The Ridge School Magazine 2020

GRADE 1
The Grade 1’s started
the year off filled with
energy and enthusiasm
following the very
exciting Centenary year.
The boys all arrived on
the first day of school
looking so smart in
their Ridge Blues and
Blazer. (This is the
first time the boys
get to wear their
blazers!)
GRADE 1
Term 1 was a busy one, adjusting to the
more formal format of Grade 1. The boys revised and were
introduced to many new sounds and sight words; and so, their reading
and writing journey began. We also celebrated Valentine’s day and loved
dressing up for the Reading Breakfast. We were all set up and ready to
celebrate the end of Term and Easter, when not only the school but
the whole country was put into Lockdown as a result of the Covid-19
pandemic. This brought with it many new obstacles, challenges and
adventures into the Grade 1 year. The boys learnt how to use Google
classroom as well as Google Meet. This obviously was a lot of fun and very
noisy to start! This brought an end to the First Term of 2020.
Term 2 started during Lockdown Level 5. The boys were introduced to
Seesaw, a Remote Learning platform that the teachers, parents and boys
had to adjust to. As always, our boys rose to the challenge and took on
the new format of learning in Grade 1. With practice the boys (teachers
and parents) became more confident with Seesaw and the boys managed
to fly through the curriculum. This was a truly unique experience, where
we entered each other’s home, digitally of course, and shared our home
lives with each other. It was amazing to watch the boys mature and engage
with each other in our meets, these became calmer and a wonderful
time to connect with each other. Besides the normal reading, writing and
Maths activities, the boys got to go on ‘Autumn and Winter Virtual Walks’
in Mrs Rossouw’s garden, many fun physical activities and challenges with
the coaches, art projects, baking and so much more. Term 2 ended with
the most unique ‘Virtual Founders’ Day Party’, a morning of family fun and
dancing, celebrating the Ridge’s 101st Birthday!
With great excitement and some anxiety, we were able to return to school
in Term 3. The Grade 1’s were the first Grade to have all the boys return to
school. There were many changes and adjustments to the school day. Drop
off and collection routine had changed as well as our school hours and
class set up. As always, our boys showed resilience and adapted to this with
ease. I think we can all agree that we don’t like wearing masks, but the boys
wore them with no fuss. These are true Ridge and global citizens adhering
to the precautions set during the Covid-19 pandemic. We got straight back
to work and the boys continued to progress through the curriculum. Our
boys were all reading and writing independently and it was amazing to see
how much they had learnt during this most extraordinary year. Even with
all the restrictions we got to enjoy Heritage Day, where we danced on the
field to Jeruselema, this was a fun way to celebrate Heritage Day. The boys
had other fun-filled days such as “Lumo” Dress up day, Dress-up as your
Teacher Day, Market Day and end of year Tributes to the Grade 7’s. As
always, our Grade 1 boys gave it their all. Term 3 seemed to fly by and the
end of term and summer holidays were upon us.
2020 has most definitely been a roller coaster of a year filled with ups and
downs, laughter and tears but we came out on top. It must be said that
this year was truly a year of collaboration. (The parents, teachers and boys
worked together and we were able to get through it unscathed.) Well done
to all the Ridge boys for taking on and conquering the challenge of 2020.
LAUREN BAINES-FOURIE
WHERE BOYS ARE KNOWN AND GROWN |
119