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
Ploutos Alumbi
Grade RRR
Teacher Ploutos is a young, passionate teacher. She has a BA degree and is studying towards her BEd. Teacher Ploutos strongly believes that teaching is her calling, and she is guided by her passion and love for Jesus. 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
Kathy Sadler
Preschool headmistress
Grade RR
Teacher Kathy is creative and exceptionally fun-loving. She has over 18 years of pre-school teaching experience and is Montessori trained. Teacher Kathy enjoys charity work, gardening, biking and any sort of sports. She loves padel and also holds the title of “Sports Coordinator” and “Marketing Manager” for Solid Foundations.
Birthday: 25 March
Nikki Mare
Grade RR
Teacher Nikki is a warm-hearted and gentle teacher who has taught young minds from toddlers to Grade 2. She has a BEd and an Honours Degree (Educational and Learning Support) and is also involved in the running of the toddler centre at her church. In her free time, Teacher Nikki loves the outdoors, to bake and enjoy family time with her husband and three active teenage sons.
Birthday: 26 September
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
Amy Malunjwa
Grade R
Teacher Amy studied through Unisa and has a BEd degree. Her favourite grade to teach is Grade R, and she’s focused on making learning fun and developing a good foundation for the learners to build on in all other grades.
In her free time she enjoys serving at her church, hiking and gardening.
Birthday: 26 June
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 12 years in the teaching profession. She has spent the past 8 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
Sarah-Lee Fairhurst
Grade 1
Mrs Fairhurst is a loving and nurturing teacher who has a BEd in foundation phase. Teaching is not only her passion but her calling. She loves to spend time with family, travel and be outdoors.
Birthday: 15 February
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 7 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, practising 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
Carmi Vermaak
Grade 4
Ms. Vermaak is a passionate teacher who believes in creating a classroom filled with kindness, curiosity and purpose. She completed her BEd degree at North-West University and loves helping learners discover their strengths and to grow in confidence. She enjoys jogging, being creative, and staying active, but her greatest joy comes from sharing her faith and teaching children about God’s love. To her, teaching is not just a job — it’s a calling to make a positive difference in the lives of her learners every day.
Birthday: 9 December
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 an energetic, caring, and well-loved teacher with 18 years of teaching experience in addition to her previous corporate experience. She has a BEd degree. She has taught across all subjects and grades, which makes her versatile in her understanding of learners at different stages. She is particularly empathetic towards learners with diverse needs.
Mrs Mc strives to make her lessons fun and interactive. Her hobbies include reading, crocheting, knitting, and travelling around South Africa. Her favourite colour, without question, 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 “endurance sports” 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 35 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
Life Skills Gr 5-6; Life Orientation Gr 7; Technology Gr 7; Computer Literacy Gr RR-7; Coding and Robotics Gr 2-4
Mrs Obbes taught adult education for eight years and in primary school for the last twelve years. She is also the school counsellor, supporting learners’ emotional and social development. She is currrently studying towards a Bachelor of Education (BEd). In her free time, she enjoys reading, hiking, gardening and being with her family.
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 two girls, serving on her church praise and worship team, and reading a good book (when she gets a chance!).
Birthday: 11 April
Michelle Babcock
Grade 5-6 Mathematics
Teacher Michelle is a very flexible and fun-loving teacher, who has moved from Senior Primary Maths and Science teacher to Grade R and back again!
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
Jay Swiegers
Deputy Headmaster
Grade 7 English and Maths
Mr Swiegers is an organised and passionate teacher who is a firm favourite with the learners. He has an excellent work ethic and has been teaching for 9 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 9 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
Tyrees Rogers
Assitant teacher and substitute teacher
Teacher Tyrees graduated from Stadio with a higher certificate in Pre-school education Cum Laude in 2023. She is currently completing her BEd degree in Foundation Phase teaching, and believes in teaching as a calling and a blessing, where every child is a gift from God. Teacher Tyrees is originally from Durban and loves the colour blue.
In her spare time she likes to create, listen to music, travel and spend time with her family.
Birthday : 14 September
Kaylin du Plessis
Assistant teacher and substitute teacher
Kaylin is a student teacher who is taking time to gain work experience before continuing her studies, allowing her to grow both personally and professionally. She has a strong love for reading and a genuine passion for working with children, which she has explored through five years of experience at her church’s toddler centre. She is often described as patient, kind, and approachable, and is known for creating a warm and welcoming environment. With her calm nature and constant smile, she is someone people naturally feel comfortable around.
Birthday: 24 October
Tando Dyomfana
School secretary and bursar
A maths-lover with a background in Chemical Engineering from Wits, Tando has a sharp, analytical mind in everything she tackles. She has a beautiful calming presence and is extremely patient with both parents and children. Outside of work, Tando experiments in the kitchen and is an avid baker. She also loves the outdoors and exploring nature. We are blessed with her friendly face, helping heart and ready smile.
Birthday 14 August