Playtimes HK Magazine February 2018 Issue | Page 23

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The Learning Journey
Choosing the right kindergarten for your child can be tricky. It’s the first step before
primary school, and often the first time your child experiences a school environment.
We sat down with the team at Galilee International School to learn more about how they
handle these important transitions
I
n her four years at Galilee International
School (GIS) principal Esther Acker
has seen the school grow and develop
from a playgroup and pre-nursery to
now offering classes up to K3. The school
prides itself on its ability to adequately
prepare its graduates for primary
school, whether they are going on to an
international school or a local school.
Esther says, “I’m proud to say that one
hundred percent of our graduates go to
the primary school of their choice.”
As a relatively small school with
a high teacher-to-student ratio, they
pride themselves on being able to offer
something quite unique. There are three
factors in the GIS approach that have
contributed to the school’s success –
individualised learning, curriculum, and
language. As an IB accredited school,
GIS offers the Primary Years Program.
PYP coordinator Anika Saxena says,
“The unique feature of the IB programme
is that it reflects the best practice
of a range of different educational
frameworks. The PYP is flexible enough
to accommodate the demands of most
local curricula and provides the best
preparation for students to engage in
learning experiences.” The school has
also adopted elements of the Reggio
method, early years foundation stage
and the local Hong Kong pre-primary
curriculum – taking the best aspects
of each and adapting them to create a
student-centred teaching approach. In
providing an inquiry-based education,
in a technology rich environment, and
adding hands-on experiential learning,
GIS helps students learn how to learn.
This flexibility and small class sizes
mean that teachers can really adapt how
they teach, and often what they teach for
each student, depending on where they
will go to primary school. This requires
an understanding of each child as an
individual and it is something the school
seems to excel at.
The school’s Christian ethos also
lends itself well to the IB philosophy of
nurturing the whole child. Bible studies
are tied to the PYP Learner Profiles,
and children are taught how to apply
these values to real life through taking
action and demonstrating caring. This
is further enhanced by the school’s
international mindedness. With students
from a diverse range of backgrounds,
the values of compassion and respect
for the culture of others are built into
every aspect of the school day. It’s an
approach that goes beyond the teaching
of religion.
With many families living close to
the school, there’s a strong sense
of community. Festivals and cultural
events are celebrated to ensure that all
students have the opportunity to share
their beliefs and practices with their
classmates. Esther says, “We have an
open door policy. Parents are invited in
to celebrate with us and to share their
culture and talents.” Parents are active
partners in their children’s education and
just as they support the school with their
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