Nova Pioneer Paulshof student, Jiya Soudamma (aged 10) began her karate journey at the age of 4 ½.

“It started off with her being diagnosed with ADHD and karate was a way of getting her to release some of this energy. Little did we know at the time, that it would become her passion and identity. She soon became the “mighty mouse” of her karate club, Funakoshi Shotokan Karate Sunninghill Club and started earning the titles of ‘best junior female’ to ‘best senior female’, ‘student with most medals’, ‘student with most grit’ and the prestige award of “Student of the Year” for 2 consecutive years,” says Jiya’s parents, Mr and Mrs Soudamma. Further to her achievements within the club, Jiya also obtained her Gauteng Karate colours at the age of 8.

She competes in Kata and Kumite which makes her training and dedication even stronger. This sport requires a lot of strength, determination and discipline. As a girl diagnosed with ADHD, having the patience to focus and concentrate on each and every move takes a lot out of her. This dedication has led to Jiya being ranked 3rd for Kumite and 4th for Kata in South Africa. She has represented Gauteng in Karate South Africa league tournaments in KZN, Western Cape, Free State and of course Gauteng where her heart is. Jiya has received over 50 medals to date.

In 2019, Jiya participated in the prestigious Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic Sports Championship and was placed 3rd for Kumite at the event. Karate takes up a lot of Jiya’s time with her training at least 3 to 4 times a week and participating in approximately 9 tournaments a year. As a current purple belt student, she often has to balance her time between academics, family and karate.

 

What is Jiya’s vision of her future in Karate? 

 

To achieve her black belt before the end of grade 12. Jiya continues to receive exceptional support from her parents, her sensei’s – Rajen Moodley and Nad Naicker as well as her family at Nova Pioneer Paulshof. 

“Believe in yourself and all that you are, know that there is something inside of you which is greater than any obstacle,” says Jiya. 

 

 

 

We are past the 200-day mark since President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the lockdown restrictions to curb the spread of the novel Coronavirus in South Africa. We are now on Level-1 of lockdown which allows business activity to continue but under strict health and safety conditions. South Africa now finds itself in the top ten countries in the world with the most Covid-19 infections with over 613 000 positive cases and just over 13 300 fatalities as of 26 August 2020 according to https://www.sacoronavirus.co.za/. 

It is still incumbent on all of us as a nation, whether at home, at work or at school to be more vigilant and adhere to all the recommended health and safety precautions.

As a school, our students, teachers and teammates who have returned back to campus find themselves on their desks for 5 to 7 seven hours in a day doing their in-class or office work. Which then turns the desk into a breeding ground for germs and harmful bacteria that can make a person sick. While we cannot avoid using our desks in class or office to prevent the spread of germs and bacteria, we do however exercise basic hygiene habits that are effective in both killing the germs and bacteria, and also protecting our staff and students from illnesses.

Here are four habits that you can adopt to keep your desk free of germs and illness-causing bacteria in the classroom or office:

Wear your mask:

While it may be uncomfortable to keep your mask on throughout the day, it is a habit which is necessary and effective in keeping you safe from harmful germs and illness-causing bacteria. Wearing your mask ensures that you do not transfer germs and bacteria onto the desk when you speak, cough or sneeze which may breed further and make you sick.

Sanitize your desk:

Adopt a habit of sanitizing your desk, laptop and stationery with an alcohol-based sanitizer daily at least 3 times a day using a wet wipe or cloth to properly clean without damaging your equipment. This habit will ensure that you are able to remove and kill any breeding germs and bacteria that may surface as you go about your day working and interacting with your peers and colleagues.

Wash your hands:

Regularly washing your hands with soap and water every 3 hours or before meals can help eliminate the risk of contracting or spreading germs and illness-causing bacteria which you may come into contact with as you use your desk, laptop and stationery, and also from connecting with your peers and colleagues.

Maintain a safe distance:

While it is common in a classroom or office set-up to have your peers or colleagues sit next to you or reach over to your desk for assistance or a quick chat. Don’t share your stationery and always ensure that everyone who sits next to you or reaches over to your desk for any reason maintains a safe social distance to ensure no one spreads any bacteria or germs that may continue to breed on your desk and cause illnesses.

