Summerhill Combined School celebrates 30-year anniversary
NOORDWYK – In the first year of its existence, Summerhill began with 12 learners, from Grade 1 to Grade 7, and just two teachers.
In celebration of its 30th anniversary, Summerhill Combined School held a special assembly, inviting the school’s founders and trustee award winners as guests of honour.
The celebration of the school’s 30-year milestone included an aerial photo of the school from nursery to college, the raising of the school’s 30-year flag and a tour of the entire school with Renate Knott, a founding teacher who has served the school for the entire 30 years.
According to Knott, the school started from an idea and a dream at a time when home-schooling was frowned upon by some. Corrie de Bruyn, CEO of PSG Wealth Pretoria, enlisted a teacher and registered the school. There were only four learners in the first year, and the school was called the A+ School.
The school then moved from Pretoria to Midrand and it was called the Little Red School House. Sonja Morshead bought the school in 1992 and renamed it Summerhill Preparatory School.
In the first year of its existence, Summerhill began with 12 learners from Grade 1 to Grade 7 with Knott and Morshead being only two teachers. “In 1993, due to increased numbers of 24 learners, Summerhill relocated to its current address in Noordwyk,” Knott explained.
Summerhill’s first school uniform was introduced in 1997, beginning with a white shirt with the Summerhill logo, and jeans, evolving over the years into the uniform it has today.
“All the school advertising was done through the Midrand Reporter. Summerhill made sure that everyone in Midrand saw the school’s activities,” said Knott.
One of the school’s biggest highlights was in 2002 when it had the privileged to host the famous Hollywood actor, Will Smith. Knott said autographs were the order of the day with the maths teacher even getting Smith’s signature on the chalkboard. “Needless to say, that section of the board never got erased that year.”
Over the years, Knott has seen the surrounding area grow – from a time when she could look out of her classroom and see the donkeys in the next farm drinking water, to the currently developed surroundings.
She has watched the school grow from 12 children to close to 600, despite new schools opening in the area and the impact of Covid-19. “May Summerhill continue to fly its flag proudly in sporting, cultural and academic fields for many years to come.”
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