Welcome to Woodcrest!

Dear Woodcrest Academy Families,

A very warm welcome to the 2025 school year! We are thrilled to welcome both our new families to the Woodcrest community and our returning families who are back for another exciting year. Whether you’re new to our school or returning for another year of learning, we’re all in for an enriching and memorable year ahead.

As we begin this new school year, we encourage you to check the year and term calendars for important dates and upcoming events. Keeping track of these dates will help you stay informed and plan ahead for school activities, holidays, and special events. We don’t want anyone to miss out on any of the fun and learning happening throughout the year!

A couple of important housekeeping reminders to ensure a smooth start:

• Stationery & Uniforms: Please ensure that all stationery is brought to school and clearly labelled with your child’s name. This helps prevent any mix-ups and ensures that items are returned to the correct students. Similarly, please make sure your child’s uniform is also labelled, so it’s easily identifiable and avoids getting lost in the bustle of the school day.
• Sun Safety: As we are still in the warmer months, it’s important to remember sun safety. Please make sure your child brings sunblock to school, along with a navy blue school hat to protect them from the sun during outdoor activities. We want to keep all our learners safe and comfortable while they enjoy their time in the sunshine!

We are looking forward to a year full of exciting learning opportunities, growth, and accomplishments. Our dedicated team of teachers and staff is here to support your child every step of the way. We encourage open communication between home and school, so please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or need assistance throughout the year.

We wish all our learners and their families the very best as we kick off this new chapter together. Let’s make 2025 a year to remember—full of success, joy, and community spirit. We can’t wait to see what our students will achieve this year!

And remember our motto;

Always Our Best

Warm regards,
Ruth Hannah
Principal, Woodcrest Academy

 

About Woodcrest Academy

At Woodcrest Academy, we provide a high-quality education that is fully aligned with CAPS requirements, covering all primary school subjects except for Zulu, which is taught at a conversational level up to Grade 3. Our learners thrive in a nurturing and supportive environment where learning feels like home, allowing them to excel academically, emotionally, and socially. The positive feedback we consistently receive from learners, parents, and the wider community is a testament to the dedication and care we put into each child’s education.

Our small class sizes are central to our learner-centred philosophy, allowing us to focus on the unique needs of each child. With the support of carefully selected, SACE-registered, qualified teachers, we are able to implement personalised teaching strategies that nurture not just academic success, but also emotional and social growth. At Woodcrest, we believe in supporting every child to reach their full potential, in line with our school motto: “Always Our Best.” We are committed to fostering a warm, inclusive environment where learners can thrive academically and personally, becoming confident, well-rounded individuals contributing to our society.

All of this is provided with the magnificent 180 degree backdrop of the Indian ocean, rolling sugar cane fields and Umdoni Reserve.

Ethos:

At Woodcrest Academy, we embrace traditional values like kindness, hard work, and respect, encouraging our students to be the best versions of themselves without comparing their progress to others.  We believe in a balanced approach to discipline—firm yet caring—that helps our learners enjoy their educational journey while learning important values. Woodcrest Academy gives its  children the space to be children, to enjoy every stage of their development, and to thrive in a supportive and joyful environment.

Our outdoor lifestyle is an essential part of this ethos, where learners are encouraged to play barefoot, explore nature, and climb trees. Play is an important part of their development, and we encourage our students to engage with each other to develop strong social skills and positive conduct. While they are on the playground, full of enriching play equipment, they are closely monitored by our teachers to ensure a safe play.

Our curriculum instils a deep love for the natural world and its conservation, with the added benefit of being located near Nkumbane Dam and Umdoni Nature Reserve—both within walking distance of the school. We also have an annual camping weekend, which is the highlight of the year for the learners.

At Woodcrest, we foster a culture of tolerance and respect, ensuring that bullying or discrimination has no place in our school community. We are committed to helping every child grow academically, emotionally, and socially, while instilling the values that will guide them throughout their lives.

Aftercare: Aftercare and supervised homework are available at the school for an additional fee. Please contact Buyi Hlongwa on 084 076 8725.

Preschool: Our preschool phase opened in January 2022 and is going from strength to strength, catering for Grades RRR to R.