GEORGE NEWS - Set in an idyllic location surrounded by green grass and fresh air, this school’s children feed and look after geese, pigs, a donkey and guinea pigs during their school day as well as fitting in all the necessary school work and socialising with friends.

Having recently set up classroom, literally, at the Plantjie Nursery outside George, is the Wonderboom Educational Centre headed up by Noekie Pienaar, a neurofeeback therapist.

Learners follow the Nukleus home-school curriculum, but also have the opportunity to "still be children," according to Ms Pienaar, who wants her learners to have the priviledge of learning at their own tempo, incorporate nature as part of their edu-cation, receive individual attention to reach their full potential whilst still obtaining their National Diploma at the end of the day.
And that is exactly what she believes all her learners, irrespective of abilities, can achieve. Whether they are classified as ADD, ADHD, Down’s Syndrome, gifted or mainstream, there is story after story of daily achievements for the Wonderboom pupils.
There is the four year old girl who is reading already and her seven year old friend who arrived at Wonderboom strugg-ling to hold a pencil and now can write letters and numbers. Then there is one of the newest pupils who visits once a week - a six year old boy with Oral Facial Digital Syndrome who after only a few sessions of neurofeedback therapy is beginning to overcome his oral cavity and facial feature abnormalities to talk and blossom from social interaction with his new friends at school.

Furthermore, teachers such as Ms Pienaar and Marilize Landman (Down’s Syndrome teacher) have specialised training to diagnose and assist various learners with occupational- and physiotherapists visiting the learners at school where needed.

Ms Pienaar is intent on her learners receiving a holistic education. They help serve customers in the coffee shop, which is run by Marthie du Plessis.
And they are encouraged to develop entrepreneurial skills and products to be displayed and sold in the onsite gallery. This will lower school fees, maintain a teacher learner ratio of 1:4, and provide career outlets for learners when they leave school.
At Wonderboom each child is special, irrespective of ability. That is where the school’s name comes from. Ms Pienaar believes that "everything starts with a little seed...and at the end of the day you have a lovely tree".
There are certainly a number of beautiful trees being grown at Wonderboom, and not only in the Plantjie Nursery.

Watch the press for details about Wonderboom’s special Mother’s day spa and salon event or contact Noekie Pienaar at 0761757993 for more information.


Time to feed the ducks! Karlon Stellenberg (from right), Herman van Lill and Michelle Vermaak help look after the animals at the Plantjie Nursery.


Gerhard Deyzel, owner of the Plantjie Nursery popped in to say hello to Wonderboom’s Noekie Pienaar and some of her learners.

ARTICLE AND PHOTOS: LEEANNE PRATT