Mitchell’s Plain teachers awarded for excellence
A group of Mitchell’s Plain teachers clinched top awards for their excellence in teaching at the recent Metro South Education District’s National Teaching Awards 2024.
West End Primary’s principal Clive Arries won Excellence in Primary School Leadership, and his colleague Ziyaad Noordien won Excellence in Teaching Natural Sciences.
Mr Arries, a well-respected leader in education, is redefining the role of a school principal. “I am glad that the award was for excellence in leadership for a primary school and not a principal. The word principal should be a collective noun because many people do the work for and on behalf of the principal,” he said.
Mr Arries said true leadership is about empowering teachers to work together to resolve challenges and empower themselves with the necessary knowledge and skills to become the next generation of principals.
“My job is just to facilitate, support and have a conversation to ensure that we get education to the right standard. It’s all about people. It is not schools that create opportunities for learners to go on a school tour or play a rugby match or netball tournament, it is a teacher.
“Schools need to recruit teachers with a winning mindset, allow them to grow into a positive work ethos, share a culture of working together, and see the glass as half full rather than half empty,” he said.
Mr Noordien said he was surprised to win in his category. “Winning the award was the cherry on top. We don’t do it (teaching) for recognition but because we love it. I was forced to enter a day before and I couldn’t believe it when I won,” he said.
Passionate about exposing his pupils to the wonders of natural science, Mr Noordien said the award is for them as well.
“You implement things to better the lives of the learners, especially from our community, making them see and arousing their senses to what is in and outside the classroom. This award is for my learners and this community,” he said.
Summerdale High School’s Waldilene Folding and Althea Baartman were winners in the Excellence in Teaching Mathematics (GET) and Excellence in Secondary School Teaching categories, respectively.
“It is a great acknowledgement of what I’ve accomplished over the years and the strategies that I’ve implemented at the school, which have been fruitful for myself, learners and the school,” said Ms Folding.
“We aren’t always seen on a day-to-day basis, or applauded for the successes. With those successes there have been trials and tribulations but it is about us overcoming those challenges and persevering through that,” she said.
Ms Baartman dedicated her award to her pupils. “This award belongs to my learners. Everything I implemented in class was because I saw the needs of a learner.
"I never thought I would be acknowledged for this because I am just doing my job. When I received the award, I took it to my learners and they were thrilled. I come from Mitchell’s Plain and I know what they are facing. For them it was if Miss can do this, I can do this too,” Ms Baartman said.
Chandré Constant from Beacon School for Learners with Special Educational Needs won in the Excellence in Special Needs Teaching category.
Ms Constant says winning the award is a reminder that it takes a community to teach a child with special needs. “When I look at the award, I think of my mentors, principal and deputy principal and management team. It doesn’t just represent me as a special needs teacher but also the community that helped mould me into the teacher I have become, as well as the learners,” she said.
Michaela Willenberg from Spineview Primary won the Excellence in Life Skills Teaching award. She said the achievement is a powerful motivator to re-energise her teaching skills and other teachers.
“It opens doors for opportunities for my colleagues and school, and is a big encouragement to continue to strive for excellence,” she said.
Ms Willenberg said equipping children with life skills and exposing them to nature through excursions and camp programmes are crucial to their development. “It builds a foundation and independence and allows them to be problem solvers, resilient. It also assists with decision making, which they can take into their adulthood,” she said.
She added the subject also assists with communication skills, which pupils will need in their field of work one day. “For teenagers, showing empathy and having positive self esteem is a big factor and I am proud to say that I have been equipping them and creating self sufficient, responsible adults one day,” she added.
Other Mitchell’s Plain schools that took part in the Metro South Education District awards were Portland High, Strandfontein Primary and Mitchells Plain Primary.
