Welcoming Speech by Thabiso Kutumela, Chairlady of Mina Lopato Board 2019
I am Thabiso Kutumela and I have two kids at Mina Lopato Nursery School. This is my 4th year at the school and my 4th year being on the school board – I was the last one standing who hadn’t become chair so I guess that is why I am chair now, I got dragged kicking and screaming.
I would like to welcome all the new parents and wish you a happy stay at this special school. To our veteran parents, I hope that this year will be a wonderful year for both you and your kids.
When I welcomed the new parents I said Mina is a special school, what makes this a special school for me?
I believe that a school is an extension of the values and principles that are being taught at home.
At our home, we value diversity and courage, integrity, mindfulness, compassion and charity. These core values are exactly what we found when we found Mina:
Here there is diversity and courage, the school has Jewish roots and what I love about it is that everyone is welcomed! Look at your classrooms – there are kids from every race and every walk of life.
An example of courage is when you break from the mould, saying, “yes we are a Jewish school but we will have a black female Christian to be our chair”. Not a non-practising Christian but a practising Christian whose kids go to Sunday school every week.
Mindfulness, compassion and charity for me are BIG. Mindfulness to me means being aware. Being aware that you are in a school in South Africa. Being aware that South Africa has high levels of poverty and that South Africa is not what we see in the Northern suburbs of Johannesburg.
Mina has a subsidy programme where the school subsidizes kids whose parents live in the area but cannot afford the school fees. Mina gives an opportunity for kids to learn with other kids who don’t come from the same financial background as them.
What can each parent do?
The school needs people who will help with its fundraising drive. Parents ask why the school needs to fundraise if they are paying so much in school fees? 90% of the money that the school receives in school fees goes to paying salaries and the rent.
Mina’s philosophy is that the children come first, this is why we have more assistants than any other school in the area.
Money is also needed for the subsidy programme I spoke about earlier as well as the indoor play equipment. This was funded by monies raised by you, the parents.
My plea is that we all get involved in the school and help it grow from strength to strength. I know we are all busy and run busy lives. Work, drop-offs, playdates, extra murals etc.
I am also a busy mum, but I try to find the time to attend school board meetings because how can I teach my kids that it is important to get involved in community work if I don’t get involved in community work myself?
So the next time you see something you don’t like about the school or something you think the school can do better – go into Leanne’s office and say, “hey I see that you are or aren’t doing this – maybe this is a better way I am willing to run with this idea and implement it.”
I believe that we have enough people in the world but we need more human beings and Mina’s humanist approach to education which is supported and upheld by the principal and teachers resonated with our family and makes being Chairlady of this Board and school something I am proud to be.
“When little people are overwhelmed by big emotions, it is our job to share our calm, not join their chaos”