Update
KNYSNA NEWS - Stepping Stones preprimary and Riverwood primary schools celebrated their 42nd birthday in the first week of the third term. The celebratory assembly also acknowledged Madiba’s 100th birthday and two staff members, Mrs Abbott and Mrs River, for their long service.
The focus of this year’s celebration was on Denise River, who started her career at Stepping Stones in 1978. She has reached a significant milestone of 40 years now – that is two generations!
Mrs River worked as classroom assistant to principals Pauline Grindley and Lesley Satchel, and to Grade 1 teachers Sandy Berndt and Daphne Abbot.
The special guests who were able to attend this event included Mrs Satchel, Mrs Trish Griffin, Mrs Sarah Dlamini, Shandré and Shannon River as well as one of Mrs River’s grandchildren.
Positive influence over many years
Mrs Satchel, Ms Sands and Mrs Abbott had the opportunity to thank Mrs River for her contribution to the school, especially in her relationships with the staff and children she positively influenced over the years.
Mrs River was Mrs Satchel’s right hand in the Orange Group (Grade R), as Lesley juggled with the unexpected demands and inevitable interruptions that happen every day to a teaching principal.
Denise River and Gené Viljoen. Photos: Supplied
In 2001, Stepping Stones with educational policy changes throughout the country, the school lost its government subsidies after 20 years and it was time to make some changes to ensure the survival of the school, and so the school became a prep school, teaching learners up to Grade 3.
From 'right hand' to 'best foot'
Mrs River was part of that development: the school had to put its “best foot forward” and she was its “best foot”. So Mrs River left Lesley where she had been the "right hand” to be the “best foot” in Grade 1 with Sandy Berndt.
The current principal, Ms Carrene Sands, thanked Mrs River for continuing to be involved in the growth of the school as well as being a wealth of knowledge for the children, especially the wonderful oral history opportunities in her storytelling of how Stepping Stones used to be when they first arrived on the property in Trotter Street.
She has been part and parcel of many of the adventures, outings, activities and events held over the years to make the school a happy and vibrant learning space. Most importantly she is an important link with the traditions of the Stepping Stones era that the school holds dear.
Grade 7 learners Iyapha Matinyana, Gené Viljoen, JT Louw, Nandi Mabula and Anathi Mwandla presented Mrs River with a special sweater with drawings of themselves on it from their Grade 1 year. Mrs River and Gené (also 10 years at the school from Grade RRR to Grade 7) did the honours of blowing out the candles and making a wish as they cut the traditional birthday cake, and there was a delicious slice of cake for each child in the school.
Giving her best years
Mrs River has brought up four daughters during her time at Stepping Stones: Rosetta, Brunice, Chandré and Shannon. As Stepping Stones expanded, so did Mrs Rivers’ family and she is very proud of all her grandchildren.
All the learners and staff at Stepping Stones preprimary and Riverwood primary schools in Knysna.
She has continued to put her “best foot forward” in embracing the changes that have occurred in growing the school to become a full primary school.
Mrs Satchel quite rightly stated that Mrs River is Knysna’s “national treasure”. She has given the best years of her life to this school, its staff and its learners.
And recently, when Stepping Stones became Riverwood, she gave her name as well!
Congratulations to Denise River, a lady for all seasons!
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