Primary School - Melkbosstrand Privaatskool

CURRICULUM

MPS received IEB approval and acceptance to start with the implementation of the IEB curriculum in 2022 and we haven’t looked back.

In 2021 we phased in the IEB curriculum together with a new learning approach including dual-medium classes. The IEB matric certificate is internationally accepted which ensures that MPS will be able to maintain our high academic standards.

The Keller Education approach has also been introduced in the primary school. This focuses on creativity and a new teaching methodology including the introduction of the Active Readers Programme and no homework.

Classes (Grades 4-9) are taught in dual-medium and learners benefit from the exposure to both official languages. By no means is your child compelled to study and write assessments in a language that is not his/her mother tongue. Explanations, instructions and assessments are given in both languages.

The classes split for their Home Language, as well as their First Additional Language lessons.

SUBJECTS

INTERMEDIATE PHASE

(Grade 4 – 6)

Home Language, First Additional Language, Mathematics, Natural Science and Technology/Computer Literacy, Social Sciences (Geography and History), and Life Skills.

Drama, Art & Music form part of the standard curriculum for the Primary School’s intermediate phase and learners have the opportunity to engage in various Creative and Dramatic art forms.

Dance: In gr. 4-6 Hip-Hop is available as an extra-mural after school hours. *

From Gr. 1-7 Art forms part of every year’s education, either by the class teacher (Gr. 1-3), or in Gr. 4-7 by a more specialised teacher.

SENIOR PHASE

(Grade 7)

Home Language, First Additional Language, Mathematics, Natural Science (Life Sciences and Physical Sciences), Technology/ Computer Literacy, Social Sciences (Geography and History), Economic and Management Sciences (Business studies and Accounting), and Creative Arts.

Dance: In gr. 7 Hip Hop, Ballet and Contemporary Dance can be taken as extra murals. *

From Gr. 1-7 Art forms part of every year’s education, either by the class teacher (Gr. 1-3), or in Gr. 4-7 by a more specialised teacher.

MUSIC

Music forms an integral part of school life at MPS. From class music classes performing in assemblies, Senior choir, Vocal Groups, Saxophone Ensemble, HS Band, individual music tuition and subject music, there is something for everyone.

From Grade 1-6 any of the following music instruments can be taken as an extra-mural:

Piano, Keyboard, Violin, Double Bass, Flute, Clarinet, Classical Guitar, Plectrum Guitar, Electric Guitar, Electric Bass Guitar, Drums (Drum Kit), Voice, Recorder.
Group tuition in Recorder

In Grade 7 any of the above music instruments can be taken as an extra-mural OR as part of the school subject choices.

VISIT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL TO HEAR MORE

PRIMARY SCHOOL STAFF

Foundation Phase

Antoinette Gauché

Faculty Head: Foundation Phase

Kim Klopper

Phase Head: Foundation Phase

Grade 2 teacher

Monique Conradie

Gr. 1 Teacher

Maryna Botha

Gr. 1 Teacher

Joss du Plessis

Class Assistant

Marie Coad

Gr. 2 Teacher

Engela van der Merwe

Gr. 3 Teacher

Intermediate Phase

Allan Norton

Faculty Head: Intermediate Phase

Carla Lombard

Phase Head: Intermediate Phase

Head of Inclusion

Grade 4 Class Teacher

Afrikaans, Math, NST

Yolandé Smit

Head of Discipline

Grade 7 Class Teacher

Social Sciences, Life Sciences, NST, Technology, Natural Sciences, English

Michaela Knipe

Gr 4 Teacher

English, Math, NST, Life Sciences

Samley Currie

Gr. 5 Class Teacher

IT, Math, EMS, Life Sciences

De Ville Kemp

Gr. 5 Class Teacher

Social Sciences, NST

Alta Shepherd

Gr. 6 Class Teacher

Afrikaans

Rhian Nel

Gr. 6 Class Teacher

English

Theodi Gouws

Math, Afrikaans, LS

Hanneke Cornelissen

Music, Worship

Louwrens Erasmus

Sport Organiser

HOMEWORK POLICY

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF HOMEWORK?

In the March 2018 article in Education Leadership, Jenni Donohoo, John Hattie and Rachel Eells showed the effect size of the different influences of learning.

It is incomprehensible that schools in 2021 continue with a practice proven to have the lowest effect size on learning. Homework after a long school day is nothing short of ridiculous.

