By GARETH WILSON and ANGELA DANIELS
Woodridge College outside Port Elizabeth will start rebuilding immediately with plans to have pupils back at a fully-functioning school by July 4 after devastating fires on Saturday that damaged about half the school.
Yesterday Prep principal Trevor von Berg said: “We need to get back on track.”
The school, which borders the Van Stadens area, was due to close for a midterm break two weeks from now.
Instead it will now close early with hopes that temporary classrooms will be in place when pupils and staff return in early July.
He said: “We’ll be getting temporary classrooms up and restoring IT functions.
The school’s kitchen, the girl’s preparatory boarding house, the art and music rooms and the college hall and admin block are damaged. Worst affected was staff housing.
“It doesn’t look great but it could have been much worse. Nine temporary classrooms will be needed altogether,” he said.
Yesterday morning the Woodridge Trust met to assess damage and make plans to get the school up and running. A meeting with staff took place in the afternoon and today, staff, pupils and parents will gather at 9am at the Nelson Mandela Bay stadium.
Von Berg said support from the public and the surrounding farm community had been fantastic: “It’s been unbelievable. We have options. Parents who have houses in the area have offered to put the girls up in the house, using the entire house. We have also had an offer from the YMCA.”
Yesterday afternoon fire fighters had blocked the school’s entrance to stop people entering. Fire hoses could be seen strewn across the school grounds after fire hydrants ran dry on Saturday night.
A helicopter fitted with a water balloon was seen refilling at the school pool before water-bombing buildings and surrounding bush.
Buildings were smouldering, roofs were damaged and farmers and residents in bakkies could be seen transporting water in tanks to the school.
School driver and handyman Fabian Fortuin, who spent the night at St George’s school in Port Elizabeth on Saturday after being evacuated, said his biggest fear was losing his job of 10 years.
Von Berg, however, said no staff would lose their jobs.
Von Berg said all pupils and most staff had been evacuated in the morning before the fires were particularly large.
He said it was too early to tell just how much the damage would cost to repair.
He said the oldest building on site, the Old Cadle Hotel built in the 1800s, had survived the blaze.
lSee page 4 for more
Charred school won’t stay down long
Woodridge College outside Port Elizabeth will start rebuilding immediately with plans to have pupils back at a fully-functioning school by July 4 after devastating fires on Saturday that damaged about half the school.
Yesterday Prep principal Trevor von Berg said: “We need to get back on track.”
The school, which borders the Van Stadens area, was due to close for a midterm break two weeks from now.
Instead it will now close early with hopes that temporary classrooms will be in place when pupils and staff return in early July.
He said: “We’ll be getting temporary classrooms up and restoring IT functions.
The school’s kitchen, the girl’s preparatory boarding house, the art and music rooms and the college hall and admin block are damaged. Worst affected was staff housing.
“It doesn’t look great but it could have been much worse. Nine temporary classrooms will be needed altogether,” he said.
Yesterday morning the Woodridge Trust met to assess damage and make plans to get the school up and running. A meeting with staff took place in the afternoon and today, staff, pupils and parents will gather at 9am at the Nelson Mandela Bay stadium.
Von Berg said support from the public and the surrounding farm community had been fantastic: “It’s been unbelievable. We have options. Parents who have houses in the area have offered to put the girls up in the house, using the entire house. We have also had an offer from the YMCA.”
Yesterday afternoon fire fighters had blocked the school’s entrance to stop people entering. Fire hoses could be seen strewn across the school grounds after fire hydrants ran dry on Saturday night.
A helicopter fitted with a water balloon was seen refilling at the school pool before water-bombing buildings and surrounding bush.
Buildings were smouldering, roofs were damaged and farmers and residents in bakkies could be seen transporting water in tanks to the school.
School driver and handyman Fabian Fortuin, who spent the night at St George’s school in Port Elizabeth on Saturday after being evacuated, said his biggest fear was losing his job of 10 years.
Von Berg, however, said no staff would lose their jobs.
Von Berg said all pupils and most staff had been evacuated in the morning before the fires were particularly large.
He said it was too early to tell just how much the damage would cost to repair.
He said the oldest building on site, the Old Cadle Hotel built in the 1800s, had survived the blaze.
lSee page 4 for more
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos