Njabulo Tshuma: The school was very very small. There was no wall, only fencing with bushes covering it. It
looked like a house from outside. The therapy block was made out of asbestos in those days. I always enjoyed working at Crossroads, it was still in apartheid times but Crossroads was multiracial and everyone was welcome.
This year marks the 57th year that Crossroads School has been in the forefront of remedial education.
The Victory Park-based school celebrated this anniversary in spectacular fashion. Among those who celebrated this special occasion were some the school’s longest-standing members of staff.
Njabulo Tshuma has been a staff member for 29 years, forming part of the maintenance team since 1994. He joined the school when he was 24-years-old. Anne Saunders has been the school’s administrator for 25 years and Lynne van den Berg, a current Grade 2 teacher, has been there for 21 years.
Each one has had their own unique experience with the school, one that reflect on with great pride and appreciation.
They share on some of these reflections, here is what they had to say:
Anne Saunders: When I joined Crossroads in January 1998, I distinctly recall a grandmother dropping off her grandson in the carpark. She mentioned that the school seemed small and somewhat worn out. Little did we know then that this very grandmother would go on to become a PTA chairperson and play a pivotal role in raising significant funds for improving our facilities at Crossroads.Lynne van den Berg: Our library was a small room situated off the hall, right next to the tuck shop. Inside, the room was filled from floor to ceiling with bookshelves and books. The children would gather there, huddled together, and choose a book to read. To keep track of the books, the teachers would write the child’s name and the book title in a little black book. Looking back, it’s quite amusing to think about! But at the time, it was a fun experience.
