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The school educates 154 children from various cultural, language and social-economic backgrounds with homes in McGregor Village, Nqubela (Robertson) and Zolani (Ashton), Cape Town and Johannesburg.

We offer English Medium education in a warm and supportive environment with teachers who are committed to guide children in their journey towards realizing their own inborn potential and to develop into free, responsible human beings. They endeavour to foster resilience in each child and a spirit of valuing all people’s culture, beliefs and work.

The Kindergarten offers a carefully constructed environment designed to foster personal and social learning based on the Waldorf Early Childhoodapproach. The trained kindergarten teacher and her assistant teach by example and learning is integrated. The children, aged 3 to 6, are given time to unfold at their own pace. Free creative play is scheduled as is work, artistic activities, circle time and story time.

The Primary School (Grade 1 to 6) offers the Waldorf Curriculum as set out by the Southern African Federation of Waldorf Schools and adapted to our local circumstances. This integrated approach incorporates storytelling, arts, and crafts.

The primary school has three combined classes: grade 1, grade2&3, grade 4&5 and grade 6&7, each one taught by a trained and experienced teacher.

The McGregor High School (Grade 8 -12) continues the quest to prepare young people for life by bringing about a mobile inner life and a discovery of self. While Mathematics, Language and Computer skills are essential for further study and building a working life , Visual and Dramatic Arts enhance personal and inter-personal growth while Life Orientation develops social skills and much needed awareness.

For some subjects classes are combined but grade 9 and 12 remain on their own.

Grade 10-12

From 2011 seven compulsory subjects are offered

English Home Language
Afrikaans First Additional Language
Life Orientation
Dramatic Arts
Visual Arts
Maths Literacy
Computer Application Technology

All these subjects are accepted by the Department of Education. Students from grade 9 to grade 12 write NSC exams set by the Department of Education.

Criteria for promotion to next grade: Grade10 – Grade 11 – Grade 12

The students need to take seven subjects.

For each subject the final grade is based on:
25% Internal Assessment (CASS portfolio, tasks, assignments, tests, exams)
75% External Assessment (November Exams)

The student is promoted to the next grade when

1. CASS portfolio (Internal assessment) is available for ALL subjects.
2. Minimum PASS rates (based on both internal and external assessment)

• English Home language 40 %
• Another two subjects 40%
• Another three subjects 30%
• Allowed to fail one subject below 30%

The school is a member of ISASA (Independent Schools Association of Southern Africa) and SAFWS (Southern African Federation of Waldorf Schools).

Eco School

Eco-Schools is an international programme of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE - www.fee-international.org) that originally started in Europe in 1994. About 9 000 schools have earned green Eco-School flags in over 47 countries around the world.The McGregor Waldorf School has been awarded the green Eco-School flag and is thus officially an Eco School.

Feeding Scheme
KOS VIR SKOLE is providing a daily breakfast and lunch for 25 of our learners whose families do not have the financial means to give them daily food.

Volunteers
Some community members voluntarily support our learners with reading English on a weekly basis.

International volunteers supported by the Weltwärts Programme run by the Freunde der Erziehungskunst also participate at times in the life of the school.

Transport
Each day our school bus and a local bus company collects the learners from Nkqubela Robertson and Zolani Ashton.

Aftercare
Supervision of learners waiting to return home with the bus is provided for.

Afternoon Activities
The school organizes soccer, netball and cricket practice. Matches are played against other community/school sports groups.

Dance for All organizes free Ballet and Modern Dance lessons for learners and village children.

Sensei Nico Drake comes through to McGregor once a week to teach Karate to learners and village children.

Hostel
The hostel caters for 25 learners from grade 7 upwards. There are separate sleeping and study quarters for girls and boys but meals are taken together. A warm meal at lunchtime and a light meal at suppertime are provided. Hostel parents are supervising the learners and assist them where needed. See hostel rules.

Active engagement in the community is supported. Some learners are members of the Heritage Society.

Governance
A College of Teachers takes responsibility for the overall well being of the school but focuses on pedagogical aspects. Apart from a weekly meeting to study, share and discuss business together Saturday training sessions are organized regularly and participation in Provincial and National teacher’s meetings supported. The teachers commit to ongoing training to deepen their understanding and skills.

The Primary School faculty and High School faculty gather weekly to discuss practical arrangements and address any issues related to their particular faculty. In any disciplinary matters the school follows the procedures as set out by ISASA.

A Management Committee, comprised of teacher representatives, bursar and members of the community, supports the day to day financial, administrative and practical running of the school.

A Hostel Committee takes responsibility for the smooth functioning of the hostel.
The Board of Directors compiled of teachers, parents and members of the community guard the legal, financial and structural framework of the school. They call an Annual General Meeting to which all parents are invited.

Parents

Regular parents evenings are organized by each faculty either at the school or in the various communities. On such evenings besides bringing aspects of Waldorf Education, the teachers bring relevant issues and listen to the questions, concerns and suggestions of parents.

Parents are encouraged to participate in the education of their children and to be practically involved in smaller local fundraising events.

At the end of each term, a festival is offered to which all parents are invited.
The last morning of the term, all the classes share some of the work done during the term with all the students and parents.

McGregor Waldorf School

Whole Life Education Centre t/a

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