Elementary updates for 2027 | Newberry House
5 November 2026
Dear Elementary parents,
As we approach the end of the year, I would like to share a few exciting updates regarding developments in our Elementary plane.
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NEW UPPER ELEMENTARY CLASS AT LOURENSFORD IN 2027
We are delighted to announce that we will be opening a new Upper Elementary class at Lourensford in 2027.
Rooibos, the classroom above the astro that is currently being used by Middle School, will become our third Upper Elementary environment at Lourensford.
Kevin Fuller, one of our 2026 Elementary interns, has been appointed as the Guide, alongside Mandy Reisinger as the Assistant.
Kevin holds a BEd (Intermediate Phase), is an experienced sports coach, and is currently completing his AMI 6-12 Diploma. Montessori education resonates strongly with his values of independence, initiative and inclusive growth. We are excited to see him take this next step in his journey with Newberry.
Mandy brings many years of experience working with children aged 6-12. She most recently taught in a 9-12 Montessori environment at The Bay Academy in Hout Bay, before joining us in Term 3 to cover in Breeze while Dewald attended his AMI training. She is currently also supporting Stephanie as a temporary Assistant in Oak while Nicole completes her observations for the AMI 6-12 Diploma.
Mandy's teaching philosophy centres on the belief that children learn best when they feel relaxed, happy, engaged and inspired to explore and grow.
We are excited about the combination of experience and energy that Kevin and Mandy will bring to Rooibos.
TRANSITIONS TO MIDDLE SCHOOL IN TERM 4
This year, we introduced a change to our transition process, with our final-year Upper Elementary learners moving into Middle School at the beginning of Term 4, rather than waiting until the start of the new academic year.
There are two main reasons for this approach.
Firstly, it gives our Upper Elementary learners additional time to settle into the Middle School environment, build relationships and become familiar with new routines and expectations. This allows them to begin the new academic year with greater confidence.
Secondly, our final-year Middle School learners also transition to High School in Term 4, giving them time to adjust to the Cambridge programme before the new academic year begins. This creates capacity in Middle School to welcome our Upper Elementary learners earlier, while still allowing learners to experience a full three years in Middle School.
We have received encouraging feedback on the transitions so far and believe this approach supports a smoother progression between the different planes of development.
Our intention is to continue with this transition process in 2027.
NEW ELEMENTARY CLASS AT SPIER IN 2027
We are also delighted to announce that Nicole Meyer, another of our 2026 Elementary interns, has been appointed as the Guide for our first Elementary class at Spier in 2027.
Nicole has been preparing for an Elementary Guide role through her internship and AMI training, and we are excited to see her take this next step as we establish our Elementary offering at Spier.
We are currently finalising the practical arrangements for the opening of this class in early 2027 and will share further updates as plans are confirmed.
Parents who would like to know more about the Spier campus are welcome to contact the school office.
ELEMENTARY LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT
As our Elementary plane continues to grow, we are also strengthening the leadership and support structures around our Guides and environments.
Dewald Pretorius has been appointed as Academic Head of Department for Elementary and works closely with Kym van Straaten, our AMI 6-12 mentor, and Allan Nguyen, our AMI 6-12 trainer, to support the continued development of our Elementary programme.
Marcelle Armstrong provides administrative and operational support to the Elementary plane.
For matters relating to your child's learning and development, your child's Guide remains your first point of contact. Broader academic matters can be directed to Dewald (dewald@newberry.co.za), while administrative and operational queries can be directed to Marcelle (marcelle@newberry.co.za).
Thank you for your continued support as we prepare for a strong finish to 2026 and look ahead to the exciting developments that 2027 holds for Newberry.
Warm regards,
 | Alistair Green Head of School |
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