The Ridge School Magazine 2020

GRADE 0
GRADE 0
2020 started with a bang as we opened a
new Grade 0 classroom, to house a fourth
group of boys. We welcomed 72 happy little
faces into the Parker Block and it came alive
with warmth, energy and boy-centred fun.
The first 10 weeks of Term 1 were spent
building new connections and friendships,
exploring The Ridge estate through our
5 senses, hosting the boys and girls from
Salvazione with a morning of fun on the
Cheales field, and learning the ropes of how
to attend assemblies in the Nicolson Hall.
With three weeks of the First Term left, South
Africa went into a national lockdown due
to the Covid-19 pandemic and the Grade
0 boys and parents were made to adjust to
an all new wrap-up which took place over
Google Classroom. The boys spent three
weeks enjoying pre-literacy, Mathematics, finemotor
and science activities. Many Grade 0
families followed along with the Tanda Thula
wildlife docuseries every morning, and looked
forward to daily releases.
As school resumed after the April holidays,
the Grade 0 curriculum was shared through
the Seesaw App. The teachers worked
together as a team to provide pre-recorded
lessons covering concepts originally taught
through practical hands-on activities. Boys,
parents and staff were thrown into a situation
that no-one would have imagined, although
it was not all doom and gloom. We had a fun
adventure of online learning – brushing up on
our technology skills, patience, creativity and
listening etiquette (or ‘netiquette’!).
The boys enjoyed more time at home to
practise important Life Skills such as learning
to riding bicycles, tying shoelaces, family
dinners around the table, exploring nature
in their own garden, and baking numerous
treats for Funky and Fresh Friday’s.
Onsite schooling returned at the start of
Term 3, and all started to feel somewhat
normal again. The boys quickly fitted in to
their new regulations and showed much
resilience when following a whole new set
of rules and boundaries. They delighted
in bringing their own toys from home to
play with during free-time, and it has been
such fun to observe different interests and
passions being brought into the classroom.
As a treat to end of the year, the Grade 0
boys were invited to bring their bicycles and
scooters for Bike Day which was celebrated
with much joy. Squeals of delight and laughter
could be heard as the boys took off around
the Lawley Road carpark, demonstrating
their confidence on two-wheels with nimble
movements and impressive skills.
SARAH BEHR
WHERE BOYS ARE KNOWN AND GROWN |
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