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21 November 2016
Dear existing parents, new parents, staff and prospective parents
Pre-Primary developments
What an amazing Pre- Primary open day we had last Thursday! The School Board and executive had the pleasure of showing a steady stream of parents around the new premises and Marius blew us away with what his team had produced. Now we all have an idea regarding the model for the next three classrooms.
However, there are a number of frequently asked questions, which emanated from the open day, relating to the new Pre-School development and aftercare. The purpose of this letter is to provide some of the answers to these questions. These questions are mostly of a practical nature and pertain to the operational matters surrounding the opening of the new Pre-School building.
Firstly, I wish to place on record my sincere thanks to the building team for the sterling job that they are doing in creating a “gold card” facility for ESCS. In particular I wish to acknowledge:
· Marius van den Berg, our project manager, who has co–ordinated the various trades as they have moved on and off site. He is the true hero of the day.
· Susan Bohler, James Turner and Bruce McCallum who have handled the accounting and fundraising side.
· Glynne Rosselli and Therese Videler who have focused on the marketing.
· Paul Harris who has been the key man in the dealings with the City of Cape Town planning division – he has many stories to tell!
· The décor team who have done so much to make the facility something special.
· The school executive and PP ladies who have had to put in many hours to clarify what they would like in the new facility.
The second part of the letter is in the form of me asking common questions and then trying to answer them.
Q The classrooms are wonderfully spacious but does that mean that the Pre-School will be increasing the numbers in each classroom?
A Each classroom will remain at ± 20 pupils; there is no vision to increase the number to 25, 30 or 40!
Q I see that there is scope for more classrooms to be added. What will the final number look like when all the proposed buildings have been completed?
A Two more classrooms will be added in the future. This will result in the facility taking a maximum of 120 pupils. At the moment our current facility caters for 80 pupils [4 classes x 20 pupils = 80 pupils]. A dedicated, multipurpose hall with music classrooms, therapy rooms, and arts & crafts rooms is also planned for the future.
Q Security? What are the short-term plans for this facility, which will be in place once we move across?
A There will be only one access point for parents, which is the main front door facing the canal. Access will be by means of a swipe tag for staff or buzzer for parents. Staff will be on duty as from 7:00 to receive your child and to hand them over at the end of the day [13:00 or 14:25 if they are in the limited aftercare which we will continue to offer in 2017].
The area will be fenced. This will be one of the last items to be completed before we move in because we presently have a digger-loader on site, which needs daily access [i.e. it is still a construction site].
There will not be an easy access route from the existing school as the Pre-School cannot have gates to the main school which are left opened. This poses a security risk. Therefore parents will have to walk or drive around if they need to collect children from both campuses. Staff will be able to access the planned gates to the main campus by means of a key.
An ADT linked burglar alarm system will be installed.
Q Playground equipment?
A In the short term, under supervision of the PP staff, the double gates to the existing playground will be opened at select times so that the children can access the existing equipment. As and when funds are released, the vision is for the PP building to have its own dedicated equipment behind classroom 4.
The artificial grassed quadrangle, adjacent to the classrooms, will be one of our first priorities when it comes to equipping, as and when finance becomes available. This quadrangle will have the following: cycle track, trees, benches, drinking fountain and a colourful jungle gym at one end.
Q Parking? Drop and go?
A Whilst we would love to have completed the parking as part of phase one, this is unfortunately not possible, as we just do not have the finance to do that. This would have added R1 million to the bill as CCT have insisted we use permeable pavers coupled with underground water drainage systems, which will capture the water as it filters downwards. Hard surfaces are no longer allowed. This has thus become a very pricey project, which has had to be shelved for now. It is nevertheless an urgent priority once funds become available.
For the summer months one can easily approach the front door via a rough dirt track but in winter this would not be advisable – I would rather park in the road and walk the 20 or so meters to the paved entrance. This approach will not be muddy as it is constructed of sub-base material.
The winter months may be more challenging until the car park is built. Unless one wants to have a 4x4 experience, I would park in the road and dash up the temporary road made of sub-base.
Q Will the Pre-Primary children be using any of the facilities of the existing campus?
A Some of the specialist facilities will continue to be used such as the hall and music rooms. A teacher will accompany pupils when this happens when they walk from one campus to the other. To this end, a pathway needs to be constructed in due course.
Q When will we be moving in?
A Much construction and finishing needs to be done before this long awaited day arrives. My best guess is sometime in March 2017. [This has knock on effects upon aftercare.]
Q What changes will take place when my child moves in?
A Pre-School day will end at 13:00 to facilitate parents who have to collect children on both campuses.
In summer you are welcome to use the temporary dirt car park adjacent to the front door.
In winter I suggest you park in the road and walk to the front door.
One of the teachers will be on duty from 7:00 to welcome your children at the front door.
In-school aftercare will continue as per normal till 14:25 on both campuses.
Q What will not be in place on day one in March?
A * Artificial grass covering of the quad [priority one].
* Walkway from the school to the PP building [priority two].
* Dedicated jungle gyms for PP.
* Parking area for PP.
* Reception.
* The landscaping of the ring fenced PP area.
Q Aftercare 14:30-18:00
A Due to the delay in getting plan approval for the City of Cape Town [> 8months], this urgent necessity has had serious knock on effects. We won’t be moving into the new building before March 2017. Only then will we have space [Shirley’s classroom] to allocate to aftercare. Shirley’s classroom in turn needs to be converted and equipped to cater for aftercare, which again is a time consuming process. Once the timeline is clearer, after the PP have moved, I would be in a position to say when this long awaited facility will become available. So for the time being the status quo remains namely that we only offer after-care till 14:25.
Finally, there are probably a thousand other questions, which I have not addressed. Please feel free to email anyone on the executive if you have a question and we will willingly try and provide answers. Like any new venture, we certainly do not have the answers to all the questions but we are looking forward to embracing the challenges.
It is a rare privilege to be either a Pre-School parent in 2017 or a staff member who has the thrill of being part of pioneering a new chapter in the life of the school. These are indeed memory making years and you are part of them!
Kind regards and blessings
Erith and the executive