We greet you in the name of Jesus Christ. Welcome to 2022! We are glad to be with you in this year. To our new parents, we say welcome to our Step Ahead family – we are delighted to have you join us. Thank you for entrusting us with your children’s education and development. We know there are a number of institutions at your disposal from which you could have made your home so we appreciate your choice. We hope this will be a great year together and we look forward to all the growth, goodness and development that is yet to come.

Please find below information about school times of attendance, uniform, transport and more.

School times: The school attendance times are from 7:00 to 7:30 every day. Learners that are dropped off late need to be accompanied by an adult and reported to the office. School ends at 15:00 from Mondays to Thursdays, and at 13:00 on Fridays. We kindly ask that learners be collected at the times mentioned sharply as staff members also leave duty on Mondays – Thursdays, and Fridays at 15:00 and 13:00 respectively. Baseline Assessments: The school baseline assessment has been handed out to all learners (except for the Foundation Phase). The assessment assist teachers in determining the learner’s current academic strengths so as to better assist the learner’s progress throughout the year. The results of these assessments will be handed out to learners from next week. Foundation Phase learners will write the assessments next week, with the results to follow.

Finance: The finance office is located on the upper campus of the school (intermediate and senior phase campus). Please feel free to contact office for any questions or clarifications you may have, be it related to fees or general information about the school. We remind our parents/guardians to ensure that they have signed the finance policy as it stipulates the working relationship between the finance office and the fee payer. Please also be reminded that the registration fee is R250 and is payable at the office – this amount should be paid before learners start school. A late registration fee of R50 will apply from February so we encourage parents to pay before next month.

Lastly, the 2022 workbook amounts are below: Pre-Grade R : R200 Grade R : R200 Grade 1 : R220 Grade 2 : R220 Grade 3 : R230 Grade 4 : R220 Grade 5 : 200 Grade 6 : R250

Code of Conduct: The school Code of Conduct is a policy document that expresses the expected behaviour of all Step Ahead learners. We ask that this document is read carefully by parents/guardians and the learners so that they know what is allowed and not allowed. The policy will be distributed to the learners in a few weeks once all learners have arrived at school. STEP AHEAD PRE & PRIMARY SCHOOL EMIS Number: 601160 NPO: No. 027 033 admin@stepaheadprimary.co.za finance@stepaheadprimary.co.za 083 591 1219 083 276 5819

Transport: The school does not have an official school transport but there are a number of independently owned transports in and around Tsomo. As we have no direct relationship with the transport providers, we ask that parents please communicate to the transports the school arrival and departure time. We ask that they be prompt when dropping off and picking up learners’, and that they work with our staff members on the road. We will do our best to also communicate with transports for the safety of our learners.

School Communication: The school uses two main types of communication with parents/guardians: the first and main, is via the newsletter. We urge parents/guardians to please check with the learners, in the files or books, if they have received newsletters as these contain important updates and information. Please also ensure the reply slip attached to our letters is signed and returned to the class teacher the following day. The second type is via sms and phone calls: we call using either the school number (083 591 1219) or one of the staff member’s phone number. Our sms’s are sent using a different number – our messages will start with our school name, and the last line will include our office number. If you are uncertain about a sms you received from the school, please call the office number above to check. The main contact number is the school office so we ask that this number be saved for communications from us.

Tuckshop: The school’s tuckshop sells a variety of filling, yet reasonably priced foods and snacks for learners and staff. The learners may bring money and order from the tuckshop through their class teacher and the food will be ready by break time. The summer menu will be distributed to the learners for your perusal in a few weeks. May we move through this year with hope and sincerity as we work hand in hand for the betterment of all learners.

Yours in service

Principal

The post 27 January 2022 Communication appeared first on Step Ahead Primary School .

I greet you in the name of Jesus Christ.

This is the last communication for the second term. We thank you for your understanding throughout this term as we continue to face Covid-19.

Second term Last Week:

Please note that the last school day for this term for learners is Friday, 2 July 2021. Learners writing this week are expected to return to school for their exams. The last day of school for learners is as follows:

• Grade 1’s last day – 25 June 221
• Pre-grade R, grade R, 2, 3, 4 and 7’ last day – Wednesday, 30 June 2021
• Grade 6’s last day – Thursday 1 July 2021
• Grade 5, 8 and 9’s last day – Friday, 2 July 2021

Principal’s Desk:

After an uncertain start this year due to the pandemic, we eventually got into our regular rhythm of work. Our academic programme is on track and we thank God Almighty for that.

