There are some teachers who ingrain a mark so deeply in the psyche of both their charges and the institution that they are a part of, that the loss of them creates a void that is difficult to fill.
Mr Elrich Jantjies is one of these remarkable educators and humans. He arrived at Union High School in July 2014, and the Maths department would never be the same again!
According to learners, Mr Jantjies took much of the fear associated with Maths out of the proverbial equation!
His classes were engaging, fun and challenging and even when the topic wavered a little to conspiracy theories and the like – always thought provoking and entertaining.
Mr Jantjies initiated the annual ‘Nieu-Bethesda Maths Camps’ where Grade 11 Maths Formal learners were exposed to different aspects of the fascinating subject, and came away enlightened and excited, having dealt with fractals, maths in nature, structural engineering, coding and the like.
Mr Jantjies can be described as an enthusiast of note. The passion he has for his subject shone through him and into those he taught. This passion was also evident in the work he did with the Media Team, and the bi-monthly video production of the “Union News” which fast became a popular and powerful marketing tool for the school, as well as top quality, professional entertainment which everyone looked forward to.
The Media Team speaks of receiving the group WhatsApp at 2 or 3am when Mr Jantjies had finished the final edit for deadlines! Many Union learners became quite professional news reporters under his guidance – and the fun which they had in the process simply shone through them.
As a Grade 10 class teacher, Mr Jantjies also became a part of Union’s annual “Odyssey”. The first to say that he had never hiked or been exposed to the wilderness before, he took to it like a duck to water, and soon became hooked on what this experience offered.
He was an invaluable mentor to the Grade 10s on this difficult journey, and valued the deeper insight it gave him regarding those in his care. His delightful sense of humour, easy manner, open-hearted smile and sincerity made him a well-loved and respected educator and mentor to many.
Mr Jantjies is a born teacher in the true sense of the word and will be sorely missed at the school.
We are grateful for ALL the good that he brought along with him and wish him all the best on his new journey in the Ministry.