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NEWS/NUUS
INDABA NEWS•NUUS WEDNESDAY, 3 OCTOBER 2012
School News / Iindaba Zesikolo
GGMSA MSA ggives ives a bboost oost tto o eeducation ducation aatt EEmsengeni msengeni PPrimary rimary GENERAL Motors South Africa handed out 770 Lapdesks to the pupils of Emsengeni Primary School in Zwide earlier this month.
Present at the Lapdesk handover were, from left to right, Emsengeni Primary Grade 5 pupil, Siviwe Zinqeha, 10years old, Mrs Ntonbizandile Nocanda (Principal of Emsengeni Primary School), Edgar Lourencon, (President of GM Sub Saharan Africa and Managing Director of GM South Africa), and Grade R pupil, Lukhanyo Binda, 5 years old (Emsengeni Primary).Photo: SUPPLIED
“By doing this, GMSA emphasised its commitment to making a difference in the community and to help eliminate the desk shortage in excess of 3 million in South Africa”, said Edgar Lourencon, President of General Motors Sub Saharan Africa and Managing Director of General Motors South Africa. “The Lapdesk donation from GMSA meant a lot to the staff and pupils. The atmosphere during the visit and handover was wonderful and everyone was very excited. This day will remain in our hearts as it marks change and improvement in our pupils’ academic life,” said Ntonbisandile Nocanda, Principal of Emsengeni Primary School. “We appreciate the partnership that has started between GMSA and our school and we hope to keep the light burning for the benefit of our children,” said Nocanda. “The students are faced with various challenges on a daily basis but despite all of this the school has an average pass rate of 85% to 90% each year. In addition to these academic achievements, the school also shines in sport and culture. One of the school’s former pupils, Siya Kolisi, is
now playing for the Stormers and was recently included in the SA Springbok Rugby squad. In August, the school’s Marimba Band also competed in an international competition held in Johannesburg and won the Primary School Big Band category, where they outplayed 24 international schools” said Nocanda. GMSA joined forces with The Lapdesk Company in 2011 to address this shortage and over 4 000 Lapdesks have been handed out since the inception of the project and this number will increase to 5 000 by the end of 2012. The Lapdesk Company is using four Isuzu Double Cab vehicles to deliver the Lapdesks to all the schools. Lapdesk donations have been made to schools in Gauteng, Eastern Cape and the Border area and have also been delivered to neighbouring countries, such as Botswana. The Lapdesk Company has created an effective solution which dramatically improves the learning conditions of underprivileged pupils. It provides a vital learning infrastructure and gives the pupils an opportunity to create a better life for themselves through improved academic performance. The Lapdesk is an ergonomically designed, patented product and is made from child-proof materials, printed with non-toxic ink and is 100% recyclable.
Three ‘phenomenal women’ take a break after years of teaching NCEBA DLADLA
Phakamisa High School principal Lungile Ntshe (back right) and HOD Thamsanqa Malgas (left) flank SGB Chaiperson Kinn Mrausi behind high achievers Sibongile Kate (Grade 8); Xabiso Magele (Grade 9); Sandisiwe Phillip (Grade 10); Zanele Sinyongo (Grade 11) and Azola Mtala (Grade 12). Photo: NCEBA DLADLA
Phakamisa High School awards learners for excellence NCEBA DLADLA PHAKAMISA High School awarded their bright learners with certificates during a prize-giving ceremony held at the school hall in Katyu Street, Zwide, Port Elizabeth last Wednesday. “We hold this event every year to motivate our bright learners to continue doing their best but also to say to those who are struggling to pull up your socks, it can be done,” said school principal Lungile Notshe. Notshe said learners should realise that things change and that they must always strive to be the creators of change rather than be its adversaries. “Don’t allow yourselves to be the victim of change. Embrace it, rather. Be determined, have a vision, roll up your sleeves and make things happen,” said Notshe. Notshe told his learners to learn the
intricacies of technology and try to stay abreast of new developments in life. Guest speaker Vuyiswa Fani, a former learner of the school said she came to “testify” that learners from the school can succeed and become whatever it is that they aspire to be in life. A Motherwell High School teacher Fani, who is an Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University graduate, said their poor backgrounds should not be a stumbling block towards their dreams and aspirations in life. “A rose surrounded by thorns is still a rose, never forget that,” said Fani, adding that they must always be focused and never be deceived – by anything. Here are the names of those who received awards for their outstanding performances in more than one Learning Area: Sibongile Kate (Grade 8); Xabiso Magele (Grade 9); Sandisiwe Phillip (Grade 10); Zanele Sinyongo (Grade 11) and Azola Mtala (Grade 12).
CANZIBE Primary School in Motherwell, Port Elizabeth bade farewell to its retired teachers Babara Watani, Zameka Ndlangana and Beauty Ndimeni last Thursday. A glittering function attended by the school’s members of staff, their families, the School Governing Body, pupils and invited guests from neighbouring schools was held at the NU2 Community Hall in Motherwell. “These three teachers have had a good innings. They are the first group of teachers that came to teach here when the school was established in 1989, and they have given uninterrupted service ever since,” said principal Nokuzola Jindela. Jindela thanked the stakeholders of the school for working together to ensure that the trio who have given their all for the school – more than was expected of them – get the best send-off. She told them: “Go home and enjoy the fruits of your hard labour.” Nelson Mandela Bay retired Social Worker and Senior Administrator in the Social Development Department Nosisi Skosana who delivered the keynote address had other plans for “these phenomenal women and groundbreakers” who agreed to be the servants of the nation.
ENJOYING FRUITS...Retired Canzibe Primary School teachers Zameka Ntlanga na and Babara Watani flank principal Nokuzola Jindela during their farewell func tion at NU2 Community Hall in Motherwell last week. Photo: NCEBA DLADLA She implored them never to abandon the school. “You have laid the foundation for the development of a black child. You were selfless. Your conscience guided you as you imparted knowledge to the young mind. I salute you! “But I implore you, in enjoying your quality time with your families at home, please don’t abandon the school. It needs you, even more,” said Skosana. Mam Ndlangana, who started
ONE WEEK LEFT TO SEND YOUR MATRIC FAREWELL PHOTO AND WIN PEOPLE who attended a matric farewell this year in Port Elizabeth have less than one week left to upload their photos on the PE Express website and stand a chance to win big. Just by uploading your photo, you can be the lucky winner of a
R1 000 Walmer Park Shopping Centre gift voucher. Anyone who uploads his or her photo stands a chance of winning as the winner will be randomly drawn from the entries. There will not be any judging of outfits or dresses. Entry is free and the competition
is open to all Port Elizabeth residents who attended a matric farewell this year. The closing date is noon on Monday, October 8. To upload your photo, visit our website at www.pe-express.co.za and click on “Competitions” for more info and rules.
Go to www.pe-express.co.za or our mobi site at peexpress.mobi to see all the entries we have received so far. Matriculants who have already entered can also check to see if their photo has been uploaded. All the photos we have received are available under Multimedia – Photo Galleries – Special Events Andiswa Vili
Chwayita Malakane
teaching in 1979, said she is proud of the pupils she has taught who are in leadership positions in life. “Some of my former pupils are doctors, lawyers, journalists and engineers. I have played my part,” said Ndlangana proudly. And a sports fanatic Watani said she’ll be missing the classroom and is proud of the number of pupils she taught and coached in soccer, cricket and athletics who are now involved with sports federations as athletes and administrators.