St Peter’s Prep Schools – Ahead of the Game, Behind Every Child
St Peter’s Boys Prep and Girls Prep Schools have been on a journey to ensure Inclusion is evident at every grade level. Within the academic curriculum, inclusion and embracing diversity has been essential in all the schools and is taught consciously. An awareness of social justice is crucial for preparing young people to become responsible global citizens who will shape and positively contribute to this country in the 21st century.
Over the last year, St Peter’s Prep Schools has been explicitly creating a space where conversations around diversity, inclusion, social justice, and the differences between humans can be unpacked in a supported, age-appropriate way and in an emotionally safe environment.
The lessons are known as Ubumbano in the Girls Prep. This name is derived from the isiZulu word meaning unity, a union of interests or purposes or sympathies among members of a group. It also expresses the moulding of clay. This was chosen to encompass the hope that the girls will be open to change with the ultimate goal of unity.
In the Boys Prep, the name of the lessons, Izenzo Zobuntu, refers to the activity of living out 'Ubuntu'. The hope is that boys will actively live in a deeper sense of community with others, understanding the concept that 'I am who I am because of who we all are'.
Ubumbano and Izenzo Zobuntu classes commenced in 2021. The lessons are discussions, rather than conventional lessons, with the understanding that the children need a space to talk about and understand each other’s views. The questions and discussions give the children the opportunity to learn deeply that it is everyone’s responsibility as global citizens and residents of South Africa to take care of each other and have empathy towards one another. St Peter’s trusts that children will learn to question their own thinking, identify unconscious bias and develop the humility to see beyond their own views and accept, even embrace others differences.
St Peter’s is developing the curriculum with the core values (Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be Resilient, Be Compassionate, Be Honourable, Be Collaborative) and ethos at the centre, and in accordance with ISASA’s (Independent Schools Association of Southern Africa) framework which states that,
'The concept of diversity encompasses acceptance and respect. It means understanding that each individual is unique, and it recognises our individual differences. It is about understanding each other in a safe and positive environment, and moving beyond simply tolerating to embracing and celebrating the rich dimensions of diversity within each individual. The key steps in the process of valuing diversity are awareness, understanding, appreciation and respect '.
To create the safe and positive environment, classes have drawn up their agreements to commit to respecting different views, seeking to understand other points of view and maintaining anonymity outside the discussions.
In the Boys and Girls Junior Preps, picture books are used to unpack concepts of fairness, differences, togetherness, etc. In the Senior Preps, the use of books, stories and artwork are used as powerful starting points for discussions.
In the first few weeks, the girls have had discussions around identity. They have looked at the meaning and importance of names and surnames and proper pronunciations. Around names, girls shared the origins of their names, who named them and why. This led to the discussion around identity documents pre and post-apartheid years and how they have changed over the years. This discussion was carried through to parents who also shared their insights on family identities.
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The boys have expressed deep thoughts around what Izenzo Zobuntu means to them. A Grade 5 boy realised that 'I am unique because we are all different.' The boys are enjoying the time to think and discuss, saying; 'It allows you to express yourself,' 'You get to have different opinions on a variety of different subjects,' and 'It’s inspirational '.
This is an exciting journey that St Peter’s Prep Schools have embarked upon. St Peter’s is preparing children for their big futures and the ever changing world beyond. It is through this pioneering spirit that St Peter’s always strives to be 'Ahead of the Game, Behind Every Child '.
The Grade 7 girls had their FLP week where the grade had project based activities. FLP is a Flexible Learning Programme where girls partake in various project based activities without following a set timetable. The various activities were based on the movie they all watched titled ‘Hidden Figures’.
After watching the movie, the girls had to reflect and give feedback on what they took out the movie, how it made them feel, compare how things have changed in terms of the opportunities that women had pre and post-apartheid era, and how the content of the movie can challenge their space as young girls to be whoever and whatever they want to be in life without being discriminated against. Scan the below QR code to hear more:
The boys in the various grades enjoyed an art lesson, exploring their various skin colours and realising how different we all are and how special this actually is. A safe place with rules, created by the boys themselves, has been set up so that thoughts and opinions can be shared and expressed without judgement. Scan the QR code to see more:
