Nova Pioneer celebrates its 2020 Graduates

Nova Pioneer recently celebrated its valedictory ceremony for its Grade 12 students at Ormonde Secondary. The ceremony, which took place at the campus, saw students and staff maintaining all social distance protocols as well as live streaming for those students, speakers and family members who were unable to attend in

Nova Pioneer recently celebrated its valedictory ceremony for its Grade 12 students at Ormonde Secondary. The ceremony, which took place at the campus, saw students and staff maintaining all social distance protocols as well as live streaming for those students, speakers and family members who were unable to attend in person. 

“Nova Pioneer is proud of how quickly our students and teachers were able to adapt to learning during the pandemic this year. Because we follow the Cambridge curriculum, three groups of pupils sat exit exams over this time: Grade 11 (IGCSE), Grade 12 (AS) and Grade 13 (A-levels). All of these students had to pivot between ‘normal’ school, fully online and hybrid delivery systems while preparing for these high-stakes exams. We are incredibly proud of the perseverance and can-do approach that they displayed at all times”, says Theun Opperman, Head of School at Nova Pioneer Ormonde Secondary. 

2020 presented unprecedented challenges, with schools mandated to close in March. As a result, Nova Pioneer shifted immediately to virtual learning to support the continued learning of students. The anxiety associated with this sudden change was felt by all students and parents, but none more so than those in their final year of school. 

Ntando Makwela, the author of “The Dynamic Kid” and a student at Nova Pioneer Ormonde, started his address at the Grade 12 valedictory ceremony by saying that his class needed to celebrate the fact that one skill they have acquired through this year is ‘resilience’. 

“The class of 2020 have developed the skill of being able to learn on their own, with teacher support that looked and felt very different, through online platforms that have become their school experience in March. They were always very aware that they would be writing international exams and as such had no choice but to leverage technology and each other throughout this period”, says Ntando Mlilo, Dean of Students at Ormonde Secondary. 

“One of the biggest achievements of the class of 2020 was to maintain the connection in the school throughout this remote climate. This was achieved through having school-wide conversations around topical issues, such as ‘Black Lives Matter’ and ‘Gender-based violence’.  Planned and moderated by students, these termly conversations ensured a sense of unity within the student body. What one can learn from the class of 2020 is that resilience is built when young people are given the opportunity and platform to independently persevere through challenging times”, says Mlilo. 

Nova Pioneer is a proudly African independent school network that builds and operates world-class facilities offering affordable education. As a testament to its commitment and perseverance to excellence, Nova Pioneer is celebrating some fantastic achievements from its second class of Grade 12’s since opening in 2015.  

The Nova Pioneer concept is the brainchild of Chinezi Chijioke whose vision is to produce world-class African leaders and thinkers who will power the continent forward. The Harvard and Stanford graduate has a life-long passion for education and always dreamed of being a part of a team that would develop schools across Africa to unleash the incredible potential of the continent’s youth.

Part of Chijioke’s vision was to offer a holistic education to his students. This meant not only attending to their scholastic needs but also building character.  “Our vision of a Novaneer is centered on three ‘C’s: character, capabilities, and connection.  The three together equip our students to solve problems, take on challenges and shape the world for the better.  Among the three Cs, the first is Character, because it is the foundation upon which distinctive capabilities, or the connections of a strong community, are built,” says Chinezi.  

The Gift of a Good Future

We are fast approaching the season of giving. Our children are precious to us and we often give them gifts that delight them in the moment but have little positive impact on their future. Upon reflection, I considered the fact that at least 16 years of my children’s lives will

We are fast approaching the season of giving. Our children are precious to us and we often give them gifts that delight them in the moment but have little positive impact on their future.

Upon reflection, I considered the fact that at least 16 years of my children’s lives will be spent at school and thus the most profound and impactful gift I could give them, is that of an educational environment that builds character and a solid foundation of skills.

The African Century needs our children to show up unlike any other in history! The future will be filled with unprecedented and unimaginable circumstances that will require our children to rely on skills that have been fostered throughout their 16 years of basic education. 

The Nova Pioneer approach to education checks this box for me. Teachers provide children with the knowledge required but the focus is on the children’s ability to process the knowledge. Skills such as investigative thinking processes, innovating alternative solutions, empowering their voice to test the status quo and exploring topics from different angles.

I believe these are some of the skills that will propel our children to succeed in a world where knowledge is ever-evolving. I am resolute, now more than ever, I want to give them the best gift, the gift of a great education and rich skillset, the gift of a good future.

