WELCOME TO

GLENSTANTIA PRIMARY SCHOOL

MR H P J PRETORIUS

PRINCIPAL

pretoriush@glenstantia.co.za

From the

Principal's Desk

Dear Parents

Welcome back to all our learners and staff members after our mid-year break. Term 3 is a short term, yet a very busy one.

We would like to thank all the parents who attended our recent Parents’ Evenings. We trust that the discussions were insightful and provided valuable feedback on your child’s progress. As we begin the new term, we encourage all learners to work diligently from the outset. Starting strong and keeping up with classwork and assignments will help prevent work from accumulating and contribute to a successful and productive term.

We sadly say goodbye to Mr Links who will be leaving us at the end of the month. We thank him for his dedication to our learners and school and we wish him all of the best with his future plans.

We welcome Ms Ndlovu as the new Phys Ed teacher. We wish her luck in her new venture.

Mrs Nash will be going on accouchment leave, we welcome Mrs Lemmer, who will be standing in for her.

Please remember to vote for our school as the best English Medium Primary School in Pretoria, before the closing date on 7 August 2026.

Yours faithfully

HPJ PRETORIUS
PRINCIPAL

History

Of the school

On 7 January 1981, 516 pupils arrived for their first day at the new Waterkloof Glen Primary School.

But the history of the school goes back much further, to 1978, when residents started campaigning for a new English primary school in the area; nor did the opening end the battle – parents were far from happy with the name forced on the school by the education authorities.

In 1979 matters came to a head when Lynwood Ridge refused to enrol any more five-and-a-half year olds because of overcrowding at the school. The Transvaal Education Department had indicated that a site had been earmarked for the building of a new school, but no date had been set for its construction. As a result, a Vigilance Committee was formed to campaign for the new school.

It was led by Mr RGW Thomson and the committee organised canvassing, publicity and public meetings, and by 1980 the school buildings were taking shape.

After a fire, and a scare that construction would not be finished on schedule acting principal Mr Tommy Stevens and 19 teachers opened the school on time, but without exercise books, which had to be borrowed from Constantia Park Laerskool, Brooklyn Primary and Lynnwood Laerskool.

The first assembly was memorable, with Mrs. Stevens officiating among plants, and scaffolding to the singing of “All Things Bright and Beautiful” accompanied by Mrs. Bronner on a piano accordion.

Once school started the final touches were added: on 21 January a new piano arrived, the first School Committee was elected on 19 February; and on 17 March a major victory – the TED agreed to officially change the name to Glenstantia Primary School.

Even with the proper name, much was still to be done: the playing fields had to be levelled, and grass planted; until then sports activities were held at The Glen, and in its first soccer match, against Burger Right, Glenstantia A and B list, 4 – 0 and 7 – 0 respectively.

The first of October saw the appointment of Mr Pretorius as principal, and Mr Will Bowker as his deputy, to take over from the start of the 1982 school year.

On 23 November, just two days before the first standard five valedictory service, the school finalised its motto: “Strive Joyfully”.

OUR VALUES

Glenstantia Primary School incorporate the below-mentioned values to foster a holistic and well-rounded education.

COMMITMENT

LOYALTY

RESPECT

HONESTY
(INTEGRITY)

TOLERANCE

RESPONSIBILITY

HELPFULNESS

FRIENDSHIP

PERSEVERANCE

EXCELLENCE

SELF-CONTROL

GRATITUDE

These values serve as the moral compass for students, guiding their behaviour, decisions, and interactions within the school community and beyond.

By instilling these values, we aim to not only impart academic knowledge but also to cultivate strong character traits that will empower students to become responsible and ethical individuals, capable of contributing positively to society.

These values lay the foundation for creating an inclusive and nurturing environment where students can develop both academically and personally.