At Nova Pioneer we are committed to operating a safe working and learning environment, and therefore make it our mission to ensure that all health and safety protocols and hygiene measures are implemented by all staff, teachers and students at all times to prevent the spread of germs and harmful bacteria that may cause illnesses.

 

Our Boksburg campus’ staff and students recently celebrated Grandparents Day at retirement village SAVF Huis Dien Bothma, where they donated toiletries and pleasantries to the elderly.

On the day, Charlene Thomson and Mandy William, both teachers at Nova Pioneer Boksburg campus, were accompanied by students (observing all Covid-19 health and safety measures) as they handed over the donation.

 

The Nova Pioneer Boksburg campus chose to work with SAVF Huis Dien Bothma as it recognises the centre’s commitment and dedication to the service of elderly people in the community.

“Servant Leadership is one of our Culture Principles that we instil in our children, teaching them the importance of caring for others,” says Luciel Morgan, Head of School at Nova Pioneer Boksburg.

“We celebrated Grandparents Day by expressing our sincere gratitude to our senior citizens with a small token of appreciation. We believe that the elderly continue to play an important role in nurturing our lives and instilling moral values to our societies and therefore, we see it as our collective duty to care for them,” says Morgan.

In November 2018, Nova Pioneer acquired Boksburg based pre-school, Stepping Stones, which underwent the process of a gradual transition to Nova Pioneer. The school offers affordable private schooling and currently accepts children ranging from 3 months to 3 years into the Baby and Tots Center – the youngest Novaneers to date – and is open for applications for Pre-Primary and Primary, grade 000 to grade 5.

Don’t miss your opportunity to apply. 

 

Our Novaneers have once more shown us what it means to take charge of their own learning. The closing of schools did not mean books had to be shut for our students at Nova Pioneer, Ormonde. They carried our reading culture home as they continued to prepare for the South African Literacy Association reading competition which, for the first time, took place remotely.

 

National Winners

 

Despite the challenges brought by the pandemic, our students submitted videos of themselves reading their favourite books for the English Home Language prepared reading competition. Four of our students entered Reitumetse Mosikare and Lesedi Mosebo who both received a B symbol, Zahra Chalwe an A+ and Tshedza Sithagu an A++ in the provincial round. We wish to congratulate all these learners for their dedication to reading. 

Of these students, two proceeded to represent Nova Pioneer at the National Final Round. Zahra Chalwe contested in the English Home Language prepared reading grade 5 division. She was awarded 4th place after confidently reading from her book titled Wonder by R.J Palacio. Tshedza Sithagu who competed in the grade 6 division was awarded 3rd place after she had displayed her love of reading when she read from Horse for Angel.

 

“We Love Reading”

 

Tshedza Sithagu (Grade 6 student) expressed that she is beyond grateful for this opportunity. “Thank you for this award. I love reading and writing these are very close to my heart. I am excited and thankful for being recognised for my reading.”

This is what Zahra Chalwe (Grade 5 student) had to say, “Participating in the national rounds makes me feel proud, happy, nervous and excited. This is very big for me and, I know it will be hard and challenging but if I practice and try my best I know I will make it.”

At Nova Pioneer, we foster the culture of reading by allowing learners to choose the reading materials they wish to engage with. Furthermore, we provide platforms such as reading clubs to foster the love of reading outside of the classroom.

Written by Khensani Mabona – Resident Teacher at our Ormonde Campus. 

At Nova Pioneer, we use the enquiry-based model, along with Reggio Emilia philosophies, to ensure our learning spaces are beautiful and interactive. While the Cambridge Curriculum is academically rigorous with 90 minutes of numeracy and literacy per day, the Nova Pioneer environment is highly stimulating. This is because we generally have two teachers in each classroom and we use blended learning centers to teach skills in different ways (on Chromebooks, through games, through individualized attention and much more). 

 

Students lead discussions, teachers navigate them 

Children come to school to experience the joy and wonder of learning. At Nova Pioneer, it’s important to us that our students feel appreciated, valued and are given the opportunity to express themselves in a safe space. Learning is fun, interactive  and caters for all learning styles.  Students are treated as leaders and we see them rise to meet these expectations.