Homework confuses completion with understanding.

Getting the job done after six hours of intensive schooling and a long afternoon of extra-murals is not about understanding or thinking. It is about completion. Homework is checked to see if it has been completed. The focus is on completion, not understanding.

The argument that Homework will develop a good work ethic is often used. Developing a good work ethic is a wonderful attribute, but it is almost impossible to list it as a measurable learning influence. We accept that practice makes permanent and Malcolm Gladwell in Outliers (2008) argues convincingly that if we spend 10 000 hours on any given task we will become proficient at it.

But, practice will only make permanent if we do it right with a master coach alongside us. Many students are doing homework on their own in order to complete the task. Most parents are often too busy or too distracted to be “the teacher”!

After all, parents send their children to school to be taught.

For this very reason, the Melkbosstrand Private Primary School, Grade 1-7, has moved away from traditional Homework and embarked on a new programme called Active Readers.

THIS PROGRAMME HAS 2 DIMENSIONS:

1) BE ACTIVE

Spend your afternoons playing, surfing, chilling, being with friends, walking on the beach, skateboarding, riding your bicycle, enjoying sport.

2) BE A READER

Spend at least 20 minutes a day reading a book

5 days a week – in your home language
2 days a week – in your first additional language

The school leadership has partnered with the students. They read and the Leadership will make sure that no teacher assigns homework.

It’s a deal!

For the children who find reading hard, parents are encouraged to read to them. There is nothing nicer than being read to. Take the time to read to your child. Gently shift the activity to PAIRED READING when the child reads a few sentences then nudges the parent to continue. After a few lines the parent nudges the child to read a few sentences. This can become a great bonding experience before bedtime.

Don’t forget the graphic novels for those who are not avid readers. Graphic novel is a fancy word for a comic. Comics are great reading starters. The picture and the speech bubble provide enough graphic input to spark the learner’s imagination and encourages them to attack the words.

Grade 1 learners will bring home their sight words.

Play games with the sight words so that the children can build up stories using the words they are learning. Again – it is not homework. Place the words on a table and start telling a story. As the story uses a sight word, slide it away from the group of words and focus on it. Then put the words back and tell the story again and see if your child can find the word as the story unfolds.

Remember, they are looking at symbols and patterns in the process of decoding the meaning. It takes a while, but when they get it – they get it!

As we Re-imagine Schooling at MPS – let’s make learning fun.

Homework is out – Active Readers are IN!

group of students with books writing school test

Twice a year we will still write Formal Assessments.

This will be a week of learning a Survival Skill for High School and University. It is not a Life Skill. After your Bachelor’s degree you are unlikely to write another examination in your life!

During this time we will teach your child how to study. The rest of the assessment requirements during the term will be done without preparation. After all – assessment should be FEEDBACK on mastery, not Grading. Instant feedback is essential to develop skills, concepts, attitudes and values.

As we reduce the high level of anxiety in our children and create a thinking space, we prepare a cohort of future adults who are competent, confident, creative and calm.

HOMEWORK POLICY

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF HOMEWORK?

In the March 2018 article in Education Leadership, Jenni Donohoo, John Hattie and Rachel Eells showed the effect size of the different influences of learning.

It is incomprehensible that schools in 2021 continue with a practice proven to have the lowest effect size on learning. Homework after a long school day is nothing short of ridiculous.

Homework confuses completion with understanding.

Getting the job done after six hours of intensive schooling and a long afternoon of extra-murals is not about understanding or thinking. It is about completion. Homework is checked to see if it has been completed. The focus is on completion, not understanding.

The argument that Homework will develop a good work ethic is often used. Developing a good work ethic is a wonderful attribute, but it is almost impossible to list it as a measurable learning influence. We accept that practice makes permanent and Malcolm Gladwell in Outliers (2008) argues convincingly that if we spend 10 000 hours on any given task we will become proficient at it.

But, practice will only make permanent if we do it right with a master coach alongside us. Many students are doing homework on their own in order to complete the task. Most parents are often too busy or too distracted to be “the teacher”!

After all, parents send their children to school to be taught.

For this very reason, the Melkbosstrand Private Primary School, Grade 1-7, has moved away from traditional Homework and embarked on a new programme called Active Readers.

THIS PROGRAMME HAS 2 DIMENSIONS:

1) BE ACTIVE

Spend your afternoons playing, surfing, chilling, being with friends, walking on the beach, skateboarding, riding your bicycle, enjoying sport.

