Meet the headmonster:
Marc Loon shares his journey
After completing six years of engineering studies (Electrical Engineering followed by a Masters in government planning systems), still unsure of what I wanted to do with my life, I decided to take a gap year traveling. Through this zigzagging journey, I discovered my calling as a teacher, almost accidentally.
In fact, I remember the exact moment that I knew I wanted to teach. I was teaching English grammar to eager nine-year-olds in a little Rajasthani village between Udaipur and Jodhpur. The children were loving the game we were playing with pronouns and I felt like a choreographer of an improv theatre piece; my young students and I, serving as both actors and audience. I was in flow. I was a teacher.
My accommodation during my stay in the village was a spare room in my principal’s house. On his bookshelf, I discovered a book, already out of print at that point, called “School is Dead” by Everett Reimer. It is an eloquent polemic against the many problems of the school system. I sailed through the book with a passion and joy that few other books have given me, and I remember the moment upon completing the final page. I lifted the book in front of me and spoke to the room, “This book is going to change my life.”
And so it has. Even as I commenced my education as a teacher, I sustained the catalytic impulse that this book had on me. I began my adventure into teaching as an inquirer into the system of schooling itself, exploring the history of schools and innovations in schooling and educational trends around the world, much of which has been integrated into what is now Kairos.
A highlight on this journey has included a personally transformative workshop with Marshall Rosenberg, founder of the Centre for Non-Violent Communication, followed by my sustained involvement in the ManKind Project and associated Boys to Men Mentoring Network, providing education in emotional intelligence for adult men and teenage boys. Much of the tools we utilise in Kairos, and which inform our social and emotional curriculum, originate from these initiatives.
Becoming a father in 2016 has added an entirely new dimension to my teaching journey. The joy of witnessing the day-to-day unfolding of my children’s intelligences has been a continuous celebration of life. Simultaneously, I can now more easily comprehend and personally identify with the struggles of parenting which I’ve long witnessed in parents of my classes at a more arms-length distance. I believe in Kairos now more than ever, not merely in the professional sense as an educator, but also as a father and the school of choice for my own children.
Feel free to give me a call for a chat.
Meet The Team
Our Facilities
Our vision for our school is one of community, where everyone knows everyone else really well. We are housed in a heritage home of the late Joan Brickhill, one of the great doyens of South African theatre — a fitting location for a primary school with a strong arts-oriented curriculum.
There is a considerable amount of safe space for the children to explore, which we utilise to the full with lengthier break times compared to conventional schools, as well as lessons that occur outside.
The property consists of 4000 square metres of enchanted gardens, with vehicle access via 16 Dundalk Avenue and pedestrian access on the Zoo Lake road (Lower Park Drive). Because we have successfully rezoned this property, our move to Parkview will mean we will at last be able to register with the Department of Education and become a member of Independent Schools Association of South Africa (ISASA).
Extramurals & Aftercare
We offer a diverse set of extramural options for a small school, including both cultural and sport-related activities. Our proximity to the Zoo Lake will enable us to expand our extramural services even beyond these. Our offering depends on the demand from the students at the time.
The extramurals we offer in-house with no extra charge, include:
Extramurals offered by outside visitors, attracting a nominal fee per term, include:
We also offer an Aftercare service until 17h00 each day, charged at a nominal rate (refer to the current Schedule of Fees).
Calendar & Timetable
Kairos follows the 4-term ISASA calendar with slight differences, to cater for religious diversity. Events during the year include a Games Evening, Senior and Junior school camps, Purim-Holi colour festival, the Kairos Olympics, the Eskom Science Expo, the Kairos Winter Kaleidoscope, the end of year concert etc. Click on our current Kairos calendar below.
Children are dropped off between 07h30 and 07h45, and pick-up times range from 12h30 and 14h30 depending on the child’s grade. Each class has a clear week’s timetable, which includes a daily integrated studies “Main Lesson”, two 30 minute breaks, and a holistic balance of other classes.
Policies and Procedures
Click on the links below to view or download our current school policies.
Please see our document regarding screen-time below.