Minnie Bersohn Pre-Primary

Minnie Bersohn Pre Primary School

In May of 1969 Becky Joffe was approached by the executive of Sandton Shul to open a Pre-Primary School in Sandton. This was primarily to encourage membership of the synagogue. The school was opened in January 1970 on the grounds of the Jewish Guild.  In 1985 the school moved to its current location situated on the grounds of the BHH Sandton Shul. It was around this time that the Bersohn Family Trust invested in this school and the name was changed to “Minnie Bersohn”.
 

The school has and continues to be a leading light amongst Jewish Pre-Primary Schools in the Sandton area. Over the years it has been led by illustrious principals Sandy Pamensky and Joan Lurie who have ensured that the school serves the needs of the community by introducing young children to an exceptional Jewish education.
 

As the requirements of the school grew both financially and in the area of education, discussions were entered into between Sandton Shul and the South African Board of Jewish Education.  Commencing January 2007 an agreement was finalised and the day to day running of the school became the responsibility of the SABJE.
 

With this agreement came a significant investment of funds which has enabled the school to complete a major renovation and upgrade of its grounds. The school now boasts custom made jungle gyms and play equipment erected and installed in such a way as to maximise the playing area and at the same time ensuring a safe and secure environment for the children to learn and play.

Minnie Bersohn prides itself on being a child-centred environment offering a variety of quality leaning experiences for all children.  Teachers are well-qualified, many holding post-graduate degrees.  All teachers continue to attend conferences and workshops, keeping abreast with the latest world-wide trends in education.  The school follows an Outcomes Based Curriculum where children learn essential life skills through music and song, movement and ball skills, creative arts and baking and Chalav U’dvash Hebrew lessons.  More formal learning also takes place and Literacy, Numeracy, Life Skills and Judaica form the cornerstones of the curriculum.  Secular studies are of the highest standard and religious education forms an integral part of each day.  Shabbat and Chaggim are always celebrated with great enthusiasm.
 

This school is divided into three separate sections catering for the different age groups, each boasting its own beautiful playground with jungle gyms and apparatus suitable to that specific age group:

• Children commence their schooling career at age 2 in the Play school. 
• The Junior Unit caters for children who are 3 turning 4. 
• The children then move down to the Senior Unit which houses the 4-5 year olds and the Grade R groups. 

After their years of fun-filled educational experiences, children graduate from Minnie Bersohn equipped with the life skills and confidence necessary to tackle the challenge of Primary School.
 

The school is currently headed by Mandi Defries who holds a BA(UNISA), H.Dip.Ed(JCE) and B.Ed(Honours)(RAU). Together with a team of exceptional teachers and staff, Minnie Bersohn combines a loving, warm and nurturing learning opportunity in a state of the art environment.
 

Mandi Defries

Principal