Absenteeism: We have had too many learners staying at home or learners bunking class towards the end of the term. We remind you of the stipulations of the school’s Code of Conduct for learners, that it is a requirement that learners attend school regularly and only be absent in unavoidable circumstances. As a parent/guardian, you are responsible to ensure that your child attends school regularly and communicate telephonically or via a letter notifying the school of the reason for him/her to be absent. Failure to comply could lead to your child being deregistered – we cannot take responsibility of your child’s safety and progress if these measures are not followed strictly.

Academics: A special appeal to help us achieve the best with your child through helping them appreciate school work: monitor their study habits as we strive to work together as a three-legged pot: child, school and parent/guardian. Please also encourage reading: of newspapers, books and stories found in different media platforms.

Finance

We thank the parents/guardians that have been faithful in maintaining the school fees timeously, and working according to the school’s finance policy. Parents/guardians that have not been meeting their financial obligations are strongly advised to do so and communicate with the school about the payment dates. We ask that the finance policy signed be fulfilled as agreed upon to avoid the consequences stipulated.

We ask that payments made use EFT, debit orders, cell phone banking and internet banking or the speed point machine at school. Please ensure the correct reference is used to avoid incorrect balances – the child’s name, surname and grade.

Conquesta:

Please note that payment for the Conquesta exam has been extended to 29 July, 2021. If learners have not paid yet, they may do so. Please ensure the reference is the child’s name and surname and Conquesta if payment is made at the bank or online.

Third Term

Please note that all learners from grade R to grade 7 will attend school from the first day. Day Care and Pre-Grade R will also be opening on the same day. Grade 8 and 9 will continue rotating in the third term. Grade 8 will start the term with us.

The school will follow the opening dates announced by the Minister of Basic Education – that means we will open on 19 July 2021. Please note that if there are changes regarding the reopening of school closer to the dates, we will communicate via sms, WhatsApp and on our Facebook page. Please also see our website www.stepaheadprimary.co.za for updates and news. It is of the utmost importance that we have the updated contacts of all parents/guardians. If you have not received a sms regarding the opening during the holidays, please see our website, Facebook page, or WhatsApp for updates.

Reports

The second term reports will not be available for collection at the end of this term. Instead, reports will be issued to learners in their first week of the third term to the learners attending. We would ideally like all parents to receive the reports so as to track the learner’s academic progress. Please ensure that fee are up to date.

We understand that we live in uncertain times, with information changing based on the current state of the country. As a school, we are obliged to keep within the laws of the country and those of the Department of Basic Education. We will always give our best to ensure we communicate correct information as soon as possible so that learners are not disadvantaged. Therefore, we ask for patience as we move through the year, communicating changes and attempt to maintain a stable teaching and learning environment for all learners and staff.

May we join hands together and fight Covid-19, reminding learners to always wear masks in public and maintaining hygiene at all times.
We hope the holiday is a safe and restful one for all.

Yours in service

Principal

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This is the last communication of this strange year: we have all experienced something new this year, some good and some bad, and some to grow us while others challenge us. It has been a journey not conceived by any of us, but it is one we are glad to have taken with our Step Ahead family.
Please take note of the information below as it pertains to this and the following year.

Curriculum:

This year has been a disruptive one for learning, and has had an impact on the general educational experience of the year. We encourage learners to continue exploring and learning during the break – reading newspapers, books, and articles, and watching educational programmes on DTSV channels 317-319. There are some online platforms offering educational resources for learners of all grades including Siyavula, Nalibali, and 2Enable.org. For more resources and information please refer to the Department of Education’s website:            www.education.gov.za/covid19supportpackage.aspx.

Finance:

We want to extend our gratitude to our parents for fulfilling the financial obligation to the school timeously. The school cannot function without the tuition fees, especially in these hard times.
We expect all tuition fees to be paid up by now. We will not extend the payment date – the date was extended to November to accommodate parents/guardians facing challenges. We cannot extend it any further.
Please note that there is a registration fee of R200 for next year that must be paid in January for the learner to attend school – it is a way of informing us that the learner will be with us in the coming year.

Please note that fee payments schedules/dates must be strictly observed – January fees must be paid before the 7^th of January, including the registration fee and the workbook amount. Parents/guardians may start paying for next year if they so wish – please ensure the reference includes 2021.

Co- & Extra-curricular activities 2021:

Please note that we no longer have a co-curriculum fee for the year. Our extra and co-curricular activities, as well as those of third parties such as Conquesta and choir competitions are still on hold until we have received communication from the various bodies concerned. We will communicate any changes regarding these in 2021. Thank you for the excitement shown this year for the activities – we look forward to coming together again for the various events.

Graduation:
Our 21^st Grade R graduation was held on Thursday 19 November 2020 at school. Due to the Covid-19 regulations, we could only host 1 parent for every learner and a few guests for the day. Updates on the event have been posted on the school Facebook page:    https://www.facebook.com/stepaheadprimary
The Graduation DVD’s will be available for sale during report collection time for R150 at the office.

