Vision and Mission statement

VISION

Merryvale is a school for severely intellectually disabled learners where we strive to empower our learners holistically, to their fullest potential, and to become meaningful citizens.

MISSION

Our staff commit themselves to their calling with ongoing and meaningful innovation, enthusiasm and empathy to optimally empower the intellectually disabled learner with basic skills and a positive outlook on life.

Merryvale – General  

SCHOOL HOURS

We close for the learners on a Monday to Thursday at 13:45 and a Friday at 13:00. There is supervision for our learners from 7:30 am and in the afternoon till 14:30.

THE MEDIUM OF INSTUCTION

English and Afrikaans

SCHOOL TRANSPORT

Selected staff and drivers collect and transport our learners to and from school in our school’s buses. Learners are picked up and dropped off at predetermined points. All drivers have a valid PDP.

CURRICULUM

As a public school, we are compelled to follow the National DCAPS curriculum

(Differentiated Curriculum) but have adapted this curriculum to meet our learners’ unique needs. The main areas of focus at Merryvale are Language, Mathematics and Life Skills. There are no formal exams at Merryvale, and promotion to the next class is done purely on age. Each Phase approaches the curriculum based on their learners’ abilities and needs. E.g. the Senior and Occupational Phase learners focus more on developing skills which include woodworking, tending the vegetable garden, hair and nail treatments, cleaning , cooking and maintaining our transport vehicles, etc.

Our Occupational Phase staff commit to assisting our senior learners through placement in internal and external working areas, where they can acquire the necessary skills to find employment once leaving Merryvale. We are very fortunate that our dedicated staff have succeeded in finding skills development opportunities for a number of our senior learners.

Our school contributes to every child’s moral, social and cultural development. We encourage traditional dances and festivities as part of our learning programme and host cultural days throughout the year.

OUTINGS

In conjunction with the phases’ term planning, learners are taken on roughly two outings per term.

TUCKSHOP

Our tuckshop is open every day before our first break. Our stock is limited, and

parents are encouraged to send a healthy lunch to school every day.

FACILITIES AT MERRYVALE

A fully equipped gym, an indoor heated swimming pool, a fully functioning kitchen, a woodwork room and a library are some of the facilities available to our learners.  Computers are available for learners in each classroom, and most classrooms are equipped with television sets and DVD players for educational viewing. A pottery and art room is available for our learners to use per their class timetable.

PHASES 

Our classes are divided into phases, not grades, and learners move on to the next phase according to their age.

The respective Phases consist of the following.

Junior Phase: 6 – 10.5 years (Eng and Afr separate classes)

Middle Phase: 10.6 – 13.5 years (Eng and Afr separate classes)

Senior Phase: 13.5 – 15.5 years (Boys and Girls separate classes with dual language teaching)

Occupational Phase:  – 15.5 – 18 years (Boys and Girls separate classes with dual language teaching)

Neural Phase – for learners who also present with physical barriers

Junior Neural Class – Roughly 6 – 11 years

Middle Neural Class –  Roughly 12 – 15 years

Senior Neural Class – Roughly 16 – 18 years

Senior Enrichment Class – 11 – 13 years

Practical Phase:  Girls:  14 – 18 years

                                 Boys: 14 – 18 years

Autistic Wing – Roughly 6 – 18 years

SPORT

We expect all our learners to participate in a sport offered at our school.

WINTER: We offer Netball and Soccer coaching, which takes place every Wednesday during our sports period. Only the Middle, Senior and Occupational Phase learners participate in these sports. Each of the other phases plans their physical activities for the sports session.

SUMMER: Athletics for all and Swimming form part of class activities. Cricket for Senior and Occupational Phase boys.

HOSTEL

Those learners who reside within the Port Elizabeth area are expected to go home every second weekend. Should you require more information regarding our hostel, don’t hesitate to contact the school.

SCHOOL UNIFORM

BOYS:  WINTER UNIFORM

• Maroon tracksuit pants and tracksuit top
• Maroon windbreaker with school badge
• White golf shirt (no buttoned, cotton school shirts)
• Grey flannels or shorts
• Grey socks
• Black school shoes
• Maroon school jersey
• Maroon pullover (optional)
• Polar fleece top

BOYS:  SUMMER UNIFORM

• White golf shirt (no buttoned, cotton school shirts)
• Grey flannels or shorts
• Grey socks
• Black school shoes
• Maroon pullover (optional)

BOYS:  SPORTSWEAR

• School T-shirt
• Black shorts
• Sport shoes

BOYS:  HAIR

(Please abide by the prescribed rules in terms of your child’s hair – see below)

• …..may not hang over or touch the collar
• …..must be neatly cut
• …..no signs/patterns may be cut/shaven into hair
• …..may not be trimmed or cut in an ultra-modern fashion
• …..may not be dyed, tinted or gelled

Learners may only wear the prescribed school uniform to school every day

EXCITING EVENTS AT MERRYVALE 

We host several annual events for our learners and parents. Some being:

• Mr and Miss Merryvale
• Girl’s High Tea
• Merryvale Has Talent
• Merryvale’s Fun Day
• Market Day
• Spring Dance/Bingo
• Parent-Teacher Meeting
• Civvies and Sokkie Days
• Nativity Play
• Awards Ceremony

Merryvale prides itself on focusing on the holistic development of each learner. To achieve this, we have prefects, green (environmental) monitors, an excellent choir, enter into music and art festivals and competitions and many more, much loved and fun activities primarily geared for our learners.

FEES

Our school fees are very reasonable and consist of school fees (payable over ten months), transport, and hostel fees.

We have a reduced payment scale available to those parents in financial need. Parents need to approach our Bursar for more information regarding this matter. Parents must apply and qualify every year to be considered.

We also have a second-hand school clothing store (only donations required as payment, if available, for items) for those learners in financial need.

EATING PROGRAMMES

These take place during school hours for our learners.

A sponsored eating programme is available every day for all learners.

Most Tuesdays and Fridays, at noon, every learner is provided with a basic meal in the classroom. It is the teachers’ responsibility to make use of this time to teach proper eating etiquette and to dish up the food. Learners are then encouraged to clean their utensils and pack away the equipment.

Category of learners and admission policy

Merryvale School caters to learners with a severe intellectual disability, with intelligence quotients between 30 and 70 (as per SSAIS). As a public school, all learners must be placed here by the Education Department, Learner Support Programmes, which is situated on Park Drive. Where there is doubt of correct placement, a probation period of 2 weeks up to 3 months will be put in place.

Learners are accepted for admission from 6 years of age and remain at Merryvale until 18.

Some of our learners progress sufficiently to be transferred to trade-orientated specialised schools such as Bergsig in Uitenhage and Westview in Newton Park, Port Elizabeth.

Learners may be enrolled at Merryvale at any age before 15 years of age.