A Very Special Event
International Downs Syndrome Day
On International Downs Syndrome Day and our fantastic staff wore colourful socks in solidarity. Sujeet Desai, the first musician with Down syndrome to play at Carnegie Hall inspirationally stated that “Each impossible mission can be made possible if you put your mind to it and work hard without giving up.”. Our greatest respect is due to the brave and brilliant down syndrome students at Alta du Toit School. We can, just like Karen Gaffney Speaker and Advocate for People with Disabilities, agree “I have one chromosome more than you. So what?”
School news
Star Teacher
Farewell Mister de Villiers
It is with great sadness that we have to say goodbye to an extraordinary teacher this month. Mister Pierre De Villiers has made a major impact in the lives of his learners and colleagues from the very first moment he arrived at Alta du Toit School in 2020. He is known for his optimistic, creative and caring nature and will leave a big hole in our hearts. He also made groundbreaking changes in our school by writing our value song and revising our school anthem. We would like to thank you for your excellent service, and we wish you well for the future ahead. Mister De Villiers is embarking on an exciting journey to Dubai where he will be teaching Grade 5 learners at Nibras International School.
Market Day Preparations
Our Market Day affords learners the wonderful opportunity to gain new skills in producing and packaging products. Teacher Heinen differentiates activities to ensure that every learner gets the opportunity to achieve success!
Foundation Phase Pajama Party
After a long term of hard work the Foundation Phase took the opportunity to reward the learners with a pajama party for their great efforts! They are so deserving!
“We didn’t realize we were making MEMORIES, we just knew we were having FUN!”
Athletics Day
The annual *WCSA II Athletics Day* was hosted by Bernadino Heights High School today. Our learners participated with great enthusiasm and stamina! Saskia Pearsons and Christo Mashiya both came second in their 800m categories while Jermain Tee came third in the 100m sprint!
“To give any less that your BEST is to sacrifice a GIFT.” – Steve Prefontaine
Celebrating Global Running Day
This day is aimed at making fitness fun and embracing running as a way to remain physically and mentally fit!
Sports Tuesday
“To uncover your true potential you must first find your own limits and then you have to have the courage to blow past them.” – Picabo Street.
Uncovering potential and exceeding expectations is just another Tuesday for Alta du Toit students as they participate in various sports activities.
Thank You To All the Mums
“To the world you are a mother,to our family you are the world”, Alta du Toit Students work hard on making the most beautiful mother’s day cards.
Alta du Toit Students Are Truly the Best!
Our teacher Marleze received a beautiful kaftan from her learner Josua George! We can all remember that “You will never regret being kind….” And every teacher knows the wealth of emotion and joy recognition from our students bring.
Play a lot at Playalot
Die Grondslagfase is op die 14de Maart @playalotza toe vir ñ laaste bietjie avontuur voor die vakansie! Daar was allerande aktiwiteite om van te kies, onder andere: hindernisbane, glyplanke, klinrame en films. Leerders het die geleentheid terdee geniet!
Wearing Love Like a Crown
Cultural events at Alta du Toit School are supported and celebrated with care. Valentines’ day was no exception. Teacher Delanie Geldenhuys’s class made Valentine’s Day hats and all the learners were dressed in red! Teacher Geldenhuys and her students truly had a fun day to celebrate love!
Valentines Feast Prepared by Our Very Special Hostel Students
Not only were our hearts filled with love on valentines day but so were our bellies! We are so thankful for our wonderful hostel students for preparing a feast to remember!
Teacher Marleze’s Classroom
Teacher Marleze welcomed 14 new learners to her class and each one will get a special place on the classroom tree. We are so excited to see the wonderful skills our students will learn with the compassion and passion of our fabulous teachers!
Support from Spar
No school can function to its full potential without the help and support of the role players in its community. Haasendal Spar has proven this to be true on numerous occasions. André and his team have shown immeasurable support, compassion and humility to Alta du Toit School. Thank you, André, for the Boerewors rolls, cool drinks, ice cream, your love for our children and your willingness to make the time for our children at the school extra special. We are truly thankful to you and the Spar team and we sincerely hope to walk hand-in-hand with you for the foreseeable future.
Middle Phase Year End
The Middle Phase held their fun day for the learners on Thursday, 2 December. The rainy weather did not stop the learners from having the most fun possible! Thank you to Rumble Grumble for the amazing Jumping castles and waterslides!
