Guest: Vahin Naka

Vahin Naka, host of The Expandable Mind Podcast and Nova Pioneer A-Level student, shares his views on the role AI, blockchain and coding will play in the future and how Africa will become a global innovation hub. 

To listen in – click here

Want to become a Novaneer? Apply to Nova Pioneer now by visiting www.novapioneer.com. Remember to select “Novaneer Podcast” on the “How did you hear about us” section of the online application. 

Your contribution to and feedback of the podcast is invaluable. Email your thoughts, comments, questions and voice recordings to novaneerpod@gmail.com.

Produced by Jabu Mtwa. Theme music by Hazy.

Guest: Chinezi Chijioke 

To celebrate Nova Pioneer’s 8th birthday – an exclusive, extended interview with Nova Pioneer Co-founder & CEO, Chinezi Chijioke. On this episode, Jabu and Chinezi discuss how Nova Pioneer officially launched in 2015, President Kgalema Motlanthe’s task to Nova Pioneer, the impact of students and alumni and the increasing expansion of the school. 

To listen in – click here

Want to become a Novaneer? Apply to Nova Pioneer now by visiting www.novapioneer.com. Remember to select “Novaneer Podcast” on the “How did you hear about us” section of the online application.

Your contribution to and feedback of the podcast is invaluable. Email your thoughts, comments, questions and voice recordings to novaneerpod@gmail.com.

Produced by Jabu Mtwa. Theme music, mixing and sound design is by Hazy. 

Guests: Jeanne Sere Mgendi & Menzi Nkambule

On the debut episode of the Novaneer Podcast, University of Nairobi BCom student Jeanne Sere Mgendi talks Tabasamu –  a Kenyan social enterprise that she founded which collects and upcycles ankara waste to create consumer products. Later on the podcast, Menzi Nkambule – University of Pretoria Investment Management student and Sunbird Investment Group Director – makes the case for a common currency across Africa and shares how he sees Sunbird Investment Group enhancing the future economic prospects of African countries.

To listen in, click here

Want to become a Novaneer? Apply to Nova Pioneer now by visiting www.novapioneer.com. Remember to select “Nova Pioneer Podcast” on the “How did you hear about us” section of the online application.

Your contribution to and feedback of the podcast is invaluable. Email your thoughts, comments, questions and voice recordings to novaneerpod@gmail.com.

To support Tabasamu, visit their Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/tabasamu.ke/

Produced by Jabu Mtwa. Theme music, mixing and sound design by Hazy.

At Nova Pioneer, we understand the significance and impact of high-quality pre-primary education. We are thrilled to share some exciting news regarding our Tots (2 turning 3) to Grade 1 offering at Nova Pioneer. 

In response to the needs and expectations of Novaneers in our community –  namely, affordable and quality pre-primary care and education, we have introduced some positive changes to our younger grades –  we have reviewed our pricing and offering and, from 2023, we will be bringing you the same quality Pre-Primary and Grade 1 education at more affordable and accessible prices.

What Changes? What is Added?

1. A significant reduction in the tuition for Tots – Grade 1 (up to 20% tuition reduction in 2023*)
2. More flexibility for families (especially those who work!): A ‘regular dismissal’ day or full day option for our Tots, Grade 000 and 00 students. (Regular dismissal times will vary slightly from school to school).
3. For our Tots, Grade 000 and 00 families, a full day added-value option: Includes free aftercare at NovaCare, with a meal, snack and beverage provided.  

Excited? Share the love!

At Nova Pioneer, we know how important it is to build community. Who better to help us do this than our very own parents? As an existing Nova Pioneer parent, you could qualify for a referral discount (R3500 off your tuition for a period of one year) when you refer a parent and they successfully enrol their child at any of our Nova Pioneer campuses. 

Want to know more? 

We’d love to chat with you and share more about this exciting change to our offering. Reach out to admissions.sa@novapioneer.com for more information.

