About Us
How We Started



And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe in magic will never find it.
CAN BE SEEN WHEN OUR CHILDREN SHOW:
SELF-DETERMINATION
To be motivated to engage with the world around you.
AGENCY
To intentionally perform actions to achieve goals
CREATIVITY
To invent new things.
COMMUNICATIVE INTENT
To deliver an intended message
CONFIDENCE
To explore the world boldly
Our Team

our principal
Dionne Snyders
"How will we know what is possible if we never try?"
Their AAC journey began but not without difficulty. In her mission to help Hannah, it became clear to Dionne that there is so much potential in children with Rett syndrome, and even other conditions where children are non-verbal, to learn!!! She then tried to get Hannah into a school where she would be given a mainstream education, and where her physical limitations and communication needs would be accommodated. This proved very difficult. Dionne dreamed of a place where Hannah would be given the opportunity she deserves to get an education and learn to communicate. A place where no pressure would be put on her to perform and prove herself, where she would feel safe and confident to express herself. In a conversation with 2 other special needs moms, the idea of Nova was born.
‘Hannah, this is for you.’ (D Snyders 2021)
Our Staff

Colleen Ras
I am a dedicated and devoted educator bringing a wealth of experience to my work.
As a Montessori directress, I have had the privilege of working with children with various abilities, which has been profoundly enriching and rewarding.
My goal is to empower children to reach their potential. I'm committed to providing personalised guidance and care that caters to each child's unique needs and abilities.
This holistic approach not only fosters academic growth but also nurtures their emotional, physical and social development.
"How much fuller and richer life would be if we saw the child in all his greatness, all his beauty, instead of focusing on all his little mistakes?"
Maria Montessori

Veio Mahlangu
Veio is the classroom assistant at Nova. She is always there to make sure all the learner’s physical needs are met, whether it’s an arm brace that needs to be put on, glasses that need adjusting or making sure everyone is drinking enough water and eating well. Her main priority is maintaining a safe environment for our learners. This allows our learners to direct all their focus towards their school work, knowing that there’s always someone keeping a close eye on anything they might need. 🪐 She assists our classroom lead by modeling AAC, assisting the learners and compees with their devices and facilitating play on the playground! Veio’s love, passion and patience for our learners shines through every minute of the day.

Leanie De Klerk
When Nova started to expand, they needed another teacher, because Nova’s classes are limited to six learners. As a result, Leanie has joined the Nova team. Although she has a Masters degree in Environmental Science and worked as a researcher at the CSIR, she always knew that one day she wants to become a teacher and so she completed her Post-Graduate Certificate in Education and is registered at the South African Council for Educators. She has a passion for teaching children and loves being in an environment with them. Her patience and passion for Nova’s learners was evident right from the start. As a Nova teacher she is responsible for designing Nova’s learning programmes and delivering classroom activities, teaching the learners literacy and mathematics in a structured way and also giving learners the opportunity to freely express themselves through art and sensory play.

Khutso Mahlangu
Khutso has extensive experience in working with children with a variety of special needs in a school environment. She has a passion for the special needs community. Her roles in the classroom include assisting all learners and compees with their AAC, positioning, equipment and assisting with feeding where needed.
Compees
COMMUNICATION PARTNER
We invented the word “compee” to describe the person who assists the child when accessing learning. They are one part of the two-part learning dyad that we believe is essential to our children’s learning success. The word has its origins in the technical term “communication partner” but it includes additional functions of care and activity execution. For example, our children build blocks by directing their compee where to place the next block. A compee is there to ensure that the child’s positioning is correct, that they have the assistive devices that they need in place, and to facilitate bathroom and sensory breaks as necessary. For children in the satellite program, parents will fulfil the role of compee and lead.
Every learner at Nova is encouraged to attend the class with their own compee. In cases where a learner does not have their own compee, we envite volunteers to sit in as compee for that learner.