Alumni come to the rescue of Immaculata High School
30 July 2020
Former learners of Immaculata High School in Wynberg have responded to a call by the principal to assist the school during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Shireen van der Rheede, Chairperson of the Immaculata Veritas Woman Alumni Committee, said the outpouring of help and support has been unbelievable. “We have received help from as far as London and Houston in America!”
The alumni assisted the school in acquiring bins for every class and room, sanitizer, foot pedal sanitizer dispensers, signage, a high pressure cleaner, as well as providing sandwiches for learners every day.
“In many of our schools, SGB staff now depend on kindness and generosity of others. The alumni is contributing towards the salaries of SGB staff as parents are battling to make ends meet with either no jobs or working for less money, at the same time needing to support families.”
Van der Rheede said Veritas Woman Alumni has been active in supporting the school since before the lockdown. The group was launched in August 2018 with the aim of incorporating values in all their activities.
“During this very, very challenging period, people have and is still being tested to their limits. We are so proud that Veritas Woman Alumni can be the platform that can assist the school during this Covid-19 period of challenges. Everyone is trying their utmost and human best to do all that we can to help our alma mater as we all face anxiety and uncertainty on a daily basis.”
Principal Yolanda Haupt, who is also an alumnus of Immaculata, said the school community was very close to her heart. “I am filled with gratitude for all the support we received from our alumni. The values of care, compassion, generosity and kindness, to name but a few, were instilled in us by our parents and reinforced by the Dominican Sisters and our educators. A beautiful quote from Mother Teresa says: "The fruit of love is service, which is compassion in action". Thank you to our alumni who served our community with so much love and compassion. I am extremely grateful.”