*Terms and conditions apply

A common question we get from students is “What is the difference between IEB, CAPS and Cambridge?”

You may have some concerns about relocating your child mid-year. At Nova Pioneer, we work with our parents to ensure we provide support to students who join mid-year. Our teachers are equipped to support students in catching up on the Curriculum, and the learning model allows teachers to identify areas in which additional focus is required, ensuring a smooth transition for your child. Our teachers support mid-year joiners by ensuring the following:

• Adjusting from one curriculum to another may seem daunting, however our teachers put a lot of work into equipping students who start mid-year with the tools to thrive. Initially an assessment is done to understand the student’s baseline math and english level. Teachers then conduct weekly CFU’s (Check for Understanding) and based on these checks, the teacher is able to assess whether academic support interventions need to be taken. 
• While ensuring that your child is able to adjust to the academic rigour of our curriculum and model, it is equally important that they receive psycho-social support with the big adjustment. Various methods are used to ensure that the student adjusts well to their environment, teachers, peers and becoming a Novaneer. 
• Students are quickly introduced to the Nova Pioneer culture which largely assists with the social adjustment. This ranges from understanding what the 6 culture principles are, to giving snaps or shine for their own and peer achievements. 
• Both new and existing families are supported through instructional evenings, aimed at equipping parents with knowledge to support their Novaneer’s journey in becoming a leader and innovator

Below are some tips on how parents can make the mid-year transition less disruptive.

Communicate the decision for the move

Talk with your child about moving schools well in advance, if possible. Take time to discuss each concern and allow your child to express themselves and their feelings about changing schools. This will help parents understand their child’s feelings and fears about changing schools. This can also give us insight into how we can best support them. Also ask them what they are looking forward to the most about going to a new school and talk to your child about what to expect at the new school.

Come meet our team

We always advise parents to visit the campus before the child starts classes and ensure they stay engaged with the school and teachers to find out how the child is settling in. Also, feel free to ask for more information on our psychosocial support services in case your child may need additional or professional support to adjust with the change. 

Come prepared

Make sure that your child has the correct school stationery and uniform, as well as sports clothes. Also, organise your child’s transportation to commute to and from school. Parents need to remember that children are most concerned about fitting in at school, and having the basics covered can help them integrate better into their new school environment. 

Encourage building community

Get your child involved in extracurricular activities that interest them, to help them make new friends and for them to be part of the school community. Also encourage your child to try a new activity to help them grow and expand their scope of activities at school.

Stay connected to old friends

Remember to make space for your child to reconnect and maintain communication with former school friends. It’s good for your child to not feel like they have lost or neglected their old friends, it will also comfort them to be able to keep memories of their previous school and to stay in contact with the friends that they have left behind.

Hurry, available spaces for this year are limited!

Nova Pioneer announced plans to launch a new high schools in 2023. Nova Pioneer Ruimsig High Campus will be based at our North Riding campus for the first two years (thereafter moving to our Ruimsig campus in 2025) and serve Novaneers in Johannesburg West.  The new campus will cater for Grade 8 students in 2023 and subsequently add grades. Nova Pioneer is a private school network that builds and operates world-class, affordable schools, offering students grades from preschool through to high school.

Quality Education Made Accessible to More Families

Co-founder and CEO of Nova Pioneer Chinezi Chijioke said the school group’s expansion plans are guided by their mission to develop a generation of young innovators and leaders who will shape the world.

“Over the past five years, our Nova Pioneer North Riding primary school campus has only catered to students from preschool to Grade 7. However, due to the remarkable success of the campus and growing demand for a high school, we will introduce high school that will serve families in the areas as well as give Novaneers the opportunity to complete their schooling career at Nova Pioneer,” he explained.

“Nova Pioneer seeks to provide consistent excellent 21st century schooling that prepares children to thrive and lead in life beyond school, and is financially accessible – we want to reach as many families as possible. We do this through a combination of the rigorously implemented Cambridge curriculum, a teaching approach that emphasises critical thinking and student voice, and our internally developed leadership, social-emotional wellness, and post-school success programmes.”

