It's nearly Moving Day!

On Monday, 17 July, our Early Years and Prep students will be moving into the new Early Learning Village and will be able to access all the wonderful facilities that have been built especially for them.  

Earlier in Term 2 Head of Early Years, Adam Patterson, tasked the Wombats class with building a model of the Early Learning Village. They toured the building and reviewed the plans before creating this fantastic sculpture:

It shows off the swimming pool, play decks and outdoor spaces perfectly, although we're not sure about the volcanoes - maybe we'll have to add those at a later date!

A reminder of what's so special in the Early Learning Village

The building is a new space and represents a new way of learning.

All elements of the ELV is designed with young learners in mind - a world first in education. 

Every aspect of it supports our play and inquiry-based approach to learning, from the swimming pool, to the play decks to the teaching kitchens and the classrooms. 

It has been designed to adapt to each child’s needs as they as they grow so they can progress from pre-nursery all the way through to Prep and enjoy the different aspects of the building at different times. 

What do the pods and classrooms look like?

Each pod has four classrooms attached to it which creates a smaller community for the students. Each pod has been designed for the different year levels who will be using it, for example for the pre-nursery and nursery students there are changing stations, washing machines and dishwashers, whereas for the 3-4 year olds and Prep classes there are teaching kitchens. 

There is an adjoined outdoor area for each classroom, with developmentally appropriate resources to learn and play such as sandpits and water play for the younger students and larger building equipment for the older students. 

What are the other facilities like?

  1. Multi Purpose Hall

  2. Play Deck 1

  3. Play Deck 2

  1. Swimming Pool

  2. The Garden

We are lucky enough to have a whole range of different facilities in the Early Learning Village which we can't wait to explore with the students. They have been designed to develop our students' sensory and motor skills, ignite their imagination and encourage exploration. 

This includes 3 outdoor play decks which are called 'The Bridge', 'The Green' and 'The Canopy' as well as a purpose-built swimming pool, multi-purpose hall, Library, Medical Centre and Parent Cafe. 

Eating with intent, as a family

From Term 3 2017, all students in Early Years will be provided with their lunch. It will be prepared by canteen-operator Chartwells and forms part of the School's curriculum.

The children will eat in their classrooms and they will be supervised at all time by the Teachers and Teaching Assistants. The meal times will foster an experience that is all about 'eating together with friends' and is the next step at bringing the Reggio Emilia Philosophy into all areas of our Early Years Teaching & Learning Program.

Students in Prep will continue to order their canteen food online or bring their meals from home.

All snacks for Recess / Munch n' Crunch will still need to be brought from home.

For more information about the food provision in the Early Learning Village please click here. 

Arrivals and Departures

We have carefully thought through the arrivals and departures process for the Early Learning Village. 

Buses

Prep students will walk to and from the Early Learning Village from the bus drop-off area as they do at the moment. 

Early Years students will be accompanied by a member of staff between the bus drop-off area and the Early Learning Village. 

The new Child Safety Restraint Guidelines are now in place and will be enforced from January 2018. Click here to read more about these. 

Drop-off and Pick-Up on foot

There is a brand new reception area at the Early Learning Village where parents will bring the students to. The students will gather on the mezzanine level where they will be met by their teachers and then taken up to their classroom together. 

Parking and Drop-Off by car

Parents will continue to be able to use the parking underneath the Lower Elementary School and there will be more parking available underneath the Early Learning Village. There will also be a dedicated Drop-Off area at the Early Learning Village as well. Please not that the start and finish times between AIS and SAIS have been staggered so families will be arriving at different times. 

Co-Curricular Activities

A new program of Co-Curricular Activities has been created for AIS students from 3 years-old to Year 2. These activities fall under three categories:

Extended program from external providers:

  • Ballet
  • Gymnastics
  • Soccer
  • Drama
  • Science / Technology / Robotics
  • Tennis
  • Martial Arts

Additional program from internal providers:

  • Swimming
  • Instrumental music

Prep – Year 2:

  • New free CCA program at lunchtime and after school

The CCA providers will be at the Early Learning Village on Monday, 17 July to speak to parents. If you would like more information in the meantime, then please email our Head of Sport Justin Teves or our Head of Outdoor Education programs, Cameron Barry.

Before and After School Care

A new before and after school care program has been devised for 3 year-olds to Prep students. The care will be provided by a dedicated team from Camp Asia who will engage the children in a range of play-based activities utilising the rooms and outdoor play spaces on the Mezzanine level of the Early Learning Village. 

Breakfast Club

  • 7.15am – 8.30am
  • Healthy breakfast
  • Termly booking

Afternoon Club

  • 3.15pm – 6pm
  • Afternoon snack
  • Termly booking
  • Can be coordinated with CCA program

Camp Asia will be at the Early Learning Village on Monday, 17 July to speak to parents. In the meantime, please email info@villageclubs.asia or call +65 6593 7685 for more information. 

Welcome Day - Monday, 17 July

The first day of Term 3 - Monday, 17 July - will be the Welcome Day into the Early Learning Village for our Early Years and Prep students and their families. 

To ensure that everyone has chance to explore the building properly and understand the new routines students and their parents will be meeting with the class teachers in small groups throughout the day. 

Current families must book a timeslot in advance for this day through the booking system which can be accessed here (Please note that new families who are joining AIS in July 2017 will be contacted directly by their admissions managers). For parents who need their children to be at school all day, all-day care will be provided - you'll just need to indicate that this is required when you book your session with the teacher.

During the day, students will collect their new school bag, parents will get their new Parent Passes (information about this is here) and there will be the chance to sign up for CCAs and the Breakfast and After School club. 

It is set to be an action-packed, fun-filled day with lots of surprises in-store for students and we're so excited about the prospect of actually being in the Early Learning Village for the first time!

For a full list of frequently asked questions and answers about the systems in place in the new building, please click here.