The doors of the newly transformed False Bay Primary School were officially opened after an inauguration ceremony held in the Macassar school’s hall on Saturday 1 March.
Guests attended to celebrate the school’s transformation from prefabricated classrooms to becoming a mega school with brick-and-mortar buildings.
The school was operated from mobile classrooms but is now able to provide state-of-the-art facilities to the community of Macassar. The milestone was marked with a commemorative event attended by Western Cape Education Department (WCED) officials, teachers, community leaders, and business partners.
Founding principal Vernon Hendricks recalled the school’s humble beginnings with no access to water, temporary toilets, and tarred areas as playgrounds.
“By 10:00, our children had no more learning left in them due to the conditions,” recounted Hendricks.
Despite the challenges, he expressed immense gratitude for dedicated staff, parents, and the school’s governing body for their valued endurance and patience.
Those at the event were welcomed by Macassar local and programme director Duncan Masiwa, and were treated to a three-course lunch as a heartfelt “thank-you” from the school. Speakers included the WCED’s chief director of districts, Heather van Ster, director for the Metro East Education District, Landeka Diamond, and circuit seven manager, Sigqibo Tabata.
Van Ster asked the guests to take a moment to appreciate the stunning new school building. To her, it is more than just classrooms; it is a space designed to foster creativity and innovation.
“The improved facilities are welcomed by the school community, who looks forward to improved learning,” said Van Ster.
She implored staff of the school to always be relentless in their pursuit of providing quality education while embracing eager minds.
She also thanked the school’s business partners for their trust in the institution, stating that educating learners while surrounded by social ills was challenging – something she could attest to from her 15 years as a high school teacher.
Diamond emphasised that the school was built on the foundation of dreams that are being realised. “False Bay is on an upward trajectory in line with the district’s growth,” she said.
Entertainment included the performances by the school’s drum majorettes and a poem recital by learner Chevanie Louw, showcasing the school’s burgeoning talent. The teachers rendered a fitting item of the song “The Future Begins With Us”, reinforcing their commitment to the children.
Tabata expressed his high hopes for the school and thanked the WCED and current principal, Desmond Engelbrecht, for their dedication.
Engelbrecht highlighted that they are already putting the new facilities to good use, highlighting that the school had achieved a 20% improvement on the academic front last year and a Grade 3 class boasting a 91,1% pass rate in mathematics.
On the sports front, the school also upped its extracurricular game, with three of the drummies who performed at the ceremony having earned their South African colours and 12 others their Western Province (WP) colours.
What’s more, two rugby players at the school also received their WP colours.
“When I started here, my goal was for this school to become the school of choice in the area. I am proud to say we have achieved that,” Engelbrecht said. “Now, I want the school to be a beacon of hope.”
As the school enters its new chapter, it will be led by the words emboldened on its inauguration plaque, “Achieve Greatness and Academic Excellence”.
