Wonderland Kids' Academy

Full time ECD Practitioner/Educator contract position available as of 12.01.2023.

Applicant must:
○ reside in the Grassy Park area or in close proximity
○must have prior experience managing 3 to 5 year old groups
○must be qualified or currently completing qualification (nb. Studies after hours or online only)
○must be courteous and professional
○must be a team player
○must hold children's rights and inclusive education in high regard

Salary upon request. Only applications via email will be considered.

Closing date for applications 05.01.2023. If you donot receive a response by 10.01.2023 kindly accept that your application is unsuccessful.

Email vacancies to [email protected]

Conscious parenting tips for the holidays...💚

Emotional intelligence 💯💚

Graduation 2022👨‍🎓👩‍🎓
Night of the Stars 🌟🌟
Supernovas💖

Graduation 2022👨‍🎓👩‍🎓
Night of the Stars 🌟🌟
Big Thinkers 💖

Graduation 2022👨‍🎓👩‍🎓
Night of the Stars 🌟🌟
Big Thinkers 💖

🌟Staff Member of the Month, for November, as voted by staff🌟

Tr Kim Hendricks has been with WKA for two years and is a qualified Early Childhood Development Practitioner. She diligently manages one of our pre-grade R classes (Big Thinkers).

Loved dearly by her pupils, this teacher practices the art of firm and kind, and always goes the extra mile to make her classroom lessons fun and school special days even more exciting for all our pupils.

Tr Kim, we salute you! 💙

Wonderkids 2022 💙🌈🥰

Wishing our little ones a super special holiday!

They all did fantastic this year - socially, emotionally, physically and academically! 👏👏

Nb. Some pupils absent on the day of photoshoot

From the Principal's Desk...

Class parties, gifts, reports and farewells. Today marks the day we say goodbye to the 2022 academic year at WKA and to many of our pupils as they commence their Summer vacation.

This year has been amazing!

It was filled with so much growth and transformation; for our pupils who flourished holistically and brought so much good energy to our school grounds with their happiness and confidence; for our educators who improved their professional skills while overcoming their own personal battles with dignity and resilience; for our parents whom I witnessed gracefully ease free from generational parenting styles and move to more conscious thinking and deeper connections with their children and forming strong ties with school, as we walked the journey together in the best interest of our children.

It was a year of great growth for me too as I learnt just how resilient the human spirit is and witnessed with an even deeper understanding how a child can thrive when they feel loved, safe and free to feel their feelings. How we as their caregivers have a huge divine responsibility to ensure they receive all of the aforementioned.

It has inspired me to further my studies in psychology and open the doors to Phoenix Evolution Life Academy in order to continue the quest in promoting healing, mindfulness and conscious parenting & teaching in our communities and schools. I am grateful for all the blessings and lessons which have led me to this path.

My heartfelt appreciation to the parents who went over and above the call of duty and stepped up when we called for assistance in anyway and at anytime. No small gesture goes unnoticed. 🙏

I am immensely proud of our parents who were faced with extra parent challenges this year and overcame! There were moments we sat across from each other and delved into the heart of matters - times when it must have been really hard and tiring but you were all so brave. You showed up for your child over and over and over, and did whatever it took to heal the root. I thank you for giving me insight into your stories and lives, and for allowing me to speak with openness, and for trusting my guidance.

To all our parents: you are amazing! I am in awe of the respectful, kind and supportive parent body we have at our school. You are exemplary models to your little ones. You make the WKA family proud!

To our graduates and their families: We say farewell to 44 of you this month as you progress on your journey of life. We will miss each and every one of you dearly. I wish you all the happiness & growth for your future inshaAllah (God willing) and I have full faith you have been well equipped, and more importantly you will have the best cheerleaders behind you, always. Thank you for entrusting your child to WKA. It is an honour and joy to have been part of their journey.

To all our Wonderkids: you are loved just for being you! ❤️

I wish all our Christian families, staff and friends a blessed festive season, and a safe and joyous holiday to all our pupils and their families.

It's almost time for me to kick off my All Stars and enjoy my vacation with my four big babies. Remember, it's going to be a long holiday so don't forget to practice the pause, breathe and co-regulate 😉

Be safe and stay kind 🙏

Yours in Conscious Parenting & Education
Aneeqah Moosa
Principal

❤️❤️💙💙

My office for today - Hands down my favourite daycare center Wonderland Kids' Academy is a very dear and long standing client of mine.
Hosting their annual concert and this year the theme is Disney!!! Thank you for using my services without fail, I truly appreciate it ❤️🔥

WKA's Vacation Dress Up Day! 🥳
All the fun in pics to be uploaded soon!🏖

We are all a collection of stories, yet we judge so quickly. We forget that the little boy screaming has not seen his mom for a week, that the young girl who is being mean to her friends is in the midst of a messy divorce between her parents, and that the mom who is yelling at the park has just lost her job.

The behaviour is not always what would be deemed as acceptable or attractive (and proper tools and awareness are important) but nine times out of ten, the story behind the behaviour won't make you angry - it will break your heart.

Find the root and repair from there.

