Cloudberry Connect

Cloudberry Connect First cottage school in Retreat for neurodivergent kids (6+ or primary school start). Adapted CAPS, small groups.

We recently had the absolute privilege of chatting with the brilliant minds behind Spark: Learning Adventures App—a prou...
24/07/2026

We recently had the absolute privilege of chatting with the brilliant minds behind Spark: Learning Adventures App—a proudly South African learning tool built specifically around the CAPS curriculum!

​Say a goodbye to dollars & trying to adapt to foreign curriculums that just don't click with our kids! The vision & passion behind this app are truly next-level, & I have zero doubt that Sparky will be lighting up all our children’s screens very soon.

​A massive, heartfelt THANK YOU to the incredible team behind the scenes for introducing us to Spark & allowing us explore this phenomenal educational adventure.

We cannot wait to see where this journey goes!

The holiday projects are in, & I am absolutely blown away!​Our learners were challenged to think about what our classroo...
23/07/2026

The holiday projects are in, & I am absolutely blown away!
​Our learners were challenged to think about what our classroom needed & build it using recycled materials—& wow, did they deliver!

The level of creativity is off the charts. We have incredible sensory items made from old bottles, glitter, Orbeez, popsicle sticks, buttons, scrubbing pads...



We even had a FIFA World Cup–themed pencil box brought in, made with so much love! It was crafted using an ice cream tub, empty toilet rolls, & egg tray, & an incredible amount of heart & effort!

Seeing their imagination & dedication in action is just amazing!

This one truly brought the biggest smile to my face! One of our learners noticed how often erasers seem to go missing & took matters into his own hands—creating a custom storage box just for our classroom erasers!

​Using an old box & popsicle sticks, he built a dedicated home for them so we’ll never lose another one.

The thought, problem-solving, & sweetness behind this project is just everything!

Talk about next-level creativity! This pencil box was custom-designed to look like—& I quote—"A PlayStation 5"!

​His vision for it was incredible: he explained that while it holds all his creative supplies, it also lets him bring his favourite games to life in a way that’s just as vibrant, exciting, & colorful as the real thing!

​He built the entire setup using an old box, toilet rolls, an egg carton, leftover wrapping paper, & his favorite stickers.

Seeing our learners turn everyday recycling into pure magic is just the absolute best!

Talk about smart classroom problem-solving! Instead of getting up every single time to sharpen his pencil at the bin, this learner built his very own mini desk bin!

​He used a small old box, colourful scrap paper, & a piece of plastic to secure it right at his workspace.

I love seeing our learners use their creativity to make everyday classroom life just a little bit easier!

Now this one was SO cool & brilliant!

​One of our learners took his favourite subject & created a interactive, hands-on math game—not just for himself, but to help out any cla

We have officially closed applications for our Teacher’s Assistant position due to a high volume of CVs received. While ...
21/07/2026

We have officially closed applications for our Teacher’s Assistant position due to a high volume of CVs received. While we wish we could accommodate everyone, we only have one spot available.

​I want to be completely open with you all. Reading through the applications, it was disheartening to see so many identical, AI-generated cover letters. While technology has its place, working here requires a connection that comes straight from the heart. To many, this may just be another job post—but to me, this school is my life, my passion, & my purpose.

​For those who are new to our tribe, I encourage you to take a look at where we started & how we teach. Finding the right person to step into our classroom isn't just about filling a vacancy; it’s about opening up my heart & space to someone who shares a similar vision & dedication. It's daunting.

​Working with autistic children can be challenging, but it is truly the most rewarding work in the universe. We are looking for someone who sees it the exact same way.

​Thank you to everyone who took the time to apply! ❤️

For a long time, I carried the weight of trying to "shape a world where everyone belongs" entirely on my own shoulders. ...
20/07/2026

For a long time, I carried the weight of trying to "shape a world where everyone belongs" entirely on my own shoulders. I wanted so desperately to reach out to each & every child by myself, but I finally realized that true, lasting change doesn't happen in isolation.

​So, I took a leap of faith. I decided to share my knowledge, heart, & passion with other ECD practitioners & parents, hoping that if the seeds I planted reached just one child, it would make a difference. I wanted to help others truly understand neurodiversity & how to build environments of genuine inclusion.

​To be completely honest, I never thought I would ever stand up & speak to a group of people about what I am most passionate about. I was terrified no one would even pitch up.

​But they did. 🥹❤️

​The workshop turned out to be an incredibly engaging space filled with shared experiences, tears, & pure joy. We laughed, we cried, & we connected. While everyone left overwhelmed with new information, they walked out the door with a profound understanding of how to shape their classrooms &homes into spaces where every single child belongs.

​I knew I wanted to make a difference—& I did. I stepped out of my comfort zone, & I truly hope the knowledge & expertise shared will ripple out to reach those beautiful little ones who simply want to be seen, understood, & included in the bigger picture.

​Thank you to everyone who showed up, opened their hearts, & is walking this journey with me. We are shaping the world, one classroom & one home at a time.

