Covid-19 Performance

OUR PERFORMANCE DURING THE COVID-19 EPIDEMIC.

COVID-19 and the closure of schools came as a shock to many South Africans. Faced with this dilemma, our Sycamore Academy staff ‘stepped up to the plate’ and after consultation with our parents, a WhatsApp Distance Learning Programme was immediately set up. With the school utilising Impaq Study Programmes, workbooks were sent home and studios set up at the home of each teacher. WhatsApp class group chats were then formed and a formalized plan for a school day programme developed with our parents. To ensure that ‘Paralysis by Analysis’ did not impact on our parents, the Distance Learning package focused on English, Maths, Natural Science and a COVID-19 Life Skills package.

Whilst the programme was altered to meet the needs of the Junior Primary (Grades 1 to 3) pupils, the emphasis was kept on ensuring that the more important basic skills were covered. At 7H30 each morning, the teacher provided guidance via a recorded video to discuss and guide both the parents and students through the day’s lessons which conclude at 12H30. The work done was photographed by parents and forwarded to the teacher for marking. What transpired was truly incredible, with parents, pupils and staff alike combining to ensure that the programme worked, and that effective learning could take place over the two and a half month lockdown period.

With the Minister of Education’s revelation in the middle of May 2020, that schools who met all Protocol requirements could possibly open earlier, Mr Ardé the Sycamore Principal and his team quickly sprang into action! Sycamore Academy developed and installed crucial protocols that met all the required standards outlined by the Health and Education departments to ensure the safety of all pupils and staff. The plan was presented to the Senior Education Officials of the DOE and authorisation given for Sycamore Academy to open all grades (1 to 7) from 1 June 2020.  Sycamore Academy to our knowledge was the first school, to receive this permission and our parents thereafter, attended a meeting, to determine whether they approved and supported the move to open the school at such an early juncture.

With the trust and confidence built up between the School Management, staff and the parents throughout the Lockdown Period, the parents approved the intended opening of Sycamore Academy from 1 June 2020, and were unanimous in their praise of the efforts of the staff team, to ensure that effective learning had taken place throughout the Lockdown period.

Sycamore Academy thus re-opened on Monday 1 June 2020, and the school has been blessed in its efforts to ensure that the pupils continue to receive an effective education. All COVID-19 protocols have continued to be appropriately endorsed and the school has been able to sidestep the unfortunate closure of state schools and remain open for business. After four months of non-stop learning and our pupils fully up-to-date with all aspects of the year’s syllabus, Sycamore Academy closed on Wednesday 5 August 2020, for a deserved 10-day holiday break.

What has transpired during this most difficult period was that the relatively small numbers in each class (a maximum of 20 pupils), has allowed the school management and teachers, to meet all challenges related to being an effective and safe learning centre. In Sycamore Academy’s case, “smaller is better” has certainly proven its worth and the parents/pupils are now the best ambassadors of our school.  We have risen to the challenge and have proven that we are an excellent Primary education centre and look forward to continue providing the children who grace these corridors, with a relevant and, stimulating education package. It may be added that the success of our school during this period, was reflected in articles published in the Independent Newspaper and You Magazine.