Letter From The Directors – Coronavirus – June 2020

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Valued BrightSparkz Clients, Tutors & Partners,

2020 has been a year of immeasurable change and challenges for us all, particularly for those families with children facing interrupted education as well as financial uncertainty. The Coronavirus pandemic has meant that we all need to change the way we live, work and learn, and we’re not certain that anything will go back to the way it was before. However, BrightSparkz is committed to continuing to assist our learners as best we can through these times. 

As we continue to navigate the shifting realities posed by this pandemic, our priorities remain the same: 

  • Providing quality educational support through one-one-one tutoring that is flexible, convenient & tailored to the learner’s needs. We’ve had to change the way we do this from primarily face-to-face support to primarily online support through April and May, but we’re now able to phase in in-home support that meets all Covid-19 safety requirements. This includes assistance with online schooling, assistance with a homeschool curriculum, catching up on work missed since schools closed in March, and tackling problem areas and subjects. 
  • Meeting all educational needs through a range of tailored services that provide every aspect of educational support outside of in-classroom teaching. We’re now able to offer all our courses online, and we’re working with select schools to be able to offer online test & exam accommodations too. 

Whether or not you’ve decided to send your child back to school, we hope you’ll allow us to continue supporting their education with our online or face-to-face solutions. We are dedicated to minimizing the impacts of this pandemic on your child’s continued education, as well as minimizing the financial impacts to you by allowing you to take advantage of the reduced prices on the majority of our core services. 

We are here for you! We hope we can make this difficult time easier for you by allaying your education concerns. If you have any other learning support or tutoring needs, please let us know.

 

Amy Stockwell & Dominique Hsuan – BrightSparkz Directors

Tutor of the Month: June 2020

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Kia C. is our June 2020 Tutor of the Month!

Kia has been a BrightSparkz tutor since October 2017, and has done over 100 tutoring hours to date! She is an experienced online tutor, and has assisted with school-level English and Life Science, among other subjects, as well as university-level subjects including sociology. She is also one of our Study Skills Crash Course Facilitators!
 

Kia is this month’s tutor of the month because her number one priority is keeping the lives of her clients, learners and even our Brightsparkz staff members incredibly pleasant and anxiety free, particularly during this period of lockdown. She has been tutoring as part of the BrightSparkz family since 2017, is one of our favourite tutors for English, Afrikaans and Life Science up to Grade 12 level. She also has experience working with children coping various learning barriers such as ADD and foetal Alcohol Syndrome, having counselled as part of anti-drug initiatives as part of her social work degree. In her spare time, Kia enjoys volunteering, playing guitar, netball and reading.

Here’s what her clients have to say:

“Kia was very well prepared, She explained things in a very understandable manner. She was very friendly and lovely. We had a wonderful connection and I believe we will continue to have one. I am very happy with her and look forward to my future sessions with her.”

Tutor of the Month: May 2020

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Gerald E. is our May 2020 Tutor of the Month!

Gerald has been a BrightSparkz tutor since February 2019, and has done almost 100 tutoring hours to date! He is a phenomenal Maths tutor, and has also been helping some of our sponsored Project 10 000 learners with MAD Foundation!
 

Gerald is in the fourth year of a BSc degree in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology at Stellenbosch University, with a special interest in Biochemistry. He is passionate about lab work and understanding biochemical processes. He enjoys debating music, film and football, and believes a tutor’s role should be as a facilitator for the student to develop their understanding. Gerald’s goal is to instill a confidence in a student to keep positive development going well after the tutoring is done.Gerald has over 95 tutoring hours with us as well as many hours tutoring his University peers informally. Gerald comes across as calm, mature, professional and is an excellent communicator. Gerald describes himself as pragmatic, friendly and empathetic.

Here’s what his clients have to say:

“I am extremely happy with the quality of lessons delivered by Gerald. He has an exceptional ability to get Kaleb to understand maths. He is professional and a wonderful person to engage with.”

Tutor of the Month: March 2020

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Stephanie S. is our March 2020 Tutor of the Month!

Stephanie has been a BrightSparkz tutor since June 2018, and has done an amazing 154 tutoring hours to date! She is one of our best Maths, Life Science & Physical Science tutors, and is also one of our trained Concessions Facilitators!
 

Stephanie has recently completed her MSc in Computer Science at the University of the Witwatersrand where her research is combining her love of Biology and Mathematics. Steph has a broad range of knowledge of this content and all it entails and never limiting this data is very important to her. She is hardworking, passionate and believes that this is evident in her tutoring style. She has been tutoring for the last four years and loves to inspire others with her love of all subjects, especially Mathematics and Science since this is the area of her discourse. Stephanie has been placed with many of our Grade 8 – 12 students requiring Maths, English, Afrikaans, Social and Physical Science assistance, she has aided in improving their marks as well as enabling them with more confidence with the subject matter. Notwithstanding, the multiple university students she has been assisting with tutoring in the field of Biomedical Science.

Stephanie is respectful, wonderful to work with and always goes the extra mile! She is on the cusp of beginning her PhD in Cape Town, however for now, Joburg is lucky enough to still have her tutoring and facilitating many of our students.

Tutor of the Month: April 2020

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Paul C. is our April 2020 Tutor of the Month!

Paul has been a BrightSparkz tutor since October 2019, and is an amazing Accounting and Economics tutor. He has tutored at both school and university level, and is also one of our trained Concessions Facilitators!
 
