Download the May 2017 newsletter here.
Matjana Preschool re-opened for the 2017 school year on January 24. What can we say? It’s been such a busy start to the year that we just haven’t had time to write about it yet!
In 2017 Matjana welcomed back 9 students from the 2016 class who are not yet old enough for primary school. They’re all happy to be back, but just a little bit disappointed they can’t go to ‘big’ school yet. The teachers are also happy to have them back. “They’re so grown up now,” said teacher Londi. “It’s wonderful to have them back. They’re helping us by showing the new students what to do in class. And once in a while leading the new kids astray…”
The teachers were also pleased to welcome 23 new students, who are attending preschool for the first time this year. The children were very excited about coming to school and meeting their new friends and teachers. “They were full of smiles on their faces all the time,” Londi said. “The smiles showed the huge happiness they experienced.”
The teachers were also pleasantly surprised that children from neighbouring communities came to enroll at Matjana. “We could not believe it. The children are coming from outside the community, leaving other preschools to come to Matjana,” said teacher Swane.
“They live as far as 5km away from our school. When we asked one of their parents why they didn’t send their children to the preschool in their community, they said they want their kids to be fed at school and they don’t have enough money to pay for the school fees at other preschools and pack lunch boxes every day,” Swane said.
“The other preschools are more expensive because they don’t have international sponsors helping cover the costs of children’s education. So they charge more have fewer resources, teachers and facilities than we do here at Matjana.”
The teachers are also happy to be back, but it took them a little while to settle back into the work routine after holidays. “As teachers we have a huge responsibility,” Londi said. “We have to be at school before seven as some of the kids come as early as seven.
“But it’s such an interesting and rewarding job, we don’t mind. It was so interesting to see the new students on their first day, writing on a piece of paper for the first time. For some of them it was so hard even to hold a pencil but everyone was so excited,” Londi said.
OUR NEW CLASSROOM
We’ve also been extra busy this year because we’re in the middle of building another classroom. It’s part of our to plan to accommodate more bright young minds- the 3 and 4-year-old children of Ndabeni.
“Every year we get a group of 3-4 year olds come to enroll,” teacher Swane said. “When we have space we take some of the four year olds and mix them with the five years old. But we always have to turn some kids away and it’s disappointing.
“We also want to separate the 5 year olds from the younger children. It’s what our Ministry of Education recommends. We were hoping to enroll the 3-4 year olds at the start of this year, but we have still not yet finished our classroom. But we know it’s only a matter of time until the 3-4 year old kids in our community also get to come to preschool,” Swane said.