It was a nervy but exciting morning for the Helderberg’s 2023 crop of Grade 1 learners – and their emotional yet proud parents – as they embarked on their first official day of formal education at local schools.
The group formed part of about 92 000 Grade 1s in the Western Cape taking their first steps into big school and 1,2 million learners in the province. Furthermore, about 96 000 learners started high school, with a total of 35 872 teachers and 7 578 public-service staff on hand to support learners in the province.
“The provincial education department has been hard at work helping our schools prepare for the start of the school year,” said Western Cape Minister of Education David Maynier. “All top-up textbooks ordered by schools were delivered by October 2022, at a cost of R62 million. In addition, stationery supplies to the value of R39 million, furniture to the value of R50 million and other equipment to the value of R1,6 million were also delivered by December 2022.
“We have also completed 561 additional classrooms in time for the first day of school, as part of our unprecedented school infrastructure delivery programme. And we have an additional 1 143 teaching posts so our new classrooms have staff to teach in them. We have made incredible progress in placement, placing more than 50 000 more learners than this time last year. We have now placed 99,2% of our Grade 1 and 8 learners.”
Western Cape Premier Alan Winde wished all learners of the province the best for the academic year, urging them to work hard and be kind to themselves and their fellow learners. “Take pride in your schools and do you very best,” he said. “And to our parents, thank you for being our partners in securing our learners’ futures by registering on time, supporting your learner and holding us to account.
“To our teachers, other school staff and departmental officials, I commend you for the important work you do in offering our learners dignified places of teaching and learning.”
Bernodeen van Wyk with her son Marcelino Cloete on his first day at Rusthof Primary.Photo: Yaseen Gaffar
Mercy Centry accompanied her son Enzanre Centry at Rusthof Primary.Photo: Yaseen Gaffar
Proud dad Francois Cupido with his daughter Sarah Roberts at Rusthof Primary.Photo: Yaseen Gaffar
Hierdie skitterende kleingoed aan Danie Ackermann Primêre Skool het hul eerste dag van groot skool met opwinding en gemak aangepak, grotendeels omdat hulle die groot mylpaal as ’n tweeling-paar kon trotseer. Die Somerset-Wes-laerskool wat in De Beers-rylaan geleë is en vanjaar sy 90ste bestaansjaar vier, spog met vier stelle tweeling wat hul skoolloopbaan as graadeentjies aanpak. Hier (agter, van links) is Juffrou Brittany Inch-Dinnematin, Rylan Finger, Juffrou Jearl Snyders, Juffrou Lauren Van Rhyn, Realyn Finger, Juffrou Rushda Biscombe; (voor) Luke en Hope Williams, Layla en Katy Takaedza, en Dylan en Denzel Muchemwa. Foto: Jamey Gordon
Teacher Britney Oostendorp warmly welcomed eager learners to the 1 E class at Danie Ackermann Primary School. The educator, who is one of the latest addition among staffers, shared feeling nervous but equally excited for the first day of her teaching career and the learners’ first day of school. “It’s great that we will be embarking on our respective journey’s together,” added the happy first-time classroom teacher who recently acquired her B.Ed. Foundation Phase degree from the University of the Western Cape. Photo: Jamey Gordon
The bright, warm-hearted and delightful Adri Weideman was a great comfort to anxious little ones who embarked on their first day of school at Somerset West Primary School. Pictured with the dedicated and diligent Grade 1E2 teacher are classmates Haley Roos, Courtney Flaendorp and Skylar Schilder. Foto: Jamey Gordon
Trotse Summies Mckenzi Mentoor (middel) en Ndiwavhuthu Mashau (regs) het albei met stralende glimlagte die graad 1E1-klaskamer opgehelder. Die ywerige leerders was slaggereed vir hul eerste skooldag en meer as gelukkig om maatjies in die toegewyde Caren Grobbelaar se klas te wees. Foto: Jamey Gordon
’n Trotse pappa Xavier White bring sy dogter Mikaylah White (vor regs) vir haar eerste dag in graad een by Temperance Town Primêre Skool. Links staan haar trotse boetie Giano-Lee Stevens wat in Graad 5 is. Foto: Rick Marais
