Dear Elementary School Parents,

As the Kindergarten and Elementary School Principal, I have the privilege of being part of the world of early learners. At our Kindergarten, or “Child’s Garden,” we emphasize laying the foundations for learning such as executive functioning (emotional regulation, impulse control, and problem-solving), language acquisition, motor skills, and social development. In doing so, we nurture young hearts by guiding our students toward the God who created, loves, and, through Jesus,  redeems them.

Preparing the Soil

In recent years, our kindergarten, early elementary administration, and faculty have collaborated with admissions to align expectations and streamline the entry process into P1. This initiative has involved selecting appropriate early childhood learning standards that align with the learning expectations for P1 and the rest of the school, extending through Grade 12. This alignment enables us to provide not only an academic foundation but also to focus on the developmental milestones mentioned earlier. As a result, 97% of our students successfully transitioned to P1 last year, and our schools are working closely to ensure that every student has every opportunity to be prepared for our rigorous, full-day Elementary School-aligned P1.

Cultivating the Garden

When engaging with the parents of young learners, I often sense the high expectations and anxiety stemming from a fear of missing out. In today’s world, heavily influenced by social media and marketing, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by examples of students advancing rapidly. While I acknowledge the impressive achievements of some young children mastering phonics and writing at an early age, I worry that in our rush to produce advanced learners, we might overlook the deeper, foundational work required for more complex knowledge and skills.

Years ago, I attended a workshop with Dr. Michael Thompson, author of The Pressured Child, where he said something that has stuck with me ever since: “Development is King!”  Too often, adults strive to achieve advanced results to keep pace with the seemingly high-performing children showcased on social media. However, this approach can be counterproductive, as it seeks fruit without establishing a solid foundation or “root system”—the neural connections that support complex knowledge and skills. I always reassure our Kindergarten parents that our ICS approach is designed to build a firm foundation in language and executive functioning. With this approach we work toward all of our KG students arriving in P1 having a developmentally appropriate “schema” or cognitive framework to be ready for phonics instruction, emergent reading and writing, and mathematics.  

Bearing Fruit

Thanks to our excellent faculty and support staff, collaborative efforts with parents, and the hard work of our students, we continually build upon this foundation throughout the Elementary School experience. We prepare students to navigate the academic and life challenges of Middle School and, ultimately, the advanced classes and life decisions they will face in High School. There are no shortcuts in cultivating character, nurturing God-given abilities, and developing the academic foundation necessary for life, learning, and eternity.

In my experience, the lesson from Aesop’s fable of the tortoise and the hare rings true: “Slow and steady wins the race.” Consistent effort over time is more effective for achieving success than acting quickly but inconsistently. 

For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little.”  Isaiah 28:10

Thank you for your partnership in this educational journey.