Luanda Jardine (65) bid Alberton High School farewell after spending 41 of her best years at the school.
She spend her last day with the school on January 31 and now looks forward to her retirement.
Jardine was a mathematics and information technology teacher at the school who made a lasting impact on the lives of learners who passed through her hands.
She also became head of department for mathematics at the end of 2012 and had to let go of IT because of its workload.
She holds a diploma specialising in mathematics which she attained at teacher training college, as well as an advanced diploma specialising in computer science.
Jardine also took a break from teaching to work as a computer programmer from 1990 to 1991 at Van Zyl and Pritchard Computer Programming.
There she also trained computer programmers for the banking industry.
She then returned to the school and has since been a dedicated teacher at the school.
Love for teaching
The mother of two from Randhart, who has been married for 38 years, told the RECORD that she enjoyed every moment of her years in the classroom.
“Teaching has given me so much to be grateful for. It has changed my life forever and afforded me fantastic opportunities.
“Two of my many highlights were the results of the first computer studies class which matriculated in 1996 with 10 distinctions.
“Also, the 100 per cent that Derick Diana achieved for mathematics at the end of 2016,” she said.
Jardine extended her gratitude to all her loved ones and said she will always miss her learners and the school staff.
“In my years as a teacher I have always been involved with my learners and activities at the school.
“When I started as a teacher I coached hockey and was involved with drama.
“I want to thank the school and parents for the support they have shown during my time at the school,” she said.
Oscar von Platen, a teacher at the school who was also taught by Jardine, said her personality had a way of rubbing off on those around her.
“She had a keen awareness and insight in identifying when something wasn’t going well with someone.
“She would always be there with a chocolate and a card to let you know that somehow, in the end, it would always be okay,” he said.
