Estelle Meintjes
Grade RRR
Teacher Estelle has been teaching for 20 years and grew up in the Mother City, where she qualified with her ECD diploma through the College of Cape Town. She is currently studying towards her BEd degree. She has been in Johannesburg for the past 10 years where she met her husband and decided to make Gauteng her home. Her interests and hobbies include reading, travel, swimming, gardening, outdoor activities and history. She is also a bit of a petrol head and likes fast cars!
Birthday: 24 September
Kathy Sadler
Preschool headmistress
Grade RR
Teacher Kathy is creative and exceptionally fun-loving. She has over 17 years of pre-school teaching experience and is Montessori trained. Teacher Kathy enjoys charity work, gardening, biking and any sort of sports. She loves paddle and holds the title of “Sports Coordinator” and “Marketing Manager” for Solid Foundations.
Birthday: 25 March
Ploutos Alumbi
Grade RR
Teacher Ploutos is a young, passionate teacher. She has a degree in psychology and is studying towards her PGCE. Teacher Ploutos strongly believes that teaching is her calling, and she is guided by her passion and love for Jesus. She is driven to create an enviroment of growth and discovery in her class, instilling a sense of wonder and critical thinking. In her free time, Teacher Ploutos does extensive volunteer work and is a youth leader in her church as well as a Sunday school teacher.
Birthday: 24 December
Michelle Babcock
Grade R
Teacher Michelle moved from being our Senior Primary Maths and Science teacher to Grade R in 2023.
Mrs Babcock holds an Associates of Science in Mathematics degree from Count Community College in Elyria, Ohio, as well as a South African BEd degree.
Her hobbies are knitting and crocheting. She loves to travel and is an energetic sports lady, actively participating in women’s cricket and orienteering. Her down time involves reading novels or playing video games with her two sons.
Birthday: 10 August
Shirley McDonald
Grade R
Teacher Shirley is enthusiastic about early childhood curriculum development. She has a BEd degree and enjoys making her teaching creative and innovative. She is especially passionate about children’s literature. She loves cooking, gardening, her pets and all types of wildlife.
Birthday: 16 October
Dr Erika Helmbold
School Principal
Dr Helmbold is passionate about education! She has 27 years of teaching experience and a PHD in Education, specialising in the professional development of teachers and early childhood mathematics. Dr Helmbold is keenly interested in all things educational, but early Mathematics and Science particularly tweaks her fancy. Her hobbies include reading, going on family day-trips and indulging in decadent bubble-baths.
Birthday: 29 March
Jayde van Vuuren
Grade 1
Mrs van Vuuren is a dedicated and caring Grade 1 teacher with over 11 years in the teaching profession. She has spent the past 7 years working with Grade 1s. Inspiring and motivating students as they take their first steps in school is something she truly loves! She graduated from North-West University with a BEd degree. When not in the classroom, she adores spending time with her family and exploring new adventures. She is energetic, creativite, and warm-hearted – both in and out of the classroom.
Birthday: 17 May
Michelle Coetzee
Grade 1
Mrs Coetzee is a young and bubbly staff member, and a mommy-to-be with a little princess due in January. She will return to work in April. Mrs Coetzeehas a humble teachable spirit and strong moral values. She has a BEd degree and is in her 6th year of teaching. Her hobbies include reading and spending time with her family and friends.
Birthday: 8 November
Charlaine van Staden
Grade 2
Charlaine van Staden is a caring and loving fresh face and heart. She has a BEd degree, 9 years of teaching experience and loves working with children. Teaching is her calling, rather than her career. Her hobbies include fishing, walking trails and being in nature. She also likes playing tennis and gardening.
Birthday: 15 January
Elizabeth Moodley
Grade 2
Mrs Moodley qualified with her BEd Cum Laude in 2017. She has been teaching for 6 years.
She is gentle, caring and reliable. She believes that laughter is medicine to the soul! She loves to help others when it is in her power to do so. She adores “furry babies” (pets) and her hobbies are reading, baking, practicing piano, playing the drums, and spending time with family. She is passionate about spending time reading and studying God’s Word.
Birthday: 23 December
Jalaine Purchase
Grade 3
Miss Purchase is one of our newest and youngest addition to the Solids staff, but is a hardworking and passionate, freshly-qualified (BEd) teacher . She knows that working with children is her calling, and the quote that means a lot to her: “Behind every child who believes in themselves is a teacher who believed in them first”. Her hobbies include singing, netball, volunteering and exercising.
Birthday: 22 October
Jade van der Merwe
Grade 3
Mrs van der Merwe is a gentle and loving teacher with a BEd degree in Foundation Phase. She has been teaching since 2017. Her hobbies include camping and spending time with her family and friends. She has a love for sports, especially cricket and padel.
Birthday: 5 June
Caron Le Roux
Grade 4
Mrs Le Roux is extremely organised, impressively tech-savvy and exceptionally talented. She has been teaching for 27 years and has a BPrimEd degree. Mrs Le Roux leaves a wonderful scent of Christianity in the halls of our school. Her hobbies are reading, camping and crocheting, but she would just as soon spend time with family and friends to unwind.
