A look around Small World Christian Kindergarten

In 1986, Small World Christian Kindergarten opened its doors with a vision to provide quality education for Hong Kong’s children. What began as a classroom of just eight children has now become a diverse and growing community of over 250 students and 5,000 alumni. 

This year, Small World is proud to celebrate its 35th anniversary. The school community has seen generations of children of different backgrounds, faiths, and nationalities excited to come to school every day. From the outset, Small World established an environment where children can explore their world and cultivate a love of learning, and 35 years later, that still holds true.

Curriculum

Small World’s idea of learning is that it should be a joyful, motivating, fun and engaging exploration that opens up a world of wonder for young children where their curiosity and personal interests can flourish. Designed around the International Early Years Curriculum (IEYC), Small World’s play-based programme supports learning and development through holistic enquiry, nurturing young children’s natural curiosity, building their confidence and fuelling their desire to learn. The IEYC integrates the development of social skills and character development, alongside the school’s Biblical Foundations Curriculum, which provides a framework for children to develop in character, compassion, courage, and competence through a story-based approach.

Mandarin time is integrated into learning at Small World, with more than a third of the day for each class overseen by Small World’s Mandarin teachers. Small World’s Storybook Approach gives children a stimulating way to learn a new language as they engage in listening, speaking, reading, meaningful play, creating, and developing positive relationships with the Mandarin teachers. This research-based programme has been developed in conjunction with the Education University of Hong Kong and Hong Kong University, and uses traditional characters to connect meaningfully with children’s daily life experience in Hong Kong.

Core values

While Small World’s learning programme has been constantly refined over the years to keep pace with the latest neuroscience research about how children learn best, the values which were emphasised on day one remain the same. “The school’s longstanding vision focuses first and foremost on the child. The aim is for students to grow in all senses of the self – academically, physically, spiritually and socially – in order for them to build a strong foundation as they move onto the next stage of their lives. Their fond memories at Small World, however, stay with these students long after they leave, with alumni and parents of alumni recalling overwhelmingly happy experiences,” says Small World Christian Kindergarten principal Tess Baguio, who has been a part of the faculty for 19 years. 

Caring for the school community has always been key to Small World’s identity. This element has taken on even greater importance during the Covid-19 pandemic, which  has tested the adaptability and resilience of the whole school community. Although Small World Christian Kindergarten was prepared with an Early Years Online Learning Programme before the 2020-2021 school year began, the school still had many health and safety regulations and campus closures to navigate while trying to make the transition between online and in-person classes feel as uninterrupted as possible. Online learning has of course required families to provide extra support for children’s learning, and so Ms Baguio has hosted Zoom training courses for parents and domestic helpers to help with the practicalities of home learning and to provide some insight into what the school’s goals were and the best practices to reinforce those goals at home.

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Inclusive environment

An inclusive environment is at the heart of Small World’s ethos and as such, families of a diverse range of faiths and backgrounds are represented amongst the school community. “International mindedness is a central part of our identity and practice. We define this as the concept of knowing oneself and accepting, respecting and celebrating that we are all unique and different,” says Baguio.  

Parental involvement 

At Small World, parent involvement is considered key to further expand the learning environment at home and to help parents understand how to best support their child’s development. Popular events such as an annual Taste of Culture celebration involve the whole family. Children are invited to introduce their own culture to their classmates in a variety of ways, including by dressing in traditional clothing and sharing food. “We welcome that our families come from different backgrounds, faiths and beliefs, and we host this annual event to encourage the children to learn more about their friends’ languages, cultures, and celebrations,” says Baguio. 

Mum and Dad’s dates offer children the chance to show their parents around the school and engage in certain activities together. For example, children may guide their parents through arts and crafts, singing and reading together and paint their mother’s (or father’s) nails. “It’s an exciting and engaging opportunity for the children, as they are able to make decisions about the kinds of activities they want their parents to experience, which provides them a sense of ownership,” says Baguio. 

Small World is committed to whole-child development and learning in close engagement with families. The kindergarten is the hub of an active community, with parenting courses, parent volunteer opportunities, and parent involvement helping to forge strong family-school partnerships.

Celebrating 35 years

On 13 January 2021, Small World marked 35 years of learning with an online assembly, in accordance with the current social distancing guidelines. “From one small classroom to a kindergarten filled with children, these 35 years are a testament to the strength of Small World’s vision, and we’re grateful to everyone who has believed in our longstanding commitment to children and education,” says Baguio. “These 35 years have brought so much joy, shared through the entire community of students, teachers, parents and alumni,” she adds.  

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Looking ahead

Small World Christian Kindergarten prides itself on the strong community that it has created, and there seems to be a mutual sense between the people that pass through the school that it is a very special place. To further mark their anniversary, the school plans to improve and renew facilities, including expanding the indoor playground and enhancing the outdoor playground and garden.

An ongoing goal remains to continue to grow the school’s community, spreading the ethos of love, inclusion and acceptance. “We want to remain a place where parents and learners feel accepted and cared for, and where families want their children to be a part of. It is important that we are constantly adapting to the changing needs of families, while at the same time not compromising our values and beliefs about the uniqueness of every child,” adds Baguio.