The School is governed by a Governing Body consisting of members elected for a three year term of office by a general meeting of parents and teachers ofthe school. Enabling legislation is found in the SA School Act 84 of 1996

The following are the most important functions of the Governing Body:

• General supervision over the well-being ofthe school, its buildings, grounds and pupils.
• Appointment of teachers to the teaching staff.
• Determining school policies, including but not limited to: language policy, admission policy, code of conduct etc.
• Control over the school funds.
• Striving for legislative compliance and development at the school, within sound governance parameters.

10 elected members:

• The Principal: Mr Josh Kent
• 5 parents
• 3 educators
• 1 non-educator

Chairperson: Mr Henry Jordaan

Vice-Chairperson & Treasurer: Mr Wesley Stevens

Secretary: Mrs Tracy du Preez (leaving end of year) (Non-educator)

SGB Members:

• Mrs Elizabeth Jacobsen
• Mrs Elizabeth Ramjeevan
• Mrs Natasha Watt

Educators:

• Mrs Cheryl le Roux
• Mrs Chantelle Kotze
• Mr Hayden Smith

PARENTS’ TEACHERS’ASSOCIATION

Membership of the P.T.A. is open to all parents and guardians of children at
school. Both parents or guardians have a vote at general meetings.

The basic functions of the P.T.A. are:

• To provide closer contact between the parents and the teaching staff in the interest of the child.
• To organize functions (either social or fundraising) when required, as part of activities in line with the objectives of the school.
• Encourage participation of as many parents as possible in the activities of the P T.A.
• Encourage to write in approach to discipline and learning objectives and outcomes.
• Foster a sense of joint responsibility for superior education and sporting standards.
• Support the school in its efforts to maintainthe environment in an attractive way.
• To uplift and sensitize parents and teachers to their roles as joint principle guardians of the child’s best interest.

PTA COMMITEE 2022

Chairlady: Mrs Melissa Smith

Vice-Chairlady: Mrs Melanie Sizer

Secretary: Mrs Angela Terblanche

Members:

• Mr David Batala
• Mrs Nicky de Lange
• Mrs Bettina Jordaan
• Mrs Taryn Kleynhans
• Mrs Kerry Klopper
• Mrs Cindy Mauer
• Mrs Nisiphiwo Mbema
• Mrs Jacoline Simms
• Mrs Colleen Vorster
• Mrs Belinda Warren
• Mrs Alecia Wood

Staff Reps:

• Miss Anje Hauptfleisch
• Mrs Charmaine Kruger
• Mrs Nerissa Lindstrom

“Gonubie” is the Xhosa word for bramble. The open book represents knowledge.

Gonubie Mouth Primary School came into existence in January 1930 with Miss V. Egelhof as the first teacher. A banana ripening shed, belonging to Mr Louis Rosenbaum, was used until a classroom was built. There was an enrolment of 30 pupils.

After Miss Egelhof’s departure in June 1935, the school building was used as a Municipal Workshop and later by the Boy Scouts as their headquarters. It is currently used by the Gonubie Round Table as their headquarters.

Tuition was then offered by Miss Duffy on Mr Louis Kirch’s farm. The building (a rondavel) was damaged by wind, so Mr Hoedemaker erected a school room on his farm, Athlone, for his family and children of neighbouring farms.

Athlone Primary School officially came into being on 19 January 1936. (11 pupils were enrolled).

Numbers increased steadily and in the first year; 26 pupils were enrolled. Teachers like Miss Malin, Miss Duffy, Mrs Louw and Mrs Pickerill as well as Principals, Miss Long (1939-1951), Mr Roux (1952), Mrs Harold (1953) and Mr Sam Horn (1954-1965) saw the enrolment increase steadily. Athlone Primary School officially closed in 1957.

Gonubie Park Primary School commenced in January 1957 at the present site and was built by Mr H. Schwedhelm (Senior). There were 75 pupils, with Mr Sam Horn as Principal and Mesdames Blumenthal and Kockott as teachers. There were 4 classrooms.

Mr Willem van de Venter was appointed as principal in January 1966 with an enrolment of 91 pupils (88 English and 3 Afrikaans). The school officially became known as Gonubie Primary School on 22 April 1968.

It is interesting to note that in 2000 an additional 4 classrooms were built by Mr H. Schwedhelm (Junior), proving that history certainly repeats itself.
Extensions to the school were completed and officially opened by Mr P.S. Meyer, Director of Education, on 18 September 1979.

Mr Willem van de Venter retired in September 1991. Mr Dennis Schenk was appointed as principal and retired after 19 years on the 31 December 2010. He was succeeded by Mr Cyril Prinsloo who retired after 10 years on the 31 December 2020. The current enrolment of pupils places Gonubie Primary among the larger schools in this region.

There are three “Houses”, which have been named as follows:

ATHLONE (Green) – named after Athlone Primary School.

RANDELL (Yellow) – named after Mr George Randell (Member of Provincial Council) who laid the foundation stone of Gonubie Primary School.

WATERSTON (Red) – named after the first mayor of Gonubie, Mr Robert Waterston.

We would love to stay in touch with as many past pupils as we can.  Please fill out the short form below with a few details about yourself and when you attended GPS. 

Feel free to add any suggestions or special memories or interesting facts that you would like to share with us, in the message area.