About the Staff of Melville Montessori Pre-Primary School.

Staff Birthdays

30 January	Linda	Music / Theatre Troupes / Ipad / Baking Directress
13 March	Silvia	Deputy Principal / Cultural Directress / Aftercare Directress
17 May	Arifa	Principal / Mathematics Directress
9 June	Julia	Under 3 assistant / Housekeeper
11 June	Jabu	Security Guard / Gardener / Maintenance
6 July	Antoinette	Under 3 Directress / Aftercare Directress / Chess
3 August	Jacqui	Language Directress
24 December	Margaret	Practical life / Aftercare Directress

Jacqui Oosthuizen-Sinner

I grew up in Montgomery Park and I lived in one home from birth until I left to continue my studies. I have a brother four years my senior with whom I have a very bonded relationship. My mother's priority was clearly her family and gave fully of herself to us even though she kept a full time job. Both my parents are wonderful grandparents to my children and are dearly loved in return by them.

I attended a finishing school for girls in the Johannesburg CBD (many years ago!!!!) and completed my post matriculation studies in London at the London College of Montessori where I lived for four years. The opportunity arose for me to start a school in South Africa or to stay on in the UK and start up a nursery with a very close friend of mine. However, home is home and my family were all here. I returned and opened up MMS, after obtaining consent usage and going through all the legalities of the establishment of a place of education for pre-school children. The school has just turned twenty five and as far as my children are concerned MMS is my second greatest achievement.

Arifa Banday

I was born in Lenasia and spent my childhood growing up in a secure, happy home with my parents, grandmother and sister. Our family moved to Mayfair when I was thirteen years old. I matriculated at the Johannesburg Muslim School. Thereafter in 2006 I qualified as a Montessori Directress from the College of Modern Montessori and have been teaching ever since. I am the Principal and mathematics directress at MMS.

I am married and have two children, a girl and a boy.

Linda Hutchison

Born in Pretoria and raised in Cape Town, I matriculated at Groote Schuur Hoër Skool with music as one of my matric subjects. During this time I completed the Royal Schools Piano Exams, Grade 8 level, tutored by Nel van Oudshoorn.

After my degree at Wits, I completed a 3 year diploma course at Maas Philips School of the arts in Cape Town, where I studied drama, music, movement, broadcasting and basic speech therapy. I had the privilege of producing and directing numerous musicals up to and including high school level.

I completed three years of voice (singing) training under Ethne Seftel. Fifteen years of classical ballet under the tutelage of Hazel Kitkat and later Kathy Lingaard were followed by three years of Laban movement under the guidance of Patricia Whittock.

At Wits University I completed a BA (Legal) degree, retaining my contact with music, by singing in the Wits University choir. My term as a full time computer trainer in a corporate environment continued for eighteen years. During this time, I was involved in various choirs, both as the leader of various church choirs as well as a part-time organist.

Deciding that it was time to return to my first love, i.e. skills learned at drama school, I became a partner in a recording studio. While there, I was fortunate enough to become "the voice" for Academy of Learning in South Africa, a position that I held for a number of years. "I teach music at Melville Montessori Pre-primary School twice a week and iPad classes once a week. In addition to this, I run a theatre troupe workshop once a week and a baking class once a month at MMS. I am married to a civil engineer, and have three children."

Silvia Hillebrand

My name is Silvia Hillebrand and I was born in Vienna, Austria in 1977. I came to South Africa when I was eight years old. I attended the German School until 1995.

After school I spent a year in Paris, France, as an au pair. In 1997 studied Journalism at Rhodes University but changed my degree to major in Sociology and Psychology. In 2000 I completed my Honours Degree in Developmental Sociology at Wits University.

After Honours, I travelled to South Korea to teach English and stayed there for three years. I taught mainly kindergarten children on which I thrived. For six months I worked at a Montessori school and decided, at the end of my contract, that I wanted to return to South Africa to do a Montessori teaching diploma.

On completion of my Montessori diploma I joined Melville Montessori Pre-Primary School to current date. I tutor German privately.

Antoinette van Zyl

I was born and raised in Melville, Johannesburg. I have a brother who resides overseas. After I matriculated I worked for various companies as a receptionist/office administrator, but realized that I was happiest when working as an au pair both overseas as well as locally. I pursued the Montessori early childhood development course at the Montessori Campus in Randburg. I was fortunate and blessed to be employed by Melville Montessori Pre-primary School after completion of my studies, and continue to value the opportunity to work alongside a dedicated staff, and assist in the development of young bright minds. I have a beautiful daughter.