Penryn celebrates 26 years

MBOMBELA – Penryn celebrated its Founders’ Day this weekend. The school took the opportunity to look back at 26 years of excellence in education through Penryn College, Penryn Preparatory and Penreach.
During the main commemoration in the chapel on Saturday morning, Penreach CEO and head, Andile Ncontsa applauded the efforts of all those who made this possible.

He reminded the audience that education was still not fixed.
“Our founders’ clarion call resonates today, as it did 26 years ago – that education is the only solution out of poverty.

Even Nelson Mandela did his bit to fix it, and when he had no more energy left, he painted his hands on a canvas to raise money for education and said: ‘It is in your hands’.

We can’t say it is up to government or corporates to solve this. It is up to us, as individuals and civil society to respond to the call, and say yes: ‘It is in our hands’,” Ncontsa said.
Penryn means “light on the hill”. Its work is benefiting 500 000 children, covering early-childhood development (ECD), numeracy and literacy, teacher development, maths and science, school leadership and curriculum management, as well as bursaries and scholarships for deserving learners from partner schools to study at Penryn Prep and College.

Thousands more benefit at St Stithians through Thandulwazi Maths and Science Academy and five ECD centres in Ivory Park operated at Methodist Church properties.

Alumni guest speaker, Louise de Jager, an accomplished sportswoman with a master’s degree in sports science, attested in her address that the Penryn ethos of honouring God and others has provided the strong foundation that has kept her on course over the past 10 years.

She suggested to current learners to “place your bricks well” and appreciate the intense investment that teachers and the Penryn family are making in each and every child’s development.

Chair of the Penryn Trust, Jacques Celliers, also referred to the importance of ensuring that the school keeps its sense of being a family.

As the CEO of one of the largest banks on the continent, he understands that it is the people and their connection to one another that make an organisation special.
“I am proud of Penryn for being such a diverse family. And it is the job of every member of this family to keep it together,” he said.
Penryn College executive head, Chris Erasmus, reminded those attending that the founding of Penryn was specifically aimed at establishing a space where non-racial and non-discriminatory education could take place.
Grant Williams, head of Penry Prep, concluded with, “Behind me sits infinite power, in front of me limitless possibility, and around me, boundless opportunity.”
The chapel ceremony was followed by the official opening of the new Astro@Penryn facility and a number of matches played on it. It was also preceded by the “Festival of Lights” on Friday night.
It saw Danny Fisher (formerly from the Blarney Brothers) and Joanne Fisher Steyn perform, as well as musically talented Penryn pupils from the prep school and college.

They are very talented youngsters. Most sang popular songs, such as Christina Perri’s “A Thousand Years” and “Remedy” by Little Boots.

They were enthusiastically supported by their friends and families.
Other entertainment on offer was carnival games and jumping castles for the kids, beer tents and food stalls for the parents, and bonfires to keep the whole family warm.