Smiling faces welcomed guests at Boskop Primary School on 7 February as they celebrated their 100th anniversary.
Hugo van As, the school’s deputy principal for about a year, said he, like the learners and 85 staff members, was excited to celebrate this milestone achievement with each other and invited guests.
At its inception, the school had just under 40 learners and now boasts well over a thousand. “We have taught thousands of children throughout the years and today we celebrate these 100 years with current children and the community of Randburg,” said Van As.
According to him, this is one of the oldest schools in the community and to still be a healthy organisation through the years is something to be commended.
For Van As the reason they have lasted all these years is because of the community. “This is a school that has been serving the community since 1920 and what has kept it running is their involvement and the school being such a family orientated organisation where we mould children who will go into the world and become reliable citizens.”
They started the day off by singing both the school and national anthem as a way to ease into the assortment of fun to be had for the children and staff. Class-by-class learners had their own picnic and a larger one was held on the field. The school also hosted a concert, a play that chronicled the growth of the school through the years and planted new trees around the property. Along with this they also hosted 100 VIPs which included past principals, staff and members of the Gauteng Department of Education as a way for them to all share the achievement together.\
From this event, Van As hoped the kids would recognise they were a part of history and they leave one day with the firm affirmation the school helped mould into a better person. “We have had past learners come visit the school, for some having been years since they left.”
Van As concluded with words of encouragement, “May Boskop continue to grow from strength to strength as it continues to be an anchor in the community, touching a million lives in the future.”
ALSO READ: Smiles and fun, it’s Grade 1 at Rand Park Primary School
