On Saturday 17 September Kamdebo Primary School in Lotusville, Aberdeen, made history again. Reshanique Jantjies, won two first prizes in the Growsmart provincial competition.
Reshanique, 12-years-old and in Grade 6, with her story titled, A Secret Passage, won the 1st prize for most creative story, as well as the overall 1st prize in the story writing division of the competition.
Growsmart is an educational initiative of Growthpoint Properties, presented in three provinces, Limpopo, Western Cape and Eastern Cape and consists of three divisions, mathematics, literacy and story writing. The prize-giving was hosted at the International Convention Centre in East London.
The total value of prizes Reshanique received is R20 000, which includes a laptop, fitness band, calculator, dictionary and much more. Reshanique’s mentor in the competition, Meagen Leslie, teacher at Kamdebo Primary, also received a prize of R10 000.
“This was the first time we enlisted for the competition, and we did not know what to expect. I just received an email from the department, informing us about the competition and for me it was simple: we had to!” says Daniel Pieterse the principal of the school.
Leslie explains that the whole competition started in February. Mentors received a few hours training, and the learners were equipped with all the necessary guidelines.
Entries for the competition had to be submitted by 19 May and in the story writing division it included everything, from beginning to end – identification and building of characters, storyboard with storyline, summary of story, the story itself as well as the cover design for the storybook.
“Reshanique did all of it herself. I guided as and where necessary and her mother, Veronique Jantjies, guided her daughter carefully and consistently. But everything done and every word written, came from Reshanique herself. She is unbelievably creative.”
Leslie is still somewhat overwhelmed with their amazing achievement. “Who would think, you know, from small Aberdeen we came out and won.”
Reshanique is the second learner to put Kamdebo Primary in the limelight in a matter of weeks.
Recently Logan Africa, a Grade 7 learner achieve second place in the Sanlam WOW Spelling Contest. Principal Pieterse is humbled by the exhilarating performance of his learners and teachers, "All but for the grace of God."
