If a house is not a home, a school hall is not a game changer!
Well, game changer it most certainly is . . .
After years of planning and fundraising, Ida’s Valley Primary School officially inaugurated the school’s hall on Saturday (27 July).
The school was founded in 1938 and moved to its current premises in 1941. Now, for the first time in the school’s history, learners have a gathering place where there are no worries about the weather conditions.
“Thirty-one years and three principals later the school finally has its own hall. This is the realisation of a dream started years ago by former colleagues that has finally seen the light thanks to a partnership among many role-players,” principal Anton Gordon explained.
His pride in the new hall knew no bounds and had even given him the nickname of “Mr Saal”.
Gordon and his staff welcomed former colleagues, former learners, role-players and community members to the official opening this past weekend.
The million-rand project was in large as a result of funding from the Archway Foundation, the corporate social investment project of Garden Cities.
According to John Matthews, CEO of Garden Cities, the Stellenbosch school’s hall is the 127th the foundation has built. “I am happy to see one of the school’s core values is ownership, because we want learners and the community to take ownership of this facility. May it assist you in more ways than one to live out your mission for greater participation and communication within the community,” Matthews implored.
The learners have already enjoyed the hall thanks to a visit from the South African Police Service’s orchestra on Thursday (25 July). The school choir also had the opportunity to test the hall’s new acoustics at the inauguration.
Juan Benjamin, chief director of Curriculum Development and Teacher Development at the provincial education departement, said the new hall has changed the picture for the more than 900 learners of the school.
“To think, this building was not here a year ago! Now what happens next?
“Simply having a beautiful new building means little if it isn’t used to improve the lives of the community in which it is located. May it contribute to changing the picture of these learners’ lives.”
Benjamin said the aim must be to fill the hall with chess matches, computer competitions, cultural showcases, sport games and mathematics lessons.
The school’s first head boy, Dr Daniel Solomons, added the hall was the reward of seeds sown by previous generations. “This is a joyous occasion and we are grateful to those who came before, who had a dream. Let us never underestimate the value of small conversations and those who have a vision,” Solomons said.
Now, what was once an old tarmac where learners played netball and learners like Solomons received physical education lessons, has been transformed into a gathering place for broader the community.
