New Teacher Assistant - Valney Smith

We are delighted that Valney Smith has joined the Pikkewyntjies staff.

She will be Teacher Assistant to Zaan who teaches the senior class, preparing them for school.

Genevieve who was Zaan’s assistant, completed her Level 4 Diploma last year through Boland College and is now teaching the junior class of 2 - 4-year-olds. Christen has left Pikkewyntjies to pursue new interests. We shall miss her smiles and we thank her for her years of service to the children.

The 2-year olds are very small and uncertain and - vulnerable when they arrive at school, with a few exceptions, of course. It takes care and attention to nurture their confidence and they are fortunate to have Genevieve to build their confidence in their own ability to do what is required of them and to teach them not to feel less if some of their classmates are able to work more quickly than they do.

They also have to be eased into the routine which includes, besides regular times for visits to the toilets, regular hand washing and teeth brushing after meals. Some of the hygiene is new to the children who have to be shown how to do this and told why it’s necessary. (Each child has a toothbrush, sponsored by a retired dentist in our community.)

The one thing they all know how to do without encouragement is how to eat heartily at mealtimes.

We are delighted to have Valney on board and count ourselves lucky to have her.