2) BE A READER

Spend at least 20 minutes a day reading a book

5 days a week – in your home language
2 days a week – in your first additional language

The school leadership has partnered with the students. They read and the Leadership will make sure that no teacher assigns homework.

It’s a deal!

For the children who find reading hard, parents are encouraged to read to them. There is nothing nicer than being read to. Take the time to read to your child. Gently shift the activity to PAIRED READING when the child reads a few sentences then nudges the parent to continue. After a few lines the parent nudges the child to read a few sentences. This can become a great bonding experience before bedtime.

Don’t forget the graphic novels for those who are not avid readers. Graphic novel is a fancy word for a comic. Comics are great reading starters. The picture and the speech bubble provide enough graphic input to spark the learner’s imagination and encourages them to attack the words.

Grade 1 learners will bring home their sight words.

Play games with the sight words so that the children can build up stories using the words they are learning. Again – it is not homework. Place the words on a table and start telling a story. As the story uses a sight word, slide it away from the group of words and focus on it. Then put the words back and tell the story again and see if your child can find the word as the story unfolds.

Remember, they are looking at symbols and patterns in the process of decoding the meaning. It takes a while, but when they get it – they get it!

As we Re-imagine Schooling at MPS – let’s make learning fun.

Homework is out – Active Readers are IN!

Twice a year we will still write Formal Assessments.

This will be a week of learning a Survival Skill for High School and University. It is not a Life Skill. After your Bachelor’s degree you are unlikely to write another examination in your life!

During this time we will teach your child how to study. The rest of the assessment requirements during the term will be done without preparation. After all – assessment should be FEEDBACK on mastery, not Grading. Instant feedback is essential to develop skills, concepts, attitudes and values.

As we reduce the high level of anxiety in our children and create a thinking space, we prepare a cohort of future adults who are competent, confident, creative and calm.

HOMEWORK POLICY

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF HOMEWORK?

In the March 2018 article in Education Leadership, Jenni Donohoo, John Hattie and Rachel Eells showed the effect size of the different influences of learning.

It is incomprehensible that schools in 2021 continue with a practice proven to have the lowest effect size on learning. Homework after a long school day is nothing short of ridiculous.

Homework confuses completion with understanding.

Getting the job done after six hours of intensive schooling and a long afternoon of extra-murals is not about understanding or thinking. It is about completion. Homework is checked to see if it has been completed. The focus is on completion, not understanding.

The argument that Homework will develop a good work ethic is often used. Developing a good work ethic is a wonderful attribute, but it is almost impossible to list it as a measurable learning influence. We accept that practice makes permanent and Malcolm Gladwell in Outliers (2008) argues convincingly that if we spend 10 000 hours on any given task we will become proficient at it.

But, practice will only make permanent if we do it right with a master coach alongside us. Many students are doing homework on their own in order to complete the task. Most parents are often too busy or too distracted to be “the teacher”!

After all, parents send their children to school to be taught.

For this very reason, the Melkbosstrand Private Primary School, Grade 1-7, has moved away from traditional Homework and embarked on a new programme called Active Readers.

THIS PROGRAMME HAS 2 DIMENSIONS:

1) BE ACTIVE

Spend your afternoons playing, surfing, chilling, being with friends, walking on the beach, skateboarding, riding your bicycle, enjoying sport.

2) BE A READER

Spend at least 20 minutes a day reading a book

5 days a week – in your home language
2 days a week – in your first additional language

The school leadership has partnered with the students. They read and the Leadership will make sure that no teacher assigns homework.

It’s a deal!

For the children who find reading hard, parents are encouraged to read to them. There is nothing nicer than being read to. Take the time to read to your child. Gently shift the activity to PAIRED READING when the child reads a few sentences then nudges the parent to continue. After a few lines the parent nudges the child to read a few sentences. This can become a great bonding experience before bedtime.

Don’t forget the graphic novels for those who are not avid readers. Graphic novel is a fancy word for a comic. Comics are great reading starters. The picture and the speech bubble provide enough graphic input to spark the learner’s imagination and encourages them to attack the words.

Grade 1 learners will bring home their sight words.

Play games with the sight words so that the children can build up stories using the words they are learning. Again – it is not homework. Place the words on a table and start telling a story. As the story uses a sight word, slide it away from the group of words and focus on it. Then put the words back and tell the story again and see if your child can find the word as the story unfolds.

