Farewell to Reverend Gerard Sharp

Vuleka is a non-profit, Anglican Diocesan school which provides an

excellent and affordable education for all.

April 2015 Newsletter 1

Picture: Reverend Gerard Sharp and wife Pearl

“Some people arrive into our lives and they depart, leaving footprints on our hearts and we are in no way the very same” such was the feeling as it was a day filled with reminiscence and mixed emotions as the Management and staff of Vuleka joined to bid a fond farewell to Reverend Gerard Sharp.

Reverend Gerard Sharp was trained and qualified as a teacher in 1965 and taught at Coronationville High School for ten years. “I became disillusioned with teaching because of the huge inequalities in the South African education system at the time, and resigned and joined the commercial sector”. Mr Sharp’s transition was short lived, when he decided to go back into teaching, this time as a primary school teacher. He was promoted as the Head of Department and then as Deputy principal at Heerengracht Primary school.

It was not long after his promotion that he responded to his calling to be trained in the full time ordained ministry of the God’s Church as a priest. Reverend Sharp joined Vuleka in 1994, when he was asked to serve on the Vuleka Council, and then to serve as the bishop’s representative and finally as the deputy chairman and member of the Executive Committee, a position he held until his retirement this year. Reverend Sharp plans on enjoying the freedom of retirement, and serving out his last triennial as the Chancellor of the Order of St John and continue assisting the Prior of the Order Archbishop Emeritus the Most Reverend Desmond Tutu.

At his farewell, Reverend Sharp said: “I admire and praise the founders of the Vuleka School for the vision and insight that they had during those dark and frightening days of our history in South Africa, and I am even prouder of the present visionary leadership of Vuleka under the faith and guidance of Melanie Sharland as Head, Karen Backwell as Chairman, Miles Crisp as treasurer, Janet Saner as the most determined and hardest working fund raiser and financial director ever, ably assisted by Jenny Dry. My greatest admiration goes to the dedicated and loyal Heads of the spread out Vuleka Schools their staff in all that they do to see that Vuleka School is a successful story that excels beyond the call of duty and could and should be held out as model for all to see and to emulate if we are serious in producing the future leadership in our beloved South Africa. Well done thou good and faithful servants”.

Pictured from left to right: Xolani Mthwecu (Deputy Chairman), Janet Saner (Financial Director), Pearl Sharp, Karin Backwell (Chairman), Reverend Gerard Sharp, Melanie Sharland (Director), Lizbé Pieters (Headmistress at SSB), Miles Crisp (Treasurer).

Celebrating 25 years in education | www.vulekaschool.co.za

The Boys school to open in 2016!We have the go-ahead from the Bishop and the Trustees of the Diocese of Johannesburg to open our first boys school, The Archbishop Thabo Makgoba School, at St Joseph’s Diocesan Centre in Sophiatown. We are all set for January 2016 and look forward to welcoming our first two classes of Grade 0 and 1.

Vuleka is a non-profit, Anglican Diocesan school which provides an

excellent and affordable education for all.

  

Vuleka Central

Office St Joseph's

Diocesan Centre, Corner Good & Herman Street, Sophiatown.

PO Box 52139, Saxonwold 2132

Tel: 011 477 6917 Fax: 011 477 1390

 

Upcoming events:

Wine and Whiskey 28 May

Christmas in July25 July

Our Banking

DetailsAccount Holder:Vuleka School

Nedbank,Branch Code:

190605Account Number:

190605152,Swift Code: NEDSZAJJ

April 2015Newsletter 1

Visit our websitewww.vulekaschool.

comDonate and make

a difference!

Pictured: Lizette Baker (Teacher-training intern Director)

With education we can make a difference

I derive great satisfaction in seeing young people develop and grow to become the best teachers they can possibly be and it is a privilege to invest time and energy into such a worthy project.” –Lizette Baker

Lizette Baker recently became the student-teacher programme director. Prior to joining Vuleka School, Lizette was the Head of department in the Intermediate and Senior phase at St Paulus School in Pretoria. Lizette’s journey began 30years ago when she completed her Bachelor’s Degree in education at the University of North-West Potchefstroom in 1984.

Over the years she has taught in different schools and grades and spent a year as a part time lecturer at the In-service Training College in Mafikeng where she assisted in the mentorship, upliftment and empowerment of teachers. Most recently, Lizette worked for Umalusi as a moderator. Lizette has completed many professional development courses, most recently the IEB Assessor course for Educators and Mentorship Training in Teaching and Training through NWU. Lizette is currently training and mentoring 17 intern teachers. Welcome Lizette!

The Big Walk

At the end of day, the best dressed learners and those who walked the most laps in each class were awarded prizes. This event was more about fun than fundraising, although it did bring in some funds, it was a day used to promote keeping active and healthy.

The fun began even before the Big walk started. Vuleka learners from all venues had an opportunity to dress up into their favourite cartoon characters in preparation for the Big walk. As part of the School fundraising, teachers and learners carried out a walk which took one hour. Learners completed the walk from their venues and returned back to school.

Vuleka’s Business Breakfast with Moeletsi Mbeki

On the 20th of February at The Country Club in Johannesburg, we were privileged to host Moeletsi Mbeki who gave a talk on “Why business should be more involved in shaping our country’s politics.” He is an astute observer, witty and entertaining and left us ruminating about how much more we can do as businesses in our uncertain political landscape.

Breteau Foundation Tablet Program

The Breteau Foundation main purpose is to promote technology in enhancing education. They have selected Vuleka St Martin’s for a pilot programme which will start in May. Under the programme, tablet computers will be distributed to teachers and learners free of cost. The tablets will be Wi-fi enabled and will come pre-loaded with approved age-appropriate educational apps and games. The Breteau team will spend time with the learners, teaching them how to use tablets and teaching teachers on how to incorporate the tablets into their lessons.

“Fundraising is the gentle art of teaching the joy of giving” –Hank Rosso

The fundraising team would like to thank the parents, pupils and teachers for supporting the school raffle.