16 SCHOOL NEWS
Thumbs-up for Lawson
PE EXPRESS | WEDNESDAY 26 AUGUST 2015
BJ Mnyanda Primary boasts colourful new wellness centre
CHARDÉ MEYER
LEARNERS and staff at the BJ Mnyanda Primary School in KwaZakhele are bursting with pride about their brand new wellness centre.
Lawson Brown High School Choir took top honours at the Choir of all Choirs Competition hosted by Walmer West Primary School. The school won a Trophy for Best Performance of a Traditional Song, as well as Best and Most entertaining High School Choir. Pictured is Snalo Mqushulu, Siphosihle Solani, Nontokozo Pandle, Choir Conductor Penny Berrington, Dellwyn Spear, and Sixolile Nombita. PHOTO:SUPPLIED
The wellness centre, which is a colourful and updated version of a sickbay, was the brain child of the school’s principal, Simphiwe Lucas. The opening of this wellness centre, which took place on August 11, has been in the pipeline from the beginning of the school year. “We always knew we wanted to have a separate building for our sick learners. We used to make use of a classroom that doubled as a store room and that was not conducive for children who are sick,” Lucas said. In order to make the wellness centre a reality, funds had to be raised in the form of shows, hosted by the school, as well as donations. The centre, which is made up of two rooms- one for counselling and another for sick learners to rest- was beautified by the staff of the Missionvale Care Centre. Nurses from the centre tended to the aesthetics of the wellness centre, by painting it in bright colours. The care centre staff also donated paint, bedding and a first-aid medical kit to the school. Annie van der Merwe, one of the nurses at the care centre, said that children needed to be looked after from a
young age and that is why she supported Lucas’ initiative. The wellness centre does not only serve as a sickbay, but also a place where learners can work closely with counsellors. Lucas has enlisted the help of the Department of Education and Social Development to improve his school and its learners. A learner support agent (LSA) has also been appointed to the
school who will visit two to three times a week, for the entire school day, to see to the psychological needs of the learners. “In the end, we do not just want to develop our children academically and physically, but also psychologically. So doing, we send them out into the world as well-rounded children,” the proud principal said.
Principal of BJ Mnyanda Primary School, Simphiwe Lucas (middle), is pleased with his school’s new wellness centre and gives his nod of approval for the paint job done by the staff of the Missionvale Care Centre. The staff, Michelle Verreyn ers (in front, left) and Esterlene Campbell (in front, right), Fanie Nxangashe (at the back, left) and Annie van der Merwe (at the back, right) were glad to be a part of this project. PHOTO:THEO JEPHTA
Westering High offers musical delight NCEBA DLADLA WESTERING High School held a prestige music evening at the Blackbeard Hall recently.
Westering High School offered topclass music at the prestige evening last week with music teacher and conductor Amanda Engelbrecht. PHOTO:NCEBA DLADLA
“We have a prestige evening to give music pupils an opportunity to perform on stage what they have learnt musically,” said music department head Elbe Coetzee. This gave a select few pupils who did well in music – whether as soloists, choirs, ensembles or steel bands – a special time to perform before parents, teachers and other pupils on the night. “This means a lot to music pupils,” Coetzee said, adding that it also inspired other music pupils to want to do well. In a performance par excellence, the pupils showcased their voices and skills on instruments such as piano, guitar, recorder, clarinet, keyboard and saxophone. “These are not mediocre but golden star performances,” said an impressed headmaster Stuart Hayward of the school’s choristers as they hit the right notes. “I have been with these children for almost three years now. They are really good,” an overjoyed Coetzee said.