ONE SEED AT A TIME
There is something delightful about watching children in a garden with muddy hands, eyes wide with wonder and the occasional bug-in-pocket surprise. Gardening offers a fun, hands-on way for children to grow more than plants, helping them cultivate valuable skills that support both personal and academic growth. Here are just a few of the many soft skills they develop:
Patience
Gardening teaches children to wait, observe and understand that progress takes time. In a world where technology offers instant gratification, gardening stands in contrast, reminding children that not everything happens immediately, just as plants do not grow overnight.
Responsibility
Tasks like watering and weeding build a sense of duty and help them understand the value of commitment and follow-through. They soon see the effects of pushing away responsibility firsthand.
Problem-Solving
Gardens do not always go as planned. Pests, weather changes or plants that will not grow, challenge children to think critically and come up with solutions. This mirrors real-world learning, helping students build resilience and adaptability.
Communication and teamwork
Gardening is often learned side-by-side with a parent, teacher or elder, where teamwork and shared discovery build lasting bonds. It is also a space where treasured knowledge is passed down from one generation to the next.
One can continue listing the hard skills gained through gardening, such as sensory awareness, physical development and plant knowledge. Instead of keeping children occupied with screens and modern electronic toys, why not give them an outdoor space to build lifelong skills in a fun, meaningful way – a way that has been part of human life since the beginning.
In fact, the roots of gardening go back to the very beginning of time. In the book of Genesis, we read that “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” This was not just a task, it was humanity’s very first job, given directly by God to Adam. From the start it has been a core part of our God-given purpose.
So next time you see your child with dirt under their fingernails, remember they are not just playing in the soil. They are learning key life skills, one seed at a time.
Ms M Joosten, Foundation Phase Head
HEARING OR LISTENING?
Most children (and adults) enjoy talking more than listening and possibly it is because they were never taught to listen as much as they were taught to speak. Proverbs 18:2 states this human tendency very clearly.
Listening is hard work and it is a fundamental human skill that must be taught and learned. Distinguish between listening and hearing – most people pass the hearing test 100% but they fail to listen.
A good listener pays attention and focuses on what the speaker says. He listens until the speaker has stopped talking. He does not jump to conclusions or rush to respond. Instead, he listens carefully, thinking about why things are said in a particular manner. Listening requires thinking.
Body language is key to listening as it conveys respect, interest and a sincere desire to understand others. Interested facial expressions, responses and appropriate nods convey attentiveness.
Good listening skills help children become better communicators, succeed in school, and build strong relationships.
In a Twinkl blog, Julia Kajdi published 16 FUN WAYS TO IMPROVE LISTENING SKILLS FOR CHILDREN. Her ideas are brilliant. Here are 3 for you to try at home:
What’s That Sound?
Have children listen to various sounds or noises, and guess what they can hear. It’ll help them focus on one sound and shut the world out a bit around them. The game could be about sounds made by animals, household items, or the traffic outside.
Role Playing
Role play can be used to improve listening skills since children need to be present and react to what the others do and say during the play. Improvisation is one of the best ways to improve listening skills.
Story Chain Game
Start a story and get children to add a sentence each after one another, but don’t have an order as to when they get their turn. Make it playfully random, so everyone needs to pay attention the entire time.
Mrs E Gouws, Intermediate Phase Head
Sources: De Bonos Thinking Course Edward de Bono; RocketKids; We Need A Masterclass In Listening, And Jesus Offers One – TGC Africa; Ways to Improve Listening Skills for Children – Twinkl
THE ALLIANCE
There are several important reasons why teachers and parents should work closely together. Considering just three of these reasons shows the importance of such an alliance:
- To maintain a child’s stability
A strong relationship between teacher and parent helps create a consistent, stable environment for the child, both at home and at school. - To establish “economies of scale”
By working together, parents and teachers can combine their efforts and resources to offer the best possible education, one that has a lasting impact on the child’s future. - To overcome uncertainty
Life is full of unexpected challenges. A strong partnership between parent and teacher provides the child with steady support and guidance during times of change or difficulty.
Proverbs 22:6 reminds us, Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. For this alliance to succeed, both parents and teachers must be open, honest and clear in their communication. If either party hides important information or fails to work transparently, the partnership can break down — and the goals of supporting the child may not be achieved.
What happens if this alliance is broken?
Although the partnership is between the teacher and the parent, it is the child who feels the consequences most. If the alliance breaks down — whether through misunderstanding, mistrust, or lack of effort — the child may suffer in many ways.
A child who does not feel properly protected, nurtured, educated, trained, supported and able to trust both the parent and the teacher, may experience serious harm. The effects could be long-lasting and difficult to undo.
For this reason, it is crucial that teachers and parents honour and protect this important alliance, always working together in the best interests of the child.
Mrs N Ngubane, Senior Phase Head
FISH OF A FIN SWIM AKIN
Clownfish and damselfish sometimes share the same coral or anemone. These fish may seem alike but are quite different.
Clownfish, with their familiar orange and white, live in sea anemones. The anemone’s stinging tentacles keep predators away, and a mucus on the clownfish’s skin protects it from being stung. Though small, clownfish are very protective of their home.
Damselfish come in bright colours like blue, yellow, and orange. They help control algae and are known for being aggressive, often challenging much larger fish to defend their space.
Since both clownfish and damselfish are territorial, they don’t like sharing their homes. Clownfish protect their anemone, while damselfish guard their coral. Because of this, they eventually go their separate ways.
Domino Servite School is committed to creating a happy, Christian-based environment wherein all learners are encouraged to demonstrate respect and responsible citizenship, academic excellence and Bible-based moral values. This is the school’s mission.
Between now and the end of June, FET learners will have many opportunities to participate in various activities, including sports matches, Olympiads, assessments, music, and community service.
Term 2 promises to be a busy one. In the FET phase and throughout the school, everyone works together to make our “coral” a happy place for both learners and teachers by planning activities in line with Domino Servite School’s mission, which was established by the founders of the school, and continues to govern the decisions made regarding all matters that pertain to school activities and events.
May everyone find this a coral where every learner can truly thrive.
Mr D van Straten, FET Phase Head
TOMORROW’S HARVEST
“We plant today what they will harvest tomorrow.”
“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” Proverbs 22:6
At both home and school, we share the vital task of setting children on a strong path. Proverbs 22:6 reminds us that early guidance leaves a lasting mark — shaping the adults they will one day become.
Practically, this means small, consistent actions:
- Parents teaching honesty by living it daily.
- Teachers modelling respect and fairness in every interaction.
- Both working together to set boundaries that build responsibility and resilience.
Children learn most not from what we say, but from what we do. When they see the same values reinforced at home and at school, their path becomes clearer and stronger.
There will be challenges along the way, but we are planting seeds that will grow in time.
Together, we can help them build a life that honours God and blesses the world around them.
Mrs G Geldenhuys, Academic Head