About 40 seniors from the Neighbourhood Old Age Homes (Noah) were treated to an afternoon of fun and entertainment thanks to learners from Mountain Road Primary School in Woodstock.
To spread some cheer, the learners showcased their talents to the seniors during a final rehearsal for the annual school concert on Thursday 24 August
Jolene de Wet, a Grade R teacher at the school, explains that the school “adopted the home” and regularly visits and treats the seniors.
“For Mandela Day, we usually go there. At the end of the year, we buy goods for them and we make a big box with luxuries. We just want them to know that they are part of our community. If they see our kids misbehaving, they have the right to correct them. We want them to adopt us as much as we have adopted them.”
De Wet explains that the three-day concert happened from Tuesday 29 to Thursday 31 August.
“A week before the concert, we invite the seniors and they come to watch our rehearsals. This is also so that we can look at final preparations. We also do this to boost the confidence of the learners. The show attracts more than 700 spectators so the learners can get overwhelmed. That is why we invite our seniors to give them a good practice round.
“We thought because it was so cold, they would not make it. But they came, some of them even walked and it was raining on the day.”
De Wet explains that this year’s theme was “a trip around the world” and each grade performed a dance associated with a certain country and dressed up accordingly.
The teacher says that proceeds go towards certain school necessities. “This is a cultural event for the kids and gives them an opportunity to showcase their talents. What makes the concert so awesome is that we have learners, teachers and parents working together. A lot of the learners go through hardship and when they appear on stage and showcase their talents all of that hardship disappears.”
Bonny Diener, Happiness Programme manager at Noah, says: “We had an awesome day. The learners escorted each of us into the school hall. They really took good care of us; they made us tea. They were so professional. In the end, we all started dancing and singing along with them. When we left each of us received a gift bag of sweet treats. The seniors felt special, like they were being treated by their grandchildren. And some of them lack that, so they enjoyed it.”
