The Parents’ Association
Aims
1. To act as a sounding board and a forum for constructive discussion with the School administration on issues pertaining to the advancement of the School and the achievement of its vision.
2. To support the school and students and families of the school.
3. To organise events and activities that build a sense of community in our school.
The group is expected to evolve in terms of its priorities as time goes on and many of the concerns are addressed.
Class Representatives and the Parents’ Association system.
The Class Representatives, who meet termly with the Principal and Head of Primary School, are a channel of communication for issues that are specific to the class or phase. The Parents Association is, too, a channel of communication for issues that are relevant to the entire school. The Class Representatives are, to use a metaphor, horizontal in structure, while the Parents’ Association is vertical.
Please do not use the Parents’ Association communication channel for family/student/pupil specific concerns or matters relating to your child’s teacher.
The Parents’ Association meets monthly, usually the third Thursday of every month.
How to contact the Parents’ Association
If you feel you have an issue or concern, or equally you have something which you feel should be shared / used across the school, then you can either contact your Parents Association representative personally, or you may email the Parents Association email address. Any emails will only be viewed by the six elected members of the Parents Association and it’s chairman Reon Van Heerden. The email address is:
ishbpa@gmail.com
Who is in the Parents’ Association
Office bearers:
1. Chairperson – Reon Van Heerden
2. Vice chair – Sue McDermott
2. Secretary – Galia Kioufi
3. Treasurer – Sue Walker
There are 6 members:
Junior Primary
Kate Schmidt
One son, Mungo, in Year 1. Have been at the school since EY1. (nearly 3 years)
English, have lived here permanently for 6 years. Project Manager in London for 15 years working within the design industry. My last job title was 'makes things happen' and this aptly describes my practical and proactive approach when noting systems or structures that may be improved and ensuring that positive change takes place.
Sue McDermott
British born, but in SA for 7 years. New parent to the school in 2011 with just one child in Year 1, Ella, but have worked with the school since 2005, bringing international families into ISHB from overseas, as I run a relocation and property-buying company. Business/Marketing background working for multi-nationals in London/Europe.
Hope to see the continuous, consistent improvement of the school, working with the school administration and representing the wider parent audience, to ensure a solid future for this International Curriculum in Hout Bay.
Senior Primary
Shirley Lim
Mum of three at the school, been there for 10yrs now. Hanna on Igcse1, Joshua in M1 and David in Yr 4. Seen many changes at the school, and not concerned regarding the new school but want the education to go forward as they are doing. Full-time dentist at 7 Empire Ave, Hout Bay. Thai national and love FOOD. In Parents Group in hope to make a difference.
Galia Kioufi
My professional career followed the exciting path of an Accountant and then when I realised I was too ‘boring’ to be in the profession, I became an IT Consultant. In 2003 I become Mummy to our first son, Zaim and decided that my next career move was going to be to have as many children as I could before I turned 40. It was a tough project plan but a successful one, and in 2005, Sava was born, in 2008 Ziya was born and 2010 we had Sema. I am a stay-at-home mum who also works at a school for mentally and physically handicap children. My reasons for joining the PA is to make the school aware of the issues that we as the parent community of the school have, to facilitate the school in finding solutions and to assist with solution implementation where possible.
High School
Sue Walker
I have 2 boys in the high school: Stewart is in IB2 and Duncan is in IG2. We moved to Cape Town from Botswana in January 2010 so that our boys could continue with the IB curriculum. I have taught secondary school Maths and Science teacher as well as Grade’s 2 and 4 at a PYP school. I also have an Accounting degree. I think the Parents’ Association is a valuable channel of communication through which to voice areas of concern to the school management in a constructive manner.
Phumla Mrubata
Thamsanqa Mrubata is my oldest boy who is doing MYC 3. I’m working for local government. I was recruited to be part of the PA. Be that as it may, I’m keen to be part of positive team.
I like going to the gym and travelling with my two boys. I was born in Cape Town and I love my City.
Reon van Heerden
I am married to Sheena Stephens and we have two daughters at the school – one completing her IB diploma in 2011 and the other one in MY3. The eldest daughter has been at the school since it opened its doors in January 1999 and we have thus been parents at the school for all of its nearly 13 years of existence. Sheena served on the initial PTA and jointly led the fund raising initiative (carnival) that raised the funds to build the netball court at the junior school. I was a serving member of the initial Governing body and was tasked with doing the due diligence visit to Spain and the UK before selling the school to SEK (now IES).
My first 20 years of working life were spent at shell and I now work for an IT company delivering solutions to the Petroleum industry. I went to school in Welkom (same class as Mrs Dunbar) and University at Natal U (Pietermaritzburg) and the Graduate School of Business, UCT. I am a passionate follower of sport and in my younger days ran the Two Oceans Ultra 13 times. These days my exercise is limited to riding a bicycle slowly.