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BUSINESS NEWS - Curro Mossel Bay independent school provides education from Grade R to Grade 12.
It prides itself in being an inclusive school, with a varied curriculum and sport and cultural programmes for learners of all skill levels.
PHOTO GALLERY: Curro matrics celebrate results
Preschool
This year the preschool welcomed a new head.
Mrs Leané Heyneke took up the reins at the preschool from the beginning of the new school year. She is married, with two high school sons.
She has a great love for outdoor activities and sport and believes physical activity is key to a well-rounded life. She has a passion for providing all children with quality education and an opportunity to develop their unique potential.
Mrs Heyneke is an accomplished teacher with 17 years' teaching experience in both early childhood development and the foundation phase.
She is a qualified occupational therapist with a special interest in sensory integration and inclusive education. Her aim is to use this knowledge to train and uplift the parents, teachers and the greater community to be able to participate in the development of each child.
Mrs Heyneke has taught at a variety of schools and would like to apply the knowledge and experience she has gained to grow and differentiate Curro Preschool.
Her vision for the preschool is to establish a safe environment where children can develop and flourish. She also aims to make Curro Preschool an inclusive environment for children with different levels of development and skill.
Netball umpiring is her great passion. She would like to serve the school and the community by developing and supporting a love for sport from preschool age. Mrs Heyneke believes children should develop cognitively, physically, socially and emotionally, and it is the input received from the adults in their lives that will facilitate optimal development.
Leané Heyneke
Laerskool
Esli Meyer is die laerskoolhoof.
Hy is getroud en het 'n pragtige seuntjie van twee jaar en agt maande. Mnr Meyer se onderwysloopbaan het in 2006 by Hoërskool Generaal Hertzog begin as 'n graad 12-onderwyser vir die vakke ekonomie en besigheidstudies.
In 2010 word hy as departementshoof by dieselfde hoërskool aangestel. Sy Curro-loopbaan het in 2016 begin toe hy as fasehoof by Curro Bankenveld in Witbank aangestel is en in Julie 2019 het hy die leisels as laerskoolhoof oorgeneem.
Mnr Meyer is 'n passievolle mens en het 'n baie groot liefde vir kinders en buitemuurse aktiwiteite.
Hy het 'n B.Com-graad in Besigheidstudies en 'n nagraadse onderwyskwalifikasie.
Sy fokus is om Curro se visie na te strewe en om die vaardighede vir die 21ste eeu by die leerders te bevorder deur inligtingstegnologie, kodering en rekenaarbeheer (robotics). Die kinders kry die geleentheid om robotte en verkeersligte te programmeer, om hommeltuie (drones) te vlieg en om voorwerpe met behulp van 'n lasermasjien te skep.
Mnr Meyer sê: "Ons moedig die leerders aan om 'n gebalanseerde lewe te lei deur aan hulle kwaliteit-opleiding tydens beide akademiese en met buitemuurse aktiwiteite te verskaf. Dit is van kardinale belang dat sosiale en groepsvaardighede van individuele leerders en in spanverband bevorder word."
Hy voeg by: "Ons is 'n gelukkige skool met 'n beklemtoning van die belangrikheid van die familie.
"Voornemende ouers is welkom om enige tyd die skool te besoek en om met ons te gesels. Elke dag is 'n opedag. Die skool se siening van die onderwys kan saamgevat word met die slagspreuk van die Titans-film: 'Gesindheid reflekteer leierskap'. Gelukkige kinders, kweek gelukkige ouers en gelukkige onderwysers."
Esli Meyer
Overview of Curro Mossel Bay
Mr Brian O'Neil, the executive head of Curro Mossel Bay, says: "The number of learners has doubled within two years. There were 390 learners in January 2021; now we have 660 enrolled at the school, from preschool to Grade 12."
This is a testimony to the hard work, dedication and commitment of both the staff and the greater community.
Mr O'Neil attributes this rapid growth to a "clear intent to change the school and focus on value-adds, such as the school's robotics programme, and the holistic development of our learners".
He notes that the school concentrates on science, technology, engineering, art, mathematics and design - STEAMD in short.
"We have increased the co-curricular offering at the school by adding integrated sport and music lessons into the school day of the preschool through to the foundation phase."
Mr O'Neil says: "We are exceptionally proud of our eight consecutive years with a 100% IEB matric pass rate." The Curro matrics write IEB (Independent Examination Board) papers.
All the 2022 matrics achieved the option to apply to a tertiary institution for further studies. Three of the learners achieved A-aggregates and the school's matric distinctions increased from 0.7 per learner to 1.03 per learner this year.
Curro Choice is a new initiative this year, enabling learners to do subjects which were not offered before, such as history and advanced mathematics, via virtual live lessons.
Mr O'Neil points out: "Many children choose home schooling. If they are registered through Curro Online, they can come to campus on the days they choose to. We have supervision for them and they can do lessons online. They can also participate in the school sport programme if they are registered with Curro Online."
He notes that many children who home school are not able to participate in school sports, but at Curro, the home-schooled, online learners, may take part in sport.
A notable feature of the school is the newly-completed, world-class hockey Astroturf, which will be open for use soon.
Mr O'Neil concludes: "We are excited about the new prospects and opportunities on our campus and invite parents to come to find out more about the school."
Parents can email michelle.v01@curro.co.za or visit the website, www.curro.co.za, for more information.
Mr Brian O'Neil (executive head), Mr Esli Meyer (head of primary school), Mr Etienne Smit (head of high school), Mrs Michelle van der Westhuizen (marketer) and Mrs Leané Heyneke (head of preschool).
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