Lower School Prospectus

LOWER SCHOOL PROSPECTUS

PROSPECTUS

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HARROW INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL HONG KONG

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LOWER SCHOOL PROSPECTUS

A MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD

WELCOME TO LOWER SCHOOL Harrow Hong Kong is a happy, high achieving School where our pupils are at the heart of everything we do.

As soon as you enter our doors you will see the vibrant artwork, hear the buzz of learning and see our pupils involved in purposeful activities.

We are proud of the fact that every member of our community is constantly learning. Our curriculum is broad and balanced and delivered by class teachers and specialist subject staff and aims to prepare our young people for life in the 21st century.

Alongside academic excellence our pupils can take advantage of extending their knowledge, skills and Leadership Attributes through the Harrow Horizons Programme which includes academic extension and challenge via the Super-Curriculum and they develop interests and talents by participation in Co-Curricular Activities.

It is our aim to provide an environment where every pupil is able to succeed in every aspect of their education as well as to flourish and thrive as an individual. Our children have positive relationships with their teachers, and are nurtured and supported in all that they do.

I encourage you to come and visit us - a warm welcome awaits you at our extraordinary School where people count, results matter, and a strive for excellence drives all that we do.

I look forward to meeting you.

Ms A. Haydon

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A MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF LOWER SCHOOL

INTRODUCTION TO LOWER SCHOOL Welcome to Harrow Hong Kong’s Lower School, a vibrant, caring school which is committed to the pursuit of excellence in every area. Our educational mission is rooted in traditional values and aspirational outcomes. Academic excellence sits alongside character development here at Harrow Hong Kong, where our social vision - a caring respectful community where everyone thrives - is at the heart of everything we do.

Our experienced and talented staff create environments where our pupils can be challenged, nurtured and developed from the moment they enter the Lower School. Central to this is our curriculum which is specifically designed to teach our pupils the knowledge, values and skills they need to excel in the Upper School and beyond.

The whole Harrow Hong Kong community is committed to providing opportunities for our pupils to develop leadership qualities. We value each pupil as an individual and through working closely with parents, we ensure that the specific needs of every pupil are met.

I hope this prospectus provides a sense of the uniqueness of our School community. However, the best way to discover the true dynamics of Harrow Hong Kong is to visit the School and we will be delighted to show you our exceptional community in action.

Mrs B. Shanahan

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“ My children have all thrived at Harrow Hong Kong. They have become caring, considerate and well-rounded children who have developed a very positive attitude to life, academics and Co-Curricular Activities. ” Year 3, 6 and 7 Parent

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A HAPPY COMMUNITY The Lower School consists of K1 through to Year 5. Pupils can enter the Lower School once they are three years old and, from the moment they join us, they become part of a happy secure community where every pupil is valued as an individual and integrity and respect are fostered in all areas of School life.

At Harrow Hong Kong we are committed to providing the highest standards of education and believe that a child will only reach their full potential if they are happy and confident in School.There is a healthy balance between work and play and every pupil is supported by a team of dedicated and talented Class Teachers and Teaching Assistants, with great emphasis placed on close liaison between staff and parents.

In this supportive and nurturing environment, emerging skills can be fostered.

CHALLENGE AND SURPRISE The endeavour to be the best you can be underpins a Harrow Hong Kong education, at all levels of ability.

Each child is encouraged to venture beyond their comfort zone and meet new challenges, to exceed their own expectations and surprise themself. Carefully guided through their early school years, the children thrive as they gain independence, establish lasting friendships and acquire an appetite for knowledge and new experiences that will not only prepare them for the next stage of their educational adventure, but will sustain them for life.

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DEVELOPING THE WHOLE PERSON At Harrow Hong Kong we take a holistic approach to education and strive to maximise the potential and wellbeing of each child; both in and beyond the classroom. Great emphasis is placed on pastoral care, we know every pupil as an individual and work hard to ensure that they feel valued and secure.

