2014 Prospectus - Abeille Ruche School

It has been a real blessing for us to beable to send Jarryd to Abeille Ruche.We already knew that he was verybright but we were looking for him to develop theother soft (hard) skills like consideration, kindness,helpfulness and sense of humour and he hasreally done that amazingly. He also just grew inconfidence over the 4 years he was there, so thankyou and keep up the great work you do. I know lotsof other children will really benefit from the softskills that the learners gain at your school.Audrey & Gerry Knight(Jarryd graduated from Grade 9)

The Beehive Concept:History of Abeille Ruche SchoolAbeille Ruche School started in the year 2000 in the front room ofFounder principal, Liz Simpson’s home, with four pupils enrolled.Her vision was to provide parents with a unique Christian based“home-school” alternative to the style of education that wasavailable in both Public and other Private schools, while stilladhering to the Western Cape Education Department Curriculum.The demand for this type of schooling increased over the years.By 2008, the school was still operating from Mrs Simpson’s home,but had also expanded into a second house. With its relocationto Century City in 2012, the school moved away from its “home”environment. However, the original “home school” ethos prevails:commitment to the development of the individual in a faith based,small, caring and nurturing environment, with high academicstandards.Faith BasedWhile our foundation is Christian, our environment is cosmopolitan.We welcome and embrace pupils from all faiths. We stand for theunity of believers, learning from and supporting each other.The Beehive ConceptThe pupils receive close individual attention in a small,well-structured classroom environment.Professionally qualified teachers provide education, making use ofvarious stimulating teaching aids.The curriculum and school terms laid down by the Western CapeEducation Department are followed. The content of the curriculumis presented from a theocentric rather than a humanistic viewpoint.2

Dear LizWords are often not enough to expresswhat we feel, but I can at least try. I willforever remember how you helped us out with(child) when we most needed it. Thank you for yourpatience, tolerance, love and understanding duringthe last two years. I know it took a lot from you tokeep (child) there, but you were always preparedto try again and again. You made it easier for me tocope because you cared enough to help.Forever thankful,Parent3

Academic ProgrammeIn the Foundation Phase (Grades 1- 3), Numeracy, Literacy & LifeSkills are integrated and taught in themes.Learning areas in the Intermediate Phase (Grades 4 – 6) are English,Mathematics, Afrikaans, Social Sciences, Life Skills and NaturalSciences and Technology.High School learners (Grades 7 – 9) are offered the followingpackage of subjects: English, Mathematics, Afrikaans, SocialSciences, Natural Sciences, EMS, Life Skills and Technology.Wherever possible, educational outings are arranged to enhanceclassroom learning.Continuous assessment is applied up to Grade Five. Thereafter,continuous assessment is supplemented with exams, written inJune and November.EventsFirst Term: Fun Sports Day, Mother’s Day TeaSecond Term: Father’s Day Cricket MatchThird Term: Speech & Drama EveningFourth Term: Art Exhibition4

GROWING IN WISDOMEst. 2000Badge and MottoThe badge consists of two sections: a mountain and a honeycomb. Themountain represents Table Mountain. It is purple, to symbolise the majestyof God. The honeycomb represents the beehive, where the children arebeing educated. It is gold, to depict the value of education. The bee in theforeground represents the pupil.The motto: “Growing in Wisdom”, comes from Luke 2:52. This states the goalof Abeille Ruche School: that pupils do not merely acquire head knowledge,but that they should be able to apply their knowledge in their everyday lives.Mission StatementIt is the aim of Abeille Ruche School to foster:• Independent thinking• Self-confidence• Strong moral values, based on Christ’s teachings• Respect for others• A responsible attitude towards the environment and societyTo this end, Abeille Ruche School provides:• Faith based, not humanistic education• Individual attention• High academic standards• A safe, nurturing environment• Professionally qualified and skilled educators• Continuous assessment5

