Rabboni Christian School

Rabboni Private Christian School opened its doors on 17 January 1995 with 84 students, from Grade 0 to Grade 12. There were eight students in Grade 12. The school started with twelve, accomplished qualified and inspired teachers with Mr. Han Sipsma as the headmaster of the school. Mrs. Morag Askham gave the school its name “Rabboni” from John 20:16 and composed the school song. Rabboni means “Master” or “Teacher”. Mrs. Petro Booysen designed the school badge with the motto “Serving the Master”.

The aim of the school is training learners for effective Christian living. We always try to maintain the Christian character of this school. A spirit of love, cooperation, discipline and hard work gives us the ideal foundation for true, meaningful Christian education. The medium of teaching is English and students of all races are welcome.

Classrooms were initially in the house where Oom Han and Tannie Martie Sipsma live, as well as under the trees. The first classrooms to be built were the Grade 1 classrooms and at a later stage the ablution block as well as the crèche area was developed. Since then the building projects have not ended.

The Lord is our Provider and we thank Him for His faithful undertaking over the years and in the future. We as leaders and the teachers would like to remind you, that we don’t want to portray only the authority figure, but you can always come to us if you need any kind of help. We will go out of our way to help you.

To enable staff and learners at Rabboni Christian School to reach their full potential in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. To prepare them body, mind, spirit and soul for their future. To be an influence to people, schools and organisations through fellowship, friendship, service and in all things to be imitators of Jesus Christ.

This Philosophy dictates that we work closely with parents and/or guardians in every area of their child’s development, always offering assistance in understanding the mission of Rabboni Christian School. Through our interaction with the parents we hope to inspire them to instill our core values of Faith, Unity, Respect, Compassion and Diligence, on which we base this Philosophy, in their respective homes, thus ensuring a balanced child.

An aftercare facility for crèche up to grade 6 learners at the crèche grounds is provided for those learners who require supervision after school. The hours are from 14h20 till 17h00 p.m. The cost is additional and is added to the school fee account. A meal is provided as well as homework and playground supervision.

Every day is a new and exciting challenge in the Primary school for the dedicated Foundation Phase staff who take care of the little children, while the Intermediate staff mentor the teenagers. We firmly believe in positive affirmation and reward excellence in work and servanthood on a daily basis. Not a day goes by when a learner will stop an educator and proudly display the merit or star acquired and this is further rewarded with yet another hug and a “well done”.

Twelve grade 6 leaders are chosen each year. Those selected are willing to take instruction, can be entrusted with responsibility and authority and demonstrate a love for school and their peers. Their duties are varied and the staff encourage them to bring their ideas and concerns to the table. They meet for prayer twice a week as a leadership group and we have seen God move in their lives.

Once a week the primary school gathers in the school hall for an exciting chapel time where we worship our God together with movement and song. A teacher shares a message with an activity to inspire them to live their lives for Jesus. Every term the learners write a Bible Quiz test and the Top 5 are rewarded with a special treat. Our weekly cultural activities are a mixture of choir, dance, poetry and chess. P.T. lessons incorporate gross and fine motor movements and include preparing for participation in competitive sport. The children love the time on our spacious multi-purpose fields practising for athletics, soccer, mini cricket, netball matches and cross country competitions.

It is a privilege to be used by God to instil Christian values into the lives of our high school learners each and every day. This we do each morning in the register period where we discuss passages read out of the Bible. At the end of the term their Bible knowledge is put to the test with a Bible Quiz and the Top 5 scorers are rewarded. The school seeks to be a school of prayer and encourages prayer during breaks.

The grade 12 leaders are chosen after a stringent interview process and are learners who have demonstrated exceptional diligence in their school work, participation in a broad spectrum of activities but more importantly a clear stand and love for Jesus Christ and the ethos of the school. Their leadership skills are developed at their weekly meetings, during their leadership camps and at the Association of Christian Schools International workshops!