Die August tweeling vat saam hul eerste dag in graad een aan by Somerset-Wes Metodiste Primêr. Links staan Skyler August en regs staan Scarlet. Foto: Rick Marais
Isaiah Daniels en Zayaan Brown is klas-maats in Gr 1.A by Somerset-Wes Metodiste Primêr. Foto: Rick Marais
Juffrou Adele Driessen en haar Gr 1.A klas sien uit na die jaar wat voorlê. Foto: Rick Marais
Somerset West Primary learners belting out the national anthem during the “Enter to Learn” ceremony, which kick-started the first day of the new academic year. Photo: Tatum Jooste
Blake Joubert (left) and Lubanzi Nqenqa gave their first day of school a thumbs up! The proud Summies pair received a warm welcome from Husky, the beloved school mascot who greeted Grade 1s at their designated gate during the morning drop-off. Photo: Tatum Jooste
Danelle Adler walked through the gates at Somerset West Primary School with a joyful spring in her step and ready to see through her first school day. Pictured with the eager learner is her mom, Christolene. Photo: Tatum Jooste
Juffrou Henning van Somerset-Wes Primêre Skool verwelkom ’n duidelike verheugde Kay-Leigh Matthews en haar ouma Nazli Pieterse aan haar gr.1-klas. Foto: Tatum Jooste
Grade 1s Paige Brown and Skyler Brinkhuis getting down to some educational playtime while settling into their class at Somerset West Primary School. Photo: Tatum Jooste
Teacher Adri Weideman engaging a seemingly disinterested Zak Khan on arrival.Photo: Tatum Jooste
Klein Emma Gertse het met trots en ywerheid haar eerste dag van gr.R by Marvin Park Primêr aangepak.Foto:
Hierdie opgewonde Laerskool Hendrik Louw-graadeentjies het die eerste skooldag met geesdrif aangegryp. Foto:
Gr.3-Louwtjie Asher Adonis het die verantwoordelikheid geskouer om sy sussie, Quinn na haar gr.1-klas te neem.Foto:
Rhonché Stephanus, Dontay Wagenaar, Zoey Mogarimbo, Hunter Weyers and Saarah Salie embarked on their school career as Grade 1 learners at Hendrik Louw Primary.Foto:
Aaron Barry, Weston Cawood en Alunamda Mapasa is sedert vandag (Woensdag 18 Januarie) trotse Louwtjies!Foto:
Die eerste dag van skool het sy tol op kleine Rachael de Klerk geneem. Die graadeentjie aan Laerskool De Hoop is deur ’n onderwyser getroos nadat sy in trane uitgebars het. Foto: Abri du Plessis
I’ve got this dad! Heaven-Leigh Ndinga-Koumba-Binza appeared to be more prepared for her first day of school at De Hoop Primary than her father, Hugues. Photo: Abri du Plessis
Tweeling Josua en Nicolaas Verreynne het hul Graad 1-jaar as ’n liefdevolle toevoeging tot Laerskool De Hoop aangedurf. Foto: Abri du Plessis
Leam Nel was onder die gr.1 A3-leerders wat by Laerskoll De Hoop verwelkom is. Foto: Abri du Plessis
Die eerste dag van skool was duidelik ’n hartseer uitdaging vir De Hoop-graadeentjie Lex Louw. Foto: Abri du Plessis
Laerskool De Hoop-nuweling Lohan van Wyk glimlag breed terwyl pappa hom groet. Foto: Abri du Plessis
Lexa de Witt, Matthew November and Tatiana Naidoo joined the Hendrik Louw family as eager Grade 1s. Foto:
The first day of school at De Hoop Primary School was nothing short of some silly fun for Lyra Buys. Photo: Abri du Plessis
Markus Steenkamp word deur sy geliefde pa moed vir sy eerste dag as gr.1-leerder by Laerskool De Hoop ingesoen. Foto: Abri du Plessis
Camera shy! De Hoop Primary School learner Olotando Thafa was not ready to have his big moment captured. Photo: Abri du Plessis
Grade 1 learner Isla Davies was confident enough to brave her first day of school at Somerset House, which proudly celebrates its 75th birthday this year. Foto:
Returning to school with the start of the new academic year was one for books for the Sawant family. Pictured are Gulam and Yasmina with Adam and Sara, who are happy learners at Somerset House. Foto:
Somerset House newbie Silas Petersen had no difficulty with his first day of school as mom, Anthea provided all support needed to see it through successfully. Foto:
Sarah, Faye and Liam Allwood were all smiles Somerset House. Foto:
Somerset House mates, Katelyn Siljeur, Taylin Hilliard-Lomas and Alison Cruickshank happily united for their first day.Foto:
Phoebe Knoesen, Wian Visser and Du Toit Milan were brave little Beaumont Lions.
Beaumont Primary School’s Tamara Ndlovu and Siyamthanda Bokwe championed their first day with smiles.
Gr.1-leerders Micke van Zyl en Lea Koegelenberg is al klaar Beaumont maaitjies.
Tyler Theunissen and Mekhi February started their Grade 1 year as Beaumont buddies.
