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Junior School Academics

Foundation Phase

Foundation Phase

Literacy

We instil a love for reading from the very start of Grade 0, so that by the time our pupils leave St Margaret’s (our Foundation Phase) they are confident, fluent readers. Using Jolly Phonics, a multi-sensory programme that teaches children to read and write using synthetic phonics, our students are soon decoding words and expressing themselves in writing. The programme continues throughout the school years, by extending the earlier phonics teaching with further spelling, grammar, and punctuation concepts in the Jolly Grammar Programme.

Communication and language development is promoted by providing a rich language environment, allowing our students to express themselves with confidence, and speak and listen in a range of situations.

Afrikaans and isiZulu: We offer Afrikaans and isiZulu as first additional language subjects, and these are taught from Grade 1.

Overview

Numeracy

Using the Pearson Abacus Scheme, we promote a passion for Mathematics, the relationships between numbers and our daily lives, and in patterns and solving problems.

Fostering a positive relationship with mathematics from a very early age is paramount, and investment at this stage sets children on the road to future success.

Junior Curriculum

Life Skills

Personal, social, and emotional development is fostered through Mindfulness, and the Conscious Discipline and the Think Equal programmes. Our value-based Life Skills curriculum starts in Grade 0, in the Foundation Phase, and extends into the Upper Junior grades, assisting the pupils in developing a positive sense of self and positive relationships with others, in learning how to manage their feelings, and in developing confidence in their own abilities.

Life Skills

The Arts

 

The students are encouraged to explore and play with a wide range of media and materials, and to engage in activities, which incorporate expressive art, music, movement, drama, and dance.

Life Skills

Knowledge and Understanding of the world

 

The pupils are guided to make sense of their physical world and their communities through rich inquiry-based learning tasks and research, encouraging them to explore, observe, and find out more about people, places, technology, and the environment.

The Think Equal programme is the foundation to our Social Justice and Diversity curriculum which begins in Grade 3. Each student is involved in school productions, special assemblies, sports days, and adventure days. Outings, specialist visits, and special days form an important

Life Skills

Physical development

 

Physical development is promoted through interaction with one another, developing co-ordination, control, and movement, and understanding the importance of making healthy choices in relation to food and nutrition.

St Margaret’s has its own learn-to-swim, heated swimming pool, tailor-made to the requirements of our younger pupils.

The daily use of the adventure playground, participating in active classroom sessions, and exploring the fairy gardens promote physical activity, creative adventure, and play.

Dale Quaker

Dale Quaker is currently the Chief Financial Officer for Cupric Africa, a private equity owned mining company which through its Botswana sister company Khoemacau Copper recently completed the building of its copper silver project.

He was previously the CFO of the Khoemacau Group leading the finance function as the Group transitioned from an exploration company, through the fundraising of a $650m debt, streaming and equity funding package through to completion of construction..

Prior to joining Cupric, he was an independent consultant to the mining and construction industries. In his last corporate role, he headed up the marketing and logistics function for Xstrata Coal South Africa, after having fulfilled a senior finance role in the company previously..

Dale held roles at BHPBillition subsidiary, Samancor Chrome, both at the operations and corporate office in Johannesburg. Dale is a qualified Chartered Accountant and Chartered Management Accountant and has three daughters at Roedean.

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