Broadacres Academy High School ground-breaking launch

FOURWAYS – Matt Mare said that their school would be grounded in natural learning, and consider their learners nature to benefit their development.

September 28, 2021

Ofentse Ditlopo 1 minute read

Broadacres Academy High School members feed their first wild olive tree plant with earth. Photo: Ofentse Ditlopo

A ground-breaking launch for a high school opening next year took place in Chartwell on September 11.

The launch took place at the Broadacres Academy High School site where construction was taking place. It was attended by school staff, the board of governors and other guests.

Broadacres Academy High School’s principal, Colleen Travis-Lea feeds their first-ever tree to be planted at the school to fit in with the schoo’ls landscape. Photo: Ofentse Ditlopo

Board member, co-founder and principal of Broadacres Academy Preparatory School, Dylan Cavanagh, said that they took over the school from the previous owner who had been around for more than 35 years.

Claire Shepherd, Floris van der Walt and Brenda and Justin Joubert celebrate the launch of the new Broadacres Academy High School. Photo: Ofentse Ditlopo

Cavanagh said they had a vision of turning it into a preparatory school in a community that was accessible, affordable and drove a special education programme. “We started in 2016 with seven Grade 1 kiddies in a little wooden hut and now we are sitting here with beautiful property thanks to Sky Education,” he added.

Matt Mare, director for Sky Education and board member on the Broadacres Academy High School added that they came on as investors for Broadacres Preparatory School five years ago. “The owners of Broadacres Farm School approached us for funding to develop the school and, with the growth we had in the preparatory school, we started Broadacres Academy High School,” Mare said.

Broadacres Academy High School members soil their first wild olive tree to be planted at the school among other indigenous plants. Photo: Ofentse Ditlopo

He added that what set their school apart was the vision of learning naturally – considering the nature of the child and how they can best develop them.

Talking about the school’s vision and how they wanted to carry it forward, high school principal, Colleen Traviss-Lea said Broadacres Academy was absolutely incredible and was something, as educators, they had always aspired to.

Heleen Mynhardt and husband Jaco Mynhardt welcome the launch of the Broadacres Academy High School. Photo: Ofentse Ditlopo

She also thanked the founders of the school for creating Broadacres Academy, adding that it was wise for them to partner with Sky Education.

Siblings Niehaad Dawod and Muhammed Dawod attend the ground breaking launch of the new Broadacres Academy High School to open next year. Photo: Ofentse Ditlopo

“I really hope that I will be doing well by your vision in journeying again as we go forward. I really hope that we will be working well as a senior preparatory and a high school so that we can further the vision of what Broadacres Academy is all about.