Penguin Tutoring Blog

Penguin Tutoring personalises the placement of a screened and trained tutor, matched to your child’s needs, and provides inspirational extra lessons and tutoring for them in the comfort of your own home. Visit www.penguintutoring.co.za to find out more.

Melenie van Wyngaardt & her high school sweetheart have been together for 15 years of which 9 have been as a married couple.  She is the mother to a 6 year old son Connavah Joshua and a 5 year old daughter Skyla Jade.  She regards motherhood as the one title on her CV that is her most triumphant achievement.  Although it is a daily learning experience, it is also the most rewarding to her.

Most of her corporate experience has been gained in the Maritime Industry as part of the Client Services team, for then, the second biggest shipping line in the world.  Clients experience life as individuals and therefor they have different expectations and needs; this fact has led Melenie to approach each client with respect and individual focus.

If Mel could have her life over, she would be “almost the same” person, but with the exception of making more informed decisions.  She would most probably take time to ask the question and then wait for an answer and accept it with a positive outlook.  Those places she would like to visit would firstly have to start with a pilgrimage to Israel, then the great pyramids in Egypt, the Taj Mahal, the Great Wall of China and the list continues on to any place she has not seen yet ….. to experience life, culture & be changed as an individual.

Her experience with Penguin Tutoring has shown her that all households, regardless of socio-economic status, language or culture, are affected by similar external factors. Parents only do the best they know how;  kids only want to be loved, heard and accepted;  everyone wants to attain some measure of success.

Suzanne van der Merwe runs Penguin Tutoring Winelands

Suzanne is a high school teacher as well as an author of high school textbooks.  She is the Subject Head in Consumer Studies at a local high school and has had vast teaching experience in Consumer Studies/Home Economics (HG and SG), for the past 15 years.   She has written the Grade 7—9 Technology Text & Workbook range as well as Consumer Studies Grade 10 and 11.  She is presently writing the Grade 12 Consumer Studies Text & Workbook. Education is her absolute passion.

Suzanne has recently purchased the Winelands area franchise for Penguin Tutoring and has been operating since the end of July 2009.  She is highly driven and motivated and thoroughly enjoys a challenge!

Suzanne has no children and loves travelling. She has been very fortunate to travel to many parts of the globe!

If she had her life over…she would still be a teacher!

Suzanne says: “I absolutely love my job and thrive in an educational environment.”

“My best bit about being part of Penguin Tutoring is being able to share my passion for education with so many other people, who are in need of further assistance.  I feel so strongly about the importance of education, and now Penguin Tutoring allows me to get involved on another level.”

It is this kind of passion for education and learning that we look for in all our members, from franchise holders like Suzanne to tutors, administrators, parents and learners! Extra lessons can be such a pleasure when they come from this kind of environment.

Welcome to Penguin Tutoring, Suzanne, it looks like you’ll fit right in!

Graz Schmid runs Penguin Tutoring in Cape Town

Graz Schmid hails from a strong Italian upbringing although born on the South Coast of KZN.  Schooling was followed by a year at the then Natal Technikon. She has been employed in secretarial roles and Human Resources for over 30 years across industries that have varied from life insurance to IT and Petroleum.

Graz joined the team in February 2009 and has taken over the Cape Town Franchise as of October 2009.

Her passion lies in working with young people – scholars & tutors alike – to see them develop and grow into young adults. Relationships are very important and thus working with clients also makes it a pleasure to go to work every day.

Graz’ s greatest personal ambition is to travel by ship to Antartica (in the summer months!) This has been on the cards since 2005 before getting involved so closely with the Penguin Team.  Now this desire is that much stronger!She has been married to Alfred for 16 years.  Together they raised Simon who is now married to Justine and they have given Graz & Alfred the two most wonderful grandchildren Olivia & Dominic.

For the past 15 years in the corporate environment, the staff gave Graz the title of “their Mom at Work”.  This has been further refined to “nurturing penguin” which is part of Graz’s Penguin Signature.

Contact Graz at graz@penguintutoring.co.za for any information about extra lessons in Cape Town.

Jessica Scholey runs Penguin Tutoring Pietermaritzburg

Jessica is one of the newest members to the proudly penguin family.  She is mom to Brandon and they live in Pietermaritzburg.  She is a bit of a jack-of-all-trades having worked as an aesthetician, computer tutor and web developer but to mention a few.  If Jessica could do her life over she would run away and travel the world with a blues band.  She would love to visit China but if that’s not an option then a quiet little place at the wild coast would be perfect!

Until then, Jessica is really excited to be on board and in charge of Penguin Tutoring in Pietermaritzburg. Get in touch with her at jessica@penguintutoring.co.za. Welcome Jessica!