What did you do in school today?
The tidbits of information we receive from our children in response to this classic question can range from endearing, to informative, to cliff-hanging.
“I found a toad in the garden!” “I ate cherries.” “I played with my new friend!” “I don’t remember.”
If only we could be a fly on the wall and see for ourselves what our children do in a day at House on the Hill! Every day at school is different, in part because of the different flexible care options offered to suit families’ needs, including half and full day care and options for coming two, three or five times a week. Additionally, the daily routine will be adjusted for each class level and the specifics of each centre. But no matter the day or the centre, each child spends their days in a stimulating learning environment, filled with care, fun, and openness.
At the newly opened House on the Hill Hollandse Club campus, the children are settling into their new school happily. The freshly renovated rooms are starting to fill with the sounds of chatter, singing, learning, laughing, eating and more.
Here’s a glimpse into what a typical day is like here at House on the Hill Hollandse Club.
Good Morning!
By 8:30 each morning the children have arrived and are mingling with their friends. Whether they walk, roll up on a scooter, ride the bus, or catch a cab, each child is greeted by the teachers and goes through a health check before entering the school.
First things first, we like to move in the morning! Here at Hollandse Club, the little ones run out for playtime in the sunshine at the playground!
Montessori Work Time
Every day each child has uninterrupted Montessori time. Our children in the Playgroup and Pre-Nursery will work for 30 to 45 minutes each day and the mixed age Nursery to Kindergarten classes will work for the full three-hour cycle.
As classical music plays in the background, the children are free to move about their classrooms and choose the activities that draw their attention. The teachers will observe the children to find appropriate windows to work with them one-on-one, introducing new materials and concepts in a focused and individualized manner. Throughout this cycle you will find children working on subtraction, practicing phonic sounds with the sandpaper letters, focusing on matching the different sounds of the sound box, serving themselves snacks, or taking a quiet break in the library. They are also practicing concentration and time management skills!
Circle Time
Each classroom is a community, and each day they will find the time to gather together for Circle Time. The Good Morning Song includes the days of the week and the months of the year, and it is always great to see one of the children in the Nursery to Kindergarten class leading their peers in the song!
During Circle Time the class might also read stories and share stories about what happened over their weekends! They’ll use this time to discuss important upcoming events and whatever may be affecting their community.
Mandarin
It’s time for Mandarin class! Our fun loving Lao Shi fill this time with engaging songs, games, stories, crafts, fun character writing practice, role play and more. These are integrated into the immersive reading, writing and speaking curriculum, designed to build confidence and a love of the language. Soon, we will be introducing our very popular elective afternoon Mandarin programme (天天向上).
Here, the children are exposed to traditional culture, arts and crafts, stories, Chinese painting, poetry reading, dramatic expression and more. This approach has proven very effective, our students love expressing themselves in Mandarin!
We believe in a no-stress, supportive environment that encourages bonding with the language, building a strong foundation to grow and develop from.
Lunch Time
What makes for a great lunch? At House on the Hill, nutrition is very important to us. Our nutritionally balanced meals are designed to support young, developing bodies, helping them to have the energy they need to learn and play happily.
We use quality ingredients for our delicious lunches, with no added flavour enhancers. Each day our aunties cook fresh meals with whole grain carbohydrates, healthy proteins, lots of vegetables and always, some yummy fruit!
Lunch is also a good time for the children to develop social and emotional skills, enjoying their meals with their peers. They also work together to prepare the table, serve themselves and clean up afterwards.
Afternoon
After lunch some children will head home with parents and guardians, while others will freshen up, change out of their uniforms, and settle in for a nap. Older children or children who do not nap anymore will be engaged in quiet activities in the classroom.
When it’s time to wake up, the students will fold and keep their own bedding. Now recharged, the children spend the afternoon taking part in a multitude of activities, from getting their hands dirty helping to care for our herb garden to dancing gleefully during music and movement.
Pending the schedule for the day, they might work on creative expression activities such as edible dough play, head out to collect some treasures from Mother Nature or work on their motor skill development in the classrooms and out in the playground.
The teachers also take the opportunity during quieter moments to collaborate for lesson planning, send updates to parents and organise upcoming events and activities.
Active little bodies need good nourishment to keep energy and focus levels high. We serve healthy snacks in the afternoon, such as refreshing fruit salad for hot days, or the children’s favourite – banana smoothies!
As the day draws to a close, it’s time to pack up and head home for dinner. And that’s what a usual day in the life at House on the Hill Hollandse Club looks like!
If you would like to find out more about joining us, please go to https://houseonthehill.com.sg/visithc and sign up for a school tour.
