Mindfulness in the Classroom

Mindfulness refers to a state of mind where a person has a heightened awareness of the internal and external experiences that are occurring at the present moment. It is a practice where your mind and all its thoughts are quietened bringing a feeling of calmness and increased awareness and focus.

Mindfulness refers to a state of mind where a person has a heightened awareness of the internal and external experiences that are occurring at the present moment. It is a practice where your mind and all its thoughts are quietened bringing a feeling of calmness and increased awareness and focus.

 

The concept of mindfulness is thought to have been introduced to the west by Jon Kabat-Zinn in the late 1970s, who described it as “the awareness that emerges through paying attention on purpose, at that moment.

 

Now more than ever, teaching mindfulness in the classroom is essential. As the world is experiencing unprecedented times with the Covid-19 pandemic.  Students, teachers, and parents feel stressed and anxious.

 

We also live busy lives and find our thoughts buzzing with a myriad of things to do and worry about.

 

As educators, we know that children learn best when they are comfortable, feel safe, and relaxed. By incorporating mindfulness in the classroom, teachers can create an environment for their students that is nurturing and non-threatening. It can set the climate for the day that is optimal for learning.

 

There are many benefits to mindfulness for students:

 

  • Reduces stress and anxiety
  • Improves attention and focus
  • Improves the student’s cognitive performance
  • Better emotional and social intelligence
  • Improves memory

 

There are a few ways that our  teachers incorporate mindfulness into their classrooms, 

 

Mindfulness Through Breathing

Teaching children to breathe deeply into their stomachs when they feel stressed and anxious. This helps to calm their body and mind.

 

Mindfulness Through Sensory Experiences

Sensory experiences also help children to relax and focus. By playing relaxing or classical music with calming sounds, children can focus and concentrate on the task at hand. Work produced is of a higher quality and the classroom has a calm atmosphere.

 

Mindfulness Through Guided Imagery

Guided Imagery can develop children’s imaginations. It helps them to integrate learning with prior knowledge. When teachers introduce a new concept, they invite children to close their eyes and slowly talk them through a journey. In this way, the children can imagine and visualize – placing them in the right frame of mind and focus. In the younger classes, children can pretend they are the animals and mimic the sounds and movements of the animals. This just helps them to relate better to the topic that will follow.

 

At Nova Pioneer Ruimsig, our teachers incorporate all these strategies every day in their classrooms. You will always hear relaxing background music in each class when students are working independently. Music is also used to support transitions between centres. We use Guided Imagery in the younger grades to create a fun and interactive environment before the teacher introduces the new topic. Students are encouraged to close their eyes and imagine they are various characters or in a different setting to visualize the concept. This helps students to internalize the concept using all their senses. 

 

Our Grade  R, 1, and 3 classes actively practice meditation each morning. Teachers have noted the benefits of meditation in their classrooms, stating that their students are calm, focused, and are able to concentrate better throughout the day. 

 

Deep breathing techniques are also practiced after the lunch breaks and Physical Education (PE) transitions to help settle the class for the next lesson and put them in a calm and focussed frame of mind. 

 

As a result of practicing mindfulness on our Ruimsig campus, our students appear calm, relaxed, and happy.

 

 

Source:

http://www.educationalneuroscience.org.uk/resources/neuromyth-or-neurofact/mindfulness-has-a-place-in-the-classroom/#

https://childmind.org

https://www.edutopia.org/blog/integrating-mindfulness-in-classroom-curriculum-giselle-shardlow

 

Competition time, WIN a holiday stay in Umhlanga for the family

Stand a chance to win 7 days of luxury accommodation in Umhlanga, KZN, when you tell us what makes your Novaneer child stand out.  We may be biased but we believe that Novaneers (Nova Pioneer students) stand out amongst their peers.  They’re the kind of students who aim high. They’re

Stand a chance to win 7 days of luxury accommodation in Umhlanga, KZN, when you tell us what makes your Novaneer child stand out. 

We may be biased but we believe that Novaneers (Nova Pioneer students) stand out amongst their peers. 

