La Lucia Jan 2024

February 22, 2024

25-Year Birthday Celebration 

Our school officially opened on 19 January 1999, and we wanted to celebrate this significant day in our school’s 25-year history. For anyone who visits Crawford International La Lucia, you sense that there is something special about it as it is spectacular in so many ways. This year, as we celebrate our school’s 25th year of existence, we can all look back with great pride and appreciation on how far we’ve come. 

A large group of people are posing for a picture on a stage.

A boy and a girl are standing next to each other in front of balloons.

A little girl is holding a cupcake with the number 25 on it.

A group of children are holding a sign that says celebrating 25 years of excellence.

A group of people are gathered in the shape of the number 25.

Two girls are standing next to each other in a classroom holding donuts.

First Day Back 

The start of a new school year always brings great excitement, and the 2024 first day was no exception. There was a wonderful, positive feeling that continued throughout the week, and our students have enjoyed a happy, memorable, and fun-filled start to their 2024 academic year.

A woman is standing next to two children in a parking lot.

A young boy is pulling a suitcase down a sidewalk.

A young girl wearing a white polo shirt and a green backpack is standing in front of a building.

A group of young people are posing for a picture together.

PRE-PRIMARY

Chinese New Year

As part our Primary Years Program Unit of Enquiry, our Crawford International La Lucia Pre-Primary students celebrate respect, diversity, and inclusion. They recently got to live this out by celebrating the Chinese New Year.

A special day to wear red and gold or yellow, our littlest Crawfordians came ready to celebrate the year of the dragon. They were also treated to a special story-time with a mother of one of our pupils, where she shared on the reason to celebrate the creation of humanity and the significance of the year of the dragon.

A little girl in a cheongsam dress is standing in front of a wall of pictures.

A young boy in a red and gold costume is standing in a hallway.

PREPARATORY

Grade 7 Induction Ceremony 

Congratulations to our Grade 7 students who recently received their Counsellor badges at a very special Induction Ceremony. 

Our Grade 7 Counsellors have pledged to prioritise service above self, to uphold the principles of integrity, honesty, and empathy, and to be exemplary representatives of Crawford International Preparatory La Lucia. We have no doubt that our young leaders will be outstanding ambassadors for our school and wonderful role-models to our younger students. 

A group of people are holding candles in their hands.

A group of young people are standing in front of a crawford international sign holding certificates.

Grade 2’s Mini-Cricket Skills Session 

Our Grade 2 Mini-Cricket players enjoyed a carefully planned Mini-Cricket skills session in preparation for their weekly Saturday matches. They had a highly productive morning and their enthusiasm and passion for the game was wonderful to see! 

A man is teaching a young boy how to play cricket on a field.

A young boy is holding a cricket bat on a field.

CILL’s Newest Authors 

We are excited to present Crawford International La Lucia’s Newest Authors: Leá de Bastiani, Sophia Jugath and Aiden Joseph. These talented students recently had stories they wrote in Grade 3 published by Little Printz, a platform dedicated to books by children, for children. Each of these students has selected a non-profit organisation and a worthy cause to which proceeds from the sale of their books will be donated. 

Leá de Bastiani's book, Ming, the Endangered Pangolin, will donate proceeds to Pangolin Africa. In addition to her narrative, Leá has included a non-fiction section sharing insights into the plight of these endangered African animals.

Aiden Joseph's book, The Adventures of a Lockdown Kid, will support The Red Cross. Inspired by the humorous series, 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid', Aiden's story offers a light-hearted take on his experiences during the 2020 Coronavirus lockdown.

Sophia Jugath's book, Clever Derik and the Mischief Maker, will contribute to St Vincent’s Children’s Home. A detective-style science-fiction story, it promises to captivate readers with its thrilling narrative. 

We applaud these young authors for their creativity and compassion, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact of their contributions to these worthy causes.

Little girl in Crawford international shirt

A young girl in a black jacket and white shirt is smiling for the camera.

A young boy wearing a white polo shirt is smiling for the camera.

COLLEGE 

Junior and Senior Honours Evening 

Crawford International La Lucia College recently hosted our Junior and Senior Honours Awards Evenings. These were significant events, celebrating the achievements of the Grade 10s and Grade 11s of the 2023 academic year, as well as the Grade 8s and Grade 9s of the same year, highlighting the Top 10 students in each grade. Congratulations to all the recipients honoured at these events. We are proud of their accomplishments, and we eagerly anticipate witnessing their academic journey in 2024.

A group of people are standing on a stage holding certificates.

A group of young people are posing for a picture on a stage.

Matric Results Event 

We were thrilled to celebrate our Matric Class of 2023, who have achieved an impressive average of 3.3 distinctions per student, along with 22 placements in the IEB Top 1% across various subjects. Crawford International La Lucia proudly celebrates 25 students who achieved 6 or more distinctions, with 2 of them being recognised on the Outstanding Achievement list and 5 more students ranked on the Commendable Achievement list.

A group of young people are posing for a picture on stairs.

A group of people are posing for a picture in front of a coat of arms.

Top Achievers Awards Event 

Our Matric ADvTECH Top Achievers from 2023 were celebrated last week in a prestigious event in Johannesburg. 

Congratulations to Shaowen Chen for securing 7th place among all ADvTECH school students! Additionally, we extend our congratulations to Shubham Mohta and Lanbo Zhao for their outstanding achievements in winning Further Studies awards. We are proud of our students and their accomplishments. We eagerly anticipate witnessing the continued success of their academic journeys.

