{"id":46768,"date":"2022-08-11T08:08:19","date_gmt":"2022-08-11T06:08:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/back-to-school-after-41-years-20220810\/"},"modified":"2025-03-21T12:31:49","modified_gmt":"2025-03-21T10:31:49","slug":"back-to-school-after-41-years-20220810","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/back-to-school-after-41-years-20220810\/","title":{"rendered":"Back to school after 41 years"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis 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 \u201981 has started a new tradition,\u201d said Noel Milborough, the former standard 5c class teacher who had already been teaching for 11 years when he taught this class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Jenny Scheepers applauded the group for the initiative. \u201cWe are so proud of you. You are now the \u2018young people\u2019 we were back in the day, and we pray that you continue to be blessed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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\u2019Connor, and Jenny Scheepers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div contenteditable=\"false\" data-embed24=\"Images\" data-pos=\"middle\" id=\"embed_c998174c\">\n<div class=\"slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Dower\u2019s Class of 1981 \" data-smallsrc=\"https:\/\/cdn.24.co.za\/files\/Cms\/General\/d\/3825\/a931381146034727b17146c9024b70fc.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/37ab92f856f44050aa2befb8c708b239.jpg\" title=\"Dower Practising School head boy and head girl of 1981 Rafeek Sirkhotte and Melanie Burke.  \"><p><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\">Dower Practising School head boy and head girl of 1981 Rafeek Sirkhotte and Melanie Burke.  <\/div>\n<div class=\"img_accreditation\"><span class=\"source\" style=\"display:none;\"><\/span><span class=\"photographer\" style=\"display:none;\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" data-smallsrc=\"https:\/\/cdn.24.co.za\/files\/Cms\/General\/d\/3826\/aa984a6e2075425ca4ce5e952634e159.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/637a934e70ff4f9f87f900fc6d1a066b.jpg\" title=\"Dower teachers past and present (front from left) Faaida Sirkhotte, Wilbur Fischer, Mary Bosman, Sybil O\u2019Connor and Noel Milborough. At the back is Roger Scharnick (deputy principal) and Jenny Scheepers.\"><p><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\">Dower teachers past and present (front from left) Faaida Sirkhotte, Wilbur Fischer, Mary Bosman, Sybil O\u2019Connor and Noel Milborough. At the back is Roger Scharnick (deputy principal) and Jenny Scheepers.<\/div>\n<div class=\"img_accreditation\"><span class=\"source\" style=\"display:none;\"><\/span><span class=\"photographer\" style=\"display:none;\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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 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