School life · Botshelo jwa sekolo

A school year, in twelve quiet pictures.

From the Monday assembly to the Grade 7 farewell, this is roughly the rhythm of a year on this courtyard. Click any picture to see it large.

Children standing in rows on the courtyard for Monday assembly — Monday assemblyThe pledge, the anthem, news of the week

Children breaking the finish line tape on a dusty grass track — Inter-house sports dayGrade 5 100m final

Girls in matching yellow and blue costumes performing on a small wooden stage — Arts festivalSetswana songs at dusk

Six children reading picture books on a colourful classroom rug — Reading weekTwenty quiet minutes

Grade 6 children gathered around a museum display of beaded artifacts — Grade 6 excursionThe Mahikeng Museum

School choir rehearsing in two rows with their teacher conducting — Choir rehearsalFriday afternoons, Mr. Dlamini

Children working on an Arduino starter kit with a teacher — Robotics clubWednesdays, after school

A Grade 4 girl proudly showing her schoolwork to her mother — Open dayA small show-and-tell

Children walking in heritage day procession in mixed traditional dress — Heritage DayLe letsatsi la bongwe

Grade 7 farewell ceremony with the principal handing a certificate — Grade 7 farewellThe handover of certificates

Children handing veld flowers and a folded card to a teacher — Teachers’ dayVeld flowers and a card

Grade 4 children seated in a semicircle holding sealed envelopes — Ten years growingA letter from each parent

There is no single, big moment that makes a school. It is the second Tuesday of every month — choir, garden, drill, story — doing it again, on purpose, kindly.