Term 4 at Newberry | Message from Alistair
7 October 2026
Dear Newberry community,
Welcome back as we enter the final term of 2026.
Our broader 2026 theme has been focusing on our core as we grow, and I am excited to share a few highlights with you on how we have done so across key areas.
Practically, this has meant continually improving the quality of our educational offering, investing in the environments and experiences that support it, and ensuring that as we grow, we strengthen what makes us distinctively Newberry.
Below is a brief look back at how we have grown over the past term, as well as what lies ahead as we enter the final stretch of the year.
EDUCATION
Authentic Montessori education lies at the heart of our offering at Newberry House. We are therefore very excited to be one of 12 pilot schools across the world for the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) Global Schools Accreditation programme (GSA). We look forward to an enriching experience as our team works with other Montessori schools and mentors from across the world.
As part of our commitment to continually improving our practice and upholding authentic Montessori standards, we are also committed to AMI training for our team in addition to their existing training and experience.
Last term, Melanie Moodie, our HOD for Toddlers and Pre-primary, started the first module of the AMI 6-12 Diploma course. Four members of our Elementary team, including our two interns, are also currently doing the second module of the AMI 6-12 Diploma. Three AMI Orientation courses were also completed: Aimee Maasdorp (0-3), and Marcelle Armstrong and Megan Hopkins (3-6).
Another highlight of Term 3 was learner-led conferences, where our learners gave their parents demonstrations of the materials in Elementary and talked them through their reports in Middle School.
Term 4 started a week early for our High School students as a result of the Cambridge exams. We wish our students writing Cambridge Checkpoint, IGCSE and AS-level exams this term all the best!
Together, these initiatives reflect a deliberate investment in the quality of our Montessori practice, the depth of our team, our commitment to Cambridge standards and our focus on giving learners the opportunity to own their learning.
ENVIRONMENT
We have focused on our prepared environment, our virtual environment and environmental stewardship over the past term.
Environmental stewardship is not an add-on at Newberry, but an integral part of our culture and offering across all age groups. Everyday examples were shared at the Pre-primary parent evening; Elementary has taken ownership by making planter boxes for their environments, and Middle School has been constructing a natural amphitheatre in the forest behind the school. A big thank you as well to everyone involved with the recent beach cleanup.
Our physical environment is also constantly being enhanced. Our new Science lab has been completed and various parts of the grounds have been upgraded. A major project that will commence shortly is the preparation of two new buildings that will add capacity to our growing Middle School.
The virtual environment at Newberry has also been improved. If you have not recently visited our website, take a look at www.newberry.co.za, which also includes an interactive calendar feature and a parent portal that will be coming soon.
The investment in our physical, ecological and virtual environments will both enhance our current offering and prepare us for future growth.
EXPERIENCE
At Newberry, we not only learn through academics but also through rich experiences that will stay with our learners and form a major part of their development.
Our Grade 11s have been fantastic ambassadors for Newberry during their recent work experience, organised completely by themselves with a variety of local professionals. Experiences included engineering, sports science, biochemistry, cattery, property, medicine, physiotherapy, interior design and piloting.
The Lourensford cellar hosted the Newberry Art Exhibition through August and September, exhibiting top-quality art pieces from our Middle and High School students under the guidance of Karna de Villiers.
We also celebrated two milestones as learners enter a new stage of life. Our matrics celebrated their official last day of school before exams by visiting each plane as they reflected on their journey through Newberry, and our Grade 9s celebrated their last two days of Middle School by hiking up to Johnson’s Hut, from where they hiked up the beautiful Sneeukopkloof. This experience showed them that they are able to climb literal and metaphorical mountains as a team, and that they are ready to enter their next stage.
Last term, we also saw tremendous growth in our soccer and netball teams, and hosted a successful mountain bike relay event from the school. All our learners in Elementary and Middle School also experienced cricket in our new facility with the FP Elite coaches, and we are very excited to see how cricket grows as a sport at Newberry.
A dedicated media team, which has also been mentoring our Middle Schoolers, has been documenting many of these highlights through video and interviews on our social media platforms. If you are not already following us, these are a great way to stay connected with what is happening across Newberry.
NEWBERRY AT SPIER
Our theme of focusing on our core as we grow is especially relevant in our next chapter, as we prepare to open our second campus at Spier.
After much preparation, we are excited that Newberry at Spier will be opening on 12 October for Toddlers and Pre-primary.
Tours run on Wednesdays at 13:00 and if you are curious to see the new campus, or know of someone who may be interested, you are welcome to book a slot through our new website.
As the second campus opens, we are committed to further strengthening our core offering so that communities served by both campuses benefit from authentic Montessori education in a beautifully prepared environment, with the same emphasis on real-life learning experiences that defines Newberry. As learners progress into later phases, this is complemented by our Cambridge pathway.
As we enter the final term, our focus remains on finishing the year strongly at Lourensford while establishing Spier well and continuing to strengthen the foundations for 2027.
As we look ahead to the final stretch of the year, I would like to thank our team: our educators, for the passion with which they prepare the next generation each day; our admin team, for the support they provide behind the scenes; our facilities team, who provide a pristine prepared environment for us to enjoy, and our aftercare team for the service they provide throughout the term and holidays.
To our parents: thank you for your support. It is an honour to be on this journey with you and your family.
Kind regards,
 | Alistair Green Head of School |
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