Blomvlei Primary School in Hanover Park has had to make changes to its planned 50th anniversary celebration because of Covid-19, but staff haven’t let the pandemic dampen their spirits.
Principal Waldimar Snyders says the school had to scale down the celebrations dramatically.
“When we were planning for the school’s anniversary at the beginning of last year, we wanted to host ‘langarm’ dances and big gatherings, but this obviously had to change. All our events planned for the year will be very different, and, sadly, we have to exclude all of our parents. We are hoping and praying that by October things will have changed for the better. We are planning a thanksgiving service,” Mr Snyders said.
To kick off the celebrations, the staff, including the governing body, all the volunteers from the Walking Bus Ladies, the feeding scheme, and student teachers, among others, took part in a photoshoot on the school premises last week.
“We did not want to leave anybody out, as everyone in the Blomvlei Primary family contributes to it being run successfully,” Mr Snyders said.
The school has just over 800 pupils and Mr Snyders, its seventh principal, has been in the job since 2019.
In the early days, the school was housed in a prefabricated building, but this has been replaced with a brick structure.
Debbie Rinquest, who has been on the staff for 27 years, is a former Blomvlei pupil.
“This is my very own community, and I am proud to be part of the fruit of this fertile soil,” she said. “It is also good to be an example – to show our young people that I’ve been there. With God’s help, if you are hard-working and determined enough, any person can make their dream a reality. My saying to the learners every day, is that we are all winners – that a winner never quits and a quitter never wins.”
Mr Snyders said Hanover Park was a community rich in excellence, determination and goodwill.
“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all stakeholders, both past and present, who have unselfishly contributed to the life and success of this institution, as we mark and celebrate 50 years of service to this amazing community.”
Despite the social ills in the community and Covid-19 making things even tougher, the staff would do their best for the children, he said.
“We will continue executing and living our school’s vision, which is to provide holistic, quality education in a challenging society and strive to create a safe home away from home.”