We are excited to announce that Nova Pioneer North Riding has appointed a new school leader, Prathna Ramchunder, as Head of School. With a deep passion for education and an impressive journey of leadership, Prathna brings a wealth of experience and dedication to fostering student success. We take a moment to get to know her inspiring journey.

A Passion for Teaching from the Start

Prathna’s story begins in Durban, KwaZulu Natal, where she grew up in a family of four, including her younger brother. From a young age, her dream was clear—to become a teacher. This passion never wavered throughout her schooling years, and after matriculating, she pursued her BA in Psychology, followed by a Post-Graduate Certificate in Education.

Her teaching career began in Durban, where she had the opportunity to develop and refine her skills at a school that provided a rich learning environment. After gaining experience, she applied for teaching positions in both Durban and Johannesburg, eventually landing a role at a Johannesburg-based organisation. During her four years there, Prathna’s talent for leadership became evident, and in 2019, she was promoted to Assistant Principal.

Joining the Nova Pioneer Family

In 2020, Prathna’s leadership journey took a new turn when she joined Nova Pioneer North Riding as the Associate Dean of Instruction. Reflecting on her time at Nova Pioneer, she shares how the school’s focus on coaching, development, and creating meaningful challenges helped her grow at an accelerated pace.

“In my time at Nova Pioneer, I was learning and growing at an accelerated rate due to the coaching, development, and challenging situations I faced,” says Prathna.

Her dedication and commitment to fostering a positive and dynamic learning environment quickly led to her promotion in 2023 to Dean of Instruction.

A New Chapter as Head of School

This year, Prathna’s journey reached an exciting milestone. After an extensive interview process among many strong candidates, she was selected to become the Head of School at Nova Pioneer North Riding in September 2024. Prathna’s vision for the school is one rooted in creating opportunities for growth, nurturing a culture of excellence, and empowering students to become the innovators and leaders of tomorrow.

We are incredibly proud to have Prathna Ramchunder at the helm of Nova Pioneer North Riding and are confident that under her leadership, our students and community will continue to thrive.

Let’s all welcome Prathna as she leads us into this exciting new chapter!

Terms and Conditions: 2024 Rebate for Grade 8 and 9 students at Nova Pioneer Ruimsig Senior School

Published on 16 November 2023

• Any student enrolled in Grade 8 or Grade 9 at Nova Pioneer Ruimsig Senior School in 2024 will receive a 15% rebate on their tuition. 
• This is specific to Nova Pioneer Ruimsig Senior School campus (previously known as West Senior School).
• The rebate is applicable to tuition fees only and does not cover any other expenses such as (but not limited to) non-refundable enrolment fee, uniforms, textbooks, transportation, aftercare or extracurricular activities.
• The tuition rebate will apply for the 2024 academic year only. Nova Pioneer reserves the right not to extend this rebate into the 2025 academic year.
• In order to receive the rebate, a student needs to be enrolled during the 2024 year. Should the student join either the Grade 8 or Grade 9 classes during the course of the 2024 year, this 15% tuition rebate will be applied to the prorated tuition for the year.
• For new students joining Nova Pioneer Ruimsig Senior School, in order to qualify for the rebate, a student’s spot will need to be fully secured (i.e. the full enrolment process needs to be complete – details below).
• Qualification for this offer is provisional on space availability in the requested grade – spaces are limited – as well as all other admissions requirements being completed in full.
• Confirmed enrolment at Nova Pioneer Ruimsig Senior School will be subject to all admissions requirements. We draw your attention to the following specific requirements:
  • Space being available in the requested grade
  • An entry assessment completed to establish grade readiness
  • An affordability assessment completed with financial clearance for admission granted. 
  • Payment of the full enrolment fee
• The rebate will be applied to tuition costs only, equivalent to 15% of the tuition amount billed as per the chosen payment plan associated with the student’s account – namely annual, termly or monthly.
• Should the student transfer to another Nova Pioneer Senior School during the 2024 academic year, the tuition rebate will fall away.
• The rebate will not be applied should the student account be in arrears.
• The rebate is non-transferrable and cannot be substituted for cash or a refund/credit.
• The rebate is not transferable and can only be applied to the tuition costs for the specified child who is enrolled at Nova Pioneer Ruimsig Senior School in Grade 8 or 9, and not to the tuition costs for a sibling or any other student.
• Should a student receive a Nova Pioneer bursary, scholarship or hardship financial support in 2024 for a percentage of tuition that is greater than this  15% rebate, then they will not also be eligible for the 15% rebate. Only their bursary/scholarship/hardship support will be applied. 
• If applicable, sibling discounts and referral discounts will still be applied.
• Staff members do not qualify for this rebate.

Nova Pioneer parents share in our mission of building the next generation of innovators and leaders and thus, we look to them to help us find more families who share our vision and values. This is because we believe in building a community of like-minded people who want to come along for the journey, and share in our story, as we continue to expand our offering throughout South Africa.

