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It wasn’t just children that had their first day at a new school recently – the new principal for Unity College also had her first day at the start of the 2020 academic year.
Retha van Niekerk, who took up her new position when the school opened on 14 January, is excited to face the challenge of her new role as well as help special-needs children become independent and equipped to face the rest of their lives.
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With a passion for education, readers may recognise Van Niekerk from her previous role as the principal of the Bridge Assisted Learning School in Beverley. “I was very happy at the Bridge, which I helped start up and which has wonderful children and staff,” she told the Fourways Review. “But when I was approached last year about this position, I decided to to take up the challenge.
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“Special needs education has always been a real interest to me, and I also studied it at a postgraduate level. My wish for this role is that each child at Unity College, as well as staff members, will get to experience a happy, fulfilled day of the year here.”
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The school sports an early intervention centre for children aged between three and seven, a junior phase for children aged between eight and 11, an intermediate phase for children aged between 11 and 15, and a senior phase for those aged from 16 to in their 20s.
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“The aim of Unity College is to equip children for life and for them to be as independent as possible.”
Details: Unity College www.unity-college.org.za
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