They’re the kind of students who aim high. They’re empowered to lead, to grow, to do more, be more and achieve great things.  #HighExpectations

Novaneers are resilient and adaptable in uncertainty. We saw this when schools closed last year and they had to pivot to a new way of learning (#AlwaysGrowing). They worked together with their peers and teachers to thrive during what may have been the toughest year for all of us. #GreaterTogether 

Our students are always pushing boundaries. They think fast to solve problems and, most importantly, they solve problems together. #SolutionsFirst

Their confidence is off the charts. They’re the kind of students who speak up because they know their voice matters! #JoyOfLearning

But most importantly, Novaneers stand out because of their big hearts – they care deeply about their peers, their learning and their teachers. #ServantLeaders

Enough about what we think however, we want to hear from you mom, dad, sister, brother or even you Novaneer, what you think makes a Novaneer stand out. How do you stand out?

Post on social media showing us what makes your Novaneer child a stand-out student, be creative and get all your friends to like and share. Tag @novapioneer_sa on Instagram and Twitter, Nova Pioneer South Africa on Facebook and @novapioneer on TikTok, using the hashtag #imaNovaneer. 

The post with the highest engagement, this includes likes, shares and comments (views excluded) will win 7 days of luxury accommodation in Umhlanga, KZN (please see terms and conditions below).

P.S: Make sure your profile is public in order for us to view and enter your video into the draw

Terms & conditions: 

  • This competition is open ONLY to current Nova Pioneer parents from schools in South Africa. Entrants would have to be a current parent at the time of the competition closing on 15 November 2021. 
  • There will be one prize of a 6-night stay at a 3 bedroom self-catering apartment in Umhlanga, KZN (sleeping a max of 6 people). This prize can only be redeemed in low or mid-season (excludes December and early January). Travel, meals, and entertainment are excluded from this prize and will be for the winner’s own account. 
  • The prize must be redeemed before 15 November 2022. Dates will be subject to availability.
  • Nova Pioneer parents and students may enter the competition utilising the following mechanism: 
    • Current Nova Pioneer parents will have to film their child (or themselves) talking about what makes their Nova Pioneer child stand out from the rest. They need to post the video online (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook or TikTok) using the hashtag #imaNovaneer and tag us on their post. The video with the most engagements (likes and shares – not views) as of 15 November 2021, will win the above-mentioned prize.
    • By entering the competition through the use of the hashtag, Nova Pioneer will consider this consent from the entrant to post on their social media platforms.
  • The winner is required to pay a R2000 breakage deposit before the stay
  • Nova Pioneer has a right (with consent from the winners to): (i) electronically publish and distribute the photos of these prize winners in any website or social media platform

(ii) include the photo(s) in advertising and promotion materials; and 

(iii) to include the photo(s) in print and non-print products.  

  • The winner will be notified by direct message via the associated social media platform.  
  • Prizes are not exchangeable, transferable or exchangeable for cash. 
  • The prize must be claimed within one month from the date of the draw.
  • All unclaimed prizes will be forfeited by 30 June 2022.  
  • Parents are to abide by the rules and regulations stated by the organizer.  
  • In case of dispute, the organizer’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entertained.  
  • This competition runs from 20 October 2021 to 15 November 2021. The winner will be announced on 20 November 2021.  
  • Nova Pioneer reserves the right to amend the terms and conditions of or withdraw this competition if required by the authorities.

 

Love my Mother Tongue – Love Me

Simikazi Deyi expresses the importance of mother tongue languages in an article in 2018 that states, “Language is not just a series of words, but includes certain nuances that emerge in the form of idioms, metaphors and euphemisms, as well as praises. Language is therefore tied intrinsically to a sense

Simikazi Deyi expresses the importance of mother tongue languages in an article in 2018 that states, “Language is not just a series of words, but includes certain nuances that emerge in the form of idioms, metaphors and euphemisms, as well as praises. Language is therefore tied intrinsically to a sense of belonging, which is in turn linked to society and its values”. In a country where our differences have so often divided us, our school is always looking for tangible opportunities to acknowledge the spectrum of who we are. 

 

Language has historically been a divisive tool in education. Used to disempower, to segregate, and to alienate children from access to quality education. One simply needs to reflect on the 1976 Soweto Uprising to realise how powerful a tool language is in creating equitable access to education. In modern day South Africa, we still struggle with classism and bias based on people’s accents when they speak in English. As schools serving children on the African continent, it is our responsibility to work to create a cohesive society, and the acknowledgement of our language diversity is one of many ways we can make this possible for our learners. 

 

A starting point for us was to embrace the different languages spoken by our students. In social and break settings, we do not prohibit students from speaking in their mother tongue. Rather, we seek to empower our students to understand how to include their peers, and not allow children of differing languages to feel excluded from a social group. We also encourage our students to learn language through socialising with their peers, who may speak a different language. This is a more complicated approach than simply saying everyone must speak English, however, the long term impact on social cohesion is more meaningful. 

