Gavin Alkana, Hillwood Primary School
We at Hillwood Primary School are in mourning because of the loss of one of our stalwart teachers who died last week.
Grade 6 teacher Berenice Amos, who taught at the school for 29 years, lost her battle to cancer on Sunday April 7.
The school held a memorial service on Wednesday April 10 where teachers, pupils and other staff could pay their respects, and it was a great privilege to pay homage to Ms Amos.
She was a humble person, a woman dedicated to the profession of educating children and someone who was committed to the community of Lavender Hill.
Ms Amos joined the staff at Hillwood Primary School in 1990, as a physical educator. She loved sport and extra-mural activities. She was our extra-mural coordinator and later became a class teacher. She was a humble person.
She diligently stood at the school gate in summer or in the wet the winter season doing scholar-patrol duties. Even when she was booked off on sick leave in 2018, she still came back at the beginning of 2019 to teach her Grade 6 pupils. She lovingly called them Katrina.
Annually during the December period she would organise the Christmas hampers for the non-teaching staff and also assisted with the annual granny day for our grannies.
She will be sorely missed, and her place will be empty. However, we grant her the rest she deserves.
We salute her efforts and commitment to our community.
Ms Amos leaves behind her husband and two children.