Crystal Park Primary learner, Bohlale (left, 6) gets a goodluck fist bump from her little brother Tumisho Malope (3).
Hundreds of Grade One learners started school in Benoni on February 15, and the City Times was there to capture the excitement.
• Gekombineerde Skool Noorderlig
HOD for foundation phase Udine van Zyl said they are excited to have the Grade Ones at school. “We are prepared and ready to start teaching. We have missed our learners,” said van Zyl.
The school has 100 Grade One learners and they will be attending school on a rotation basis.
Principal Patrick Arentsen said he sees the year being similar to last year.
“We were very blessed last year and coped very well. The parents took strain and this was unfortunate, but this year we are more positive because we get to open at the beginning of the year, unlike last year,” said Arentsen.
The school has 150 Grade One learners and will be working on a rotation basis.
• Farrarmere Primary School
Head of Grade One Priscilla Knight said she feels they will cope much better this year than last year.
“We have all protocols in place and had the time to arrange everything. Now that we are better prepared, I believe this year is going to be a good one,” said Knight. The school has 140 Grade One learners.
• Pioneer Primary School
The school welcomed 160 Grade One learners, only allowing 20 learners per classroom as the school is working on a rotational schedule.
• Benoni Primary School
Principal Shamala Rasamy said placing learners has been challenging as not all learners have been placed due to online submissions.
“We hope to have all our learners placed in classes by the end of the week.
My message for the learners is to persevere as this year may be challenging, but you will learn to face all challenges.”
The school has accepted 160 Grade One learners and will be working on a rotational schedule.
• Laerskool Northmead
Hoof Johan Pieters: “Ons glo ons gaan almal weer diep spore trap in 2021. As skool het ons besluit om geensins die huidige pandemie die skuld te gee vir enige iets nie. Ons poog om binne ’n veilige raamwerk ons leerders maksimaal bloot te stel aan uitmuntende akademiese onderrig.”
Die skool het 114 Graad Eenleerders aanvaar.
• Tom Newby School
Principal Giselle Mynhardt said 120 learners were accepted and this year the school is aiming to have a “calmer” year.
“We learnt our lessons in 2020 and hope to have a much calmer 2021.”
Gekombineerde Skool Noorderlig learner Siphamandla Mlambo (6) winks and gives a thumb up to show his excitement to start big school.
Kamogelo Leshilo (7) of Gekombineerde Skool Noorderlig was looking forward to making new friends.
Ntsako Mabula of Crystal Park Primary School couldn’t wait to get to class and start learning.
Proud dad, Philemon (left) accompanied his son, Luthando Masongo on his first day of school at Crystal Park Primary.
Gekombineerde Skool Noorderlig Grade One 1.1 were looking forward to start learning. They are seen with their teacher Udine van Zyl (middle).
Grade 1.2 learners of Gekombineerde Skool Noorderlig were excited to be at school. They are seen with their teacher Octavia Breedt.
Grade 1.3 learners of Gekombineerde Skool Noorderlig were all set and ready to learn with their teacher Annelie Basson.
Rynfield Primary School Grade One learners sited at the school hall waiting to go to class. Photo: Supplied
Grade One learners of Rynfield Primary School walking to class. Photo: Supplied
Arbor Primary School learners Angelique Bruwer (left, 6), David Lyster (6) and Hlelolenkosi Sibanyoni (6) are excited for their first day of school.
Twins Senama (6) and Seneme Buthelezi (6) from Farrarmere Primary School.
Twins from Farrarmere Primary School Kelly and Morris Zackey (6) said they are excited to be at school.
Katerina and Juliana Venancio (6) of Farrarmere Primary are happy to be at school. Juliana said she is even at school although she got stung by a bee and had a swollen hand.
Kylie Mokotsi from Pioneer Primary School was excited to start her first year of school.
Azeem Ridwaan (6) of Pioneer Primary School was ready to get right into schoolwork.
Pioneer Primary School learners Simamisa Lukhozi (6) (left), Sinoxolo Yolwa (6) and Asma Ravat (7) demonstrating the elbow greeting as they start their first year of school.
Twins Jamila and Jameel Mtambo (6) were excited to start Grade One at Pioneer Primary School.
Karabelo accompanied her daughter, Kearabilwe Mpho, to her first day of school at Actonville Primary School.
Anzani Ndou (5) was happy to have mum Lydia Monama with her on her first day at Actonville Primary School.
Thabo had his father, Sifiso Mnisi, to hold his hand for his first day at Actonville Primary School.
Mayidunyiswe Dlamini (6) got right into using his crayons at Benoni Primary School.
Bandile and Banele Dube (6) started their first year of school together at Benoni Primary School.
Laerskool Rynfield Grade One learners were excited to be at school.
Twins Liesl and Bernard Cohn from Laerskool Rynfield are in the same class.
Friends already are Laerskool Rynfield girls Avah Brownlie (left) and Amory Janse van Rensburg.
Tom Newby Grade One learners Olwethuthando Masombuka (left), Skylar Moonsamy and Caleb-John Houghting practise social distancing.
Ready to learn is Tom Newby Grade One learner Katlego Pienaar.
Practising social distancing and still being able to have a conversation is Tom Newby Grade One learners Kayla Ntimane (left) and Carl Radyn.
Laerskool Northmead had not one, not two, but three sets of twins this year. Damien (left) and Eloise Hattingh, Elihu and Hizkiah Henderson, and Clarise and Kieran Erasmus were excited to be at school.