Three people in suits are holding trophies in front of a crawford international banner.

A group of people standing next to each other holding glasses of orange juice

Grade 8 Picnic and Bell Ringing 

Our new Grade 8 Student Body celebrated starting their High School careers with a Bell Ringing ceremony and a fun, relaxed picnic. A ceremony to signify that they are now a part of the Crawford International La Lucia College family and a picnic to solidify new friendships forged. We have such a wonderful group of students, and we look forward to all that they’ll be involved in and accomplish in their 1st year of High School. 

A large group of people are sitting on the steps of a building.

A group of people are having a picnic in a park.

A boy is holding a bell with the number 2024 on it

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Teacher Spotlight: Mr Chris Herbst Afrikaans Teacher at Crawford International Sandton

April 25, 2025

A Lifelong Educator Mr Chris Herbst has spent 41 years in the classroom. With a Bachelor of Education from the University of the Witwatersrand, he has taught countless learners over the decades. He joined Crawford International Sandton in 1999 and currently teaches Afrikaans to students from Grade 8 to Grade 12. His role spans across five different year groups, a challenge he embraces. “I have my hands full as I navigate the excitement and challenges of teaching an additional language to five different grades,” he says. Why Teaching Still Matters For Mr Herbst, teaching is not a job. It is something he feels deeply connected to. “Teaching is my great passion and calling. The classroom is where I find my motivation and inspiration,” he shares. “When we have a really good lesson and I see our students leave having learned something new, or figured out a challenging concept, then I am motivated and inspired all over again.” These everyday moments keep him grounded in his purpose. They are the quiet victories that reaffirm his place in the classroom. Freedom to Teach with Meaning Mr Herbst values Crawford’s approach to learning, particularly the way it supports teacher agency and student-centred learning. “I love the fact that the focus is student-centred, and that as teachers we have the freedom and the responsibility to create a teaching and learning environment that works best for every learning need,” he says. He believes this flexibility allows for learning to become more meaningful. “If I identify that a particular topic or poem has piqued the interest of my class, I have the freedom to delve deeper and really explore the subject matter without being bound by rigid syllabus rules and time frames.” Connecting Language to the Real World Teaching Afrikaans in a school where it is often an additional language means finding ways to make it resonate. Mr Herbst understands that for many students, the subject may not come naturally. “For many students, learning another language may initially feel like a requirement rather than a passion,” he explains. To bridge that gap, he brings the language to life through content that students can relate to. “It’s important to integrate engaging, real-world content such as music, movies, and stories that align with the students’ interests.” These tools, he believes, help students see the language in context and build an emotional connection to it. A Teaching Legacy Over the course of his career, Mr Herbst has taught more than one generation in the same family. It is a milestone he reflects on with pride. “I have taught students who are now parents, and I am teaching their children today. It doesn’t get better than that.” But what stands out most for him is being remembered. “By far my biggest kick is when a past student recognises me and comes over to strike up a conversation and talk about their life and work after school.”

10 Reasons Why Early Childhood Development is Important

By ADvTECH Group • April 15, 2025

The 10 reasons why the first six years of a child's life are crucial when it comes to early childhood development, read all about it in this article.

One to one correspondence

By Ashmita Mistry • April 8, 2025

Crawford schools blog article on one-to-one correspondence in early development and the importance of this developmental skill that adults take for granted.

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: DYLAN BIZJAK

March 28, 2025

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: DYLAN BIZJAK Crawford International Sandton From the classrooms of Crawford International Sandton to the forefront of aeronautical engineering in the Netherlands, Dylan Bizjak’s journey is one of ambition, resilience and innovation . Pursuing a Passion for Engineering After matriculating in 2019, Dylan initially pursued Aeronautical Engineering at Wits University. However, six months into his studies, a new opportunity emerged, one that would take him beyond South Africa’s borders. He secured a place at Inholland University of Applied Sciences in Delft, Netherlands, where he embraced the challenge of international study, even navigating his first year remotely due to the pandemic. Now a graduate with a BSc in Aeronautical Engineering (2024), Dylan has stepped into the professional world, joining Eve Reverse, a pioneering start-up dedicated to climate-positive innovation. What began as an internship in his final year evolved into a full-time role as a Research and Development Engineer, where he contributes to the creation of sustainable, carbon-negative materials. His proudest achievement? Playing a key role in the development of the Eve Dry Tile, an innovative flax fibre material designed to reduce emissions and waste in manufacturing. Achievements at Crawford International Sandton Gareth Beach Award (2019) – Recognised for bravery, dedication, self-development and outstanding achievement in swimming. Sportsman of the Year (2019) – Acknowledged for excellence in swimming, basketball and boxing. Reflections on Crawford Dylan credits his time at Crawford for preparing him for both academic and personal success on the global stage. “Crawford’s approach equips you for university and beyond, whether in South Africa or internationally. It’s not just about academics but about becoming a well-rounded critical thinker and team player. Exposure to diverse cultures, teamwork, individuality and taking responsibility for my outcomes were invaluable lessons I carried with me.” Words of Wisdom To his younger self, Dylan would say: “Step out of your comfort zone sooner. Growth happens when you challenge yourself. Leaving home was tough, but the personal and professional growth was worth every stumble along the way.” Dylan’s story is a testament to courage, hard work and the power of embracing the unknown. From South Africa to the Netherlands, he is proving that the sky isn’t the limit, it is just the beginning.