Our Nova Pioneer had an opportunity to expose our students to animals when they hosted MobileZoo at the North Riding campus. As part of the Nova Pioneer learning approach we believe that learning doesn’t only occur in the classroom. Through this experience, our students were able to enjoy an interactive and educational session with various wild animals.

The unique interactive experience exposed our students to animals that they would not normally see outside of the zoo and they had the chance to engage with them inside their school. Research has shown that there is value in exposing children to animals and also establishing a bond between animals and children during their early stages of development.

Have a look at some of the benefits that come with exposing children to animals:

 

• Animals can help children develop a sensitivity to others

We saw this during the MobileZoo visit when the students showed extra care when they were handling the furry animals that had visited them at their school.

 

• Animals ignite cognitive curiosity in children

Our students were full of questions as they were introduced to the various creatures. The students wanted to know what the animals eat, where they originate from, whether they bite and many other questions came out of the MobileZoo visit.

 

• Animals make children more aware of the environment

Finding out that some of the animals that came to visit our Novaneers were endangered species made the students realise what is at stake when they do not play their part in looking after the environment that they share with the animals.

 

• Animals help children overcome their fears

We saw a number of our Novaneers overcome their fear of snakes when MobileZoo brought with them a friendly snake to meet the students. Some of the children were initially scared but they gradually warmed up to the snake when they saw that it was not dangerous.

• Animals encourage positive energy in children

During the MobileZoo visit at campus our school was filled with laughter and happiness as each animal was being introduced to our students. It was evident that the visit from the MobileZoo animals brought happiness to our school.

 

Source: https://www.communityplaythings.com/resources/articles/2015/connecting-animals-and-children

“Imagine a world where no girl or woman is held back because she menstruates.” This is the 2030 vision set by WASH United, a German non-profit organisation and the global coordinator of Menstrual Hygiene Day.

Every year on May 28, nonprofits, government agencies, the private sector, the media, and individuals come together to celebrate Menstrual Hygiene Day (MH Day) and advocate for the importance of good menstrual hygiene management (MHM). 

Over 800 million women and girls menstruate every day and yet, across the globe, ‘period poverty’ and stigma has been identified as a top reason for girls missing school. UNICEF has estimated that roughly 1 in 10 girls in Africa miss school because of their periods each year. Without access to proper education and resources, girls are often forced to stay home from school when menstruating. 

General practitioner, Dr Sihle Asiedu-Darkwah, strongly believes that schools, teachers, and parents can help lead the charge in ending the stigma around menstruation and support young girls as they go through this natural stage in their lives.

We caught up with Dr Sihle Asiedu-Darkwah to find out more about Menstrual Hygiene and also find out more about the role that she thinks schools and parents should play.

 

What are some of the issues girls and women face today with regards to menstrual hygiene?

Many females are not able to access appropriate sanitary products. This results in them using unsuitable substitutes or not leaving home at all during the menstrual period. This means that they miss out on school, work and other activities due to not being able to access sanitary products that can assist them to continue as usual during the menstrual period.

This further perpetuates the cycle of poverty – as more females do not finish school or sustain employment due to absenteeism.
Many females may not have knowledge or access to different types of sanitary products that can be more conducive to their lifestyle.

There may be females who are active/athletic and want to remain active during their menstrual period but cannot be due to the limitations of the sanitary products they have access to. Some women may have access to products such as tampons – but due to the misconception that tampons break your virginity – they will not use them.

 

What are some of the important things you believe parents, teachers and schools should teach their children about menstrual hygiene?

There is nothing dirty or shameful about menstruation. It is a natural process where the internal lining of the womb breaks down and is shed by the body. In the attempts to remove shame from menstruation, we need to openly talk about it and address any questions and misconceptions that both males and females may have about it.

I encourage parents to explain to their children that their experience may not be the same as their friends, sisters, or even their own experience. It may take some time to adjust to what is normal for them and to understand their own menstrual cycle. Children should never have to feel as though they can’t speak to their teachers or family if you have any questions or are unsure about the process. Healthcare providers are also a reliable person to discuss any questions that a young woman might have.

