The advent of Covid-19 in 2020 and the introduction of lockdowns has certainly changed the way we think and do things. From social gatherings, meetings and the way we deliver on education, we were forced to rethink life as we knew it. Now in the world of social distancing, working from home, face masks and regular sanitisation, we have to embrace a new reality which is ‘virtual reality’. Virtual meetings, virtual open days, webinars, virtual teaching and learning has become our ‘new normal’.

But how do we adapt? From social beings to this new virtual reality? Firstly, we have to look at the benefits of virtual reality. Secondly, we need to look at how virtual reality will impact our lives in a positive way. Introducing us to a new generation of thinkers, innovators and solutions-first leaders. All of whom will advance our lives beyond any challenging circumstance in education and beyond. As Nova Pioneer, we have had to embrace four key virtual reality aspects that form part of our ‘new normal’ as an educational institution.

 

Virtual teaching and learning:

 

While we were traditionally accustomed to face-to-face interaction in a classroom, Covid-19 has revealed to us our ability to teach and learn virtually through various tools that we have adopted. Delivering on our education promise of remote learning. ‘Google Classrooms’ have become our new way of teaching and learning.

It should be easy for us to embrace virtual teaching and learning when you consider all the benefits it presents.  This includes our students being able to receive a quality education, safely, in the comfort of their homes. For our Novaneer parents, the benefits include ensured safety of your child and their well-being, while learning from home, not to forget the savings on fuel and time spent in Johannesburg’s often terrible traffic.  

The introduction of virtual learning has encouraged our students to become independent thinkers, leading themselves to achieve their objectives with guidance from their teachers and support from their online classmates. If anything, virtual learning has allowed us to rethink what education may look like in a post-COVID-19 future, and from this lense, the future looks bright and full of wonder. 

 

Virtual Meetings:

 

Attending parent meetings are always a struggle, common scenarios include parents needing to take time off work, meetings running over the available time of the parent, last-minute cancellations, etc.  In comes the introduction of virtual meetings – your time, your space and no traffic. Most importantly, parents have that ample opportunity for a close connect with the teacher, with little to no time limitations, ensuring the parent is completely tuned in to the students’ growth throughout the year.

 

Webinars:

 

Nova Pioneer is not just a school, but a learning institution that is rich with information and knowledge which we aim to constantly share with our Novaneer parents and community through our webinars. Our goal is to share enriching and helpful information on the education sector giving our parents insight into what we do here at Nova Pioneer, how we live through our culture principals while striving steadily towards our vision. The best part is that we are embracing the joy of learning, all from the comfort of your office or home. You can listen to some of our recent Nova Pioneer Connect webinars here.

 

Virtual Open Days

 

Inge, one of our Admissions Specialists, shares with us how the Admissions landscape has had to adapt during this time: 

“School Open Days are essential as they provide our potential Nova Pioneer parents with the opportunity to meet with the school leaders. Learning more about our curriculum and understanding our learning approach. It is also a platform for you to ask as many questions about our school. 

Nova Pioneer has adjusted our application process and created The Virtual Admissions Experience to answer all your enrolment needs from the safety and comfort of your home. 

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.

It is undeniable that virtual reality has become a large part of our lives during the pandemic and it’s certainly here to stay. We can also appreciate that it has presented us with an opportunity to deliver a unique learning solution to the pandemic ensuring our learners don’t miss a beat, helping them thrive in this new world and assisting them in reaching their learning outcomes for the year. We have become a people without limits, solutions-first leaders and innovators, who deliver on high expectations.

 

 

 

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)

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.