SCHOOL VISION
To create an environment in which our pupils can live their lives to the full, learn accountability, fulfil their potential, and reach their dreams.
Valley View Primary aspires in the service of God to:
Be a home of sound learning
Be a home of religious discipline – meaning fair and just parameters and consequences, tempered with compassion
Be a home of goodwill – involvement in charity, good works and service
Pupils leaving the School must be:
Rightly trained in body – sport and all aspects of healthy living must form part of the curriculum
Rightly trained in mind – apart from the academic, where creativity, enquiry, and self-learning is emphasized, pupils should be exposed to as many varied activities as possible which develop the mind and promote meaningful experience
Rightly trained in character – pupils must be extended continually and challenged to expand and grow, by a demanding , professional, and encouraging staff who have a passionate belief in the potential of every pupil
Rightly trained to serve God well – pupils must be equipped for a changing and ever more challenging world
Valley View Primary has been providing an excellent standard of education
We Offer A Values Based Education That Aims To Produce Children Who Can Think Critically And Succeed At What They Set Out To Do.
The school aims to offer protective factors that can build resilience and reduce vulnerability.
We offer children a sense of belonging, a positive school climate, opportunities for success and recognition of achievement, and a non-violent environment.
We offer academic and social bridging into the South African schooling system
Valley View Primary has a strong tradition of high-quality, value-based education in which learners have an opportunity to embrace the democratic values that underpin our curriculum. Through our innovative and explorative curriculum our learners have an opportunity to become critical thinkers who go on to make a difference in our young and developing country and in the world.
We are a school that values hard work, achievement, well-being and fostering strong partnerships with parents and careers to support our students to achieve their personal best
Valley View Primary has been providing an excellent standard of education. We offer offering children a sense of belonging, a positive school climate, opportunities for success and recognition of achievement, and a non-violent environment. We offer academic and social bridging into the South African schooling system
PREAMBLE
South Africa’s cultural diversity is a natural asset. The promotion of multilingualism, particularly the development of South Africa’s official languages is something which should be encouraged in schools. Before the birth of democracy indigenous languages had little status in the country and their growth was not encouraged by the government. Afrikaans and English took pride of place and most South Africans felt obliged to communicate in one of these. This discriminatory policy has affected the learners’ access to indigenous languages and has resulted in an adult population which is mostly unilingual. To redress this situation, it is imperative for learners to be given the opportunity and, importantly, to be encouraged to learn languages other than their own.
PRACTICABILITY
Studying in one’s home language is highly desirable. It is academically sound, and it gives learners the opportunity to connect with their roots and with their heritage. Unfortunately, with South Africa having eleven official languages, it is not possible for a school to offer learning and teaching in each of these and a compromise must be reached by all stake holders. The Education Department employs one teacher to 35 learners. This limits the number of subjects a school can offer. After ensuring that all compulsory subjects are covered, there are not enough teachers available to offer more than one or two additional languages. Thus encouraging multilingualism presents a problem. But, working within these limits, schools should do all it can to foster languages via activities such as cultural events and afternoon classes. Despite prolific international research there are still diverse views on the cognitive benefits of home language or multilingual schooling. Cost-effectiveness is another issue that needs to be addressed. The school must nevertheless, in the interests of national building, foster tolerance and respect for all languages.
THE RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF THE SCHOOL
In accordance with the South African Schools Act and the admissions policy of Valley View Primary School, the language of teaching and learning is English. The subject English is offered at Home Language Level. Valley View Primary School High School offers pupils both Afrikaans and isiZulu as second languages. Every effort is made to employ language teachers who have their teaching subject as a home language. Immigrant pupils are encouraged to study their own home language as an alternative to Afrikaans or isiZulu, if it is offered for examination by the Department of Education. These pupils attend lessons with private tutors who liaise regularly with the school. South Africans who speak one of the other official languages as a home language, may also take their home language as an additional language if they can arrange for a suitable teacher to prepare them. This language policy has been endorsed by all stakeholders, including the Governing Body. Eight periods are allocated to all languages in every 6-day cycle, Academic support, in all three languages, is given to any pupil who requires extra help and special enrichment classes are held to advance proficiency in the use of English. Although many of our learners have English as a second or even third language, they have in the past all passed English at home language level and many have attained great success in Public Speaking and Debating competitions against established and successful English speaking schools. All meetings in the school will be conducted in English. However, where a translator is required, the school and the parent can work together to arrange for the services of a translator. All verbal feedback to parents regarding their children’s progress will be conducted in English. All correspondence will be through the medium of English namely, school brochures, bulletins on bulletin boards, timetables, letters, newspaper articles (except when the other approved languages – isiZulu and Afrikaans are being taught).
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