Nova Pioneer is an independent school network offering excellent and accessible 21st century education focused on developing students as innovators and leaders. We work to provide schools that support students in developing skills and capabilities to innovate and meet challenges, particularly as the world changes.

At Nova Pioneer we challenge our children to reach excellence through the skills of critical thinking, problem solving, and collaboration. Novaneer students are engaged and active in their own learning and that of their peers. They are future-equipped, having developed strong problem-solving, collaborative leadership, and character capabilities. At Nova Pioneer, we develop each child’s unique talents and capabilities through holistic education in partnership with parents. Our core values of enquiry, caring, and excellence along with our culture principles guide the way we educate children. 

Nova Pioneer parents entrust us as partners in preparing their children for life. We therefore commit ourselves to understand and facilitate the unique journey of each Novaneer!

At Nova Pioneer we ‘live’ a set of culture principles to intentionally guide our participation in the community, both as a community of learners and community of citizens. Our culture principles are celebrated consistently and intentionally.

1. Greater Together — We constantly support our colleagues, students and teammates because we can achieve more together.

2. Servant Leadership — We believe great leaders are great servants, and put service to others before service to self. Servant Leaders engage their community with humility and generosity. We see leadership as a way of improving the world, not simply promoting ourselves.

3. High Expectations (110%) — We sweat the small stuff and take pride in what we do. We set goals that others think are impossible and never stop until we achieve them. We see all our students, colleagues, and ourselves as capable of greatness, and we expect everyone to do whatever it takes to constantly achieve excellence.

4. Always Growing — We constantly seek out difficult challenges, share and receive feedback as a gift, and see every failure as an opportunity to learn and grow.

5. Joy of Learning — We delight in learning and bring infectious energy and positive spirit to everything we do because joy fuels learning and hard work.

6. Solutions First (Optimism) — We respond to every obstacle with energy and action. Everything is possible when we think creatively and critically about a problem. We are always thinking of new solutions when faced with difficult problems

In accordance with school policy, Nova Pioneer does not discriminate in any of its policies, procedures or practices on the basis of race, colour, ethnic origin, religious beliefs, class or gender. We are committed to seeking a diverse student population including children from a variety of racial, ethnic, religious and socio-economic backgrounds. All admissions to Nova Pioneer schools are made in accordance with the Nova Pioneer Admissions Policy.

Should a parent choose to withdraw his/her child from a Nova Pioneer school, a terms notice must be given in accordance with the procedure outlined in the Parent Contract.

Please inform the school receptionist or use the school email when your daughter or son is absent and send her or him back with an explanatory note for the class teacher on the child’s return to school. Doctor’s certificates are required where students are absent for more than two days or on Mondays or Fridays.

School hours are as laid down at the specific campus where your child is in attendance and are expected to be adhered to unless in exceptional circumstances. Students are also expected to attend all compulsory school events outside of normal school hours.

An excuse note or email for non-participation in a sports lesson or other extra-curricular activity should be addressed to the teacher concerned. School days and learning experiences missed cannot be regained and so the school leaders will consider giving permission for extended holidays and long weekends in exceptional circumstances only.

Any student who needs to leave school during the school day must bring a note signed by a parent explaining the reason for the request. This note will enable them to get an exit slip from the receptionist. The exit slip must be signed by the class teacher and by a dean.

These exit slips are handed to the security officer at the gate when the child is collected. No pupil may leave the campus without an official exit slip.

School assemblies are as per specific arrangements at each campus.

Nova Pioneer teaching staff members are carefully selected not only for their knowledge, experience and educational background, but also for their mindset and commitment to families. Our teachers are encouraged to continue learning and developing their skills.

Nova Pioneer provides professional development opportunities to ensure that our teaching staff are current in their knowledge of educational practices.

