WINTERBERG SCHOOL TRUST

ANNUAL REPORT 2016

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BOARD OF TRUSTEES Chairperson: Mr William Pringle

Representatives: Mr Roger Bryant, Mr Clive Schreuder

Mr. Larry King, Mrs. Amy Bryant,

Mrs. Lesley Millar

Ex-Officio: Mrs Phyllis Mabece-Siyo,

Ms Wendy Mringi, Mrs Joanne King

WST STAFF Project Coordinator: Mrs Joanne King (HDE)

Financial Coordinator and administrator: Wendy Mringi (N.D. Acc, C.I.S-Pt B)

Grade 1 teacher: Phyllis Mabece-Siyo (NPDE)

Foundation Phase teacher: Thembakazi Toto

(Dip. Office Admin, NPDE)

ECD Management and Grade R Teacher: Nombulelo Lisa (N3, NDECD, Level 5)

Computer teacher: Stacey de Jager (B.Sc, PGCE, BEd Hons)

ACE monitor and Driver: Mkhululi Ronny Dlomo

Librarian/Monitor: Noluvo Madindisa

Teacher Development: Angela Hattingh (B. Sport Science,

ACE trained supervisor)

Transport Coordinator and Driver: Reman Tukushe (Code 10)

Driver: Mxolisi Mageja (Code 10)

Cleaner: Monica Nazo

Angela giving individual attention to Zac, Grade 1

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THANKS Adel McEwan, a local photographer, visited the school and took some outstanding photos, many of which are featured in this report.

FUNDERS We express our sincere gratitude to the funders who continue to finance the programme and allow our children access to educational resources. A special thank you to the following:

Zoe Carrs Robert Niven

Caltex Department of Transport

“We support a holistic approach to education” Vision: The Winterberg School Trust strives for the sustainable growth of the Winterberg community through education and the creation of opportunities for social and economic upliftment. Mission: The Winterberg School Trust is committed to the sustainable empowerment and development of children, parents and educators in the Winterberg Community. We support a holistic approach to education, where learners’ academic and skills-based requirements are equally developed to meet their emerging social and economic needs. We strive to learn from and assist other communities through networking activities. The Winterberg School Trust values:

➢ The cultural and language diversity within the community

➢ The contribution of individuals within the team

➢ Standards of excellence, honesty and integrity

➢ Opportunities for lifelong learning

➢ Effective communication and transparency

➢ Affirmation, support and encouragement

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Early Childhood Development (ECD)

Accelerated Christian Education (ACE) was adopted as a system of learning at the beginning of 2012. ACE has a Christian philosophy of education, and an individualised education system where each student works at their own pace. A class supervisor and monitor assist, explain and mark each section of work before the learner can progress to the next stage or ‘Pace’. The WST caters for pre-schoolers, from age two, as well as Grade R, 1, 2 and 3. The children are all from the Winterberg community. In 2016, 30 kids were enrolled in the preschool project, with six of these entering Grade R. At the start of 2016, we had 12 children in Grade 1. The Grade 2/3 class consisted of 24 learners. Due to the large workspace size required by each learner, and the larger number of learners, this class moved to the hall which was divided into individual work areas as prescribed by ACE. These surround a central workbench where the teachers assess children’s work.

Nombulelo assessing Grade 1 learners’ work

The importance of reading was the emphasis in 2016 with every child reading at least one library book per week. Numeracy continues to be a challenge and will be given more attention in 2017.

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Computers

All learners from Grade R to grade 3 attend weekly computer classes, where they play educational games. The Grade 2s and 3s also benefit from individual lessons where they work through the ACE Readmaster programme. This has aspects of reading, typing and maths, and ties in with the PACEs covered in class.

Library

Noluvo Mabindisa was hired part time in the first term to update the library book database. This took her many hours of dedicated data capture, but she successfully catalogued over 10,000 books, posters and other resources in the library. In November, Biblionef, through the Jim Joel Trust, generously donated 47 English and Xhosa books which added to our fantastic facility. Noluvo firmly believes, “Give them books and open up their world!”

Extra-curricular activities

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Art

Several of the teachers and local community members gave art lessons during the year. The learners made beautiful autumn pictures, made their own masks for the concerts and decorated Christmas biscuit ornaments which formed part of their Christmas presents.

