Dear Parents, Caregivers and Staff,

Saying goodbye is never easy, especially to all our dear graduating learners and their families who became intricately part of our Small World family. We’ve had an amazing learning adventure together as a community, and I am personally so thankful for all of your love, trust, and support! This past school year,  we unwaveringly (and courageously!) adapted to the many challenges and changes so our children can   continue to learn, grow and flourish. Indeed, we have become resilient and stronger together as we finish the school year with much joy - celebrating every learner who has grown and flourished in our care. 

Congratulations to our Small World Class of 2022! We are so proud of all of our graduates and the wonderful milestones they have achieved in our Small World. Our simple yet very special graduation ceremony this week brought tears to my eyes, as we shared, listened and joyfully recalled all the great memories and celebrated our children’s development and learning in school! It was truly so wonderful  to have one of Small World’s lovely parents, Chloe Banks, who is also an alumni of Small World herself, celebrate the graduation of her two children. Chloe’s experience at Small World, both as a student and now as a parent of 2 children who just graduated from our school, is a testament to her family’s trust in Small World’s mission to provide generations of children with high quality education, love and care.  At Small World, we help support children to grow into their full potential in a holistic way, as Christ did, “in wisdom (cognitively), in stature (physically), in favour with God (spiritually) and men (socio-emotionally)” (Luke 2:52). 

“I have been waiting for this (his graduation) my whole life!” (Buchanan, Jellyfish Class)

“Looking back when our family met you (Tess) by chance at the art gallery, we knew that somehow it was always planned for our children and family to be part of Small World. Now, I believe.” (Xuping’s father, Dolphin AM Class)

Thank you for your vigilance in safeguarding our learning community, prudently and dutifully complying with the school’s health and safety measures as instructed by the Education Bureau. Given the current COVID situation, please continue to be extra vigilant with your child’s health, monitoring their temperature as well as RAT testing daily as a routine to provide a safe and healthy learning environment for our learning community as we approach the remaining fews weeks of the term safely. 

Health and Safety Guidelines

Please review and read through this “Health Precautions for Resumption of On Campus School Learning” document carefully.

Kindly monitor your child/ren’s temperature and Rapid-Antigen Test (RAT) daily before coming to school, making sure to record his/her temperature and result on the online Small World Temperature and Rapid-Antigen Test (RAT) Record. 

Do your Part, Stand Apart      

As part of our health and safety measure, we are encouraging our community to practise social distancing through our community slogan, “Do your Part, Stand Apart”. The personal learning goals of being “respectful” and “ethical” come into play as we engage the community to heed and support social distancing in school as well as in our city to fight against COVID-19. We have placed visuals in our school environment for learners to develop health and safety habits and spatial awareness. Likewise, we hope that you can transmit and extend these social distancing practices with your child outside your home.

Revised Calendar for the 3rd Term

Please find below the revised key term dates. 

Summer Camp 2022 - A Nature Play Adventure for Little Explorers

The summer camp has received an overwhelming response from our Small World community - thank you so much to all those who have registered as we eagerly await the return of our learners.  We have planned and designed lots of enjoyable physical development activities for our young learners, from gymnastics, Hip-Hop, ballet and movement to school readiness skill preparation such as reading and writing, numbers and other playful, meaningful opportunities to help children transition in their new class or school. We look forward to having your learners come, learn and enjoy the playful  learning experiences and activities we have planned! We will send out more information in the coming week as we prepare for our little explorers’ play adventures!

Afternoon Enriched Kindergarten Programme

We would like to introduce the Afternoon (PM) Enriched Kindergarten Programme which will start in the next school year 2022-2023! It will be a regular kindergarten session (1 PM to 4 PM) following an IEYC (International Early Years Curriculum) theme which will be different from the theme of the AM session classes, with an intentional  focus on special interest subjects such as STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), Literacy & Phonics, Dance and Movement (physical well-being), Creative Arts, and also a daily Mandarin component. The programme will be open to both Junior and Senior kindergarten students. 

Students already enrolled in the Morning (AM) session can additionally apply for the Afternoon (PM) session for three (3), four (4), or 5 (five) days per week. The lessons and content of the PM classes will not be the same as the AM classes. 

