MyPE

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Arcadia Students Dash to Fill Trolleys

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Two Arcadia Secondary School students got the chance to fill a trolley with essentials to a total value of just over R3 000 each, courtesy of a Boardwalk Hotel and Casino that hosted a trolley dash especially for them.

Both students rose to the challenge, and after dashing through Checkers Boardwalk Mall, they filled their trolleys with much needed items such as stationery, meat and toiletries.

The students were selected by Boardwalk management after considering a motivation from Arcadia Secondary School Principal Mrs Jacqui Cloete who said Head Girl Lyndle de Wee, and Head Boy Octavian Scharneck, demonstrated “remarkable leadership, academic excellence, and commitment to our school community. Lyndle has been our top achiever each term since she arrived at the school in 2022, while Octavian has consistently ranked in the top 10 academically since Grade 8”.

Lyndle de Wee

In 2021 economic hardship forced Lyndle to remain home for a year while her older sister Lenesia, got temporary employment to support the family. Today both are back at school and are completing matric in the same year as their younger sister, Levi. Lenesia is the Deputy Head Girl and Levi is a Prefect. The sisters receive support and nutritional assistance from the school’s welfare programme.

Despite Lyndle’s own challenges, Cloete said she is actively involved with youth and her assistance with soup kitchens at the local church showcases her “compassion, kindness and commitment to making a positive impact in the community.”

Octavian Sharneck

Octavian was raised by his grandparents who now both rely on pension grants. He has to travel to school by taxi, sometimes having to stay there overnight when there is no taxi fare to return home.

Principal Cloete said, “Octavian is a hardworking, committed learner. He has demonstrated exceptional leadership skills by captaining our darts team to achieve remarkable success. His ability to motivate, guide and support his teammates has been instrumental in our team’s victories. Despite his own challenges he finds time to initiate a reading programme that support learners who struggle with development.

“Winning the Trolley Dash is well-deserved recognition of the hard work of these two learners. Lyndle can acquire stationery and other essentials to share with her siblings and cousins, and Octavian will be able to give his grandparents a break from purchasing stationery in 2025, and will be able to add reading books as resources to the reading group. Thank you to Boardwalk for making a difference in the lives of both of these youngsters.”

Boardwalk General Manager Tati Tsunke said, “We often take for granted how access to basic needs gives students the opportunity to fully participate in school. Being economically disadvantaged should also not stand in the way of academic success so we are delighted to have been able to assist, and we wish Lyndle and Octavian every success in their final school year.”

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