Teaching Resources
The Year Programme
43 themed weeks across the four school terms. Today falls in Week 25 — Small Creatures - Insects and Bugs. Every week gives you the ring time, the words, one activity per learning area, a story, a song, an outdoor game, what to watch for, and a message to send parents.
SELECTED WEEK
Goodbye and Moving Up
7 Dec – 11 Dec 2026
Week 43
Proper goodbyes close the year safely - celebration of growth, Grade R transition, and holiday safety sealed in.
Well-being
Worry-and-wonder circle about next year: children voice big-school worries; if possible a Grade 1 sibling visits to answer their questions.
Identity & Belonging
Memory books go home: the year's artwork bound together with a 'then and now' self-portrait cover - proof of a year of growing.
Communication
Concert day: children perform their items and speaking parts for families; the Grade Rs give the thank-you speeches.
Exploring Mathematics
Purposeful pack-away: count and sort all class equipment into labelled boxes for storage - real counting with a real job.
Creativity
Friendship hand-wreath: every child's traced hand signed by friends, with a teacher blessing note for each child tucked in.
Physical & the World
Sports-and-games morning with families: sack races, three-legged races, egg-and-spoon, and a giant tug-of-war.
⏰ Morning ring
- Our year memory lane: look back at photos and artwork
- Moving up: who goes to big school, who moves classes
- We say our goodbyes properly - goodbyes matter
- Holiday safety reminders: water, roads, and staying with your grown-up
📖 Story
Original: 'The Little Tree Moves to the Big Forest' - a seedling nervous about being transplanted finds sun, friends and room to grow tall. A farewell metaphor told softly to the Grade Rs.
🎵 Song
Original farewell to the traditional 'Goodnight Ladies' tune - first line: 'Goodbye, my friends, goodbye' - then 'Siyahamba' as the walking-out song.
🏃 Outdoor
Graduation walk: the Grade Rs walk through an arch of the younger children's raised arms to cheers, then a whole-school ring dance finale.
💬 Words this week
goodbye thank you remember grow big school next year proud holiday
sala kahle (isiZulu - stay well)
hamba kahle (isiZulu - go well)
salani kahle (siSwati - stay well)
famba kahle (Xitsonga - go well)
👁 Watch and record
Close off final assessments; write a short transition note for each Grade R child to send with parents to the primary school; complete year-end reports.
🎓 Grade R stretch
Graduation certificates read aloud; each graduate says one sentence - 'At big school I will...' - and writes 'Goodbye' on the class farewell banner.
📱 Message home to parents
School closes Wednesday 9 December. Thank you for a wonderful year! Holiday rules: never alone near water, hold hands near roads. We will confirm the January reopening date. Happy holidays!
The whole year
14 January - 27 March 2026 (11 weeks, 53 school days; unified national calendar - no separate inland/coastal clusters in 2026)
Myself and My World: settling in, separation security, my body, senses, family and home. Colours red/blue/yellow/green, shapes circle/square/triangle, numbers 1-5.
8 April - 26 June 2026 (12 weeks, 54 school days; public holidays: Freedom Day Mon 27 Apr, Workers' Day Fri 1 May, special holiday Mon 15 Jun, Youth Day Tue 16 Jun)
My Community and the Working World: the people, places, helpers and transport around us, farm life, and winter. Numbers to 10, shape consolidation, positional language.
21 July - 23 September 2026 (10 weeks, 46 school days; National Women's Day observed Mon 10 Aug; Heritage Day 24 Sep falls in the holiday)
The Natural World and Our Heritage: wild animals, small creatures, water, plants, spring, birds, and Heritage Month. Numbers to 10 and beyond, patterns, measurement.
6 October - 9 December 2026 (10 weeks, 47 school days; learners close 9 Dec, educators 11 Dec)
The Wider World, Big Dreams and Celebration: life cycles, storms, sky, sea, money, aspirations, summer safety and the year-end concert. School readiness consolidation for Grade R.
