Our Vision and Mission
“Encouraging young minds to be big thinkers.”
At Abacus we provide a safe and nurturing setting where everyone
is encouraged to be unique, respectful and reach their full
potential.
Our exciting play based curriculum provides children with the
opportunity to take risks, inquire and be creative. We provide an
individualized programme that develops attitudes and skills. We
encourage children to be independent and work together to
become lifelong learners.
We teach children about their responsibilities to the community
and the importance of caring for their environment, its inhabitants
and resources.
Life for your child at Abacus
 Our sessions are divided up between indoor class time,
snack time and outdoor play.
 They will have a balance of teacher /EA directed
learning, structured play and child chosen play activities.
Outside time is planned to maximise learning time.
 Session times are 8.30-11.30am and
12.30-3.30pm
 1 Teacher and 2 Educational Assistants in K1
All teachers speak English as their first
language and are degree holders
Life for your child at Abacus
 Follow the IB PYP curriculum in line with ESF Primary
schools.
 Play based using inquiry and designed to develop a range of
concepts and skills.
 We have a no homework and no
worksheet philosophy, however we do
send home reading books and ideas for
play activities you can do with your child
each week.
 Class names – chosen by the children.
PYP Curriculum
 Continuity to ESF Primary and other International
Schools
 Support from CWBS PYP coordinator and ESF
teaching and learning advisor
 Teachers and EAs have all at least MTPYPH received
training
 We have had consultation visit May 2012 and
verification visit in May 2013
Personal and Social
 Making relationships
 Self confidence
 Behaviour and self management
 Personal care
 Attitudes
 Developing independence
Physical Development
Movement
Sense of space
Health and bodily awareness
Using equipment, tools and materials
Languages
• Oral Language –
Listening and Speaking
• Linking sounds and
letters
• Reading
• Writing
• Visual Language –
Viewing and
Presenting
Chinese
 Support in class and outdoors
 Special celebrations
 Festivals – Mid autumn
 Chinese new year
 Dragon boat festival
 Customs and traditions
 Chinese vocabulary
 Chinese stories and songs
Science, Technology and Social Studies
- Living Things
- Earth and Space
- Materials and Matter
- Forces and Energy
- Human Systems
- Social Organisation
- Human and Natural
Environments
- Resources and the
Environment
Mathematics
• Number
• Measurement
• Shape and space
• Data Handling
• Pattern and Function
Arts
 Art and Crafts
 Music
 Dance
 Imaginative Play
 Imaginative Storytelling
K1 overview
Who We Are
How We Express
Ourselves
How We Organise
Ourselves
How the World
Works
Play
Paint, play, explore
We use play to explore,
come to new
understandings and
form new relationships.
Through the arts people Transport systems are
can use a range of
organised to meet the
mediums to express
needs of a community
their feelings and ideas.
Food comes from many
places and goes
through many changes.
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The ways in which
we can play to help
us learn
The ways in which
we can play with
our friends
The ways in which
we can be
responsible for our
learning
environment.
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The ways in which
people express
themselves
How different
mediums can be
used in the arts
How people
respond to the arts
Transport

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The different forms
of transport
How vehicles are
developed to suit
their purpose
How transport
systems are
organised to meet
the needs of the
community
Food origins and
changes

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Where food comes
from
The ways in which
humans can use
science to manage
food waste
How common
substances interact
when they are
mixed
5 Essential Elements of the PYP
Concepts, Knowledge, Skills, Attitudes, Action—are
incorporated into this framework.
Concepts – Big Ideas – ‘Animals grow and change’ –
concept is Change
Knowledge – ‘Caterpillars turn into butterflies’
Skills – Self Management, communication, social,
thinking, research
Attitudes – Learner Profile and Attitudes – Caring
Action – Follow on From their learning
Learner Profile
Attitudes
 Inquirers
 Appreciation
 Thinkers
 Confidence
 Communicators
 Cooperation
 Risk-takers
 Creativity
 Knowledgeable
 Principled
 Caring
 Open-minded
 Curiosity
 Empathy
 Enthusiasm
 Independence
 Integrity
 Balanced
 Respect
 Reflective
 Tolerance
Action
 Follow up from learning at school
 Can be child initiated or parent / teacher initiated
 As simple as reading a book about something they
have learned in class, or talking about something they
have learned in class. Could also be follow up work
such as growing a plant or looking after their own pet
at home. Choosing healthy food over sweets after
learning about it in school.
