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GOODBYE, MRS PEARSE
On Wednesday 31 March, 2004, the last day of the first term, SP said goodbye to Anja Pearse, as she went on retirement after 23 years and three months of teaching at the school.
When Anja Pearse joined the staff of SP in 1981, it was to fill a vacancy in the Afrikaans Department. She soon made her mark as she tried, successfully for the greater part, to encourage her students to develop a love for the language, as she had, through reading.
A few years later, a vacancy occurred in the English Department, and Mrs Pearse was drafted in to assist. Again, she proved to be a tremendous asset, as her love of languages made it easy for her to change from teaching Afrikaans Second Language to English First Language. However, Mrs Pearse would be the first to admit that learning English as a student did not come easily for a young Dutch girl, and it was only through hard work and many hours of reading that she became comfortable and fluent in what is arguably one of the most difficult languages for a non-native speaker to learn. She often said it was because of her own experiences that she was able to understand the difficulties that students face in attempting to master the language. Her message to those students: “Read, read and read!”
Anja Pearse will be remembered for the warm, compassionate touch she brought to her teaching. Not only did she reveal her human side as she allowed SP students to grow up with her own children, Stephanie and Dean, but she also offered a sympathetic ear or a shoulder to cry on to students who had problems. Her assistance often extended to material ways as well, but she preferred not to let this be known. A deeply spiritual person, Mrs Pearse was always ready to offer guidance to students and staff. Her wish is that we continue to smile and find joy in everything we do.
The SP community will miss Anja Pearse – a legend of the past two decades - as she embarks on a new phase of her life, and wishes her well as she leaves for England at the end of the month, to join her children and expand her horizons.
Anja, may you continue to fill the world with love!
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