Bitou 10 Foundation Spring 2012 Newsletter
Hi All
Here’s what we at The Bitou 10 Foundation have been up to since our last update:
Year One of the Expression of Common Purpose
In the mandatory annual review of our ECP with the WCED, the ECP team did a presentation to the Eden | Central Karoo Education District’s senior management on 31 August. The presentation, which charted the progress made during Year 1 of the ECP, was followed by a highly interactive discussion; we are all very, very satisfied with what we have achieved!
District Director Zan Rhoxo commented that: “For years we’ve been collaborating with B10F, talking and sharing visions for our schools. What a joy to eventually sit in a meeting and to experience a sense of togetherness, a real sense of caring, people sharing information, experiences, past interventions, and future plans. If we think together, listen to each other, are open to critique, and brainstorm new ideas, we really can make a difference. Both the WCED and B10F are managed and driven by specific core foci; the vision for both is the same – to improve the lives of children and to change our communities.
“Thank you for allowing us to see our children through your eyes. Thank you for taking our hands and walking with us.”
A Historic First for Early Childhood Development
The Murray and Roberts School Readiness Programme has brought about a historic first. On 23 August a very successful public consultative meeting was called by our partner Operation Upgrade ECD Project in which over 50 educators came together to discuss a set of proposed school readiness criteria. Representatives from the entire ECD sector – community based, home based and private sites, the local Dept. of Social Development ECD official, and the WCED Foundation Phase – all sat down together and constructively worked through the suggested criteria.
The WCED C4 Team and ECD Grade R sector have publicly endorsed this process and agreed to support the next meeting with Grade 1 teachers set for November. At this second public consultation the school readiness criteria will be finalised and consensus reached on the processes to be followed in implementing them from 2013 onward.
We are thrilled that Murray and Roberts have expressed their confidence in the School Readiness Programme by providing a second grant toward Year 2 of the programme. Our gratitude once again to Donique de Figueiredo and the Murray and Roberts CSI team.
The Learner Support Programme
Following the success of the Fine Motor Skills workshop facilitated by Occupational Therapist Nicole McDonald last term, and the positive feedback received from the teachers who participated, 17 Foundation Phase teachers from six B10F schools and four WCED Circuit 4 team members took part in another interactive, practical learning session on 24 August, this one on Visual Perception Skills Development.
This was the second in the series of workshops developed by OTs Nicole McDonald and Michelle Luyt aimed at empowering Foundation Phase teachers to provide greater support to learners with developmental delays and other barriers to learning.
Michelle received the following in an unsolicited e-mail from Evangeline Koeberg, a valued teacher at The Crags Primary: “I attended the Visual Perception session and found it so refreshing and helpful. It really made a difference in my approach with regard to the strategies I had previously used. We would very much like to have copies of the material you gave us; we so much want to share the information because it is the most important part lacking in most Foundation Phase classes.”
Grades 8 and 9 Maths Teacher Learning Community
With funds granted by Engen Petroleum Oil toward our Maths Programme we have been facilitating monthly peer support group sessions for 13 Grades 8 and 9 Maths teachers from five B10F schools since 2011 to empower these teachers in their delivery of the subject and to improve the results of the Grades 8s and 9s.
Following the last workshop held in September we received the following feedback from participating teachers:
Karen Michaels, Johnathan Malan and Trevor Lottering from Kranshoek Primary
“This initiative has enriched our Grade 8 and 9 Maths educators. The peer support is bearing fruit in the classroom daily. The idea of sharing best practice with each other is, and will be, the best idea for educator development that we have encountered. Not only are we actively engaged as individuals but we are also engaged with the learning process and experience, and learning from each other.
“The Prac Maths workbooks purchased by B10F help both educators and learners to prepare and to do homework in a more structured manner; revision is also more structured. Every learner has their own book and can move at their own pace. The model of working together has inspired the Maths cluster to set common tests for their schools; the goal is to strive for common standards for Grades 8 and 9 for all our schools.”
Aubrey Andrews, The Crags Primary
“I’ve been a supporter of cluster meetings from way back! We learn from each other, particularly through the demonstration lessons.”
Afterschool Activities
Congratulations to the young actors from the Murray High drama group and Mncedisi Ncedani, their facilitator from Lunchbox Theatre, on making it through to the finals of the Eden Drama Festival. We are so proud of their achievement. The Murray High dance group also made it through to the finals of the local Tshisa Talent competition earlier this year.
The Kwaito dance class from Phakamisani Primary delighted audiences with their performance at Die Sterreweg’s Casual Day celebrations in The Crags on September 8, and the Plett Secondary drama class entertained their peers and teachers at a school assembly last term. We look forward to the concert at Formosa Primary on 25 October when the school choir and drama class will be showcasing their talents.
