From the Principal From the SGB Chairperson The principles of community are important in At SPHS, we have embraced E-learning every context where it is manifested. The idea of community is a beautiful conception and technology since 2009. We are using it in warrants our contemplation a lot more than we many different and innovative ways to make are willing to give. Is our lack of contemplation lessons more interesting, engaging and not perhaps the reason why we have all the ills resonant. The teachers at SPHS have bought in our present society? We should be thinking into this revolution and are playing their own a lot more about how the community may be enhanced – how we can in a small, or even role, where their contributions have not only greater way contribute to its well-being. changed the culture of SPHS but the culture This theme is one that has relevance at of learning and teaching in many other Sunward Park High School too. Community schools. We are simply not the same Mrs. ASH Peens, Principal, is about shared values. Dr “Piff” G. C. Pereira Sunward Park High School school as it was two years ago. (2014 Chairperson of the SGB) The school is a microcosm of society at large. Young people with an openness to be shaped and formed by educating come from townships and suburbs, from families across colour and cultural lines, together from a wide economic spectrum – and they all are forged into one community. We are expected to make this community function in the beautiful way it is meant to function. SPHS was instrumental in the MEC “Big Switch On” as the blue print of E-learning in the five plus two schools which includes: SPHS, Phomolong Secondary School, Ponelopele Oracle Secondary School, Boitumelong Secondary School, Tandi Eleanor Its hallmarks of harmony must be derived from the created hierarchy of School Governing Body (SGB), School Management Sibeko Secondary School, Tshepisa Primary School and Tlamatlama Primary School. Team (SMT), Heads of Departments, Educators, Representative Council of Learners (RCL), Learners and Parents – each with their role to play. The MEC will continue with his roll out in 2015 and 2016 to two hundred (200) more schools in Gauteng. Its hallmarks of harmony are teamwork, peace, mutuality, interdependence, cohesion, solidarity, enthusiasm and a quest for Our educators are designing E-lessons for every day of the year, consisting of curriculum content enhanced with technology. excellence. All the parts in the hierarchy must aspire to achieve these ideals. Technology is a game changer and bridges the gap between the have and have not’s. The SGB must be the first to set the tone towards achieving the lofty ideals of community. We in the SGB too come from the In 2014, we have seen the power of change unlocking potential and passion in educators and learners. We have gone beyond varieties of locations, cultures, families and means. We must know how we fit; what our chief role is; and strive to achieve it the curriculum to develop enquiring and thinking minds. Not only have we transformed the way we teach and think, we are also with excellence. in the process of changing the way we look inside the school. It is easy to summarise our chief role, namely, the SGB is to accomplish what is best for the school. We must be the facilitators The MEC has rewarded SPHS generously for allowing us to make our school his dream. We are in the phase two (2) of excellent academics, edifying staff relationships, prudent fiscal management, sound and un-cumbersome governance development of the MEC programme and are looking forward to the changes in the physical infrastructure. principles, and an openness to beneficial partnerships. Part of our wish list to the MEC is Smart TV’s in every classroom and tablets for all educators. We can do all these by applying the hallmarks of harmony – teamwork, peace, mutuality, interdependence, cohesion, solidarity, enthusiasm and a quest for excellence. Last but not least, a heartfelt thank-you to parents and governors for their wisdom to invest in E-learning at SPHS. You have ensured that your children can The SGB has a massive task. Vigilance must be its constant trait, because there are things that forever compete against the compete globally. ideals of community. We all know that bad things come easy; but the good things always require hard work and sacrifice. The counter-forces of selfish aims, opposing camps, ‘unholy’ liaisons, disloyalty, legalism, unreasonable-ness, autocracy and Our initiative has put SPHS on the “map” and we intend, with your support to be the like always bring instability to the community. An unstable institution cannot succeed; it can achieve nothing. In fact, it will the leaders in E-learning. be counter-productive. I regret our failures of the past, but encourage the attitude of community for