Expansion Plans in Detail

The Ruimsig High School will initially be housed at our North Riding campus for the first two years and thereafter will move onto our Ruimsig campus ensuring it can suitably serve all students in the Randburg and Roodepoort areas. Nova Pioneer South Africa now has three high schools and we are currently enrolling for the following grades.

• Nova Pioneer Ormonde: Grade 8 to A-Levels
• Nova Pioneer Midrand: Grade 8 and 9
• Nova Pioneer West (incubated at North Riding): Grade 8

Excellent Cambridge Results

Chief Academic Officer, Rahel Wondwossen said the school group offers quality education grounded in the Cambridge standards, an internationally accredited curriculum that is both locally and globally recognised. Our Nova Pioneer High schools 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 and, with time, Nova Pioneer West will offer all grades.

“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 and are fully accredited with Cambridge International.”

Nova Pioneer students can write their IGSCE, AS-Level and A-Level examinations. Earlier this year, the school group celebrated their Ormonde High students’ Cambridge A-Level results, with a 100% pass rate and exceeded the national subject pass average. The A-Level year is ostensibly the equivalent of Grade 13 at high school level and provides students a world-recognised exit qualification to widen the scope of their university studies both locally and internationally and, depending on how they performed in their IGCSE and AS levels, gives students the opportunity to improve their options of getting into their preferred course.

Post School Success Team

Nova Pioneer places high value on students’ post-secondary school success. The school believes many elements can impact a student’s ability to succeed after completing high school. “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 high students,” said Wondwossen.

Since its introduction in both South Africa and Kenya, Nova Pioneer’s PSS programme has facilitated the admission of students into renowned universities both locally and abroad. Schools for Innovators and Leaders Nova Pioneer believes too many schools focus too narrowly on knowledge memorisation and content accumulation. While Nova Pioneer considers academic mastery and skills to be critically important, it also places focus on a more holistic set of skills aligned with its 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,” said Chijioke.

“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 and openly welcome students from other schools too.”

Take a few seconds to think of someone that you deeply admire… 

This could be a friend, a colleague, a family member or maybe someone famous.

Now note down your answers to these 6 questions, as you keep this person in mind…

Do they: 

• believe that they can achieve more by working together with others?
• see failure as an opportunity to grow?
• set high standards for themselves?
• try to come up with solutions when faced with a problem?
• put others before themselves and engage with those around then with humility and generosity?
• remain open to learning and discovering new things?

If most of your answers were “yes” to the questions above, the person that you were thinking about and admire is undoubtedly someone who lives their life guided by a strong set of values and principles.

You may find it interesting that there were purposefully no questions above that were centred on the person’s expertise, accomplishments, capabilities, intellect or professional/career success. The person that you had in mind may exemplify all or most of the qualities portrayed in the 6 questions AND they may also be very smart, accomplished and successful in their field. (Whilst I don’t deny the value that success in one’s chosen profession or field brings, it certainly cannot be and typically isn’t, the only important ingredient!)

So my point is that many people that we admire are first and foremost deeply principled, have a growth mindset and live their lives with integrity. Isn’t this what each of us parents want for your children as they navigate their way through life… to be beacons for others around them appreciated and admired for their resilience; their selflessness; their grit and determination in the face of adversity; their curiosity and openness to grow and learn?

At Nova Pioneer, we place a lot of care and thought in integrating our school’s six culture principles into the in-class and extra-mural experiences, into how our lesson content is designed and how it is delivered. 

