By Shaanaaz de Jager

One of the oldest schools in Port Elizabeth, Sydenham Primary, plans to renovate its building to complement the modern design of the 2010 soccer stadium, which is on its doorstep.

A motivational letter from Danny Jordaan, chief executive officer of the 2010 Fifa World Cup organising committee, has outlined the school‘s need to raise funds and stipulates that “when the 2010 matches are played, the school itself might also be focused upon and by then we would wish that Sydenham Primary School looks and feels its best”.

To raise money to improve the structure of the 103-year-old school, parents, pupils and staff would host a debutante ball and a Mr and Miss Sydenham Primary competition, said teacher and debutante committee spokesman Sheila de Doncker.

The school had its first fundraising event earlier this year with a trolley dash at Woolworths, Walmer Park.

The Mr and Miss Sydenham Primary School competitions will be held on Friday, August 31, and the debutante ball on Friday, September 14. Both events will take place at the Norman Brittle School Hall.

Mayor Nondumiso Maphazi confirmed in a letter to the school that she would attend the debutante ball on September 14 as guest of honour.

“Grade 7 pupils and parents are tasked to raise funds for the debutante ball by selling tickets.

“The pupil who collects the most money will be crowned the debutante that night.

“We are in the face of the 2010 stadium and feel we need to renovate the school,” she said. The school entrance in Prince Alfred Road, is opposite where the stadium‘s entrance will be.

There is also a possibility that the schoolyard will be converted into a fan park hosting a marquee tent with a big screen television. “We hope businesses will support this venture.”

Renovating the school will include replacing the door, the security gate and the boundary wall at the front entrance and erecting palisade fencing on the sides of the schoolyard.

The garden, administration block, after-care play centre and pre-primary playground must be upgraded.

General repairs to the entire school and regular maintenance to the swimming pool, which often clogs up with dust from the stadium, also need to be addressed.

“We have also asked the consortium which is building the stadium to assist with the renovation, but we will only receive an answer during this week,” said De Doncker.

De Doncker said copies of Jordaans letter were sent to companies or individuals when requesting sponsorships.

The school, which was established in 1904, was first located where the agricultural showgrounds are now.

It later relocated to the area where the Sydenham Hotel used to be and the school was stationed there from 1906 until 1912.

During this period a new school was built. Construction was completed in 1912 and the school then moved to the new building in Loch Street, where it is now.

In 1970, the premises were extended to accommodate more pupils and in 1971 the Cape administrator opened a new section.

It has had nine principals since its inception and the acting principal is Sandra Every. There are 800 pupils.

Also, as part of the school‘s aim to help pupils develop a sense of community awareness, the Grade 6 pupils have embarked on a blankets project.

Pupils and some staff have knitted blankets which will be distributed to residents at the Sydenham Retirement Village