There are many different sanitary products that are available to try. Women should be allowed to choose one that fits their lifestyle. Women, young and old should not be afraid to explore their options.

 

In what ways can parents, teachers and schools end the stigma around menstruation and support girls with their menstrual hygiene?

Parents, teachers and schools need to have open discussions about menstruation in an environment that everyone feels safe to address their concerns or questions. In these discussions, my advice to both parents and teachers would be to (1) address
incorrect information related to menstruation; and (2) discuss different sanitary products that are available including their advantages and disadvantages.

It must be emphasized that everyone’s experience with menstruation is unique – one person’s experience might not be the same as another person’s experience and importantly, these discussions should be had with both males and females to further destigmatise the shame associated with menstruation.

Schools should ensure that every toilet facility on premises can accommodate for females who are menstruating (having a sanitary disposal bin, toilet paper and the appropriate level of privacy to ensure that females feel safe). There should also be access to sanitary products within the school environment. This may be in the form of a vending machine or access to free products through a teacher/counsellor.

 

Beyond fighting the stigma around menstruation, what else can World Menstrual Hygiene Day
achieve for girls and women across the globe?

This day should be used to ensure that every female has access to the sanitary products of their choice. It should be used to call on governments to ensure free access to sanitary products so that no female should ever have to miss work, school or other activities due to a lack of access to these products. 

Dr Asiedu-Darkwah believes that her empathy is what differentiates her in her field of work, and this is what is required from schools, teachers and parents when approaching topics and issues around menstruation, with both male and female students.

It is through the community of schools, teachers and parents that we can begin to destigmatise menstruation in our spaces and create a conducive environment for girls and women to be free to be the best that they can be without feeling limited due to a natural process that their bodies experience.

May 25 in 1963 was the day envisioned to annually celebrate and acknowledge the successes of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU, now the AU) in the fight against colonialism and apartheid. Today, the 25 th of May has evolved into a day of pride and a strong sense of identity for all Africans across the continent, endorsing African unity, integration and recommitting Africa to a shared resolution.

 

Africa is rising

 

The coming era should be the African Century – a time when the continent realises its full potential and leads the world in prosperity and innovation. That potential transformation is fueled by one resource – the continent’s youth.

By 2030, there will be more young people entering the workforce across Africa than the rest of the world combined. While other regions struggle with graying populations, Africa will be buoyed by a surge in youthful energy.

For the past 58 years Africans have been reimagining what it means to be an African. As a school group that is aimed at building leaders and innovators for the African Century, Nova Pioneer is trying to reimagine education for the African Child.

 

Shaping the African Century

 

Nova Pioneer exists to play a central role in that story of the new Africa. To translate that youth bulge into historic growth, African countries need to provide their next generations with great education, to develop an army of youth with the skills and opportunities to be innovators, job creators, and responsible leaders in every sector of society.

Nova Pioneer aims to be a guiding light for that education imperative. We will support tens of thousands of students each year to realise their potential and shape their countries and, in doing so, we will also inspire change in schools that serve millions more youth.

 

I Am an African

 

To commemorate Africa Day, we want to celebrate what it means to be an African and we believe former South African President, Thabo Mbeki, said it best in his iconic ‘I am an African’ speech. Here are some memorable quotes from the speech to reflect on for Africa Day:

“I am an African. I owe my being to the hills and the valleys, the mountains and the glades, the rivers, the deserts, the trees, the
flowers, the seas and the ever-changing seasons that define the face of our native land.”

“I am born of a people who are heroes and heroines, of a people who would not tolerate oppression.”

“It is a firm assertion made by ourselves that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white.”

“Whatever the setbacks of the moment, nothing can stop us now! Whatever the difficulties, Africa shall be at peace! However
improbable it may sound to the sceptics, Africa will prosper!”

