We are very happy and excited that you have decided to enrol your child at BESIGE BERGIES!
We are aware of our involvement in your child’s development and the important part we play to teach and carefor your child in your absence. We will do our utmost best and to cater to your child’s every need. Our aim is to give your child the best care in our teaching environment. We believe that all children must be well
taken care off, especially in their developmental phase. We encourage parents to take the time to discuss the process of your child at all stages with the teacher (per appointment only).
Communication between a parent and the school is very important for creating a good working and upbuilding relationship. We would like to see every child excel and succeed in every phase and enjoy helping and sharing these amazing times with them and with you, the parent.
SCHOOL TIMES
The main gate in Felix Avenue open at 06:00 in the morning.
TAKE NOTE – There will only be supervision for Gr. R learners in class from 07:00. The first 3 days of the year learners will adjourn at 12:00. Official school hours are from 07:30 to 13:30.
Parents must pick up Gr. R learners at the small gate in Irvine Avenue from (13:15 to 13:30) Mondays to Thursdays and (13:00) on Fridays. These gates will be closed at 13:30 (Mondays to Thursday) and on Friday at 13:00 and all learners who have not yet been collected after closing time will move to the waiting area at the pick-up / drop-off zone. Learners will then be under supervision in the waiting areas until 14:00 (Monday to Thursday) and 13:30 on Fridays.
IMPORTANT
Learners who have not yet been collected after closing time, will move outside the school grounds and then wait unsupervised for their transport in the parking areas of the pick-up / drop-off zone. If parents are concerned about their child’s safety, the after care is the only other safe option. See aftercare information attached.
If you need to collect your child earlier, you will need to report to the school office and sign the register.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Learners are welcome to enrol from the year in which they turn 5 if they turn 5 before the end of June in the year. They must be self-sufficient in terms of toilet manners and use as well as dressing themselves. Parents need to acknowledge the school character and know that English will be the languages of education.
Parents need to encourage their children to form part of activities during the school program.
SCHOOL FEES
FEES FOR 2026 – R1 600,00 per learner p.m. x 11 months.
Parents/guardians of learners undertake to pay compulsory school fees as determined by the governing body of the school and to pay these fees, in advance and in full before the 7th of each month.
No subsidy application will be issued to Gr R learners. The pre-school classes are sustainable and not profitable classes, therefor the class fees are important for teaching.
Debit order payment for Gr. R is compulsory. Please make sure that you fill in and sign the attached documents accordingly.
If your child does not continue class, we will need 1 calendar month’s written notice as well as the month’s fee.
Learners, as well as parents needs to stay in bounds of the general school rules as indicated and enforced by our governing body.
Ms. Burnie Pretorius is our financial adviser at school. If you have any queries or complaints regarding finances and payments, kindly take it up with Mrs. Walkinshaw.
All payments MUST be made in the school office as far as possible. Should you be forced to send money to school please make sure that you put all money in a sealed envelope, clearly marked with your child’s name and where the money needs to be allocated to (what the payment is for).
STATIONERY
A stationery pack must be ordered and paid at the school office at R650,00. Specific stationery is provided in the pack for the use of a specific phase of development and is compulsory for all grade R learners.
The contents of the packs are of high quality and are provided by reputable suppliers. The pack provides stationery for the whole year, so you have no further expenses in relation to stationery.
FOOD AND SNACKS
Please make sure that your child has a healthy breakfast before school. If you are running late, or there is a problem, please send his/her breakfast to school and make sure that you let the teacher know so we can see to it that your child eat before class starts. Lunch must be sent with from home and can include the following: Healthy sandwich, scone or muffin, water, or healthy drink in a plastic screw top bottle (no glass bottles and/or fizzy drinks, loaded with sugar allowed), fresh fruit
No Sweets or crisps during the week – Only on Fridays,
We do have a tuck shop at school that make a wide variety of healthy food every day. If you do not have time, please send some money with your child, and let the teacher know so we can make sure your child has lunch.
BIRTHDAYS
Birthdays are very special for our little ones, and we love to share in their joy on the day. If you intend on sending snacks to school, please let the teacher know in advance, so they can plan and make changes for this in the daily program.
Please note: It is not compulsory to send snacks for birthdays. HINT: Cupcakes are a much better option than a big cake. Keep snacks and sweets portions small.
Try to avoid chocolate that can melt.
NOTICE OF ABSENTEEISM
Parents should please inform the school of a sick learner being absent before 9:00 in the morning. Learners with a contagious disease – head lice included – may for obvious reasons not attend school. No exemptions herein will be accepted. No learner’s health may be compromised.
EXCURSIONS AT- AND AWAY FROM SCHOOL
Parents will be notified in advance about excursions at or away from school. Parents needs to give their written permission for their child to take part in these excursions. If we do not receive a signed letter and fees payable, your child will not be part of the excursion.
CLOTHING AND HAIR RULES
Hair styles and rules will fall under the school rules as prescribed.
The grade R learners wear the school sport “Bergie Shirt” which can be purchased from Parktown stores, Silver Cross and SSS West.
We also prefer that learners wear navy bottoms (shorts, skirts, or track pants). Clothing should be comfortable and suitable for play and learning activities as it may get dirty.
Playing in the mud, sand, water and using paint forms part of our daily activities and prohibiting clothing may hinder them from having fun. Learners are encouraged to be self-sufficient and need to be able to take off / put on their own clothing at school.
