A new beginning unfolds when a child first steps into school. At Julia Gabriel Preschool we believe in making this start a fun and formative one – a foundation that sparks a difference for life.
By bringing together the warmth and security of home with the stimulating and immersive experience of EduDrama®, we spell a dramatic difference in how we nurture a child’s foundation.
Language. Imagination. Discovery. We bring them into the magnificent worlds of literature, maths, science and arts. Engaging each child to explore and participate in their own way, we inspire them to think independently and express themselves confidently. Children are our delight. We are always in awe of their unique strengths and talents. We celebrate who they are now and marvel at the person they can be.
With parents as partners, we ignite children’s natural curiosity into a love of learning and empower them with skills for life.
The primary aim of the Julia Gabriel Preschool programme is to nurture a growing independence along with positive self-esteem and self-image and instil in children a love of learning through their earliest experiences. Julia Gabriel Preschool offers programmes from Nursery to Kindergarten and the curriculum of each programme has been carefully structured and planned. It includes the Oxford Reading Tree from the United Kingdom, Maths, physical education lessons on a weekly basis, computer work, cooking and science, art and craft, mandarin, speech & drama and music.
Small class size
With our excellent student to teacher ratio (two teachers to a class of twelve to sixteen students), each teacher has ample opportunity to follow each child’s progress in great detail. We are able to offer extra help in any area where it may be needed and to enrich the programme for those students whose ability necessitates it. Children are often divided into small numbers for certain areas of the curriculum and given the opportunity to work together in pairs or small groups, with the teacher present as a guide, mentor or observer.
Our Approach: Learning Centres
Each classroom is set up with various learning centres. Through these learning centres, e.g. Language, maths, art, research and etc., the children are given the opportunity to explore and experiment. This enhances their development in all areas. Other centres may also be set up to coincide with the theme or topic of the week. Some centres will also be set up to build on the current interests of the children. They are encouraged to explore each centre during activity and free play time.
Nursery 1 is a bilingual programme for children who are turning three the year they are admitted to the level. The programme is an independent 3½ hours which children attend daily. The class is run by an English teacher and a support teacher and Mandarin classes are conducted by visiting Mandarin teachers for 30 minutes daily.
Nursery 2 is for children who are turning four. The class is run by an English teacher and a support teacher and Mandarin classes are conducted by visiting Mandarin teachers for an hour daily.
Kindergarten 1 is for children between the ages of four and five. Each class is run by an English teacher and a teaching assistant with the Mandarin classes conducted by visiting teachers.
Kindergarten 2 is for children between the ages of five and six. Each class is run by an English teacher and a teaching assistant. Mandarin classes in Kindergarten 2 are conducted for an hour daily.
We use the Oxford Reading Tree from the United Kingdom as our core reading scheme. This wide ranging scheme is supplemented by a selection of fiction and non-fiction works as fluency builds.
The child progresses to basic literacy skills in Nursery and Kindergarten 1 to an understanding and enjoyment of text during Kindergarten 2.
Each week the children browse in the much-loved library, The Enchanted BookRoom where they borrow a book of their own choosing to take home from some four thousand fiction and non-fiction titles. They are expected to line-up and request the Librarian to borrow the book and to practise respectful handling of books.
Reading and language are coupled with individual creativity and fluency in writing skills. Conversation, drama and singing are an integral part of our whole language approach to the growth of literacy skills in the classroom as well as in the aesthetics programme.
The central focus of our maths programme is problem solving, building on a child’s intuitive insights and prior knowledge.
We follow a language-based approach, similar to the methods used by Singapore schools for problem solving. The children gain their understanding of mathematical concepts and skills through the use of written and oral language.
They are introduced to symbolic language gradually after experiencing ‘hands on’ concrete and pictorial materials to discover concepts for themselves.
The teachers encourage students to talk and write about mathematics and children are stimulated to observe, discuss, explain and create mathematical solutions.
Physical Education lessons are held on a weekly basis, when the children learn to cooperate in groups and to work in teams.
During this time they develop both fine and large motor skills, whilst having fun in the playground.
The children enjoy regular science based activities through cooking.
The lessons are great fun, encourage cooperation and promote healthy attitudes towards eating.
Cooking classes provide natural practice for estimating, measuring, dividing and other related maths skills, observation, experimentation, language and number practice.
For safety, food is prepared in the classroom, taken to the kitchen for baking then returned to the classroom for the best part – eating!
In these early years many areas of the curriculum are expressed through art and craft.
This stimulates the children’s interest and at the same time develops their creative thought. Through these activities their fine motor skills, so necessary for later schooling, are developed.
In each year group, the children are exposed to a wide range of materials and techniques appropriate to their development.
At Nursery level our work is entirely oral, developing ear training and an awareness of sounds.
Vocabulary is built through song, language games, activities and stories. Written work begins in earnest in Kindergarten 1 as vocabulary builds and extends to story writing in Kindergarten 2.
Bahasa Indonesia is a programme for kindergarten children that aims to introduce our National Language to create an awareness, understanding and appreciation of the Indonesian culture.
For thirty minutes three times a week, each level explores a variety of topics following a thematic approach through songs, games, experiments and stories.
Visiting specialist teacher from Julia Gabriel Preschool conduct EduDrama® (speech and drama) and Music sessions once a week with each class.
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Julia Gabriel Preschool Jakarta is operated by EduKidz Asia.
