September News!

Graceland Market Day 2014

We are happy to announce that on the 2nd of October 2014 we had our 3rd Market Day at Graceland and it was a great success.

All the parents' crochet pieces who took part in the crochet competition. 

The reason we first started having the market day in 2012 was create a fundraiser that will involve the whole community and to challenge them in their individual capacity to give, while at the same time creating a family fun day that parents can enjoy with their children. We create a space where people can donate old but still nice clothes, shoes, jewellery, odds and end, tuck-shop stock and give towards the games which are presented on the day. Due to the fact that everything is donated we are able to sell everything at a reasonable price and still make one hundred percent profit.

This year we had two jumping castles, domino table, karaoke, face painting, balloon animals, play station games, a colouring in competition, an obstacle course, and five great raffles and on sale we had lots cosmetics and second-hand clothes, jewellery, odds and ends and a fully stocked tuck-shop. We also had a crochet competition going thanks to Rosemary Ruest, one of the farm owners. The event was well supported by the community and the parents. Everyone is still talking about their wonderful time at Graceland and how they can't wait for next year. 

This year was the third year we had our Market day and it just keeps getting better. I would like to give a special thank you to all the farm owners, local businesses, individuals, parents and children who gave in kind, funds, of their time or came to enjoy the day with us, because of you our 2014 Market Day was a great success. We raised R5700, that we wouldn't have been able to do with out each and every one of you. 

“Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.”

Henry Ford

October News!

Market  Day 2013!

Meet Rosaline Fortuin (33), a teacher at Graceland Pre-primary. She started working for our preschool in 2006 as a volunteer, helping out by preparing lunch for our little ones. When another teacher was needed at Graceland we didn’t have to look very far. Her good attitude, hard work, faithfulness to Graceland and her love for children made her a good candidate. Rosaline has since completed a Level 4 course in Early Childhood Development (ECD) to qualify her as a preschool practitioner. She loves her work now more than ever. She enjoyed Market Day and wrote the following:

Our Market Day on the 3^rd of October 2013 was held at Graceland. What a successful and fun-filled day it was. The event started at 3 o’clock but we had parents queuing to buy coupons from Samantha (our administrator) long before. Excitement was in the air as the bustling began.

 

This year we sold second- hand clothes, jewellery and vegetables, played dominoes, sang karaoke, took scooter rides, played a fishing game and a bowling game and entertained the children on a jumping castle. My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed the karaoke. Elizabeth and two volunteers (Fatimah and Nicole) sold chips, sweets, cool drinks, delicious curry and cupcakes. Our principal Simone was able to go around and make sure everything was going well, which it was because everything was well organised.

Elizabeth made her special homemade ginger beer and it was sold out within minutes. My job on the day was selling jewellery and I was assisted by volunteers made up of parents and friends.  The lamb stew and chicken curry, made by Mrs. Ruest (farm owner) and Mrs. Swart (Devon Valley Farm Owners Administration) was fantastic.

If there had to be a highlight for the day, the children would probably choose the scooter ride. They enjoyed every moment of it and were willing to stand in a long queue to wait their turn. It was very a busy day and everyone who volunteered was amazing.  

Graceland raised R6280, 100% profit!  With this said, we would like to thank every farm owner who donated to us, especially Mrs Ruest and Gillian Swart. We would also like to thank Scoot Café for generously giving of their time and the use of a scooter at no cost and Nedbank for donating cupcakes and hosting the fishing game. Finally, thank you to the parents, staff and all the volunteers who supported and assisted us on the day.  

 

Each and every one who gave in kind or of their time or came to enjoy a day with their children or friends made the event a success. Our Market Day created an opportunity for unity within the Devon Valley community. We found ourselves all working towards one goal. A goal that is focused on ensuring that Graceland Pre-primary School continues to bring hope to the vulnerable child of the Devon Valley through education.

 

April News

Strike-a-Pose!

On 15 March 2013, Thembalitsha Education held its annual High Tea at the Devon Valley Hotel to raise awareness for the important work done by Graceland Preschool. The theme was fashion so everyone came dressed to impress, each woman displaying unique style, creativity and elegance.

We were blessed with light rain which forced the event inside one of the hotel’s conference rooms. This did not take away from the fun we had and in fact created a very cozy and intimate atmosphere that complemented the soothing music performed by Jenny Ah Chong, classically trained musician who had us captivated by the sound of her angelic voice.

The food was beautifully presented, almost too good-looking to eat. We are so grateful to the Devon Valley Hotel for their generosity as all the proceeds from the event went to Graceland. Graceland and the Devon Valley Hotel have a remarkable relationship. Some of the hotel staff actually send their children to Graceland Preschool so the hotel, in turn, are very supportive.

Our children will have breakfast for two months thanks to everyone who brought milk and oats to the Tea as a donation to Graceland Preschool. We also received clothes from designer Jaques Nhau for the children who modeled side by side with supermodels, Charné King and three of her fellow Miss SA finalists.

Everyone left inspired by what Graceland Preschool is doing in the community. If we work alone, we work in vain but if we work together we can make a difference as a community by ensuring that children are being taken care of and developed when they are in the most vulnerable stage of their lives.

A big ‘THANK YOU’ to all who supported the event!