By Emily Setona
QWAQWA – Beacon Secondary School rolled out a warm, well-structured welcome for its Grade 8 intake this week, officially ushering in what educators proudly refer to as the matric class of 2030.
The new learners were received with orientation sessions, classroom bonding activities and clear guidance aimed at easing the often-daunting transition from primary to high school.
Natural Sciences teacher for Grades 8 and 9, Mpho Ngwenya, said the school prioritises creating a calm and supportive environment for first-time high school learners.
“Welcoming the Grade 8 class is always exciting,” Ngwenya said.
“They arrive with the idea that high school is a scary place, so we make sure the experience is friendly and structured. We issue textbooks, set class rules together, elect class captains and take them through orientation, where we explain the school’s code of conduct.
”She added that discipline and learner behaviour were addressed across all grades, not only Grade 8s. “The first day is always fun, and they were very well behaved,” Ngwenya said.
Beacon Secondary draws learners mainly from Sentinel, Letotolo and Witsieshoek primary schools, as well as a handful from surrounding areas.
For Kananelo Moloi, a former Witsieshoek Primary learner now in Grade 8C, the first day brought mixed emotions.
“It was confusing at first because there were so many learners and we didn’t know most people,” Moloi said.
“But I eventually found my friends and got used to the environment. We met our class teacher, elected captains and everything. It was very delightful for me to finally come to my dream school.”
Grade 8D learner Donald Sonja, who previously attended Sentinel Primary, described his first day as nerve-wracking but rewarding.
“It was scary at first, even frustrating, but it got better,” Sonja said. “I was relieved to see some learners I knew from Sentinel. We chose class captains and I was selected as one of them. Today we are being told about the school rules, which are similar to those at my primary school.”
Acting principal Mamakgowa Thithi said the school is intentional about viewing the Grade 8 intake as future matriculants from the moment they arrive.
“We have welcomed our class of 2030, and we will be grooming them to become top achievers,” Thithi said.
“Matric is a marathon. As educators, we can already identify potential, but our responsibility is to support every learner so that no child is left behind.”
With excitement, nerves and ambition filling Beacon’s classrooms, the Grade 8 class of 2026 has officially begun a high school journey the school hopes will end in confident success at the matric finish line in 2030.
