Hillside Primary principal retires
Bernard Meyer, pictured with his wife Rita, bids farewell after 22 years of teaching and leadership at Hillside Primary School.
It was a glorious celebration for Hillside Primary School’s principal who retired after 22 years at the school.
Bernard Meyer, 65, from Steenberg said goodbye on Thursday September 29, and the following day he shared with the Plainsman what 42 years of teaching and being a leader meant to him.
Mr Meyer grew up in Steenberg where he attended Steenberg Primary School and Steenberg High School. Mitchell’s Plain became his second home when he started working at Hillside Primary, he said.
He started his teaching career at Zeekoevlei High in January 1981, teaching Afrikaans and history for seven years before taking up a post as head of the history department at Manenberg High in 1988. He stayed there until 1999 before being appointed principal of Hillside Primary in January 2000.
“In my first year of being appointed here we had the privilege of flying to Joburg to represent the school’s environmental club. Reflecting on my 22 years later it depicts my journey at Hillside Primary - I lifted off and I kept flying high.”
“At the beginning, it wasn’t easy but God's grace helped me,” he said.
“In collaborating with teachers from other schools, it was also about trusting the members of the team. It’s about building relationships, and emulating good practice. One can’t do it all by yourself, you need wisdom of the almighty and collaboration,” said Mr Meyer.
Having spent “all my life at school”, he said, he would miss the school buzz, working in a classroom with pupils and witnessing their journey through school. They must realise the value and the most important tool they have, which is education,” he said.
“This place makes the best of me as a teacher accepting the leadership and wanting to add value to the holistic value of the school,” he said.
“The celebration on Thursday was about love. I'm going to treasure that mouth watering exhibition showing all that love. I’ve got a lot of hope for what’s going to become of our school; it's in very good hands,” said Mr Meyer.
Caradale Primary School principal, Ezra Carelse said: “When I started, I was a student in Mr Meyers' class and now at the end we are colleagues. We will miss Mr Meyer.”
Gavin Elliott, principal of Spineview Primary School, thanked him for the positive energy and contagious laughter. “It would give me calmness around an already busy job. We will miss him.”
Anthea Cupido, a teacher at Hillside, clapped with the pupils and staff 42 times - one time for each year Mr Meyer has been in teaching.
“Mr Meyer’s laugh was exuberant and contagious. He loves soccer, a Manchester United fan. Mr Meyer loves to read out of the Bible, he was very encouraging and compassionate. During a time when my children were sick, he was there for me and my family. We will miss him,” she said.
Fatimah Santon, teacher at Hillside who heads the school’s environmental club, said they would miss Mr Meyer. They gifted him a calla lily which represents beauty, purity, rebirth and faithfulness. This, she said, was what Mr Meyer represented to them and the school.
The Genesis Music Foundation bid Mr Meyer farewell with musical performance.
Mr Meyer told the pupils on Thursday: “Make your light shine. You can become anything you want to be only if you believe. Make it known to the Lord and ask the Lord to bless you. Do what is required of you and do your best. I wish you all the best in terms of your future journey.”
“These are your days, make a good name for yourself. Remember that you are special and can do anything you put your mind to,” said Mr Meyer.