Hexpark Primary School bids farewell to its principal, Collin Ontong, who has been at the school for 27 years.
His first teaching appointment was at Lentegeur in Mitchells Plain, Cape Town 38 years ago. There he was one of 70 teachers.
As a young teacher, it was not easy for him to adapt. He was under the supervision of an exceptional principal who mentored young and inexperienced teachers such as him. He also studied part-time and achieved a Bachelor of Education in Primary Teaching, and an Honours degree in Psychometrics from Stellenbosch University.
In 1994 Ontong moved to Hexpark Primary and was appointed deputy principal four years later.
In the years that followed he had to overcome numerous battles to ensure the school was functional.
His faith, coupled with determination, hard work and the passion for teaching opened the doors for him to become permanent principal in 2010.
Ontong is described as a friendly person, a great teacher and administrator.
His colleagues further describe him as a loving person who will always give his learners the benefit of the doubt. The learners and staff have always felt safe in his presence.
“Mr Ontong always motivates the staff to give people a second chance,” Apiyya Jacobs, deputy principal, said. “He is a sympathetic and empathic person. Parents always come to him with their own problems, and he would never send them away without trying his best to solve whatever the problem may be. Even the learners know they can come to him with any problem.
“Our principal is really one of a kind, he would pick up a spade to help in the garden, paint the school toilet or even help with the feeding scheme.”
Ontong lives by the mottos “Children must be happy” and “You can’t keep a good man down”. He will be sorely missed for his wisdom, trustworthiness, kindness, leadership and humour.
The Hexpark community wishes him joy, love and happiness in retirement and promises to hold onto his legacy.