School Fitness Challenge
The School Fitness Challenge is about encouraging Alta du Toit’s colleagues to move their bodies everyday and in turn, it promotes a healthy lifestyle. It is a positive initiative that brings everyone together and also allows for some healthy competition in the workplace. The exciting part about this challenge is that every step counts…literally, the person who has the most steps by the end of the challenge will get bragging rights and amazing prizes!
Market Day
“Candy is childhood, the best and bright moments you wish could have lasted forever!” – Dylen Lauren –
Two Oceans Aquarium
Our Foundation Phase learners went on an excursion to the Aquarium yesterday! They learnt about recycling and the life cycle of a jellyfish!
Walk Against Child Abuse
Junior Campus and Alta du Toit School held a walk against child abuse this morning! All funds are going towards transport and hostel improvements for Alta du Toit’s learners!
This day is aimed at making fitness fun and embracing running as a way to remain physically and mentally fit!
How Will We Carry Our Treats?
We made clay baskets for easter! What a mess but oh so much fun!! Look how beautiful Tyrique Galant’s basket looks.
Easter Time Fun
Oh, what a lovely Easter egg hunt at Alta du Toit School. Student Taiyo came to teacher Marleze and eagerly informed her that he had the most delicious chocolate ever!
Rain Rain Go Away
When the rain stops, we play in the puddles! Our students enjoyed the crisp fresh air and got some muscles moving!
Love Is Meant to Be Shared
Our calling at Alta du Toit School is to prepare learners for their life’s journey taking individual challenges into account and none of this is possible without love. Teacher Delanie Geldenhuys and her students are beautiful examples of living – and loving – the core principle of Alta du Toit school, making valentines day cards to share with loved ones.
Ons Hou Die Kinders Gelukkig
Op valenteinsdag het Juffrou Marleze se leerders ‘n heerlike sjokade cupcake met hartjie versierings gekry van tannie Nadene Pestana! Juffrou Marleze het niks gekry nie.
Like a Fish In Water
Look at the fantastic theme Mr Duvall vd Vijver made for his classroom. We are truly blessed to have such fantastic teachers!
Prize Giving
Alta du Toit School acknowledges our children for the tremendous perseverance that they have shown in a tumultuous 2021. Every child received a certificate for the seven good values that they have demonstrated throughout the year. These values are an integral part of our school and we are proud of our children who exhibit these values in school and at home.
Christmas Came Early!
Net voor die skool sluit vir die vakansie het ‘n engel Juffrou Marleze se klas bederf met die heerlikste geskenkpakkies met die mooiste geskenkies en heerlikste eetgoed! Baie,baie dankie tannie Elsa Luiz vir wonderlike omgee hart!
Movember
Supporting the Movember Foundation is just one of many initiatives taken by Alta du Toit School. Mr. Heiné Muller suggested that the men of the school grow their moustaches to raise awareness for men’s health issues such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer and men’s suicide. Congratulations to Mr. Ashley Haywood for his impressive and curly moustache and for his commitment to this cause.
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Throwback Thursday
Last week our learners were crafting all kinds of surprises for their father figures! They were so excited to show them their appreciation and love! We want to send out a big thank you to all our fathers, uncles and granddads for all their efforts in shaping the future!
“My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person; he believed in me.” – Jim Valvano –
Presidential Youth Employment
Alta du Toit School is privileged and proud to be part of the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative (PYEI) since its inception in 2020. The PYEI addresses the concerning issue of unemployment amongst the youth in South Africa. The Education & General School Assistants pictured below forms part of Phase III of this initiative. They assist in supporting our special learners in and outside the classroom and ensure a clean and safe school environment and infrastructure. We thank each of you!
Caring For the Environment Beyond The Classroom
Teaching our students about recycling extends far beyond the classroom. Our students are shown how to separate plastics by flatting plastic bottles and removing the bottle tops. The bottle tops and cleaned and upcycled to be used as ‘currency’
Student-Centered Learning
“If a child cant learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach the way they learn”. These words by Ignacio Estrada inform how Alta du Toit School supports our students.
