Kairos School of Inquiry

Children are naturally curious.

The question is: how do we keep that curiosity alive?

At Kairos, learning happens through exploration, conversation, projects, storytelling and meaningful experiences that connect learning to the real world.

When children are encouraged to wonder, investigate and discover, learning becomes something they want to do – not something they have to do.

✨ Curiosity is where learning begins.

Today we honour the courage, determination and voices of the young people who helped shape South Africa's future. Youth Day reminds us that children are not only tomorrow’s grown-ups: they are active participants in creating change today.

Last Friday, in the Tsietsi Mashinini lecture at Morris Isaacson School, the iconic site where students gathered on this day 50 years ago, Prof Jonathan Jansen quoted tennis legend and humanitarian Arthur Ashe. He was responding to a student who asked him what they should do today to deal with the multiple problems students still face these days in post-apartheid South Africa. He said students should follow Arthur Ashe’s advice and "Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can."

At Kairos, we nurture curious minds, courageous hearts and confident voices by encouraging them to be responsive to opportunities in front of them, to look for forward ways to improve their school or help their teacher or their classmates. And we regularly look for opportunities to catch each other in an act of unexpected kindness or surprising creativity or standing up for something they believe in.

At Kairos, we are passionate about encouraging children to think critically, to ask difficult questions, and to engage meaningfully with the world around them. We honour the legacy of those children who stood up to the injustice of apartheid and helped create the democracy we live in today. We can all do something, said Prof Jansen in his speech. In commemorating this 50th Anniversary of 16 June 1976, let us also think about how each of us can start where we are, using what we have, and contribute in our own way to help people around us.

Included here are photos of children over the last 16 years at Kairos. To the children at Kairos past and present, and to children everywhere, you inspire us. Wishing you ever more creativity. Keep on speaking up. We’re listening.

🎭 FROM AUDIENCE TO STAGE 🎭

Our Grade 6 and 7 students recently enjoyed an inspiring visit to the Wits Theatre to witness university students perform the Greek tragedy, Antigone by Sophocles. Coincidentally, this is the exact play they themselves have been preparing as a class performance for their parents. Thank you to director Dr Myer Taub for arranging!

At Wits, our students enjoyed the unique opportunity to interview members of the cast. Another highlight of this theatrical journey was performing a rehearsal for retired actress Irene Stephanou, who generously shared professional insights and guidance with our students.

Now it's their turn to bring the story to life: they are currently preparing for their own production of this timeless Greek tragedy. 🌃 For one night only, the Kairos Grade 6 and 7 class will present Antigone by Sophocles – a powerful tale of courage, loyalty and standing up for one's convictions.

We look forward to sharing this special evening with our community. 💫
📍 Venue: The Christian Community Church
📌 44 Dover Street, Ferndale
🎟️ Family and friends and members of the public interested in supporting our students are warmly invited to attend.

(Please note: The play contains references to su***de. We recommend attendance for Grade 4 learners and older, as well as parents. We also respect that this decision rests with each family.)

Every child carries something uniquely powerful within them.

At Kairos, we believe education should help children discover their strengths, passions and sense of purpose.

Whether a child shines through art, mathematics, storytelling, leadership or science, we create opportunities for them to explore, practise and grow.

Our role is not to mould children into a shape of our choosing. Our role is to help them become fully themselves.

Percy's priority as a Phys Ed teacher is to make the environment safe through studying the children; what sort of space allows them to move best? Growing up in the Eastern Cape, this music-loving Kaizer Chiefs fan says he was 'that kid' who was the best at games, but had to learn that losing is not necessarily a bad thing. He was discovered by Playball while entertaining at a children's party, which introduced him to becoming a PE teacher. Percy says he owes everything to his beloved grandmother, who saved his life when he was an infant.

🍰 Our recent Kairos Bake Sale was a huge success! ☕

Families arrived with homemade treats, while our seniors and teachers sold the delicious goodies to friends and family. Parents brought their coffee mugs, stayed a while, and enjoyed meaningful conversation and connection. Moments like these remind us that Kairos is more than a school — it’s a community where everyone belongs. 💛

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who baked, bought, and spent time together. Every cupcake, biscuit, and loaf helped us continue nurturing and improving our school.

And now, we’re excited to invite you to our upcoming Africa Day-inspired Bake Sale! 🌍✨ Join us on Friday, 5 June from 7:30am, as we celebrate the richness, flavour, and spirit of Africa with a variety of themed treats and community fun.

Give Primrose a call at 011 646 6221 for more information — we’d love to see you there!

📚✨ Book Day at the Kairos School of Inquiry is always a little bit magical.

The school fills with Harry Potters, witches, superheroes, talking animals… and the occasional very serious 'book expert' ready to explain their favourite story in great detail. The children (and teachers!) come dressed as characters from their favourite book and proudly share the stories that have made them laugh, wonder, or dream a little bigger.

It’s one of those days where reading stops being just something on a page and becomes something you can see, hear, and step into. 💛📖

At Kairos School of Inquiry, diversity is an important part of our community. Our families come from many different cultural and religious backgrounds, and we see this as a strength.

Throughout the year, we celebrate a range of religious and cultural festivals. These moments give children the chance to learn about one another’s traditions and to share something of their own.

Also, we gather our choir four times a week to sing a mix of cultural songs from around the world, and our integrated studies curriculum includes a diverse mix of cultural stories from around the world.

In this way, children grow in curiosity, respect and tolerance – learning that our differences are something to appreciate and celebrate. 🌍

Tshepang says teaching 'found' her. Her husband is an educator, and before they settled into family life, she did as much research as possible to see whether it was the right path for her. As a child, she wanted to be an archaeologist, but an early interest in film and TV instead saw her working behind the scenes of YoTV and hit shows like 'Isidingo'. Tshepang loves teaching Grade 1 because so much of the learning comes from play and is very child-directed. There are 'no identical days'. It's her aspiration to have each and every child feel heard and seen. Reflecting on our school, she feels our Kairos Market Day has affected her deeply, as she notices how much courage and initiative it draws from the pupils, it encourages her younger pupils to deal with big feelings of both disappointment and success — a wonderful example of teaching life lessons in an experiential way.