Once your child is enrolled at Nova Pioneer, you become part of our supportive and passionate community – a group of parents from all walks of life – who all contribute to our school in various ways for the betterment of our students’ education. It is through this community that our school Culture Principles come alive, even at home. 

 

Benefits of growing our community

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.

 

What does “Successful Enrolment” look like: 

Step 1: Current family/ parent talks to a friend and tells them about Nova Pioneer.

Step 2: The prospective parent completes an online application form and in the ‘how did you hear about us’ section, they select ‘referred by a current parent’ and write the full name of the parent and student who referred them. We can only identify the family that referred you if they give us your first and last name.

Step 3: The prospective parent attends a Nova Pioneer event and the learner completes, and passes, an assessment. 

Step 4: The prospective parent, who is very excited about Nova Pioneer, then completes all online forms and submits required documentation before our Finance Team completes the affordability check and gives go-ahead for enrolment fee payment.

Step 5: The prospective parent then pays the grade-relevant enrolment fee to secure their child’s spot. 

Step 6: The referral is then flagged to our Finance Team, who will pick up the name from the original application, and ensure your account reflects the referral discount once the student has started.

 

Which parents are eligible for the R3500 discount? 

• When the parent applies to Nova Pioneer via our website, they must state that they were referred to by you (name and surname) when they complete the ‘how did you hear about us’ section.  
• The referred parent needs to successfully enrol at Nova Pioneer by completing the full admissions process (detailed below).
• Referred students cannot have a sibling currently or previously enrolled at Nova Pioneer. 
• The referral discount is awarded to the youngest child – if you have only one child at Nova Pioneer, that child will receive the discount. 
• You will be entitled to a R3500 discount per referral. 
• If you are not yet an enrolled parent, you ONLY qualify for this discount once you have confirmation of enrolment.
• The discount is non-transferable and cannot be substituted for cash or a refund.
• The referral discount will not be applied should the student account be in arrears at the point in time that the discount is allocated.
• This discount is awarded per enrolled student that is referred, up to five students (or a maximum tuition discount of R17500)
• Nova Pioneer staff do not qualify.
• Terms and conditions apply.

 

On Friday, May 5th, 2023, Nova Pioneer North Riding Campus embarked on a remarkable initiative called the “Cool to Care” campaign. This event aimed to foster a sense of care and love among Nova Pioneer students, staff, and parents. With renowned speakers such as DJ Fresh, a popular radio personality, and Erick Macheru, a well-known actor from the TV show “Skeem Saam,” the campaign ignited a spirit of compassion, empathy, and respect among the attendees.

 

Uniting for a Common Cause

 

The launch of the “Cool to Care” campaign witnessed a resounding success, as students, staff, and parents joined forces to support this significant cause. It served as a platform for the entire Nova Pioneer community to come together and celebrate the core values of care, compassion, and kindness that form the foundation of the school’s mission.

 

Promoting Kindness and Empathy

 

During the event, DJ Fresh delivered a motivational speech that resonated with the students. He shared inspiring insights, emphasizing that kindness is a superpower and encouraging students to utilize their gifts to help others. The idea was to elevate students’ awareness of the profound impact of kindness in human interactions, making kindness and care the coolest choice for everyone.

Ms. Nneamaka Eziuku, the School Leader at Nova Pioneer North Riding, expressed her thoughts on the campaign, stating, “The Cool to Care Campaign is geared towards celebrating care for others within our school community. We want to instill in our students a deep understanding of the significance of kindness and inspire them to make caring a cool choice. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all our speakers, staff, and parents who contributed to the resounding success of this event.”

 

Nova Pioneer’s Vision

 

Nova Pioneer is a network of schools committed to providing world-class education to students across Africa. Guided by principles of innovation, leadership, collaboration, and culture, Nova Pioneer aims to shape future leaders who are not only academically proficient but also compassionate and caring members of society.

The launch of Nova Pioneer North Riding Campus’s “Cool to Care” campaign marked an exciting milestone in promoting care and love within the school community. Through the insightful speeches delivered by DJ Fresh and Erick Macheru, students were inspired to embrace kindness, empathy, and respect as powerful tools for positive change. This campaign epitomizes Nova Pioneer’s dedication to fostering a nurturing environment where students learn not only academic excellence but also the values that will shape their character and contribute to a better world.

 

 

Wimpy, in collaboration with Famous Brands, recently hosted an exciting coffee activation event for the dedicated staff and parents of Nova Pioneer North Riding. This event not only introduced the newly installed kiddies play area at the campus but also provided attendees with complimentary coffee to start their day on a delightful note. The event symbolized the successful partnership between Wimpy at Jackal Creek Corner and Nova Pioneer North Riding, showcasing their commitment to creating a supportive and engaging environment for families.

 

A Morning of Coffee and Connection

 

On May 3rd, Wimpy generously offered free coffee to the staff and parents of Nova Pioneer North Riding as a gesture of appreciation for their continuous support. The attendees were treated to expertly prepared hot beverages by the skilled baristas at Wimpy. The event served as a moment of celebration, allowing the school community to come together, enjoy their cup of coffee, and experience the newly installed kiddies play area.

