’ participation and achievement is scored using the following points system:

In order to be nominated for Colours, boys must achieve the following scores:

MERIT CERTIFICATES

Merit Certificates may be awarded to any boy, who in the opinion of the MIC of an activity, has achieved or displayed commitment, dedication and commendable success whether individually or as a team member, but does not attain the necessary standards for Junior, Half or Full Colours.

SERVICE CERTIFICATES

Service Certificates may be awarded to any boy who has rendered exceptional service to the College.

TEAM AWARDS

Team Awards may be made to any College Team which:

1. wins its league of competition in any calendar year, or
2. wins a tournament, festival or competition, or
3. is unbeaten throughout a season (inclusive of all fixtures and tournaments)

Team awards shall take the form of a certificate awarded to each member of the team concerned.

JUNIOR COLOURS

Junior Colours are awarded to Grade 8 and 9 boys who meet the criteria for Half or Full Colours. Junior Colours are superceded by Half and Full Colours.

HALF AND FULL COLOURS

In order to be nominated for a Half Colours Award a boy must be in Grade 10, 11 or 12.

In order to be nominated for a Full Colours Award a boy must be in Grade 11 or 12.

Nominations for Half and Full Colour Awards are based on a point system. Nominations for Colour Awards shall be made in writing by the MIC of the activity concerned. The MIC shall attend the meeting of the Council at which the awards are discussed.

Colour Awards will be made only to official College Activities.

The Council has the right to refuse a Colours Award to any boy in the College.

A boy who receives a Colours Award and then fails to represent the College in the particular activity in the ensuing seasons, due to non-participation, will be required to surrender the Colours Award already achieved.

Half-Colours are indicated by a scroll award. Full Colours is indicated by a scroll award and red braiding on the blazer. Red braiding is used to indicate Full Colours in Academics, Sport and Cultural Activities.

One Half or Full Colours scroll may be worn per activity. Full Colour Scrolls supercede Half Colour Scrolls.

HONOURS BLAZERS

Grade 11 and 12 boys are nominated for an Honours Blazer once they have been awarded:

Three Full Colours Awards in any three different activities, OR

Two Full Colours and Two Half Colours Awards in any four different activities.

A Grade 11 boy who qualifies for an Honours Blazer may only wear it from the start of his Grade 12 year. The granting of an Honours Blazer shall be at the sole discretion of the Council, subject to confirmation by the Senior Management of the College.

The Honours Blazer Award is indicated by a Maroon College Blazer with twisted cord and an Honours Badge. A Maroon Tie is worn in conjunction with the blazer. The Honours Blazer is never worn with an open-neck shirt.

MAGNA CUM LAUDE BLAZER

A Magna Cum Laude Blazer may be awarded only to a Grade 12 boy who meets the required standards. The recipient must be a College Leader or a boy who has already received an Honours Blazer.

The recipient must show:

1. exemplary conduct in all aspects of school life
2. generosity of spirit, humility and unselfishness in College life
3. uncompromised loyalty and dedication to the College and his peers
4. exceptional qualities of integrity, leadership, responsibility and reliability

Nominations for the award must be made in writing and must be fully motivated. The nominee will require the unanimous approval of the Council, Senior Management and Headmaster of the College.

The Magna Cum Laude Award is indicated by a black blazer and a gold badge. A Maroon Tie is worn in conjunction with the blazer. The blazer is never worn with an open-neck shirt.

ACADEMIC COLOURS

Junior Academic Colours are awarded to Grade 8 and 9 boys who achieve a year-end academic average of 80% or more; or who alternatively are placed in the Top 50 in any recognised national Olympiad.

Academic Half Colours are awarded to Grade 10 boys who receive a year-end academic average of 75% or more; or who alternatively are placed in the Top 50 in any recognised national Olympiad AND Grade 11 and 12 boys who receive a year-end academic average of 70% or more; or who alternatively are placed in the Top 100 in any recognised national Olympiad.

Academic Full Colours are awarded to Grade 11 and 12 boys who receive a year-end academic of 75% or more; or who alternatively are placed in the Top 50 in any recognised national Olympiad.

