Kyalami Preparatory School celebrates 25 years of existence

March 18, marks 25 years since Kyalami Preparatory School (KPS) first opened its doors. One of the founder teachers, Sharlene Wright said, “Over the past 25 years, we have certainly seen advancements in technology. Let us go down memory lane and see what our school was like in the very beginning.” She played a slideshow showing how the school began to how it looks now.

The slideshow was presented by the two founder teachers, Wright and Toinette Versfeld, as they gave a background of how the school was.
“The school was established in 1998; the very first Grade 1 class was run at Beaulieu Prep with Theresa Badenhorst as their teacher,” said Versfeld.
They explained that an old building in the slideshow is where the library is currently. “The admin buildings housed the staffroom, the headmaster’s office, the uniform shop and the Grade 0 block. Although our campus looked like a building site, the feeling of warmth and nurturing on entering KPS was felt right from inception,” said Wright.

Although the buildings were not completed in January 1999, when it was due to open, the school decided to open on time with a staggered start. When the school started, it had 134 learners with 14 staff members. “At the time, Mr Ian Donald was the headmaster.”
Versfeld explained how every day was an adventure, with a surface of mud, the teachers made it work. “There was no field so we used to eat our lunch on our chairs in the parking lot. This is where I learnt to eat apples for lunch.”

Wright said, “Three times a week we all walked to Kyalami Estates in our takkies to play in the park for an hour before returning to school. A staff member would drive behind the children in her car with a first aid kit in case of an emergency.”
The children never wore school shoes, they wore takkies. “We balanced on planks that covered the mud and sometimes we even fell into the mud.”

Alumni Patrick Thorp found the school as an adventure. “I started going to this school in 1999 when I was in Grade 4. The school always feels like a home away from home. What I love the most about the adventures and seeing it grow is the teachers that are always caring and value the opinions of their learners.” He said it is not a family school but it is family-centered and serves the community well. “I will always love this school. I just hope we can celebrate the school turning 50 years soon.”

In 2000, Victor White became headmaster. “This has been a journey and we would like to thank the board, the parents and the children for believing in us and for taking the gamble to start our school in 1999 with all its challenges. I would like to say a special thank you to Lorainne Hill who was head of the board at the time. Her words of daily encouragement and her assistance and listening ear when things were difficult are truly appreciated,” said Wright.

“Kyalami meaning ‘my home’ in Isizulu will always be a home for us.”

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