After four decades, loved teacher calls it a day

After four decades this loved teacher is retiring.

January 9, 2022

Zita Goldswain 2 minutes read

Ms Marlene Brits hung up her hat at the end of last year after 40 years at Laerskool Onverwacht.

A passion for teaching and a love for children have maintained Ms Brits’ dedication to the profession for four decades.

A former colleague of hers, Ms Amanda Human said one of the first projects Ms Brits was part of 40 years ago, was planting trees at the school.

“Looking at the trees now, one can only grasp the idea of how deep her roots are set in the school,” Ms Human said.

A former student, McBride Mnisi said she will never forget the signature with an M and the date next to the margins when Ms Brits marked their books not to mention the cool stickers she gave them.

“Ma’am Marlene was a very kind and welcoming teacher who had so much patience. She would allow us to feed the birds in front of her class. She taught us how to write our names and pronounce the alphabet properly. It was so much fun when it was someone’s birthday because we ate cake and sang. One thing about her is that she never forgets your name even when you grow up,” McBride said.

Courtney Friend, who was the school’s head girl in 2007, said Ms Brits played a substantial role in her academic and sporting life while she was at Onverwacht.

“Words do not begin to express how important your role was in my life and the lives of everyone who has ever been in your class. Some things I remember love and cherish from my time in Onverwacht were my time in your class. You helped build the foundation that has become the bones of who I am and all that I have achieved in life,” Courtney said.