Farewell to Sid G. Rule Primary's beloved leaders

Sid G. Rule Primary School in Grassy Park will say goodbye to two long-serving school leaders who are retiring at the end of the year.

Principal Anton Yon and deputy principal Jerome Jeniker have both spent over 30 years at the Grassy Park-based primary school after starting in the same year in 1992. 

Mr Yon, from Southfield, first started as a physical education and class teacher. He would then go on to become head of department in 2006 and a deputy principal in 2011.

He was appointed as the school principal in 2016.

He spent 34 years of his teaching career dedicated to uplifting the pupils at Sid G. Rule Primary. 

“Seeing the pupils excel and become successful is what I love most about teaching. I also love learning from them,” he said.

Mr Yon said that being a principal was really challenging. “ Running a school is like running a mini-country,” he said.

Mr Yon said that leaving Sid G. Rule is a bittersweet moment. “I will not retire 'from', but retire 'to' something. What that 'something' is, I don't know yet. I trust God,” he said.

Like Mr Yon, deputy principal Mr Jeniker also spent his long teaching career at Sid G. Rule.

He first became a Grade 4 teacher, then a head of department in 2010, and eventually took on the role of deputy principal in 2016.

Mr Jeniker has a strong connection to Grassy Park, where he grew up, attended Plantation Primary and then Fairmount High School, and then became an experienced teacher at Sid. G Rule.

Mr Jeniker said he enjoyed everything about teaching. “Enjoyed the pupils, teaching staff, support staff, and parents,” he said.

As a full-time teacher, Mr Jeniker said he enjoyed getting to know his pupils by helping them to identify their strengths and weaknesses. “I enjoyed taking them to camps and applying what was taught in class to the outdoors. It was lovely to see the learners grow physically, emotionally, and go on to achieve great things,” he said.

Mr Jeniker said being the deputy principal was like “ a box of chocolates.” “Dealing with over 800 pupils and staff, you have no idea what will be thrown in the path,” he said.

Mr Jeniker thanks the staff and many mentors he had at Sid.G.Rule taught him to be humble and a great listener. “The staff of Sid.G.Rule are passionate and resilient, and I do thank them for making my tenure as deputy principal a wonderful journey,” he said.

Mr Jeniker said he is content with leaving, knowing that the school will be in good hands. “I have plans, but for now I'm going to take time off and enjoy life,” he said. 

The long-serving school leaders had a retirement party at The Venue in Schaapkraal on Wednesday, December 10.

Teachers, Peter Botha, will be the acting principal while Louisa Daniels will be the acting deputy principal in the new school year.