ACADEMIC DUX AWARDS

Gold, Silver and Bronze Academic Dux Awards are made each year at the Annual Prizegiving to the top three boys in each grade. Achievement is assessed on basis of the final academic average achieved at the end of the year. Recipients must meet the general regulations.

OVERALL DUX AWARDS

Gold, Silver and Bronze Academic Dux Awards are made each year at the Annual Prizegiving to the top three overall achievers in each grade. For purposes of the Overall Dux awards, a points system is used to assess all-round participation and achievement four areas:

• Final academic average
• Summer Sport
• Winter Sport
• Cultural Activities or an additional sport

Recipients must meet the General Regulations for Awards.

LEADERSHIP AWARDS

COLLEGE HEAD BOY AND DEPUTIES

A Letter of Authority entitling a boy to purchase and wear the College Head Boy’s Scroll and White Blazer, and Maroon Blazer is awarded at a special assembly held for this purpose. Boys who do not meet the general regulations are ineligible for the positions of Head Boy or Deputy Head Boy.

GRADE 12 LEADERS

All duly appointed Grade 12 Leaders shall be entitled to purchase and wear the prescribed blue shirt in place of the standard white school shirt. In addition, Grade 12 Leaders qualify to wear the Leader’s braiding and scroll.

MATRIC RED TIE AWARD

All Grade 12 boys who meet the requirements outlined under General Regulations are entitled to purchase and wear the special red tie in place of the standard school tie.

AGE GROUP POLICY

As a general rule, the College policy of compulsory participation in sport dictates that boys play within their specific age group. This means that only Grade 11 and 12 boys are eligible for selection to a 1st Team.

Under exceptional circumstances and based on the needs of the College as opposed to the needs of the individual player, a coach may submit a written motivation to justify the inclusion of a Grade 10 boy in a 1st team. This motivation must include a description of the player’s ability and maturity as well as the impact that his exclusion and inclusion will have on the teams he is leaving and joining. The inclusion of a Grade 10 boy in a 1st Team must be approved by the Sports Council before the player is informed of his selection.

The inclusion of a Grade 10 boy in the 1st Team must be approved by the boy’s parents. The number of Grade 10 boys in a 1st Team may never exceed 20% of the team’s composition. A Grade 10 boy who is selected for the 1st team may not be awarded Full Colours until he has represented the team for 2 years. Age group and grade restrictions do not apply to the Athletics, Cross Country, Squash, Swimming or Tennis teams.

ST BENEDICT’S PARENTS’ CHARTER

In their association with St Benedict’s through their boys, parents will undertake to:

• provide their boys with the necessities for effective school careers;
• support their boys in their studies and various College activities;
• underpin and uphold the discipline structures of the College;
• attend College functions, sport and cultural activities, parent meetings, as able;
• extend their own professional expertise to the school, if and when required;
• extend due courtesy and regard to all employees and other parents.

St Benedict’s prides itself on the good relations it enjoys with parents. While parents can expect the school to provide their boys with the best possible education, parents must also accept certain responsibilities in achieving the goals set.

Parents should:

• support teachers in their efforts to teach their boys, i.e. monitor homework, check test results, help set goals, regularly consult the Progress Chart for teachers' comments; and attend Parents’ Evenings and Meetings;
• communicate with Grade Heads/Deputy Headmasters or the Headmaster timeously regarding any areas of concern before they become major issues;
• make suggestions or provide assistance to improve the educational process and environment;
• encourage their boys to participate fully in the College programme;
• familiarise themselves with the school's policies, admission documents and the Code of Conduct;
• hold discussions with teachers at a pre-arranged time and place that permits full and confidential exploration of the issues; and
• recognise that teachers are trained professionals whose opinion may differ from that of the parents.

CULTURAL COLOURS

Nominees are scored for their highest achievement in each category.

Bonus Points are added.

CRITERIA FOR QUALIFICATION

HALF COLOURS: 16+ PTS AND A LEVEL 4 ACHIEVEMENT

FULL COLOURS: 20+ POINTS AND A LEVEL 5 ACHIEVEMENT