Grade 4 is the beginning of the Intermediate Phase where we build onto Numeracy and Literacy concepts taught in Foundation Phase (Grades R-3). In addition to Numeracy and Literacy, we will also introduce new subjects, like Science and Humanities (History and Geography). 

 

 

Students Explore before we Explain 

Lessons are designed to deepen knowledge and understanding, with lesson activities differentiated to maximise student engagement and learning. All our lessons are enquiry-based and encourage critical thinking. We require students to explore before we explain. That way they are engaged in the identification of the problem and part of creating the solution which ensures that skills learned are retained.

In addition, in Grade 4, we focus on developing collaborative and metacognitive skills. We encourage awareness and understanding of one’s own thought processes. We do this by having guided reflection time at the end of each day. 

 

 

Assessments

Assessments are both Formative and Summative and parents receive regular feedback on their child’s progress throughout the term. We ensure that our students excel in their exams, but we also ensure that skills are retained beyond exams. Nova Pioneer teachers don’t lecture, they lead discussions and facilitate projects that help students engage deeply and think critically about course material. Our students frequently apply their academic work outside the classroom to real world situations.

 

New Joiners

Children joining us in Grade 4 for the first time will adapt very quickly to our Nova Pioneer culture and classroom norms. We care as much about academic development as we do our students’ emotional and social development. Our culture principles and psychological awareness tools are discussed and reinforced daily in a fun and non-threatening way. We maintain a ‘responsive classroom’ which means we call out positive behaviour and encourage students to identify their own negative feelings and how they can best deal with them. 

 

 

Would you like to learn more?

We find that students thrive in this stimulating and thoughtful environment and the growth is visible through our continued MAP (intuitive, computer-based) testing. We’d love you to see what we’re about by coming through for a socially distanced tour. Please contact our admissions team using the details below

 

• Nova Pioneer Boksburg (enrolling Babies to Grade 5 for 2021) – admissions.boksburg@novapioneer.com
• Nova Pioneer Midrand (enrolling Grade 000 to Grade 7 for 2021) – admissions.midrand@novapioneer.com
• Nova Pioneer North Riding (enrolling Grade 000 to Grade 6 for 2021) – admissions.northriding@novapioneer.com
• Nova Pioneer Ormonde (enrolling all grades for 2021) – admissions.ormonde@novapioneer.com
• Nova Pioneer Paulshof (enrolling Tots to Grade 6 for 2021) – admissions.paulshof@novapioneer.com
• Nova Pioneer Ruimsig (enrolling Grade 000 to Grade 4 for 2021) – admissions.ruimsig@novapioneer.com

Nova Pioneer Schools for Innovators and Leaders are inspired by the principles of the Reggio Emilia approach. The principles of relationships, spaces and environment are reflected in Tammy Gertzen’s classroom at our Boksburg campus.

At the heart of the Reggio Emilia approach is relationships. The school environment and spaces have been designed so that they foster interaction and communication, exploration and participation, a sense of autonomy and curiosity. In fact, the environment is thought of as the “third teacher” for its ability to foster connections between ideas, people and things. 

Think about the places you spend the majority of your time – your home, your immediate neighbourhood, and the place you work.  We aren’t always aware of it, but the spaces, activities and environment around us can have a big impact on how we feel, and what feels possible or allowable in that space. 

Being aware of how space, and place, shapes how we feel about ourselves and each other. In the 1970s Reggio Emilia began working on a project that looked specifically at the relationship between their philosophy of education, the architecture and resources of their schools, and their health and safety regulations. Through this project, they developed a set of design principles aimed at helping each school cultivate its own identity while still fostering values that are consistent across all the schools.

 

What does this look like in practice?

 

Care and beauty

 

The values of the Reggio Emilia approach and the unique identity of each school are communicated throughout classrooms and spaces. Over the decades, the schools have even worked with local companies to design particular kinds of furniture that can enhance children’s experiences and thinking. The environment, the spaces, the objects and furniture in them are all beautifully made and arranged. This beauty isn’t seen as a ‘nice to have’. It’s central to the educational experience. Beautiful spaces communicate that you care about the people and relationships they make in them, and encourage these people (big and small) to take care of each other and the things in that space. As the Charter of Services suggests, “taking care of the indoor and outdoor environment, the furniture, objects and materials by children and adults is an educational act that creates well-being, a sense of familiarity and belonging, aesthetic taste and the pleasure of inhabiting spaces, which are also primary prerequisites and conditions for safety”.

