Relaunch of school is a fairytale story
A committee made up of dedicated members of the community, Child Welfare members and a newly appointed Centre Manager, Maxine Dladla have been working tirelessly to restore the dignity of the school.
For more than 35 years Peter Pan Pre-Primary School in Fairleigh has offered quality child care and education in a safe environment for children of the Fairleigh community.
Peter Pan is a subsidiary of the Newcastle Child Welfare Organisation and was on the verge of closing its doors due to administrative problems.
When the school year came to a close in December last year, Peter Pan faced a bleak future. Farieda Mia, social worker at Newcastle Child Welfare, confirmed the centre manager had resigned, which in turn affected the staff, parents and ultimately the children of the school as registrations dwindled and parents grew concerned.
“We didn’t have the numbers, which prevented the school from functioning.
“The re-opening of the school was then put on hold until we got on our feet again,” says Mia.
Light at the end of the tunnel
A committee made up of dedicated members of the community, Child Welfare members and a newly appointed Centre Manager, Maxine Dladla have been working tirelessly to restore the dignity of the school.
Maxine and her team brought a burst of hope and promise with their enthusiasm and passion for children and the community of Fairleigh.
“As a resident of Fairleigh, I understood how important it was to keep a pre-primary like Peter Pan open,” says Maxine.
The project, which is spear-headed by Maxine, has already seen employment being created as she recruited children from within the Fairleigh community, who would otherwise sit idle, to help tidy in the garden and play area of the school.
The challenges and obstacles still faced
“We still require sponsors to fund the odds and ends, such as replacing ceiling boards and the refurbishment of the playground equipment,” said member Anitha Lallie.
The school also requires funds to supply meals to the children on a daily basis. “We will need groceries such as bread, margarine and sandwich spreads to feed the children twice a day.”
The grand re-opening
An open day is set to take place at the school on March 21 from 12pm to 3pm, where members of the public can view the facility and meet the staff. Parents will have the opportunity to register their children on the day.
The school can accommodate up to 60 children and caters for ages from two to five years.
The day will serve as a fundraiser to benefit the school.
An inflatable bouncy castle, face painting and other children activities are planned with refreshments on sale.
ALSO READ: Newcastle Child Welfare’s AGM: Gajoo highlights year’s successes and challenges
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