Nova Pioneer is excited to announce we will welcome the first Grade 8 students at our new Midrand campus, with enrollment open now for the 2022 school year. Guided by our mission to develop young innovators and leaders who will shape the world, we are excited to extend our offering in Midrand from preschool through secondary school, and to be able to serve even more families in the Midrand community. This is the second secondary school to be opened in our South African network of schools and the sixth to be opened by Nova Pioneer Globally.

Phase 1 of an Extensive Secondary Campus is Complete

The secondary school campus will be multi-phased and is situated on a spacious site on 3rd Road, Carlswald (next to Protea Hotel Midrand), just a few hundred metres from the current primary school site in Matuka Close. The newly built campus will serve both the school’s upper primary and secondary students.

Phase 1 of the development includes a modern double-storey classroom block with 10 classrooms per floor, as well as central studio space. The new block also includes a modern science lab for students. External facilities provide for age-relevant recreational areas, as well as sporting facilities, including a 25m x 8m swimming pool, multipurpose hardcourt (for tennis, basketball and netball) and a full-size sports field that can be used for soccer, other sports and extra-murals.

 

Cambridge Accredited

Nova Pioneer is a private school network that offers quality education grounded in the Cambridge standards, an internationally accredited curriculum that is both locally and globally recognised. Our secondary campuses offer grades up to and including Grade 13, which is optional but a popular choice for many students based on their specific tertiary learning plans.

We recently celebrated the 2020 matriculating class  at our Ormonde Campus for their strong achievement, which was most exemplary considering how disruptive the 2020 year was.  The Cambridge AS and A-level examinations set a very high standard that is both globally and locally respected.  Our graduates outperformed international benchmarks on 70% of the subjects examined.  In addition, our graduates exemplified the character, dynamism and positive confidence of innovators and leaders.  We look forward to similar success for students in our new Midrand secondary school.

Our Midrand based secondary school will open its doors in January 2022, catering for Grade 8 students initially and subsequently adding grades. 

 

Post School Success Team

At Nova Pioneer, we place a high value on students’ post-secondary school success. We strongly believe many elements can impact a student’s ability to succeed after completing secondary school. 

Thus, we want to ensure that students perform well academically and ensure that they feel supported and prepared to succeed beyond Nova Pioneer.  We recognise that those paths will be as diverse as our students are, reflecting their passions and talents.  To that effect, we have a Post-School Success (PSS) programme to provide all students with personalised guidance on exploring post-school options. Our PSS programme is a unique offering available to our senior secondary students,” said Chijioke.

Since its introduction in both South Africa and Kenya, Nova Pioneer’s PSS programme has facilitated the admission of students into universities both locally and abroad.

 

Schools for Innovators and Leaders

It is our belief at Nova Pioneer that too many schools focus too narrowly on knowledge memorisation and content accumulation.  While Nova Pioneer considers academic mastery and skills to be critically important, we also places focus on a more holistic set of skills aligned with our vision of developing high-character leaders and innovators.

We focus on developing our students’ character, problem-solving capabilities and interpersonal connection.  We call these our ‘3Cs’.  We expect our students to excel in exams and attend great universities, but ultimately our success will be measured by our graduates’ lives.  By the innovations they develop, companies they launch and lead, art they create, and impact they have on their communities.

Ultimately, we want our students to become shapers of a world they envision, rather than takers of the world they inherit. We are very proud of all our students and wish them well as they transition into the next secondary learning stage of their lives. We look forward to having our students complete their entire schooling career (Grade 000 to Grade 13) at Nova Pioneer Midrand and openly welcome students from other schools too.

Challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, including the closures of schools in most countries, pushed the education sector to start thinking differently about how to deliver education. There was a fear that not many were not prepared to survive and thrive through COVID.

 

A real opportunity for change

The struggles faced by many students across the world during this time became a catalyst for more discussions within the education sector about how to best equip students with the abilities and traits that will most serve them in a time where we see everything changing and developing quite rapidly. 

 

Staying ahead of the curve

While no one could’ve predicted the pandemic, we at Nova Pioneer have always been clear about our intention to empower young people with the kind of capabilities and mindsets that prepared them to lead through change. Our founding question at Nova Pioneer has been, ‘What capabilities will young people on this continent need to succeed in and shape the future that they will encounter, and what approaches to education will best develop those capabilities?’ 

