Appleton Pre-Primary

We are very excited about the Doman Brain Development Programs as well as the physical development programs that we offer to our youngest learners. 

We believe that young minds should be stimulated from birth in order to maximize brain growth. Learning should be fun, fun, fun, so while all programmes are offered in a challenging and stimulating environment, the focus is on fun. 

Research has shown over and over again how important it is to stimulate children in the first years of their lives. It has a major impact on their brain growth and an effect on the rest of their lives. Function determines structure. It is the same with the brain, the more it is used, the better structure it has. Children's brains grow at an extreme rate from birth to about age 6, when growth is virtually complete. Babies and pre-schoolers soak up information naturally. This is the reason why an early childhood education is the most important and valuable education a child could ever receive.

At Appleton Junior,  our children learn through play.

Our aim is:
To always provide the best care for each child and to help them to develop independence. We as teachers and you as parents must form a partnership in order to reach this goal. It is therefore very important that we as teachers and you as parents support one another in this situation.

School hours and procedure

Daily Programme

Grade R
08:00 – 08:20 Calendar/theme discussion/news
08:20 – 08:50 Numeracy through play
08:50 – 09:20 Movement/Music
09:20 – 09:45 Snack
09:45 – 10:45 Free play Outside
10:45 – 11:10 Literacy, Science, Perceptual program
11:10 – 12:10 Art /Reading Program Doman Program
12:10 – 12:30 Story time/fantasy play/pack up

Grade 00
08:30 – 08:50 Calendar/theme discussion /news
08:50 – 09:15 Movement/Music
09:15 – 09:45 Snacks
09:45 – 10:45 Free play Outside
10:45 – 11:05 Literacy/Numeracy through play
11:05 – 12:05 Art/Reading Program
12:05 – 12:30 Story time/ Fantasy play/pack up

Every Friday we will make time for something special.
 Show and tell
 Puppet show 
 Watch Educational DVD’s

Co-Curricular Activities
These activities are being held at school and are for your own account. All the activities will be given to you in January 2011.

Curriculum
The GDE curriculum is followed when doing literacy, numeracy and life skills. All our structured activities are based on this. The curriculum is integrated and introduced to include the child’s daily activities and daily life and are within the young child’s frame of reference. The curriculum is differentiated so each learner can work at his/her own tempo.

Assessment
Assessment takes place regularly and age relevant criteria are used to assess the children. You will receive a written report card in term one, two and four.  You will also receive a portfolio every term. In this portfolio you can see how your child has developed.  During terms immediate feedback to the parents regarding problem areas are done via the communication books.

Discipline
Discipline inside a classroom is very important. Optimal teaching and learning can only take place if there is discipline in the classroom. To ensure that every child will benefit from this there must be a system of motivation and positive discipline. The child will settle in quite quickly and understand the rules and regulations set to them by the teacher. It is the teacher’s duty to learn everything about every individual child in her class, but the children must be able to function as individuals in a group situation. If this is achieved then only can optimal learning and teaching take place. It is very important that you as parent will stay informed about your child and how he/she is busy developing, but you should also be informed if this is not the case. In that case there must be a very good support system between the school and the parents. Once-off bad behaviour will be handled by the teacher. If the bad behaviour continues, you as parents will be contacted to find a suitable solution to the problem. If we follow this system then we have a win-win situation. A system of assertive discipline is preferred where positive behaviour is enforced and rewarded.

Themes
We will follow different themes weekly or two weekly. We will talk about the different themes and give the learners a chance to actively take part in discussing the themes. The theme will be displayed on the theme table in the form of books or pictures or objects. We encourage children to contribute to the display if they want to.

Message boards
All relevant and important information will be written on the message board. You will also receive class letters, either bi-weekly or every term, with all the themes and important dates and information on it.  Your child will also receive a plastic letter bag with his/her name on. All letters will go home in this letter bag. The bag must come back to school the next day. If your letter bag is lost it is your responsibility to replace it as soon as possible. An amount is also payable at the teacher to replace it.

Snacks
Every child is responsible for his/her own daily lunchbox. The items in the lunchbox are very important. This has a great effect on the discipline and concentration of the learners. We ask that there will be no sweets in the lunchbox on weekdays.
Suggestions for a healthy lunchbox:
Sandwich, 100% fruit juice (preferably boxes, cans make a mess), fruit, nuts, dried fruit, cheese, salty cracks, muffins, yoghurt, cold meats, viennas, biltong, dry wors.

Water bottles
Every learner must bring a squeegee bottle filled with water to school every day. The bottle must be filled at home. The learners will be allowed to drink water during the day in class time. No other fluids will be allowed in the bottle for class time.

Allergies, Medication and Absenteeism.
Allergies information must be given to the teacher. If the child must take medication for the allergy, please give a marked bottle of medication to the teacher.

Every teacher has a medicine book where parents must fill in the necessary information about the medicine. The parents must sign the book as well. No medicine may be sent to school in the child’s bag. The medicine must be given to the teacher.

The medicine will be put back into the child’s bag to be sent home. If your child is in the morning waiting class the medicine books will be provided and the relevant information and medicine together with the medicine book will be sent to your child’s teacher.

If you suspect that your child may have a contagious illness the child must please stay at home for as long as it is needed. We do not want to start an epidemic. If your child will be absent for the day, the school must be informed before 09:00. It can also be arranged with the teacher in advance if possible.

Fetching of children and Safety
If someone else other that you as parent is picking up the child from school, the teacher must be informed by a written letter with your signature.

Toys
No toys may be brought to school. It is a big problem and the children fight over the toys which are totally unnecessary. Children may bring toys on Fridays, only if the teacher says so. All toys are brought to school at their own risk.

School T-Shirt
An Appleton golf shirt  is compulsory to all children in the playschool. The children must wear the shirt and denim pants to school. The shirt must be worn on special occasions for instance outings. etc.

Bags
We ask that you will buy a big enough bag for your child. It is so much easier if all your child’s belongings fit into his/her bag. It will stop your child from losing his/her belongings as well. Make sure that everything is clearly marked.
All children must please bring a marked hat to school that can stay at school. It is very hot in the Summer time and your child will only benefit from wearing his/her hat. We ask that you put sun block on your child every morning before school.

Parties
It is our policy that parties may take place during school hours. You can finalise the arrangements with the class teacher. We advise that you don’t put too many sweets in these packets. A sweet, chips and cold drink is more than enough. A cake or cupcakes to blow out candles are also welcome. You may send out invitations so that the other mommies will know whose birthday it is.

Fundraising
We will minimize the normal small class fundraisers and rather ask an amount from parents at the beginning of the year. These funds will be used for apparatus for the children, inside the classroom and outside as well as educational shows and displays.

Tuck Shop
We are going to run our own tuck shop in our phase. The children will be able to buy tuck shop every second Friday. This ties in with our life skills lessons. The teacher will remind you if it is tuck shop day. The other alternating Fridays will be used for baking and making which correlate with their themes. The learners can bring R10 for tuck shop day. This will be more than enough.

Scrap
We use different forms of scrap to make art items with. You are welcome to send any items on a regular basis to school.
Here are a few examples:

 Empty toilet rolls
 Small boxes
 Scraps of material
 Sponges
 Used or unused paper
 Purity bottles
 Cans
 Juice boxes
 Bread bag fasteners
 Old pantyhose
 Used gift-wrap
 Corks
 Old buttons
 Ribbons
 Feathers
 Old magazines
 X-rays
 Newspapers

Last modified: November 2011