Students will need to bring their own packed lunch to eat in between the AM and PM sessions. School bus service can be arranged for the afternoon on the days your child is attending the PM session.  If you are interested in enrolling your child in this special PM session, please find the registration form here.

Small World (Generations) Playgroup Summer Term Enrolment

Our playgroup is an accompanied programme designed for children 18-32 months to enjoy meaningful experiences alongside their caregivers. We provide a stimulating and nurturing environment, supporting your child in becoming a confident, caring, and motivated individual! We are now accepting registrations for the Summer Term (5th July - 28th July, 2022). Please refer to the SY 2021/2022 Summer Term Sign-Up Form and contact playgroup@generations.edu.hk for any questions about signing up.

The Importance of a Father in a Child’s Life
 

(Paediatric Associates of Franklin (2022). The Importance of a Father in a Child’s Life. Retrieved from https://www.pediatricsoffranklin.com/resources-and-education/pediatric-care/the-importance-of-a-father-in-a-childs-life/)

Anyone can father a child, but being a dad takes a lifetime. Fathers play a role in every child’s life that cannot be filled by others. This role can have a large impact on a child and help shape him or her into the person they become.

Fathers and Emotional Development

Fathers, like mothers, are pillars in the development of a child’s emotional well-being. Children look to their fathers to lay down the rules and enforce them. They also look to their fathers to provide a feeling of security, both physical and emotional. Children want to make their fathers proud, and an involved father promotes inner growth and strength. Studies have shown that when fathers are affectionate and supportive, it greatly affects a child’s cognitive and social development. It also instills an overall sense of well-being and self confidence.

Fathers Set the Bar for Relationships with Others

Fathers not only influence who we are inside, but how we have relationships with people as we grow. The way a father treats his child will influence what he or she looks for in other people. Friends, lovers, and spouses will all be chosen based on how the child perceived the meaning of the relationship with his or her father. The patterns a father sets in the relationships with his children will dictate how his children relate with other people.

Fathers and Their Daughters

Young girls depend on their fathers for security and emotional support. A father shows his daughter what a good relationship with a man is like. If a father is loving and gentle, his daughter will look for those qualities in men when she’s old enough to begin dating. If a father is strong and valiant, she will relate closely to men of the same character.

Fathers and Their Sons

Unlike girls, who model their relationships with others based on their father’s character, boys model themselves after their father’s character. Boys will seek approval from their fathers from a very young age. As human beings, we grow up by imitating the behavior of those around us; that’s how we learn to function in the world. If a father is caring and treats people with respect, the young boy will grow up much the same. When a father is absent, young boys look to other male figures to set the “rules” for how to behave and survive in the world.

So today, don’t forget to tell your dad you love him, and thanks for being there!

This Friday, our learners participated in the Exit Point  of ‘My Toy Shop’, while simultaneously celebrating our school’s “Taste of Culture” which was embedded in a meaningful way. As many of you probably already know, “Taste of Culture”  is a traditional school celebration, focused on an international theme that helps our young learners gain knowledge and an increasing understanding about their home and host countries, nationalities and their cultures and that of others. It was so delightful to see our children (and our SWCK Team!) dressed up in their national costumes! In class,  our learners, teachers and parents (on Zoom!) also celebrated ‘Toys from around the World’, sharing their toys, stories, culture and music from their home and our host countries. We were all fascinated with the various toys which have historical and cultural significance, providing our learning community opportunities to find similarities and differences thus helping learners learn independence and interdependence of people, countries, and cultures, and begin to take action within their world.  This event also helped our learners to develop a good sense of personal identity - teaching them to have a greater awareness of themselves and others,  and growing in confidence as communicators.

To all our parents and families, I would like to thank you once again for entrusting your children to us in our Small World! I also wish to thank our teachers, school leaders and support staff for their excellent work with our young children - it is a joy to see the children thriving into confident, eager learners, under their loving care and supervision.  To all our graduates and our returning students, I bless you all with lovely thoughts, prayers and an enjoyable summer - until we meet again! 

The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace. (Numbers 6:24-26)