Final ring of the bell for school principal as he retires
The parents came to share their good wishes as the principal retires.
Emotions were at an all-time high for learners, staff and parents at Laerskool Stephanus Roos on Monday morning as principal Christo van Niekerk rang the bell for the very last time.
Learners from their different sporting groups, grades, prefects, SGB member, teachers and management stood in a guard of honour to say their final goodbyes to the man who gave 38 years of service but now has decided to retire.
Tania Schoeman, from the school’s marketing team, said Van Niekerk was handed a bouquet of 38 red roses for each year of service, while some learners cried and asked him not to leave as they felt like they were losing their grandfather.
“The staff will miss him a lot as he was a people person, a family man and someone people looked up to.
“He had an open door policy and anyone could come to him with their problems, he generally would make time for anyone who would need it.”
The parents thanked him for his devotion and the love he had for the children that he helped raise academically while the kids sang the school song.
Van Niekerk had mixed feelings about his retirement and highlighted that he was going to miss the children and staff.
He is, however, looking forward to spending time with his wife who also retired and he will be making time for things he did not previously have time for.
Asked what his highlights were throughout his career that he started in 1984 as a teacher, his answer was being selected department head in 1988, the promotion to deputy principal in 1992 and becoming principal of the school in 2013.
While he ran across the rugby field, he also remembered the New Zealand tour he took with his under-13 rugby team in 1989, being part of the rugby management and organising a Loftus day for all the little rugby players.
He was fondly known by the children as “the grandfather” and will also be remembered for his love of the garden, especially the roses.
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