Tips for Parents during Lock-Down

Carla Geustyn • May 5, 2020

A woman is helping a boy with his homework at a table.

Family lives have changed rapidly as parents and guardians have come to terms with the challenges of parenting during the Covid-19 Lock-down period. During this difficult time parents have had to adapt to living, working and educating their children from home. We are currently in Level 4 of the lock-down phase and parents, learners and teachers are uncertain of what the future is holding. Learners of Southdowns College receive online teaching and learning. We say thank you to parents for your assistance with helping your children to be online when they need to be.

Here are some tips for parents during lock-down:

Keep a daily routine (Schedule)

It is important to keep a daily routine as if still in school and explain the rules to the children. In this way parents are helping their children to maintain some normality. It is important for parents to encourage their children to be productive. Make sure to start each day with a good breakfast and know what the day ahead involves. Children need to understand that this is not a vacation.

Extra-mural activities

During this time SDC provides online extra-mural activities such as chess, dance, music and a dedicated sport program tailored to the sport specialties. The goal of extra-mural activities is to give better fitness to learners and teach a sense of sportsmanship, leadership and team spirit.

Dedicated work environment or space

Try to create a clear workspace away from all distractions that learners are able to use during school hours. In this way parents are able to encourage their children to focus on their school work and not be distracted by the comforts of being in their own home. Ideally, this area should be a quiet area, not to comfortable and central to a point in the house where your child is able to ask for advice when needed.

Take regular breaks

Regular breaks are important as the rest of these tips. It creates a balance of work and relaxation. Keep to the daily routine and add time for a lunch break. This will help learners to maintain motivation.

Offline stimulation

Offline activities can be fun but still educational for learners, keeping their brains stimulated. It includes activities such as Sudoku and paper-based games.

Life skills

Engage children in doing chores like emptying the bin, sweeping the floors helping with food preparation. This enables quality time that focuses on life skills. Chores are the glue that keeps families together. It builds confidence and independence. Teach your child values in order to grow and develop. They help us to create the future we want to experience.

Parenting is made harder by uncertainty, stress and economic stress. Comfort your child during this uneasy time. Talk to your children to make sure that they are coping. If they are struggling to cope, please get in contact with me and we can arrange a check-in session.

At this stage there is no guarantee on when our learners are going back to school but the SDC team is here to help and assist parents and learners through this difficult time.

Please watch the video on parenting tips:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VjCFAd8Ju8&list=WL&index=23&t=0s

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SDC Open Day: Showcasing the Best of the Best

By Anoyolo Ndzamela • October 6, 2025

Southdowns College’s second open day of 2025 was an absolute success! Various departments of the school came together to showcase the excellence that the school provides and highlighted the values of integrity, hard work and humility that the school stands for. All the newly elected SEC members provided tours of the campus and explained the environment in which the future pupils will be in - one conducive for growth. It is a difficult task to encapsulate all the school has to offer into a few minutes, but the prefects went above and beyond to ensure that parents were left with a sparkling impression. The teachers invested their hearts and soul into their mini exhibitions, experiments, decorations and (most importantly) explaining what is offered in their respective subjects to the parents. Simultaneously, the Sports and Culture departments put together performances and workshops, to display the wonders and talents of Southdowns College. Not only did the wind blow strongly through the trees – the parents’ socks were blown off! A job well done, College!

What Does it Mean to Wear the Black Blazer?

By Rofhiwa Sipho Tshikhudo • October 6, 2025

At Southdowns College, the rust blazer unites us all. It is the symbol of belonging, of being part of something bigger than ourselves. But for the Black Blazer? It’s not just uniform, but a statement. The Black Blazer is earned – it isn’t handed out for show. It is a commitment to service, leadership and discipline. Wearing it doesn’t elevate us above anyone, it places us under the everlasting pressure of great power and greater responsibility. We don’t wear the blazer for status: we wear it because we chose to serve, and because the school community expects us to deliver. We serve the blazer, it does not serve us. Every morning when we put it on, we are reminded: “We represent more than ourselves. Our peers look to us for guidance; our teachers trust us to carry the values of Southdowns, and our actions reflect on the entire SEC.” That is no small weight... it isn’t supposed to be. The blazer demands respect – not because of its colour, but because of the responsibility stitched into it. It is a promise to lead by example, to stand firm when it’s easier to sit back, to make tough calls, and to act when silence would be easier. It is a challenge to work harder, listen better, and to push ourselves further. The Black Blazer does not make us special. What makes it special is that it holds us accountable every single day. It demands humility, pride, and strength. It reminds us that leadership isn’t about being seen – its about making a difference, even when no one is watching. This is why we wear it with conviction. This is why it matters. The Black Blazer is not about privilege. It is about service. It is about being the best version of ourselves.

The Black Blazer – A New Chapter Begins

By Jayden Paulse • October 6, 2025

There are a few moments you will never forget during your high school career: your first day in grade 8; the first test you failed; your first crush. However, few shine as bright as the moment being inducted into the Student Executive Council (SEC) of 2025/2026. On 3 September 2025, the new prefect body’s blood, sweat and tears were finally acknowledged as they were cheered onto the stage by peers, teachers, parents and their predecessors (the SEC of 2024/2025). The road to acquiring the black blazer is never easy: rounds of voting, hours putting in the extra work to prove yourself, while trying to cheer on your friends and competing against them at the same time, is no easy feat. None of the new SEC members knew their portfolios or the role that they would be playing for the next 12 months before being called upon. The atmosphere was tense with anticipation and bitter-sweet moments: while not all the prefects got the role their hearts desired, every one of them knew what a privilege it was to be walking the stage and exchanging their rust blazer for their black one. Amongst the nerves were moments of pride, tears and joy as the school community watched parents beam at their children’s accomplishments, signing their declaration to the school and taking their seats. The crowd also cooed at the cute childhood photos that were sported proudly next to their current school photo. The adorable kindergarten faces and poses simply won over everyone’s hearts! To our new SEC of 2025/2026: CONGRATULATIONS! We know that the journey has not been easy and is far from being done. We look forward to seeing your vision for Southdowns College come to fruition and seeing what story your lanterns will tell!