A Message from our Foundation Phase HOD
“One book, one pen, one child, and one teacher can change the world.” –Malala Yousafzai
Alhumdulillah, through the grace of Almighty Allah (SWT) we have come to the end of another successful year in the Foundation Phase, however this year has been challenging for teachers, learners and parents. With words such as ‘COVID, online, portal, web page, login and logout’ were most spoken, as each one had to adapt to a ‘new normal’. Shukr to Allah, teaching and learning continued amidst this pandemic. I agree it has been difficult journey for learners to adjust to our online platform, however it proved beneficial as we engaged with learners and created a new mindset towards learning and achieving success. Our children learnt new 21century learning techniques through the virtual platform. They learnt survival skills, valued relationships and most important they learnt that ‘less is more’. As parents, teachers and learners we discovered that learning is not confined to our classroom, but can take place in any context.
While school is an important place for children’s education, families play an equally critical role in the development of our children. In particular, parents are instrumental in their personal growth and attitudes towards life. To prepare our children for the future, we need to provide them with the opportunities to develop skills that are needed to become life-long learners. Apart from knowledge, our children need to develop survival skills and resiliency. They should also be able to play and work with others, be ready to listen and be creative in their thinking. Most of all, at this early stage of development, collectively we need to encourage a positive view in how our children view themselves.
My message to you parents, spend quality time with your children over the holidays. Do things together especially engaging in ‘free’ activities such as walks in the park, hikes, playing games, library visits, campouts in the backyard, cooking up a storm in the kitchen with mum and dad, planting a seedling and watching it grow, or even better, getting a pet and taking care of it. These activities will certainly boost their self-image and confidence. Celebrate your child’s success as 2020 has been like no other year in our lifetime. Encourage them to do the right thing even if no one is watching. Have a wonderful summer holiday, make lasting memories, travel safely and remember us in your duas as we will remember you in ours.
Last but not least, a special thank you to my dynamic team of teachers, for supporting and nurturing the holistic development of all our learners during this pandemic. Spend quality time with your precious families during the holidays. My dua for you is that Allah Bless each one of you with His Infinite Mercy, Strength, Patience and Knowledge and Good Health, to continue serving our Ummah. Stay safe, stay Blessed!
Mrs R Khan
HOD Foundation Phase