 

With all this in mind, our team launched our first Love Your Mother Tongue Week (LYMT Week) in 2019. LYMT Week is a week where parents can book a slot to come in to visit their child’s class during the Morning Meeting, which is the first half hour of the day. During this time parents are invited to read a story, teach the children a song, or recite a poem in their mother tongue. During COVID parents have been able to join via Zoom. Since starting LYMT Week, we have been treated to the most rewarding recognition of who we are as a nation. Our children have experienced parents celebrating the various indigenous South African languages, Asianlanguages, English, Afrikaans, languages from the Middle East, as well languages from throughout Africa by introducing them to the rich nuances of their languages through music, poetry and storytelling. 

 

We host this each term in an effort to normalise the differences that make us who we are, and being mindful to not just doing this once a year on a national holiday. Operationally, this is a very simple event, which requires no changes to our timetable, and is facilitated with a simple booking form. While it is very little work to organise, the power and impact of it is huge. It is however, important that the true shift does not just come from a termly event, but rather from interrogating our policies about language, and language diversity, both formal and informal. We should continue to strive to create cohesion through our everyday actions and daily acknowledgement of our differences, or else events like this will remain hollow and will be unable to affect the change we need to see in our society.

 

5 Things to Consider When Looking for a High School

High school is the final phase of basic education, and the seeds planted in high school will be the fruits that will grow in tertiary. Looking for a high school for your child is no small feat. Parents want to know that their children are well prepared in high school

High school is the final phase of basic education, and the seeds planted in high school will be the fruits that will grow in tertiary. Looking for a high school for your child is no small feat. Parents want to know that their children are well prepared in high school to face tertiary education.

 

  1. Find out what happens to students after they matriculate

 

A school’s post-high school success rate is one of the first things parents ought to consider when looking for a high school for their child. At Nova Pioneer, we place great value on students’ post-high school success. We strongly believe many elements can impact a student’s ability to succeed after completing high school. Thus, we want to ensure that students perform well academically at our institutions and ensure that they feel supported and prepared to succeed beyond Nova Pioneer. 

 

  1. Additional support programmes

 

The kind of support a high school provides their students, specifically with regards to tertiary support programmes, exposure and resources – is as important as the school’s success rate. Our Post-School Success (PSS) programme at Nova Pioneer is designed to leverage different stakeholders in the student’s ecosystem, to facilitate the student’s exploration and understanding of themselves. The programme is a unique offering available to our senior high school students and it provides our students with personalised guidance on exploring post-school options.

 

  1. Educational philosophy 

 

Parents should understand the unique educational philosophy of the school that they’re considering for their child. Schools operate with different educational values and some might not be aligned with your family values or the values you wish to instil in your child. For example, public schools are typically driven by a directive to teach in order to test. On the other hand, independent schools, like Nova Pioneer, have much more creativity and flexibility to develop our curriculum to allow our students to learn in a more all-inclusive way. We, at Nova Pioneer, are intentionally developing generations of innovators and leaders who will shape the African Century.

 

  1. Academic programme

 

Parents should also get a sense of what the academic programme of the school looks like and how it fits into their child’s needs. Your child will be spending their last years of basic education at that school; make sure that the school offers classes that interest and challenge your child. Nova Pioneer offers the Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) curriculum, designed to teach students how to learn and how to go on learning. Our role goes beyond helping students achieve good results, and beyond giving students passports for progression to university or employment. We give our students a curriculum that will bring lifelong success in tomorrow’s world.

 

  1. Classroom experience

 

Parents ought to have a guided experience around the high schools that they’re considering for their children. Make sure that you see the on-campus offering, facilities and how the classrooms are structured. In our classroom experience, Nova Pioneer invites parents to become students again by having them experience our unique way of teaching and experiencing what it’s like to be a Novaneer.

What parents need to remember is that there is no right or wrong way of selecting a high school for your child. Parents need to consider what will work best for their children. Place the needs of your child first when choosing a high school for them. And remember, whatever the high school has to offer your child, at the end of their high school career, the school needs to have prepared them for the next level of education post-high school.

