Dear Parents

Why Praise Matters

“Positive reinforcement refers to the process of rewarding or reinforcing desirable behaviour 

to increase the likelihood that the behaviour will be repeated in the future” 

(Staddon & Cerruti, 2003).

At this young age, children are still learning what it means to be part of a group, how to manage big feelings, and how to make choices that help them (and others) feel safe and cared for. Positive reinforcement — offering gentle, specific praise when a child makes a helpful choice — is one of the most powerful ways we can guide them.

As teachers, we look for moments in the day to say things like,
“You waited so patiently — that was really kind,”
or “You used gentle hands with your friend — I saw how careful you were.”
This kind of praise helps children understand what they did well and why it matters. Over time, they begin to feel proud of those choices, and they’re more likely to try them again.

At home, you might find similar moments — when your child tidies up without being asked, comforts a sibling, or tries again after feeling frustrated. A simple, heartfelt comment like,
“You were so gentle with the puppy,” or
“I saw you trying and trying to put your shoes on — you didn’t give up!” can make a big difference.

When children receive consistent, warm encouragement from both home and school, it helps them feel secure, capable, and supported in every space they move through. It tells them: We see you. We believe in you. We’re on your side.

A Peek Into Our Week

Piglet's & Tigger's House

This week in Grade 000 has been filled with excitement as our little learners explored the fascinating world of wild animals! We had so much fun discovering the unique patterns on animal skin, learning about different habitats, and finding out what various animals like to eat. The children were especially captivated by the giraffe—its long neck, spotted coat, and gentle nature sparked curiosity and wonder. To bring their learning to life, they created their very own giraffe art using paint, paper cutouts, and lots of imagination. It was a joyful, hands-on experience that not only reinforced their new knowledge but also encouraged creativity, fine motor skills, and self-expression.

A special well done to our Grade 000s for taking their concert photograph so beautifully! Their big smiles and happy energy said it all! 

Pooh Bears Explore the World of Insects 

Over the past two weeks, our curious Pooh Bears have been diving into the fascinating world of insects! Using soft bricks, the children brought their creativity to life by building their very own bugs. As they built, we talked about all the important parts of an insect—heads, thoraxes, abdomens, and even wings and stingers! We counted legs (did you know insects have six?) and learned about their tough exoskeletons. It’s truly amazing to see learning come to life through play, conversation, and hands-on exploration. We are so proud of our little entomologists!

Kanga's House

What an amazing week we had in class! Our imaginations were in full swing as we explored creative building techniques to bring unique and exciting projects to life. We also had a fantastic time making wonderful patterns using beads in all sorts of interesting ways, showing off our focus and flair for design. We dove into the wonders of the four seasons, crafting beautiful, eye-catching trees that captured the colours and feelings of each one.  All the while, we've been pouring our energy and enthusiasm into concert rehearsals—singing, dancing, and giving it our all. The excitement is building, and we can’t wait to dazzle everyone with our hard work and creativity!

Being the principal comes with many privileges, and one of the greatest is the joy of popping into classrooms to witness the magic of learning in action. One moment in particular stands out.

Kanga's House did a wonderful job in their recorder lesson last week! The children confidently used fingers 1 and 2 to play a combination of short and long notes, showing impressive focus and coordination. It was especially heartwarming to see them following the notes on the stave displayed on the board. These lessons offer a beautiful introduction to early music reading skills, supporting fine motor development, listening, and concentration, while nurturing a true love for music. Well done, little musicians! 🎵

Grade 00: Occupations Theme & Dress-Up Day!

Our Grade 00s are looking forward to an exciting week as they explore the Occupations theme! This is always a highlight as they learn about the many important jobs people do in our world.

To wrap it all up, we’ll be having a “What We Want to Be” Dress-Up Day on Friday, 23 May.
Children are invited to come dressed as what they’d love to be when they grow up — whether it’s a doctor, firefighter, teacher, chef, or even a vet!

We can’t wait to see their big ideas and bright dreams come to life!

The Jungle Adventure Concert (Grade 000 - R)

We’re excited to invite you to our upcoming Jungle Adventure Concert, where our little performers will take you on a wild and wonderful journey through the jungle! 

To manage the event smoothly and ensure everyone’s comfort, there will be 110 tickets available per show, and it’s strictly first come, first served.

To book your spot, please use the correct Google Form link that matches the date and time you plan to attend. All Grade 000 to R learners (not the Crackerjacks) will be performing in the same concert, which will take place twice a day on 29 and 30 May.

Each performance will be the same, repeated four times in total, and each show has its own booking form to help us manage unreserved seating accurately.

🎟️ Booking is essential – once the 110 tickets are booked for a show, the form will close automatically.

📅 Booking Links (please choose carefully based on the correct date and time):

29 May: 09:00 - 10:00 

29 May: 10:30 - 11:30 

30 May: 09:00 - 10:00

30 May: 10:30 - 11:30  

Birthday Book Donation 

A big thank you to Yayama for the wonderful book donation, "Sasha the Seal" by Miles Kelly! Your thoughtful gift will be enjoyed by many little readers. We hope you had the most special day, happy 6th birthday, Yayama! 🥳🎉

2025 Dates 

Please note that there has been a slight change to the 2025 dates indicated in blue below:

Provisional dates for 2025

Summer Quarter: 20 January – 28 March
Autumn Quarter: 08 April- 25 June
*Mid-term break: 29 April – 2 May
Winter Quarter: 22 July – 23 Sept
Spring Quarter: 14 October – 05 December

Important Dates - Autumn Quarter 2025

23 May: Grade 00 Occupational Dress-up Day 

28 May: Build your burger with Chef Kerry 

29 May: 09:00 - 10:00 May Play (Grade 000 - R) 

29 May: 10:30 - 11:00 May Play (Grade 000 - R) 

30 May: 09:00 - 10:00 May Play (Grade 000 - R) 

30 May: 10:30 - 11:00 May Play (Grade 000 - R)
31 May: Open Day

1 June: International Children’s Day 

  Happy Birthday Kerry Kemp

2 June: Happy Birthday Chanay De Klerk

International Children's Day- Movie & Pop Corn (Grade 000 - R) in the hall
Crackerjacks Music & Marshmallow in their classes       

13 June: Reports sent to parents 

15 June: Father’s Day

16 June: Public Holiday: Youth Day 

17-20 June: Report Feedback Meetings Grade 0000 - R

20 June: Grade 000 and Crackerjacks Cake Sale 

24 June: Winter Olympics and R20 ‘entry’ fee towards Grant Pienaar Foundation

25 June: Last day of the quarter  

29 June: Happy Birthday Litho Voxeka

Conclusion

It’s been a wonderfully busy and exciting week! The children have been practising their concert songs with great enthusiasm, and there’s such a buzz of excitement in the air. We also captured some beautiful concert photographs on Wednesday and Thursday. We’ll let you know as soon as the photographs have been printed and are ready to order.

We’re looking forward to seeing our Grade 00s all dressed up for their "What We Want to Be" Dress-Up Day on Friday, 23 May. 

Wishing all our families a restful weekend ahead!