 

Environment as third teacher

 

Children are acutely sensitive to the world around them, and how a space or a particular material suggests certain possibilities. In Reggio Emilia, teachers welcome this influence and actively cultivate it, by recognising the environment as the third teacher in the classroom, capable of stimulating, deepening and challenging children’s thinking without saying a word. In a similar vein, they pay great attention to the intelligence of materials – the power of the natural and manufactured world to suggest certain uses or functions. When deciding what materials to introduce in the school around a particular investigation, teachers will first spend time exploring its particular ‘intelligence’, what possibilities it suggests to you as you explore it with all your senses. 

 

Sustainability and recycled materials

 

Both natural objects (like wood, stones and plants) and recycled materials (like plastic trays, pipes, material offcuts) are used to stimulate and deepen learning in the school. Schools aim to encourage empathy, the sustainable use of materials, and a kind resourcefulness that comes of being able to see new possibilities in natural and recycled objects and put them to use. When exploring a topic to do with the natural world, children are encouraged to go out into the environment, to see their object of study in its natural context (not to remove it), to get in relationship with the nature.

As for recycled materials, the city of Reggio Emilia has evolved recycling centres known as Remida, where offcuts and waste materials produced by the city’s factories and local artisans are collected, cleaned, and artfully displayed. These Remida are a free resource for teachers, a place they can go to explore the possibilities inherent in different materials, and collect what they need for their classroom or current investigation. “Remida is named after King Midas with the golden touch… It’s a name to acknowledge that everything, any material, can be, in our hands, in the children’s hands, like gold. A treasure. There is beauty in the imperfect.” 

The set up of provocations in the classroom inspires curiosity and imagination, it fosters communication and collaboration and supports enquiry and investigation. All the elements of great learning.

Applications to our Boksburg campus are open, contact admissions.boksburg@novapioneer or click below.

Michaela Kruger, our Grade 00 teacher at our North Riding campus, speaks to her continued learning through COVID-19.  

 

How do you get 4-5 year olds to practice social distancing?

 

In our class this term we first began by explaining social distancing to our students. Distance is a challenging concept for students to understand as they are still learning spatial awareness. We started by explaining to students the importance of only touching their own items as well as being responsible for their own bodies. When students arrived at school, we explained how they could create their own imaginary bubbles by swinging their arms around their bodies.

This was explained as their safe space and only they were allowed to be in their safe space. We allowed them to hold hula hoops around them in order for them to see the correct distancing as well as practise what it felt like to stand a certain distance away from their peers. We placed tape markings on the floor in our classroom and outside our classroom in order to make social distancing a more practical and understandable activity to practise. Students would stand on the tape markings and practise creating their imaginary bubbles around them.

 

How is your day structured now, is it the same routine?

 

Our daily structure is very similar to how it was before lockdown. We still include morning ring, academic rotations, PE, phonics, read alouds, outdoor play and nap time. The only thing that has slightly changed in our class is the fact that students no longer stand up and move for each academic rotation. Students remain at their tables and they are given the work to complete at their table. Every student has their own allocated space as well as their own stationery. Items are no longer shared amongst our students. Outdoor play has also changed as our sandpits and jungle gyms have been closed off. We have created fun social distancing games for students to play during this time as we feel gross motor and outdoor play is an important part of the day for all students.

 

What health and safety measures are observed?

 

Our teachers work extremely hard to ensure that no students are unsupervised. Teachers are always present and rigorously monitoring students and their behaviours. It is easy for students to pull down their masks or forget about social distancing as this is a new way of life, it is sometimes hard for us as adults to remember the rules of social distancing. Teachers monitor students during bathroom breaks, inside and outside the classroom as well as during dismissal and arrival. Desks and items that are used during the day are sanitized every 20 minutes and our classrooms are fully disinfected at the end of every day. Students have learnt to sanitize their hands during every interval as well as when they have sneezed or coughed (which they confidently do into their elbow).

