Page 31 - FWG Issue 1 February 2023

Africa’s Largest Selection of Patio Furniture & Accessories Advertorial

INTEGRATING NATURE WITH THE CLASSROOM

eddam House Helderfontein gives us the very best of both worlds.” in more ways of exposing the children to the
welcomed its first learners in 2017, lessons nature teaches us.
offering them world-class facilities: Listing examples of the practical
Ra boutique boarding house, fully implementation of this vision, Bennetts says: Reddam House Helderfontein’s dedicated
equipped science laboratories, high-tech “Our Senior Prep students arrive at school team of teachers are ensuring that the school’s
classrooms, an indoor aquatic centre, in their shoes and socks, but immediately world-class facilities are complemented by
and performing arts studios equipped to dispense with them to spend the day barefoot this innovative new focus on using nature as
specialist art and music school standards. in the classroom and outdoors. their classroom.

Now, thanks to the belief that “if the children “Just recently, our science students collected Aside from the learners’ obvious joy at being
are learning about butterflies, they must be water samples from the adjacent Jukskei encouraged to spend more time outdoors,
among the butterflies”, an interesting initiative river and tested them in our tertiary-quality there have been other tangible benefits to
is afoot. Learners are being encouraged to laboratories. this fresh approach, as Bennetts explains:
embrace the natural surrounds of the greater “We have found that students are spending
Helderfontein area through an educational “We have also had language students writing far less time on their devices, and their social
approach that exposes them to outdoor their creative pieces up at the dams, and interaction has skyrocketed.”
activities and experiential learning. maths students determining distance, area
and volume in the veld. For more information on Reddam
Graham Bennetts, executive head of Reddam House Helderfontein or to book
House Helderfontein, says the school is in the “Our Stage 5 students in the Early Learning a personalised tour, please visit:
unique position of being a city school located School built boats and sailed them down the https://www.helderfontein.reddamhouse.com/
in a country setting – thereby enabling it to river, much to their delight.”
integrate nature’s lessons with daily school
life. In addition, learners are taken out of their
comfort zones and challenged to try new
“We are very proudly part of the Inspired experiences. These include mountain biking,
Education Group, a global school group that koppie climbs and lessons on how to braai,
gives us access to best international practices crochet, identify birds and take better photos.
in the education sector and input from
Centurion - 012 657 9400 | Randburg - 011 801 0820 | Canal Walk - 021 526 7240 international educators. This new approach Bennetts says plans are being made to invest

Somerset West - 021 840 4160 | Umhlanga - 031 566 8550 | George - 044 010 0102
Fourways Gardens • 29 • February 2023