At Nova Pioneer, teachers guide students. We believe that learning is a journey, not a destination - a journey where questions are explored, answers are questioned, ideas are discovered, minds are opened and stretched with the goal of being and becoming, not just remembering and reviewing. Our teachers play a large role in supporting this process for our students. Within the classrooms they partner with the students in the process of discovery and building the children’s knowledge.

Nova Pioneer provides an enquiry based approach that allows students to: 

• build their knowledge through a process of enquiry, investigation and reflection; 

• use the physical and social environment as learning opportunities; 

• be viewed as active participants, rather than passive recipients; 

• utilize inclusiveness to expand opportunities for growth; and honours children's cultural backgrounds.

We follow the internationally recognised Cambridge Curriculum. Please read more about it at this link: https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/why-choose-us/parents-and-students/

Because of the high standards that students must attain in Grades 11 and 12, our internal pass mark for all exams is set at 60%.

At the beginning of every term, an assessment calendar is issued to the students. This enables the students to prepare in advance, meet deadlines and manage their time efficiently. The assessments are spread throughout the term. The timetable is carefully planned by the teachers and deadlines are strictly adhered to.

It is advisable that parents keep a close track of their child’s progress. If the school has concerns, parents will be contacted. Parents may book an appointment directly with the teachers or coaches concerned or through the front office. We prefer to address issues timeously rather than waiting for reports/parents’ interviews.

When can I go on holiday?

Unlike many other schools we follow a 3 term school calendar. We know you want to plan your next holiday already so here's the calendar for a detailed break down. 

Term 1

Start

All new students to arrive on 14 January 2025 (TBC)

All other students to arrive on 15 January 2025.

Close

Thursday, 4 April 2025

Half term

Close: Thursday, 20 February 2025

Return: Tuesday, 25 February 2025

Public Holidays

Friday, 21 March (Human Rights Day)

Easter Weekend ( 18 April - 21 April)

Monday, 28 April Freedom Day Observed 

Term 2

Start

Wednesday, 6 May 2025

Close

Friday, 8 August 2025

Half term

Close: Friday, 27 June 2025

Return: Monday, 7 July  2025

Public Holidays

Monday, 16 June (Youth Day)

Term 3

Start

Wednesday, 3 September 2025

Close

Thursday, 3 December 2025

Half term

Close: Thursday, 16 October 2025

Return: Tuesday, 21 October 2025

Public Holidays

Wednesday, 24 September (Heritage Day)

The Nova Pioneer School Calendar will be available on the resources page for you to download.

The protection of children is our primary concern. Whenever circumstances suggest a reasonable suspicion of child abuse or neglect, these circumstances will be reported immediately to the proper agency. This policy is available on our website 

A variety of co-curricular and extra-curricular activities are offered each term. Students are invited/expected to participate in at least one cultural activity and one sport. A schedule of activities is available at each school and you are requested to fill in the necessary forms to ensure that your child makes full use of these offerings. 

The Nova Pioneer approach to discipline is laid out clearly in the Philosophy of Culture and Behaviour and we encourage all parents and students to familiarise themselves fully with this document. Our learning and behaviour expectations are informed by democratic values, social justice and fundamental human rights. The Student Code of Conduct is embodied in the Philosophy of Culture and Behaviour and High School students and Primary School parents are all required to sign this document on an annual basis.

Linked to the Philosophy of Culture and Behaviour are the following policies , with which all Novaneers are expected to be familiar:

• Hair Policy;

• Anti-Bullying Policy;

• Intercultural and Anti Bias Policy;

• Social Media Policy;

• Information Technology Policy; and

• Academic Integrity Policy;

• Student Absenteeism Policy;

• School Outing Policy;

• Search and Confiscation of Illegal Substances;

• Substance Abuse Policy;

• Child protection Policy;

• Health Safety and Environmental Policy;

All of these policies  may be found on the Nova Pioneer website.

Along with the Nova Pioneer Philosophy of Culture and Behaviour are sets of rules specific to different campuses (playground rules, drop off and pick up times, rules for collection of children, etc.) Parents and students are also expected to be familiar with these rules.

