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We Are Hiba | Preserving the innocence of our children

27 Oct 2022

At Hiba Academy Hangzhou, we aspire to create a caring, bilingual community that develops well-rounded individuals with solid values and the skills to thrive within an ever-changing global society. Community is at the centre of all we do at Hiba. We continuously strive to work with our parents, staff and pupils to develop that strong sense of community that makes our school unique. In this series of ‘We Are Hiba’ articles, we aim to tell our families’ stories and highlight their special contributions to our community.

 

For the first We are Hiba this academic year, we interviewed Ms. Wang, one of the founding parents of Hiba Nursey Hangzhou. Let us hear how her children has thrived at Hiba Academy Hangzhou.  

 

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Please provide a brief introduction of your family and two children. 

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Both my children are Hiba pupils. My daughter Jiajia is six years old and joined as a founding pupil in 2018 when the school was first established. She is currently a grade 1 pupil at Hiba Academy Hangzhou. She likes ballet, painting, and ice skating. My son Leo joined Hiba in 2021 and is now an EY2 child at Hiba Academy Hangzhou. He likes to play with Lego and enjoys swimming. 

 

 

What was your first impression of Hiba Academy Hangzhou? What attracted you to choose Hiba for both of your children?  

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When I learned that Hiba Academy Hangzhou was about to open, I took Jiajia to have a visit. The first thing we saw walking into Hiba was the cheerful teachers. They were kind and treated every child as an individual; everything they did was truly “all for the children”. 

I once read in a book that “the thing that makes one’s life worth living, when thinking of early years education, is to sow a seed of kindness with profound meanings in their childhood”. With this in mind, I chose Hiba Academy Hangzhou for my children. 

Learning can only be effective and attractive when it is fun for children. Hiba’s curriculum develops children’s curiosity, encourages them to take the initiative, and fills them with a sense of achievement through explorations. There are many workshops for children to begin their inquiry-based investigations, such as the mud kitchen, carpentry, a water-play area and the flower shop. The campus decorations are easy on the eyes with an elegant style, and reading corners are around every corner. It is great to raise a reading habit from a very young age. Nowadays, wherever there are books, Jiajia and Leo will take one and read independently. 

I like Hiba also because of its teachers. They respect every child in their actions and speech, let them enjoy the freedom of having fun and encourage them to boldly explore within a safe limit, allowing children to learn more by discovering the unknown. When they talk to children, they squat down and look into their eyes. They incorporate games into daily activities to release children’s natural love for play and implicitly help children raise good habits. Besides, they never say something generic about a child; instead, they give detailed guidance to drive their motivation. For example, Jiajia asked her teacher, “Is it going to rain today?” Instead of saying yes or no, the teacher said attentively, “I don’t think it’s going to rain today because I checked the weather forecast, and it said there was no rain. Look, the clouds are not thick, so it’s not going to rain at the moment.” 

I couldn’t agree more with Hiba’s values - courage, integrity, kindness, respect and responsibility. I believe that with these values, our children will become inspired, intellectual, independent, individual and inclusive, or the five Hiba identities.

 

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From a parent’s perspective, what positive changes have you experienced in your children during their journey with Hiba Academy Hangzhou?

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Leo freed his inner self when he started at Hiba. A Nursery is where a child can be themselves. I once read an inspiring sentence, “The most dreadful thing is having eyes but not seeing beauty, having ears but not hearing music, having minds but not perceiving truth, having hearts that are never moved and therefore never set on fire.” At Hiba, a child’s innocence is protected, and they are genuinely happy as they feel the truth, beauty, and goodness of nature and their connection with everything in the world. This is precisely what Hiba Academy Hangzhou offers. 

Outside the classroom at Hiba Nursery are the meadow, flowers, tyres, trolleys, and more innovative facilities, such as a mud kitchen and a water-play area. The Nursery is also home to some animals like goats, rabbits and birds. Interacting with the animals has taught children to love and be kind to all things. It is an excellent place for children to chase around and enjoy themselves. Though covered in mud, their hearts are filled with utter happiness. It seems that when “being forced to learn” becomes “wanting to learn”, learning is no longer a tedious task and becomes more effective. 

Since she joined Hiba, Jiajia has become an independent learner and likes to take the initiative. As a result, she becomes organised with her daily tasks and is more willing to learn. She also tends to find a solution on her own before seeking other support, such as asking for help from her friends. 

A child’s innocence is to be cherished, and Hiba does an excellent job in this regard. For example, when we went to the zoo and watched a show, Jiajia didn’t leave until all the staff on stage left. On her way out, she picked up an empty bottle on the seat next to her and threw it into the bin. When I asked her why, she replied, “We need to respect the staff on the stage, and we are not supposed to litter because we must take care of the environment and the earth.” Similarly, Leo will stop children in the neighbourhood from littering as well. He has also grown up to be a responsible and kind boy.

 

 

What does your child enjoy the most about the Nursery? 

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Hiba teachers are what my daughter and son love the most. They respect each child from the bottom of their heart and guide them with utmost patience. They are gentle and caring, a true testament to generosity and devotion. 

One day Jiajia told me a story that when she was feeling a bit blue, her teacher quietly sat beside her, held her hand and gave her a look of encouragement. She said it made her feel extremely happy and warm. This is how Hiba teachers care about the children in their care. Their motivation and inspiration make children feel safe, secure and comfortable.

 

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Your elder daughter is now a grade 1 pupil at Hiba. How was her transition from Nursery to Primary?

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Jiajia’s transfer from Nursery to primary school was a success. The nursery teachers took EY4 children to visit the grade 1 class to familiarise them with the daily routine. As a result, she was up early on the first day of school, got ready and marched happily to her primary school life. It took her less than a week to shake off the shyness and talk to expat teachers in English with great confidence. 

I believe it was the high-level engagement and wellbeing given to her at the Hiba Nursery that allowed her to transition to the primary smoothly and promptly. Jiajia is happy as always after joining Hiba School. She is even more proactive and confident. 

Speaking of English learning, Leo was a little timid when he first joined the Nursery. However, the expat teacher was patient and encouraged him to speak up and awarded him a medal. Now, Leo is brave enough to express his feelings and ideas.

 

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Hiba Academy Hangzhou has held positive parenting workshops for our families. As a parent, have you attended the workshop, and did you find them helpful?

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I have attended the workshops and learned about how to be with children and communicate with them effectively. They are meaningful, and I look forward to participating in more sessions.

 

 

Where do you see your child five years from now? 

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I want my children to have a positive mindset and self-awareness and to believe that “where there’s a will, there’s a way”. I want them to know they are supported, loved and trusted, and to develop their aesthetic view freely, with imagination and empathy. 

I want to tell them, “We will always love you. All we want for you is to be brave and confident, inclusive and benevolent, and enjoy your life.”

 

 

Is there anything else you would like to share with us about your children?  

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They have great curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, and I believe a bright future awaits them. 

 

 
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