Red buses that take you on an adventure
The children of Auckland Park-based Mimosa School hopped on a bus and took a fun adventure through Johannesburg.
It was a whole new world for the little ones of Mimosa School recently, as the entire school ventured beyond the classroom and onto the bold streets of Johannesburg aboard two towering City Sightseeing Joburg buses.
Teacher Ann Simmonds described the outing as an annual tradition – one cherished by both children and parents. In fact, the children love it so much, they believe their school song was inspired by the iconic red bus.
“Each year we always plan this trip around what we’ve been learning at the school that year,” she explained.
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This year, the school focused heavily on their alley project, with each class exploring different themes. So, during the city tour, they examined those themes in an urban context – light and shadows, the meaning of public art, the appearance of murals, and the many patterns woven into the city’s fabric.
The tour aimed to help children connect with their city in meaningful ways.
“Part of the Reggio Emilia philosophy is that we are citizens of the city, and we believe that children are urban citizens. So positively engaging with their city is something we really believe in,” said Simmonds.
The route took them past the Brixton Tower, through Fietas, down into Newtown, past Museum Africa, and over Mandela Bridge into Braamfontein, where public art abounds.
From there, they headed toward Constitutional Hill, home to many murals that tell powerful stories, before finally stopping at The Wilds for a picnic.
Parents were also invited to join, and those who could seized the opportunity with equal excitement – some experiencing this view of the city for the first time themselves.
When asked why it’s important for children to develop a sense of adventure, Simmonds said the school believes in nurturing curiosity wherever possible.
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“We haven’t really taken a beautiful route; we chose one that is quite real. So we want them to be interested in the space they live in.”
Adding to the experience was the unique vantage point the children had.
“When you’re little, you see the city at everyone’s knee height. For a child to be able to see the city from up high, it just gives them a change in perspective.”
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