Staff, students and supporters of Waterfall Schools came together on Tuesday, 28 January 2020 to celebrate the opening of eight new classrooms for the College! This new building has been named The Victor Daitz Centre in honour of the lead donors – The Victor Daitz Foundation – and the contribution that they have made to the development of the iThemba Campus over the past 10 years.
“It is the support of visionaries, like Brian Moshal at the Victor Daitz Foundation and others, that has made the growth of Waterfall Schools possible,” said Gavin Simpkins, Financial Director of Waterfall Schools and Focus on iThemba.
From a set of pre-fab classrooms in the backyard of Christ Church in Waterfall in 2004 to a respected independent school with more than 210 students, Waterfall College has seen tremendous growth as part of Waterfall Schools.
“We have always had faith that Waterfall College is God’s school and that God will lead and guide us,” says Waterfall College Principal Jeanette van der Merwe. “Last year, our spirits soared as the eight new classrooms of this Victor Daitz Centre took shape, together with the new tarred carpark. Past students and parents who drove the bumpy, dusty road to our school in years gone by could hardly recognise the place! For that matter, we hardly recognised it!”
The growth of Waterfall Schools provides a sustainable income for the schools’ NPO partner, Focus on iThemba, which promotes the life-altering positive change of Early Childhood Development through their iThemba Educare Programme. “Through this partnership, Focus on iThemba is able to work with more pre-schools in the local area, transforming their facilities and empowering staff to provide quality education. This sets these children up for a productive future, with a world of opportunity open to them,” Gavin Simpkins continued.
“The iThemba Scholars initiative also means that 12 scholars enjoy a 100% donor-funded scholarship to Waterfall Schools, from Pre-Primary to Matric. This is a unique model, which promises to reap benefits for all – especially the children whose lives have been changed by it.”
The Victor Daitz Centre includes eight classrooms, which serve as registration classes for Grades 9 and 10, as well as subject classes for English, Afrikaans, Drama, Geography, History and Life Orientation. This provides valuable space for this growing school to accommodate the 48 students coming through each year as part of the Waterfall Schools journey, from Pre-Primary to Preparatory and on to the College.
“It really is a pleasure to give thanks from the bottom of our hearts to the Victor Daitz Foundation, the Focus on iThemba team and everyone who contributed to the completion of this project,” Mrs van der Merwe concluded.
Copy supplied by Hayley Dennyson, Marketing and Communications Manager at Waterfall Schools.
Photo credit: @visual_outdoor
Photo credit: Waterfall College.
Mr. Gavin Simpkins (Financial Director), Jamie-Leigh Pereira (Head Girl), Andrew Done, (Head Boy), Jeanette van der Merwe (Principal) and Tayla-Anne Goss (Focus on iThemba Team Leader).