Highlights
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- Active learning
- Strong emphasis on good character development
- Inspires children to be independent learners with an analytical mind
- Fun and safe environment
- Teachers supported with ongoing training
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Himawari Preschool, Selayang provides a stimulating and secure environment in which children can develop socially, emotionally and academically. It is well-received by the parents in the local community and children love that school is such a fun place to be.
The name of our school – Himawari (Japanese for sunflower) – is symbolic of the sun. It defines the role of our teachers. Just like how sunlight fuels plant growth, teachers plant the seeds of knowledge into children and help them bloom into strong and bright individuals.-- Issac, co-founder of Himawari Preschool
Good Character Before Knowledge
Inspired by the beauty of Japanese early childhood education, Himawari Preschool puts a high value in cultivating good character traits in children. One of the goals is to teach children good behaviour, ethical moral reasoning and life skills in a well-mannered way. They also learn to respect and be compassionate. It was particularly evident, when we took a tour of the school, that children were well-behaved, calm and attentively attending class.
Also like most Japanese schools, they aim to foster a favourable learning climate by promoting positive teacher-student relationships. Teachers encouragingly assist and motivate, and children freely turn to them for guidance and advice. The benefits of this harmonious environment are reflected clearly in the children’s academic achievements and social-emotional development.
Educating Hearts and Minds
While making early education fun and enjoyable, Himawari Preschool places an equal emphasis on building a strong foundation of academic skills so that children will have a smooth transition to primary school. The experiences that children get here are definitely happy, exciting, active and ones that support their development and learning needs.
The time spent every day is carefully planned according to our national preschool framework along with some Montessori-inspired practices. Children learn as they play and build knowledge across all key learning areas including literacy, numeracy, language, science, art and music. More importantly, they learn how to learn through real world understandings from field trips and hands-on activities.
During normal times, it’s an exciting adventure throughout the whole year. There are usually celebrations, holiday camps, sports days, concerts, presentations and family events. Even though most are cancelled due to the coronavirus restrictions, the Himawari team remains dedicated to make sure learning goes on and painstakingly conducts one-to-one lessons online.
Touching Young Lives With Love, Care and Education
This dedication is reflected in all aspects of the school. Teachers are supported with ongoing training in order to stay on top of their game. They teach with passion and have the children’s best interests at heart. There is an in-house research and development team that constantly updates learning resources and books, which are written and published by their own team. The books come with QR Codes that take children to videos that they can play at home so that parents can be involved with their children’s learning too. And of course, there is no cutting corners when it comes to safety and hygiene. There are even auto-sanitisation machines that work overtime to disinfect the school at night.
As parents themselves, the founders of Himawari Preschool truly understand that choosing a preschool is an incredibly important decision. They do not take the trust that parents place in them lightly. “We offer the best of quality care, education and wellbeing for every child that is enrolled with us, just like what we want for our own,” adds Issac. Most families come to the preschool on the recommendation of those who have sent their children here, and this we feel is the best testament to the standard of care Himawari Preschool provides.
