education*
H
illcrest will soon welcome a brand new 80-pupil preschool located at Emberton Estate. The Emberton Preschool will open its brightly coloured doors to a growing community in January 2022, with two enthusiastic and experienced owners at the helm. Tracy Smith, an educationalist, and Estelle van den Berg, previous owner of Clifton Hill Nursery School and a credit analyst, have exciting plans. With one partner well versed in hands-on education, and the other having been in both banking and school management, children and parents will certainly be in good hands. “We’ll both be involved in management. I’ll be involved in the administration and
Working parents will enjoy the benefits of a school which doesn’t close during school holidays
Big news for LITTLE ones
WITH A FOCUS ON EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING THROUGH PLAY, THE BRAND NEW EMBERTON PRESCHOOL WILL BE OPEN TO EVERYONE appeals to young children and responds to early childhood development needs. Together with Walker Smith Architects, Tracy, Estelle and their husbands, Andrew and Albert, rolled up their sleeves and added their experience and passion to the project. Tracy’s a qualified intermediate phase teacher (Grades 4 to 7) and has taught for 25 years. She’s also taught remedial programmes at two senior primary schools in the area, so she knows what’s needed. So, too, does Estelle – and together they’ve created a building which combines
curriculum planning, and Estelle will oversee teachers and the daily operations. We intend to appoint a head teacher to assist in establishing and maintaining a staff with the right balance of empathy, qualification and work ethic. We can’t wait to get going,” says Tracy. Emberton Preschool will be open to everyone in the Upper Highway area and beyond. Its location is super convenient – with great access from the M13 and Hillcrest’s Old Main Road. The school is situated just outside the main gate to Emberton Estate, making it easy for busy parents to drop off, pick up and head off to work, home or the shops. The design of a school is always of major importance, particularly in terms of creating a dynamic and exciting environment which
32
w w w . t h e c r e s t o n l i n e . c o . z a
P
04
