WINTERBERG SCHOOL TRUST ANNUAL REPORT 2018

Winterberg School Trust, PO Box 123 Tarkastad, 5370 045 8480 004 http://winterbergschool.org winterbergschooltrust@gmail.com

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About Us

The Winterberg School Trust is a deep rural, non-profit

and community-based organization in the Eastern

Cape providing access to quality education since

1990 whilst allowing children to remain living at home with their families. The approximately 140 children that the trust

supports are largely the children of isiXhosa farm-workers living in isolated

rural areas.

Winterberg School Trust

The Trust provides

• Early Childhood Development and Foundation Phase

• Parental interventions and support

• Development & employment opportunities focused on women

• Daily transport to schools in Tarkastad for high school

learners

Our Mission

We are committed to the sustainable empowerment

and development of children, parents and

educators in the Winterberg community. We support a

holistic approach to education where learners’ academic and skills-based

needs are equally developed to meet their emerging

social and economic needs.

Our Vision

The WST strives for the sustainable growth of the

Winterberg community through education and the creation of

opportunities for social and economic upliftment.

Our Values

The cultural and language diversity within the community The contribution of individuals

within the team Standards of excellence,

honesty and integrity Opportunities for lifelong

learning Effective communication and

transparency Affirmation, support and

encouragement

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BOARD OF TRUSTEES Chairperson: Amy Bryant

Representatives: William Pringle, Larry King,

Roger Bryant, Andrew Scott,

David Millar

Ex-Officio: Joanne King, Carina du Randt

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE Joanne King Stacey de Jager Carina du Randt Phyllis Mabece-Siyo

WST STAFF Project Director: Joanne King (HDE) Administrator: Carina du Randt (B-Tech Forestry & Nature

Conservation, ND Nature Con.) Pre-School: Zandile Femele Grade R & ECD Manager: Nombulelo Lisa (N3, NDECD, Level 5, ACE Supervisor) Grade 1 and 2 Educator: Phyllis Mabece-Siyo (NPDE, ACE Supervisor) Grade 1 and 2 Monitor & librarian: Noluvo Mabindisa (ACE Monitor) Grade 3 and 4 Educator: Judith le Roux (ACE Supervisor) Grade 3 and 4 Educator: Denise MacDonald (B. Ed Hons) Grade 3 and 4 Monitor & Gross motor co-ordinator: Mkhululi Ronny Dlomo (ACE Monitor) Computer Educator: Stacey de Jager (B.Sc., PGCE, B. Ed Hons) Drivers: Reman Tukushe (Code 10) Mxolisi Mageja (Code 10) Cleaner: Monica Nazo

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FUNDERS Thank you to the following funders who so generously supported the school in 2018:

BK Administrators Department of Transport

Dischem HCI Foundation Kevin Schroeder

Old Mutual Foundation Oppenheimer Memorial Trust

PAY PAL friends Personal Trust

PWC Robert Niven Trust

Winterberg Farmers Zoe Carss

Thank you to KPMG for their visit in November, despite the difficulty in travelling to the Winterberg! We look forward to their support in 2019.

COME AND VISIT US!

Please drop in, or contact us to arrange a visit!

Location: Eastern Cape, South Africa, 32°17’988” South; 26°30’115” East

25km on R344 from Tarkastad to Bedford/Adelaide

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EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT (ECD)

Grade 00 to Grade R In 2018, 22 kids were enrolled in the preschool project, and 18 in Grade R. In Grade R they follow an enriched programme, taking elements of the ACE programme and adding to it with extra activities such as weekly computer classes. This is a bridging year from Mother Tongue to English as the medium of instruction.

FOUNDATION PHASE

Grade 1 to 4 The Accelerated Christian Education curriculum is followed at the school. In all classes a teacher and a monitor help the learners set their goals for the day. The learners then progress at their own speed, working towards completing ‘Paces’ in each subject. This method has proved especially beneficial to the slow learners, whilst still challenging the faster learners. The Grade 1 and 2 classes were combined in 1 multi-grade classroom, but this proved

difficult. In Grade 1, learners are at very different stages, particularly in terms of understanding English. As a result, we will separate the Grade 1 learners from 2019, ensuring they get the individual attention they need. Multi-grade will continue from Grade 2.

