our history
Riviera Rietondale Nursery School is a private nursery school owned and managed by the Parents Association of the school. The mission of the school is to give children a firm and happy life foundation. Read our full history below.
1944: Riviera Rietondale Nursery School opens on 17th April 1944 on the premises of the late Dr. and Mrs. Epstein of 15 Malan Street. There was an enrolment of 35 children. The first principal was Mrs. S.D. Meyer. The late Mr. F.H. Chamberlain, founder of Chamberlains Trading Co. was the first treasurer.
1945: In 1945 the school was forced to close a few times due to the epidemics of infantile paralysis, whooping cough and measles. Extract from the first AGM, Friday 15 June 1945: “…this General Meeting of the Riviera Rietondale Nursery School Parents’ Association resolves to purchase from the Pretoria City Council…certain portions 5 and 6 of lot no. 74, Rietondale, Pretoria, in extending respectively 7509 sq. ft. and 9,452 sq. ft, for the sum of .342 .10.. plus, costs of advertising and transfer, for the purpose of the nursery school…”.
1946: Building plans for the school initiated. School opened by the Mayor of Pretoria on 27 July 1946.
1947: Land purchased from the city council after many fundraising ventures and donations from private individuals and companies. A red face brick building was erected at the present site, costing .1, 200. The architect was Mr Wepener with assistance from Ms. Webber. The school occupied the new premises in 1947 with 36 children and two staff members.
1949: School registered as a Limited Liability Company under the Companies Act of 1926.
1958: Storeroom is built.
1959: The school is extended. The storeroom is converted into a playroom for the five-year olds.
1960: 11th AGM, Chairman’s Report, 16 February 1960: “As far as general attendance is concerned, I have no complaints; all I can say is that if the ground was large enough, the school could have been enlarged to take 120 and not 60 kids”.
1962: Veranda is built. Fencing is erected.
1969: A new wing and toilet block is built, the architect was Mr. Pierre Marais. The wing is opened on the 9th of May 1969 by Mr. Louis Cloete, an ex-mayor of Pretoria.
1977: Chairman’s Report, February 1977: “Many of you may wonder “where does all the money come from?”. Well, let me tell you: During the year a cake sale, a jumble sale, a turn-around evening, a mini-fete, a raffle and a speciality evening were held.”.
1980: Chairman’s Report, 8 February 1980: “The school was visited last year by horses, bees, health inspectors, school inspectors, a policeman, oral hygienists and school doctors and last but not least a hedgehog.”
1982: Chairman’s Report, 12 February 1982: “At the beginning of 1982, Kerryn from the family of Mr. Mrs. Hendey joined Mrs. Haylett’s class. She is the seventh child of this family to be at our school. I doubt if any other Nursery School can boast of a similar achievement. I think it shows the confidence placed in our school by our parents and pupils, past and present.
1986: Chairlady’s report, 21 February 1986: “Mr. Trevor Thompson acquired the tractor, which is now a familiar site under the tree in the corner. To everyone’s frustration it was parked outside the gate for some time. One or two even tried to dig under the fence at this stage. The tractor finally got through the gate and Mr. Matthew’s ingenuity was once more tested to the limit to provide a firm and safe place for the tractor to stand on”.
1988: Bathroom revamped, toilets fixed, and new tiles placed on the floor and walls.
1993: Receive accreditation from the SA Association for Early Childhood Educare (the 3rd nursery school in Transvaal). New outside wall erected.
1994: School celebrates its 50th Anniversary.
1996: Fishies classroom enlarged and teacher’s toilets revamped. The school no longer functions as a bilingual school, but only as an English medium school.
2001: School’s roof repaired, fishies class given a facelift, ducks class was given extra space. New alarm system installed.
2002: Operational policy and mission statement are implemented.
2004: Gift of five computers is received from Pretoria University.