Mrs. RishkaDee Education Support Service

🎓 WINTER SCHOOL 2026 | FREE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Today I want to highlight the only Winter School sessions offering SACE CPTD points!

🤖 AI & Ethics – Be the Human in the Loop
📅 Wednesday, 15 July 2026
⏰ Session 2 | 12:00–14:00
⭐ Earn 5 SACE CPTD Points
👩‍🏫 All Phases | All Subjects

🚀 In the Age of AI: Cultivate the 6Cs for Future-Ready Learners
📅 Wednesday, 15 July 2026
⏰ Session 3 | 14:45–16:45
⭐ Earn 5 SACE CPTD Points
👩‍🏫 All Phases | All Subjects

Attend both sessions and earn a total of 10 SACE CPTD Points while exploring the future of AI in education.

Build a career in global health Closes Sunday: the free Global Health Fellowship.

No educational reform can succeed if teachers feel exhausted, unsupported or unsafe.
The decline in individuals entering teaching and the increasing number leaving before retirement should be viewed as a warning sign. When experienced educators begin saying, “I love teaching, but I can’t keep doing this,” that’s not an individual problem, it’s a systemic one. My heart bleeds 🩸for my fellow colleagues.

Violence and intimidation against student teachers and educators can never be normalised. Those entrusted with shaping the future deserve dignity, protection, and respect at all times. SACE stands firmly against all forms of abuse and calls for justice and accountability.

As we commemorate today and reflect on the courage of many students. I am reminded of a powerful session that will be offered again this year.

One of the workshops I would highly recommend is “Teaching in Times of War and Genocide” presented by Dr Rose-Anne Reynolds. It encourages educators to reflect on our role when teaching about some of humanity’s most difficult realities, particularly when children are affected by violence, war and genocide.

The session is thought-provoking, deeply moving and may be challenging for some participants. However, these are conversations that educators cannot avoid. Understanding how to approach such topics in a meaningful, age-appropriate and responsible way is an important part of our profession.

As South Africans, we also carry our own history of oppression and injustice. It is therefore important that we continue to engage critically with both our past and present.

I encourage you to attend this session:

Session 3
📅 14 July 2026
⏰ 14:45 – 16:45
🎓 Teaching the Times of War and Genocide
Presenter: Dr Rose Reynolds

I look forward to seeing many of you there.

Today we honour a generation of young South Africans who changed the course of our history.

Fifty years ago, the youth of 1976 stood up against injustice, and some sacrificed their lives in the fight for impartial education. Their courage and determination helped open the doors of education and opportunity.

As we commemorate Youth Day, I reflect on the responsibility of our generation to ensure that those doors continue to lead to meaningful opportunities for all and I hope that I have served as a positive example to the youth in my surroundings and to future generations.

Today I am busy creating some adapted booklets, and this one is a social story all about brushing teeth! 🪥✨

If you’d like more information on how to use these booklets in your classroom or at home, feel free to pop me a message or leave a comment below.

I’ll also show you the finished product once I have completed it at school, as some of my equipment is there.

This particular social story is designed to support learners who may need additional visual and structured support, especially during Activities of Daily Living (ADL) lessons.

Social stories can be a wonderful way to break down everyday routines into simple, manageable steps.

What I love about these resources is that they can be personalised. You can use realistic photographs, add the learner’s name, and even incorporate their own pictures (with parental permission) to make the story more meaningful and engaging.

You can also integrate the story directly into your lesson and use real-life objects alongside it. For example, while reading about brushing teeth, learners can physically explore and practise with a toothbrush, toothpaste and cup, helping to bridge the gap between the story and the actual skill.

Another interactive feature of this booklet is the set of visual choice cards. The pink dots indicate where Velcro can be attached, allowing learners to move and match pictures.

These can be used for multiple-choice activities, sequencing tasks, identifying the correct item needed for brushing teeth or simply encouraging active participation throughout the lesson.

Young Leaders, Bright Futures: Three Young ECD Centre Owners Changing Their Communities | Grow ECD Grow ECD equips and connects ECD businesses with the skills, support and resources they need to provide 5-star early learning for every child.

She graduated with a PGDip in Education Management through Distance Learning. And now she is a Principal 💜

Robin Nomens' journey from student to school leader is a wonderful reminder that hard work, faith and determination can take you far.