Adapting the way we teach gives us far better results than trying to continue doing work that will not assist in the way the students learn
Not All Heroes Wear Capes
Not all heroes wear capes. Although Junaid Letoli is in a wheelchair student Keanan Schoeman and teacher Duvall van der Vijver kindly provided a change of scenery or rather seat-ery for Junaid.
Gaining Independence One Step at a Time!
Look at our learners making their own sandwiches and chocolate milk! What an achievement for them! You can see how proud they are of doing something for themselves-becoming independent one small step at a time…
Ons Maak Tuin
𝗔𝗻 𝘂𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻 … Oom Koopman en sy spannetjie het hierdie maand spinasie, mielies, avokado, kool, groenpepers rape en spruituie by die groentetuin gevoeg!
Learning With Lego
Adam Savage once said that he learned at a young age that what he could make with LEGOs was limitless. Not only was that a powerful lesson for Savage, but it will be for our students as they got their creative juices flowing during constructive play. Our learners were given individual lego boxes and they had to build whatever they wanted to!
Camphill Village Soccer Match
As with so many things in the last 18 months almost 2 years Covid-19 has brought on significant changes in what the learners at Alta du Toit had to acclimatize to. Part of this was initially limited sporting practice opportunities and ofcourse no league matches with schools in our region. The learners truly love the game of football and when an opportunity arises we do all we can to make it realize within the safety constraints that we all still living under. The event was set up by James from Camphill Village whilst the staff visited Alta du Toit on a site visit. Everyone at Camphill Village put in a great effort in making the day an enjoyable experience and the learners of Alta du Toit represented the school well and came out victorious in the match. The Principal, Psychologist, many of the therapists as well as a teacher were taken on a tour of the Camphill Village site after supporting the learners of Alta du Toit. We hope that this first match with Camphill Village will be one of many.
Integrating Technology in The Classroom
No one can deny the plenty fold of opportunities technology has allowed in the classroom. Tablets ensure exposure to technology. It enables learners to function in a technologically driven workplace. Tablets provide learners with multiple opportunities to succeed. It helps in capturing concepts. Tablets pique learners’ interest and form part of their hobbies, and therefore retains their attention. Furthermore, tablets benefit our learners as it accommodates kinesthetic, visual and auditory learning styles. At Alta du Toit, our students are keen visual learners.
Tablet time is currently the highlight of the week for our learners and therefore reward and encourage our learners! The older learners who are a little more proficient are trained in the more technical aspects of the tablets are taught how to care for the tablets, load them correctly and sanitize the tablets when they are finished using a class.
With continued support, Alta du Toit School can extend and integrate the use of tablets in our learning environment. See how you can help
#IAMABLE Fun Run
To create awareness and raise funds to empower differently-abled individuals, Alta du Toit organised a fantastic virtual and in-person Fun Run in partnership with Job-Able and Accountability. The funds raised through this event will aid with transporting students to the school, getting students work-ready and most importantly, connecting them to appropriate job opportunities.
Star Learner of the Month
Seanette Visser always sets an excellent example of a good citizen at Alta Du Toit School. She exhibits qualities such as obeying rules, helping others and taking responsibility for her own actions. Her inner motivation, self discipline and agreeable temperament is praiseworthy! Keep up the good work Sannet! We are cheering for you!
Healthy Bodies – Healthy Minds
Alta du Toit School provides a supportive and enriching environment where each learner’s potential is developed, and the growth of each student is encouraged through the wonders of sports activities. Our athletics day in February proved to be another great success!
It Is More Than Just Valentines
Valentine’s Day gave us the wonderful chance to exhibit our learners’ crafting skills and share some affirmative love… As a class we took the opportunity to create a deeper transcendental message to Alta du Toit’s learners. We used our swan theme to emphasize the significance and beauty of their existence, their golden worth. Highlighting the fact that they were put on earth for a special purpose.
Pink represented our motherly love towards them. As teachers we will keep our little chicks safe under our wings whilst equipping them to gain independence to fly into the unknown world. The mural furthermore accentuates each learner’s rebirth at Alta du Toit. When we look back at each learner’s journey, we can see how far they have come. We are so proud of every milestone and personal breakthrough! We are seeing our learners transform into confident, creative individuals before our very eyes. Go for Gold Alta Learners! We believe in you and always remember you’re “swan” of a kind.
