The Lüderitz Blue School is registered with the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture of the Republic of Namibia, registered 7720. Admission is open to all learners, irrespective of race, colour, ethnic origin or creed. We take safeguarding very seriously and all staff will be subject to vigourous checks.
Meet the Teachers
Marnie Erasmus
Head of Primary (Pastoral) and Head of Blue Education
Marnie Erasmus (née Allen) was born and raised in London, UK. She completed her BA in Combined Honours at Newcastle University before moving to Germany, where she lived for 7 years, most recently in the vibrant city of Cologne. After qualifying as a teacher with a PGCE from Kingston University in the UK, she has worked in government, private and international schools in the UK, Germany and Namibia. Professionally, her interests lie in pastoral care, education development and ocean literacy and advocacy, and how all of these can work together towards a bright future for all of us.
Marnie enjoys spending time with her family, close friends and pets. She enjoys exploring other cultures, creative projects, history and learning about the world and other people.
Levana Cloete
Chief of Staff
A proud native of Windhoek, Levana brings extensive expertise and an infectious enthusiasm for education to our school. With 23 years of experience as a communications strategist, content marketing specialist, and PR professional across various industries, her diverse background adds a unique perspective to her love for working with young minds. She is committed to empowering learners to achieve their full potential, while embracing meaningful cultural experiences. Outside the classroom, she enjoys exploring the world through books, traveling to new places, and connecting with people from diverse backgrounds and languages.
Samantha Higoam
Head of Early Years and Key Stage 1 (Grades 0-2)
Samantha Higoam was born and raised in Harare, Zimbabwe. She holds a M.Ed in Advanced Teaching (IB) from the University of the People (USA), a Bcom Honor’s degree in Business Management from Monash University, a Diploma in Montessori from the College of Modern Montessori, and an Advanced Certificate in Teaching from North West University. She worked in the Montessori school teaching environment for ten years in Windhoek, Okahandja and the Sosussvlei area, before moving to Lüderitz. In her spare time, she likes cooking, reading and spending time with her family. She is passionate about helping those in need, loves teaching children and witnessing the positive impact it has in their lives.
Manolene Neels
Class Teacher
Manolene grew up in the hot and windy southern parts of Namibia. A compassionate and dedicated individual, she holds a Diploma in Primary education. During her studies, she gained four years of teaching experience working to the best of her abilities.
She believes her unique qualities as a teacher are focusing on helping children to unlock their full potential through dedicated reading and providing individualized instructions to meet the different learning needs of each child.
When she's not in the classroom you can find her exploring the great outdoors and trying new DIY projects. She's also a lover of quiet places and simple things.
Imogine Dausas
Class Teacher
Imogine was born and raised in the very hot, small town of Usakos. She holds a Diploma in Teaching Level 7 and a National Vocational certificate in Electrical Engineering which inspires her love for science.
She has worked in government and private schools for almost 10 years. She strongly believes in the inclusive and holistic development of a child. She is passionate and believes in the use of bright colours to stimulate the senses, encourage exploring minds, and make them the happiest children in the world - an amazing feeling to witness.
She enjoys travelling, is family-oriented and a lover of sports.
Felix Matongo
Robotics and Computing Teacher
Felix Matongo was born and raised in Windhoek. He completed school at Centaurus High School and has an Advanced Diploma in Information Technology from Triumphant College. His first job was at SPAR Okahandja as a general worker. He never imagined himself as a teacher but always had a great bond with children. Felix enjoys gaming, music and “good” cinema, as he is very critical about what he watches. As a lover of Astronomy, he hopes to bring the love he has of space exploration to all Namibian children.
Camilla Mackenzie
Class Teacher
Camilla was born in Walvis Bay but has lived all her life enjoying the small, windy town of Lüderitz. She has always loved children and enjoys spending her days seeing how their talents and confidence grow in the classroom. In her spare time, she loves cooking and spending time with her family and friends.
She has recently completed her studies in early child development and is now fulfilling her dream of working with children.
Cynthia Nehemiah
Class Teacher
Cynthia was born in Nairobi and raised in Windhoek but is currently an honorary “Buchter” - resident of Lüderitz. She believes in lifelong learning and constantly seeks out new methods of acquiring knowledge, whether through books, online courses, or hands-on experiences. She is fascinated by the vastness of the ocean and the legal complexities surrounding it and passionate about pursuing her master's degree in marine and maritime law.
She is a lover of horror, thrillers and suspense genres be it motion picture or literature. As a self proclaimed foodie, she enjoys exploring different cuisines - from savoury steaks to exotic seafood, she appreciates the artistry of food.
E: cynthia.nehemiah@luderitzblueschool.com
Crystal Jantjies
Humanities Teacher
Crystal’s extensive career showcases her deep commitment to both education and leadership. With 34 years of experience, she has not only taught Geography and Life Skills but also held various leadership roles.
Her passion for nature and environmental conservation informs her approach to education, where she aims to instill awareness and responsibility in her students. This dedication, along with her genuine love for children, ensures she fosters an environment where learning and personal growth are harmoniously integrated.