Communication is an important aspect of the partnership between family and school. To ensure that you have access to information about your child's daily school experiences and upcoming school functions the following avenues for communication are available:

Curriculum Communique – This will be a weekly email communication which will include details of what is happening in the classroom, support for parents, homework and grade specific communications. Parents are asked to read through this communication each week and to reference this as our principal source of communication.

D6 – This will contain copies of all communications under the Resource Tab (fee schedules, policy documents, stationery lists) as well as a calendar of events. Going forward, the Curriculum Communique will also be uploaded to the D6 by default each week so that parents will be able to reference these throughout the term. Download the app for your phone from the relevant app store. The desktop version is available here: https://d6.co.za/education/downloads/

EdAdmin Parent Portal – Our School Administrative system will be opened to parents through the EdAdmin Parent Portal. This will give parents the opportunity to connect with the school digitally without having to wait for some direct communications. The Parent Portal will allow families to view their financial statements, students’ academic reports and allow you to update all personal records yourselves. We are hoping to launch the Parent Portal before the end of this year. EdAdmin is in the process of developing their own smartphone app which should go live during the course of 2021. This will allow added accessibility to EdAdmin.

Parent Meetings – The time allocated to our parent / teacher meetings have been extended to 30 minutes and we continue looking for opportunities to create more time for parent meetings outside of the das scheduled in the 2022 calendar. 

We have an open approach and if there are any problems, please make an appointment to see the class teacher. If you would like to meet with your child's class teacher, kindly email them to set up either an in person or a virtual meeting. 

Please note that we have a 24 hour turnaround time to reply to parent emails.

Please read and follow the correct chain of communication. It is always advisable to first approach the teacher concerned. The next step will be the Deans or Head of school.

We value community at Nova Pioneer. We know there are many benefits and value that come with strong communities. Inevitably in any community, even the most loving, there are bound to be disagreements that arise. We view these moments, and our ability to work through them, as opportunities to grow — to exhibit our strength and commitment to ensuring a community based on respect, kindness, and open communication.

It is our hope that your time at Nova Pioneer will be a joyful experience for your entire family. As members of our community we ask that you agree to open, honest communication. We have found that through open communication most conflicts can be resolved promptly and to everyone's satisfaction. Handling issues that arise directly and honestly is a measure of our integrity and our commitment to solving problems.

The following steps are designed to help in the resolution of problems or disputes:

• Any concerns with the teaching staff should be addressed to the specific teacher involved. 

• Conflicts that cannot be resolved between the parties involved should be addressed to the 

• Dean of Instruction and the School Leader. 

• If the School Leader’s response is not satisfactory, you may pursue your concern through a letter to the Managing Director of Nova Pioneer Schools. We will ensure response as quickly as possible.

Staff will obtain written consent from the family before sharing information about a child with relevant providers, agencies, or other programs.

         Individual teachers will share their contact details with parents at the beginning of the year. 

See below the Head of School and Deans contact details:

Head of School

Ms E Lawrence

elawrence@novapioneer.com

Dean of Instruction And Learning

Ms C Thokoane

cthokoane@novapioneer.com

Associate Dean of Instruction

Ms K Brown

fismail@novapioneer.com 

Dean of Students

Ms H Du Plessis

hduplessis@novapioneer.com

As each of our campuses have slightly different daily routine times, we have not included any details in this handbook. A copy of the daily routine at your school will be made available to you.

The concept of diversity encompasses acceptance and respect. It is the exploration of these differences in a safe, positive and nurturing environment. It is about understanding each other and moving beyond simple tolerance to embracing and celebrating the rich dimensions of diversity contained within each individual. At Nova Pioneer this means understanding that each individual is unique, and recognises our individual differences.

