Education June 2021 Guide Tseung Kwan O GREATSOPHIE ROBERTSON Editor's Message GREAT DIRECTOR OF LEARNING, NORD ANGLIA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL HONG KONG OF LEARNING, NORD ANGLIA INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR A thriving new town that has it all From a small fishing village, Tseung Kwan O has, in and a myriad of F&B outlets. less than 40 years, transmogrified into a vibrant new town The new town is especially family-friendly as it boasts a with a full-fledged infrastructure in terms of transport and host of well-established educational establishments, from community amenities. kindergartens to primary & secondary schools, as well as Far removed from the hustle and bustle of the city, the international schools. new town nevertheless enjoys superb connectivity with We have assembled the latest information and data both the Island and Kowloon. The CBD, for instance, is a in this Education Guide to help parents make a judicious mere 30-minute ride away by the MTR, while road transport choice for their children. will be enhanced by the completion of a new tunnel link road. MENTORSOn a social level, Tseung Kwan O benefits from an THINKERSoverall masterplan in its progressive development, allowing residents to avail of a wide range of sporting facilities, public parks and promenades, cycling tracks, hiking trails, and shopping malls complete with supermarkets, retailers, Features Editor Where great thinkersmentors are made AtGreat NAIS mentors Hong Kong, aren’t we born, educate they’re your made. child For for Sophiethe future.Robertson, We bring the journey a new approach began at Nordto the Anglia interdisciplinary subjectsUniversity, of whereSTEAM she (science, honed technology, her professional engineering, arts,teaching and expertisemathematics), and leadership putting your skills. child at the forefront of developing skills for the 21st century. Outside the classroom, she conducts the school’s OurFunkadelic two Early Orchestra Years campuses and writes and extensively one Primary for &The SecondaryTimes Educational campus, Supplement. in well-appointed As Nord locations Anglia across theUniversity’s city, provide first everchildren teaching from fellow,3 to 18 sheyears continues with a highlyto spread personalised her passion and for progressive education toeducation. teachers worldwide. Find out how your child can succeed insideSee how and your beyond child thecan classroom be inspired at at NAIS.hk 50 1 Contents 8 1 Editor’s Message A thriving new town that has it all 7 10 Yew Chung International School The Environment – More than just a Physical Space 8 Yew Chung International School A parent’s guide: What to look for when choosing a kindergarten for your child? 12 10 "Education Guide" Top Schools is published by The Standard Space Oddity: School Places, Rumours & Display Advertising Department Reality 3/F., Sing Tao News Corporation Building, 7 Chun Cheong Street, Tseung Kwan O Industrial Estate, Tseung Kwan O, New Territories, Hong Kong 12 Advertising Hotline: (852) 3181 3311 Fax: 2758 3579 Box Hill (HK) International Kindergarten and Pre-school All rights reserved. Cultivating confident global citizens with the passion to learn Features Editor: Andy Ng Reporters: Sue Ng Designer: Carol Yung Business Director: Irene Chan Website: www.thestandard.com.hk Email: [email protected] Contents 14 14 Invictus School Hong Kong A child-centered approach to groom the whole person 16 16 Nord Anglia International School Hong Kong Thinking beyond traditional education to transform learning 18 Hong Kong Academy Educating for a Better Future 18 20 InNordics Welcome to our Nordic Education Journey! 22 20 K-Academy Learning Centre Supporting children throughout their schooling years since 2013 4 22 International Schools Yew Chung International School Contents The Environment – 24 More than just a Physical Space 24 Written by Renee Wheeler, YCIS Educator Lou Pichoun École Maternelle Française Internationale Hong Kong “The wider the range of possibilities we Multilingual learning leads to excellence offer children, the more intense will be their motivations and the richer their experiences”. -Loris Malaguzzi 26 26 Maple Bear Canadian International Kindergarten Hong Kong n Early Childhood Education at Yew Chung International The best of Canadian education for School (YCIS), the role of the environment is one that is Imulti-faceted. The environment is more than just the a global future physical space. It includes the materials we use in lessons, the warm and responsive interactions between children and adults, as well as an environment that promotes the physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development of young 28 children. At the heart of our environment is a strong ‘image of YCIS campuses provide a stimulating, high quality Monteca International Playschool learning environment that supports children’s learning the child’. Children are viewed as competent, curious, full and their holistic development. Nurturing a sense of community of knowledge and potential, and interested in connecting 28 to the world around them. YCIS teachers are deeply aware of children’s potential and therefore plan appropriate Children thrive in indoor and outdoor spaces which experiences for them, carefully constructing their invite them to imagine, think, wonder, investigate, create, environments to allow for these learning opportunities. We solve problems- especially in spaces where they can make have an Emergent Curriculum where we observe children’s meaning of their experiences. Our environments support 30 interests and plan for these using the information gained children to be autonomous and independent, so that they Shrewsbury International School Hong Kong through observations of learners, interpretation, and can develop to their full potential. The best primary education in Hong Kong collaborative dialogue with colleagues. Teachers will then YCIS campuses provide a stimulating, high quality plan ways to support children’s curiosity and engage in further learning environment that supports children’s learning and investigation. As we plan for these learning opportunities for their holistic development. We see that children who are a children, we look closely at the materials we can provide to part of our school, know that the environment is for them, support children’s interests and curiosities. where they will continue to grow into confident and capable We offer children materials that promotes the type of learners. 30 32 thinking that leads to problem solving, reasoning, ability Wycombe Abbey School Hong Kong to think imaginatively and bring a sense of excitement to children’s play. Within our classroom environments we will Yew Chung International School Experience Hong Kong’s Premier Prep use materials to provoke children’s thoughts, discussions, Tel: 2338 7106 questions, interests, creativity and ideas. The environments School for British Education! Email: [email protected] are intentional in the use of materials so that they provide an Website: www.ycis-hk.com invitation for children to explore and express themselves. 6 32 International Schools Yew Chung International School A parent’s guide: What to look for when choosing a kindergarten for your child? Written by Clayton Mullins, Western Co-Principal, Yew Chung International School (YCIS) Early Childhood Education early across Hong Kong, thousands of families are faced with the significant task of finding the best kindergarten Yfor their child. The Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University, is a strong advocate for and researcher of early childhood development. Their neuroscience research reveals that a child's brain is 90% developed by the age of three. Further research shows the impact of daily experiences and relationships on shaping a child's brain. Leading institutes across continents continue to confirm that the first six years, At YCIS, the Co-Teachers engage with children's interests YCIS adopts an Emergent Curriculum that allows the kindergarten years, are a significant time in laying the as a way to strengthen their relationships with them. children to choose their own activities and resources. foundation for lifelong learning and success. I have found that parents in Hong Kong intuitively know What does the school environment tell you children more time with both the Western and Chinese teacher, that the early years are essential and that they place a great about early childhood values? leading to stronger relationships. When approaching a school, At YCIS, children have daily opportunities to explore I would ask how much time children have to communicate deal of their time and energy in seeking out the best for their with sensory and messy play, allowing them develop a Kindergartens that have aligned with best early childhood with each other and their teachers each day? And investigate child. I applaud Hong Kong families for their extraordinarily deeper understanding of the world around them. practices stand out with their well-resourced and stimulating high and correctly so, regard for education. environments. Classroom spaces have a variety of learning whether children are developing a robust spoken vocabulary? areas, and children have ownership of these spaces. These I would ask how teachers enhance child-led discussions and There are so many kindergartens, so where does a parent reflecting and partnering with children in developing the spaces are continually adapting based on children's interests. find out how much time children have to play, explore, and begin? curriculum