‘People, not buildings, made KDVP special’

“For six decades, this campus has been more than bricks and mortar. It’s been a living, breathing tapestry. Woven into its fabric are the threads of past lives.” 

These are the words of King David Primary School Victory Park (KDVP) Principal Kevin Lees at the farewell assembly on 30 November, where past and present students and staff could say goodbye to the school that shaped them. 

“First day of school tears; triumphant cheers on the sports field; silent concentration in exams; the joyful noise of the playground,” said Lees. “This campus has been a place where children have learned to read, write, and more importantly, to reason. They learned their aleph bet and their times tables. They’ve learned about tikkun olam – to repair the world. And they’ve lived that through countless acts of charity and kindness. A fiercely proud community has grown around this campus. A community bound by a shared commitment to excellence, faith, and each other.” 

Present and past students and staff members filled the KDVP campus for the school’s last hurrah, to celebrate everything that the school has meant to them. All around campus, there were exhibitions through which alumni, staff members, and students could walk down memory lane and meander the paths they walked when they were younger. They were also shown the theatrical and musical talent that the school has produced. Alumni were particularly excited at the idea of seeking out their old school photographs and buying tuckshop food at bygone prices. 

Musical performances from alumni and students in the KDVP band showcased what made KDVP so special to so many. 

Rabbi Ricky Seeff, the general director of the South African Board of Jewish Education, told those gathered that as much as KDVP was unique, it wasn’t the buildings that made it special. “It’s the people who have given its life, its values, and its meaning. Every single staff member on this campus gives of their all, and has helped make this campus so special,” he said. 

Seeff said that as a former principal of KDVP Primary School, this time had been especially difficult for him as KDVP had defined him. “I believe in the power of education and the power of our Jewish community to do great things,” he said. 

He said this final assembly, at which students and staff members past and present were able to gather to say goodbye, was a celebration of what the campus meant. 

“We have chosen not to mourn, we have chosen to reminisce and celebrate the life of this campus that has been lived through by all of us,” Seeff said. “We will celebrate through memorabilia and memory, nostalgia and connection, and through song, communal reflection, and reconnection, we will be thankful for the blessing that has been King David Victory Park.” 

Bev Butkow, a KDVP alumnus and parent, said past pupils would carry the memories of this school with them. “We honour Victory Park by taking its spirit forward. To do that, we need to understand what made Victory Park unique. It was a school where every child had a place – achiever; deep thinker; creative; quirky; even those who didn’t know who they were. Teachers listened, noticed, and nurtured. They knew your story, and they even knew your dog’s name.” 

“King David Victory Park’s exit is joyful not because we’re glad it’s over, but because its work here is magnificently, gloriously complete,” said Lees. “It has fulfilled its mission for generations; it has planted its seeds; and now its legacy must travel, carried in the hearts of every person it has ever touched.” 

He said he had experienced the magic of the school both as a principal and a parent, and his two boys had grown into the people they are because of what they learned at the school. 

“L’dor v’dor is a Hebrew phrase meaning ‘from generation to generation’, signifying a responsibility to pass on knowledge, traditions, and values,” Lees said. “It emphasises the importance of community, continuity, and legacy in a cultural, religious, or familial context. The concept is central to Jewish life, encouraging the sharing of history and instilling of character and traditions, from one generation to the next. King David Victory Park has been an embodiment of that principle.” 

Former principal Jeffrey Wolf said that since the announcement that KDVP would be shutting its doors, he and his wife, Barbara, had been inundated with messages of sorrow from alumni and past staff around the globe. 

“They speak of its warmth, fun, and laughter, and the strong bonds of friendship which have remained here for decades, to persist. They speak of its dynamism, the unlocking of talent in the classroom, on the sports field, honest leadership, and the attainment of outstanding results, all made possible in a high-powered Jewish education which ensured the stronger study of our faith and love of Israel,” he said. 

For Barbara, who spent more than 30 years at KDVP both as a teacher and a parent, the loss hit her especially hard. “As a long-standing educator here, I’ve seen how the values nurtured at this school: kindness, integrity, and inclusivity, have shaped who you are. Over the years, we’ve watched former pupils become doctors, scientists, professors, entrepreneurs, artists, entertainers, philanthropists, lawyers, and leaders. 

“The legacy and ethos of this school live on because you didn’t just attend a school, you became part of a community. And the values instilled in you will continue to guide and inspire you and the generations that follow,” she said. 

Chief Rabbi Dr Warren Goldstein said, “This is a moment to reflect and feel the deep sense of loss that comes with the end of an era, but as Jews, we know that life is filled with transitions. Our very history began with movement. From the moment we left Egypt, we journeyed from place to place. 

“King David Victory Park will always be part of the heart and soul of this community. It has been a destination on our shared journey, and we will carry a piece of it in our hearts as the South African Jewish community continues its path forward.” 

Said Lees, “We have this echo in the halls of the new schools our students attend, in the boardrooms where our alumni will be, and in the Jewish homes that they will build, where the values learned here will be passed on by us all. The story doesn’t end here. It simply finds a new voice.”