Pre-Reception And Nursery – All About Me And My Family!
The Pre-Reception and Nursery students are starting to settle in beautifully into the class routine. This week we are learning about “All about me and my family”. The theme is to help children learn about each other and each other’s families and to realize that every person is unique and special. All our activities help them get to know the special and unique things about themselves and each other.
During creative activities we painted hands to make their handprints to decorate their art files and to see that all their hands and finger prints are different. The students were also encouraged to build their houses out of blocks. Circle Time was used to learn about the social skills of being together as a group and to learn more about the theme.
All our activities are centered around the theme the students are really having fun learning about themselves, their little friends and their families!
Cindy Nunan
Pre-Reception & Nursery Teacher
A Special ‘Thank you’ After A Challenging Year
One thing, on which we can all agree, is that this year was tough and none of us want to see another year like it again.
We thank you for your support and trust during this difficult time and commend our students on their steadfastness and fortitude this year, especially with regards to online learning.
I would also like to thank the high school teachers who have worked tirelessly in the best interests of the students.
I wish every parent, student, and teacher a blessed 2021 and we look forwards to seeing you in the new year.
Please stay safe and have a joyous festive season.
Julian Harrison
Head of Academics – High School
(Photo: High School students dressed up for the last day of school Civvies Day)
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Year 6 Ingenuity In Action
This term the Year 6 students learnt about electrical insulators and conductors. As part of their Design and Technology project they needed to design a board game that incorporated an electrical circuit.
Students completed and submitted a planning page that showcased a design sketch, a list of the various materials they needed to build their game and an explanation of how their game would work. Once their idea was approved, the Year 6’s started creating their board games in class. It was wonderful to see the students apply their creativity and critical thinking skills while creating their board games.
Students presented their board games in front of the class. They needed to explain the following in their presentation:
- How they created their board games.
- What materials they used.
- Who their target audience was.
- Lastly they had to demonstrate how their game worked.
On Friday, 4 December, the Year 6’s displayed their board games to the rest of Key Stage 2. They demonstrated how their board games worked and gave the other classes an opportunity to play their game.
We are incredibly proud of the hard work, ingenuity and effort the Year 6s put into their designs.
Katherine Nel
Year 6 Teacher
Racing To End Off Year 2
“Play, while we cannot change the external realities of children’s lives, can be a vehicle for children to explore and enjoy their differences and similarities and to create, even for a brief time, a more just world where everyone is an equal and valued participant.” – Patricia G. Ramsey
Even though it was a short week, the Year 2 teachers found it important for our students to wind down after a fun Term together in what has been a trying year.
They enjoyed teaming up from all three classes to get involved in relay races. The students ran their little hearts out with the biggest smiles on their faces. The fresh air created endorphins, which made them feel great. Challenging oneself in running and races helps build confidence in our abilities and what one can achieve, which helps us develop self-belief and happiness. It is unbelievable that the year has come to an end, I speak for all three Year 2 teachers when I say we could not be more proud of our students for getting through this year and still manage to keep a bright and positive attitude.
We look forward to watching you all grow in 2021.
Something to keep in mind this December Holiday is that, “Children cannot bounce off the walls if we take away the walls.” – Erin Kenny
Erin Hierse
Year 2 Teacher
Nursery’s Last Days – Having Fun
Our Nursery students have really been enjoying their last few days at Nursery before school closed for the year.
We have relished playing together with Lego, puzzles, stickle bricks, peg-boards and games. We learned about so many topics this term and look forward to what next year brings. We also loved our private garden where we played, ran and sometimes just rested on the grass and put our feet up.
Due to Covid we encouraged our littlest students to social distance, wear their masks and continue to keep their toys, activities and little hands sanitized. We are so proud of how they adapted to all the changes since we opened the classrooms after the hard lockdown. They have been super stars through these trying times and I commend all the parents for raising such brave, strong, loving and independent children.
They have been a real blessing to all of us in the Nursery this year.
Jacky Billings
Nursery Teacher
From the Principal’s Desk, 11 December 2020
Dear Parents
We have come to the end of the 2020 academic year. This has been a year of great challenges, but also a year of great opportunity. The difference for each and every one of us is the point of our perspective.
However, the future rewards those who press on. There is no time to feel sorry for ourselves and to complain, we need to just keep going and press on. Thank you to each parent, for your support and commitment towards the school.
Thank you to our staff who relentlessly learned new methods and inspired our students. Your hard work is always appreciated.
In the words of Barak Obama: “If you’re walking down the right path and you’re willing to keep walking, eventually you’ll make progress.”
We are sadly saying goodbye to Alexia Holmes in year 3. Mrs. Holmes and her husband are relocating to Betties Bay. We wish her all the best in her future endeavors. Mrs. Wendy Menton will replace Mrs. Holmes in year 3.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR TERM 1 2021
A letter has been sent today via the Engage platform with information regarding our drop off and collection times and points for 2021.