We had a mid-year party, & honestly? It was the most well-deserved celebration ever.​Why? Because my incredible children...
30/06/2026

We had a mid-year party, & honestly? It was the most well-deserved celebration ever.

​Why? Because my incredible children kicked the standard CAPS curriculum to the curb! Was it easy? Heck no. The road wasn't paved for them, but they walked it anyway. They proved to themselves—& to the world—that they absolutely can, & they DID.

​As a teacher, I am big on recognition & rewards. So, we did it our way: we dressed up in our favourite pajamas, shared our best treats, & everyone received a little badge of recognition, each one completely unique to their brilliant personalities. Boy, were they proud of themselves! We screamed, we clapped, * we lifted each other up with the loudest "well dones."

​When the world sees "different," we see a collection of unique, undeniable strengths. My children are fully aware that they are autistic, but they also know it’s just one beautiful, special part of who they are—their diagnosis will never define them.

​To my brave, resilient, hard-working children: I see you, I celebrate you, & I am so honoured to be on this journey with you.

It’s not very often that a business reaches out just to bless our children. When a local, small business went above & be...
30/06/2026

It’s not very often that a business reaches out just to bless our children. When a local, small business went above & beyond to bring our children’s drawings to life as a forever keepsake for Father’s Day, we were completely taken aback.

​While it might seem like a simple gesture to some, to our children & their parents, it was absolutely everything.

​Moments like this warm my heart & serve as a beautiful reminder: there are people out there who truly see our children.

Thank you for recognizing their magic & turning their creativity into something we will cherish forever Stickerbility ❤️

This is absolutely EVERYTHING! 😍 As a neuro-inclusive teacher, the second I saw this range, I knew I had to grab it & ch...
25/06/2026

This is absolutely EVERYTHING! 😍 As a neuro-inclusive teacher, the second I saw this range, I knew I had to grab it & check it out for myself.

​The moment it arrived, I was inspecting every single detail, & my absolute favourite has to be the ruler with the "How are you feeling?" pointer option. This is a massive win & an absolute game-changer for our non-speaking learners!

​Honestly, massive congratulations to Maped Helix South Africa 🇿🇦 for launching this range. I could be wrong, but I haven't seen another brand step up & do something like this.

Thank you, Maped, for truly seeing our neurodivergent learners! 😭❤️

​The pencils are also fantastic, though as a teacher, I’d love to see those chunky, triangular beginner pencils get some of this inclusive 'support' too in the future!

23/06/2026

We had a vision to create a safe, nurturing space of learning for our children from our community, so we took a massive leap of faith & converted our garage into a classroom.

It has been the biggest, most challenging DIY project I have ever taken on—a true labour of love to build a room filled with hope & light.

​But as an independent, specialized space, we’ve only been able to take it so far on our own due to limited resources. Our children deserve a space that fully matches their incredible potential, & we need a little help to get it across the finish line!

​ Medal Paint South Africa Saint-Gobain Africa please choose us! Help us turn this room of hope into the ultimate dream learning environment for our resilient, hard-working children.

I can’t quite believe I am writing this, but the first half of the year is officially wrapped up. Two full terms are beh...
23/06/2026

I can’t quite believe I am writing this, but the first half of the year is officially wrapped up. Two full terms are behind us.

​If I’m being completely honest, a few months ago, fear was a very real factor. The unknown is always daunting. But today, as I look back at where we started & see the incredible growth in our children, that fear has been completely replaced by overwhelming pride & satisfaction.

​To anyone who ever doubted these beautiful minds, who ever defined them by a limitation or said "they can’t"—guess what? They can, & they absolutely did. They confidently kicked CAPS to the curb.

​Our children deserve every bit of recognition. They have worked so incredibly hard, pushing through moments of anxiety, sweat, & even tears to get to where they are today. Because I am so bursting with pride, these little DIY badges & treats are just my small way of showing them how much their effort means.

​At Cloudberry Connect, we don't believe in narrow definitions of success. Every single one of my children are a top achiever in their own right, & every single one of them deserves to wear their badge with honor.

​Here’s to breaking boundaries, rewriting the rules of education, and c​elebrating limitless potential of our neurodivergent children.

#

Being a neuro-inclusive teacher means constantly thinking about how to meet our children exactly where they are. It’s ab...
15/06/2026

Being a neuro-inclusive teacher means constantly thinking about how to meet our children exactly where they are. It’s about asking: "How can I make this learning come to life?"

​I truly believe we all learn best through real experiences—especially the fun, memorable ones that stick like glue!

​Here is a super simple DIY I created for Mathematics. The best part? It completely catered to all my learners, meeting them at all their different levels.

Proof that inclusion doesn’t have to be complicated to be impactful!

Address

68 Allenby Drive
Retreat
7945

Telephone

+27767325052

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Cloudberry Connect posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The School

Send a message to Cloudberry Connect:

Shortcuts

Share

Category