Masks made for prize giving and Christmas decorations in the background

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Special Occasions

To celebrate Spring, the learners brought fresh blossoms to school. These were arranged in bunches and given to members of the community who had been unwell.

Spring Day

Heritage Day

Staff and learners enjoyed dressing up in traditional Xhosa dress to celebrate Heritage Day.

Olothando presented a bunch to Liesa King

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The Grade 2/3 class went to East London in the fourth term. The day began with breakfast and a train ride at Pine Creek, which the class found very exciting! From there they visited the zoo, where the children enjoyed feeding the monkeys and baboons. Next was a swim in the sea, a first for many! The day ended with lunch and a treat at the Wimpy restaurant. A very sleepy group arrived back in Tarkastad that evening.

Field Trips

The Grade R and preschool went to Queenstown in July to see the circus. They loved the clowns and thought they were hilarious. The all had lunch at McDonald’s and enjoyed the balloons and special treats.

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It is compulsory for our children to do our set sport programme once a week. Every Wednesday sport is scheduled from 12:00 t0 13:00. The WST believes in a well-rounded education, with a focus on gross motor development. These sessions have included soccer, netball and cricket. In the second term, we were invited by a local school - Orange Grove - to participate in a Cross Country event. This was an exciting occasion for our kids and they showed what they are capable of on the field. We were awarded for highest attendance, as well as first and second place for the interschool’s event.

Sport

Several fun days included activities such as apple bobbing, sack races and balancing exercises, which greatly entertained everyone. We also had the privilege of being visited by Kerryn Ross, who is a specialist trainer in gross motor development from Port Elizabeth. She came with interesting activities and equipment which she donated to the WST. The drivers repaired the wooden jungle gyms, which provide many hours of fun at break time and after school.

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Nomawethu, who has been with Luncedo

since the start of the programme, with some

of the sewing and pottery products

produced by the ladies

The WST supports an adult skills development initiative, called Luncedo. This consists of previously unemployed women who, after attending various skills programmes over the years, continue to run their own small business as a cooperative. They produce quality clothing and items of home décor in original, ethnic designs.

The WST, together with a very successful local chef, Busi Pita, offered three cooking courses to community members in 2016. Busi’s classes had an emphasis on meals and food that people can cook at home with limited experience, ingredients and equipment. The course attendees are each building up a recipe book of food they can cook at home. The ladies are greatly enjoying their new kitchen skills!

Other activities

Luncedo

Cooking courses

Busi’s story: Busi attended the WST Youth Empowerment Programme and completed her N3. She then received a bursary to St Aidan’s college in Grahamstown where she studied hospitality. She spent nine years as a chef at Shamwari Game Reserve where she refined her cooking and catering skills. Busi is now the chef and manager of The Story, a popular coffee shop and café in Tarkastad. She runs the kitchen and serves up fantastic breakfasts, lunches and treats, in addition to catering for private functions.

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Phyllis explaining the ACE system to the parents

Parent

Workshops

Three parent workshops were held in 2016 to provide parents an opportunity to meet the teachers and see their children’s work. Presentations and discussions on topics important to the community also took place. The first workshop was held on 11 June, where Babalwa Rongwana, a qualified nurse from Tarkastad, spoke about Foetal Alcohol Syndrome. The attendance was good, with 66 parents present. Many were shocked at the long-term effects of Foetal Alcohol Syndrome.

The second workshop was held on 10 September and the subject of this workshop was HIV/AIDS. The parents had requested this topic as they feel that it is an issue in the community. The same speaker (Babalwa Rongwana) was invited to talk about HIV/AIDS given her specialism in the topic and her HIV/AIDS nursing experience. 54 parents attended. Parental involvement was the focus of the third day where parents were given guidance on how to monitor homework and deal with emotional issues at home. At each workshop, the parents were invited to their children’s classrooms where they looked through the learners’ work and were given the opportunity to ask the teachers questions.

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With much excitement, we entered the final assembly and prize giving with a festive atmosphere. Each grade entered the hall with a performance based on the Lion King. Prizes were handed out for the most improved academics. This will be continued on a termly basis to encourage those who try their best. Many were overwhelmed to receive this prize and brought the audience to tears. These prizes were in addition to academic prizes for completion of the most PACES, character prizes, and maths, reading and sports prizes.

