Sonderend’s Jesse Brown triumphs in literacy quiz
From left are Sonderend Primary School teacher Jesse Brown, Kaylen Ephraim, and principal Maylene Hattingh.
Image: Supplied
Jesse Brown from Sonderend Primary School has claimed first place in the Afrikaans category of the 2025 MCED Literacy Online Quiz.
The event, held on Friday, October 24, at the district head office auditorium, brought together principals, teachers, subject advisers, and pupils from across the metro central district.
Principal Maylene Hattingh praised the Grade 6 pupil's achievement, describing it as a proud moment for him, the school, and the wider community.
“The whole Manenberg community can be very proud,” she said. “Jesse’s dedication proves that it doesn’t matter where you come from — with the right mindset, you can achieve great things.”
From left are Wayne Smit, curriculum advisor Afrikaans, Jesse Brown, who took first place in the quiz and Gretchen Johnston, curriculum advisor.
Image: Supplied
Jesse’s teacher and mentor, Kaylen Ephraim, highlighted his love of reading.
“He often spends his free time reading the dictionary after school. His passion for words has clearly contributed to his success,” she said.
She said his preparation was marked by dedication and determination.
“According to his grandmother, he had sleepless nights leading up to the event. Coming from the Manenberg flats, his achievement shows how perseverance can overcome challenges.”
Jesse reflected on his win, expressing pride in his first-place finish. He admitted feeling nervous but remained committed, studying late into the night and waking early to practice. His preparation focused on mastering vocabulary, meanings, and sentence usage, all of which contributed to his performance.