 

Source

 

The Importance of Building a Teacher-Parent Relationship

Each year, parents enter into a co-guardianship with their child’s teacher. Each of us in this partnership plays our different roles, but we all strive to surround the child and put their needs at the centre. Our common goal is to have the child succeed throughout the year and to

Each year, parents enter into a co-guardianship with their child’s teacher. Each of us in this partnership plays our different roles, but we all strive to surround the child and put their needs at the centre. Our common goal is to have the child succeed throughout the year and to ensure they are happy in the school environment. Attaining that goal is more likely when parents develop a good relationship with their child’s teacher.

As with all healthy relationships, it is important to establish effective and open channels of communication through which the parents and teacher can identify areas of common ground, develop mutual respect and understanding. In this way, parents and teachers form the foundation for rich and meaningful dialogue around our children’s education.

So, how can you develop an understanding of who your child’s teacher is? To get to the heart of a teacher’s personality and to find out what drives them, I propose the following five questions. The answers will give you a picture of the person your child spends part of their day at school with.

 

What led you to become a teacher?

 

Most educators have a story to tell about how they ventured into teaching. Their story informs you on how they teach and how they relate to their students in the classroom. This will give you a window into the kind of classroom environment that the teacher will create and it will reveal why your child’s teacher shows up to work every day as well as what makes them passionate about what they do.

What do you want most for my child this year?

The beliefs and expectations the teacher has of each student can directly impact student achievement and growth. This question sheds light on how your child is viewed by the teacher and gives an indication of how the year will progress.

How do you view mistakes and how do you discipline students?

Knowing a teacher’s style of discipline and how they deal with the inevitable mistakes that children make, will help you gain a clearer picture of what is happening in the classroom. Knowing the teacher’s views on discipline will help you to understand the teacher’s reaction to any given event. Often teachers choose to work at certain schools because their personal views on discipline align with that of the school. However, it is important to understand your child’s teacher’s personal views.

What is your philosophy on education?

A teacher’s philosophy on education will determine how your child is taught, how much their voice will be heard as well as the students; access to certain resources. How you can successfully advocate for your child can be greatly influenced by how well you understand your child’s teacher’s approach to education. A deeper understanding of the teacher’s core beliefs of teaching and learning can allow you to develop a strong partnership with the teacher which will, in turn, have a positive impact on your child’s school year.

What is your expectation of us as parents and what does good communication look like to
you?

In any relationship, it is good to understand what each person’s expectations are to keep things harmonious. I would suggest that you seek to understand early on what your child’s teacher expects from you as a parent. Knowing this will allow you to establish rules of engagement with the teacher and also give you the opportunity to discuss how this fits in with other things that you have to do as a parent. Gaining an understanding of this from the outset can lead to conversations about where you are struggling and where you need help.

Your ultimate goal is to get to know your child’s teacher and I would encourage you to make this a priority. Make an effort to learn about and value the individuality of this very significant person in your child’s life. I would also suggest that parents reflect on what five things you would like your child’s teacher to know about you. This will go a long way in building a parent and teacher relationship that will ultimately benefit your child.

 

Our Midrand Campus is taking Shape

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

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:

 

 

 

 

 

The Nova Pioneer Virtual Admissions Experience

As a growing network of schools, we needed to find innovative ways of engaging with families during a time of social and physical distance. As a result Nova Pioneer has adjusted their application process and created The Virtual Admissions Experience to answer all your enrolment needs from the safety and

As a growing network of schools, we needed to find innovative ways of engaging with families during a time of social and physical distance. As a result Nova Pioneer has adjusted their application process and created The Virtual Admissions Experience to answer all your enrolment needs from the safety and comfort of your home. 

 

 

For Parents: Our Virtual Open Day

Whether you have put in an application or not, you are welcome to attend the Nova Pioneer Virtual Open Day. Each Nova Pioneer campus in our network hosts their own open day via Google-meet.

  • The first step is expressing interest in attending this event. You can RSVP right now using this form 
  • One of our admissions associates will be in touch and send you a calendar invite with a link for our one-hour virtual experience.
  • You will receive the two videos below as pre-event ‘homework’.
  • At the Virtual Open Day, School Leadership will share details on our enquiry-based learning model, curriculum, student-teacher engagement, extra-curriculars, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) Focus, hybrid learning, health and safety protocols, behaviour management and much more.
  • We encourage you to ask questions directly or through the chat box so that we can address them.

 

Want to add the Open Day Link to your Calendar?

Click on the name of your closest Nova Pioneer campus to do so. We have events every two weeks. 

