WELKOM – Unitas Secondary School has entered a new chapter under the leadership of its newly appointed principal, Johan Charles Herbst, who has pledged to build on the school’s strong foundations while strengthening its ties with the wider community.
The school recently gathered to bid farewell to its former principal, André Marais, and to honour his years of dedicated service to learners, educators and the school community.
The farewell brought together parents, community leaders and other stakeholders, highlighting the strong relationship between the school and the community it serves.
Collaboration and shared responsibility
As the new principal takes up the responsibility of leading Unitas Secondary School, the emphasis is firmly on collaboration and shared responsibility.
The principal said the school’s future depended on recognising that education was a collective effort and that schools could not thrive in isolation.
“My vision for Unitas Secondary School is simple yet resolute: ‘Rooted in Community, Striving for Excellence’,” Herbct said.
A key priority will be strengthening partnerships between educators, parents, local businesses and community leaders. These relationships are intended to support higher educational standards and help position Unitas Secondary School among the leading schools in the Free State.
However, the school’s ambitions extend beyond academic achievement.
The principal said Unitas was committed to developing the whole learner by promoting academic excellence alongside strong moral values, leadership skills and emotional resilience.
Learners must feel supported
The aim is to ensure that learners feel supported not only by their teachers and families, but by the wider community as they prepare for an increasingly changing world.
The new principal also expressed appreciation to Marais for the foundation he had established during his tenure, saying the school could now build on his contribution as it looks towards the future.
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