To inspire excellence, cultivate character, and empower engagement locally and globally.

Canadian International School of Hong Kong

Pre ReceptionReception

Preparatory

EARLY YEARS PYP

PROGRAMME

PrinciPal’s WelcomeIt is with pleasure that I welcome you to the Early Years Programme at Canadian International School of Hong Kong. We provide an exceptional educational programme for students aged 3 to 5. Rooted in our school’s mission, “To inspire excellence, cultivate character, and empower engagement locally and globally”, CDNIS’ inquiry based Early Years Programme aims to inspire in children a lifelong love of learning. Teachers build joyful classroom connections through guided inquiry and experiential activities. I encourage you to learn more about our vibrant community of learners who view the world from an international perspective. Helen Kelly

PROGRAMME PHILOSOPHY

Our Primary Years Programme (PYP) in the Early Years blends the International Baccalaureate (IB) philosophy of a constructivist view of learning with inspiration from the globally renowned early childhood schools of Reggio Emilia. Learning is based on innovative strategies and is influenced by our image of young children as intelligent, capable, creative and resourceful. We create a learning community made of students, their parents and teachers who collaborate and develop knowledge by listening carefully to each other.

The Early Years are often a child’s first experience of school and we want our youngest students to know first and foremost that learning is fun. It is through play that children learn about their world. Research shows that play helps children learn how to work with others and solve problems. Play promotes executive functioning, imagination, independence and creativity. Children gain confidence and learn about risk-taking.

relationsHiPs are at tHe Heart of our Programme. Children need to feel safe, secure and cared about in order to achieve their full learning potential. Classes in the Early Years are a maximum of 20 students, a full-time teacher, a teaching assistant, plus our specialist teachers (Mandarin and Music), who divide their time between the classes. We spend a lot of time getting to know children. Conversations take place all day, every day, in multiple languages and all situations; we truly value the time we spend with our students.

The values we foster in our students are taken directly from the Learner Profile of the PYP. The profile is comprised of attributes such as caring and knowledgeable, principled and balanced. This holistic approach to education in the Early Years enables us to help set your child on their path of becoming an internationally-minded, lifelong learner.

“TO TAKE CHILDREN SERIOUSLY IS TO VALUE THEM FOR WHO THEY ARE RIGHT NOW RATHER THAN ADULTS-IN-THE-MAKING.” Alfie Kohn

FUTURE READY LEARNING

An increasing array of skills is being required for successful learning in the 21st century. Most prominent of these are creativity and innovation, critical thinking and problem-solving, communication and collaboration. These are all fostered in our Early Years, where there is an abundance of opportunities to develop these through experiences such as building blocks, clay, recycled materials, loose parts, found objects, art, crafts, physical, social and dramatic play. Our learning environment provides easy access to materials and makes use of careful documentation of children’s work to make their learning visible as well as inspire conversations and further ideas. Children are able to move freely to play areas to innovate and create based on their interests. Collaboration in the Early Years is enhanced through a combination of small group

We are fortunate in the Early Years here at CDNIS to be part of a very large school community. This enables our youngest learners to have a wide range of experiences outside their own learning spaces, including working with older ‘buddy’ classes on inquiries, going in small and large groups on adventures around our big campus, as well as explorations in nature and the community immediately outside the school building.

“THE WIDER THE RANGE OF POSSIBILITIES WE OFFER CHILDREN, THE MORE INTENSE WILL BE THEIR MOTIVATIONS AND THE RICHER THEIR EXPERIENCES.” Loris Malaguzzi

and large group games and provocations that promote inquiry. Young children thrive when they feel valued and see they are treated fairly by adults and peers. Adults facilitate discussions between peers and in larger groups and strive for maximizing the level of participation of all children. There is a focus on what the children are interested in and they are encouraged to explore their interests together.

EARLY YEARS AT CDNIS

“PLAY IS THE HIGHEST EXPRESSION OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT IN CHILDHOOD, FOR IT ALONE IS THE FREE EXPRESSION OF WHAT IS IN A CHILD’S SOUL.”Friedrich Froebel

mission

CDNIS is a school united by the joy of learning, excellence in achievement and development of character. We will inspire academic and personal growth in our students by encouraging inquiry, stimulating creativity and innovation, embracing cross-cultural and global perspectives, and fostering meaningful participation and service.

CDNIS holds regular tours for prospective parents every Tuesday during the school term. The tours are given by a member of our CDNIS Senior Administration Team and start at 9:30am.

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a 360º virtual tour.

For enquiries, or to register for a weekly tour, please contact our Admissions Department at admissions@cdnis.edu.hk.

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