6Dear Liz,We would like to thank you from thebottom of our hearts for all the love,care and help you’ve shown Claire and to us as afamily over the past two years. Your school hasreally helped Claire not only to catch up, but also,to blossom! Thanks for all the work you put in – mayour Lord continue to bless your efforts and we wishyou and Abeille Ruche every success for the future.With love,Celia and Jonathon

Code of ConductGROWING IN WISDOMEst. 2000The pupils are not overburdened with excessive rules. A positiveapproach is followed, where the pupils are encouraged to developself-discipline and to take responsibility for their own learningand behaviour.They are expected to respect the school property, as well as eachother’s persons and property.They are required to do their best in their school work at alltimes and are expected to set a high standard of work, includingneatness, for themselves.They need to be punctual.If they are absent, the school needs to be informed timeously,on the first day of absence and any following day thereafter.Any breach of the above will result in appropriate disciplinaryaction being taken.Academic RequirementsAbeille Ruche School attracts pupils who are willing to strive toachieve their full potential. No pupil will be excluded from oursystem, based purely on academic grounds. However, pupils whoexperience severe barriers to learning are better served elsewhere,as we are unable to provide the necessary support systemsavailable in schools with Learning Support Units.An interview will take place with the parents and the pupil(Grades 7 – 9) before admission to the school. Admission issubject to the availability of space.7

Mobile PhonesMessages for learners may be left on the school’s answering machine.Pupils’ mobile phones must be switched off and placed in their bagsfor the duration of the school day. No pupil may keep his/her mobilephone on his/her person. Breech of this rule will result in the pupil’sphone being confiscated overnight and returned at the end of thefollowing school day. In event of further breeches, the phone will bekept overnight and a ransom of R50 will be paid.School TimesGrades 1 & 2: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday: 08h00 – 13h15Wednesday: 08h00 – 13h45Grade 3:Grades 4 – 9:Monday, Tuesday & Thursday: 08h00 – 14h00Wednesday: 08h00 – 14h30Friday: 08h00 – 13h15Monday, Tuesday & Thursday: 08h00 – 14h30Wednesday: 08h00 – 15h30Friday: 08h00 – 13h15School doors open at 07h309

UniformOrder from Linda Engel: 0840833004/linda.engel@telkomsa.netBoys:Summer: khaki shorts, white golf shirt with school’s logoembroidered on it, brown school shoes and khaki socks orbrown sandals.Winter: long khaki pants, long sleeved white top, beige fleecy topwith school’s logo embroidered on it, beige socks and brownschool shoes.Girls:Summer: khaki skirt, white golf shirt with school’s logo embroideredon it, white ankle socks, brown school shoes or brown sandals.Winter: khaki skirt, long sleeved white top with school’s logoembroidered on it, beige fleecy top with school’s logo embroideredon it, beige tights, and brown school shoes.Jewellery is limited to a watch with a plain strap, one pair ofplain stud earrings in the earlobe for girls only. Dyed hair is notacceptable. Girls’ hair should be tied back if long and boys shouldwear a traditional schoolboy haircut. Our pupils’ appearanceshould portray a positive self-image and a positive image ofAbeille Ruche School.Stationery RequirementsA list of required stationery and textbooks will be supplied onadmission to the school.10

Overwhelmed by increasing numbersin the classroom, my son experiencedsome of his saddest days of his school life.Ridiculed, teased and feeling an outcast for notfitting into the brazen mould. Refusing to attendschool at all, I needed to find a saving grace beforehis life would be scarred forever. I found this inAbeille Ruche. Today I have his teachers to thankfor restoring his faith in himself and allowing himto see that he counts too.Cindy (Shane graduated fromAbeille Ruche Grade 9)11

