Newsletter 1 December 2021

Dear Waterberg Family

The pandemic challenges continued to undermine Waterberg Academy’s strategy that were set at the start of 2020. Some of our colleagues lost loved ones due to Covid-19 related complications. Adverse and traumatic experiences in several learners’ lives and homes challenged optimal engagement, health, learning and wellbeing.

Despite the above, the Academy showed resilience in terms of conquering challenges and setting the table for a solid set of results in all the grades as well as the 2021 Grade 12 NSC examination.

We are very thankful towards our teachers and parents who during another challenging academic year, functioned well and made use of the online platforms that were made available. Their support ensured that the Academy was able to complete the full curriculum and write two full examinations during 2020 and 2021. We are very proud that our school was able to complete the full curriculum while public schools did not even write an end of year examination for 2021.

We are excited for the year 2022 and we remain positive that our schooling will not be disrupted and that we will achieve our goals that we have set ourselves for 2022.

1. Staffing
I would like to wish Ms. Forster-Towne all the best with her retirement, and to thank Rose for her dedication and commitment to the education of our learners at Waterberg Academy.

She will be replaced by Ms. Vicky Pieterse who joins our Academy from Curro Holdings. She brings with her years of experience not only in teaching but in management as well. I would like to wish her the very best and we look forward to introducing her to our learners.

2. The year ahead – a summary

Swimming Club – Under the guidance of Coach Theresa Marais, the Waterberg Swimming club will be offering the following:

• Private lessons conducted after school hours
• Water safety and Foundations of Swimming offered to babies and toddlers 6 months – 2 years
• Learn to Swim and water safety techniques offered to children from 2yrs up. This will take place during the school hours as part of our curriculum
• Stroke correction techniques and training
• Coaching and Competitive swimming training
• Adult swimming classes – Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced swimmers
• Water Aerobics

Academic

• Academic Head – Mrs Ciska Leonard will play an important role in terms of an academic standard which threads through the entire school
• More common assessments
• Moving away from the textbook as a sole resource
• Teaching skill before content
• Introducing hospitality studies
• English and Maths programmes in SP and HS
• JP aims to improve skill development by having a 15 min per day skill session
• JP to focus more on English
• 21st century skills
• Moving from a 20-meg line to a 50-meg fibre line
• Parents will have to ensure that children have access to Wi-Fi and can work on a tablet or laptop – google classroom

Boarding school

• General improvement ( new mattresses already ordered. Upgrade the Wi-Fi
• Board will be looking at a total revamp of hostel

Staffing

• Staff development will be priority next year
• Partner with Keller Education – theme Classroom management that works

Sport and culture

• Archery – improve our standings within the greater school competition
• Equestrian – grow the sport
• Mountain biking
• Golf – to get at least 4 learners playing competitively
• PTA to fund the building of a new tennis court with two netball courts – this project to start during the first term next year
• Rhythmic Gymnastics – Coach Tammy Dent
• Afternoon Dance – to be introduced
• Vocal lessons – Coach Corli
• School production / marimba and choir camps

School Uniforms

Please take note that the PTA will also be a supplier of uniforms as from 2022. The focus will be for grade 1-3 for now and then cater for the whole school as from term 2 in 2022.

The uniforms that can be bought from the PTA are as follows

• Blue formal wear
• Blue Skorts
• New blue golf shirt – replaces the white one
• Blue PT shorts
• Live and learn T shirts

The shop will be open from 3 January 2022

From Grade 4 to 12 uniforms can still be purchased from Woolworths, Edgars and PEP

Kate Meyers has isolated characteristics that exist in good schools. Included in her list are high expectations of its learners, a positive relationship between teachers and learners, regular feedback, and parental involvement in the school. This year has been characterized by a particularly strong relationship between the school and the PTA. This has ensured that regular feedback occurs in multiple ways. The PTA has organized superb functions that have not only involved our community but have made an incredible mark on schools throughout South Africa.

The teacher/learner relationship remains a strong feature of Waterberg Academy. Children come to school because they look forward to a stimulating, invigorating learning experience and they leave having enjoyed being with their teachers and their peers. The high expectations of the Academy have seen many outstanding individual and team performances that have taken our youngsters to the top in many fields of endeavor in our country.
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I have always had the greatest admiration and respect for the teaching staff at Waterberg Academy. Teachers are very special people to whom we all owe a special debt of gratitude. To all of you, thank you on behalf of the parents, learners, and management. To the Board, PTA, Richard Wadley and the Trust, thank you to each one of you as each one of you has brought credit to our noble profession and the school this year. This huge responsibility you all have, to mold and shape the lives of the young people in our care, must always be exercised with understanding, respect, and responsibility.
As I say farewell to you, I urge that you continue to strive to be the best and to give every learner the opportunity to develop into a well-rounded adult who will play an important role in the future of this country. From the strong, bold vision that you have been given, the road to greatness is clear.

Embrace your blessings. Make today worth remembering. “Reflect upon your present blessings – of which every person has many – not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.” “When we lose one blessing, another is often most unexpectedly given in its place.”
Enjoy your holidays and have a merry Christmas.

Vernon Rorich
Headmaster
Waterberg Academy