Dear Parents

The Power of Play in Early Learning

“Play is not just a break from learning; for young children, it is learning.” – Inspired by F. Rogers

Play is more than fun—it’s a crucial part of childhood development. Through play, preschoolers build the skills they need to succeed both academically and socially.

• Cognitive growth: Play encourages problem-solving, curiosity, and creative thinking. It sets the stage for early literacy and numeracy by letting children explore, experiment, and discover.

• Social and emotional skills: Sharing, taking turns, cooperating, and managing conflicts all happen naturally during play. Children also learn to express their emotions, gain confidence, and feel a sense of belonging.

• Physical development: Movement-based play strengthens muscles, improves balance and coordination, and helps develop both fine and gross motor skills.

• Language and communication: Activities like role-play and storytelling expand vocabulary, listening, and expressive language, while interactions with peers and teachers boost conversation skills.

• Imagination and problem-solving: Open-ended and pretend play encourage experimentation, innovation, and abstract thinking, helping children approach challenges in new ways.

• Focus and decision-making: Through exploring cause-and-effect and making choices in play, children enhance memory, attention span, and logical reasoning.

• Emotional wellbeing: Play provides a safe outlet for energy and emotions, helping children relax and develop a positive attitude toward school and learning.

• Independence and resilience: Unstructured play allows children to pursue interests, practice self-regulation, and learn perseverance through trial and error.

In short, play is a cornerstone of early learning. Preschool environments that embrace and nurture play give children the chance to grow cognitively, socially, emotionally, and physically, preparing them to be curious, confident, and capable learners.

Cake Sale - Thank you 

Thank you to everyone who assisted with the cake sale today — your time and support are appreciated. And to those who contributed the delicious treats that made it such a special highlight of the week, a heartfelt thank you as well.

Ed-admin Multi Portal App

Parents are encouraged to download the Ed-admin Multi Portal App. This platform will be used to send important notifications and updates, and it will also provide access to children’s reports when they are released.

Outreach 

♻️ Art & Innovation Collection Drive

We are collecting items such as:

• Bottle tops

• Boxes (all sizes)

• Sixty60 bags

• Buttons

• Wrapping paper

• Ribbons, fabric scraps, cardboard tubes — anything interesting and reusable!
  
  

If you have any of these items at home, please drop them off with your class teacher or at the school office.

A PEEK INTO OUR WEEK

Grade 0000

Our Crackerjacks Unit has been buzzing with activity this week!

We have continued learning all about our wonderful bodies while exploring our senses. The children enjoyed a variety of exciting art activities, including balloon painting (which was as fun as it sounds!), creating body collages, free painting to different tempos of music, and experimenting with textures using sponges, stamps, paintbrushes, and rollers. It’s safe to say there was more paint on little hands than on the paper at times — but that’s all part of the creative process!

We also set up various sensory tables in both the classroom and the garden, as sensory experiences provide rich learning opportunities. From squishing and scooping to pouring and patting, our little explorers were fully immersed in hands-on discovery.

The highlight of the week was undoubtedly The PlayLab! Our little ones dove in with great enthusiasm, and a joyful hour was spent investigating, exploring, and most importantly, learning through play. A wonderfully happy mess was made, and the squeals of excitement were simply priceless.

Our littlest learners continue to make us proud as they grow and develop each day. We are so looking forward to the learning adventures that await us next week!

Grade 000

Grade 000s Sensational Adventure!

What an exciting and adventure-filled time it has been in Grade 000! Our little explorers have been busy learning, moving, creating, and discovering in the most hands-on (and sometimes messy!) ways possible.

We kicked off our adventure by tackling an energetic obstacle course designed to strengthen our gross motor skills. The children climbed, crawled, balanced, jumped, and navigated each challenge with determination and big smiles. Not only was it a wonderful exercise, but it also helped build coordination, confidence, and body awareness — all while having loads of fun!

As part of our 5 Senses theme, we got creative and explored the sense of touch by making amazing textured handprints. The children loved feeling the different materials and noticing how each texture felt on their hands. From smooth to bumpy and everything in between, this activity truly brought learning to life. Our classroom was filled with excitement as little hands pressed, painted, and proudly admired their sensory masterpieces.

The adventure didn’t stop there! We also made our way to the tennis courts, where we practiced developing our eye-hand coordination skills. With racquets in hand and balls bouncing, the children worked on tracking, hitting, and controlling their movements. It was fantastic to see their focus and determination as they practiced getting their coordination “up to scratch” — and of course, celebrated every successful hit!