It is our view that too many schools only see their job as developing “smart kids” and are focused narrowly on building a student’s knowledge base and academic skills. While that is critically important, Nova Pioneer feels it is important to offer a more holistic learning experience. This idea is what helped form the “Vision of a Novaneer” – a concept focused on developing our students’ character, capabilities and connection (our 3Cs). 

 

An opportunity to reflect

We do believe that the pandemic created an opportunity for us to both (1) test whether the skills students learn in the classroom can be applied to real life situations; and (2) teach students skills that they may have, in a normal circumstances, only learned later in their education career. 

We asked Nova Pioneer School Leads and Deans to talk us through the (1) learning experiences of students during the school closures; (2) lessons learned from these experiences; and also, (3) how our students were able to adapt their in-classroom learning to remote learning. Were students prepared well enough to thrive through COVID and the new normal?

 

Chantelle Ashley – Associate Dean North Riding Campus

When I think about the remote learning experience, I think about how our students, teachers and parents had to embrace being flexible, adaptable and self-reliant – all skills and attributes that the Nova Pioneer learning approach incorporates in the classroom from an early age. The inquiry-based learning approach encourages students to problem solve and to have a sense of ownership and accountability in their own learning. During school closures we saw students apply these skills by taking responsibility for communicating with teachers and following up on tasks independently. We also saw parents engage in assessment tasks, where they were able to explore the deeper value of the Cambridge sessions our school provided the previous year. 

 

Dr Robyn Thompson – Associate Dean of Instruction Boksburg Campus

Staying connected with our students and families was also imperative – it’s how we build community. The culture of checking in on each other is something we’ve always practiced, even before the pandemic. Our teachers use these check-ins to help students practice mindfulness and to teach them the value of support and empathy.  It’s all part of being able to build a sense of community. We were able to maintain these emotional check-ins with our students during check-ins and saw many of our students sharing confidently, with others giving feedback in a productive manner through our virtual meets. It was also through this intentionality around building our community that the awareness of vulnerable families and children was heightened as children shared during the sessions. It was like being invited into one another’s homes. 

 

Sameerah Mahomed – Dean of Students Ormonde Campus

Our Culture Principles came into play in many ways as students sought to thrive through COVID. Students demonstrated the Joy of Learning as they stayed curious as they discovered new ways of learning and connecting with each other. There were many moments that called for our students to adopt an Always Growing mindset as they constantly engaged their teachers and peers by asking clarifying questions during lessons. They also had to learn how to communicate with their teachers through email when parents were working. Despite the disruptions caused by school closures, students didn’t lower their standards, they still had High Expectations of themselves and produced high quality work. I saw students putting on their Solutions First and Greater Together thinking caps as they would also assist one another on Google Classroom when their teachers could not respond immediately – they would give their peers detailed instructions or next steps.

 

Tsholofelo Moyo – Associate Dean of Students Midrand Campus

Coming back into the classroom, we see how students have grown despite the challenges. One could even say they went from surviving to thriving. Through this pandemic, all of our learners have taken in quite a lot of lessons in addition to practicing good hygiene that will stay with them and prepare them for a successful future. 

We see students back in the classroom, having developed a high sense of autonomy and actively driving their own learning. They are in the driver’s seat and taking ownership and responsibility of their learning experience. Students have become even more confident to share resources and ask teachers questions on the platforms we are using in order to gain more clarity.

The constant use of the internet has also allowed for students to become more aware of the responsible use of the internet and we have been able to have meaningful conversations around cyber-bullying and ways to avoid being a victim of being hacked online. All to say, while we feel our students were well-prepared to thrive through COVID, they also took it a step further and brought their learnings back into the classroom. 

Please join us in celebrating and congratulating our Nova Pioneer Ormonde Secondary students and teammates following the release of the Cambridge results for our students.

