GEORGE NEWS - A volunteer teacher who loves music is needed to continue the wonderful work being carried out at the Padda Kleuterskool in Wilderness Heights.
The current teacher, Joan Musto, has for 13 years provided a free quality preschool education to the children of the Remskoen Informal Settlement. She is asking for a dedicated person to take over from her. "I have been their voluntary music teacher for several years and wish to retire at the end of this year. I am seeking a person (or persons) who would be keen to take over this worthwhile and extremely enjoyable activity," says Parkin.
"My successor would be a musical person who can give the children a varied musical experience. He or she need not be a fully trained musician. It could be a person who enjoys singing and can maybe play the guitar and who can get the children moving rhythmically. It could be a person who is a dancer and knows the joy of losing oneself in movement to music.
"Twenty children come to classes every morning, and my weekly music class takes about 40 minutes. I have seen how these well-behaved little children have blossomed in terms of their good behaviour, their willing participation in any activity I offer to them, and in their extreme happiness whilst at the school.
"The loving care and concern they receive from the teachers (themselves residents of the Remskoen Settlement) equips them magnificently for when they graduate to 'Big School'."
Parkin invites anyone who is interested and who can spend an hour per day to see first-hand how the classes are conducted. "Come and see. Come to the class and see what I do. I will pass on my skills and ideas, mentoring you until you take over and stamp your own personality on the sessions. This is a great opportunity for someone to gain from my experience - I trained in this field many years ago and have taught preschool music in several schools, starting when my children, now with children of their own, were at that young age."
Anyone who is interested in taking over from Joan Musto or giving the new teacher a helping hand can phone her on 072 440 5339.
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