I wish all our families a great festive season and may you and your families be blessed with good health and prosperity!
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
Festive greetings
Edna
Our 2021 Head Boy and Head Girl – Niklyn Pillay and Munashe (Karen) Kambizi
Stem and Leaf
One of ways of representing data is called a “Stem and Leaf”. The name is derived from the structure of the presentation. The “stem” is the top row of numbers, and the “leaves” are to be read vertically.
Our high school Mathematics students have been studying this unique method and how it is used in real life.
In many parts of the world, public transportation is ingrained in the routine of people’s lives. Every day, people use trains and buses to travel from home to work or from home to school—and back again.
In some parts of the world, Stem and Leaf diagrams are used to indicate arrival and departure times in a more clear and easy way to interpret.
This is just another wonderful example of how Mathematics is used to improve our every day lives.
Hebert Tapfuma
High School Mathematics Teacher
From The German Classroom Term 4 2020
“Willkommen zurück!=Welcome back!”
These were the first words the students heard me say in the German classroom in Term 4 to welcome them all back to school, online (live streamed) and in the classroom.“Be cool-gnome matter what!”
These are the words from the very cool looking garden gnome from Germany. The ‘Gartenzwerg’, in German is a very popular figure in gardens all over Germany, this all the students discovered in Term 2 in the ‘Das ist Deutsch!= That is German!’ online videos. The ceramic version of the garden gnomes are believed to have originated in Germany and are very much part of the German culture.
In each class one student was chosen to say the “be cool” and the rest of the class answered with “gnome matter what!”, this was a reminder for all of us to stay and keep cool, no matter what happened in this Term 4.
We then discussed the exclamation word ‘Aha!’ and what it could mean when we say ‘aha’. What does it mean in English according to the Cambridge dictionary? ‘Aha’ is “used when you suddenly understand or find something, or learning the truth about something”. For example: “Aha, now I see what you mean!”.
When the students understood that there was a play on the words in the garden gnome’s message, that ‘gnome’ matter what sounds like ‘no’ matter what, then we had a few ‘aha’ moments.
Aha, now I understand!
In German and many other languages ‘Aha’ is used to express the same thing.
But, what else could it mean? If you Google ‘Aha’ then a few meanings pop up, ‘aha’ is short for Alpha Hydroxy Acid and the abbreviations for the American Heart Association and African Hotel Adventures. The famous Norwegian synth-pop band A-ha or a-ha also comes to mind especially since the single: “Take On Me” from the 1980’s is now still playing on the radio after A-ha celebrated its 30th anniversary of the popular song.
The German Federal Ministry of Health took the AHA concept and made it into the acronym for the Corona AHA-Formel campaign this year. This concept was placed in the media and on billboards all over Germany to remind people of the requirements for protecting oneself and others in this pandemic.
A for Abstand = distance/distancing
H for Hygiene = hygiene & hand washing
A for Alltagsmaske = all day/everyday maskEvery class from Year 1 to Year 6 has an AHA ambassador, who is allowed to kindly remind the other students about the AHA rules in the German lesson.
This AHA message was a simple reminder and proved to be very effective in a fun way.
I am very proud of all the students for taking on this task of keeping ‘AHA’ and ‘cool’ in this term at school.
Remember BIS “Be cool-gnome matter what!”
Auf Wiedersehen, bis bald!
Frau Kerstin Pani
German Teacher Primary Schoolhttps://ilikegermany.com/culture/gartenzwerg/
https://www.zusammengegencorona.de/aha/
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/aha
Year 5 Student Orientation Morning 2020
This week started off with great excitement as the students anxiously waited to hear about their new classes for 2021. Chatter and excitement filled the corridors as everyone hurried along to meet their new teachers.
Teachers excitedly waited to receive their new students and in the same breath sad to see their current students moving on.
The morning was spent doing fun indoor and outdoor activities. The students created beautiful art pieces as well as some model constructions. Games were played and fun was had by both teachers and students.
Even though change can seem to be daunting, it is important to know that it is essential for progress to happen.
It was a magnificent morning spent getting to know each other and even making new friends. We are all eagerly waiting on 2021.
Nadia Mahomed
Key Stage 2 Teacher
Key Stage 1 Prize-Giving 2020
Last week Friday, our KS1 year groups held their annual Prize-giving & Awards Ceremony. Given the circumstances of this being a tough year, we felt it even more necessary that the students be rewarded for their hard work and dedication. We organised a live virtual ceremony, making sure that each student would have their moment and that all parents could be involved.
Students around the world faced a year they had never quite experienced before. Making a transition from everyday classroom activities to home learning, and online class has not been easy, but we are so proud of each and every one of you for making it through and better yet, excelling.
Seeing the progress from when we received our students in the beginning of the year to now, is incredible.
Prize-giving this year was that little bit more special, watching our students stay involved, keep a great working attitude and participate with enthusiasm – they absolutely deserve to be rewarded.
Siobhan Hendry
Key Stage 1 Teacher