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SPECIAL OCCASIONS

HERITAGE DAY Heritage Day is always an important and exciting day on our calendar. isiXhosa culture was celebrated with traditional clothes, dancing and other activities.

Learners in isiXhosa dress, and learning about traditional hunting methods.

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PERSONAL HEALTH and WELL BEING

EYES An optometrist with close ties to the Winterberg, Stef Kriel, visited the school in November. Together with his wife, Fiona, they tested all the learners’ eyes at no charge; a fantastic donation by Dr Kriel! Three of the learners went for further testing in East London in December and two of these were given glasses. This was a great opportunity to overcome another barrier to learning and we hope our learners will benefit from the results.

EARS Lineo Lecheko came to test the learners’ hearing and we were horrified with the results! Several children had objects removed from their ears, four had perforated eardrums and many suffered from general poor hygiene! We were grateful for her input and hope to get her to talk to the parents about the importance of hearing and caring for your ears in 2019.

You have certainly provided our children with a much “clearer vision” for the future! Thank you,

Dr Kriel!

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TEETH The learners were all given toothbrushes and toothpaste. They were taught how to brush their teeth properly and the importance of doing so.

HEART AND SOUL A support structure is provided by the WST for learners who have had traumatic experiences in their homes, such as abuse or tragedy. We have established stronger connections with our local health and social services to try to reduce the occurrence and long-term impact of these social issues. The WST acts as a safe haven for the children, where the teachers and staff provide support and stability.

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FIELD TRIPS Two field trips were held in the fourth term:

HOGSBACK The Grade 3 and 4 class went to Hobbiton in Hogsback on 27 November. It was great fun as they explored different kinds of physical activities such as a zip line and obstacle courses. It was also educational as they learnt about different kinds of trees on their hike in the forest. They enjoyed cooling off in the pool and a picnic lunch to end the day.

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HUNTERSHILL

The Grade R and 1/2 classes went to Hunter’s Hill, a private game reserve near Queenstown, where they were fortunate to see many different kinds of animals. The lions and tigers were most exciting as most learners had never seen these before. All really enjoyed the day, especially the picnic lunch at the lodge.

EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

LIBRARY We are fortunate to have a junior library and every child from Grade 2 upwards is encouraged to read at least one book per week, alternating English and isiXhosa. A focus for the coming year will be to replace damaged and outdated books to ensure we have a well-stocked library.

ART We encourage the learners to be creative and incorporate creative activities in our busy school schedule.

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COMPUTERS

All learners from Grade R to Grade 4 attend weekly computer classes, where they play educational games. We continued with the Reading Eggs programme, with many learners earning certificates at prize giving for successfully completing a level. This programme is a fun filled way to add to their Reading skills. The older learners also work through the ACE Readmaster programme, with termly results reflected in their reports.

Thanks to Kevin Schroeder we received a fantastic donation of 2 new computers and the learners compete to sit at the faster computers with flat screens!

We now have 8 stations where learners have access to the Internet, and an additional 12 older stations where they can play educational games. We hope to be able to upgrade more of these in 2019.

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SPORT

There were 41 kids who took part in the sports programme this year, including the new Grade R and 1’s. In the first term, the focus was on athletics, with weekly physical education.

The highlight of the sport programme for the year was taking part in the Orange Grove 5km Colour Run. 14 learners took part and we were especially proud of Siphamandla July, who won first place in his age group. We hope to register with the South African Christian School Sport Association (SACSSA) in 2019 so that we can compete in more events. The day also included fun activities such as a jumping castle, tennis and soccer.

In the third term, the Grade 1’s and 2’s were separated from the 3’s and 4’s to allow Ronny to focus more on the younger kids and help them with their concentration and body awareness.

