Market fun and anniversary celebrations all in one
CHARTWELL– This is what took place at the birthday celebration.
Unity College celebrated its 28 years of specialised education for children with special needs which coincided with the school’s Senior Market Day on 25 August.
“We are having the birthday party at our new property in Chartwell North Estates,” said marketing manager at the college, Michelle Kirk.
“We are also celebrating alterations to the school such as our patio specifically used on the day as a roof wetting.”
With entertainment from Irish singer Patrick Byrne, face painting and pony rides, the day was filled with tons of fun.
Kirk gave a brief history of the school and said it opened its doors in 1990 with 27 learners.
“In [1990] Unity College rented five classrooms from Temple Shalom next to the Doll’s House [Johannesburg’s iconic roadhouse that was demolished last year] in Louis Botha Avenue, Highlands North.”
Kirk said at break time, the schoolchildren would take their lunches and flasks of tea and head across the road to a small, overgrown park to eat and play. “When it rained, they used the huge hall adjoining the synagogue. There, much fun was had as they organised team sports and ball games to amuse the children. The hall was also used for concerts.”
After being at Temple Shalom for about a year and a half, the school moved to the Hebrew Nursery School at Temple Emanuel in Oxford Road. “There we had more classrooms to accommodate the 90 pupils and 10 teachers.
“However, the playground situation was still a matter of concern.
“The senior pupils had a tar parking lot where they would play soccer, while the juniors had a small grass area and sandpit under a massive pear tree. We were at the school for five years until we moved to our previous premises on Cedar Road.”
She added that they were at their previous premises for 17 years before moving to Chartwell North Estates.
Referring to their market day Kirk said, “Every year senior learners follow an entrepreneurial programme with assistance and guidance from their teachers. This includes brainstorming, planning and selling a product or providing a service on the market day. The learners are then assessed on their planning, product promotion and customer care.”
Kirk concluded, “The entrepreneurship trophy is secret and is revealed at a prize-giving at the end of the year.”
