St James Roman Catholic Primary is the oldest school on the False Bay coastline and over many years of existence has maintained its distinctive character as that of a community school, serving its people. Our school has a unique and interesting history, tracing its roots back to Father John Duignam. A mosaic on the present post office of St James depicts the arrival of a group of Filipino fisherman, survivors of a shipwreck, who settled there in 1840. Being devout Catholics, they needed a church closer to Simon’s Town, to which they were obliged to sail every Sunday for Mass, weather permitting. On the 5th of October 1858, the foundation stone of the first church was laid and named St James in honour of the Apostle and Fisherman, and also the Patron Saint of Spain from where the Filipino’s mother tongue came. There is evidence that a school for the fisherman’s children existed in Kalk Bay, but when Father Duignam arrived in 1874 the school was transferred to St James...