Our Boksburg Campus celebrates Grandparents Day

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

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.

 

Nova Pioneer Boksburg staff hands over donations to the representatives of SAVF Huis Dien Bothma: Left: Charlene Thomson (Nova Pioneer Boksburg Teacher), Middle: SAVF Representative and Right: Mandy William (Nova Pioneer Boksburg Teacher)

 

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. 

 

Reggio Emilia Inspired Toddler Classroom

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

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.

Our Learnings through COVID-19

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

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.

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

What to expect at our Open Day

Choosing the right school is a significant step for any family. Whether you’re exploring a nurturing environment for your young child or seeking a future-focused senior school, you may be wondering: What happens at a Nova Pioneer Open Day – and what makes it unique? Our Saturday Open Days are

Choosing the right school is a significant step for any family. Whether you’re exploring a nurturing environment for your young child or seeking a future-focused senior school, you may be wondering: What happens at a Nova Pioneer Open Day – and what makes it unique?

Our Saturday Open Days are exactly what they sound like – an opportunity for families to visit our campuses, meet school leaders and experience first-hand what it means to be a Novaneer. They go beyond brochures and websites, offering a personal look into our classrooms, culture and community.

For those wanting to experience a Nova Pioneer school in action, we hold Campus Experiences on selected Wednesdays. 

 

What to look forward to at our next Open Day?

 

Sign in

You’ll be welcomed at our registration table where we’ll confirm your attendance and provide a Starter Pack with helpful information. If you haven’t pre-registered, don’t worry – our team will assist you on the day.

 

Assessment

All students from Grade 000 to Grade 13 are invited to complete an academic assessment aligned to the grade they’re applying for.

  • Younger children complete a fun, interactive 60-minute session focused on early numeracy and literacy.
  • Senior school students sit a two-hour laptop-based assessment that gives us valuable insight into their readiness for the Cambridge curriculum and helps us guide potential academic pathways (IGCSE, AS, or A-Level).

 

Leadership Talk

Hear directly from our School Leader or Deans about what makes Nova Pioneer different. This session covers:

  • Our student-centered teaching philosophy,
  • The structure and benefits of the Cambridge International curriculum, including how it is appropriately applied across Upper Primary through to A-Levels,
  • How we support student wellbeing and personal growth,
  • The sports and campus-specific co-curriculars available – from football and netball to robotics, drama, coding and debate,
  • Our vision to develop innovators and leaders for the African Century.

Whether you’re exploring early learning or high school, this is your chance to ask questions and understand how our model sets students up for long-term success.

 

In-depth Curriculum Overview

If applying for Senior School, we’ll share:

  • A comprehensive breakdown of the Cambridge curriculum and how it is implemented at Nova Pioneer. Our academic team will walk you through the progression from Lower Secondary to IGCSE, AS, and A-Level qualifications, as well as what to expect academically and administratively – both during the senior school years and when applying for university or other post-secondary opportunities.
  • We’ll also introduce you to our Innovation and Leadership Hallmark Programme – a weekly class designed to develop socially conscious leaders. Starting with inward reflection and personal values, students gradually take on real leadership challenges, grounded in African history and innovation.
  • We will also share more about our Post-School Success (PSS) programme, which supports students from Grade 10 to 13 with career exploration, university applications and post-secondary planning.

 

School Tour

Join a guided walk through our campus to see learning in action. You’ll explore:

  • Child-friendly, grade appropriate classrooms designed to support engagement and collaboration,

  • Science labs and innovation spaces in our senior schools,

  • Sports facilities used in our co-curricular and Tier 1 sports programmes.

You’ll leave with a clear sense of how our environments are built to inspire growth, curiosity and wellbeing.

 

Classroom Experience

This is a Nova Pioneer signature. During the Classroom Experience, families get a front-row seat to our teaching approach:

  • Junior school families will observe playful, hands-on learning activities that build core skills.

  • Senior school families may join a demo Cambridge lesson, coding activity, or student-led discussion showcasing the depth and dynamism of our academic experience.

Whether it’s your child’s first school or their final school years, the Classroom Experience helps you see the Nova Pioneer difference in action.

Our Open Day (Saturday) programme kick starts at 9AM sharp, while our Campus Experience (Wednesday) starts at 8AM. You can RSVP to attend an Open Day or Campus Experience here.  Should the Open Day and Campus Experience dates not work, you can reach out to admissions.sa@novapioneer.com to arrange a personalised tour.