E: crystal.jantjies@luderitzblueschool.com
Nicolene Hall
Maths Teacher
Nicolene was raised in the small town of Bethanie in southern Namibia and has a Bachelor of Education (Secondary) Honours Degree from the University of Namibia. With approximately eight years of experience in private education institutions, she is dedicated to recognising the unique strengths and weaknesses of each student. She views her role as teacher as a valuable opportunity to guide learners through their academic journeys. Beyond her teaching responsibilities, she is also passionate about helping others, appreciates cold weather, and is fond of animals.
E: nicolene.hall@luderitzblueschool.com
Stefanus Ngolo
Extra-curricular Coordinator
Stefanus has a diverse professional background in education, sports development, and leadership. He holds an Honours Degree in Education (Secondary) and a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Namibia, as well as a Master of Science in Sports Management from the University of East London, England. With experience teaching at the secondary school level, he has also contributed to sports development at both school, local, regional and national levels. Stefanus is passionate about sports, education, leadership and community development, leveraging his academic and professional expertise to make a meaningful impact in education and sports.
E: stefanus.ngolo@luderitzblueschool.com
Cornelia Swanepoel
Afrikaans Teacher
Cornelia was born and raised in Bonnievale, South Africa, and moved to Namibia in 1990. She completed her teacher training through Wellington Teachers’ College, Remedial teaching training through the University of Pretoria, and Hospitality and Tourism training through the University of North West. She has 45 years of experience in teaching, ranging from Grade 0 to 12 across a range of different subjects.
She is passionate about teaching and feels strongly that every child should feel unique and valued.
In her spare time, she enjoys reading, sketching, pottery, and gardening. She also loves animals and good coffee.
E: cornelia.swanepoel@luderitzblueschool.com
Regina Kulembalala
Finance Assistant
Regina grew up in Luderitz. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Natural Resource Management with a specialization in Nature Conservation from the Namibia University of Science and Technology. She loves the outdoors and finds joy and fulfilment in sharing her knowledge and passion with the younger generation, sparking their curiosity about the natural world, and instilling in them a sense of responsibility for its preservation.
She enjoys discovering new forms of storytelling through reading books and watching anime and short films. She has an inquisitive palate and hopes to become a global citizen so she can travel the world and experience different cultures through their cuisine.
E: regina.kulembalala@luderitzblueschool.com
Rhenay Korner
Art Teacher
Rhenay grew up in South Africa and has called Namibia home for nearly a decade, spending the last three years in Lüderitz. She adores the close-knit community and believes it's the perfect place to raise her children.
Her creativity knows no bounds—she's explored various art forms like drama, piano, choir, painting, and sculpting. She even runs a small handmade business, crafting clothing and accessories, and finds joy in baking. Her passion is to inspire learners, encouraging them to showcase their creativity and express themselves through art.
E: rhenay.korner@luderitzblueschool.com
Maxine Deerling
Key Stage 1 Assistant
Maxine is a very creative and dedicated educator. She recently completed her final year in her Junior Primary Education training and loves working with children. She believes in the holistic learning approach and that each child learns differently according to their respective strengths and needs. And in her spare time, she loves to bake sweet things, enjoys reading and spending time with family.
E: maxine.deerling@luderitzblueschool.com
Berlicia Roberts
Librarian and Admin Assitant
Berlicia grew up on a farm between Maltahohe and Helmeringhausen where she discovered her love for horses, horseriding and being outdoors in nature.
She moved to Lüderitz in 2009 and attended high school in Uppington, South Africa where she first dreamt of becoming a teacher - she wanted to be surrounded by children and help them to learn and to grow.
Since finishing school she has been working at the OK Foods, starting out as a cashier and working her way up to becoming a Supervisor.
Her current role combines doing what she knows best as an experienced administrator and doing the thing she loves helping inspire a love of reading as the school librarian.
E: berlicia.roberts@luderitzblueschool.com
Rudae Burgess
English Language and Reading Assistant - Key Stages 1 and 2
Born and raised in Oranjemund, in its heyday, Rudae went on to pursue a career in corporate management.
Her passion for specialized education for children was ignited when her own children began preschool. She researched the Montessori Method extensively, and after moving to Lüderitz, was able to combine that knowledge with expert hands-on training by professionals at BrightStart Montessori School.
At LBS she offers specialized literacy support, covering phonetic transcription, correct pronunciation, and grammar usage, on a one-to-one basis, or in small groups, designing tailored interventions for each child according to their specific need. Her daily goal is to joyfully help each child cultivate a passion for reading and stories, giving them confidence and self-esteem to enhance their learning experiences.
Rudae loves to spend free time with her family and the family dogs, close friends, and to express her creativity through reading, art, baking and gardening.
E: rudae.burgess@luderitzblueschool.com
Francis Cloete
Boarding House Matron
Francis was born in Lüderitz and grew up in the South of Namibia. After High School, she studied in Stellenbosch Western Cape, South Africa. She completed her studies in Business and Marketing Management with further studies in Hospitality and Catering Management. She worked in the UK for four years in various industries from Corporate Banks to Restaurants and also travelled to Europe and the rest of the world.
After her travels she decided to come back home where her roots are. She has a great interest in the environment and nature and also loves being active in the community.
She loves all animals and helping the ones in need. She enjoys working with children and is fascinated by thei curious minds.
In her free time she enjoys a good crime series, movies, art, reading and family time.
E: francis.cloete@luderitzblueschool.com