by on 19/05/2017 5227
The Big Blue Marble is just as fascinating and mysterious today as it was to our ancestors many centuries ago. There was a time when fantastic beasts roamed free upon the earth. It was a time when man presumed the land on which he walked upon is flat and that, “East is East and West is West, and never the twain shall meet…….” * The days of the dinosaurs have now faded into history, man has invented the wheel and even discovered flight. And today, in Seri Kembangan, stands a preschool that is living proof that, “There is neither East nor West, Border, nor Breed, nor Birth, when two strong men stand face to face, though they come from the ends of the earth!” *
Eight Virtues Montessori Preschool is proof that East does meet West. Here, Maria Montessori meets Confucius, here Montessori meets The Eight Virtues.
“We believe that early childhood is the foundation upon which children build the rest of their lives. To build this strong foundation and cultivate a love for lifelong learning, Eight Virtues ensures that our preschool is like a home away from home with half, full and extended day programmes,” says its principal, Madam Aleza Shafiee, a charming, softly-spoken lady who exudes an infectious exuberance.
Madam Aleza is so passionate that when she adds, “Eight Virtues was named after the guidelines for life proposed by the philosopher Confucius. It is an ideal marriage of principles and methods devoid of any racial or religious intents or intonations. Through their day-to-day activities and a series of creative and exciting lessons, children will learn about the importance of filial piety, brotherhood, loyalty, trust, etiquette, righteousness, integrity, and humility,” I envisioned Maria Montessori deep in discussion with Confucius in an airy pavilion, surrounded by verdant hills, a crystal blue lake with lotus flowers in bloom and giant pandas roaming free!
With low student-teacher ratios, Eight Virtues adopts the Montessori approach in its education of 1.5 to 6.5 years old students. Services provided are nursery, preschool, transit, daycare and enrichment classes and activities. The classroom is a virtual ‘living room’ for children, who can choose their studies from among the self-correcting materials displayed on open shelves. Qualified and dedicated educators are on hand to gently guide the children through the various stages of learning, such as Inquiry-based learning, Self-directed independent learning, Project-based learning, Creative play and Fun learning.
At Eight Virtues, the fun does not stop when lessons end. It continues at their indoor/outdoor playgrounds, Imagination Play Zone, giant trampolines, huge ball pool, slides and a Flying Fox zipline.
Having a diverse mix of students from different nationalities and backgrounds, Eight Virtues is a melting pot of different cultures and customs. All festivals and auspicious days are celebrated with an open day at Eight Virtues. On such days, the whole school is transformed into a fantastical, magical place according to the theme for the celebration. Recognising this opportunity for building rapport and familial ties, students’ whole families are invited and encouraged to participate in the fun, games and activities.
“My hopes for my students is that after their preschool education at Eight Virtues, they will go out into the world as kinder, gentler and more tolerant people. This is my dream but I am sure I am not the only one dreaming. I hope that someday others will join us and the world will be as one………,” words for a better future from a truly loving and caring human being, Principal Aleza.
*“The Ballad of East and West” is a poem by Rudyard Kipling