About

History of St. Gerard's ECD Centre

The name St. Gerard’s is synonymous with the Bluff. The school was first started by the Roman Catholic sisters in the 20th century (1940’s), who also founded the Bluff Parish.

St. Gerard’s is the oldest Nursery School on the Bluff. Initially, situated at 441 Marine Drive, the previous premises was a Monastery, which was converted into the school in the 20th century.

That shoreline property of 441 Marine Drive was steeped in history, as is 43 Sormany Road.
It is believed that when Vasco Da Gama landed on the East Coast in 1497, he enjoyed fishing from the very shoreline of the old premises.

Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think.

--- Albert Einstein

In 1980, the school was bought by Anne Harrison and in 2001, I bought St. Gerard’s from Anne to prevent the school from closing down. The building was old and crumbling and I would have had to close the school to reconstruct. So by divine intervention, I stumbled across the current premises in 2005, and construction began in 2007.

We re-located St. Gerard’s to Sormany Road in 2008. The original building on the site was the House of St. Augustine, whose health was restored by the Nuns of the Parish. Thereafter, He gifted the house to the Nuns as a Summer holiday home. The Nuns then made this site a Children’s holiday home in the 20th century.

Bringing the school to Sormany Road, restores the purpose that this site was meant for.

St. Gerard’s ECD Centre’s Philosophy

LOVE to learn is one of the most precious gifts one can give a child. Education should awaken in a child the taste for real lifelong learning experience.

At St. Gerard’s ECD Centre, we are passionate about developing and caring for your child in their formative years.

We provide a well-structured, vibrant and nurturing environment to give children the very best educational start in life, which is anchored in love.

Our philosophy of: AS THE TWIG IS SHAPED, SO SHALL THE TREE GROW, shows the importance of guiding children properly.

Our Logo Displays the Perfect combination of qualities for the Optimum Development of your child:

Teddy Bear for Love (Emotional Quotient)
Ice-Cream for Fun (Social Quotient)
Books for Knowledge (Intellectual Quotient)
Tree for Growth (Physical and Motor Development)
And the Dolphins indicate our Situation along the Coast.

Investing in the next generation is vital.

Our Goals

To provide affordable, quality care for children in a clean, attractive and safe, structured, loving environment.

To foster an inclusive practice where we embrace the commonality of children and celebrate their multicultural differences.

To focus on each child’s personal development.

To bridge the large gap between home and primary school, by giving a child the best foundation for the rest of their life.

Address each child’s intellectual, aesthetic, moral, social, emotional and physical development.

Offer a range of learning opportunities, helping children acquire skills and competence.

To strive for consistency and continuity.

Foster in children the respect of others.

Encourage children to be receptive to learning.
Ignite parental participation in the education process.

To Re-invent the school to achieve success.
To enable children to achieve their full potential in all areas of their development
To complement and support Parents’ role in the development of their child through open and continual communication
To recognise and develop Staff expertise and enthusiasm.
A 2-year plan to bring the Playground indoors to eliminate poor weather conditions.
Construction of our own school hall to host our functions on the premises.
Develop excellence and quality through a broad, stimulating and well-balanced curriculum.
To become a world class facility maintaining our high quality of care provided for the children.
Develop a positive attitude towards learning and a proper respect for others through a happy, caring and relaxed environment.
Provide opportunities which encourage each child to follow their natural curiosity and interest in the world, as well as develop awareness of different cultures & lifestyles.

Our Curriculum

St. Gerard’s ECD Centre offers a welcoming and attractive environment with well-qualified, professional and vastly experienced staff and a stimulating curriculum, creating an ideal Foundation phase setting where children “learn to love learning”.

At St. Gerard’s, we firmly believe that education is a process, a step-by-step, lifelong progression; and building a proper foundation for this process is our goal.

Our efforts are best accomplished with patience, both from you as parents and from us, as care-givers and educators.

We have developed an Integrated Global Curriculum, using a Thematic approach to Early Learning Education. Through active participation in Individual, Group and Whole class activities, our learners explore a wide range of subjects, expressing their thoughts and dreams.

Physical Development

Structured Play

Life Skills

Numeracy

Literacy

Arts and Crafts (Creativity)

Music (Movement)

Reading (Storytelling)

Speaking Skills

Listening Skills

Drama

Cookery

Our Annual Calendar

Valentine’s Day Party
Easter Bonnet Parade
First Semester Photo Shoot
Mother’s Day
Annual Sports Day
Father’s Day
Second Semester Photo Shoot
Spring Bonnet Parade

Annual Concert
Grandparent’s Day
Grade 0 Graduation
Christmas Fun Day

During each term, we have Thematic Edutainment, which teaches children important Life-Skills.
Our children are entertained regularly by Clown, Puppet and Magic Shows.
We Have Community Outreach Activities e.g. Feed The Babies Fund, Tekkie Tax Day etc.
We also dress for Awareness Days e.g. in Flip-Flops, Denim, Upside Down Day etc.

At St. Gerard’s ECD Centre, we are devoted to nurturing the leaders of tomorrow, one child at a time. We appreciate your consideration in becoming a part of our community!