Three retire at Preparatory School
At the end of this year, George Preparatory School will say goodbye to three stalwarts who have served the school for many years. The headmaster, AD Roux, is retiring after 41 years of service at the school and in the community of George. Roux is planning to do "nothing or very little" for the first three months of his retirement and then "I want to spend quality time with my grandchildren and tour the country."
Roux started working at the school in January 1978. He qualified as a teacher at the Oudtshoorn Teachers Training College in 1976 and spent his first year teaching at De Hoop Primary school between Oudtshoorn and Calitzdorp.
Roux came to George as an unmarried young man and married his wife Marianna, who is also a teacher, a year later. They have three children - Jaco, Marike and Paul - and four grandchildren. He was appointed head of department in 2003 and headmaster on 1 April 2012. At retirement, he will have 42 years of service at the Department of Education.
Through the years he has received a lot of love from the children. "It's a great feeling when the old learners come back and thank you for what you have done for them. They are absolutely radiant when they give me a hug - this is the highlight of my day," he says.
Roux will miss his colleagues and will always remember their help and support during the years they worked together.
The deputy headmaster, Naomi du
Plessis, will also be retiring. Du Plessis did her training at the Roggebaai Teachers Training College in Cape Town and started her teaching career at Diaz Primary School in Mossel Bay where she served as head of department (foundation phase) and later as deputy principal. In 2007 she came to George Preparatory School as deputy headmaster. She is married to Glenn and they have two children, Shelley Wessels and Jovan du Plessis. "I want to thank AD Roux for his help and support during my 12 years at the school," says Du Plessis.
Hilde-Marie Barnard is the third teacher who is retiring. She started at George Preparatory at the same time as Roux. Barnard did her teaching training at the Mowbray Teacher's College in Cape Town and started teaching at Union Preparatory School in Graaff Reinet before coming to settle in George.
Barnard says that in all the years she has been teaching, she has been blessed to be part of a wonderful, unique and dedicated staff compliment who always walk the extra mile. There is always moral support when it is needed. "I have so many wonderful memories that will remain dear to my heart. My three children attended this school and still ask about their teachers. They know that the staff always makes lemonade out of lemons and I salute them for that," says Barnard.