Remember, they are looking at symbols and patterns in the process of decoding the meaning. It takes a while, but when they get it – they get it!

As we Re-imagine Schooling at MPS – let’s make learning fun.

Homework is out – Active Readers are IN!

Twice a year we will still write Formal Assessments.

This will be a week of learning a Survival Skill for High School and University. It is not a Life Skill. After your Bachelor’s degree you are unlikely to write another examination in your life!

During this time we will teach your child how to study. The rest of the assessment requirements during the term will be done without preparation. After all – assessment should be FEEDBACK on mastery, not Grading. Instant feedback is essential to develop skills, concepts, attitudes and values.

As we reduce the high level of anxiety in our children and create a thinking space, we prepare a cohort of future adults who are competent, confident, creative and calm.

SPORT

At Melkbosstrand Private School we believe that our learners should have the opportunity to develop not only academically and culturally but most certainly on the sport field too. We encourage our students to have high expectations of themselves and what they can achieve. Through hard work that they will reach their full potential and life goals.

Our sporting infrastructure includes tennis courts, netball courts, rugby, cricket and hockey fields and cricket practice nets.

RUGBY

At Melkbosstrand Private School we strive to achieve excellence at all levels; the rugby field is no exception. We have u/7, u/9, u/11 and u/13 rugby teams.

MPS is registered with the Western Province Rugby Football Union and all the coaches are “Bok Smart” qualified.

We take part in various sports days with other private schools.

MOUNTAIN BIKING (MTB)

We have an active MTB club at our school that trains twice a week. Learners are trained by a dedicated MTB Coach. We are affiliated with the Tygerberg MTB club and make use of their MTB routes.

Parents and children are encouraged to train together which makes this a unique family sport. Pupils are encouraged to take part in the Spur School League and also any of the other many competitions in and around the Cape.

ARCHERY

MPS is part of the National Archery in Schools’ Program (NASP). We offer archery as a school sport for learners from Gr 4 – Gr 12.

We have all the necessary equipment such as bows and arrows and the sport therefore functions as a club with a fee structure.

The learners take part in competitions throughout the year at various schools in the Western Cape.

NETBALL

We have Primary School Netball Teams from u/7 to u/13 who participate in the Western Province League and regularly take part in Sports Days at CPM, Vyeboom, Slot van die Paarl and other schools. Competing against larger schools has taught our players valuable lessons in team work and developing perseverance and we have seen many very special victories as a team.

CRICKET

Our MPS Cricket Teams participate in the Western Province league.

We have an u/9, u/11 and u/13 team who practice twice a week under the guidance of well qualified coaches.

TENNIS

At MPS we offer tennis as one of our summer sports. We currently have 2 courts and practices are on Monday afternoons from 14:30 – 15:30 during the first and the fourth term.

Matches are played on Thursday afternoons and are supervised and arranged by Mr and Mrs Pilkington.

CROSS COUNTRY

Cross country is a very popular sport at the school because of the beautiful scenery the kids can admire twice a week at practices. The team is trained by an experience coach and take part in a league on Fridays in Paarl and Wellington.

The competition is very strong and we are very proud of our good results.

ATHLETICS

At the start of each year MPS takes part in the Interschools Athletics Meeting between the following private schools: El Shaddai, Riverside College, Blouberg International and CBC St. John`s. We offer training in short- and long distances, high jump, long jump, discus, javelin, and shot put.

Hereafter athletes have the chance to be selected for the North Zone. If successful there they may try out for the WP Team and ultimately have the opportunity to represent the Western Cape Team at the SA school`s champs.

SWIMMING

MPS kicks off our swimming season with an annual interhouse swimming gala in the first term between our Red and Blue teams, and an Inter Schools gala in Malmesbury. We are proud of our strong swimmers at MPS.

Practices are held twice a week at the Ou Skip pool in Melkbosstrand in the Summer months.

CHESS

MPS has a very keen and accomplished group of Chess Players who practice on Friday afternoons.

They have had the privilege of being coached by excellent teachers including a WP Chess Player.

SPORT

At Melkbosstrand Private School we believe that our learners should have the opportunity to develop not only academically and culturally but most certainly on the sport field too. We encourage our students to have high expectations of themselves and what they can achieve. Through hard work that they will reach their full potential and life goals.

Our sporting infrastructure includes tennis courts, netball courts, rugby, cricket and hockey fields and cricket practice nets.