EERSTERIVIER
WINNER BEST
FREE NEWSPAPER IN SA
OLD FRUIT VEG SHOP, EERSTERIVER TEL: 021 902 0303
Valid while stocks last
STRICTLY HALAAL! OPEN 7 DAYS
800g Assorted Wafer stick
R35
per tin
Woensdag, 14 Februarie 2018 | Tel: 021 910 6500 | e-pos: nuus@tygerburger.co.za
@TygerBurger
X1UB4P4R-AL140218
TygerBurger
FOREST HEIGHTS PRIMARY SCHOOL: BIRTHDAY CELEBRATED WITH THE COMMUNITY
30 years of excellence
JAY-DEE CYSTER @jaydeecyster
T
he vision harboured by Forest Heights Primary School principal, Anthea Bosman, speaks volumes about the relationship the school has built with the community over the past 30 years. “I want this to be a community hub open seven days a week, where learners and parents can come and educate themselves. My wish is for the community to take ownership of the school,” she explains. Bosman, who started her tenure as the third – and first female – principal of the school in 2014, will this year lead the school’s 30th birthday celebrations. The school first opened its doors in 1988 and served the community as one of the flagship primary schools in the area. “Once all schools opened their doors to all learners, parents sent their children to the more affluent schools in other areas,” she explains. Despite the challenges faced by the learners, parents and surrounding community, Bosman says that the tenacity of the school’s staff is what has carried them through. “We have very vibrant and experienced staff who are dedicated to giving the best education,” she says. “Our staff stand together to avert problems. We are very close, vocal and noisy.” Furthermore, she says that two of their teaching staff members are former learners at the school. “This clearly indicates that our former learners are incredibly proud of the school and that we sowed these seeds a very long time ago.” The school also believes in the importance of being involved in both sport and cultural activities, offering soccer, rugby, netball and dance, as well as recorder lessons. The next project that the school hopes to undertake is the construction of a school hall, which Bosman says will not only be used by the 1157 learners at the school, but will be open for use by the community as well. Currently the school is unable to hold assemblies or parent meetings during the winter months, as these need to take place outside. “This really hampers our communication with both learners and parents,” says Bosman. She explains that the project will cost about R6 million and that the only way
Learners at Forest Heights Primary School form the shape of a 30 in celebration of the school’s 30th year.
in which she can see the hall being built within the near future is if it is sponsored by businesses in the corporate sector. The school has long been involved within the community, with their most recent project being the “take back the park” initiative. The school cleaned up and started monitoring the park opposite the school, as it was often overrun by persons engaging in dog fights, drugs and gangsterism, explains Bosman. The school’s Soul Buddies group engages in charity work, which includes spending time with and reading to the elderly in local old age homes. The school also has a feeding scheme, which currently feeds 300 learners.
Bosman says that the learners’ parents are wonderful in that they contribute to the school as volunteers, assisting with the reading programmes and the annual party for the learners of the feeding scheme. She says that learners falling prey to gangsterism is currently the greatest challenge being faced by the school. “I often tell the teachers that it is important that we create a haven where our learners can forget about the poverty and gangsterism that they face daily,” she explains, “Our children are really at risk.” She relays that the school is currently in the process of asking parents to look after not only their own children but other chil-
dren as well as they walk to school. “We want to make this a safe space for learners,” she says. The school has various activities planned in celebration of its 30th birthday, with the celebrations having already started on Sunday 4 February with a 30-year celebration service at the Blue Downs Congregational Church. On Sunday 25 February they will be hosting a high tea for parents (tickets cost R100). “In March we will be hosting a surf walk; during the second term a school concert and pageant; during the third term a sports day, bazaar and choral festival, and in the fourth term a debutante ball,” says Bosman. VWhat is your opinion on this article? Let us know at briewe@tygerburger.co.za.