Onderwyser van die jaar. Me. Hannalie van der Merwe is reeds sedert 2000 ‘n gewaardeerde onderwyseres by die Hoërskool Strand. Hannelie het ‘n passie om te dien. Die vakbond Solidariteit, wat op 22 Junie 1902 gestig is, het me. Van der Merwe as Onderwyser van die jaar in die hoërskoolafdeling aangewys. Dit is ongetwyfeld ‘n enorme eer vir Hoërskool Strand én die gemeenskap. Dié toekenning onderstreep die feit dat Hoërskool Strand vir sy leerders omgee.
Solidariteit vind homself binne die Christelike tradisie van vakbondwese. Solidariteit glo dat hulle hul lede moet lei tot selfstandigheid sodat hulle hul roeping kan navolg. Dit is juis dít wat me. Van der Merwe vermag het. Sy het haar roeping gevolg om ‘n verskil in mense se lewens te maak. Die status van ‘n onderwyser lê in ‘n kind se hart, ‘n waarheid wat Hannalie alte goed begryp.
Sy is tydens die Junie-vakansie deur die skool se toutrekouers en –leerders vir hierdie gesogte toekenning genomineer. Veral die WP se president van die Toutrekvereniging was baie opgewonde oor hierdie benoeming. Die hoof van die Hoërskool Strand, mnr. D.B. Malan, het haar ook aangemoedig om hierdie benoeming te aanvaar.
Na die aanvaarding van die benoeming moes sy ‘n outobiografie oor haarself skryf. Sy moes ook ‘n video maak waarin daar op die volgende gefokus moes word:
- Waarom sy haarself in die onderwys bevind;
- Wat sy die meeste in die onderwys geniet en
- Wenke vir nuwe onderwysers.
Hannalie se filosofie is baie eenvoudig. Sy doen maar net haar werk. Elkeen wat sy of haar werk doen, én dit met liefde doen, is ‘n held(in).
“Alles is net onverdiende genade uit God se liefdevolle hand”, aldus hierdie beskeie dienares. Die Hoërskool Strand eer hierdie onderwyseres wat ‘n baken van hoop vir talle leerders is.
Teacher of the Year
Ms Hannalie van der Merwe has been a valued teacher at Strand High School since 2000. Hannelie also has a passion for serving. The trade union Solidarity, which was founded on 22 June 1902, called Ms. Van der Merwe was named Teacher of the Year in the high school category. This is undoubtedly an enormous honour for Strand High School and the community. This award underlines the fact that Strand High School cares for its learners.
Solidarity finds itself within the Christian tradition of trade unionism. Solidarity believes that they must lead their members to self-reliance so that they can follow their calling. This is also precisely what Ms. Van der Merwe accomplished. She followed her calling to make a difference in people’s lives. The status of a teacher lies in a child’s heart, a truth that Hannalie also understands all too well.
She was nominated for this prestigious award by the school’s tug-of-war parents and learners during the June holidays. The WP’s president of the Tug-of-War Association was also very excited about this nomination. The principal of Strand High School, Mr. D.B. Malan, also encouraged her to accept this nomination.
After accepting the nomination, she had to write an autobiography about herself. She also had to make a video focusing on the following:
- Why she finds herself in education
- What she enjoys most in education
- Tips for new teachers
Hannalie’s philosophy is very simple. She’s just doing her job. Everyone who does his or her job, and does it with love, is also a hero(in).
“Everything is just undeserved grace from God’s loving hand,” according to this modest teacher. Strand High School also honours this teacher who is a beacon of hope for many learners.
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