Local teacher bids farewell to school after 43 years of teaching
Retired Laerskool Louw Geldenhuys teacher says goodbye to the school after 43 years of teaching.
“I will not leave here feeling sad, I leave here knowing that I have done it all.” These were the words of Ronell Gouws, who, after 43 years of teaching at Laerskool Louw Geldenhuys, said goodbye to her beloved school.
As a 22-year-old she started her teaching career at the school, eager to make her impact on young minds. She started as a Grade 4 teacher and finished teaching the Grade 3s. “I always tell the kids, in my blood runs Louwtjie spirit,” she said.
When she was still at school she often pretended she was a teacher, marking her own books at the end of the year. “Teaching has always been in my blood since I was a child and my career here at the school has formed me.”
Through her 43 years she has worked with three principals – current principal Martin Bensch is the third. Each one taught her something new that had her adapt a new skill only to unearth all the traits that she needed to become a leader.
All those years of unearthing new skills would lead her to being head of department for he junior phase and later vice-principal. “For me it was a wonderful career, starting as a young teacher and having the privilege to teach for as long as I have.”
Even though there were bad days, teaching has always been what keeps her grounded.
In her retirement she will undoubtedly miss the children and the management team she worked closely with, along with the junior phase teachers who she sees come into the school with stars in their eyes. In her time with them, she has made sure to counsel them and help navigate their teaching and approach.
Gouws now looks forward to spending her time with her husband whom she credits as being supportive and understanding through all these years.
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