New chapter awaits Wentworth Secondary principal
Thousands of learners have passed through her capable hands and have gone on to build legacies of their own in various fields of work, across every spectrum.
AFTER a long and illustrious career, acting principal of Wentworth Secondary School (WSS), Mrs Roseanthia Reed (formerly Miss Haines), bade adieu to the only school she has ever taught at, from January 1977 to September 2020.
More than four decades of her life has been dedicated to WSS. She hails from the South Coast and attended Umzinto Primary School in her formative years and later completed her schooling at Little Flower High School in Ixopo.
The calling to teach had been whispered in her ear for a while and she answered it by enrolling at the Bechet Coloured Teachers’ Training College, and completed her teaching qualifications on a full time basis. She was appointed at WSS as a full-time educator in January 1977.
While teaching she studied part time and obtained her honours degree in mathematics and sciences, followed by a masters degree in mathematics education. She served as a level 1 educator until 1991 when she was promoted to HOD of Maths and Sciences. In 2006 she was appointed deputy principal and has been acting principal since 2017.
As a Grade 12 maths and science educator, she turned the tables, when she achieved an 80 per cent maths pass rate in her first year. The newly appointed principal, Mrs Laurel Cook, can attest to this, as she was a part of her matric class. Another heart-warming experience and feather in her cap, was the realisation of 7As in a single class of matriculants. At the end of 2017, the matric pass rate was not in a comfortable space as it happens now and again at different schools. However, with motivation, commitment and effort, the 2019 results showed an improvement of over 20 per cent.
Thousands of learners have passed through her capable hands and have gone on to build legacies of their own in various fields of work, across every spectrum, from nurses, doctors, teachers, professors, accountants, lawyers to magistrates.
“As I leave, I would like to encourage the staff to continue to do their best for all learners, the school and the community. And to our learners, excel in your studies and make a success of your lives. The future belongs to those who dare to chase their dreams,” she said.
Words tinged with nostalgia and face etched with emotion, she added, “WSS will always be a part of whom I am. It is the only school at which I’ve ever taught and though it pains me to say farewell to a place that’s become more home than home, it is a journey I must travel. I wish to say thank you for the many years. The journey has been a great one. Along the way, the mosaic that has become my life has been intertwined with many, some still with us and others departed to the afterlife. My colleagues, mentors and principals over these years, I thank you. Each one of you has left a mark and lessons in my life which have added to the person I am today. To the new principal and staff, I wish you the best and every success. My parting words will be: look after Wentworth Secondary School and she will look after you.”
Reed hung up her protractor, packed her compass away and cleaned the board for just one last time, at the end of September, after 44 years of teaching to start a new chapter of retirement.
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