“I know today is going to be a challenge,” said Grade 1 to 3 teacher, Miss Nombuhle Zondo.
Sitting proudly in their new uniforms at designated tables, the boys and girls filled the morning with colouring, songs and other informal learning activities as they adjusted to a new classroom, and for some, a new school. The first week of the year, explained Zondo, will be dedicated to the induction of the pupils into their new learning environment. They will be given tours of the school to locate the classrooms, offices, tuck shop and, of course, the playground, and will be closely supervised by their class teachers at break time. Whereas many have simply graduated from Grade R at Glenhazel Primary, some have arrived from other schools and may need to be taught appropriate classroom behaviour and school rules.
According to Zondo, the biggest challenges for the children this week will be learning to keep track of their items, finding their way back to the classroom after break, and missing their parents, many of whom left reluctantly after dropping their children off this morning.
“It’s exciting to see their children learning for the first time,” said Zondo, describing the parents who took photos and toured the classroom before leaving children in their teachers’ care.
As for Zondo herself, one of the biggest challenges will be sorting and tracking the piles of stationery provided by parents for their children’s use, returning unmarked lost items – and stemming a rising tide of excited noise as her Grade 1s settle into their very first day at Big School.
