Good Hope Seminary High

Good Hope Seminary School is High and Primary School for girls. I still couldn't find out, where the primary part of the school is located, the building Karin and I work in is only high school only. It is an old school building and in the hallways there are a lot of pictures of how it used to be years and years before now. It is kind of strange, because the women in the pictures, the staff and everyone is all white in complexion, nowadays nearly all the girls are black or coloured and the teachers are mixed. Our supervisor told us, that Good Hope used to be an upper class High School, positioned in the middle of the City Bowl. Over time it became a school where mainly children from the townships go to. So a lot of kids are commuting to the school every day for hours. The school has a hostel as well, for those kids, who can’t commute, because they don’t have parents or relatives in Cape Town at all, or for those who’s homes aren’t a good place to live for them.

little table in the hallway
in front of the principal's office

All in all there are around 400 students at the school and something like 20 teachers. Karin and I spend the breaks in the teachers staff room, where there is tee and sandwiches. We are pretty sure that we still haven't met all the teacher yet. Some of them are there every break, like the art teacher, who is a wonderful lady with German origins and her daughter, who is also a teacher at the school. 

Counsellor Message Box

The art teacher is a very resourceful connection for us. She is very open and supportive towards us as counselors. She even tinkered a message box for us, to make it easier for the learners to reach us. To come talk to us, the students tell Mrs. Mpuru, the life orientation teacher. She puts them on our lists. Now with the box the students don't have to inform her any more, but can just put their names there. I really like this system and it already came into effect. 
In comparison to the schools our intern-collegues are working in, we were very lucky with our school. The teachers are happy to have us there and are very supportive. The principal always has an open ear for us, too. I went to her with a girl once and I really liked the way she talked with her. She can't change the whole environment of the kids in her school, but she is kind and a save haven there. 
We are at the office Tuesday and Thursday, and in school on Monday, Wednesday, Friday.