Members of the community lent us tennis rackets and the older kids enjoy playing tennis at break times.

The sports year ended with a fun run and informal races.

Looking very colourful!

Well done

Siphamandla!

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COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

LUNCEDO Luncedo more than trebled their net income in 2019 through making and selling school tracksuits for the WST.

YOUTH EMPOWERMENT Although we no longer offer the Youth Empowerment programme, the WST continues to monitor our past students and support those who wish to study further by providing bursaries and helping to find placements wherever we can.

Thulani Ntobi, a past student, previously worked at Shamwari and is now the restaurant supervisor at the South Boulevard Café on the beach front in Port Elizabeth!

A past student making us proud!

The WST tracksuits professionally made by the Luncedo ladies

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PARENT WORKSHOPS A key focus for 2018 was to include and empower the community and parents of the Winterberg School Trust. At the end of each term parents were invited to discuss their role in the development of their children. On 10 March, we held a bazaar, in conjunction with a parent meeting. The second meeting was on 19 May, where we discussed transport, uniforms, homework and stationery. We also informed the parents of the upcoming cross-country event. The meeting on 18 August focused on discipline, attendance and homework, which is an ongoing problem.

The final meeting was on 17 November. We informed the parents of the plans for prize-giving and introduced them to our new teacher Denise MacDonald. We held another bazaar on this day.

SGB During the year, the parents elected five representatives, one from each section of

the Winterberg. The members elected were: Linda Nofemele, Thandi Nelani, Cindy

Bosch, Xolela Mabindisa and Berry Nofemele.

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PRIZE GIVING and YEAR END CONCERT

We had a very exciting concert which was combined with the annual prize giving. Using the theme “Reach for the Stars” each class presented a song and dance.

The school grounds echoed with rehearsals for weeks in preparation and you can still hear the kids singing “Let’s Star Jump!” on the playgrounds! Thank you to Denise for organising this fantastic event. Thank you also to Mandy Levey for the stunning backdrop which set the scene so beautifully. Phakama Mzileni from Kululeka was our guest speaker. She has been involved with Early Childhood Development for many years and is a wealth of knowledge. She gave an inspiring talk to the learners and

their families and handed out the prizes. After the prize giving, the learners were given hotdogs and ice-creams as a special treat.

Reach for the stars!

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Phakama and Nombulelo with Grade R prize winners

Cindy Bosch and her son. Cindy previously completed the YEP

programme, served on the SGB, and joins the WST as a monitor in 2019.

The proud Femele family

Reg Morgan, the school pastor, opened in prayer

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TRANSPORT

Transport is fundamental to the success of the Winterberg school Trust. Without it, the learners and the Luncedo Craft ladies would sadly not benefit from the good quality education and other opportunities that are offered by the WST. There is no public transport or other transport available to the community other than the transport offered by the WST.

The school is in a rural farming community, 40km from Tarkastad. Our learners mostly live on farms, some of which are up to 70km from town. Transport is therefore a vital factor in considering the education of the children in our district.

The total number of children at the WST is 82 in addition to the 42 older learners who are transported by the WST to schools in town. The Luncedo Craft ladies are also transported daily.

An urgent Trustees meeting was held at the

beginning of 2018 to discuss the increased transport costs. A decision was made to

sell one of the Quantum’s and replace it with a 32-seater Hino bus, which arrived in

August. We therefore currently have 2 Quantum’s, the Hino bus, and the Avanza,

which is used for smaller groups and shorter trips.

The school buses drive an average of 800km a day, between them, starting at 5am. They take learners to Tarkastad for school at 7:30am, before repeating the routes to collect the WST learners. After the WST learners are taken home at 13:00, the routes are reversed, with the last learners from the Tarkastad schools getting home by 5pm.

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STAFF NEWS and DEVELOPMENT

2018 brought some big changes to the staff of the WST: ¤ Carina du Randt started in the position of

administrator in January and has proven to be a

very energetic and efficient asset to the school.

