Our Heroes

These are some of the Christel House SA heroes who recently retired. Each of these staff members worked at our school for several years and we honour them and thank them for helping us to transform lives.

MS MARILYN GROEP

Ms Marilyn started working at Christel House SA at the end of the year 2000 and left at the end of 2021 as our Maths Learning Support Educator. Bowing out as one of the first staff members at our school and the current longest serving member of staff, Ms Marilyn says she is grateful for the opportunity to serve an organisation with a worthy mission. She reflects on some of the earlier days when Christel House SA just opened. “The official opening of our school was an absolute highlight. In the early days, there was so much gratitude, excitement, and expectation. Children would whip out their reading books and sit and read on their bus journey home.” She says that Christel House will always be a part of her life and that she is leaving as a more fulfilled person than when she first started, 20 years ago.

MS VIVIENNE STEWART

Ms Vivienne joined Christel House SA as our High School Art teacher in 2004. She was instrumental in starting and developing the Christel House Art Department to where it is today. “There was no Art Department when I first joined Christel House SA so we had to build it from the ground up. My fondest memories are teaching students who had limited abilities and lacked confidence in their potential in the subject, nurturing and guiding them to the point where they achieved great and incredible success.” She wanted to leave our students with some words of wisdom and added, “Embrace your learning. Be willing to give 100% to ALL your subjects because you may never know what hidden talents you have in you that can only surface if you make the effort.”

NURSE AVRIL HERMANUS

Sister Avril, as she is affectionately known by our students, joined our school in 2005. She says that many beautiful memories were made over the years. One of the memories that really stands out for her was being in Christel DeHaan’s presence when she visited our school. When asked what the most rewarding part of her job was, she says, “making sick students feel better and observing a child’s physical growth, from Grade RR to Grade 12. When they finally reach tertiary education and achieve their ultimate goals, it is so gratifying.” Sister Avril wanted to leave our students with some advice and said, “keep your heads held high, persevere through all your challenges, apply Christel House values wherever you find yourself. Life is a journey, enjoy the ride.”