 Sometimes may be charity work / giving pocket money
to a cause but doesn’t have to be.
Events
Trips – Fair – Sports Day – Arts Day – Christmas Carols –
Chinese New Year Celebration
Differentiation and Inclusion
 Catering for the needs of all children.
 Programmes are differentiated for different skill
levels.
 We include children with special needs. Providing
children with diverse needs with the support they
need is part of our inclusion philosophy.
Health Screenings - Voluntary
Assessment, Portfolios and
Reporting
Teachers track children’s progress through their time at
kindergarten. Assessment is related to the goals in the
curriculum and recorded. It is all informal through
observation and discussion. Really important as it helps
teachers understand what they need to work on with
each child next.
Ongoing regular assessment - Use of portfolios
Regular reporting to parents:
•Term 1 K1– Parents Evening and Report
•Mid K1 – Parents Evening
•End K1 – Report and Voluntary Parent Meeting
The Gateway and Moodle
Gateway
Calendar, your child’s report, check contact details,
book parent conferences, staff emails, assessment
and language policies.
Moodle
Your child’s portfolio, curriculum information, photos,
class information.
Login details will be sent home at the beginning of
the year in your child’s communication book.
Partnership with Parents
 Really important.
 Weekly information about the curriculum goes home.
 Parent volunteers welcome either regularly or for
special occasions.
 Communication encouraged via email, or phone to
discuss concerns.
 Diaries.
 Abacus Parents Group
 Class Reps
Application For Year 1 Primary
Most of our children go on to Clearwater Bay School,
Renaissance College and other ESF schools. Application in
September of K2
Priority Goes To:
Siblings and
Teachers
Nomination
Rights
ESF
Kindergarten
Other
Children
This Year’s Numbers
Clear Water Bay School Figures 231 applications for 120 places
Siblings and
Teachers 72
Nomination
Rights 8
ESF Kindergarten
56
Other
Children 69
Siblings, NR and ESF Kindergarten 72+8+56 = 136, so 16 of
our children were interviewed for the active waiting list
and no children from other kindergartens were
interviewed initially unless siblings or NR.
Eventually all of our waitlisted children did get into CWBS that
except those that failed the interview.
Coming to ESF Kindergarten does not guarantee an interview or
a place at ESF Primary but it does increase your chances. We
still have priority for interview for children entering ESF
Kindergartens this year.
Interviews
 All children must go through an interview to gain
entrance to ESF Primary. The interview is based on
English Language ability.
 We assess your child’s language capabilities using
Wellcomm and will notify you if we are concerned
about your child’s language development.
 Normally children must have attended an ESF
kindergarten for a minimum of 2 terms before
interviews in order to have the Abacus priority.
These interviews take place in the January of each
calendar year.
Before Starting School
 Fill in forms and return to school on your child’s
play date please.
 Fill in All About Me Booklet with your child and
bring it on the first day of term.
 Buy Uniform – Details in the parent handbook –
Second Hand available from the office.
 Label Everything.
Starting School
 Staggered Start Date.
 Adult must stay until teacher and you decide your
child is settled enough to leave.
 Teacher may ask you to wait outside for a while.
 Don’t Hide or Leave without saying
goodbye.
Bits and Pieces
 Healthy Snacks – Snack Boxes / Water
Bottles.
 Toileting.
 Spare Clothes.
 Mosquitoes.
 Sun Hats.
 Medication.
Bits and Pieces
 Birthdays – No cakes or Sweets
 Buses / Pick Up / Security Cards
 Typhoon Arrangements
 Library Books
QUESTIONS
 Time to ask questions.
 Thank you for choosing ESF international kindergarten.
 We all look forward to working in partnership with you
to provide the best educational experiences for your
child.