Diversity enriches our community and our learning. The Nova Pioneer Intercultural and Anti Bias Policy further expands our position on this vitally important aspect of life in South Africa. Our parents are encouraged to download this policy from the website and spend some time perusing it.

The use of electronic devices (both personal and those belonging to the school) is well covered in the Nova Pioneer Social Media Policy and the Nova Pioneer Information Technology Policy. Parents and students are requested to please ensure that they are familiar with these policies.

Academic Support (Level 1): Not all students learn in the same manner. In light of this, Nova Pioneer has a comprehensive Student Academic Support model, which involves teachers remediating students in class. Parents will be notified termly about student progress teachers will include discussions of academic support, when applicable. When necessary, additional classes will be held to assist with remediation. Parents will be notified about this when it is applicable. Parent involvement is also crucial in these cases, as students would need additional assistance at home, along with possible referrals for a Level 2 or Level 3 support which is detailed below under ¨Psychosocial Support¨ and ¨Therapies¨.

Psychosocial Support (Level 2): Each campus has an Intern Psychologist, who is available to provide emotional therapy and certain levels of learning support to students. These referrals must be made through the class teacher, who will escalate to the Dean of Students for further action. Interns work on an appointment basis and due to workload, there is a possibility of a waiting period which will be communicated. Support from the Psychosocial Team does not come at an additional cost to parents as it is part of our offering. 

Therapies (Level 3): Nova Pioneer works in conjunction with The Care Junction, a group of therapists, who assist with Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, Learning Support and Play Therapy. All referrals will be made via the Dean of Students office. Cost of therapies with The Care Junction would be for parent´s accounts, or can be charged to most medical aids. 

Nova Pioneer maintains a collaborative approach to education, where the parents in particular are actively involved. As such, we have devised a Family Engagement Committee structure, which is a practical way to:

● endorse the philosophy of partnership and collaboration,

● encourages our parents to become actively involved in the life of the school,

● channel their energies in such a way that the parents do feel part of the community,

and

● make an effective contribution to the life of the community and the education of their children.

Each Nova Pioneer school will offer (and encourage) their parents the opportunity to join one of the Family Engagement Committees set up at the school. The nature and general purpose of each committee will be explained by the school. It is important to note that, while a few core committees will be set up in each of our schools, not all of them will be offered in each of the schools - the choice of committees to be set up will depend on the current needs of each individual school.

We do encourage all our parents to make themselves available to serve in at least one of the committees.

Moreover, the school has set up a specific Parent Advisory Committee. The purpose of this committee is to provide advice and guidance to individual parents who are dealing with a particular challenge and are not sure how to go about resolving it. This committee will also be explained to you in full by the school.

Safety is one of the Nova Pioneer’s main priorities. A Health, Safety and Environment Policy is in place and applies to all campuses. Staff and management will continually review this policy and procedures to improve preparations and responses to anything that might threaten student safety. No safety system can completely prevent incidents, but Nova Pioneer will employ numerous strategies to reduce the risk.

These strategies include:

● An emergency plan is in place and will be practised at each school.

● The schools will conduct numerous emergency drills to practise evacuation and lockdown procedures.

● The school’s security company will work with the school to identify any potential safety concerns.

● All staff are trained to respond to various incidents. This training includes teachers receiving anti-bullying training.

Parents can collaborate with school staff to help create a safe school. Some things that you can do to help:

● Make sure the school office always has current information about your place of employment, daytime phone numbers and names of adults authorized to pick up your child in an emergency.

● Understand the Code of Conduct and other policies available regarding proper school behaviour, getting along with others, positive ways of expression, and understanding racial and cultural differences.

● Have a family emergency plan and be sure your child knows what to do and who to go to for assistance should an emergency occur while they are at home.

● To report a threat to the safety of the school or the community, please contact the school.

Nova Pioneer is also currently developing an extensive Child Protection Policy. Parents will be notified and given access as soon as this policy is published.

