Frontline Christian School appoints new principal

Frontline Christian School has appointed Gabriella van der Grijp as its new principal.

Van der Grijp has been teaching for 11 years and has always loved education, teaching subjects such as natural sciences and technology. After six years of teaching at Jeppe High School for Boys, Van der Grijp branched out to further develop her skills; she ventured overseas.

“I wanted to see how I would manage teaching a more diverse group of learners than in South Africa. I taught non-English learners and taught science to English Programme (EP) schools. The experience of teaching overseas was amazing,” highlighted the new principal.

After being overseas for two years, Van der Grijp realised she missed South Africa – the people and the culture. She decided to return home and try something new. Staying in the Jeppe family, Van der Grijp was hired at Jeppe High Preparatory School and six months later, was made head of Grade Seven. She became the head of the social society and dramatic arts.

Her journey at Frontline Christian School began in July 2023. When she became part of Frontline Christian School, Van der Grijp immediately fell in love with the school, its values and culture, which resonated with her heart. She was elected as the new principal in September 2023 and at the beginning of this year stepped into her new role.

“Being elected as the principal was first overwhelming but very exciting and then doubt crept in. I questioned if I could run the school, and follow their values and goals, but with prayer and teamwork, I received multiple confirmations and signs that this is the right step for me and my calling. I believe where I might not be equipped, God will equip me. This reminded me that I was chosen for this position and as I stepped in, everything fell in place and that gave me peace,” expressed Van der Grijp.

She further added she has noticed a sense of curiosity among learners and believes in fostering a culture where learners are encouraged to be curious, engaged and resilient.

Her educational philosophy centres on creating an inclusive, supportive and challenging environment that respects each learner’s unique needs and learning styles.

“I noticed that these days’ learners want quick answers and quick grades, which have made them lose their passion for education; so I aim to get children passionate about education and sport.

“At Frontline, we have implemented various days where their passion for education can grow. For example, on science day, learners will either dress up like scientists or do experiments. Another example would be Afrikaans day, where all the learners would spend the day learning about the language by speaking to their peers or ordering their lunch in Afrikaans. We have also kick-started a sports programme which has the learners very thrilled,” said Van der Grijp.

She aims to foster an environment where learners grow in their faith and understanding of spiritual principles, applying them in their lives to become compassionate and ethical leaders.

In addition, Van der Grijp wants to improve teacher morale and retention by creating a supportive and collaborative work environment.

Her role as the new principal will include community engagement, as this is crucial for building strong partnerships that support the children’s learning and well-being.

Van der Grijp is thankful to her mother for being her solid rock by giving her the best education, despite many struggles, as she believed education is the key and the world can be changed with education.

She added her uncle played an instrumental role in her life too. “He said education is important, but you should also know how to manage – sending me on a course for business management, which helped me and comes in handy in this role.”

She further extends her gratitude to the directors of the school and the staff for their contribution and support.

As she has taken on her new role, Van der Grijp hopes Frontline Christian School can ultimately provide a rigorous, comprehensive education to learners grounded in spiritual values that inspire academic excellence and lifelong learning.