But if we had to choose the highlight of it all, messy time at the PlayLab would definitely take the prize! This sensory-rich experience truly ignited all our senses. The children explored freely, squished, poured, mixed, and discovered with pure joy. There were giggles, wide-eyed wonder, and a whole lot of happy mess! PlayLab gave our little learners the opportunity to experiment, create, and fully engage with their environment, in a way that only messy play can.

What a week of growth, laughter, and sensory exploration it has been! We are so proud of our Grade 000 adventurers for embracing every activity with enthusiasm and curiosity. We can’t wait to see what exciting experiences await us next!

Grade 00

The learners have been learning about their bones and discovering some of the amazing and fun things that are inside our bodies. We spoke about how our skeleton helps us stand, walk, and move every day. The children especially enjoyed creating a fun X-ray art activity, where they made their own “bone pictures.” It was a wonderful hands-on way for them to explore and understand what is inside their bodies. The photo shows some of the creative X-ray artwork the learners made.

Grade R

Messy Hands, Happy Hearts: Our Week in Grade R

If your little one came home this week with a bit of extra "character" on their clothing (in the form of paint, sand, or a mysterious smear of slime), then you already know it’s been a spectacular week in Grade R.

We’ve had a whirlwind of discovery, laughter, and, most importantly, play. Here is a look at what our curious explorers have been up to.

The Main Event: PlayLab Visits Grade R.

The highlight of our week was undoubtedly the visit from PlayLab. They transformed our 100 Acre Woods into a sensory wonderland dedicated to the art of messy play. From squishy textures to vibrant colors, our learners dived in headfirst (sometimes literally!).

The giggles were infectious, and the joy of "getting messy" without rules was a beautiful sight to behold. It wasn't just fun, though; messy play is a powerhouse for development. By engaging in sensory-based play, our Grade Rs are:

• Fine Motor Skills: Strengthening hand muscles through squeezing and pouring.

• Language & Science: Learning descriptive words and observing cause-and-effect.

• Emotional Regulation: Grounding and therapeutic sensory exploration.

Learning Through Exploration: Our Small Group Activities

Beyond the big mess, we’ve been leaning into our small group activity stations. We love this setup because it allows for more personalized attention and lets the children move at their own pace. It has been wonderful to see them rotate through the different zones with such focus and curiosity.

At our Mathematics Table, the children have been busy sorting, counting manipulatives, and exploring shapes. This hands-on approach builds a vital foundation for logical thinking and number sense. 

Mathematics: Hands-on sorting and counting to build number sense.

• Creative Arts: Open-ended masterpieces focused on unique self-expression.

• Literacy: Tracing letters and phonics games that make reading feel like a puzzle.

• Sensory Table: A hub for tactile play that encourages focus and cooperation.

Moments to Cherish

Whether it was a proud face showing off a messy masterpiece or the focused silence at the math table, it’s clear that our Grade Rs are thriving. We are so privileged to watch their confidence bloom every single day.

2026 Information 

2026 Dates

Summer Quarter: 20 Jan - 26 March 

Autumn Quarter: 8 April - 24 June 

Winter Quarter: 22 July - 23 Sept 

Spring Quarter: 14 Oct - 4 Dec 

Summer Quarter Important Dates 

SUMMER QUARTER:

24 February: Prefect visit

27 February: Making Fruit Kebabs (All grades) 

1 March: Happy Birthday Nadine Fourie 

2 March: Happy Birthday Vuyo Raqa 

9 March: Happy Birthday Abigail De Witt

11 March: Happy Birthday CRPP 46

Everywhere Experience - Circus Performance 

Evening Sunset Picnic 17:00 - 19:00 in the garden 

13 March: Cake Sale: Grade 000, Crackerjacks and Grade R (Edward Bear’s) Cake Sale 

15 March: Happy Birthday Riëtte Pieterse and Eric Mkangeli

16 March: Grade R Reports sent to parents

16-20 March: ExtraMural Open Week 

17-25 March: Grade 0000 - 00 Feedback meetings & Grade R Report meetings

21 March: Public Holiday - Human Rights Day

26 March: Last day of the quarter (school closes at 13:00 - No Aftercare) 

Aftercare Times

Please note that the school is locked promptly at 16:45 each day. We kindly ask that children are collected on time, allowing our dedicated staff to return home to their own families.

A late collection fee of R250 per half-hour (or part thereof) will apply for children collected from aftercare after 17:00. Late collection can be distressing for children and may lead to feelings of anxiety or uncertainty.

Thank you for your continued support and cooperation.

Conclusion

We are looking forward to the annual prefect visit to our pre-school and especially to welcoming back the many children who began their learning journey at Christopher Robin Pre-Primary.

Have a lovely weekend!