The impact of the Afterschool Activities Programme which is funded by the Horton Foundation has far exceeded our expectations. Participants of the dance, drama and choir programme have blossomed – they are visibly happier, healthier, and a great deal more confident than when they joined the programme. Their principals and teachers report that they have grown in self esteem, have improved communication skills, and are more disciplined as a result of their participation in the programme.
Congratulations to Leigh Dunn
Leigh Dunn from Formosa Primary was one of six finalists out of 213 nominees in the EP Herald GM Citizen of the Year 2012. The award recognises the activities of an exceptional individual whose outstanding service to their community and determination to do over and above what is expected of them, positively contributes to the upliftment of the community in Nelson Mandela Bay and surrounding areas. Already with the ‘Excellence in Special Needs Teaching’ award under his belt, Leigh’s dedication to Inclusive Education won him this deserved nomination. And although Leigh didn’t bag this award, he has reiterated what a great honour it is to have his efforts acknowledged.
Our Learner Support Programme, funded by the Nedbank Foundation, is specifically designed to empower teachers to be able to implement Inclusive Education practice; Formosa Primary’s ELSEN unit which Leigh heads up is leading the way in Bitou
We have Moved to New Premises
You will now find us at our new premises in Office 10, Formosa Place on the corner of Main and Crescent Streets, Plettenberg Bay; all our contact details remain unchanged. We extend our appreciation to the fellow tenants and business owners in The Lookout Centre who became wonderful friends during our time there.
Thank You for Your Support
Dietmar Hopp Foundation without whose considerable seed funding it would not have been possible for us to continue running our programmes in 2011 and 2012
Nedbank and Club 100 for the R45 000 raised under the banner Cycling for Education during the 2012 Nedbank Tour de Plett; what an unexpected boon!
The generous folk who responded to our call for help last month – our sincere thanks to each and every one for your continued support of the work we are doing in Bitou
Our founding patron Graeme Bloch, Education Specialist and Political Economy Research authority, for his sustained interest in us
Parish of Formosa for accommodating us at our new premises in a show of their generous support
Hearing Aid Acoustician Hannelie Kemp from The Learning and Hearing Centre, Knysna who has offered free hearing testing for any of our 10 year old+ learners who may need it – thank you Hannelie for adding capacity to our Learner Support team
And Mrs Val Braby for her donation of 10 fabulous glossy WWF coffee table books which we in turn will donate to the magnificent new Community Library in New Horizons where they can be enjoyed by all library patrons
We’ve Been on Air
Our grateful thanks to Lyndall Tuft at CLE Communications for securing air time for us on Bush Radio as the 2012 Rage 4 Good beneficiary; and to Roy Williams at Algoafm for the very welcome exposure opportunity on his weekly Algoa Cares Info Slot.
Firecracker’s Rage 4 Good 2012
SA’s biggest party festival for school leavers, Plett Rage, this year takes place from 25 November to 9 December with B10F having been selected as the primary beneficiary by Rage 4 Good, the social development component of Plett Rage. It is the umbrella brand of all activations and projects harnessing positive and lasting social impact which occur both inside the festival and within the local community.
The objectives of the initiative are to position Plett Rage as a socially conscious festival moving forward; to connect with the local community by engaging with both 1st and 2nd economies; to enhance relationships with current and potential stakeholders; and to implement and monitor strategic and long term social impact that makes a profound difference in the community, with a strong focus on youth and education projects.
Given these communities’ dire socio-economic circumstances, Murray High in KwaNokuthula and Plett Secondary in New Horizons have been identified as the direct beneficiaries of the initiative. Our offices will be the Rage 4 Good team’s HQ for the duration of Plett Rage.
Rage 4 Good is fully endorsed and supported by the Provincial Government of the Western Cape. For more on Firecracker Events and Marketing visit http://www.firecracker.pro/
We Need Help
Help us and our growing team of partners to level the Bitou education field and to give our children better options than dropping out – without hope or prospect of anything more than relegation to society’s sidelines. ‘The ubiquity of crime… the persistent levels of corruption and continued disrespect for human life, has its roots not in bad people… but in a stagnant education system.” Professor Jonathan Jansen; together with our WCED colleagues and our partners we are committed to turning this situation around in Bitou.
With an annual tax deductible donation to The Bitou 10 Foundation that can be as little as the equivalent of an average weekly grocery shop, or a monthly one, or more, you can help us to improve the quality of our children’s education journey. You can be a vital player in the education solution. Please email your details and the deposit reference code to donations@bitou10foundation.co.za so that we can issue you with the relevant S18A certificate. Kindly note our new bank details below. B10F is a Level 4 BEE contributor.
Nedbank Knysna | Branch Code 108 914 | Account Number 103 230 1597
Until next time
Hilary, Gugu, Kim and Margi
Encouraging words indeed, there is hope for the education system in Bitou!
Source: Bitou 10 Education & Development Foundation