 

Are you using just your classroom space or other spaces too?

 

We have only been using our classroom space and an allocated outdoor area. There are no longer shared spaces such as the studio area, jungle gyms, sandpit and mud kitchen.

 

 What protective gear do teachers and students wear?

 

Students and teachers have been wearing masks. Some of our students have been wearing face shields but they often find this hard as it fogs up and they are unable to see.

 

What is something that would’ve been normal for you to do before that you can’t do anymore?

 

It has been very challenging for teachers and students to remove physical touch. Pre-primary students are very affectionate and love to give hugs and receive them. We also used to have a class handshake and a greeting routine which involved students picking either a hug, a high five, a fist pump or a wave. This had to be removed from the day in order to follow all the rules and regulations. Students at this age are learning to express their emotions through words but gestures are often used while they learn to explain their emotions correctly but during this time students have had to adjust and learn a new approach by expressing their emotions from a distance. We included the COVID cuddle as a new approach to hugging. Playing with their peers and working in groups is also an important part of their development, with this being removed we’ve had to try and think of new ways to teach and grow these skills.

 

How do you explain the new normal to kids? What do they understand about it?

 

Most of our students had amazing explanations given to them by their parents at home. We started term two by doing a science experiment where you place water in a bowl and grind pepper on top. You then dip your finger into the water and the pepper flakes stick to your finger. You then place soap on your finger and place it in the water again. The pepper flakes seem to run away from your finger. We explained that the pepper flakes are like germs, if you have clean hands they won’t come near you.

We went on to speak about COVID and how is COVID spread. Students understood that germs can make you sick just like COVID and if we keep our hands clean it will help us to stay healthy. We then went on to ask: do you think if someone is sick and they cough or sneeze on you that you could get sick? With some thought, many students said yes. We asked: so how can we protect ourselves and others from not getting sick? They responded with many answers such as, stay home if you are sick, wash your hands more, wear a mask and cough or sneeze into your elbow. We asked students to wear their masks to our online lessons. We also asked students to show us how they would cough or sneeze. Students were taught how to wash their hands correctly while they count to 20. Our students grasped these concepts extremely well and were able to practise at home before schools reopened.

We are excited to announce that our new Midrand campus is taking shape. The new site is located on Third Road and is less than 250m from the current school campus. The new property will allow us more space for the grades that we will introduce each year.

“Due to the realities of Covid-19 and weeks of lockdown, development had been delayed. However, we are happy to announce that the Senior Primary grades will now move to the new campus in January 2021, we will also be growing into a Secondary School which we are extremely excited about,” says Jeanine Kerr, Head of School for Nova Pioneer Midrand. 

 

Construction is continuing at a fast pace

 

Campuses highlights include: 

• A full-size sports field, a pool and a hardcourt which will extend our sports offering to all our students, including the lower grades who will remain on the Matuka campus
• Our Matuka campus will become further specialised for younger grades
• A science lab which will further develop our vision to grow innovation 
• An Amphitheatre to assist in developing performing arts
• More room for family events, such as picnics, concerts and fun days
• The uniques layout allows for team teaching to enrich learning
• A studio space that allows for small groups to work collaboratively outside their classroom but still under-cover
• Airy interior with classrooms windows facing inwards onto the studio space, creating a sense of community and connection with other students
• Breakaway classrooms for additional language teaching
• A counselling room to facilitate the holistic care of our students, including their social and emotional wellbeing
• Specialised playground equipment designed with the physical developmental needs of the upper primary student in mind

“The phase two building of our Secondary School which will be built shortly after phase one completion, will give our students the opportunity to complete their school careers using the Cambridge Curriculum. We look forward to having our students complete their entire career of schooling (Grade 000 to Grade 13) with us”, says Jeanine. 

The school’s academic team works very closely with the Nova Pioneer Property company in defining how the schools look and feel. The continuous collaboration between the two ensures that the buildings help facilitate the learning process for every Novaneer.

Nova Pioneer Midrand will include Grade 7 in 2021 and launch our inaugural Grade 8 class in 2022. For more information, contact our Midrand admissions team on admissions.midrand@novapioneer.com.