Second Language Policy

This policy highlights the procedure and processes that will be followed in students choosing their respective second languages at Nova Pioneer. Nova Pioneer South Africa has three second language choices. These are IsiZulu, Afrikaans and Setswana and are aligned with those accredited by Cambridge and offered by the tertiary sector in South Africa.

Grade R, Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3 

In these Grades, students will need to take two second language choices. The first, IsiZulu, is prescribed by Nova Pioneer. The second choice is open to the discretion of the family, with students choosing either Afrikaans or Setswana.

Grade 4 ,Grade 5, Grade 6 and Grade 7

Students will need to take one second language. This choice is open to the discretion of the family, with students choosing either IsiZulu, Afrikaans or Setswana. This second language choice should be in line with the choices in the previous grade as the student will take this subject through into the Senior School where it will be written at IGCSE level. 

NB: Please note that from Grade 4, Setswana is offered as a First Language in line with the Cambridge Setswana examinations. Afrikaans and isiZulu are offered as Second Languages. Zulu and Afrikaans are written at IGCSE 2nd Language level. Setswana is written at O-level (First Language).

Grade R, Grade 1, Grade 2 and Grade 3

A. Afrikaans or Setswana 1 x 45 Minutes per week

B. IsiZulu 1 x 45 Minutes per week

Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6 and Grade 7

A. Afrikaans or IsiZulu or Setswana

4 x 45 Minutes per week

Choosing your Second Language

As IsiZulu is prescribed, students will be asked to make a choice between either Afrikaans or Setswana as they enter the school for the first time. This would typically be in either Grade R or Grade 1. If a student enters the school at a later Grade, then the second language started at the previous institution should be followed, unless that second language does not align with what is offered by the school.

Changing your Second Language Choice

Students will be allowed to change their second language choice within the first two weeks of the start of Term 1 or Term 2. Once this window has closed, students will need to continue with their second language choice for the remainder of the term to ensure adequate work is covered for an assessment to be completed. Students will only be permitted to change their second language choices twice during their time at Nova Pioneer.

Reference has already been made to a number of Nova Pioneer policies. All policies that are applicable to parents and students are uploaded onto the Nova Pioneer website and are therefore accessible to all. These policies include:

● Philosophy of Culture and Behaviour;

● Hair Policy

● Anti-Bullying Policy;

● Intercultural and Anti Bias Policy;

● Social Media Policy;

● Information Technology Policy; and

● Academic Integrity Policy.

Parents and students are advised to ensure full understanding of responsibilities in accordance with these policies. You can view them online here: https://www.novapioneer.com/sa/policies/

The South African Constitution gives recognition to the role of faith and religion in our society. The preamble to the Constitution ends with the words:

May God protect our people.

Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika. Morena boloka setjhaba sa heso.

God seën Suid-Afrika. God bless South Africa.

Mudzimu fhatutshedza Afurika. Hosi kateskisa Afrika.

With this in mind Nova Pioneer recognises the place that religion plays in our lives. Nova Pioneer is not affiliated to any one religion. At the core of our philosophy is respect for all faiths, which is built through an understanding of the diverse religious beliefs of the children who attend our school. Incorporated in the Nova Pioneer ethos is the teaching of the values of tolerance and understanding.

In keeping with this philosophy Nova Pioneer fully respects the right of individuals to observe religious holy days. Our schools will try to avoid clashes with major religious festivals where this is practical. The decision to miss school activities is a personal one and, while every effort will be made to assist the student in making up work missed, the observation of the religious holy days may, in no way, impact upon the operational needs of the school.

Although we are a non-denominational school, any decision relating to the modification of the school uniform will be made with consideration to all stakeholders at the school.

During the course of their career at Nova Pioneer your children may go on tours or outings, at an additional cost. Tours are fun, educational and are an opportunity to get to know teachers and one another in a different context. A separate policy covers the organisation and safety of such tours. It is important to note that all school policies and codes apply to students when involved in school functions off site.