While planning next term’s calendar, I discovered that we are already half way through the term and far from finding it surprising that my mind is already strategizing for 2018, it is simply essential.

Reports: These will be posted on Blue Sky in the last week of the term. Teachers will be focusing on progression and skills rather than academic results. Foundation Phase teachers will also be giving verbal feedback to parents. Appointment bookings will be posted on Blue Sky and you will be notified immediately when it opens. The Intermediate Phase teachers will contact parents directly if they need to see them. However, if you have a query about your daughter’s progress, please do not hesitate to contact the teacher to set up an appointment. It is usually by the third term that a comprehensive understanding of a student’s progress for the year emerges which informs important decisions going forward.

Building: I am happy to report that the quiet and contained progress and refurbishment of classrooms under the Haggie Hall are well underway. New furniture has been ordered in line with the needs of a twenty first century classroom. The emphasis is on adaptability – both of desk configuration and teaching space. There will also be ample opportunity for collaborative learning and the ability to spill out of the classroom when necessary.

This also supports the teaching strategy we are adopting going forward. Much has been written about project based learning. In a nutshell it is about gaining knowledge and skills, over an extended period, in order for students to investigate and respond to an authentic, engaging and complex question posed. It is an exciting opportunity for the staff and girls and I have no doubt that once they have had a taste of taking on more responsibility for their own learning, as well as having a voice and choice about how to present their findings, there will be no looking back. Twenty first century skills like negotiation, collaboration, problem solving, creativity, communication and critical thinking all receive attention to ensure our girls are prepared for future jobs. This approach will be introduced in a staggered manner over the next few months and years, in no way compromising the present healthy academic rigour we practice at the school.

The week that was: Last week we celebrated Woman’s Day at a special assembly on Friday in which the entire Preparatory School participated. We used the solid values encapsulated in our Round Square School vision to explore the meaning of what it is to be an independent, strong, authentic woman. Some fourteen of our Grade 7 girls spoke about their recent conference in Mpumalanga and Kiera Matthysen told the girls how being involved with the activities and opportunities of Round Square have changed and developed her. She was recently made Head of Round Square at the Preparatory School, partly for demonstrating those values of respect, integrity, accountability and compassion which we seek to instill in all our girls, as well as for her leadership potential.

On Monday we held a second assembly, this time celebrating International Round Square Day. This assembly was run entirely by the Grade 7s. They played a video they had made about their activities at Conference. This event was especially significant in the run up to hosting the International Conference in Cape Town. While our girls are not directly involved in any of the high school conference activities, they can certainly share in the growing excitement around the event. Some will be making welcome cards for the delegates while others will be playing musical items at the various functions.

The Grade 7s participated in their second workshop entitled Teens and Technology. They continue to grapple with the challenges of social media, as well as the deeper, underlying questions around image, values and reality which shape their actions. The school is holding two further interactive workshops for parents in order to develop some common understanding on how to approach this subject and set boundaries in an area in which our children know more than we do. We hope to introduce this course to the younger grades as we prepare them for wider use of devices in the school context. Clear, well-understood policies need to be in place to ensure our girls are techno-savvy. While IPADS remain merely a vehicle for learning at the school, they are also becoming an essential tool for finding relevant, immediate information.

On that note, the Foundation Phase girls are not allowed to bring cellphones to school. They will never be in a position where their parents cannot be contactable in an emergency. All communication needs to go through their teachers or Mrs Jappie, our secretary. The Intermediate Phase girls are allowed cellphones which they hand in daily- either at reception or in their classrooms. The Grade 7s store their phones in their lockers. If you receive messages from the girls during the day, they have not followed procedure. If girls are sick, we will contact you; if they have left things at home, it is a good learning curve for them while the consequences are still relatively trivial.

On Wednesday the school was entertained by actors from "Hooked on Books".  This programme presentes cameos from various children's books to get the girls inspired to read more. Their presentations are both humorous and thought provoking.  The librarians have the list of books so please encourage your daughters to visit a library or local bookshop to source them.

As we continue to educate our girls for a bright, academic future, we are also trying to ensure that their lives are based on unshakable values which will hold them through the tough journey of childhood into the real world. It is not an easy task, but filled with sparkling nuggets when we see the emergence of strong character development. Education is certainly a dynamic, interesting and deeply satisfying profession.

Carol te Water
 
Dates to diarise:
8 September - Foundation Phase St Cyprian's Day 8:30 - 10:00
21 September - Grades 4-12 St Cyprian's Day 12:00 - 17:00
September holidays - 22 September - 9 October