Our Grade 11, 12 and 13 students (at our Nova Pioneer Ormonde Campus) recently received their Cambridge IGCSE, AS and A-Level exam results respectively, concluding many months of preparation and many years of hard work. Cambridge qualifications are internationally recognised, opening doors for Nova Pioneer  students to universities in South Africa and worldwide. We are proud to be one of a few South African schools that offer the Cambridge Curriculum.

 

From surviving to thriving

Without a doubt, our secondary students demonstrated a high level of commitment during the last year, despite the unprecedented disruption and uncertainty presented by the challenges brought about by COVID-19 last year. We are extremely grateful to the teaching and support teams who have drawn on their extensive teaching and coaching experience to support all students through this immensely difficult time. The resilience shown by our Nova Pioneer Ormonde Secondary teachers and students is a true demonstration of how we live out our culture principles of High Expectations and Always Growing.

 

Exceeding the International Average

Our Grade 12 and 13 students earned a wide range of result outcomes with 50% of the 2020 class achieving aggregates of B or A symbols. We also saw 100% of those who wrote their A-Levels go on to obtain their National Senior Certificate – officially matriculating. Notable achievements also include seeing our matriculating class of 2020 exceeding Cambridge’s global average aggregate in various subjects including English, Business and History. Of those who tested, 63% and 65% achieved A-C aggregates for History and Business Studies, respectively, relative to the Global average aggregates of 45% and 50%, respectively

 

Cambridge International IGCSE Results

We would like to take this opportunity to also shine a spotlight on our future graduates who completed their IGCSE examinations in 2020. We saw 75% of all papers receive A – C symbols. The 2020 IGCSE class obtained 38 A symbols and 71 B symbols. Of the 38 A symbols, 9 were A* – indicating 90% or above. A wonderful achievement considering how disruptive the 2020 year was, and an indicator that the Class of 2021, will be well prepared for success!

The IGCSEs represent the end of the Cambridge Upper Secondary curriculum. More importantly, in the South African context, IGCSEs are critical examinations because success at this level will be combined with students’ performance at the Cambridge Advanced Level (AS or A Level) in order to be eligible for a Matric Exemption, which is the minimum requirement for eligibility to apply to universities. 

 

Not the end of the journey

Too many schools see their job as developing “smart kids” and focus narrowly on building a student’s knowledge base and academic skills. While that is critically important, Nova Pioneer holds itself accountable to a more holistic “Vision of a Novaneer”: we want to deeply develop our students’ character, capabilities and connection.  We define our success based on a larger set of longer-term goals; we expect our students to excel in exams and attend great universities, build innovations and art, launch new companies, and impact their communities. Ultimately, we want our students to become shapers of a world they envision rather than takers of the world they inherit. We are very proud of all our students and wish them well as they transition into the next stage of their lives.

 

The year 2020 came with many unprecedented challenges. At Nova Pioneer, we like to see challenges as opportunities. I believe that to truly learn, one must be taken out of their comfort zone. The pandemic certainly catapulted us all into that space, and beyond. I sincerely believe that there are some important lessons that give me hope for the future and evolution of education:

 

Adaptability is imperative

Without a doubt many of us found out just how flexible we could be, despite many challenges. It was during these tough times that we saw new ideas being born and discovered various new ways of working. We all had to adapt.

 

Endurance has been tested

While many of us are still grieving all that was lost in the year 2020, we can’t deny that it was in these moments of real loss that we saw communities come together and support each other. Of course, this has not been true for all facing the massive challenges of a pandemic, but it has pushed humanity into a different way of thinking about things. 

 

Rethinking how we deliver education 

Following the announcement of school closures in March last year, the education sector, and the independent schools sector in particular, has had to constantly think on its feet and venture into spaces that were new, and often scary, for us all. 

Online learning became an essential offering, even if this was not a route considered before. Education institutes like ours have had to become learners themselves, walking a journey exploring this online world together with teachers, parents and students. Teachers, at first terrified of this new world, were excited to hone their research skills by looking into better ways of reaching their students. This, in turn, gave them the opportunities to develop their peers professionally. 

