After 41 years the Dower Practising School Standard 5c Class of 1981 decided to have a reunion to celebrate the amazing foundations that were laid in their lives at primary school.
The idea was sparked by Wahied Gasant from Cape Town, who attended Dower Practising School for just over a year because he wanted to learn to play tennis. He spoke to Melanie Burke and soon an organizing committee was formed, and arrangements were made by the two of them, along with Moegamat Sedick de Long, Nuraan (Lingham) Dolley, Jasoda Kara, Sadeeka (Liberty) Salie and Harniem (Sirkhotte) Ebrahim.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. No-one has done a primary school reunion, so we are very pleased and incredibly honoured. We hope the class of ’81 has started a new tradition,” said Noel Milborough, the former standard 5c class teacher who had already been teaching for 11 years when he taught this class.
Jenny Scheepers applauded the group for the initiative. “We are so proud of you. You are now the ‘young people’ we were back in the day, and we pray that you continue to be blessed.”
The group was hosted at school by the deputy principal Roger Scharnick and Grade 1 teacher and former pupil Faaida (Jalill) Sirkhotte and the teachers in attendance were Noel Milborough, Wilbur Fischer, Mary Bosman, Sybil O’Connor, and Jenny Scheepers.
The group spent the morning at school reminiscing, walking through the school grounds and visiting their former classrooms which, since a new addition was made to the school during the 90s, are now the Foundation Phase classrooms. The stories from that time just flowed and much laughter was heard. Memories about teachers like Hazel Accom, Joan Adams, Ronnie Barnes, Eunice Campbell, Patsy Dennis, Claude Dolley, Neil Fleurs, Rosaline Goosen, Danie Haupt, Glenise Howard, Timothy Jacobs, Kate Jonkers, Roderick Jonkers, Lena Ross, Ebrahim Salie and Eugene Sookdin were shared.
The group also took a moment to remember all the teachers and classmates who are no longer alive, as well as those who were unable to attend the reunion. Additionally, they handed over a certificate of gratitude and acknowledgement to the school.