THE BEST OPPORTUNITY Enjoyment is paramount to learning, and in an environment where the school day is a fun adventure, children at Harrow Hong Kong become absorbed in the diverse activities on offer, delight in discovery and eagerly look forward to each new experience. With attentive and caring support, our dedicated staff are able to identify strengths and areas for development at an early age and structure individual learning so that each child has the best opportunity to achieve their full potential.

INSPIRING CONFIDENCE A wide range of Co-Curricular Activities not only supports academic learning but also develops personal strengths. At all levels of ability pupils can enjoy Drama, Music, and Sport, learn new skills and develop hobbies, visibly growing in confidence as they forge close and varied friendships and discover unsuspected talents.

As they move up through the School, pupils are also encouraged to take up leadership roles, maybe as a Buddy or Prefect, or through the School Council. Supported by this framework of care and the traditional values of courtesy, consideration and kindness, Harrow Hong Kong pupils thrive and emerge as polite, articulate, thoughtful, responsible and motivated young people exuding a love of life and learning.

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“ Harrow Hong Kong is a wonderfully supportive environment in which both my children are flourishing.

They are excited to go to school every day and they have made huge progress academically. Most importantly for me, however, is that they are very happy at the School, with good friends and caring teachers. I would wholeheartedly recommend Harrow Hong Kong to anyone. ” Years 2 and 5 Parent

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A SENSE OF BELONGING

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The tradition of a ‘House’ originates from Harrow School in the UK. The House system is integral to Harrow Hong Kong and is embedded in the footprint of all the Harrow family of schools and it is through which our values and ethos are instilled in each pupil. Children in K1 are allocated one of the six Houses: Snake, Monkey, Horse, Tiger, Ox or Dragon, and belong to this House until they reach Year 6, where they are then assigned to one of the Prep School Houses.

Each year, pupils take part in various House events such as singing, Drama, Art, Sports team games, swimming galas and Sports Days. Being able to represent their House in vertical groups like this really draws the Lower School pupils together, generates a sense of belonging and a strong team spirit.

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K1 & K2 EARLY YEARS K1 and K2 areas are bright, busy and alive with the buzz of young people with a purpose. Our buddy system ensures that our young or new children are befriended and feel welcomed and supported from the very start. Classes are small and supervision is close; in this secure and caring environment the young girls and boys settle quickly and happily.

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DEDICATED SPACE The Early Years Centre is a purpose-built space for children, ranging in ages from three to five years old. The Centre provides a large shared area, used for dining, hosting special events, performances and meetings for parents. Additionally, there is a multi-purpose room used for assemblies, group work and specialist Music lessons. A secure outdoor space can be accessed from each classroom, which pupils and teachers use for playtimes and some outdoor lessons. The space has designated areas to engage the children at play, for example: • Gardening Area

• Creative Area

• Sandpit with Sand Kitchen

• Reading tables

• Water Station

• Drawing walls

• Bikes and Trikes Area

• Messy Play

• Maths Area

• Physical Development courses

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INDIVIDUAL LEARNING Learning is fun at Harrow Hong Kong. With a curriculum carefully planned to meet the needs of their age group, coupled with wonderful grounds and facilities, the children eagerly set out on their new adventure, exploring everything that is available to them. All Early Years pupils have individual, online learning journals which parents can access at any time remotely. These journals detail progress and the broad range of knowledge and skills they have acquired in the specific areas of Mathematics and Literacy and the prime areas of learning (Personal, Social and Emotional Development; Physical Development; and Communication and Language).

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KNOWLEDGE AND ADVENTURE Whilst the emphasis in the Early Years is on Literacy and Numeracy, there are many opportunities to develop physical skills through PE, swimming and dance and to expand creativity in Music, Art and Drama.

Communication skills are vital and the development of vocabulary and social skills is encouraged across the curriculum and during social activities. With so much going on, the children look forward to coming to School every day as, from their earliest years, they acquire an appetite for knowledge and adventure.

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“ My children have blossomed in the warm, nurturing environment of Harrow Hong Kong. They are learning qualities that I try to instil in them at home; giving back to the community, teamwork, leadership and kindness.

