Here come the Gommies!

Shinging bright with talent, spirit and creativity
The Grade 8s of 2026, affectionately known as Gommies, have already made a memorable mark at Windhoek Gymnasium, embracing school life with enthusiasm.
Sanhita Pillalamarry and Christel Zuze
  • 1 Day Ago

Our Grade 8s of 2026 are an exceptional group of young people, and we are fortunate to have such talent and spirit within our school community. Many have already shared that their first few months at Windhoek Gymnasium have been a positive and memorable experience.

A big round of applause goes to the teachers, who warmly welcomed the Grade 8s, making learning both fun and engaging. At the same time, the Learner Representative Council (LRC) has ensured that the new learners feel at home and comfortable within the school environment.

Many of the Grade 8s describe Windhoek Gymnasium as impressive and expansive, especially when compared to schools they previously attended. They highlight the kind-hearted students, an exceptionally friendly principal, access to modern learning technology, and a strong sense of school spirit that encourages participation from everyone.

Orientation stood out as one of the most unforgettable experiences for the new learners. Several described it as both enjoyable and entertaining. Much of this success is credited to the LRC (the senior learners), who played a key role in making orientation a highlight of the year.

The Gommies’ perspective

Most learners enjoyed the opportunity to meet new people and interact with the LRC. Some of their favourite moments included being asked to wear unusual hairstyles, such as two pigtails or five braids, or even plastic bags over their shoes, making walking slightly more challenging.

The LRC also added a playful element by using water guns and setting fun challenges, such as “tickling a tree until it laughs back” or pretending to swim on the ground while classmates attempted to “move the school” with their bare hands.

The Gommie concert took learners on an imaginative journey through the timelines of the Book of Ages. Throughout orientation, learners gained confidence and became more familiar with the school community.

A young star author

Among the Gommies is a remarkable young author, Jobina Shovaleka, who wrote the award-winning book The Aliens last year, earning recognition in children’s literature. Her passion for writing began during aftercare in Grade 3. She describes her book as full of twists and turns and says she thoroughly enjoyed the writing process.

The young author shared an inspiring message for others with similar aspirations: “Nothing is impossible. The word itself says ‘I’m possible’.”