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“The school was established in 1965, so this is now the first time the school has had a hall – that hall comes 56 years later!” says Floreat Primary School principal Noel Isaacs, who is rejoicing at the new addition to the school.
While the Retreat-based primary school’s hall was officially completed in February, learners and staff have not yet had the chance to take full advantage of the space because of Covid-19 restrictions and protocols in place.
But it sure beats the makeshift facility that has sufficed for the past 56 years.
“We’ve got a mini hall – that’s what we call it. It’s just two classrooms. When we had events like concerts or meetings, we’d hire Steenberg High School’s hall,” explains Isaacs.
Those days are now behind them and Isaacs is already well on the way with plans on how the school’s 900 learners can make use of their hall.
“We are more relieved than anything because we’re such a busy school with cultural activities like dance, and we even have a band which we started last year. Now the band can practice there and we’re planning to have a cultural event next month where the band will play. It is also for the parents of the learners in the band who haven’t seen their children in action yet,” says the principal.
While these plans take shape, the school is allowing for smaller events and activities.
“Two science shows have been held there with the Grade 7s. That was done by iThemba Labs. And another organisation focused on youth development with school children; they did a leadership presentation with the Grade 7s. And we are going to start assemblies next week even though we won’t be able to have the whole school in there together yet.”
Staff are also planning to host the parents’ meetings there in the weeks to come.
The hall is the result of a collaborative effort between the school, the Western Cape Education Department (WCED), and developers Garden Cities’ corporate social investment project called the Archway Foundation. The investment totals almost R5 million and was built in the short period between July last year and February.
According to the WCED, this building project would not have been possible without the collaborative efforts of the Archway Foundation, the WCED and the school governing body at the school.
“The estimated costs of the Hall is about R4 million. The hall forms part of our donor partnership with the Archway Foundation with whom we (the WCED) have had a long-standing relationship for many years,” says Unathi Booi, spokesperson of the department.
Without assistance from the foundation, he says many projects would not have been possible.
On the contributions made by the Archway Foundation, Booi says: “They have contributed to the building of 107 halls thus far in the Western Cape, providing 51% of the funding for halls every year. Without their support, many of these projects would not be possible. Last year, which was a tough and challenging year, they still committed to supporting our schools despite the difficult economic climate, contributing R24 million.”
These funds went toward seven projects during 2020, which included six school halls and an ablution block, explains Booi.
“Floreat Primary School was one of these benefactors, and within months, an empty piece of ground became a proud and beautiful school hall.
We are appreciative of their ongoing support,” he adds.
Learners are also enjoying the new amenity, says Isaacs.
“The learners are quite excited about the hall because now when it’s assembly, they don’t have to sit in the sun in the quad – we don’t have the problem of the elements being against us. It’s something that should have come a long time ago,” he says.
The councillor for Ward 72, Kevin Southgate, shared well wishes and congratulations with all parties involved at the soft launch of the hall on Saturday 24 April. “Congratulations to Floreat Primary School on the opening of their new school hall. Another successful project completed in partnership between WCED and The Garden Cities Archway Foundation Board.”
The greater Retreat community can keep an eye on the school’s updates for the date of the cultural event which will be confirmed shortly.
