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What a year!
It has been a long year filled with mixed emotions. For those who do not know, we started this academic year in March 2021 and had several breaks because of COVID and political unrest in ESwatini. We were quite not sure when we would end the 2021 school year until government announced all public schools should continue teaching students in the same grade until March 25, 2022. Students will only move forward to their next grade when schools reopen on 5 April.
It’s a special year!
2021 was our first year to teach during COVID-19 since schools in Eswatini were closed in 2020 when the COVID pandemic started. “It has been a long year that brought a lot of experiences for me including teaching under COVID and having to orient a new teacher,” Teacher Londi said. “When we opened in March 2021, I knew we were ready and was excited about it but in the back of my mind I had a lot of what ifs and today I’m so glad that we have made it through without any COVID positive cases at the preschool.”
Teacher Londi had been a teacher at Matjana for about 5 years. During these years she had never oriented a new teacher to the school which she said she was so glad to get this chance to welcome teacher Khetsiwe
This is special year for our newest teacher, Khetsiwe too. “This a special group since it is the first group which I ever taught, and it will go to my history books.” She further said all the other kids which she will teach, will be building upon the experience which this group gave her. She said, “And for that, I will forever honour this group and they have a special place in my heart.”
“I didn’t know that planning for a preschool graduation is so hectic,” said Teacher Khetsiwe. The teachers had a busy week preparing for graduation which includes preparing the kids’ performances and all items which will be used on the graduation day.
Teacher Khetsiwe said she once came to Matjana Graduation Day in 2017 when her niece was finishing preschool. She said she was pleased with the performances which she saw during her niece’s graduation and didn’t think about how time consuming the preparations, which are done are done prior to that day, would be.
Graduation Day
It was a big day at Matjana last Friday as our six-year-olds graduated, marking the end of the 2021 school year.
The end of 2021/2022 marks the 16th year of success at Matjana Preschool. For Matjana preschool kids a graduation day means that they are now moving to primary (as most of them would say). In the past we would invite a special guest to speak at the graudation, but this year we couldn’t do that because we had to try by all means to reduce the number of attendees, because of COVID. For that reason, only the students parent or caregiver were allowed to attend.
The fun day started with a grand march from our graduates which went to perfectly some parent’s ululations as a way of appreciation and showing their interest in the performance. Immediately after that we had a prayer from our Chair lady who also made some opening remarks and welcomed everyone.
Among the performances on that day there was a poem on Covid 19 which all the kids recited. Teacher Londi said, “I composed a simple poem for my kids about COVID”.
COVID Poem
Covid 19, Covid 19
Who are you Covid?
Where do you come from?
We prevent you by wearing mask, social distancing and sanitizing
But you still kill
You have killed our parents, our friends, our relatives
You have left orphans
GO AWAY COVID, WE HATE YOU!
Our graduation wouldn’t be complete without the performance of a traditional dance from our kids, and we had the dance from our girls which is called ingadla. They always perform it while wearing the traditional skirt.
One of the most anticipated items on the agenda was the presentation of certificates by teacher Londi. All graduating students are called to receive their certificates and this is done when the kids are all wearing their graduation gowns.
As we end the 16th year, we would like to thank everyone who supported Matjana preschool including friends of Matjana, the school committee, our staff, parents and our lovely kids. We wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for your dedication and support. We are looking forward to work with you in the upcoming school year.
Looking forward to 2022
Since the graduation day marks the end of a school year, we are looking forward to welcoming our class of 2022 next month. We are pleased to announce that the upcoming school year we will be welcoming our four-year-old’s into our second classroom, (we couldn’t take them in the last academic year because of COVID).