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OVERVIEW
Cedarwood School, is an inclusive, co-educational remedial Preparatory School (Grade 1 – 6) and College
We are a member of The Independent Schools Association of Southern Africa, (ISASA).
Set in the scenic country setting of Glenferness, north of Johannesburg, our school comprises around 280 pupils drawn from a broad demographic group across Gauteng.
We are equipped to provide a supportive, non-competitive environment where pupils can regain lost confidence and work to the best of their abilities and potential.
Our classes are small, allowing the necessary time for individual attention and monitoring by our remedial teachers so that pupils advance steadily, build self-esteem, and start to believe in themselves and their abilities. A full range of therapists ensures that all areas of development are supported and barriers to learning accommodated.
Cedarwood School is a Non-Profit Organisation with PBO status and governed by a board of trustees. The members of the board give generously of their time and expertise, offering sound governance and prudent financial management of the school’s affairs.
Board Members:
Thando Sibindi, Jeanine Kerr, Phillip Kotze, Jacqueline Staniforth, Nomsa Chabeli, Thirumala Pillay, Diane Grimley and Nerona Ramkissoon.
HISTORY
Cedarwood has its roots deep in the local community. In the mid-1990’s, a group of parents established a remedial school in Chartwell so that their children, who had different needs, could be accommodated. They called that school Cedarwood.
A non-profit company was established and in January 1998, Cedarwood Preparatory School operated from 113 Dunmaglass Road, Glenferness, with 34 pupils, 4 remedial teachers and 4 therapists.
Cathy Plewman took on the role of principal and bursar and Jayshree Ranchod joined Cedarwood as the school’s educationalist psychologist. Mrs Plewman handed over the reigns in the early 2000s but the roots that had been established by the school’s founders allowed Cedarwood to go from strength to strength.
In 2009, a college was started on the adjacent property and through a conscientious effort to follow the best practices, the school’s leadership team and dedicated staff have made improvements and enhancements wherever possible, keeping up to date with leading trends and putting Cedarwood at the forefront of remedial education in Johannesburg.
For a number of years, Cedarwood has maintained a pupil population just below 300 and has ensured its high staff-to-pupil ratio which creates such benefit for Cedarwood pupils.
A MESSAGE FROM AN LEARNING SUPPORT THERAPIST
Learning isn’t one-size-fits-all. At Cedarwood School, we believe that learning happens when we meet children where they are. Our dedicated and passionate staff thrive on working together to help the children under our care find their own path to their unique potential.
Cedarwood School’s multidisciplinary team, including our school-based support team and onsite private therapists (i.e., educational psychologists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and speech therapists), works closely with teachers, parents, and guardians to support our children and help them be the best they can be. We also continually engage in professional development to grow within our field of expertise and stay up to date with best practices to support children and their parents and guardians.
Beyond academics, our team of professionals and staff work together to help strengthen our children’s resilience and self-esteem, and to help them develop a genuine love for learning. Our welcoming environment embodies the principles of a growth mindset, encouraging our children to embrace challenges as learning opportunities, value effort and strategy, and see mistakes as opportunities to learn. The process of growth is celebrated because when praise is directed toward how a child approaches a task rather than the task’s outcome, it often sparks joy, motivation, and confidence that extend far beyond the classroom.
I am inspired daily by my colleagues’ dedication and the growth we witness in the children under our care. Seeing our children discover their abilities and passions is what makes being an English Support Therapist at Cedarwood School so fulfilling. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to be part of each of our children’s incredible journeys.
Sarah Baloyi
BE THE BEST THAT YOU CAN BE
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Address
113 Dunmaglass Rd
Glenferness
Midrand
P.O. Box 812
Witkoppen
2068