 

No one has the answers

We were, and still are, all in this together and no one has all the answers. All I know is that these challenges have presented opportunities to be lifelong learners at a head-spinning pace! There were no “how to” video tutorials on how to teach or learn this way readily available – we are all pioneers. The whole world was learning at the same time – no one had all the answers. 

 

Still more to learn 

What we know for sure is that we have learned that there will still be ongoing challenges. However, given a growth mindset where solutions are part of the journey, we are certain that we can face these new and difficult challenges. Once this pandemic is over, our learnings will stay with us, particularly the understanding that we are more flexible than we think, more capable of learning, adapting and reinventing than we dreamed possible. We now have evidence that resilience is something we can build, particularly with the support of others, and through supporting others. Many generations will be affected by this time period but not all the changes have been negative. In fact, dare I say there is a lot of hope for the future and evolution of education.

 

Did you know that all children have psychosocial support needs. These needs can vary depending on a child’s age, their life experiences, their family situation, gender, and even their individual personalities. According to Unicef, disruptions caused by COVID-19 have also had a profound impact on the mental wellbeing of children across the world, further making school psychologist services essential for the students’ wellbeing.

 

Psychosocial support is a need for all

According to the Regional Psychosocial Support Initiative (REPSSI), psychosocial wellbeing is a necessary condition for any human being to realise their full potential and to lead fulfilling, healthy and productive lives. 

REPSSI is an organisation with a mission to lead in innovative Mental Health and Psychosocial Support interventions to transform policy and practice for girls, boys and youth in Africa to reach their potential

In an earlier edition of their Teacher’s Diploma in Psychosocial Care, Support and Protection Module, REPSSI states that people that have psychosocial support have shown a higher self-esteem than average, and thus show confidence in their ability to solve problems, make decisions, build positive social relationships, work together and resolve conflicts. 

 

Psychologist supporting students

As schools across the world strive to provide healthy and positive learning experiences that promote the optimal development of the whole child, school psychologists have come to play an increasingly important role in promoting this development. School psychologist services at schools has become a necessity.

The mental health and wellbeing of children is recognised as a critical condition for optimal learning and development. School psychologists can help promote the mental and educational health and wellness of students in a number of different ways, including through the provision of individual and group therapeutic interventions and in the provision of preventative and health promoting group work. 

Having psychologists on a school team gives students access to mental health care, including psychotherapy, which can often be difficult and sometimes very costly to access outside of the school. 

 

Psychotherapy is a specialised and often scarce service 

Nova Pioneer’s Psychosocial Team consists of  educational and clinical psychologists,  intern psychologists working under supervision, and registered counsellors. Each campus is provided with a team member, whose time on campus is proportioned according to the campus size. 

We aim to provide quality psychological care to all students who are referred to us, and we strive to promote mental health and wellness in all aspects of the Nova Pioneer educational experience. Our interventions aim to optimise and enhance the social, emotional, behavioral and academic functioning and development of the students we work with.  All team members have the training and skills to intervene immediately if a student has experienced trauma or is needing support in managing a crisis. 

As mental health specialists and experts in childhood development, our team provides input and support to teachers and school leadership in the development of student support strategies, and in promoting whole-school wellness and inclusive educational practices.  This involves supporting, accommodating and including students who have particular educational or mental health needs. In working alongside parents, our team also promotes health and wellbeing within families. 

We encourage parents to reach out to their child’s teacher, or the Dean of Students if they feel their child is in need of support. 

 

Nova Pioneer welcomed students to the first day of school today, 20 January. However, orientation week is a bit different this year. Instead of struggles with the morning rush and first day of school traffic delays, parents instead had to navigate logging onto Google Classrooms so they, together with their little ones, could meet their children’s teachers. A new normal for all of us but definitely not one that will kill the buzz of the Day 1 excitement. While each Nova Pioneer campus has their own approach to school start and some Novaneers might only be meeting their teachers today, it was great to finally kick off the 2021 academic year. 

