Marlese Naude

Mrs. Marlese Naude, affectionately known by her students as Mrs. Naude, Mrs. Dee, Mrs. Oh Dear, and her personal favourite, Mrs. No Idea, has been the dedicated Ladybird class teacher at Bosch Lea for many years. With over 36 years of teaching experience, she brings a wealth of knowledge to her classroom. Her teaching career began in the Northern Suburbs before relocating to Durban in 1995, where she gained extensive experience in special needs education. Mrs. Naude worked at Browns School, supporting children with cerebral palsy and developmental delays and later at the Children’s Assessment and Therapy Centre (CATC), where she worked with children facing behavioural challenges, ADHD, language delays and autism spectrum disorders. She also assessed and advised on school placements for young learners.

In 2001, Mrs. Naude returned to Cape Town and became an integral part of the Bosch Lea team. Passionate about fostering independence, she believes children who can think for themselves and approach challenges with confidence are best prepared for success. She places great emphasis on developing strong listening skills, recognizing their importance for academic achievement and building positive relationships. Alongside academic growth, Mrs. Naude prioritizes emotional maturity and social development, fostering a supportive, play-centred environment where children can navigate challenges, learn through play, clean up messes together and enjoy plenty of laughter along the way. Guided by her favourite quote, “Prepare your child for the road, not the road for your child,” Mrs. Naude is committed to helping her students grow into confident, independent and well-rounded individuals, ready to embrace the world.

Debbie McLaughlin

Mrs. Debbie McLaughlin, fondly known as Mrs. Mac, is a passionate and experienced educator dedicated to fostering independence and a love for reading in young learners. With 26 years of teaching experience, she qualified as a Junior Primary teacher at the Cape Town College of Education, specializing in Remedial Education. Her teaching journey has included working with children of various ages, from Grade 1 and Grade 3 to running a playgroup for toddlers and later teaching four- to five-year-olds at Sunny Skies in Meadowridge.

For the past nine years, Mrs. McLaughlin has been a dedicated educator at Bosch Lea, where she nurtures essential skills such as listening, phonological awareness and a deep love for reading. She believes these foundational skills are key to helping children become confident, passionate readers. Her teaching philosophy focuses on fostering independence, building self-confidence and equipping children with the social and emotional tools they need to thrive, with learning through play as the core of her approach. Mrs. McLaughlin recognizes that play is crucial for exploration, problem-solving and meaningful learning, laying a strong foundation for both academic and personal growth.