Please make sure that you mark your child’s clothing properly as most children wear the same kind of clothes and it is very difficult to find the owner of clothing if it is not marked correctly. Please make sure that you mark shoes and socks as well.
All learners must bring a clean set of clothes and underwear to school every day. Accidents happen to all children and parents are not always available to assist with clean clothes/underwear if something happens.
DAILY PROGRAM
The daily program will start at 8:00 until 13:15. The day starts at 7:30 with admin and register taking. We cover creative activities, perceptual development, stories, and free play inside & outside in our daily program. We also follow a new theme every week.
Please make sure that your child attends school regularly to be part of most activities as we assess them continuously through the term. Good assessment and progress are very difficult if your child does not attend school often.
Please make sure that your child is on time for school. It is very disruptive if learners arrive late. If you do run late, please contact the teacher or school office.
If you need to collect your child earlier, please report to the office as you will need to sign your child out.
INTEGRATION WITH THE SCHOOL PROGRAM
Learners will integrate with the following programs at school:
Monday morning’s school hall assembly
Fundraising projects
Prizegiving and Gr. R graduation
Sport: Athletics, rip rugby and mini netball.
Culture: Public Speaking, Revue, Eisteddfod, School concerts
NEWSLETTERS
Newsletters are sent via email and WhatsApp every Wednesday. Make sure you read the newsletter and are well informed about all aspects regarding school. If you are unsure about something, please contact us.
Messages / communication to the teacher must be in writing please.
Also make sure that we have your correct contact information. Should your email address or contact number change you should inform the office thereof.
TOYS
NO TOYS ALLOWED.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBERS, MARITAL STATUS, ETC.
If there is any change of personal information, please notify the office as soon as possible. It is imperative that we have the correct information of both parents and next of kin in case of emergency.
LEARNERS COLLECTED FROM SCHOOL BY SOMEONE ELSE OTHER THAN THE LEGAL PARENTS
Please give the teacher a written notice if someone else will be collecting the learner from school on the day. If someone specific who MAY NEVER collect the learner from school, inform the teacher and school office or if your child will be going home with a friend.
NO CHILD WILL BE ALLOWED TO LEAVE THE SCHOOL PREMISES WITHOUT THESE PERMISSION SLIPS.
Under no circumstances will we accept a phone call to make these arrangements, as anyone might phone us and pretend to be the parent. We will contact you, the parent, if there is a crisis and we need to make sure that the correct person/people collect your child from school.
ILLNESS AND MEDICATION
If a child has a contagious disease, fever, nausea, pink eyes or headlice, he/she will not be allowed at school. The office will notify the parent immediately and depending on the emergency of the situation, the parent will be liable to collect the child from school to seek medical attention. No exception will be made in this regard as we cannot put other learners at risk of getting sick/infected. According to the Department of Education no teacher may administer any medication to a learner.
TUCK SHOP
Tuck shop day will only be on Fridays. (Pricelist attached). Apart from buying healthy food for lunch during the week if you are not able to pack a lunchbox.
Should your child be allowed to buy something sweet on Fridays, please send a maximum or R15.00. This will be sufficient to buy something without overindulging.
If your child is attending aftercare, you are welcome to send money for after school tuck shop any day. The teacher will keep the money safe until end of the school day and make sure that the aftercare helpers take the money and help your child to purchase something before their afternoon nap time.
TAKE NOTE: Tuck Shop is not compulsory.
EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
After school activities presented by outside parties will be billed to the parent at additional cost to the normal school fees. Other after school activities: Little Titans Cricket, Kids Computer on Wheels, Playball
SCHOOL BAG
Learners should have a school bag at school EVERY DAY. Please make sure to pack a plastic bag in the school bag for dirty clothes, warm clothes, and shoes. Please make sure that the school bag is big enough to fit clothes, spare clothes, assignments, and a lunchbox.
ALLERGIES
Please make sure to inform the teacher of any allergies (environmental, medication and food) that your child might have. Food allergies are of utmost importance as we regularly enjoy a make-and-bake class. There will be allergy inducing foods at the tuck shop and parents cannot all cater for specific needs when sending birthday snacks. If your child is allergic to bees, please make sure to send the appropriate medication and prescribed dosage to
administer if needed.
APPOINTMENTS, PHONE CALLS
Parents are welcome to schedule an appointment with the teacher from 13:15-14:00. If you phone during class hours, the office will take a message for the teacher. Should there be a need to communicate any further with the parent, the teacher will do so during lunch break of after school. NO phone calls will be handled during class hours. Class time will be allocated to teaching your child. If you have an emergency, please phone the office and they will bring the message directly to class. Telephonic appointments can only be accommodated during lunch breaks and after school as the teachers are not allowed to leave learners unattended in class – unfortunately, accidents happen fast.
NO PRIVATE CALLS, MESSAGES OR WHATSAPP.
Please respect the teacher’s privacy.
COMPLAINTS
Please direct all complaints or concerns to the class teacher or to:
Ms. Du Plooy – Head of Pre-school
Ms. Labuschagne – Head of Department for the Foundation phase
Mr. Erasmus – Principal
With open means of communication, we can eliminate a potential problem before it turns into greater unhappiness. Thank you for your cooperation in this regard.