We have some new “tyre craft” additions to the playground that have proven to be very popular with learners and teachers alike.

We are thrilled to have provided each child in the Pre-Reception and Reception classes with free login details for the year for the wonderful “Reading Eggs” home program.

The girls were very excited to receive their “Jog the Frog” T-shirts in their “Clamber Club” lessons last week

They were also thrilled to learn about “stringed instruments” and be introduced to the violin in their “Kindermusik” lessons

Dear Foundation Phase Parents

Greetings to you on the day following Freedom Day, a life altering day for those of us who voted for the first time and remember it with absolute clarity. A sacred day, a day the majority of its citizens were emancipated from an oppressive regime.

Twenty seven years into our democracy and we are still in the infancy stages. We have to experience transformation on so many levels in so many spaces within our world, country, city, school and home. Demystifying all the stereotypes, listening intently to each other’s stories, attempting to experience life through the lenses of another, eradicating poverty through holistic education, creating a more equitable society and so much more…

Our girls' experience of Foundation Phase thus creates the perfect setting and opportunity to facilitate their thinking and understanding of a fertile ground for change and real understanding of our potential as South Africans. As adults we need to equip ourselves with the language, the confidence to have uncomfortable conversations all while we develop young minds to think beyond the comfort of their own experiences. We pray for a South Africa where we can truly see each other as equals.

I was deeply inspired by the excerpt from a book by John O Donohue

There is a beautiful complexity of growth within the human soul. In order to glimpse this, it is helpful to visualize the mind as a tower of windows. Sadly, many people remain trapped at the one window, looking out every day at the same scene in the same way. Real growth is experienced when you draw back from that one window, turn, and walk around the inner tower of the soul and see all the different windows that await your gaze. Through these different windows, you can see new vistas of possibility, presence, and creativity. Complacency, habit, and blindness often prevent you from feeling your life. So much depends on the frame of vision -- the window through which you look.

May this excerpt find you excited to view life through different lenses and create the opportunity to see difference as something beautiful rather than something to fear.

Lessons from the Deep

This week at the Academy Awards, the heart-warming nature film - “My Octopus Teacher”, won best documentary and claimed an Oscar. A proud South African moment indeed for directors, Pippa Ehrlich and James Reed who went on stage to receive the award. My Octopus Teacher follows film-maker and diver Craig Foster, as he explores an underwater kelp forest near Cape Town. Foster appears to bond with an octopus he encounters living in the area.

An Octopus is a diverse and very impressive animal. Their symbolism is highly influenced by its appearance. It symbolizes flexibility, creativity, intelligence, expansion and unpredictability. It is a magical creature of the sea who is often feared, revered, and unseen. This master of disguise and sea legend has something to say to us about how we live our lives and the mysteries it holds.

I recently read an interesting article and analysis of this story on ELT Buzz, by David Deubelbeis. Below he shares the lessons that he learnt about education, teaching, the whole process of personal learning and growth. At a time when the world slowed down and we had the opportunity to change pace and reconnect with the important, let us try not lose sight of this and take stock of the message of this unique story.

Abridged version -

1. This world is temporal – teaching even more so.

In Craig’s words, “the purpose of your life is NOW“. So that of a teacher – to nurture, be there, teach despite this ephemerality. Related to this point is a fact that Craig mentions – the octopus’ life is short, only one year long. Life is finite for us all – use your time well. As well, let’s use our time at school well. Make it count.

2. The true core of education is getting students to notice.

Craig asks the question, “Why do the same thing, go to the same place, every day?“ Each day he visits and observes the octopus in the same kelp forest and in the same fashion and manner. His answer is full of wisdom – to notice, to see. True education begins when we open our doors of perception and begin to see what we normally don’t.

To truly become an autonomous learner, students need to dig deep into the world that calls to them, of which they are abundantly curious (as Craig was about his octopus). In doing so, going deep they’ll truly “see” and be filled with what is truly the golden egg of education – insight.

3. Intelligence is tacit, personal knowledge.

Craig has learned an important lesson – there are no lesser or more intelligent life forms. Each of us is intelligent, a marvel, a miracle. Education, schooling need to focus on what students can do – in and of themselves and their own environment. We also have to teach students that they aren’t “top of the heap” and to value all life as intelligent.

4. Learning isn’t unidirectional.

It grows back the arm it lost but not until a good period of recovery where it loses its colour and remains stationary, hidden away. So too with learning. “We learn from our mistakes.” We often need to take one step back in order to jump further ahead. Failure is the foundation of all education. Imagine the scientific method without trial and error?

5. “You are part of this place, you are not a visitor.”

In life, in education, we are on a moving train – there is no such thing as a non-participant. And this makes us responsible for ourselves as well as the whole. Education is a process of involvement in the world, participation in the world, creation with the world. Craig shows us learning is about experiencing the world, the experiences we have. It is this which will linger, will remain and which is education, learning.

We need to bring environmental education into the front and center place it deserves. We need to provide students with experiences so they value all life, all intelligences and truly absorb the fact they aren’t visitors but at home and a part of this world.

6. Focus on character, not facts.

We should not forget for a moment that school has a major role in developing the character of our youth. Yet too often, it fails. We need to fix that – with some of the things I’ve noted above and some other things.

7. “Love and do what one will”.

The documentary is a love story. Value our relationships with students. Education is passed on through these vital relationships. Embrace all students, not just the ones with the answers, the ones like you, yourself in your youth. Grow in those relationships – love is this beautiful two way street. Craig demonstrates that soo well, finally realizing after much questioning that yes – the octopus did get much out of their relationship. Joy, companionship, learning ….

KAREN SMITH

Head of Senior Primary

Dear Parents and Girls

Just a quick note to say thank you to everyone for their support of our Pet Rock sale - to date we have made

R10 000 for our Outreach Project/Community Connect Club! Isn’t that amazing!

Sarah Borwick (Grade 4M) we salute you! It is all due to Sarah’s hard work and selflessness (she hand painted and donated all of the pet rocks that we have sold - hundreds of them).

With huge thanks and appreciation to our school community for your support

Gabby Cloete and Shelley Brummer (CCC leaders)

🎬(heads up Harry Potter fans - we are now selling Harry Potter themed rocks!)

With warm regards to you and your girls.

GABBY CLOETE

Counsellor

Hockey - please click on the attached link for extra match play opportunity. TERM 2 HOCKEY GAMES