Laerskool Kenmare principal Wouter Immelman has enjoyed some illustrious years as an educator and principal of the school.

It was thus a special occasion when he celebrated his 60th birthday recently and was praised for his service and dedication.

Wouter was appointed principal at Kennies on May 5, 2014 and in an exclusive interview with the News, he reflected on the past decade he has been at the helm.

It was clear that Wouter was a much-respected captain of the Kennies’ ship and had his service and journey at the school been described as nothing short of compelling.

“I was principal at Laerskool Lichtenburg for eight years before accepting the principal’s post at Kenmare. Lichtenburg is a much smaller school and also part of a predominantly farming community. So you can imagine that at first, how quickly I had to adapt to the much larger school environment and of course, also the ‘new’ parents that presented a very different community.”

Despite the challenges of coming into a new school environment, Wouter was accepted and welcomed with open arms by the school which helped him adapt.

“Without any doubt in my mind, I can confirm that I was accepted very quickly as the new principal and had wonderful support from the parents, my staff as well and the learners over the past nine years. Kenmare is a school that operates at a very high level, participating in numerous activities and being very competitive. This creates a school environment in which there is never a dull moment. We are proud of ourselves as a school that can keep up with the most recent trends in teaching. This creates a very fulfilling experience for everyone connected to Laerskool Kenmare. We have fantastic teachers, great supporting staff, and a governing body that works hand in hand with management to ensure the best for our school.”

Wouter is very passionate about his job as an educator as he believes that educators play a vital role in the lives of many. However, many who have known him will be surprised to know that education was never his first career path.

“After my two years of compulsory military service, I worked in the banking sector for two years, then came to realise that I have a passion to become instrumental in the lives of children and to make a difference in their lives. The mere thought of becoming a teacher was an accelerating feeling and I then had the lucky break of obtaining a bursary to study teaching. The rest is history and after 34 years in the profession, I still enjoy my work every day,” said Wouter.

Wouter obtained a Higher Education Diploma from the Onderwys Kollege Pretoria which has now merged with the University of Pretoria, then furthered his studies at Unisa to obtain a bachelor’s degree with majors in Industrial Psychology and Pedagogics, then went on to complete his honours degree in Educational Management at North West University.

Being able to make a difference in a child’s life and to create hope for the future is what keeps Wouter motivated. He added that school is an important part of a child’s life as it creates stability where kids can enjoy, love and understand life.

“To empower a child to have self-belief and to see a child achieving success is probably the most satisfying experience one can have.” This is among the lessons that Wouter has learned at Kennies.

“The rewards are multiple. Primary school children are usually very open and honest about their feelings. They offer true affection and support to those that are true in their actions towards them and they will let you into their lives with a lot of affection. The opposite is also true, and a child will very quickly see through your actions if they are not honest and then you will lose their trust forever. It is therefore an absolute privilege to have the chance to make a positive impact in their lives,” Wouter said.

Running day-to-day operations at the school and ensuring learners meet high standards is a very difficult job for even the best heads of schools, however, Wouter does not do it all alone – he is happy to have staff and teachers to help him achieve educational goals.

“Laerskool Kenmare’s staff is an absolute delight to work with. We are on the same page and we work towards a common goal. Everyone understands the plan and we stick to it. They are professional in their work and our motto Kennie Kampioene, always stays the main objective. There is mutual respect towards each other and they understand their calling. Seeing the staff ‘grow’ in their profession and achieving successes, is very rewarding and I am privileged to be the captain of the ship,” Wouter added.

Apart from enjoying working with staff and learners, Wouter further reflected on some of the important lessons he learned over the years.

”There are so many, but I would say that being humble every day is a big one. We are working with the most valuable asset of every parent. The trust that our parents put in us as staff, is an honour and one should never forget the huge privilege that comes with this. Another valuable lesson is the fact that we as teachers have the wonderful opportunity to make a difference in every learner’s life, every day. We are working with the psyche of every child and we can enhance or destroy his or her future. We also have the wonderful opportunity to stay true to our calling as Christians and to work vicariously for His Kingdom in teaching every day,” Wouter said.

For Wouter, or Mr Immelman, his journey with the school has been nothing short of wholesome and fascinating. In May 2024 he will be at Kenmare for 10 years. This will coincide with Kenmare’s 50 birthday, so it will be a double celebration for the school.