JUNIOR PREP

GRADES 1-3

The Preparatory (commonly known as primary school) is founded on a solid system of good values and morals and we are always focusing on and giving priority to providing an excellent, top-class education for your children today!

We are very passionate about your children, our pupils. It is our goal to work hand-in-hand with parents in educating and assisting your children and helping them to achieve all that they have set out to do in their life – even starting at such a tender, young age.

During their primary education, students are taught to think critically, to strive to attain high standards, to meet the challenges posed by technological advancements and to develop basic values.

SCHOOLING WITH

CONFIDENCE

At Archers College, our Grade 1 learners enter their first year of formal schooling with confidence because of the excellent foundation established in Grade R on which they now continue to build.

The focus of learning is on developing fundamental language and mathematical skills, first in a concrete way and then followed through on with written application.

A LEARNING EXPERIENCE TAILORED TO YOUR CHILD'S NEEDS

We strive to ensure that each child enjoys an individual learning experience tailored specifically to his or her individual needs and particular learning style. Educators ensure lessons taught appeal to the visual, auditory, kinaesthetic , sensory, physical and verbal learners, as each and every child learns in a different way. Our busier learners can often be found sitting on a large pilates ball, or keeping busy with an item from our “calm down box”, such as a stress ball or bubble wrap, whilst listening to the teacher give an explanation or whilst completing a task. We also provide tools for our left-handed learners, who may require it, that assist with their pencil grip and make it a little easier for them to work.

Grade 1 – 3 learners still enjoy learning about various “Themes,” and these change every two to three weeks. Arts and crafts activities and make ‘n bake sessions are centered around the theme for the week and are a favourite amongst the children. STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) and inquiry-based learning is also now featuring more in our day-to-day curriculum, and the learners absolutely love the learning opportunities provided, where the teacher too is seen as a learner, and the students themselves take on an active role in their learning process.

We ensure that when the learners move on from Grade 3, they have learnt important skills that will equip them for what is in store for their next phase of learning. The learners’ introduction to Project-Based and Inquiry-Based learning throughout their junior years adequately prepares them for that is in store on a bigger level in the senior prep years.

We ensure that when the learners move on from Grade 3, they have learnt important skills that will equip them for what is in store for their next phase of learning.

The learners’ introduction to Project-Based and Inquiry-Based learning throughout their junior years adequately prepares them for that is in store on a bigger level in the senior prep years.

SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING

We believe that from an early age, children should learn and develop a variety of soft skills, cultivate a growth mindset, work on their character development, and build self-confidence.

To support this, we incorporate weekly Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) sessions into our timetable, where we explore these topics and encourage children to continually develop in these areas.

Past topics have included:

Developing a Growth Mindset
What Is Resilience, and How Can You Build It?
Understanding Bullying and How to Be a Kind Human

A SCHOOL FOR NOW

In the Junior Prep, we always revert back to our foremost goal – that is to provide a SCHOOL FOR NOW. We strive to equip our children with everyday life-long skills that will carry them into the future. For this reason, our timetable encompasses cross-curricular learning (i.e. Mathematics is in everything), inquiry-based and project-based learning even more.

Other subjects / content that forms part of the day’s timetable includes:

/ Nature Studies (planting and caring for a vegetable garden)

/ Entrepreneurial skills (running a market day)

/ Cooking classes

/ Coding and Robotics (problem-solving)

/ Art (creativity)

'NO HOMEWORK' POLICY

Primary School is where we build the foundations of our children’s learning. Their attitude to school, their ability to make and develop friendships, their curiosity, creativity and individuality are all fostered throughout the wonderful primary ages. This is where we give children space to ask crazy questions, to build connections, to learn how to disagree and most importantly to begin to express themselves as individuals. Primary School is where children begin to recognise themselves as independent learners.

We have a “no homework policy,” rather in the afternoons we encourage our children to focus on reading, counting, creative writing and problem-solving. Assigned tasks for afternoons will always only include the aforementioned.

Afternoon Extension Activities

As part of our non-traditional approach, we strive to minimize the amount of homework assigned to children in the afternoons. Instead, we provide weekly tasks through our Seesaw App, which parents and children can complete together from Tuesday to the following Monday. While we aim to keep after-school tasks manageable, it is important for children to engage in reading, language, and mathematical development, as these activities reinforce classroom concepts and help parents identify any areas where their child may need additional support.

Additionally, children receive termly calendars outlining due dates for prepared readings, speeches, and projects. However, we maintain a “quality over quantity” approach to after-school assignments, ensuring that tasks remain meaningful and purposeful.