The official inauguration of Sarepta’s Primary School’s brand new hall was held on Tuesday 16 July. The school, with currently close to 1 300 learners from Grades 1 to 7, has already started utilising the hall since construction finished last year.
Principal Jerome Solomons thanked the Archway Foundation, Garden Cities’ social investment initiative, in partnership with the provincial education department, for including the school in their ‘’ethos of levelling the playing fields”.
Solomons said the hall already made a huge difference to the school. In the past school assemblies were held outside and were weather-dependent.
“We can now have assembly all year round.” They could not do so before if it was raining or if the tarmac was too hot, Solomons explained.
“Now we have this beautiful hall where we can host almost everything.” Solomons said the hall is also utilised for extra co-curriculum activities. During the June examinations, they exposed the Grade 7 learners to write exams in the hall in preparation for high school.
The hall also offers a space for large-scale teaching programmes. Solomons said they can now accommodate all learners of a grade instead of splitting them up to join in sessions.
“Especially with NGOs that visit we now have this hall where we can have all the learners together and present everything to all at the same time – and everyone gets the same message.”
The school will also consider opening the hall for the community for special events.
“As principal, I acknowledge that we’ve entered a new phase at our school. We will use this space optimally to the benefit of the learners and the extended community,” said Solomons.
Ownership
Jannie Isaacs, board member of Garden Cities, who unveiled a commemorative plague said in his keynote address that the inauguration was an equally memorable event for Garden Cities and the Archway Foundation as it was hall number 120 they have built over the last 22 years.
Isaacs said the hall is approximately 700 square meters and can seat around 800 people. “It is slightly bigger because these days we’ve done a reconfigured stage for access.”
The school’s choir that performed at the event showed how practical this design is when they stood on the steps expanding across the front of the stage.
Isaacs said Sarepta Primary was one of few schools that is a recipient of both a science centre and a school hall made possible through the public-private partnership between Archway Foundation and the education department.
Isaacs said the partners delivered on the promise of a hall but it is up to the school to take ownership.
“It is in your hands.” He explained ownership comes with rights but also with obligations and responsibility.
“You should take full responsibility for this asset. You may sometimes dedicate that responsibility to someone or a group of people. But you will always remain accountable for it.”
Education department circuit manager, Sigqibo Tabata, said it was not only about celebrating a new building but the promise of a brighter future for our children, “where they will be equipped with knowledge and skills to succeed in an ever-changing world”.
“May this school hall be a place where you discover your passions, develop your talents and grow into compassionate and responsible individuals.”
Tabata said he wants to encourage the learners to make the most of the hall – whether it will be for sport, various performances or other activities. “May this hall inspire you to reach new heights and create lasting memories.”
