KINDERGARTEN
FOR AGE 3-6
The Kindergarten in MIS is aimed to provide a happy and safe introduction to school life for the young learners age 3 to 5. Students learn through play and exploration using the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) themed around four out of six units of inquiry each year. These include spaces for reading, writing, art, construction, imaginative play, science and technology, with a wide variety of appropriate resources in each.
Eligibility Assessment
The school requires at least one day’s notice for any new enrolment starting at the school. Families who arrive at the school unexpectedly will be inducted immediately where possible, with the student/s beginning in class the following day, depending on the completion of enrolment forms, entrance exams and payment of the first invoice.
MIS is permitted to enroll students who are foreign nationals holding a KITAS or whose parent is a KITAS holding expatriate employee, as well as students of Indonesian nationality, and students of dual nationality.
Kindergarten 1 - Students will be eligible to enroll in Kindergarten 1 from their third birthday. Students should be toilet trained, as well as being independent (not accompanied by parents or any other adults in class) before enrollment.
The enrollment of a 4-year-old student will be only after parental agreement to the following: With consideration of the child’s age, there may be a need for a student to remain classified as a Kindergarten 2 student for a longer period of time and not proceed to Kindergarten 3. Students need to be toilet trained prior to enrollment.
Kindergarten 3 - Students will be eligible to enroll in Kindergarten 3 from their fifth birthday. Students beginning Kindergarten 3 for the first time after the completion of Term 2 (after the Christmas holidays) will remain in Kindergarten 3 for the next academic school year.
Teacher Aims
- Foster curiosity about the world around us and increase knowledge & understanding.
- Develop children’s social and emotional skills, as well as fine motor and gross motor skills.
- Support children’s interests and inquiry and the development of skills in all cognitive areas in ways that are significant and relevant.
- Provide ongoing opportunities for children to make choices and decisions.
- Build language, mathematical and creative skills.
- Help children work collaboratively with others and build relationships with other children and adults, and also learn classroom routines.
- Encourage children to use materials in flexible and imaginative ways.
- Design learning experiences that are transdisciplinary, child-centered and meaningful, and that encourage life-long learning skills and values.
- Provide an environment for the children to have a happy and secure introduction to school life.
Kindergarten Program
As well as language and mathematics, four of the six transdisciplinary themes (How We Organize Ourselves, How We Express Ourselves, How the World Works, Who We Are) will be used to integrate the traditional subjects of: Science, Social Studies, Arts and Personal, Social and Physical into the Unit of inquiry (UoI). Kindergarten 1,2,3 students do four units of inquiry per year whereas in Grade 1-6, six units a year are required.
MATHEMATICS
Children develop mathematical vocabulary, concepts, and process skills through hands-on experiences such as classroom routines, exploration with manipulatives, games, problem-solving, play, and interactions with the natural environment. Mathematical learning focuses on number concepts and operations, spatial relationships and shape, measurement, classification, and patterns.
INQUIRY AND COGNITIVE
Units of inquiry provide a meaningful context for the integration of science, social studies, language, and math learning. During units of guided inquiry, children learn through investigative experiences using a variety of materials. Science and social studies learning focuses on using tools, developing inquiry skills, and making sense of themselves and the world around them. Cognitive goals include developing positive approaches to learning, remembering and connecting experiences, and symbolic communication.
SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Play is the primary context in which children develop language and social skills. Through play, they learn to regulate their own emotions and behaviors, establish and sustain positive relationships, as well as participate cooperatively and constructively in group situations.
HEALTH AND WELLBEING
The curriculum provides the basis for developing knowledge, understanding, and skills for children to lead healthy, safe and active lives. Students have opportunities to learn about their strengths and simple actions they can take to keep themselves and their classmates healthy and safe.
INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT)
ICT tools are used at this level by the students for inquiring into the units of inquiry.
- In K1,2 they will on occasion use an iPad for math games, coding, coordination, and or language activities.
- For K3, there is access to the school ICT lab. This will help students develop research, communication, social and self-management skills via integration into the UoI, as well as basic computer skills.
MOTHER TONGUE LANGUAGE
Research shows that establishing a strong mother tongue helps children develop emotionally, socially and intellectually. If your mother tongue is a language other than English, we strongly encourage you to continue to communicate and read to your child in your mother tongue.
HOME READING
Children will bring home three books from the school library each week. You are encouraged to read with your child on a daily basis to develop literacy skills as well as a love of books. Please ensure the books are returned the following week.
In addition to the Library books, Kindergarten 3 students will also be given leveled readers on a regular basis to read at home.
