Godsent Surprises & Godly Assignments

GODSENT SURPRISES & GODLY ASSIGNMENTS

by Wong Lee Pin, Principal, Bethesda (Katong) Kindergarten

Just as Singapore and the world wrestled with COVID-19, Bethesda Katong Kindergarten (or BKK) fought a ‘war’ last year. For various sociological reasons including the falling birth rate in Singapore, we have been seeing declining enrolment in many church-based kindergartens. We know God has sustained and enriched BKK through the past 60 over years. We have been blessed by committed staff, resources and wise counsel.

Yet God, in His mercy and grace, encouraged us recently with a surprise visit by two ex-students.

“Oh, look! I remember climbing these metal frames!” exclaimed Malik to his fianceé, Martha.

Both had attended BKK in the 1980s when their parents were stationed in Singapore and they recalled their kindergarten days fondly – painting on easel boards, playing in the sand, eating biscuits and drinking orange cordial for snacks. Although they were only in Singapore for a week, they made time to visit us – a testimony of BKK’s influence on our young ones.

Likewise, many other ex-students have returned to visit us. Many have also enrolled their children in BKK, their alma mater.

We are also heartened by the encouraging messages and tokens sent by parents. In our recent Parent Survey, parents said BKK’s distinctive characteristics are warm, caring and loving teachers, the emphasis on character building and our solid curriculum. One parent shared that her son can now feed himself, carry his bag, put on his own shoes and put away his toys since starting prenursery classes. Another shared how her daughter has learnt perspective-taking despite this skill being beyond her age. She could learn it because it had been effectively taught by BKK teachers and reinforced by the parents.

Our church’s 2019 theme verse was Isaiah 43:19 “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness, and streams in the wasteland.”

Indeed new ‘things’ are happening in BKK.

We strengthened our Numeracy curriculum by incorporating visual models and classroom experience to boost understanding of concepts.

We started a Playgroup for 18-month-old toddlers in faith. It is our first venture into a programme for this age group and with the exception of one staff, the rest of us were novices. Things moved fast; the curriculum was confirmed, approval from authorities was obtained, the staff identified and commissioned. Jehovah Jireh provided the children - from three in March to nine by September, just one short of the limit of 10 we had set to ensure quality care.

In response to feedback that there is a demand for after-school enrichment, we started `Coding & Robotics’ and ‘Public Speaking’ classes. The former prepares our children for the digital economy by developing logical thinking and problem solving skills. In fact, MOE announced that all upper primary students will undergo a compulsory 10-hour coding programme after we started our class.

The `Public Speaking’ class teaches children how best to receive and share information by taking the audience and context into consideration.

Our aim is that our students develop into wellrounded individuals, rooted in Christian values. We thank God He has allowed us to partner in His work at BKK and humbly pray we will continue to do so for many more years. Would you pray with us?

Martha and Malik reliving their kindergarten days

Our playgroup children dressed up for Racial Harmony Day

Children in pairs planning how to move Dash during the Coding and Robotics class