We have seen the power of helping students as early as pre-primary and through primary and secondary school to live by, to learn by and be guided by our SIX NOVA PIONEER CULTURE PRINCIPLES: 

• Enquiry-based learning means that Nova Pioneer students are encouraged to ask questions; they research and explore various topics (rather than just been lectured on these) which means that they foster a sense of curiosity and exploration from a young age. They become life-long learners. Nova Pioneer current students and alumni are described as curious and wanting to learn and discover more and more about topics.  (Joy of Learning).
• Our students are purposefully challenged; they are not scared to try new things; to fail and learn from these experiences. They also embrace feedback and see the value of giving and receiving feedback (Always Growing).
• Novaneers work in groups on tasks, class-work and projects. They quickly experience the benefits of collaboration – a life-long skill (Greater Together).
• It’s with great pride that we celebrate Novaneer students of all ages for their service within the school and within their community, selflessly helping others most in need (Servant Leadership).
• Novaneer students set high goals for themselves because they are not afraid to fail and because they are not scared to try new things. They build self-confidence and set their targets high (High Expectations).
• It is very rare that a Nova Pioneer student approaches their teacher or fellow Novaneer with a problem without a suggested solution. Novaneers are encouraged to be critical thinkers and natural problem solvers (Solutions First).

Cast your mind forward 10 or 20 years from now. Someone you know is asked to think of a person that they most admire and it is your child that comes to their mind. It is your child (probably a young adult by then) that they admire because they say that your child:

• believes that they can achieve more by working together with others
• sees failure as an opportunity to grow
• sets high standards for themselves
• comes up with solutions when faced with a problem
• put others before themselves and engages with those around then with humility and generosity
• remains open to learning and discovering new things.

Nova Pioneer believes that all schools should place as much focus, value and emphasis on character and value development as they do on academic excellence. Is your child’s current school doing this?

Nova Pioneer Schools for Innovators and Leaders, recently celebrated their Midrand students’ Cambridge Checkpoint results. Nova Pioneer students achieved scores ahead of the international benchmark for English and Science, whilst staying at pace with international trends for Maths. 

Nova Pioneer is a pan-African independent school group that builds and operates world-class, affordable schools, offering students grades from preschool through to secondary. The school group offers Cambridge, an internationally accredited curriculum, where students can write their Checkpoint, IGSCE, AS-Level, as well as their A-Level examinations in their 13th year. 

Nova Pioneer Midrand’s current Grade 7 and 8 students participated in the Cambridge Primary Checkpoint last Spring. Whilst normally administered only in the Grade 6 year, the advent of COVID in 2020 resulted in significant interruptions in the administration of these exams by Cambridge International. The disruptions as a result of COVID over the last two years have made the results achieved by these students even more impressive. 

At the prize giving, Nova Pioneer acknowledged their Grade 7 top achievers for the 2021 Checkpoint, including –

• Shalathi Shikwambana for English and Maths, as well as being the overall top achiever in the grade
• Lwandile Mhlungu for English and Maths
• John-David Malaba for Maths
• Casey Oosthuzien for her top performance in Science  

In Grade 8, Nova Pioneer celebrated – 

• Kgosi Kekane for his top performance in Maths
• Kayden Reddy for Maths, as well as being the overall top achiever in the grade
• Yuveer Ramalal for Maths

Xolisa Luthi, the school leader for Nova Pioneer Midrand Secondary, said that he was thrilled to have this opportunity to engage in the assessments, which provide insight into how Nova Pioneer students are progressing in their mastery of the curriculum and in their readiness for Secondary school.   

Mr Luthi expressed gratitude to the Nova Pioneer teachers and leadership team. “Our students’ impressive results reflect their tremendous diligence and tenacity, as well as the unstinting support and inspiration of their teachers. We also thank our parent community for their continued partnership”.

Nova Pioneer is currently operational in both South Africa and Kenya with the mission to develop generations of innovators and leaders who will shape the African Century. Nova Pioneer Midrand Secondary School opened its doors in January 2022 and welcomed their inaugural class of Grade 8’s. The school will expand teaching and learning to accommodate families of Grades 8 to 13 students in the Midrand area and is now enrolling for Grade 9.