Jeppe is going to be a different place come January. For the first time in 42 years Mrs Elize Grace won’t be welcoming her next group of boys to a new year, and convincing them that Afrikaans is a subject worth learning.

She came to Jeppe in 1982, straight from University; met her husband, the late Mr Mark Grace, on her 1st day at the school, married him six months later; and has been part of the Jeppe fabric ever since.

“Looking back, it’s been a good 42 years,” she said. “I’ve had my moments with the boys, but overall, I’ve found that they are tough, but well-mannered and co-operative. We have always been able to find a place where we agree. I’ve taught every grade and while the juniors are sometimes less co-operative, they all grow up to become lovely boys by the time they get to matric.”

Mrs Grace became head of the Afrikaans department in 1996 and ran it for the next 22 years. “I taught matrics for most of that time and we produced some great results, with distinctions aplenty,” she said.

All things come to an end, however, and she is content that it’s time to go. “New people have new ideas and that’s a good thing. I’ve done my time and I need to relax now.”

Mrs Grace will take a year off and then make herself available to teach extra Afrikaans lessons. With all that experience, and the generations in this part of town who have got to know her, the chances are she’s going to be busy.

Farewell, Mrs Grace, we are going miss you. The school will be a different place come January.