 

Delay in school reopening

 

On 15 January, the Department of Basic Education (DBE) announced school reopenings were to be delayed to mitigate further risks associated with COVID-19.  The directive was made by the department in light of continued high infection rates and risks related to COVID-19.

While Nova Pioneer is fully prepared and eager to have students back in the classroom, all Nova Pioneer South African campuses will continue to adhere to the government reopening directives. However, we are confident and can assure all parents that all campuses have put in place all the necessary measures to protect the safety of students when they return to campus. While our campuses will remain temporarily closed for on-campus learning, lessons will continue for children from home as the school switches plans from on-campus learning to a remote learning programme.

 

A shift in education

 

With the COVID-19 epidemic, the nature of learning has had to change. This period has significantly transformed how teaching and learning occurs, not only in South Africa but also globally.  With the recent global move to online learning during these disruptive times, a priority for us at Nova Pioneer is to ensure that children stay engaged in powerful and meaningful learning experiences during this time.

In 2020, following the directive from President Cyril Ramaphosa to close all on-campus learning, the Nova Pioneer team was able to quickly pivot to an online learning format. This was made possible through the collaboration by the schools and central learning design teams. 

Despite the disruption in learning, Nova Pioneer students ended the year with remarkable student academic and personal growth which has proven that learning disruption was minimised in 2020 with the switch to online learning. As such, we feel very confident that your child will feel supported during this time as all our teachers are well trained in providing quality education online. We are confident that our experience from the successful implementation of online learning in 2020 will continue to benefit all of our Novaneers and we remain excited to welcome your child/ren to online school on January 20th.  

 

 

Online Learning to accommodate parent schedules

 

We understand that closure of in-person school can create additional burdens for families where parents or guardians are working. As such, all Nova Pioneer campuses have done their best to ensure that the learning experience is flexible to support a variety of constraints that households may be facing during this time.

Schools have designed the remote/online learning to include a mix of small group live classes and offline activities for application of the lesson. Classes will be recorded for the benefit of parents who can only work with their children in the evenings. Teachers will also indicate which tasks are the most essential in order to accommodate parents’ busy schedules. While we too are eager to have students back in the classroom, please know that we’ve done our best to optimize for continued learning as well as parent support and availability. 

 

Do we expect further delays?

 

We know that the start of this year has been anything but predictable.  We appreciate the various governing bodies, like Independent Schools of South Africa (ISASA) and the DBE, who are continuing to keep the safety of all learners and our nation in mind as they continue to make difficult decisions.  

We have every reason to believe that the current delay of on campus learning will be brief.  As communicated by the DBE, the goal is to mitigate the second wave and the impact it has on the healthcare system. We will continue to plan to welcome students back onto campus as soon as that is advisable, which will be informed by the guidance we will receive from ISASA and the DBE.  

 

Calling on our Nova Pioneer Culture Principles

 

As we have already learned in the first few weeks of 2021, we will all be called to exercise our “Solutions First” mindset as Novaneers.  We will remain flexible and responsive to the developments of COVID impact as they arise.  We will continue to support all learners in their Joy of Learning as they get ready to start their new school year.

 

 

If you had asked any of our teammates in the beginning of the year how we saw 2020 turning out, the answer definitely wouldn’t have been “surviving a Pandemic”.  I mean, if our One Team Day “Uptown Funk” dance off was anything to go by, no one could’ve predicted that the president would shut down schools weeks later.

 

Nothing keeps us down too long

Despite the issues of our world, our team has been amazing in pulling together while we’ve stayed and worked safely apart. We saw our academic teams pivot quickly to teaching virtually and even getting back on campus to teach in what we now refer to as our “new normal”. As an organisation we were also very intentional about keeping the team feeling connected through virtual team meets and events. We recently hosted the first Virtual One Team Day – with more than 200 teammates on a Zoom line. It doesn’t stop there. Our team also recently took part in the from the Jerusalema Challenge. Can we say that we haven’t let the year keep us down?

