By 1974, the first phase of the hall had been completed, together with a Junior Primary block, housing Grade 0 to Grade 4. Then there was a time of consolidation.

By the late 1980's the School had expanded considerably, so the Peace Block as well as a second Grade 0 classroom was added to the Primary School in 1989.

From then expansion and development started to speed up. In 1992 the Music Centre was opened. In 1993 the present Junior Primary was opened and the Resource Centre followed in 1997. The Science Block and Matric classrooms came into operation in 2000.

In 2004 the Junior Primary was extended and the new Grade 0 opened in 2005. In 2006, the New Administration Block was blessed, allowing alterations and extensions to the High School Building for extra classrooms.

But the school is not simply bricks and mortar. It is also about those who nuture these children: their parents and families, their teachers and friends, their Pastors and our Ursuline Sisters. The human element of Brescia is responsible for the growth of the school and its spirit.

The site for the school had been chosen some two years prior to opening. Two places were suggested: one on the downside of William Nicol Drive and the other on the up-side. The first delved down into a valley, while the other commanded a spectacular view. This obviously was the site chosen. Now for the trouble! The piece of veld on which lovely Brescia would rise was hardy bush and defiant rock and a challenge for the architect, who had to work with the request that every classroom face the beautiful view.

In mid-January 1966, workmen were still busy finishing off jobs: planks of wood and dust were everywhere. "Will the school be ready for opening day?" was the question posed by enquiring parents. "We will start as scheduled!" replied Sr Xavier Rowntree, the foundress of the School, firmly. She gave out and circulated the opening date regardless of the bricks and mortar that decorated the surroundings. So, start we did: leaping over mounds of sand into a school with no locks. A group of mothers spent the day before sweeping, dusting and carrying desks to their respective classrooms.

We knew each and everyone by name - one parent stating that not only did the sisters know the names of all her children, but the names of her dogs too! As we had no Assembly Hall to begin with, we had to use the facilities of neighbouring schools for AGM's, prize-giving functions and play productions.  Many extra dramas played behind the scenes of each function, such as getting drenched in a heavy downpour trying to carry loaded boxes of trophies and book prizes (which toppled out of the box into a stream of water) to the safe harbour of the car transporting us to an evening function.

After three years, when the first High School group reached Matric, this new, young school achieved a 100% pass, which it has maintained.

The school began with four tennis courts and veld, on which, much later, two hockey fields and another set of four courts were built. The Brescia House Horse Show was established and it rapidly developed into an annual inter-school event, which is now known as the Johannesburg Girls' Horse Show.

Initially, we had no swimming pool - we used pools in pupils' homes and trained there to take part in inter-school galas. We even managed to do quite well and could say "so much achieved by so few!". Fairly early on, a swimming pool was built by the PTA; years later this humble pool was revamped. Who would ever have thought that one day Brescia would have a pool that wears a blanket in summer!

In the second year of the School's existence, we entered the Catholic Schools' Athletic competition. As the day wore on, the girls began to get used to coming in either last or close to it. Then the young brother of one of the girls felt it was unfair, so he managed to get the public address microphone and announced that Brescia was very young!

Brescia can never be grateful enough for the efforts of all its Boards of Governors and PTA's for their advice and support; untiring work and utter generosity; for giving their time and expertise with selfless commitment.

And then the mothers: in the first week a self-appointed gardening group came into being. Stones and rocks began to move; compost and soil arrived and then the planting began. Any time of day one could see one or another in the garden giving instructions, but always hands on and no rubber gloves! This then extended into groups for tuck-shop, lost property, second-hand uniform helpers and taxi-drivers.

During those early days there was no convent as such. The sisters had their meals in the present sewing room and one Sister slept in the store-room there. Two had cubicles in one of the classrooms upstairs in the school. The other sisters slept in the present Matric locker room. When the Primary School block was completed, some sisters used the classroom storerooms as bedrooms, one of those Sisters being Sr Mary. The second floor of the convent containing bedrooms was only built some years later.

Those early days are an image in microcosm of our continued reality over 40 years. Everyone has been part of and contributed to Brescia's family spirit. We have lived our Catholic Christian ethos, in the spirit of St. Angela and based on the solid Ursuline educational tradition.  With care and concern for each individual in her (and his) uniqueness; focussing on academic excellence and a deepening faith in Jesus Christ; we ensure the full human, physical, emotional health and growth of each person.

written by: Sister Jeanette Essey