💙 Wonderland Kids' Academy is a Trauma Informed School 💙

💙Wonderland Kids' Academy is an Inclusive Edcuation School.💙

We believe in meeting our pupils where they are at, and adapting our teaching methods and pace to their learning abilities and progression.

When children are overwhelmed by big emotions, it's our job to share our calm and not join in the chaos. LR Knost 💙

0 - 5 years is a critical developmental period...

Effective discipline is based on connection, not fear because a toddler/young child needs to feel safe and secure to learn.

I invite you to keep the following in mind while you practice effective discipline in a way that's developmentally appropriate for your toddler:

Instead of using:
😔Punishment
😔Threats
😔Bribes
😔Timeouts
😔Spanking

Try:
❤️Validating emotions
❤️Teaching skills
❤️Finding solutions
❤️Setting clear limits
❤️Supporting your toddler/young child in meeting the limits

If you are a parent to be or a parent who would like to build a stronger connection with your child and learn how to implement healthy boundaries & effective discipline without the hassles and guilt that usually comes with it then please join our workshops next year. We've had amazing results and feedback from parents who have joined.

Look out for our Conscious Parenting Workshop dates, starting in January 2023. Information will be posted on out page soon.

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🌟Staff Member of the Month for October🌟
As voted by staff

Tr Chandrey Phillips is a qualified Early Childhood Development Practitioner and lovingly manages our toddlers (Explorers group).

She has been with us for two years and dedicates her days to our Explorers babies, sharing her ECD passion and knowledge - guiding and educating our little ones with infinite stimulation throughout their busy milestones. Our Explorers absolutely adore their teacher!

We salute you Tr Chandrey! 💙

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The pandemic could affect young children ‘for decades to come’

Wonderland Kids' Academy is a trauma informed school. These past two years we've seen our pupils experiencing an array of adverse effects from depression, to general anxiety, to grief, separation anxiety, communication delays, physical development delays and more - which seemed to be stemming primarily from the lock down period (making other natural life occurrences which families may usually experience, even more intense than before). Some traumas or post traumatic stress responses only manifesting many months later - like mild shock waves after the initial event.

We've made mindfulness part of our curriculum and endeavour on educating our parents on the importance of secure connections and including mindfulness in their own lifestyles too. Interventions are also an integral part of supporting our learners and families through their trying times.

The article below sheds some light on the effects of trauma especially linked to the lock down period.

"Ordinarily, we think of trauma as stemming from a defined event—the emotional shock waves you might experience from a single act of violence, for example. During the pandemic, many children have experienced singular traumas, such as the death of a parent or loved one. But decades of research on child development have also made clear that trauma is not caused by isolated events alone. Significant levels of ongoing stress—'toxic stress,' as it is known—can dramatically affect young people’s brains."

The pandemic could affect young children ‘for decades to come’ Stressors kids have faced in the past year may hurt brain development. Mental health services for children and their caregivers can help.

What are your thoughts?

The words we use matter. 💙

😏😅😂❤

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Mom problems 😪😅

Sometimes the behaviour we think is attention seeking methods are in fact our children displaying signs of anxiety.

Next time you find yourself, your child or anyone else displaying some of these behaviours, give them support and offer connection. 💙

🖤💙🖤💙🖤💙🖤💙🖤💙🖤💙🖤💙🖤💙

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'We spend a large portion of our day giving our children commands…instead of really talking to them.

When we slow down, talk deeply, and listen intently we breathe magic into the relationship with our children.'

Graduation 2022: Night of the Stars 🌟🌟🌟
Saturday, 5th November 2022

It's almost the big day...
when we celebrate the special milestone of these 43 amazing graduates who we'll miss so much when they leave to start their next journey!🌟🌟🌟

Oh the places you'll go! - Dr Seuss

Congratulations!
You're off to Great Places!
You're off and away!

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
You're on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go.

💙💙💙💙💙💙💙

Museum & Planetarium Excursion 2022 - 3

'Anything that can be taught in a classroom can be taught outdoors, often in ways that are more enjoyable for children.' 💙🤸‍♀️

Museum & Planetarium Excursion 2022 - 2

Children outgrow stuff...but they never outgrow adventure! Teaching children about the natural world should be seen as one of the most important events in their life. 💙

Museum & Planetarium Excursion 2022 - 1

Museum excursions are the norm at most schools - but there's nothing normal about any of our excursions, because we just end up having so much fun while learning! 🥳🤸‍♀️

Our last excursion for 2022 had us watching an amazing movie about space travel and thoroughly exploring the museum and Company Gardens.

Thank you to our teachers and volunteer moms (especially Laiqah Callaghan for never missing an excursion and taking pics whenever she has a chance) who always make sure our pupils are well taken care of during excursions. 🥰

Disney Extravaganza Concert
3rd December 2022

After three years of limited seating and loads of COVID protocols and fears, our annual concert is finally back with all its excitement, charm and entertainment!

Bring the whole family along as we celebrate our children's day with a spectacular show by our very own Wonderkids! 🤩🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Tickets go on sale today at R100 per seat - and it includes a hotdog and cooldrink! 🤯 Over 100 tickets already sold! So don't delay! 🥳 (nb. Seating will correspond with your ticket number)

We look forward to seeing the whole family there this year! 🥳🌟