Started in the church hall of St Dominic’s Catholic Church in 1977, Hillcrest Pre-Primary has grown to serve 145 pupils in six classes, with more than 21 staff, playing an important role in the Upper Highway community.
The parents of the school acquired land and built the current school in Gillitt Road, Hillcrest, with the official opening conducted by Dr Hosking, the Director of Education, in November 1981.
Today, the original school is hardly recognisable with all the extensions added over the years. There is a registered Grade R unit and the school’s youngest children, or Seedlings, have exclusive use of their own facilities.
Principal Janet van Rooyen began teaching at the school in 2005 and took over as Principal in 2011. “The school’s motto is ‘free to be me’ and this is encouraged in every way (with a few boundaries, of course), but we believe it produces happy, well-prepared learners,” she says.
The school is planning a few celebrations in honour of its anniversary, including a supper theatre event for adults, featuring Aaron Mcllroy and Lisa Bobbert, on August, 18. “All-in-all, this is a big year for Hillcrest Pre-Primary School and we plan on continuing to go from strength to strength in the years to come.”