The absolute highlight of the Grade 7 year was definitely the tour to Oudtshoorn and George. 

Two nights in Oudtshoorn with an itinerary jam packed with fun activities including the Cango Wildlife Ranch, neck massages at the Cango Ostrich Farm, feeding giraffes at Chandelier, elephant hugs at Bufflesdrift and climbing through the adventure tour in the Cango Caves. 

Then we bundled up the team and headed off for George for one night. The Outeniqua Powervan took us on a scenic tour along the Outeniqua pass, through 7 tunnels then on to a picnic spot overlooking George. The following morning the Grade 7s explored the Red Berry Strawberry Farm where they picked the most delicious strawberries to enjoy on the drive back to St Francis Bay. 

To celebrate the end of the exams and a full year of memories the Grade 6’s finalized their year with the most incredible 3 day tour to Plett.

The tour was jam packed with activities and memorable sightings.  The first day started off adventuring to Monkeyland to see the playful, cheeky monkeys swinging from the tree canopies.  We then entered into Birds of Eden which felt like you were walking through a secret, magical world surrounded by hundreds of beautifully coloured birds of all sizes.  The highlight of the first day was experiencing the wild cats and animals at the Jakani Wildlife Sanctuary.  For many of our learners this was the first time seeing lions, tigers and hyenas close up.  The guides in all three of the sanctuaries were really interesting and informative and we learnt a lot about all the animals and birds.

Our 2nd Day was definitely the more active day waking up early to complete a 2 ½ hour hike around Robberg Nature Reserve.  The views on this hike are literally mind-blowingly beautiful.   What was quite and eye opener was seeing all the sharks cruising in the water below us ……. I think the last count we did was 17 sharks counted!  From the hike we went back to our accommodation to spend some time cooling off in the pool.   Our final adventure of day 2 was the Puzzle Park were our brains and legs were put into gears trying to navigate successfully through the maze and trying to solve puzzles and brain riddles.

To end off tour, on the 3rd day the kids spent the morning at Adventureland slides which is always a highlight for the kids.  The kids spent the morning racing around and trying each and every slide multiple times. 

The tour was a huge success and one that will live strong in the children’s memory banks for many years to come.   A big thank you to all the teachers on tour for all their time and help.  These teachers include:  Mrs Anderson, Mrs Knezovich and Mrs Kaunda. 

Good luck Grade 6’s for your final year of primary school and being leaders of St Francis College in 2025.

Due to significant rainfall in the area the rivers in the Baviaanskloof were flooding. We were advised to postpone the camp as we would not be able to cross the low level bridge along the route. Unfortunately, more rain fell the following week so a new venue had to be arranged. After 12 years at the Boonzaier's farm, the grade 5 camp took place at Wacky Woods this year. It is a spacious venue with hiking trails and an amazing pool. The kids had a great time, despite a few thorns, scratches and sunburn. We will have to wait and see what next year holds for the grade 5 camp!

Grade 4s spent 2 weeks preparing for exams and then nearly 2 weeks writing exams. So, a wonderful camp together at Wacky Woods was exactly what we all needed to celebrate the end of a wonderful year together.

After setting up camp and losing a few precious lunch items to some cheeky monkeys, we all began the journey with Father Christmas to help him deliver his gifts to the children on time. Lots of trouble shooting and brain storming ensued. In between all the thinking sessions, lots of soccer was played and much swimming and fun was had. We also learnt that it takes more than a downpour to dampen our spirits and you can sleep well if you are exhausted even if everything is wet. What a lot of fun we all had! A huge thank you to teacher Alice and Miss Chloe Sharp for all the assistance.

On the 23rd of October we played soccer and netball against Rainbow Academy, at St Francis College. The U11 soccer boys won 2-1 and U13 boys won 4-0. The U11 netball girls won 10-2 and U13 girls lost 13-7. 

Staff vs grade 7 leavers sports matches took place in the last week of school. The staff won the soccer 5-2 and the netball 7-5.

The second part of the third term of 2024 passed us by like a hurricane. We participated in the benchmark assessments where the foundation phase did really well and achieved many platinum, gold and silver awards.

‘Our Friends’ camp held at the school was a marvelous success and enjoyed by everyone in Grade 1,2 and 3. 

We were also very excited to get our own sandpit in our playground and a blackboard where we can practice our letters and writing.  We finished off the term by having outings to Jeffreys Bay where we went to the Pottery and beach to have picnics.

What a busy term! The children were so excited for the campout and many of them had never spent a night away from their parents. They enjoyed the picnic at the river, the crafts, cooking their supper but best of all was sleeping in their tents with their friends! The whole event was fun-filled! 