All our love – Teacher Marika, Aunty Tokozani and Aunty BarbaraValentine’s Day gave us the wonderful chance to exhibit our learners’ crafting skills and share some affirmative love… As a class we took the opportunity to create a deeper transcendental message to Alta du Toit’s learners. We used our swan theme to emphasize the significance and beauty of their existence, their golden worth. Highlighting the fact that they were put on earth for a special purpose.
Pink represented our motherly love towards them. As teachers we will keep our little chicks safe under our wings whilst equipping them to gain independence to fly into the unknown world. The mural furthermore accentuates each learner’s rebirth at Alta du Toit. When we look back at each learner’s journey, we can see how far they have come. We are so proud of every milestone and personal breakthrough! We are seeing our learners transform into confident, creative individuals before our very eyes. Go for Gold Alta Learners! We believe in you and always remember you’re “swan” of a kind.
All our love – Teacher Marika, Aunty Tokozani and Aunty Barbara
Having a Ball of a Time!
Every Tuesday all learners participate in skill appropriate sport. Our Ball Skills group for the Intermediate Phase is working very hard to develop hand-eye and hand-foot coordination.
Ons Maak Tuin
Het jy geweet? Alta du Toit Skool se leerder kry nou die geleentheid om spelenderwys tuinmaak vaardighede aan te leer. Ons groente tuin word deur Mnr Koopman se bekwame groen vingers instand gehou. So kweek ons van jongs af in leerders ñ waardering vir die natuur en die bewaring daarvan! Hartlik dankie aan McDonald’s wat hierdie droom vir ons as skool verwesenlik het!
Alta du Toit School Clean up Adventures
Once again, Alta du Toit students lead by example with the weekly clean up of the school and surrounding area’s. Special thanks to the following students; Ruan Ollewagen, Inako Vapi, Ronaldo Fortuin, Ronaldino Verwey and Lyle Dirks
The South African Lipizzaners
Die Mistico Equestrian Centre het Alta du Toit Skool se koshuis leerders uitgenooi om 'n
vertoning in een van hul skure te besigtig. Tydens hierdie spesiale vertoning het die lipizzaner-
perde grasieuse bewegings en toertjies op die maat van bekende Disney musieksnitte
uitgevoer. Leerders is verder bederf met roomys, hotdogs en sap. Die gehoor het na die tyd die
geleentheid gehad om interaksies met die perde te hê en hul persoonlik te ontmoet. Dit was
voorwaar 'n opwindende belewenis vir die leerders gewees!
Breakthroughs at the National SAOU Symposium
Alta du Toit School principal Marius Erasmus and one of the school’s partners, Peter Present, are presenting the PACE (electronic assessment system for SID schools) and JobAbled platform as invited guests of the SAOU on 28 October 2021 and 2 November 2021. JobAbled proud itself in connecting people with disabilities to job opportunities. Mrs Pholda Abrahams and all teachers play an integral role in the success of the PACE system. Mr Erasmus, Laura Radloff and staff in the Vocational Phase of the JobAbled initiative job Shadowing section, are honoured to present in this year’s national symposium.
The Imbhewu Marimba Band
The Imbhewu marimba band is the result of the collaborative efforts driven by the passion and ambitions of Ray Mbatsane and Alta Du Toit School. Imbhewu, meaning “seed”, speaks volumes about the nature of this ensemble. For the individuals involved in the marimba program, it has presented life-changing opportunities for growth and sustainability and with continuous nurture and support, this seed may grow to reach great lengths. The objectives of the marimba band are clear. Disability is often ostracised by society, but the marimba band strived to integrate the children with society, through the skills that they would obtain through the band and its practices and disciplines. The skills stretch far beyond basic music literacy. The band provides the children with a sense of purpose, responsibility and independency.
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– Kathy Calvin.
Alta Du Toit School
🗭 – Email I admin@altadutoit.co.za
☏ – Phone I 021 903 4178
🖷 – Fax I 021 903 6021
⚐ – Mail I Private Bag X10, Kuils River
߉ – Location I Piet Fransman street, Kuilsriver
Alta Du Toit Fundraising Office
🗭 – Email I manager.development@altadutoit.com
☏ – Phone I 021 903 7744 / 084 520 5013
⚐ – Mail I PO Box 170, Kuilsriver, 7579
߉ – Location I Piet Fransman street, Kuils River