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AcademicsAcademicsOur outstanding, committed teachers ensure that we have a strong and relevant academic focus throughout the Junior Prep. Class teaching predominates, with specialist teachers for Afrikaans, isiZulu, Art, Music and Physical Education. -
SportSportA wide range of sporting activities is on offer at Dainfern College. We believe a focus on sport helps our pupils to develop healthy and active lifestyles, and enables us to build our teams and our reputation. For Grades 0-2 these activities are included in the school day. -
CultureCultureCultural opportunities provide skills for life and an enriched educational experience. Pupils can choose from a variety of music ensembles and private lessons as well as drama, chess and art. Many of these activities are included in the integrated day for Grades 0-2. -
LeadershipLeadershipOur mission is to ‘nurture creative thinkers with the confidence to become leaders’. We intentionally encourage our pupils to develop responsibility and confidence through taking lead roles in group work and sports and cultural activities. -
ServiceServiceCommunity service is strongly encouraged at Dainfern College. In the Junior Prep we concentrate our efforts on supporting our outreach partner schools as well as Meals on Wheels. We also work on smaller projects such as the popular CANSA Shavathon and Mandela Day.
WELCOME TO THE JUNIOR PREP
“All the world is a laboratory to the inquiring mind.” Martin H Fischer
Dainfern College Junior Preparatory is an energised, lively, carefully structured and engaging environment where children from Grade 0 to Grade 3 are encouraged to be curious, creative and collaborative within a warm and nurturing community of inspiring and dedicated teachers.
We believe that the foundations of learning, values, character and relationships are laid in childhood and so we nurture the future citizens of our school, our society and our world within an ethos that is intentionally inclusive, respectful of others, and simultaneously diverse, valuing difference and filled with opportunities to grow and learn in every respect.
Our school is a vibrant place where children explore and learn to develop their individual strengths within an ethos that values and creates opportunities for active participation in academics, sport, culture, leadership and service. Our youngest students experience and develop a love for, and appreciation of these areas, as well as a capacity to further grow and develop in each of them.
Recognising that play is an essential component of childhood, we work within a playful context that motivates and engages our children, giving them a voice and developing their confidence.
We strive for excellence in all areas, understanding that learning involves challenges that develop determination, perseverance, independent thought and resilience. Each year our students are exposed to new and exciting challenges.
The Junior Prep at Dainfern College is a busy, lively, exceptionally happy place!
“Around here we don’t look backwards for very long… we keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things because we’re curious… and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.” Walt Disney
OUR OFFER
Our holistic approach to education creates opportunities for active participation in all spheres of school life.
STUDENT WELLBEING
We strongly believe that children need love and understanding in order to learn and we pride ourselves on the extensive academic and emotional support structures we have in place throughout the College in order to ensure the well-being of our students. Our teachers strive to show kindness to and understanding of each child and the experiences they have had so that our students are happy, engaged, productive and recognised.
In the Junior Preparatory the class teacher is responsible for the pastoral care of students. We also have a school counsellor and educational psychologist who work with children needing emotional support. A team of academic support staff work closely with class teachers to ensure that students are assisted wherever necessary.
INTEGRATED DAY
We run an integrated day in Grades 0, 1 and 2 where cultural and sporting extramural activities are incorporated into the school day. This allows students to participate in a single programme designed to provide a strong foundation of physical, social, cultural and academic opportunities. These rich and varied experiences and exposures ensure sound, holistic development and growth within an extended school day and give students the opportunity to experience a wide range of different activities.
From Grade 3, the extramural programme runs after the academic day has ended and students may choose to participate in sports and culture activities that interest them.
FLEXIBLE CLASSROOMS
Recognising that the traditional classroom space does not match the high-tech, colourful, digital, connected, social world that today’s pupils inhabit, our Prep School classrooms have undergone a complete revamp in the last year. They are now welcoming colourful and innovative spaces where students can choose from a variety of seating and desk options.
These new learning spaces immediately sparked interest and engagement in our students. Our teachers have found it easier to connect with students, group work (a core 21 st Century skill) is much easier and students are able to concentrate for longer periods as they do not stay in the same position and space for hours on end.
EXTENSION & SUPPORT
Our collaborative academic staff offer enrichment to all students in Grades 1 to 3 in partnership with the class teachers. They work in the classroom with small groups of children and provide valuable support to the class teachers.
Academic support is offered to students in Grades 0 to 3 by external therapists who work in our Junior Prep Enrichment Centre. A remedial therapist, a speech therapist and an occupational therapist comprise the academic support team. The cost of these additional therapies is for the parents’ account and paid directly to the therapist.
HOUSES
The three Houses at Dainfern College are Griffin (Yellow), Kraken (Blue) and Phoenix (Red). Students are all allocated to Houses once they reach Grade 1 and siblings are always placed in the same House.
In the Junior Prep annual interHouse events such as the InterHouse Gala and InterHouse Athletics enable students to experience being part of a team and they develop a sense of loyalty and camaraderie as they work together towards a common goal in a spirit of friendly competition.