Birthday: 6 April
Kylene Harris
Grade 4
Mrs Harris graduated with her BEd degree in 2020. She has a love of teaching and encouraging learners to do their best. Her favourite colour is yellow as it is the ‘colour of joy’ and her favourite flower, also radiating joy, is a sunflower. She loves reading, walking her dog, playing piano and colouring. Her life’s Scripture is Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord. “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future.”
Birthday: 12 September
Lebone Masemola
Grade 5, 6 and 7 Natural Science and Technology
Miss Masemola is a fun and young teacher who is a favourite with the children. She has an Honours degree in Education from the University of Pretoria and loves teaching young minds the wonder of science. Born in the spring month of October, she loves freshness, colour, flowers and rain. In her spare time she enjoys the outdoors with her family and friends.
Birthday: 21 October
Belinda McIntosh
Grade 5 – 7 Afrikaans
Mrs Mc is a well-loved and bubbly staff member. She has 18 years of teaching experience with a BEd degree. Her delicious treats boast of her baking abilities, and she also relaxes with a good book, crocheting and dabbling in pottery. Naturally, one of her primary interests is finding out more about education and her favourite colour by far is orange!
Birthday: 13 June
Bronwyn Diamond
Grade 5 and Grade 6 English
Mrs Diamond is a gentle gem. She has a very sweet and motherly approach to her pupils, is in her 10th year of teaching and is qualified with a BEd Degree. Mrs Diamond sees her classroom as her mission-field for spreading God’s love. She relaxes by engaging in artistic fun and jogging (a particular “Park Run” enthusiast!).
Birthday: 19 March
Coach Debbie
Physical Education
Coach Debbie is our fit and fine-formed member of staff. She has been running, jumping and swinging with children for over 31 years. She is the mother of a gorgeous and energetic young lad – Jesse. Her interests lie (excluding motherhood of course) in sports (a huge Sharks fan!), playing netball and working out at the gym. She also loves photography and spending quality time with her family.
Birthday: 2 August
Cyndy Obbes
Senior primary Life Orientation and Grade 1 – 7 Computers
Mrs Obbes is the big shoulder to cry on for pupils at our school! She has 8 years experience in adult education and 11 years experience in primary school education. Mrs Obbes has a corporate diploma, and is furthering her studies by currently studying her BEd degree. She enjoys a myriad of craft activities like painting, sewing and crocheting, but is open to any new and interesting craft activities. We are often blessed with the fruits of her labours from her vegetable garden, and when she gets an extra moment, Mrs Obbes loves to read.
Birthday: 21 July
Kathryn de Beer
Music Appreciation
Having grown up in a musical environment (her mother is a music teacher), with a BMus Ed behind her name, and over 17 years of music teaching experience, Teacher Kathryn is extremely excited to be running the music education department of our school, and leaves a “Julie Andrews” feel lingering in her wake.
She is originally a Cape Town girl, so enjoys trips to the beach and nature walks. What brings her most joy is spending quality time with her husband and little girl, serving on her church praise and worship team, and reading a good book (when she gets a chance!).
Birthday: 11 April
Isabel van Dijk
Grade 5 – 6 Maths
Mrs van Dijk holds a BEd degree and is an absolute treasure trove of teaching experience – 23 years internationally and locally. Her mannerisms are serene and stable – yet she is an enthusiastic and dynamic participant in all school activities! In her spare time she dabbles in a vast array of hobbies and interests including dancing, art, sewing, crocheting, gardening, Pergamano, reading, Geology, Egyptology, computer games and Sudoku!
Birthday: 22 July
Jay Swiegers
Deputy Headmaster
Grade 7 English and Maths
Mr Swiegers is an organised and passionate teacher that is a firm favourite with the learners. He has an excellent work ethic and has been teaching for 7 years in our school. Mr Swiegers has an Honours degree in education and is working on his Masters, focussing on reading comprehension.
His hobbies include reading and playing the piano.
Birthday: 7 June
Melissa Mamapa
Grade 5-7 Social Sciences (Geog and Hist), Art, and Grade 7 EMS
Miss Mamapa is a caring and warm individual who brings laughter and compassion to the staff team. She has an Honours Degree in Political Science and a PGCE., with 6 years teaching experience under the belt. Miss Mamapa enjoys reading, cooking and photography. She brings a relaxed and people-loving breeze with her wherever she goes.
Birthday: 9 May
Bafana Baloyi
Grade 1-7 violin and cello
Mr Baloyi is a professional musician, specialising in violin, viola, cello and double bass. He is a friendly and lovable teacher with 10 years of experience in music instruction, including a three year period of conducting the Limpopo Youth Orchestra. He is also a luthier (violin maker) and made his first hand-crafted violin in 2011. His life motto is “take things at face value”. Mr Baloyi’s hobbies include reading, watching movies, travelling, crafting, soccer and computer and card games.
Birthday: 13 January