Boksburg

Midrand

North Riding

Ormonde Primary

Paulshof

Ruimsig 

Explore our School Facilities and Spaces

 

For Students: Our Virtual Assessment 

Nova Pioneer hosts entrance assessments for all new joiners. We do this because students come from a different learning environment and we would like to get a sense of what they have covered at school. It is a grade-level assessment and is not designed to trick the child, but rather allows us to get to know them. For the months of July and August we have waived our R350/R550 admissions fee, so make sure you book your virtual tour and assessment before the end of August. We host virtual assessments one learner at a time to ensure they can be comfortable and ask questions whenever they want to. We will give you and our school teams feedback so we know how we can support the student best. Here is what you can expect at a Nova Pioneer Virtual Assessment:

Computing and robotics

 

For Grade 00 and 000

This assessment is merely a meeting/introduction with a member of our school team. Please note: this is only observed at only some of our campuses.

 

For Grade R and 1

A trained admissions associate or teacher will send a calendar invite for a live virtual assessment session and engage directly with your child. You will need to gather some preparation material such as pencils. In the 30-45 minute session we assess comprehension, counting, matching objects and motor skills testings with the student. Please note, we have designed the assessment so that the learner feels like they are playing. 

 

For Grade 2, 3 and 4

This is also a live virtual engagement with a member of our team. This assessment is structured more like a test and has two parts: comprehension and math. We will send you a calendar invite and the two forms to download just before the time. The assessment is completed on the form directly (whether printed or on the computer). We will briefly engage with the student and observe them while they complete the assessment. The learner should have a notepad/paper and pen/pencil with them. As far as possible, parents need to give the students space to complete the test independently. Afterwards, you will need to email us the completed assessment for processing. You will receive feedback within 24 hours. 

 

Grade 5 and up

Students complete an intuitive online assessment, which is literacy and math based. This test assesses academic capability and potential. Once you have paid the admissions fee, you will receive an assessment link and a time to complete the assessment by. We do not have a team member observing this assessment and we trust that parents ensure learners complete the assessment independently and in a quiet space. 

 

 

The Next Steps

So you have attended a Virtual Open day and your child has completed a virtual assessment, what next? You will receive a letter of acceptance from our team which will also remind you submit documentation to our online parent portal. Our finance team then completes an affordability check, after which you will be asked to pay an enrolment fee to secure your child’s place. 

We are so excited to e-meet you and your young innovator and leader. We hope you enjoy your virtual experience with us as you become apart of the Nova Pioneer family! 

5 reasons why you should attend a Nova Pioneer Virtual Open Day

Picking a school for your child is no easy task. We understand.  The current global lockdown due to COVID-19 has undoubtedly made this decision making process even harder. Being isolated at home means you cannot just pop into the school you’re interested in. Nor can you easily get the answers

Picking a school for your child is no easy task. We understand. 

The current global lockdown due to COVID-19 has undoubtedly made this decision making process even harder. Being isolated at home means you cannot just pop into the school you’re interested in. Nor can you easily get the answers to the list of questions you prepared as you toured the school campus.

At Nova Pioneer, we understand how important this decision is to you and your family. That’s why we have created a Virtual Open Day. We wanted to give you the opportunity to tour our school campus, hear from our school leaders and explore our internationally recognised curriculum. Here are the top 5 reasons why you should attend our Virtual Open Day.

 

 

1. Join from anywhere

Whether you’re sitting in your lounge, the study or out in the garden , you can join our Virtual Open Day from your smartphone or computer.

 

2. Interactive

Our Virtual Open Day is designed to be interactive.  We encourage you to share your questions beforehand, as well as ask questions during the presentation. And, if you need to discuss something more personal, we’ll be happy to set up a private meeting after the session.

 

 

3. Tailored resources

We have made previous Grade 000 – 7 curriculum material available to parents not yet part of the Nova Pioneer family. Parents are able to access these learning materials here. In addition to supporting you in remote learning, the packs will give you unique insight into Nova Pioneer’s learning approach. 

 

4. Presentations by experts

Do you have questions only the head of school can answer?  The Virtual Open Day is presented by our School Leader who is an expert in their field! What’s more, our Admissions team is available to guide you through the enrolment process. They are there to support you by providing useful and specific information based on your grade of interest.

 

 

5. Save time and effort

With a Virtual Open Day, you can visit any of our campuses from the comfort and convenience of your own home . Simply gather the family around your device to participate.