the future. Let us be vigilant against the counter- forces and strive for a harmoniously life-giving community in the SGB. The task is no small one, and it is therefore wise to admit our dependency upon the Creator. In so doing we will temper our attitudes with humility. God bless Sunward Park High School. God bless them with a strong and facilitating SGB. Sunward Park High School – School Magazine Term 1 / 2015 1 The Big Switch-On • Infrastructure – e-Equipped schools Gauteng schools to have paperless and GDE offices, • Support – Efficient technical Support, classrooms management, etc. • Innovation – research related to curriculum and technology. When Gauteng schools opened on 14 January this year “We want the schools which are it was business as usual for most. However, seven performing to have capacity to continue schools in the province were on the brink of a to do so,” said MEC Lesufi, and hailed The Big Switch-On broadcast live on SABC watershed moment for South African education: The the project as “a game changer in the launch of a pilot project by the Gauteng Department of education of the African child.” All Education (GDE) called The Big Switch-On. school learners in public schools will be provided with tablets. The system will schools on the programme will be Gauteng Dr. More Chakane, CEO of also be introduced to grade 7 learners who are in primary schools so as to Education the Matthew Goniwe prepare them to easily adapt to learning on the devices in high school. MEC Mr Panyaza Lesufi School of Leadership and pearheaded by Gauteng Education MEC Mr. Panyaza Lesufi, Governance (MGSLG) Principal of Boitumelong Secondary, Mrs. Sesi Makena, said: “This is an exciting the project has transformed seven schools into modern e-learning time in our country’s education system and I am so proud of my teachers Sinstitutions with paperless classrooms. The project aims to introduce and learners.” smart schools of the future to ensure that learners and teachers have broadband access to digital content through a tablet device. Educators at the school were trained prior to the launch by SPHS teachers Phomolong High, • through the Matthew Goniwe School of Leadership and Governance (MGSLG). “We are officially burying the chalk board, we are officially burying the duster, and Tandi Eleanor Sibeko High, • Under the leadership of CEO Dr More Chakane, the MGSLG is a semi- we are officially burying the chalk,” said MEC Lesufi during the launch at Tlamatlama Primary, and • autonomous, non-profit organisation established to serve as the training arm of Boitumelong Secondary School in Tembisa. “Gone are the days when they have Tshepisa Primary. • the Gauteng Department of Education. to write in exercise books and hand-in assignments on paper.” The department hopes to roll out the SPHS Learners in the paperless The Department’s mandate Using their tablets, learners connect via the UC-Wireless Ruckus Wi-Fi solution project to all Gauteng township and classroom to the Train Your Brain (TYB) education resource portal provided by MIB rural schools by the end of the The 5th Administration of government approved ten pillars for the Department of Technology. The TYB portal allows learners to download their prescribed 2017/2018 financial year at an Basic Education. The Gauteng Department of Education adopted these pillars for textbooks and access hundreds of educational resources. estimated cost of R17 billion. All high implementation over the next five years. SPHS – the blueprint for success One of the pillars is Pillar 6: ICT in Education. Within this pillar, GDE identified six priority areas: One of the seven schools, Sunward Park High School (SPHS), was the first public Connectivity – system-wide-access, school to migrate to a 100% e-learning platform in 2013, which grew from the • Content – digital teaching and learning resources, vision of the principal, Mrs. Peens, and the (then) chairperson of the SGB, Mr. • Capacity – Training, support, and ICT skills development, Vinay Somera. The school has played a pivotal role in assisting the MEC and the • GDE with a seamless roll out in the six pilot schools, namely: Boitumelong High, A proud day for the Principal and staff of Boitumelong Secondary School • Tablets being delivered to • Ponelopele Oracle High, Boitumelong Secondary School Sunward Park High School educators training the teachers at Boitumelong Secondary School in Tembisa Principal of Boitumelong Secondary Technology in action School, Sesi Makena 2 Sunward Park High School – School Magazine Term 1 / 2015 Sunward Park High School – School Magazine Term 1 / 2015 3 provided with unlimited data for learners while they are at school, and they would Summing up, Principal Peens thanked receive 4G connectivity to ensure the pupils can also work from home. MEC the parents and learners of SPHS.