A FAMILY orientated environment is what Werda Skool’s new headmaster plans to instill at the school. The newly appointed principal, Norman van Rooyen, takes over from Bobby van Vuuren, the acting principal after Danie de Geode retired in 2015.
He leads 650 learners and a staff of 40.
Van Rooyen, who said he has come full circle, started his working life at the school.
“I began my career here at the school in 1992 as a teacher and left in 1996. After leaving Werda I took up a post in the Northern Cape. I was there for five years but I was longing to be back in KwaZulu-Natal, so I moved to Vryheid and taught there for six years.
“I was promoted to deputy principal in Kuruman and moved back to the Northern Cape. I have come full circle, 20 years later as I am now the headmaster back where I started, at Werda”
He said while the school received bad publicity last year after a bullying incident, he is confident they have put it behind them and are focusing on becoming an even stronger school.
“We obtained a 95 per cent matric pass rate in 2016. In a percentage it doesn’t sound good but if you take into consideration that there were 20 learners and only one didn’t make it, then it gives you a different perspective of what we can do.
“Our aim is to make it 100 per cent this year. We also have a strong heritage of sports and we need to get back to that,” he said.
The Gelofte Skool old boy said he looks forward to competing against other schools in the area.
“I’m going to turn Werda into a force to be reckoned with in the years to come.”
His philosophy is one of equality admission and teachers, learners and parents are welcome in his office.
“I don’t know all of teachers, so what I’m doing at this stage is that when they get a free period, I invite them to my office to find out a little more about them. I end the conversation by offering assistance with anything that I can help them with, as long as it is not lotto numbers,” he said in jest.
“I have an open door policy for the staff and the same goes with the learners and their parents,” he added.
Van Rooyen is a proud Christian and family man. “I’ve got two daughters, one is studying Pharmacy and my youngest is doing her first year in Psychology. They are both in Potchefstroom at the North-West University. I have to say that my wife and I are blessed. Our girls did very well in school. They both matriculated with five As and two Bs,” said the proud dad.
“We are thrilled to welcome Mr Norman van Rooyen as our new principal at Werda Skool as of the beginning of this year. We believe that God sent him to us with all his talents and gifts. He is ideally suited to take Werda Skool further on its growth curve to the next level of excellence in academics, sport and culture.
“As the Werda family, its learners, parents, staff and governing body, we pledge our full support to Mr Van Rooyen,” said governing body chairman, Rev Gerhard Botha.