Paul matriculated in 2006 with excellent results which earned him entry into the University of South Africa, where he completed his Bachelor of Accounting degree. Paul has great communication skills, teaches effectively and is so patient. Some of his achievements include being promoted to a junior sales consultant, and recently being offered a scholarship to pursue his Honours in Cape Town. Paul is always willing to fill in with almost no notice to spare, he is a pleasant and extremely charming young tutor! He has done so much for his Joburg based clientele and will certainly be an asset moving forward in Cape Town!
 
Paul describes himself as: “A learning enthusiast with a passion to share acquired and relevant knowledge with those under my tutelage. ” Thank you for your continued passion and dedication, Paul!

Tutor of the Month: February 2020

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Hebert T. is our February 2020 Tutor of the Month!

Hebert has been a BrightSparkz tutor since June 2019, and is an amazing Maths, Accounting and Business Studies tutor. He has tutored more than 4000 hours, both privately and with BrightSparkz Tutors!
 
Herbert is one of our more mature tutors with over 15 years of tutoring experience. He has proudly tutored over 4000 hours. Herbert has a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Mathematics, and then went on to follow his passion and received his Post Graduate Certificate in Mathematics specializing in Senior Phase education. Herbert currently works at Blouberg International school and is a part- time tutor. In all his years as a teacher he has had an 80% pass rate for all his students! Herbert aims to make his students comfortable and has excellent subject knowledge and communication skills.
 
Here’s what Hebert’s clients have to say about him:
 
“The lesson was amazing. Hebert left Emma feeling positive and encouraged. What a lovely man, we are honestly so impressed. Thank you!”

Tutor of the Month: January 2020

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Makhosazana N. is our January 2020 Tutor of the Month!

Makhosazana has been a BrightSparkz tutor since February 2018, and is a fantastic isiZulu, Accounting and Maths tutor. She’s also one of our Project 10 000 tutors! 
 
Makhosazana is excellence and integrity personified. She is a skilled, bilingual Accounting and Zulu tutor, as well as a hardworking and deeply dedicated individual. She prioritizes clients without restraint, finding creative and even self sacrificial ways to meet client and learner needs. In her spare time, Makhosazana travels and spends time with her friends and family. She has a passion for teaching, believing it is the educator’s role to inspire and motivate their students to progress with the subject matter they are having difficulty in. Her clients invariably recognize her efforts, and today we would like to as well.
 
Here’s what Makhosazana’s clients have to say about her:
 
“Makhosazana has been wonderful. She pitched the lessons at the right level for the kids and the kids are motivated and learning. I honestly wish I had met her years ago. She also was able to pick up problem areas and address them appropriately. She’s been punctual for every lesson. She is a great match for us.”

Tutor of the Month: December 2019

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Celine E. is our December 2019 Tutor of the Month!

Celine has been a BrightSparkz tutor since March 2017, and is a recently qualified teacher who enjoys tutoring languages. She is also one of our qualified concessions facilitators!
 
Celine matriculated from Pionier High School in 2016, and is currently in her second year of a Higher Certificate in Photography at Vega. She is involved at her church, giving Sunday school lessons and enjoys being involved in her community and volunteering her time at various children’s homes. She has strong leadership skills, as she was Head Girl of her primary school, Head Girl of her boarding school and Deputy President in her Matric year. She has a good understanding of the role of a tutor, and presents a fun and engaging lesson. In addition to tutoring, Celine is trained as an Afrikaans Boot Camp facilitator, Study Skills Crash Course facilitator and a concessions facilitator. She describes herself as loyal, loving and honest and enjoys different forms of art such as painting, poems and photography. Celine has over 50 tutoring hours and can assist with an array of subjects.
 
Celine, nothing is ever too much trouble for you. You go above and beyond and we are thrilled to have you as part of our team, thank you!

Tutor of the Month: November 2019

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Camilla L. is our November 2019 Tutor of the Month!

Camilla has been a BrightSparkz tutor since 2015, and has tutored an INCREDIBLE 300+ hours! She has been helping one of our long-term Project 10 000 learners for the last 5 years, and her learner is well on her way to acing her Matric finals. 
 
Camilla matriculated in 2001 with all-round excellent results, and completed a BA in English and Media Studies and her BA (Hons) in Publishing at Wits University. Camilla is involved with the publishing of school textbooks and content, and has years of tutoring experience, having worked with learners in both primary and high school, specifically in the areas of Maths and Biology. Last year she worked with one of our Grade 12 learners in order to help her prepare for her Matric Maths Literacy Papers 1 and 2 and the learner absolutely loved working with her. 
 
Camilla is truly one of our most dedicated tutors, having worked with the same learner for 5 years!  She has truly left a legacy in the life of her learner. Thank you, Camilla!

Tutor of the Month: October 2019

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Miguel F. is our October 2019 Tutor of the Month!

Miguel is one of our newest tutors – he’s been with us since August 2019, and has already impressed us and his clients! He has tutored more than 30 hours, focusing in school-level Maths. 
 
Miguel is an analytical, well-spoken and friendly tutor. Some of his recent achievements include representing South Africa in basketball at the CUCSA games and winning gold in 2018, as well as being voted the MVP at the national varsity championship also in 2018. He also takes great pride in having graduating successfully from his Bachelor of Commerce degree. During his spare time, Miguel enjoys playing basketball, reading, chess, politics, running and coaching. He is all about helping his students to reach their full potential. Miguel is an awesome tutor to place because he is responsive, always willing to assist at the last minute and a pleasure to work with!
 
Thank you for your hard work, Miguel. We’re so happy to have a tutor like you on our Joburg team!