Holiday packs keep academic boat afloat
9 April 2020
Sunningdale Primary School pulled out all the stops to provide parents and learners with academic support during the lockdown.
Principal Estelle de Wit said plans were put in place for each grade. Learners were provided with various resources, including reading cards for the Grade 1s, worksheets, workbooks and textbooks.
The teachers used Class Dojo, email and WhatsApp to communicate with parents and learners. Some teachers sent daily videos to explain concepts and what learners had to do for the day.
Lessons were also presented on Google Classroom.
A parent of a Grade 5 learner said she was impressed with the effort the teachers put in within days of the announcement that schools were closing earlier and for an extended period in a bid to contain the spread of the Covid-19 virus.
The holiday pack with timetable and worksheets that the teacher provided before schools closed, helped to structure the child’s day and made it easier for many parents who had to work from home during lockdown.
De Wit said it was an ongoing process and the teachers have already started to prepare more work to be sent to parents on a weekly basis should lockdown be extended.
“I want to commend our Sunningdale teachers for their commitment, dedication and positive attitude to give our learners only the best and to make it as easy as possible for our parents.
They are actually enjoying the hunt for video clips, have become extremely creative and one of them has even made and sent recordings of herself explaining the work! (It is now "game on" for other staff.) I don't think teaching will ever be the same at Sunny Sunningdale after Covid-19. Our learners are in good hands and if ever there is a war, I'll take our team with me!”