Helping Rural Xhosa children become literate!

 Dear Friend

We would like to give a warm welcome to Tracy, who has joined the Ncinci Ones Montessori team. Tracy will be teaching English to the children and doing school administration. Tracy started with us in mid-September and the children have taken to her like a magnet. The mamas are all very excited about the English and a waitlist has again started for the school.

Out outdoor area at Ncinci Ones Montessori is looking really great! We have a beautiful lawn for running and playing, a permaculture vegetable garden, new flower beds, growing trees and 3 outdoor benches.

We had a ceiling put in the Yann Eric Day Room where the children eat their meals and the room is so much warmer on cold days and so much cooler on hot days – a ceiling really makes a room so much more comfortable.

We had most of the double tables the children work at, divided into single tables and the result has been amazing. The children now have a much greater opportunity to work independently and concentrate, without being disturbed by anyone else. It is really wonderful to observe.

Our teachers attended two Professional Development workshops this term and they thoroughly enjoyed them. Both workshops had a theory element and a practical element and this worked really well for the teachers.

The first workshop was on the 6 fundamental principles of SAMA and combined with this was making some no bake chocolate drops. There was lots of learning and chatter and fun. The 2^nd workshop was on Promoting respect in the Workplace and this was combined with Outdoors Games. The teachers really enjoyed the opportunity to play again and there was much laughter.

It has been a busy, fun time for all.

Thank you for your support!

Dear friends

Ncinci Ones Montessori is blessed in that we experienced no damage at all with the flash floods that happened on the night of 17 February 2023. Tyelinzima, the local high school in Coffee Bay was completely washed away and the students are now sharing space with 3 local junior schools.  Very challenging times for these children.

The Ncinci Ones themselves are all blossoming beautifully and the two local Directresses are supporting these children's development in a wonderful way - it is such a pleasure to observe our two Directresses in the indoor environment.  They have been attending their Teacher Training sessions twice a week and they have attended 3 Teacher Workshops, to support their development. They really enjoy the workshops.

Our one Directress, Luyolokazi, attended the South African Montessori Association Annual Conference in Johannesburg at the end of April.  She enjoyed every moment of the conference and has started networking with other Montessorians, which was wonderful to observe. 

The children were visited by the Wellness Wagon in March and they provided Vitamin A drops as well as 3-day deworming for all the children - it is a great service to our children, keeping them healthy.

We have employed a local lady as a gardener and she is busy planting our winter vegetables.  We were able to lay pavers as a walk way for the children in February and these really helped to keep our indoor environment mud-free :-)

Ncinci Ones Montessori has had some T.L.C. and maintenance done and the school is looking good inside and out. An outside light at the back of the property and painting of the classroom floors is happening next.

Thank you for your support, we could not do our work without you!

Kind regards

Dawn