WIDER CLASSROOM

In the words of the founder of the Round Square Organisation, Kurt Hahn, “I regard it as the foremost task of education to ensure the survival of these qualities: an enterprising curiosity, an undefeatable spirit, tenacity in pursuit, readiness for sensible self denial, and above all, compassion.” These ideas underpin the Wider Classroom philosophy at Bridge House where we believe in offering activities outside of the classroom walls for our students to develop skills which will enable them to realise their potential to lead, innovate and serve with confidence in a changing world.

Our student leadership programme develops an inclusive type of student leadership with the accent on ‘servant leader’. Our Grade 10 students get the opportunity to experience different cultures in our international exchange
programme and Bridge House pupils attend conferences nationally and internationally. Every Grade goes on an annual camp and we also arrange enjoyable outings where learning beyond the classroom takes place.

ROUND SQUARE THE PRESIDENT'S AWARD

INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE

A large number of Grade 10s from Bridge House go out on International Exchanges all over the World to places such as Thailand, India, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the USA, Germany, Denmark, the UK and Peru.

Exchange students going out to these countries are immersed in a different lifestyle and school system and without exception return to Bridge House with a new outlook on life. In return Bridge House hosts exchange pupils from these schools. The incoming exchanges add an interesting dynamic to the school and help to globalise our pupils. Internationalism is one of the Round Square IDEALS. In Grade 9, students who want to go on exchange undergo an application process which involves an interview with the selection committee.

LEADERSHIP

DEVELOPING LEADERS

Democracy and Leadership are two of the Round Square pillars, or guidelines on which the Bridge House Leadership Structure is based. A decision was made when Bridge House School was founded to develop an inclusive type of student leadership with the accent on ‘servant leader’.

Every term, the students elect representatives from each class to stand on the SRC (Students’ Representative Council). The SRC is coordinated and led by the executive of the Students’ Leadership Council which is elected annually by the pupils.

At the Leadership camp held in the third term, the Grade 11 groups debate leadership structures and responsibilities as well as ways to improve school spirit. The Students’ Leadership Council is made up of an elected executive consisting of eight Grade 12 pupils, six House Captains (three boys and three girls), a boys’ head of boarding and a girls’ head of boarding and a head of Round Square. The Executive is elected after the candidates have publicised their campaigns by putting up posters around the school and have delivered a campaign speech in front of the school. This exercise in democracy involves only the pupils themselves as the electorate, with staff acting as electoral officers. In order to stand for election to the SLC, candidates must have achieved the Bronze Level of the President’s Award.

All Grade 12 pupils have the option of serving on a portfolio committee. Their selfless work on these committees can earn them recognition in the form of a Student Leadership Award. Other opportunities for Leadership present themselves on the sports front, as captain of a sport’s team, on the Cultural front and in Community Service opportunities such as being a member of the Interact Club.

LEADERSHIP

DEVELOPING LEADERS

CAMPS & OUTINGS

JUNIOR CAMPS

OUTWARD BOUND

NON RESIDENTIAL CAMP

LEADERSHIP

The Grade 8 camp takes place on the banks of the Breede River. The aim of the camp is to build up friendships and integrate new students into the Grade. This camp fulfils the requirements for the Bronze Expedition for the President’s Award Programme.

Students spend seven days hiking through the surrounding mountains under the guidance of Outward Bound Instructors. The aim of this camp is personal development. The benefit of using Outward Bound is that it is part of an international organisation that has high standards of safety and a philosophy based on the teachings of Kurt Hahn, founder of the Round Square Schools Association. This camp fulfils the requirements for the Silver Expedition for the President’s Award Programme.

These outings and camps provide a cross-curricular experience for the students. This is a non-residential camp and the pupils are immersed in the issues facing the Franschhoek community e.g. economic development, poverty, town planning, architecture, etc. The students are then divided into cross-curricular groups and must develop a business plan that meets the requirements of the triple bottom line i.e. profitable, environmentally sustainable and socially responsible.

This camp focuses on leadership and the philosophy at Bridge House is that all seniors are leaders and must learn the principles of ‘servant leadership’. The camp prepares the students for their responsibilities as seniors of the College. The camp is held at the High Africa campsite on the Breede River.

SUSTAINABILITY

At Bridge House we are committed to sustainable campus practices and teaching our students about environmental stewardship. Our Garden Farm is situated in the centre of the Campus where a vegetable and fruit garden serves as an outdoor extension of our classrooms. The Garden Farm provides vegetables for our tuckshops and dining rooms and for various community feeding programmes.

GARDEN FARM