My son was a confident, polite and friendly little boy who had the abilityto charm most with his wit and kindness. During Grade 2 he was diagnosedwith ADHD.Things were going fine till I chose to relocate to Monte Vista. The class hewent into had 35 children and, unfortunately, seemed to contain most ofthe unruly kids of the grade.It was a really unhappy ride. I dealt with my son’s moans and groans aboutschool, the “fake” illnesses, the seemingly tall stories about what went onin the class, etc by dismissing them as attention-seeking and pushed myson to fit in.Thankfully, an incident in the second term of Grade 5 forced me to see thepain my son was really going through. I began to look for an alternativebut still within the mainstream “model C” schools in the area. After visitinga number of schools, I just did not get the feeling that they were going tobe any better for my son and I was nearing my wits end.It was almost by chance that I eventually discovered Abeille Ruche. Itseemed to offer what we needed, a family type of environment whereevery person counts and where values form part of the education (not justlearning subject content). After chatting the founder and principal, Liz, Ifelt at home – she really understood what my son needed and knew thather school could provide it!My son has since been in a school where there were at most 12 children.He has built up his confidence to the point where I have my son back.He is now a teenager (with the entire attitude that comes with it) and isindependent and confident. The school is like an extended family whereevery person counts, is heard and contributes. Individuals are encouragedto achieve their best, at their level, and good behaviour is brought aboutby ensuring a mutual understanding of respect. My son is better equippednow to survive in the big bad world than he would have been had he beenforced to stay in the large school, large classroom, “normal” environment.12I am definitely not condemning large schools – they certainly do theirbest under the circumstances and there are children who thrive in suchenvironments. But, for those who do not, for those parents who feel thattheir children may be drowning, there is an alternative. My message toparents out there is to find that alternative before it becomes a necessity,before it gets to a situation where your child could suffer psychologicaldamage. Moms, if your heart and guts tell you your child is unhappy, listen!Make the change now rather than later, before it is too late.Erica Steeman-Duncan(Son graduated from Abeille Ruche Gr 9, 2012)

GROWING IN WISDOMMy son was in a main stream school and although very academic, hebattled tremendously with the fear management of the school, demerits,black marks, excessive homework and just a day to day drama in his life,including struggles with bullying and emotional upheaval with managingthe engagement with his Teacher, Principle and Peers. With 30 in a class itwas an on-going struggle and he had very little joy with growing up in theschool environment he was in.Since attending Abeille Ruche School, he has had a 360degree turnaround.I have never seen such a joyful well adjusted child as he is now, heabsolutely loves his school and delights in telling me about it every night,including his love for his Teacher and Principle.He is excelling with his school work and emotionally loving growing upnow and delighting in the discovery of childhood again.What an absolute blessing this school has been for him and us as a family.He is able to be a child again and no longer has the weight of the worldon his shoulders, which resulted in on-going illness when he was in theprevious school.I cannot rate this school and their methods highly enough and hope youwill all take the time to think about your children, what they are goingthrough and if it may just be worth their while and yours, to investigatethe possibility of allowing your child to enjoy the joy of being a child andgrowing in the wisdom that this school provides.You are responsible for their well-being as they grow up to become adults,and a large part of that involves their happiness and emotional strengthwhich they mostly learn from the engagements they have in their schoolenvironment. What will you take credit for when they are grown? Asthey approach Teenage-hood, will they cope in this tough world we livein and have you ensured that they are getting the best grounding theycan emotionally to support their growth? I most certainly know withoutany doubt that I have provided the very best for my son by adapting mylifestyle to accommodate his attendance at a school that far outshines anyother and really cares about the child and his/her needs as an individual.I salute the Principle, Liz for instilling the need for such grace and care inthe methods adopted, teaching our children with wisdom, and thank herfrom the bottom of my heart for coming into our lives.Beverley de Bruijn (0836582855)Est. 2000

Contact InformationMrs Liz Simpson (Founder Principal)AddressCENTURY CITY PRIMARYMONTE VISTA HIGHCentury City House3 Utrecht StPark LaneMonte VistaCentral Park 7460GPS Co-ordinates:GPS Co-ordinates:-33.88842, 18.5127782 -33.87957, 18.5541496Telephone: 021 559 8902Cell: 074 181 9808Fax: 086 647 4499Email: abeilleruche@lantic.netWebsite: www.abeilleruche.co.zaW C E D Registration Number: 13/3/1/168Banking DetailsAbeille Ruche SchoolABSA savings account no: 9270669433GROWING IN WISDOMEst. 2000