Prize Giving and Year End Concert

Joseph with prize-winner Anele and his brother

Joseph’s story: Joseph Mngeni, a previous WST scholar, addressed the children. He spoke about his days growing up in the community and how he embraced the opportunities given to him. He told how he had taken his homework to Wendy Scott at Glen Etive farm, who had helped him religiously every afternoon after school. He was selected for a scholarship programme to compete his schooling at St Andrews School in Grahamstown. Joseph is currently studying a Bachelor of Commerce and is majoring in Management and Economics at Rhodes University. He told the children how they all have the same chance if they would just embrace the opportunities at WST. He told the parents too, that they should be a part of their children’s education. They all seemed to be greatly encouraged by his words.

To end a lovely occasion we celebrated with each child receiving a gift of pens, pencils, shorts and sweets. All in all, a very happy and festive day!

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Transport

The total number of children transported to the WST is 54 in addition to the 40 Winterberg learners who are transported by the WST to schools in the town of Tarkastad.

For the older children attending schools in Tarkastad, the transport is a great benefit to the learners and their families in that they are still able to live at home and do not have to find accommodation in town.

In 2016, we had three Quantums plus an old Toyota truck which is due to be traded in during 2017.

The school buses drive an average of 800km a day, starting at 5am. They take learners to Tarkastad to start school at 7:30am, before repeating the routes to collect the WST learners. After the WST learners are taken home at 13:00, the routes are reversed, with the last learners from Tarkastad schools getting home by 5pm.

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Phyllis stepped down as Director of the WST in the third term in order to focus on teaching the Grade 1 class. Joanne King is the interim director until a suitable permanent Director is recruited. Jo has been involved in the WST for many years, and in addition to acting as Director she is teaching remedial classes to learners with special needs, and leading the school’s critical fundraising efforts. Zandile Femele remains in charge of the preschool, working closely with Nombulelo Lisa, who teaches the Grade R class. Nombulelo and Zandile attended ECD training in East London in July. This covered Preschool to Grade 1 and gave them many good ideas. The training also included gross motor exercises and how to implement and assess them. The teachers greatly appreciated the opportunity to attend the training and are enjoying implementing the skills they learnt. Thembi Toto as supervisor, and Ronny Dlomo, as monitor, looked after the Grade 2/3 group. Sadly, Thembi left at the end of the third term and the WST is still looking for a replacement. Several members of the district have helped in the interim. Although now assisting as a monitor in Grade 1 on a permanent basis, Noluvo Mabindisa still manages the library and invites all the learners to take out library books every week. Stacey de Jager teaches computers once a week and Angela Hattingh comes in once a week to help with teacher development and planning.

Phyllis with Siphamandla

Staff news and development

Four of WST’s teachers and monitors are themselves previous pupils of the WST. Ronny, Nombulelo, Zandile and Noluvo attend the YEP (Youth Empowerment Programme) and we are proud of all they have achieved!

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EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT

Implementation 858,573

Equipment 1,295

Stationery and materials 216,057

Workshops 3,783

Field Trips & Sport 17,259

Staff Development 17,637

NETWORKING

Accommodation, Travel & Communication 13,376

ADMINISTRATION

Audit fees 43,357

Bank Charges 19,401

Electricity 63,980

Insurance 93,301

Photocopier 3,624

Telephone and fax 43,629

Building maintenance 81,098

TRANSPORT

Fuel 122,749

Maintenance 98,978

Drivers 169,680

TOTAL 1,867,777

Expenses Statement (Jan – Dec)

Expense Addendum

• Transport is fundamental to the success of the Winterberg School Trust as without it, over 100 learners as well as the Luncedo ladies would not benefit from the good quality education and various other opportunities that are offered by the WST. There is no other transport available to the community other than the transport offered by the WST.

• We do not receive any salaries for our educators or stationery subsidies from Government, thus the implementation and stationery expense.

• Staff Development is crucial to keep our educators abreast of ongoing developments. Travel is required to training and workshops given our remote location.

• We do anticipate a decrease in our building maintenance for 2017. We have completed the maintenance required for the time being.

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Registration: TM 1272, Legal Status: 18A Tax Status, NPO Registration: 020 729 NPO, PBO Registration: 18/11/13/1688

Location: Eastern Cape, South Africa, 32°17’988” South; 26°30’115” East 25km on R344 from Tarkastad to Bedford/Adelaide

P O Box 123, Tarkastad, 5370 045 848 0004, winterbergschooltrust@gmail.com www.winterbergschool.org