POLOKWANE – Melville is going to be the new preparatory principal at St George’s Grammar School in Mowbray, Cape Town.
“The decision to move was made last year. Moving after 25 years is quite a stressful experience, but I am looking forward to my new position. However, firstly we wanted our son to complete his matric and secondly, this is the year PEPPS celebrated its 25th anniversary which I very much wanted to be a part of,” says Melville.
She says this move is quite difficult, one reason being that PEPPS granted her the first teaching position 25 years ago, the exact year PEPPS was established, and this is why she wanted to be part of the 25th anniversary celebrations and postponed the move to Cape Town until the school closed for the year.
“I am very excited at the prospect of moving to Cape Town. Change is good I believe, and I feel the move to St George’s Grammar School is a good one. I started off as a Gr 6 teacher and eventually taught English up to Gr 12. This was all thanks to Patrick Hamilton, the first director of PEPPS, who instilled a passion for education in me,” says Melville.
She was appointed principal of PEPPS College in 2010. Under her leadership PEPPS grew in stature, becoming not only one of Limpopo’s top academic and independent schools, but also receiving awards for being among the top South African educational schools.
The school has achieved numerous accolades over the years under Melville’s reign. PEPPS has boasted with two matriculants among the top 100 Independent Examinations Board (IEB) students for independent schools.
The IEB is a South African independent assessment agency which offers examinations for various client schools, mostly private schools.
“From the first day 25 years ago, until my very last day this year, it has been and will always remain rewarding and fulfilling to have been part of the PEPPS experience. I am going to miss the tranquil, welcoming and caring environment PEPPS offers, also the numerous Gr 12 overseas trips, my colleagues, the learners, and the school’s garden with its abundance of birds,” says Melville.
She regards primary school as an entity for learners which is so much more fun than high school, and in this regard she looks forward to her new post.
“I will always regard PEPPS as family, there are in fact very few schools that can offer the support and caring environment PEPPS does.” Melville, originally from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, says she initially wanted to study journalism but instead accepted an offer for a bursary from the Department of Education to become an educator. After completing her studies, she started teaching at PEPPS and is now part of this school’s illustrious history. Melville says she certainly has no regrets at all in choosing education as a career.
A lot has changed regarding media coverage and social media which have become a very important marketing tool for schools, especially among independent schools which have a very competitive environment, according to Melville.
“PEPPS is certainly one of the first multi-racial independent schools in Limpopo. The abundance of cultures at PEPPS, how the children get along and everything they do, whether it is educational, on the sport fields or in cultural activities, the learners do it in a spirited unity. This to me is one of the greatest gifts from PEPPS, and really gives me positive hopes for the future of South Africa.
“I will always value the personal growth PEPPS offered me as an educator, then principal, and I am grateful for having had the opportunity,” says Melville.
roelof@nmgroup.co.za
