No tears as Penryn’s jubilant Grade Ones begin their education

Penryn’s Grade One pupils arrived for their first day of school on Wednesday January 11, full of laughter and nervous excitement.

A jubilant atmosphere filled the John Lees Foundation Phase Building as the little ones waved goodbye to their parents.

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The school’s marketing manager, Liesl Scheepers, outlined an exciting new addition to the Grade One curriculum.

“For the first time, our Grade Ones will be joining the rest of the school in project-based learning. Every grade at Penryn chooses a special project such as sustainability or human rights, and this year, the Grade Ones will be focusing on the natural environment.

“We teach our learners real-life 21st century skills according to the 4 Cs: creativity, collaboration, critical thinking and communication,” she said.

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The foundation phase’s head of department, Jenny Gibb, added that the newbies will also be engaging in indigenous literacy. “Penryn’s theme this year is ‘Believe, Belong, Become’. We are instilling the attitude that children must believe in whatever they set out to do,” she said.

Headmaster Albert Pienaar welcomed the new intake, saying, “We have 40 new Grade Ones this year and we wish each and every one a happy and fulfilling time at the school. We look forward to seeing them flourish and grow.”

No kids were seen crying on their first day at big school, and only one mum was spotted shedding a tear as she waved goodbye to her daughter.