Quarter 2 Newsletter 2020

The little Pre-Primary learners have always been brutally honest and outspoken in general, and being on an online platform, has certainly not changed that! Instant feedback and running commentary demand many ‘think on your feet’ teaching moments while being online. I was fortunate to ‘pop in and out’ of different class and small group sessions, and their pure enjoyment, attentive listening and eagerness to create, do, find or show their teacher the given instruction or object, is heart-warming. Most parents have been joining these sessions with their little ones and they have been equally excited and often answered louder than their child! On Monday 22 June we welcomed our Grade R learners back to school, followed by the Grade 0000 – 00 on Monday 6 July. The playground and classrooms were once again filled with the delightful laughter of little, happy people. The renewed energy and the vibrant buzz of excitement was tangible on when our little ones returned to school. Early July, the honourable Judge Fabricius from the Gauteng High Court ruled in favour of re-opening of all Early Childhood Centres and Pre-Schools. In his ruling, he outlined that the expert evidence submitted during the case has sufficiently proved that children benefit greatly from being in a learning environment where they can be mentally stimulated. He furthermore emphasised the importance of early childhood education as children learn and develop holistically when socialising with their peers, they learn emotional skills and develop core developmental areas for future academic learning. The judge also relied on the scientific evidence that suggests children are less infectious than adults and should return to schools for stimulation and development. Thank you to each parent and teacher for a positive, upbeat attitude and ‘going the extra mile’ for each little one! The Pre-Primary looks forward to returning to school after the midterm break, as little ones thrive on the personal attention and the presence of their teachers. CRACKERJACKS The little Crickets, Caterpillars and Butterflies joined online learning for the duration of lockdown. A variety of themes were covered during this time, such as Pets, Farm animals, Wild Animals, Autumn, Birds and Sea Creatures. The Caterpillars and Butterflies thoroughly enjoyed learning about the different animals and mimicking the various sounds, with the first theme of Pets, their favourite. Many pets were shown off with pride during the online lessons. It has been lovely to see our little ones spending time and having fun with their families. Thank you to the parents for the collaborative partnership, the many photos and videos of the little one’s e-learning while at home! We have seen how much each Cricket, Caterpillar and Butterfly has grown and developed over this time! Our little Crickets PRE-PRIMARY FACULTY GRADES 0000 - R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . From the Principal’s Office Riette Pieterse The abrupt halt to the end of the first quarter left many little ones, parents and teachers feeling a bit lost. The adjusted planning for the second quarter was made, all while still thinking schools would reopen soon. The lockdown and the extension thereof certainly made each Pre-Primary teacher think beyond the square, to teach in a new manner and to be innovative with our young audience. The global social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic and the South African lockdown, created the most wonderful opportunity for social connectedness amongst parents, little ones and teachers. Tali Maltz, the Grade R - Rabbit’s House teacher wrote, reminding us to focus on the positive during this period. “This is such a fortuitous time in our lives. A great opportunity for families to bond, to flourish, to develop, to learn and be enriched in times of uncertainty. It is a precious time, when we can put the focus back into enhancing our lives. A time to have fun together, to read stories, to share tales of courage, integrity, and humanity from our past, to bake, to make videos and memories, to learn new skills, to learn to be an active, contributing member in a household by helping with chores and responsibilities. It is an opportunity to learn that it is o.k to be bored, and for us to teach our children patience, and ourselves as adults, restraint in doing so, as that inspires creativity and collaborative thinking. This time should allow us to listen to each other meaningfully and intentionally. May we make more eye contact with our loved ones, than with screens and devices. It is a chance to allow skills to naturally mature. These are moments we are given to wander and wonder, to stop and smell the roses and marvel at the engineering of cobwebs, a chance to paint and draw and build, to be expressive, to touch and feel and use and appreciate our senses, to learn to problem- solve independently and with others, to share important lessons about values and morals, to plant-in order to learn about nature, life-cycles and the environment, as well as self-sustainability, a chance to play traditional games, board games and card games. We can gift our children the freedom of allowing their imagination to flourish, their character to develop grit and perseverance, and facilitate greater independence, whilst fostering open and honest avenues of communication. May we all be privileged to be able to nurture and nourish and look after each other lovingly; emotionally, physically, intellectually and socially. Mostly, it is serendipitous to be given this opportunity to witness and cherish the best in each other, to learn to appreciate all that makes our children unique and treasure them as amazing beings they are.” Engagement and re-connecting on a ‘live’ platform with the little Pre-Primary learners has been the main focus during the first week of online teaching. Thereafter a set programme, with daily routines have guided all the little people and parents for a fun and interactive online experience. Important concepts, i.e. learning about colours and shapes, emergent writing and mathematical skills and perceptual skills continued on this platform. It certainly also brought the teachers closer to the little ones in their home environment, as many parents spent time with their children, discussing the theme topics and sending the teachers photographs and video clips of this.