My day, Monday to Friday, starts at 4.45am, with tekkies, a T-shirt and rugby shorts. I take to the road for about 5km, just jogging. This is the time when I start focusing on my daily programme.
School starts at 6.45am (in summer time) with our daily planning and report-back session in the staffroom. This is the most important time of day, because we do our planning as a team, set out the day’s work and pray together.
Next I rush to my office, putting my daily planner on my secretary’s desk. I charge to my classroom, very excited, because it is time for a life sciences lesson for the grade 10, 11 and 12s. I am passionate about education, about teaching in particular. For me it’s a privilege to be a principal of a combined school and to be a life sciences teacher.
Last year I was a finalist in the National Teaching Awards as a winner of the Northern Cape. This was one of the highlights of my career, a moment of pride, which contributed to the fulfilment and joy of the extraordinary profession of teaching. I love it all the way.
When I am not teaching or tied up in the office, I spend my time walking on the premises, talking with learners – sometimes playing hand tennis in the square with them.
By 4.30pm I go for athletics coaching with the high and primary sections of the school. I am a qualified athletics coach, specialising in field events.
Later, from 5.30pm to 7pm, it is time for rugby coaching. I am also the school’s u/15 and u/19 rugby coach. I am qualified with a Griquas rugby certificate. We practice so late in the evening because the temperature during the day rises to a hot 36°.
I believe to be a leader you have to keep fit and healthy. Because sport is also my passion, it goes hand in hand with my love for children. Coaching sport and teaching learners is the best thing that could have happened to me.
I believe in a holistic approach to education. I also believe in reflective practice to renew my life, enhance my leadership and promote success for my school.
For instance, it is important for me to be aware of how my actions are interpreted by others – that is why I keep a journal of how I feel about situations and what I have learned on a daily basis.
There are five components I have learned and considered that form part of my lifestyle – empathy, self-awareness and self-control, social intelligence, personal influence and mastery of purpose and vision.
Gary Elton Robertson is the principal of Keimoes Combined High School in the Northern Cape