Message from André
HIGHLIGHTS OF 2018 AND
FOCUS POINTS FOR 2019
As Curro aims to develop learners into citizens who
ultimately become contributing leaders in society, teachers
used real-life situations as topics for these projects.
Project-based learning
Curro incorporated project-based learning (PBL) in the in-
termediate phase for the first time during 2018 in sever-
al subjects, namely Natural Sciences, Life Skills and Social
Sciences. The purpose of project-based learning is to engage
learners in a manner where they learn through experience
and exploration by incorporating questions for them to in-
vestigate. Thereby they develop creative problem-solving
skills, learn to formulate plans to overcome obstacles and
identify people as mentors who remain throughout their
school career.
As Curro aims to develop learners into citizens who ulti-
mately become contributing leaders in society, teachers
used real-life situations as topics for these projects. Topics
included South African leaders, recycling, climate change,
physical features of Africa, plants and biodiversity, day zero,
the wonders of the world, dioramas and natural disasters.
This wide range of topics amounted to a great number of
successful projects. Project-based learning was used ex-
tensively in Arts and Culture, which resulted in impressive
works of art with themes such as ‘junk-art holiday homes’
and ‘colliding of two worlds’. It was evident that 21st-cen-
tury skills such as cooperative learning, creativity, critical
thinking, collaboration and presentation skills were devel-
oped in this process.
Learners were encouraged to complete the projects at
school and it was inspiring to see the sense of pride in learn-
ers when they saw their accomplishments. Learners evident-
ly had great fun and agreed that they preferred learning in a
practical manner.
Our aim for 2019 is to develop even more innovative pro-
ject-based learning tasks and to extend it to the high school’s
senior phase.
This year, we hope to enter even more of our Curro scientists’
project-based learning tasks.
Our vision for 2019 is to start STEAM(D) classrooms at ten
of our schools. These schools will be entering the immersive
world of virtual reality wherein the Oculus Rift will be used in
learning. Learners would follow the teachers’ experience on
the big screen with audio streaming from speakers mounted in
the classroom. Learners will be exposed to XinaBox electronics
which will enhance the curriculum for Natural Sciences,
Technology and Physical Sciences. Learners will be taught how
to use 3D printers and laser cutting by using programs such as
SketchUp Make and Inkscape.
The high school robotics clubs will venture into robotics
partnered with the Paramount Group. They will develop South
Africa’s first open-source robotics hardware competition,
which will have a national footprint. The competition will aim
to develop the most affordable fully-functional robot in Africa.
The educational value of this project is massive, as it would
entail building a robot from scratch, soldering parts, working
with breadboard electronics, and using Arduino programming.
The partnership will hopefully escalate to a competition that
will run together with the Africa Aerospace and Defence Expo
at Air Force Base Waterkloof. Robotics clubs will also work
towards becoming self-sustainable at the end of 2019.
Interactive planning
Subject specialists responsible for planning the curriculum
for Grade R to Grade 9 started to adopt interactive planning
styles aimed at making teaching and learning more exciting for
our teachers and learners. Although teachers still receive their
curriculum plans, they are now encouraged to be innovative
within their subject and adapt the lessons to benefit the
learners.
STEAM(D) Standardised tests
In 2018, Curro held its first STEAM(D) days which were a
great success. Exhibitions included projects made by learn-
ers in art class, presentations of tasks completed through
project-based learning and during IT class, Rubik’s cube
rivalry, science shows, e-gaming displays, drone demon-
strations and robotics competitions. These STEAM(D) days
were so popular that they will be hosted again during the
second term of 2019 in Durbanville, Ballito, Pretoria and
Johannesburg. Curro will continue with standardised tests and examinations
set by our subject specialists. This allows schools to measure
the learners’ understanding of the learning material and allow
schools to measure their marks against the averages of other
Curro schools within their model. In 2019 we are taking a
different approach to assessments for the Grade 8 and Grade 9
contents subjects: Teachers will set their own assessments, but
subject specialists will remain responsible for assessments of
specific topics within the subjects.
Another highlight was the number of projects by Curro
learners selected for the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists that
was held in Johannesburg. Aqil Variava, a Grade 12 learner
from Curro Klerksdorp, won the Eskom senior grand prize at
the Eskom Expo International Science Fair by developing a
pollution index – a tool to investigate water quality. School-specific information
Curro Castles
4
Curro Castles adopted a unique, internally-developed
curriculum, which allowed us to launch our comments-based
nursery school reports on Synergy. Training during the year
focused on empowering teachers in classroom management,
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