We look forward to welcoming her back in 2019,

after her maternity leave. An old familiar face,

Cheryl Phillips, acted as the interim administrator

in Carina’s absence.

¤ Noluvo Mabindisa has been accepted to

study further in 2019 at the Centre for Social

Development at Rhodes University. She will be

doing her Level 5 and hopes to complete her B.Ed.

soon. The WST will support her in her studies

¤ In the first term we welcomed Judi le Roux, but

sadly she passed away in September after a

prolonged illness. Thank you to Janet Truter and other members of the

community who helped whilst we were without a permanent teacher.

¤ We were very excited to welcome Denise McDonald at the start of the 4th term

in the senior class. She amazed everyone with the enthusiastic way she took on

the prize giving and year end concert. She was further selected to fill the vacant

principal position for 2019

and we are confident that the

way she has already inspired

learners and teachers will only

pick up in her new role. She

comes with a fantastic CV and

we are fortunate to have her.

¤ The WST has also appointed

an additional teacher and a

monitor for 2019 which will

enable us to grow the school

and include Grade 5.

Denise welcoming everyone to the prize giving

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FUNDRAISING We once again received fantastic support from corporate funders and charitable trusts, which was supplemented by several projects including:

¤ The WST cattle project: This was started in August 2017, where each farmer in

the Winterberg Conservancy donated a pregnant cow as part of the future

sustainability of the WST. To date our herd numbers 48 cows and 43 calves.

The calves sold at the Winterberg Farmers sale in April 2018 brought in

R230 000. We are looking forward to

the next sale in April 2019.

¤ Two bazaars were held this year. The

farmers donated old clothes and household goods which were then sold to the community. Each class also hosted a stall where they sold vetkoek, ice-cream and other food and treats. A jumping castle was hired which provided great entertainment for the kids.

¤ The PayPal initiative continues, whereby supporters can choose to fund a sector of the school. We have received great support from our friends around the world.

¤ The third edition of the Winterberg Winners Recipe Book is available. This extra income is used for items not covered by the budget. Please contact us if you would like a copy for you or your friends!

Learners enjoying the jumping castle and water slide on a hot Saturday in November

Visit our website to learn more or to contribute to these initiatives! winterbergschool.org

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WST 2018 sources of income

Cattle sale11.2%

Charitable trusts23.8%

Corporate donors18.3%

Fundraising 2.9%Investment income 0.5%

Community fundraising 0.6%

School fees and rent 4.3%

Transport subsidy38.4%

Beth Curl from the UK, donated $110

from her plant sales!

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EXPENSE STATEMENT (Jan - Dec 2018)

ECD and FOUNDATION PHASE Implementation 1,018,760

Equipment 9,480

Stationery and materials 133,661

Workshops 4,106

Field Trips & Sport 12,364

Staff Development 10,346

Toy Library 4,740

NETWORKING

Accommodation, Travel & Communication 28,285

ADMINISTRATION

Audit fees 29,131

Bank Charges 8,328

Electricity 102,227

Insurance 116,937

Photocopier 231

Telephone and fax 2,741

Building maintenance 46,562

TRANSPORT

Fuel 198,527

Maintenance 259,725

Vehicle replacement 70,000

YOUTH EMPOWERMENT SUPPORT 6,933

TOTAL 2,063,083

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Expense Addendum • Maintenance costs of the vehicles increased as a result of:

The extreme deterioration in the condition of the roads Aging of two of the buses

• The new Hino bus resulted in an increase in the insurance premium.

• Salaries - we do not receive any salaries for our educators from Government, thus the Implementation expense.

• Materials – the ACE system requires each child to work in individual paces, each with their own book, and we therefore have high material expenses. No stationery is supplied by Government.

• Staff Development is crucial to keep our Educators abreast of ongoing opportunities available to them as we are so isolated.

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WINTERBERG SCHOOL TRUST

Winterberg School Trust Registration: TM 1272, Legal Status: 18A Tax Status

NPO Registration: 020 729 NPO PBO Registration: 18/11/13/1688

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