“Train up a child in the way he should go;
Even when he is old he will not depart from it”
Prov 22:6
When it was time to choose a pre-school for their children, Jeremy Ang and his wife instinctively knew that they would favour a Christian-based kindergarten. Just as he and his wife had benefitted from a Christian education at a young age, they too wanted their sons to follow likewise. They eventually selected Faith Kindergarten, a church-based pre-school belonging to Faith Methodist Church.
Apart from its convenient location along Commonwealth Drive, what meant a lot to them was the focus on shaping a child’s character and instilling of good practices, such as saying grace before meals. When one of his kids reminded the family to say grace before eating, it brought a sense of joy and fulfilment to know that such habits were being cultivated at Faith Kindergarten. To date, all their three sons have passed through the doors of Faith Kindergarten, with the youngest one graduating at the end of this year.
The teachers also played a major role in helping Diana Ng select Faith Kindergarten for her two children. “Every teacher seemed to know the name of every child in the school and not just those from their own classes. They greet each child by name at the morning health check, and this gives the child a sense of identity and belonging,” she shared. “They also teach a lot about the Word (of God).” Diana also recounts how her daughter, who was still in Nursery at the time, was able to recite Psalm 9:1-2 in fluent Mandarin.
One Family
Pauline Chia is the principal of Faith Kindergarten. She has been in the childcare education industry for 30 years, and is herself an alumni of Faith Kindergarten. “We are like a big family,” describes Pauline, of how the relationships between teachers, parents, and children have intertwined over the years.
When she first became a teacher at Faith Kindergarten, her teaching mentor was the same teacher who taught her as a student, and this same teaching-mentor also taught Pauline’s daughter. Some teachers have been with the school since 2004, back when it was housed in the old church building before its reconstruction.
“Parents feel comfortable with our curriculum,” Pauline continues. “We have built rapport and trust with the parents over the years, and they put their trust and assurance in the teachers and staff to make Faith Kindy a nurturing and caring environment for their children. Many of the students here are the siblings of ex-students, or the children of alumni parents.”
Registration is open for Faith Kindergarten 2021 intake! For more information on Faith Kindergarten, please email paulinechia@faithkindy.edu.sg.
Glynisia Yeo is a member of Faith Methodist Church and a proud mom of a pre-schooler. She tries to remain sane while balancing her work and parenthood duties and invites anyone with helpful tips to email her at glynisiayeo@faithmc.sg / Photos courtesy of Faith Methodist Church