Hello and welcome to our first Helping the Kids and Team Shoutouts update!
Firstly, we want to say a huge thank you to all those who sent in a moment or shoutout; it’s great hearing what teachers and parents have to say about our team, but to have so many Elevaters writing in to celebrate one another is really something!
Take a look through our submissions to see if you’ve received a shoutout for your work, and don’t forget to submit one yourself if you get inspired.
Helping the Kids Moments
‘I had a really cool moment during a parent seminar last week! We’d done a full five-sem day with almost the entire school, and I then hung around for the parents. During my explanation of tasks vs. time, I used the two names of some of the Year 11 boys I’d used for the same example earlier in the day during TM, and noticed some of the parents having a giggle. At the end, one couple came up and were having a chat and asking some questions, and I asked if that was their son- turned out it was their son’s friend! We then did some sleuthing to figure out that not only had their son been in my sem earlier that day, but he’d also been the one who wrote ‘do more of these programs’ on the feedback form 😭🥲 It’s so rare that you get to speak to the parents of kids that you’ve actually spoken to and remembered, and it was such a cool moment and so very wholesome 🥹 HTK & HTP!!!’ - Team Aus
‘Hi there, my name is Ronald, I'm a new presenter here at Elevate, so I'm still finding my way. Nonetheless I'm already enjoying my sessions at schools - today marks my second session and I can't help but express the amount of joy I felt at that moment while presenting to these kids. Apart from engagement, excitement and an educational interaction, I truly felt that I had the chance to inspire these kids. Cheers to having an impact, not just in the present moment but in the long term too!’ - Team SA
‘I was given the opportunity to work with 30 students in a SS sem, and afterwards a couple of girls were eager to ask questions and share their thoughts about the sem. They shared their notes with me, asked for advice, and mentioned they would have loved to have us earlier so they could've turned study skills like ours into habits. It really brightened my day, and I was happy to see the impact that the seminar had on these students.’ - Team Aus
‘Hey, Azile here. This is my favorite #HELPINGTHEKIDSMOMENT. I was presenting in a school in Johannesburg and the grade 8's were so amazing. Being able to communicate in vernacular just made it that little bit more special. The kids brought the energy in! They made me promise to come back and I intend on keeping that promise. Shout out to Elevate. Go team.’ - Team SA
‘One of biggest highlights in the 4 years I've been working for Elevate has to be from a Student Elevation workshop. The most amazing part was when we were discussing their goals and dreams, they told me they'll never achieve them because they're in a special needs school. I told them it's not about where you're from, but how you apply yourself that gets you closer to your goal. Then after doing the step-by-step planning to reach that goal, their faces just lit up, and they were so eager to start working towards their dreams. The week after that when I was back there for a staff seminar the headmaster personally thanked me for encouraging their students to believe in themselves.’ - Team SA
Team Shoutouts
Terrific TLs
‘Just wanted to give a team shoutout to my TL and 2ic Jaden and El!!! Jaden has been incredible at supporting me with my first attempts at leading a sem with not too much notice! He answered all of my very exhaustive questions and gave me heaps of advice as well as checking in right after to see how it went!!! El has been an absolute dream in being someone to chat to after a couple of tough sems in the last couple weeks 🫶 she has had oodles of amazing advice but also just such compassion and kindness in discussing it with me which has been so appreciated (also the same with Hannah Roberts who was my lead on a few tough sems!!).’ - Alyssa, Team Aus
‘I'd like to give a huge shoutout to Jemma, my Team QLD TL, for the absolutely phenomenal job she's done in helping me settle into my new job at Elevate. At every twist and turn she has been there to support me and make me feel capable of powering through. I feel so lucky to have joined such a supportive work environment and I truly believe Jemma is that support personified. Huge shout out to her and the other hard-working TLs at Team QLD.’ – Kiara, Team Aus
‘Shoutout to the GOAT Ethan for the care and thoughtfulness he brings to his TLing! He always makes everyone’s lives easier and gives his all to everything he does #buildtheteam #bringsolutionsnotproblems’ - Team Aus
‘Leshego has been a consistent team member, who has put up her hand to help every one of her team members. She is the champion of champions! And I wanted to salute her for her hard work and dedication to our company. #champion’ - Tumelo, Team SA
‘A special shout-out goes to my team leader Athi who has been constructive, by going beyond her duties in assisting me whenever I'm curious or am clueless about something, she's displayed the genuineness of what being human is, and to Apelele being my other team leader, a shoutout goes to him for displaying virtue and ethics.’ - Ronald, Team SA
