Knowledge is power.
This is the motto teachers and principals have been instilling in learners from Kenmere Primary School in Kensington for the past 60 years.
Since January the learners and teachers have been celebrating the school’s milestone birthday and ended off festivities with an assembly and performances by the learners on Thursday 10 November.
On Thursday proceedings started with a prayer followed by a speech by the principal, Richard Page, whereafter learners from Grades R to 7 showed off their talents.
Learners showed off their dancing, poetic and musical talents during the two-hour-long assembly.
Page says as part of celebrations the school held a shoe drive where they purchased 60 pairs of shoes for underprivileged learners.
A birthday thanksgiving service was held at Good Shepherd Church on 19 October and all ex-principals of the school were invited to attend.
Page says: “As part of our celebration, the school this year became a full-service school. This means we will have our school psychologist, remedial teacher, occupational therapist, speech therapist and an additional remedial teacher and an additional teacher assistant. They will be based at the school every week. We are the only school in our area that will have this.”
He says the school will also soon have a science lab, made possible by an organisation called Archway Foundation.
Page explains that one of the classrooms will be turned into a science lab.
“The lab will be extremely beneficial because science is one of the most critical subjects and now getting all the equipment, we will be able to take our learners to the lab so that they can be exposed to it, which will prepare them for high school.”
Page encourages learners to further their education.
“The learners must follow the motto of the school, ‘Knowledge is power’, in order to attain that knowledge, they must focus on education. That is the way to improve your life.”
Caitlin Farmer (24) says she often visits her alma mater because her mom used to teach at the school.
Farmer says music was always her passion and explains that she joined the school choir in Grade one. Fast forward to today the 24-year-old has since completed a degree in Jazz singing at the University of Cape Town. She’s performed all over the country and her talents even saw her performing in the United States of America.
She shared a motivational message with the learners.
“It takes hard work and discipline to make your dreams come true and make it happen for yourself.”
Farmer says she is proud of her school.
“It’s always nice to see the new generation coming in, especially during assembly. I always feel nostalgic, it’s nice to see the tradition of assemblies and celebrating the school still happening.”
Ruth Fransman is a Grade 1 teacher at the school for the past 15 years. She has been in the education sector for 43 years.
“I love the school, sometimes the parents give us hassles, but I love doing what I am doing. What I love about teaching Grade 1 is that when they come here they can hardly do anything, but when they leave, they can read, write and do everything; that to me is a blessing. It means I have done something to help that child’s future.”
The 64-year-old says she will be retiring at the end of this year. She shares an inspiring message with the learners.
“Just do your best, like I always say, ‘I can if I try’. Sometimes you struggle, but you can do it, dream high, dream big and you will achieve.”