Communication:
We are moving to more sustainable communication methods that will deliver information straight to the parent/guardian. We ask that you update the contact information for the person responsible for the learner – we request a number that can be reached via SMS or WhatsApp and an email address we can forward newsletters to when needed.

Please be aware of the types of communication we use: if the letter does not have the school name in bold, the above letter head and/or the school stamp with a signature, it is not from us – disregard the communication

Reports:
The collection date for reports will be communicated to parents/guardians via sms/messages – please ensure we have the correct contact number. Please note that no fee payment or fee related queries will be addressed during this time – it is strictly for report collection. Please contact the school before this date to check the account balance. Learners collecting reports to be dressed in full school uniform.

2021 Opening:

The office will open on the 19^th of January for admissions, purchasing of uniform and for fee payments, while learners will open on Wednesday 27 January 2021. The girls will be wearing the summer uniform – only long school socks allowed and not stockings or amagusha. The arrival time is between 07:00-07:15.

We hope this Christmas is one where we remember the gift of life and appreciate all that is important – family, friends and love.

Yours in service

Principal and staff

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Our annual Prayer Day took place on Wednesday, 23 September 2020 at Step Ahead Primary. The day was quite a contrast to our usual fun fair due to the Covid-19 regulations and restrictions on schools – a limit on the people coming to the school and social distance rules. Be that as it may, the day was a wonderful display of God’s faithfulness and love.

The day was warm and inviting, ready to celebrate with us the achievements of the previous year, as well as all we have to look forward. We invited a few guests for the day – four close friends of the school who have supported us these many years. Our guests led the programme through the programme director, Ms Ncoko: Pastor Gxoko opened the day with an encouraging word that welcomed our guests and staff members. From there, Reverend Gwadela and Mrs Xhego led us in prayer for the development of the school in all spheres and for the safety and protection of all stakeholders respectively. Reverend Mahlakatha delivered a powerful word on God’s faithfulness and love.

A unique part of this year’s prayer day was the dedicated prayer time over the grades in attendance: each grade was rotated and had the chance to be prayed over by the guests. We started our rotation with grade 8 and moved to grade, 5, 4, 2, Grade R and lastly the Day Care and Pre-Grade R learners. Although restrictions limited our movement and the attendance of our school family and friends, the time dedicated to each grade was special for all.

Another new feature of our day came in the form of a Live Facebook stream. The limit on guest attendance meant so many people could not join us at school. But the powers of technology afforded our community to pray with us from the comfort of home or work via our Facebook page. This was a first for such an event and though technical difficulties and unpredictable weather made it a challenge, we were still able to record the whole day. A first for us but something we hope to take into future events and school activities.

We look forward to next year’s event, under better conditions but filled with the same zeal and heart of thankfulness. If you would like to see the Prayer Day, simply click on the Facebook icon or follow the link  : https://web.facebook.com/watch/live/?extid=LXBzKPRjmMpnKeDD&v=356225649088600&ref=watch_permalink

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The school will be hosting our annual Prayer Day on Wednesday, 23 September at school in accordance to Covid-19 guidelines and regulations. This means that only invited guests who will be participating in the programme will be at school for the Prayer Day. We ask that our parents/guardians join us in prayer at their respective homes and/work for the entire day. All learners attending next week according to the rotation roster will be in attendance, which is Grade R, 2, 4, 5 and 8.

Parents/guardians may also join us virtually via our Facebook page where we will be going live for the duration of the event. You can join us via this link and also find the prayer itinerary on our page on Tuesday, 22 September. Our Facebook link is https://www.facebook.com/stepaheadprimary , or simply search @stepaheadprimary to find our page.

We hope you will join us for this important day in our calendar.

Yours in service

Principal and Staff

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The celebrations included speeches from old friends of the school, the directors and our principal, our head boy and head girl and special messages from our alumni. The feast merriments started weeks before as stakeholders generously donated to our mal in all forms and this made the feast even more special. Our sincerest gratitude goes towards our supportive stakeholders for celebrating this day with us.

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As a community that has experienced xenophobic tensions in the recent history, we see it important to broaden our learner’s view of the continent and to take pride in the many rich cultures and in what each language, traditional food and customs of this land.

The success in the celebrations are seen in how the learners interact with different languages and people from other countries, no longer negative but with interest and tolerance. This is one of the several ways we try grow global citizens.

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The day has traditionally been held at the town hall that is always packed to capacity with joyous family members and learners waiting to see the young graduates take the stage.

The day is a special time to showcase the learners and their teachers’ hard work of the year in the form of spoken word, cultural dances, and speeches, and a particularly sweet skits and songs from our foundation phase learners.

We mark graduation every October as our last school event and as the final goodbye to our school family for the year.

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