‘A big shout to the awesome team leaders of KZN for always ensuring that we are all prepared for the sessions and them always ensuring we are okay. A special shoutout to team KZN for exceptional work and dedication. They’re always punctual, neat and embody the Elevate Education culture so perfectly 💙 I’m super excited to see what more team KZN do 😊. Shoutout to the office staff for the excellent work and our HR aka Head of Talent Siya Khanyile for exceptional work!’ - Nhlakanipho, Team SA
Outstanding Sems
'Nyab is always bringing light and positivity to the sessions - the kids love her and so do the staff!' - Sam, Team US
‘A teacher recognized how well Sam’s performed her past seminar: “ Sam did a good job and handled the kids beautifully!” Woohoo Sam!!’ - Lydia, Team US
Thanks for Stepping Up
‘A shoutout for Logan, from Team WC – he's definitely been helping the kids this term as he has been on sessions almost every day. Great feedback from the learners and always so positive’ - Team SA
‘To Trin for being an absolute legend on the 29th! Stepping in, switching up sems, and presenting to 49 kids (2 classes combined) Saving us newbies from a difficult situation! All while staying completely calm, the icon!’ - Team Aus
‘I'd like to give a shoutout to all the Elemates who have helped out with recording content for our tik tok! Everyone always shows up with great energy and great ideas. The kids love the content and our engagement has grown so much over the past few weeks. I'm super appreciative of their help and I can't wait to keep creating with everyone.’ - Martina, Team US
Amazing Dedication
‘I’d like to shoutout Raisa! After getting to co-present with her, I was able to see firsthand how passionate she is about #helpingthekids. The support and insight she provides during seminars will definitely leave a lasting positive impact.’ - Team US
‘Lerato from team Gauteng deserves presenter of the decade for her dedication. Even after damaging her leg, she still goes to sessions with her crutch, puts in the effort to help kids and engages with the team. She deserves the highest praise.’ - Team SA
‘My shout out is to the Western Cape Presenters - specifically Dylan and Ethan. These two presenters are my motivation at Elevate Education South Africa, they persist with a burning passion and support - all in the name of #Helping the Kids. It is truly a great honor to work with inspirations like them.’ - Team SA
‘Alfie here with a massive shoutout to the absolute legend Jess. I would probably trust her with my life at this point, any time there are any problems whatsoever, Jess is there with a plan, figures everything out, and she does it all with a smile. Jess constantly strives to make the lives of students, coaches, and parents so much easier, she is seriously an asset to the team that is irreplaceable. It's incredible how she does all this that, in a way, I think she coached me without even intending to, hahaha! You're amazing Jess!’ - Alfie, Team UK Coaching
‘I've got a big shout out for the consultant team who ran the highest of diagnostics this academic year last week, and especially to Laurence, a returner who jumped straight back into diags with only two days' notice and got the win! - Jess, Team UK
Noteworthy Newbies
‘A big shoutout to 2 new presenters Keith and Kayla. Both of these presenters have shown impressive strength of character and eagerness to take on workshops. I have seen both of them perform really well under pressure and adapt quickly to difficult circumstances and still make the workshops fun and engaging. Well done to both of you, keep up the great work!’ - Wenzel Grobler, Team Aus
‘I wanted to highlight how great of a job one of my team members, Helen, has done since she joined! I had the honor of training her and since then she’s done a great job at keeping up with the messages I send out and really goes above and beyond to ensure that her students get the most out of our sessions! - Alex, Team US
‘Shout out to Vic from Team NSW! Vic only started in Feb this year but has been the most wonderful, enthusiastic ball of energy- she’s been getting glowing feedback, has absolutely thrown herself into new situations (like solos already!), and hypes up the rest of the team 24/7.’ - Team Aus
‘Shoutout to Victor from QLD! He completed training, got rostered on to his first sem, learned a completely new script, and SMASHED his first-ever seminar all in 4 days! Legend!’ - Team Aus
‘I'd like to send a team shoutout to our rookie recruit Sasa, who at her first elevate presentation really sharpened her skills and showed momentum through adapting to the rigours of a new school environment. Four back-to-back sessions with over ninety kids per session is no easy feat, Sasa having the calm and the confidence to robustly present whilst being her best version blew us all away. Well done on an incredible start.’ - Team SA
Thanks for Being You
‘To Martina! She always has such a positive attitude and I’m always super excited when I see we’re working together<3’ - Team US
‘I'd like to shoutout John for being a team player and being supportive as I did my second ever seminar.’ - Helena, Team US
‘Martina is so special, I’ve been working with her a lot doing tik toks and also regular presenting sessions and co-presenting. She’s truly so amazing at what she does and is always so friendly and creative. I love working with her and I’m so happy that she’s a team leader now too she deserves the world and more!’ - Raisa, Team US
Did you receive a shoutout this month and want to share the Elevate love? Or is there an awesome moment you’ve experienced so far in March you’d love to share? Let us know below!