Extraordinary times call for an extraordinary school.
2020 was a year like no other for all of us. Despite the turbulence, Highbury Preparatory School in Hillcrest has shown extraordinary resilience and creativity in adapting to the challenges of COVID-19 in order to deliver an outstanding all-round education to over 500 boys. Highbury boys not only stayed on track with the curriculum throughout the pandemic, but kept a real sense of connection with teachers and friends even when learning online.
Belinda Willows, Head of Foundation Phase, says, “We have worked to balance caution with consistency, so we kept our jungle gyms open, our sandpits filled and our uniforms on. We taught the boys to ‘smize’ which means to smile with your eyes. We made the new COVID-19 school experience fun and happy, filled with boy-centric learning adventures and managed to keep our boys safe and healthy.”
For many boys, the part of school that they love most is playing sport with their friends. The disappointment of missing sports tours, fixtures and practices was a tough one for our boys last year. Highbury has always believed that exercise is important for boys’ physical and emotional wellbeing, and a new COVID-safe exercise programme was developed by Highbury’s sports department to keep the boys out in the fresh air, burning off their excess energy and having lots of fun. Individual cricket lessons were offered along with cross country and a reduced athletics programme, where the boys were timed individually to avoid becoming gathered in groups. Along with these traditional forms of sport, several innovative activities were introduced, including recreational golf, canoeing, surfing and fishing. Highbury’s exercise programme over COVID-19 has not only proven our slogan of “Knowing Boys” but also epitomised our motto of “Jamais Arriere” (Never Behind).
Highbury music teachers have found creative ways to ensure that boys could continue music lessons, music concerts, orchestra and even djembe drumming and marimbas. Whether it means playing online or outdoors or in smaller groups, Highbury has continued to give boys the widest range of opportunities to find and enjoy their talents.
Headmaster Roland Lacock says, “I am still astounded by the resilience and adaptability demonstrated by our boys and our teachers. Firstly online learning and then to a very different school experience. I am extremely proud that Highbury has continued to offer a world-class all-round education throughout the global pandemic for all of our boys.”
FOR MORE INFO:
Visit Highbury’s new website to read more about all that Highbury can offer your son; www.hps.co.za.