Legacy students' lights shine bright

PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Plett's new kid on the education block, Legacy House School, celebrated its first year in style on Friday 2 December by honouring the students, teachers and parents for their work during the year.

Dubbed Legacy Lights, the event at the White House not only highlighted the school's student achievements, but also the impact of education.

Among the guests were Bitou Mayor Dave Swart and renowned author and international speaker Ruth Everson.

Legacy House managing director Samantha Thomas said she, the teachers and parents of the students are very proud of them. "May your lights continue to shine! You have all worked hard and shown incredible growth this year," Thomas said.

She added that their opening year could be labelled as a "monumental success" and explained that the school was born from a passion for education and for the town of Plettenberg Bay.

While following the IEB curriculum, Thomas said their focus was on how children learn rather than what is learned.

"This will help later in life when those students are adults, as it creates lifelong students who will always continue to learn. This will ensure that they meet emerging needs, interests and goals of the future. We want to cultivate generations who love to learn. Real-world implementation is key."

One of the reasons the school's award ceremony was called Legacy Lights was because they believe that 'knowledge is light'. "William Butler Yeats said that education is not the filling of the pail but the lighting of a fire. We know that knowledge is light. If you have knowledge, let others light their candles in it," Thomas said.

Designed and created by local artist Janet Forrest, the school's "Legacy Lights lantern" was lit for the first time.

"This lantern will serve as a beacon for future students, and we hope that it may be a kindling force in their lives, that they may look to it as a guiding light to the safe haven that is Legacy House."

The keynote speaker at the event was Everson. She is an international speaker and poet who has used her poetry at festivals and workshops across the country as well as in Cairo, Beijing and the Netherlands. She recently published the study guide for the school's own matric novel, The theory of flight, as well as a complete guide to the CAPS set poetry.

The IEB used her poem, Vuka paphaphama, in their Paper 2 this year.

Swart assisted at the ceremony by handing out prizes.

Some of the outstanding achievements included Grade 8 student Justin Thomas who received top marks in all his subjects and walked away with the overall achiever award.

The overall achiever award for Grade 9 went to Sophina Gottwald. Julia Robson also achieved several best subject achiever awards and received the award for most improved student in Grade 9.

Legacy House students receiving their awards from Bitou Mayor Dave Swart.