Are you ready to join our Virtual Open Day? Click here to RSVP. (http://shorturl.at/jmyKT)

Nova Pioneer Paulshof is Growing Its Class Offering for 2021

Nova Pioneer Paulshof is excited to announce the addition of a Tots class (ages 2 turning 3 years old) to its complement of grade offerings in 2021. With the addition of this new grade, Nova Pioneer Paulshof will provide a full pre-primary offering accepting children from age 3 through to

Nova Pioneer Paulshof is excited to announce the addition of a Tots class (ages 2 turning 3 years old) to its complement of grade offerings in 2021. With the addition of this new grade, Nova Pioneer Paulshof will provide a full pre-primary offering accepting children from age 3 through to Grade R.

The Primary School will also grow, accommodating students from Grade 1 to Grade 6 in 2021.”After opening its first campus in 2015, this pan-African group of schools continues to grow their campuses through thoughtful collaboration and support from interested parents, staff and the community. 

 

A word from the Nova Pioneer Paulshof School Leader, Claudia Pienaar:

“We’re thrilled to welcome the Tots class to our growing campus and global family of schools This is something our parents have been asking for and, now that our Phase 2 building is complete, we cannot wait to open our new class to our families” 

 

 

Why should you enroll Your Tot at Nova Pioneer Paulshof?

Nova Pioneer believes that the journey of becoming a leader and innovator starts early, and as such, are very intentional about how they engage with pre-primary students. Their curriculum incorporates an enquiry-based learning approach, with teachers leading discussions and facilitating projects that help students engage deeply with course material and apply what they have learnt outside the classroom to real world situations.

This pedagogy is currently used in classes from Grade 000 upwards and Nova Pioneer is excited to be able to extend this offering to Tots students and parents from next year.

 

 

Where is the school located? 

Situated on Stone Haven Road, Paulshof,  with close proximity to Witkoppen Road and the N1 highway, this campus is ideally placed for parents in the Sandton and Fourways communities. 

 

How do you find out more during Lockdown? 

Attend one of our Virtual Open Days! Lockdown hasn’t stopped us from taking you on a tour of our school … virtually. Join us and engage with our School Leaders as they share all you need to know about Nova Pioneer. RSVP here: shorturl.at/jmyKT  For more information about Nova Pioneer, visit www.novapioneer.com

Tackling Admissions during the National Lockdown

At Nova Pioneer, one of our core culture principles is to be #SolutionsFirst. This means when we are faced with a challenge – we continually look for the best ways to solve it. Like you – we are learning to work innovatively from home.  The closure of schools from 18

At Nova Pioneer, one of our core culture principles is to be #SolutionsFirst. This means when we are faced with a challenge – we continually look for the best ways to solve it. Like you – we are learning to work innovatively from home. 

The closure of schools from 18 March presented a number of challenges for schools, one of which has been how to best support parents through the admissions process remotely. Our Admissions team have transformed the application process to make it easier for you during this time.

 

How to proceed with your application?

  1. Visit our website and complete the online application form
  2. Our Admissions team will be notified of your enquiry and will be in touch. During the lockdown, we have made our innovative web-based platform, the Nova Pioneer Admissions Portal, available for all applicants to allow them to prioritise the uploading of all supporting documents.
  3. Attend one of our Virtual Open Days! Lockdown hasn’t stopped us from taking you on a tour of our school … virtually. Join us and engage with our School Leaders as they share all you need to know about Nova Pioneer.
  4. Our Admissions team will reach out to schedule your child for a virtual assessment – we will connect virtually to assess their literacy and numeracy levels

 

Looking for a new school for your child? What makes Nova Pioneer different?

 

We believe everyone has the potential to be a leader and think innovatively. Our learning philosophy works in harmony with the Cambridge Curriculum because it focuses on building a student’s natural skill-set to ensure they are not only successful in school, but able to adapt these skills to the real world.

The reality is, the world is changing and it is a much different world to the one you grew up in. We want our students to be creative thinkers who can solve modern problems and create opportunities for themselves. 

We’re looking for the potential to excel in an enquiry-based learning environment. We want young people who are able to talk about the things they are passionate about; open-minded individuals who are able to take new information on board and draw their own conclusions; students who are willing to question the status-quo and push the boundaries of what we know for a better future.

So, we’re hunting for curious minds! Is that your child?

Ready to make your application? Visit our website to apply: www.novapioneer.com