farewell message mr rs andrews

31 March 2015
FAREWELL MESSAGE FROM MR RS ANDREWS: PRINCIPAL OF SEA VIEW PRIMARY (1990 -2015)
It is with deep sadness that I bid farewell to you, the learners, staff, members
of the School Governing Body and the parents of Sea View Primary, not
forgetting our very special ex-learners. On the 31st of March 2015, I will leave
the noble teaching profession after 41 years of service. My history as an
educator and as an education manager spans four decades of rewarding
service across three provinces in several schools.
I started my career in 1974 at Helpmekaar Hoërskool in Johannesburg. I then
moved to Nylstroom Hoërskool in the Northern Province and thereafter
moved to KwaZulu-Natal where I taught at Afrikaans Hoërskool in Durban
North. In these early years I was extensively involved in sports coaching as
sport has always been a great passion of mine. Having been involved in
several sporting codes, some of them at Provincial level as well, I realised at
an early age that I would like to give back to the community by coaching sport at schools. I have been involved
in coaching athletics, swimming, cricket, rugby, and gymnastics in my earlier years. To see my learners excel on
the sporting field, beyond my expectations, was most rewarding. Being involved in sport organisation prepared
me for taking on my future management roles.
After seven years of teaching, I received my first promotion position to Donnybrook Primary School in the
Midlands as the Principal, however, after a year I transferred to Addington Primary School in Durban as the
Vice Principal, where I remained for eight years. I was thereafter appointed as the Principal of Sea View
Primary school in 1990. It has been an honour and a privilege for me to have served this school and the
community for the past 25 years. When I arrived here, we had just 258 white learners and a small staff. This
was a very exciting time in my career when our country was undergoing tremendous change from the
apartheid era to the new democratic one. One of the greatest highlights of my career was seeing this
transformation take place at Sea View Primary.
Even before the official onset of democracy in South Africa, our school opened its doors to all children,
irrespective of race, colour or creed. I must mention at this stage the achievement of Carol Mbeje the first
athlete under the new dispensation, to become the 100m champion and achieve KZN colours. Learners from
Sea View Primary have continued to make us proud as we have many of them going on to high school and
excelling in the various fields such as academics, athletics, rugby, swimming, leadership and culture. We have
had learners achieving national as well as international scholarships and currently we have two of our exlearners at the Oprah Winfrey School. These learners, Amile Dlamini and Sthembile Gayeni have brought great
honour to our school, having been chosen after a very stringent selection process. All these achievers have
been great ambassadors of Sea View Primary.
It is with great pride that I can say our school has grown from strength to strength over the years and is now
one of the biggest primary schools in the greater Queensburgh area, with approximately 1000 learners from
Pre-Primary to Grade 7. I must admit that managing a school with such a large contingency of learners and 52
staff members, over three campuses has been somewhat challenging at times but, most rewarding and
inspiring on the whole. As a school, we have faced and continue to face many challenges in educating our
learners from diverse cultural, linguistic and socio-economic backgrounds, however, our dedicated and skilled
staff, as well as our strong management team continue to rise up to these challenges enthusiastically.
One of the earlier highlights of my career at Sea View Primary involved the
building of the swimming pool to promote water confidence amongst our
learners. Seeing our school buildings transform over the years was also an
outstanding highlight. We were fortunate to have secured a private sponsor to
help develop our school facilities such as our multi-media centre, our art room,
technology room and our modern tuck shop. Many other cosmetic changes
have been made to the school, but what is special, is that the original building
structures of our school remains intact. I am proud to announce that we take
great pride in our school environment and as such it is hard to believe that our
school is 111 years old.
One of the greatest joys of my career has to be the relationships that I have
forged with all I have come into contact with, over the years, at Sea View Primary. The interactions that I have
had with all learners, parents, members of staff, members of the School Governing Body, members of the
Department of Education as well as the broader community, will remain etched in my heart forever.
You have enhanced the quality of my life in ways that cannot be explained. You have inspired me in so many
ways to do my best and as much as I am seen to be the educator, for me this was an awe-inspiring educational
journey. I have been extremely blessed to have been a part of this wonderful institution and I want to express
my heart-felt gratitude to you.
I take this opportunity to wish the learners all the best for a great future. Always remember to believe in
yourself and do your best at everything you attempt, be it in the classroom or on the sports field. Remember
to respect every person you come into contact with and please do not forget to help keep our school
environment clean. To our staff, I have been blessed to have worked with a dedicated and committed team
such as yourselves. As I have always said to you, teaching is a calling as you are making a difference to our
children’s lives. To all staff members, you have been my second family and you have supported me through it
all, making my job far easier. To my management team, Mrs. Pillay, Mrs Visagie, Mrs Behari and Mrs Naidoo,
your hard work, dedication, support and outstanding leadership are second to none. I will remain proud to be
a part of a management team and staff that achieved incredibly, despite all odds. I will miss it all - the sports
activities, refereeing soccer matches, training the athletes for the relays, the fundraising events such as the
Carnival, the Wet ʼn Wild and the Showcases that I hold dear to my heart (to name but a few). To the members
of the SGB, the DoE and the members of the community, continue to give of your best to take Sea View
Primary forward and continue to fly the Sea View flag to soaring heights.
I take this opportunity of congratulating our Deputy Principal, Mrs P. Pillay who has been appointed by the
Department of Education as the Acting Principal of Sea View Primary, from the 1st of April. Mrs Pillay and I
have worked very closely for the past 15 years and I believe that I leave the school in capable hands. With the
support of the staff, the members of the SGB and the parents, I am certain that Mrs Pillay will enjoy a most
successful tenure as the Acting Principal of Sea View Primary.
To my wife Marié, I cannot thank you enough for your patience and the sacrifices you have made over the
years. The support I have received from you and the family has carried me through and has truly been a
blessing.
All the best for a successful future and God Bless.
RS ANDREWS
PRINCIPAL