The Grade 1s went on an outing to The Pottery Studio in Jeffreys Bay where they painted an item of their choice. Afterwards we had a walk to the beach where they played and had running races. The cherry on top was an ice-cream treat at the Spur. 

The children are now ready to move on to Grade 2. They spent a short time in the Grade 2 classroom to see how it feels and came back excited and confident about next year. 

We wish them all the best in Grade 2 and we are sure that all the hard work and effort that they put into their work in Grade 1, will pay off in Grade 2.

The Grade 2’s finished off their year by applying the skills which they had learnt in many different ways. We learnt about Christmas traditions in the different parts of the world, wrote stories on a Christmas theme and solved some of the problems which Santa could encounter. The children have grown tremendously over the past year and are very ready for Grade 3. I wish them all the best and thank my parents for all their support and help over the year, especially my class mom Daniela Reynolds who handled the admin very easily and efficiently. 

The Grade 3’s took some huge academic leaps in all learning areas this term…

We began applying the phonetic rules that they had been learning all year to spell multi-syllabic words containing Greek, Latin and French root words. We also stepped up our creative writing skills a notch in order to create some Christmas poetry containing the most beautiful imagery and some adventurous adjectives. 

In Life Skills, the children were fascinated by two themes that were covered in particular: Natural Disasters and Space;  where they got to watch YouTube clips and to read and discuss articles in groups. Numeracy lessons saw an acceleration into a more abstract and procedural approach to problem solving, with loads of discussions on different strategies that could be applied to solve the same number problem. In Afrikaans, we began to write sentences and to apply all the sound combinations we have learnt over the year.

Our outing this term was to “The Pottery” and the Dolphin Beach water park in Jeffreys bay. The Grade 3’s were well-behaved and they made me incredibly proud. As I watched them sliding down the supertube and entering the water, I marveled at how different the boys and girls approach to the supertubes is - the majority of the girls entering the water in a graceful manner, and ALL the boys ending up in an untidy jumble and tumble of hands, feet and heads with the biggest splashes! 

I wish my Grade 3’s all the best as they move into the next phase of their schooling.

St Francis College ECD – What an Amazing Year!

As 2024 draws to a close, we look back on a year filled with joy, discovery, and endless smiles. Our little learners have had a truly magical term filled with play, creativity, and unforgettable moments.

One of our greatest highlights was diving into the world of sensory play, where tiny hands explored squishy textures, vibrant colors, and exciting smells. From painting rainbows with their fingers to making bubbly foam and glittery slime, the children didn’t just play—they learned about the world through their senses. These experiences sparked curiosity, built confidence, and brought countless giggles to our classrooms!

Another proud moment was our “In the Garden” concert, where our budding performers stole the show. Each child took to the stage with bright smiles and hearts full of excitement and their costumes were as charming as their performances! The parents cheered with pride, and the applause was louder than ever before.

And let’s not forget the magical way we wrapped up the year—our Christmas Party! The children were delighted to welcome a very special visitor—Santa himself! With a hearty laugh and a sack full of gifts, he made sure every little one felt the joy of the season. The room was filled with laughter, music, and the sparkle of festive decorations as we celebrated together as a school family.

As we wave goodbye to a spectacular 2024, we’re already brimming with excitement for 2025. We can’t wait for another year filled with laughter, friendship, and new adventures. Thank you to all our parents for your unwavering support, and to our little ones for filling our days with wonder and joy.

Here’s to another fabulous year ahead—full of learning, growing, and making memories to cherish forever!

Warm wishes,
The St Francis College ECD Team

This term has been one of the quickest, probably due to the fact that we’ve been working so hard on several things. 

The biggest excitement was the Ragdolls’ Magical Christmas concert, performed by the Grade 0 – 3 classes.  It was such a magical performance.  All the children on stage were just phenomenal.  They worked extremely hard and their perseverance paid off.  Well done to all the students.

Piano:

Erin Hurley, Alex Hanekom, Emily Colebank, Alexandria Torode, Taya Watson (distinction), Madison Klinkert

Vocals:

Ivy Anderson, Indiah van der Zwan, Cora Brown, Blake Sanders, Olivia Liebenberg, Zoe Harding, Summer Harding

The ECD has also been hard at work, practicing for their “ In the Garden” concert. 

Several children took part in singing Christmas Carols at Onse Tuiste on 23 November.  This event it always a highlight for the Older generation who enjoys listening to Christmas favourites.

Have a wonderful holiday and a great festive season!

Natasha Brown