Con Amore School

A chosen committee gathered on 17 August 1970 , with the goal of starting a school for mentally and physically disabled learners. As the Community involvement grew, as churches and organizations became active participants of the project, namely the Reformed, Reformated, Dutch Reformed Congregations of Kempton Park, as well as the Women's Federations, Suid-Afrikaanse Vroue Federasie and Vroue en Moederbeweging, Rapportryers, Voortrekkers and A.T.K.V. The chairperson was Rev. H.J. Van Niekerk, then from the Dutch Reformed Mother Congregation.

History

The non-educable learners stayed on in Maxwell Street and functioned under a new name: Casa Caritas. The educable learners moved to the vicarage at the old Dutch Reformed Mother Congregation at 2 Thistle Road. Two bedrooms, and later the garage, were furnished as classrooms and hostel-facilities were made available.

The “Skool vir Gestremdes”, situated at 12 Maxwell Street, originated in September 1972 with 12 day scholars. The first official teacher, Mrs. Chris Du Plooy, gave special attention to 9 educable learners from July 1973, whilst the school provided facilities for living-in.

The Department of National Education took over the school as a government subsidized school in April 1976 . The educable and non-educable learners were separated.

Mr. Charl de Villiers was appointed as the first principal in 1976 and the school was known as “The Kempton Park Training Centre”. The number of learners increased to 30 with a staff comprising of the principal, 3 teachers, a secretary, 3 hostel mothers and an assistant. Two small buses were acquired to transport learners.

The former Department of National Education stipulated that the Kempton Park Training Centre be designed for only 100 learners and stipulated that it be a daycare center only.

Text Box: The first staff: 1978 Front: Mrs. du Plooy, Mrs Mart Mostert (Teachers), Mrs. Von Gericke (Admin), Mr. C. De Villiers (Principal), Mrs. Wessels (Matron), Mrs. McMahon ( Teacher), Mrs. Pentz (Admin) Back: Mrs. Petri, Mrs. Strydom, Mrs. du Plessis, Mrs. Mierke (Housemothers), Mrs. Bothma (Teacher), Mrs. M. Marais (Bus Driver), Mrs. Van Heerden (Nurse), Mrs. S. Kirstein, Mrs. H. Ferreira, Ms. Gouws (Teachers)

Text Box: Plans were made to provide adequate and functional amenities for the learners. A government loan was approved and ground acquired for building a new school. The sod-turning function took place on 26 April 1986. Genl. M. Malan was the guest-speaker and turned the first sod. On 1 September 1986 “The Kempton Park Training Centre” became a school under the jurisdiction of the Transvaal’s Education Department.

Text Box: Towards the end of May 1987 the new buildings were occupied. The Department only provided for the building of the school building. The hall was built with the help of the community. The name of the Kempton Park Training Centre was changed to Con Amore School on 17 March 1989.

Mrs. Yvonne Smuts was appointed as principal on 1 April 1988.

Con Amore has a vertical and horizontal dimension. God embraces us with love through Jesus Christ our Saviour and the Holy Spirit. Education realizes when all participants in the education process (parents, educators, learners) accept one another with love. The name Con Amore, given by the parents, Dr. Dolf de Beer (Chairman: Governing Body) and Mrs. Retha de Beer, is underlined in the School Anthem.

THE SCHOOL ANTHEM DIE SKOOLLIED

The love of God’s so wonderful Gods liefde is so wonderlik

We realize it in Con Amore Ons leer dit in die Skool hier

And like the rays of the sun En soos die strale van die son

It warms us evermore. Bly dit oor ons elke uur

We learn with joy and happiness Ons leer blymoedig elke dag

He gives His strength abundantly en kry uit Hom weer nuwe krag

We are assured of all His love Ons is Sy kinders en ons weet

He reminds us from above. Dat Hy ons nooit sal vergeet.

Words: Dr. Ruben Fourie Music: Mrs. Suzette Kirstein (Ex-Teacher)

Text Box: Con Amore School was officially inaugurated on 26 May 1989. Genl. and Mrs. M. Malan, Councilor and Mr. C. Scholtz (Mayoral Couple Kempton Park), Mr. and Ms. H. Pistorius (Chief Superintendent of Education East Rand), Mr. B.W. Haworth (Superintendent of Education) and Ms. E. de Villiers (Education and Culture) were amongst the guests of honour at the opening function. The first Occupational Therapist was employed in May 1993. The first Con Amore Xmas Market was held in November 1994. On 1 April 1997 Ms. Kumi Gieselbach became principal when Mrs. Yvonne Smuts accepted a severance package.

Mrs. Kumi Gieselbach

Principal since 1 April 1997

Text Box: On 5 May 1998 the Government Body stepped down to make place for a new Governing Body with greater parental representation as prescribed by S.A. Schools Act 1996.

Outgoing Governing Body:

Front: Mrs. T.K. Gieselbach (Principal), Dr. R.J. de Beer (Chairperson), Rev. L. de Roux, Mrs E. van Wyk (Vice-Principal)

Back: Mr. P. Heymans, Mr. G. v.d. Merwe, Mrs. L. Knoetze, Mrs. S. Kruger, Mr. J. du Plessis and Mr. Esterhuizen

Absent: Mr. F. Gie, Mr. G. van Vuuren, Rev. J. Botha and Mr. N. Mitchell

Con Amore School’s coming of age, as well as the 10-year existence of the school building, was celebrated joyfully on 20 September 1997. All the learners presented a “Jubilation Day” programme.

A bi-annual school magazine Connews was started in 1999.

New Governing Body:

Front: Ms. T.K. Gieselbach (Principal), Mr. P. Heymans (Chairman), Mr S. Friswell and Mrs. B. van Wyk.

Back: Mrs. R. Jacobsen, Mr. A. Lategan,

Mr. W.P. van Oudtshoorn, Ms. M. Swart

and Mrs. S. Kruger.

Absent: Co-opted member: Mrs. L. Knoetze

Text Box: Con Amore School did not have proper speech and occupational therapy rooms. In 2000 a project was initiated by Mrs. Carina Vermaak, the then occupational therapist. The newly completed, purpose built therapy rooms were completed on 4 December 2000 providing ample space for occupational and speech therapy. The therapy rooms were officially inaugurated on 23 March 2001. In 2001 the learner enrolment increased to a new maximum of 240. It has stayed relatively stable at this number since then, as this is the physical capacity of the school. An all-weather netball court was built in 2003 from funds raised when a teacher, Mrs. Ansie Gildenhuys participated in the Comrades. We are very grateful for the support from the community e.g. churches, cultural organizations, schools, businesses and individuals, in the past and present and thank all who contributes to Con Amore School.