Fairview Primary School celebrated its 50th year with tributes to its principals, teachers, parents, learners and community who graced its halls throughout the years.
Speaking at the event held in Grassy Park on Wednesday 19 February, school principal Keith Meyer said it was an honour and privilege to celebrate the monumental milestone.
“This is not just a celebration of time but a celebration of the people, the memories and the institution that has shaped the school into what it is today,” he said. “I’m one of the first learners at the school when it opened its doors in 1975. Back then, it had Afrikaans and English speaking children at the school.”
According to Meyer, the majority of Afrikaans speaking learners were bussed in from Philippi. “Today, Fairview stands as a beacon for diversity,” he commented. “We are standing on the shoulders of the many men and women who did sterling work, on the premises and also in the community.”
The celebrations included a candlelit table of remembrance with images of former principals Gannon Volkwyn (1975-1979), Suleiman Christian (1980-1993), Cedric Esterhuizen (1994-2009) and Aubrey De Wet (2009-2018).
Addressing the guests, former learner turned teacher Caleb Williams thanked the teachers and principals who shaped his life.
“I have five siblings and each of us are five years apart, so we were under the three different principals,” he shared. “It is nice to be back at the school because if I look at friends, those who I knew at that time, many of them have been shot and many of them are dead but I can stand here today as an ex learner because of the guidance from Mr Meyer and the teachers.”
In a joint statement, teachers expressed their gratitude to everyone who helped to make the 50th milestone a success.
“It is through your dedication and commitment that our school has flourished into the close-knit community it is today,” it read. “This past 50 years has been nothing short of extraordinary and we could not have reached this glorious milestone without the support of our entire community. As we look forward to the next 50 years, we do so with confidence and excitement knowing that we are surrounded by such a caring, engaged and passionate community.”