Have a look at our architectural rendering below:

 

 

 

 

 

We are well over the 100-day mark since our schools have closed and gradually re-opened, as a result of the COVID-19 quarantine and lockdown measures across both South Africa and Kenya. A lot of us can agree that there’s something about the past 100 days that seemed to make time fly by so fast. Changes to how we live our lives have been implemented at record speed, leaving us with the age-old question of how we are adapting to and adopting the changes. 

 

Adapting to change

 

Change is set to be the only constant as we continue grappling with what our new normal will look like. It is, however, an interesting time for the education sector across the world. We watch how our key players: teachers, students and parents take stock of what the changes mean for the future and how we can continue to make sure that we are as prepared for the same.

 

Webinars

 

Our Nova Pioneer Connect (webinar) hosted a much-needed conversation about how our Nova Pioneer community continues to respond to the times ahead. The connect panel consisted of our Kenyan Co-founder and Director, Christopher Khaemba, Chief of Schools, Rahel Wondwossen, Operations Leader for South Africa, Ofentse Lekwane, students, Vahin (Grade 10, Nova Pioneer Senior School, Ormonde), Michelle (Form Three, Nova Pioneer Tatu Girls) and a parent Dr Emily Too (Nova Pioneer Boys, Eldoret). The discussion centred around key lessons we have learned and how our South African team is handling school reopening.

 

Tune in to the rest of the conversation below.

 

You can catch up with their inspiring stories through the recorded recap down below.

 

Click on the links below to watch our Nova Pioneer Connect episodes that take place every fortnight.

Nova Pioneer Connect: Finding Your Inner Voice

Nova Pioneer Connect: Role of Creatives in Shaping a holistic Education Experience

Nova Pioneer Connect: Life after Nova Pioneer

Nova Pioneer Connect: How to help your child build grit during trying times

Emotions run high when families, schools and those involved in National decision making discuss matters around schools opening and closing. The passionate arguments from all sides speak directly to everyone’s intent: keeping our precious, little ones safe. 

 

Triangle of support 

 

Everyday this is front of mind for our teachers at Nova Pioneer. Our concern for safety is for all our children, those at home and at school. What has been clear, is that we do not carry this burden alone. During this time, the value of the ‘triangle of support’ (student at the top, anchored by the solid base of support provided by both parents and teachers) has been so apparent. Our Greater Together spirit has been so critical.  

 

As school reopened, a number of our students returned to a somewhat different campus. New routines and procedures, different classrooms, unfamiliar desk arrangements and absent friends could have proved unsettling for our little Novaneers (some emerging from home for the first time in a little over 3 months). However, the power of the triangle has made this transition to our ‘new normal’ so seamless and the bright smiles (under colourful masks) are a testament to this. 

 

Hugs, kisses and high fives

 

It is so special to see parents take a moment at drop off, to chant and sing last reminders, counting them off on their hands: ‘wear your mask, wash your hands, keep socially distant, and have an awesome day!’ Hugs, kisses and high fives in the confines of each car, relaxes the students before getting out and beginning the walk up to the screening. Even our littlest Novaneers come bouncing up the ramp with such confidence and independence, encouraged all the way by their welcoming teachers, as their parents are no longer able to walk them to class.

 

Social Distancing

 

Temperature checks and morning check-ins have become a special time for one-on-one chats with the Deans and School Leader. A moment to get to know each other a little better and allay any niggling fears at the start of each day. Our teachers skillfully manage social distancing while still creating a warm, ‘we are better together’, learning environment. Our Operations team have thought of everything, helping our little ones with markers and reminders all over our school so we can all keep safe! And then there is playtime! It has been so joyful to watch our students and teachers engage in safe play. The squeals of happiness and delight fill the spaces between us created by social distancing. 

 

Celebrating our students

 

At the top of this triangle are our heroes. We celebrate our students for their resilience, their encouragement of each other and their constant strive towards adhering to these new rules. It has been amazing to watch them adjust and cope and still come back each day, eager to learn and play. During such a time, our students are a reminder of hope and optimism and the power of a collective goal. We can be safe together!