 

Unveiling the Kiddies Play Area

 

The coffee activation event was the perfect occasion to unveil the vibrant and interactive kiddies play area at Nova Pioneer North Riding. Designed with safety and enjoyment in mind, the play area provides a space where young learners can engage in play and socialize with their peers. The addition of this exciting feature adds another dimension to the campus, enhancing the overall experience for students and families.

 

A Collaborative Vision

 

Ms Nneamaka Eziuku, Nova Pioneer North Riding Head of School, expressed her excitement about the partnership with Wimpy and Famous Brands. She highlighted the significance of the event in celebrating collaboration and creating opportunities for the school community to come together. The ongoing support from Wimpy and Famous Brands plays a crucial role in enhancing the educational experience for Nova Pioneer North Riding students and families.

 

Building a Stronger Community

 

The coffee activation event fostered a sense of camaraderie and excitement as staff and parents mingled, enjoyed their freshly brewed coffee, and explored the new play area. It provided a platform for valuable interactions, strengthening the bond between Nova Pioneer North Riding and the local business community. This collaboration showcases the shared vision of both organizations to provide holistic support to families and create an enriching environment for children.

 

Wimpy: A Memorable Dining Destination

 

Wimpy at Jackal Creek Corner is renowned for its delectable menu offerings and welcoming atmosphere. With a commitment to delivering high-quality food and outstanding service, Wimpy has become a popular dining destination for individuals and families alike. The collaboration with Nova Pioneer North Riding further exemplifies Wimpy’s dedication to creating memorable experiences for their customers.

The coffee activation event hosted by Wimpy at Jackal Creek Corner for Nova Pioneer North Riding was a resounding success. It celebrated the partnership between the two organizations while providing an opportunity for the school community to enjoy delicious coffee and explore the newly installed kiddies play area. This collaboration reinforces the commitment of both Wimpy and Nova Pioneer North Riding to create a supportive and engaging environment for families, enhancing the educational experience for students.

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, Asian languages, English, Afrikaans, languages from the Middle East, as well as 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.

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

 

 

Nova Pioneer believes in building a compassionate, like-minded community

 

Once your child is enrolled at Nova Pioneer, you become part of our supportive and passionate community – a group of parents from all walks of life – who all contribute to our school in various ways for the betterment of our students’ education. It is through this community that our school Culture Principles come alive, even at home. 

Nova Pioneer parents share in our mission of building the next generation of innovators and leaders and thus, we look to them to help us find more families who share our vision and values. This is because we believe in building a community of like-minded people who want to come along for the journey, and share in our story, as we continue to expand our offering throughout South Africa.

 

Benefits of growing our community

 

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 double the normal referral discount (R7000 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 for 2022 or 2023 between 8 December 2021 and 30 April 2022.

 

Which parents are eligible for the R7000 discount?

 

• In order to successfully benefit from referring a student, the parent must apply to Nova Pioneer between 8 December 2021 and 30 April 2022 for enrolment in-year in 2022 or for 2023.
• The parent must state that they were referred to by you (name and surname) when they fill in the online application form in the ‘how did you hear about us’ section.  
• The referred parent needs to successfully enrol at Nova Pioneer by completing the full admissions process (detailed below).
• Referred students cannot have a sibling currently or previously enrolled at Nova Pioneer. 
• The referral discount is awarded to the youngest child – if you have only one child at Nova Pioneer, that child will receive the discount. 
• You will be entitled to a R7000 discount per enrolled student that is referred up to five students (or a maximum tuition discount of R35000)
• If you are not yet an enrolled parent, you ONLY qualify for this discount once you have confirmation of enrolment.
• The discount is non-transferable and cannot be substituted for cash or a refund.
• The referral discount will not be applied should the student account be in arrears at the point in time that the discount is allocated.
• Nova Pioneer staff do not qualify.

What does “Successful Enrolment” look like: 

 

Step 1: Current family/ parent talks to a friend and tells them about Nova Pioneer.

Step 2: The prospective parent completes an online application form and in the ‘how did you hear about us’ section, they select ‘referred by a current parent’ and write the full name of the parent and student who referred them. We can only identify the family that referred you if they give us your first and last name.

Step 3: The prospective parent attends a Nova Pioneer event and the learner completes and passes, an assessment. 

Step 4: The prospective parent, who is very excited about Nova Pioneer, then completes all online forms and submits required documentation before our Finance Team completes the affordability check and gives go-ahead for enrolment fee payment.

Step 5: The prospective parent then pays the grade-relevant enrolment fee to secure their child’s spot. 

Step 6: The referral is then flagged to our Finance Team, who will pick up the name from the original application, and ensure your account reflects the referral discount once the student has started.

 

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. 

 

2. 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.

 

3. 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.

 

4. 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.

 

5. 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

 

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

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

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

 

• Animals can help children develop a sensitivity to others

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

 

• Animals ignite cognitive curiosity in children

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

 

• Animals make children more aware of the environment

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

 

• Animals help children overcome their fears

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

• Animals encourage positive energy in children

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

 

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