 

Pulse Check

Every year our Culture and Talent Teams send out a team survey to check in on our teammates. This year, this survey was especially important. One of the questions we ask in the Culture Survey, or pulse check is, ‘Even on a hard day do you feel this is the place for you?’ I think it is safe to say that 2020  has felt like a hard day for everyone both physically and mentally. don’t you agree?

To see what keeps our Novaneers ticking and understand the deeper commitment to exceeding expectations even on a hard ‘day’, we asked some of our teammates a simple question: Why Nova Pioneer? Here is what a few of our teammates had to say. 

 

Sameerah, Associate Dean (Ormonde) 

Whenever I question myself or my¨why¨, seeing our students´ growth and potential motivates me to strengthen my practice and not only lead by example, but allow myself to be led by them. 

 

Sona – Teacher (Ruimsig)

My name is Sona Moodley and I am a Novaneer. I was born to shine! My name actually means “gold, precious”. At Nova Pioneer, I found an environment that enables and empowers the star in me to shine brighter and live in lustre. Being a Novaneer makes me want to do better; be bigger; and go higher. 

 

Kobus – Learning Design Team 

What makes me proud to be a Novaneer is that we are challenging harmful stereotypes of the African continent by developing young innovators and leaders who will shape the continent into a place of abundance and prosperity. I feel privileged to have the opportunity to develop signature learning experiences, which will equip Novaneers with the skills and competencies to be changemakers for the continent. I am proud of being part of the Africa Rising movement by working for Nova Pioneer. 

 

Wes – People, Systems and Analytics Team 

Nova Pioneer is filled with the most diverse and talented bunch of people I have ever had the privilege of working with. A group of people who are sincerely committed to improving the lived experience of as many others as possible. In many organizations there will be talk of culture, of how an employee conducts themselves and how they interact with others- mostly all talk in my experience. The difference here is that I see the tangible outcomes of teammates who actually do live out our culture principles, not some cliched hollowed out version of it. I see people who want to go the extra mile. I am proud to work alongside such a calibre of person and I am proud of how the work we do will impact the African century. 

 

Samson – Teacher (Ormonde)

Working at any school can be a challenge but there are so many reasons why I love working at  Nova Pioneer: Nova Pioneer is incredibly unique – The methodology and style of teaching are so engaging. Our inquiry-based learning brings enthusiasm and meaningful meaning to learning. Our culture principles enable us to trust and build a team that focuses on growth mindset, solutions to every problem. We believe that learning is a journey to both our students and teachers. 

 

Karely – Teacher (Paulshof) 

I love being a Novaneer because of the tremendous support and opportunities for growth. Through observations, feedback and professional development sessions, I’ve grown as a teacher and have achieved more than I ever thought I could. I am part of such a caring, compassionate team, and I truly feel appreciated and seen as an individual. 

 

Inge – Admissions and Marketing Team 

Disneyland has it wrong, to me Nova Pioneer is the happiest place in the world. The organisation is really thoughtful about the kind of people they hire and as a result every day you’ll work with remarkable, smart, kind and engaged teammates. The leadership team is diverse, approachable and deeply connected to our mission so every choice we make adds to the bigger goal of enhancing education across the African continent. Joy is palpable here and so even on the toughest days (and we know that 2020 has had plenty of those) I know it’s the place for me. 

 

Basil – Associate Dean (Ormonde)

If you are looking for a stimulating place to teach, to flex your creative and intellectual muscles, to spread your wings; then Nova Pioneer is the place to teach. Day by day we seek to change the world and create a launch pad for the life success of our students. Come and be a part of the team at Nova Pioneer senior school. 

 

Lebo M – Receptionist (Ormonde)

I have never had to adjust my personality to feel at home, we work hard for our children and parentś needs and play just as hard to feed our inner child souls.  Thereś freedom to express your opinion with no fear of discrimination and you are always challenged to do more for yourself in order to do more for others. 

 

If being in an organisation where your toughest days are still worth it or being in a place where you can embed your personal why to a mission you believe in, Nova Pioneer may be for You. Visit our Careers page now, applications for 2021 are officially open!