Along with this they are being challenged academically without even realising it. ” K2 and Year 1 Parent

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YEARS

1-5

PRE-PREP The atmosphere in Years 1-5 is lively and purposeful and there is a palpable sense of determination to do well, whether it is in the classroom, on the sports field, the swimming pool or the concert platform.

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EXCITING, VARIED AND ACCESSIBLE At Harrow Hong Kong we work hard to offer breadth of opportunity and to ensure that the delivery of our curriculum is exciting, varied and accessible.

Subject Specialist Teachers take the pupils for lessons in Languages (Chinese, French and Spanish), Music, Swimming and Sport.

Our highly experienced and dedicated Class Teachers are ably supported by Teaching Assistants who work with individuals or small groups to enhance or support learning. Most classes take place in the Lower School classrooms, but there are also specialist rooms for Music. Languages and IT. Pre-Prep pupils also have access to all the School’s superb sporting facilities. We have our own dedicated Lower School Library and various multi-functional teaching and activity spaces.

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OPEN COMMUNICATION As pupils move through the School, their world opens up as new areas of study and specialisation are gradually introduced. In small classes, close attention is paid to each pupil’s academic and personal progress as greater emphasis is placed on independent learning. Homework (prep) becomes important at this stage and our excellent relationships and open communications with parents ensure a smooth introduction. By the end of Year 5, pupils are well prepared and eager to move seamlessly into the Prep School.

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CREATIVITY AND IMAGINATION The creative and performing arts form part of the fabric of the School and from their earliest years the children are encouraged to extend their imaginations and explore new avenues of creative expression. The year is full of Art exhibitions of pupils’ work, dramatic performances and music ensembles. Pupils are also encouraged to use their imaginations in their chosen Super-Curriculum and Co-Curricular Activities, and even in their prep where we often see many creative models and pieces of work demonstrating our pupils’ ability to think beyond what they know and are used to.

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MAKING MUSIC Children love making Music and we give them plenty of opportunities to do so. In addition to a weekly singing lesson and a weekly Music lesson, pupils also have the opportunity to take optional individual instrumental lessons. We also have a Lower School Orchestra, a String Ensembles and various Choirs that practice each week of the year. Regular concerts and showcases in assemblies throughout the year provide a chance to display these musical skills and are eagerly anticipated by pupils and parents alike.

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SPORT AND ACTIVITY We are fortunate to have wonderful sporting facilities at Harrow Hong Kong including a large indoor Sports Hall, 25m indoor swimming pool, tennis courts, netball courts, basketball courts, dance studio, fitness studio and gymnasium as well as superb grounds. Sport is an integral part of a pupil’s education at Harrow Hong Kong as it not only instils a healthy sense of living, it enhances teamwork, personal performance and leadership.

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WEALTH OF OPPORTUNITY Healthy activity is a vital ingredient to learning and we offer a wealth of sporting opportunities. From K1 upwards, Specialist Teachers work with the children in a mixture of individual and team sports including netball, football, rounders, athletics, tennis and gymnastics. Children also participate year round in a weekly swimming lesson, from K1 to Year 5.

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CREATING ENTREPRENEURS Around the world, most economics are made up of approximately 15% of entrepreneurs, which means that at Harrow Hong Kong, around 200 of the pupils within the School are likely to be entrepreneurs in the future. The rest will become intrapreneurs, where they act like an entrepreneur but within business and public sector organisations. At Harrow Hong Kong, we are creating leaders of the future and actively develop even our youngest pupils’ capacities for enterprise and innovation. Through a bespoke series of high-energy programmes and initiatives, led by our Director of Entrepreneurship, we inspire our Lower School pupils to think big, dream big and achieve.

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“ The strong relationship that parents have with teachers has been great in the Lower School, and we are informed of what is happening with our child as an individual and their learning journey through the year. There are a variety of programmes pupils can participate in from an early age, from creative to sports and music. My child has benefitted by being exposed to new ideas and topics through these activities and enjoys starting new ones each term. ” Year 3 Parent

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HARROW INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL HONG KONG

HARROW INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL HONG KONG 38 Tsing Ying Road, Tuen Mun, New Territories, Hong Kong Tel: (+852) 2824 9099 Fax: (+852) 2824 9928

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