News
Jan 17 2025
Welcome to ECC!
As the New Year approaches, the first semester of the 2024/25 academic year quietly comes to an end, and the ECC, just a kilometer from the main BCIS campus, is filled with warmth, laughter, and joy.
The winter celebration was a heartwarming occasion, bringing together parents, children, and teachers for a day full of games and laughter that brought light to an otherwise dark and chilly winter day. As we bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new Chinese New Year, a festive atmosphere was filtered around campus. To help the children in the Pre-K and Kindergarten transition smoothly to the next stage, the school organized targeted information session, where parents and teachers came together to discuss how to best support the children in facing new challenges.
At the ECC, we’ve always been committed to fostering close collaboration between home and school. Throughout this semester, we’ve seen the best of this partnership under our open-campus policy, and felt the spirit of a truly welcoming culture that flows through this community.
Recently, a special briefing session for the parents of the Pre-K and Kindergarten classes was held at the ECC, where teachers carefully explained core subjects such as literacy, numeracy, social-emotional development, and inquiry-based learning, addressing any questions parents had about course transitions. This wasn’t just an informational session; it was an opportunity for parents to better understand their children’s learning styles, helping them feel more confident and prepared to support their growth every step of the way.
Supporting a smooth transition isn’t limited to one event at the end of the semester. Before the semester even started, each family received the thoughtfully designed Panda-themed "Guideline book," which kicked off this journey. This guide gave children and parents a sneak peek into the day-to-day life at the kindergarten, easing any anxiety about starting in a new environment.
Once the semester began, the "transition program" quietly went into action. Children in the toddler and nursery classes, accompanied by their parents, gradually became familiar with the campus, participated in lessons, and built trusting relationships with their teachers. At the ECC, we understand that each child is unique—some are outgoing and confident, while others need more time to adjust. That’s why our teachers have designed a gradual plan, starting with short visits and progressively increasing the time spent at school, giving children the chance to take their first confident steps in a warm and supportive environment.
Throughout the semester, events like the New Family Breakfast and Parent Learner Workshops (PAL) were a constant presence. Almost every month, parents had the opportunity to listen to international education experts or engage with the ECC teachers about their children’s developmental needs. These sessions not only helped parents understand their children better but also gave them insights into the growth patterns of children aged 2-6, while deepening their understanding of our educational philosophy and methods.
“BCIS ECC is a progressive space for young children. The school aspires to offer something different, to be progressive and groundbreaking in its approaches. The school has done this for 20 years, and in the ECC for 10 years. With progressive education comes some hesitation for families. Everyone is an expert in education as we have all been to school. Progressive education looks different though—it is not what any adult has experienced. As such, a culture of welcoming is necessary of the families how choose BCIS. Helping them to understand why we work in the way we do means that we need to provide many different touch points so families can understand our why, how and what we do. Sharing children’s learning progress through artefacts and carefully documenting their learning, also welcomes families and children to see how our style of progressive learning works,” ECC principal Jackie explained.
“Many in education talk about the heart of education being relationships – and this is true. However, at the ECC it is more than relationships – it is about welcoming. And in the early years it is not just about welcoming children, it is about welcoming the children and recognizing they come to school with a family. And then ECC goes the next step – it welcomes a definition of family that is diverse, so every child knows not only are they welcomed and belong here, so do their family – no matter how the child defines their family.” Jackie shared. The kindergarten’s open-campus policy is the best way to build trust and ensure that this welcoming culture continues to thrive in the ECC.
In every classroom at ECC, there’s a special corner—walls filled with photos of children and their families, their familiar smiles telling the story of the close connection between our school and families. Whether it’s during the Terry Fox Run charity race, where parents, teachers, and children run side by side to spread the power of love, or the Winter Celebration, where parents come early to make toys with their children, or International Literacy Day, when parents become storytellers and immerse themselves in books with the kids—these moments of shared joy show how deeply families are involved. Even on regular Friday afternoons, ECC teachers open their classrooms early, welcoming parents to join their children in activities like play, reading, or our read-aloud sessions.
At ECC, "welcoming" is not just a word—it’s a promise of belonging. Family involvement is always present and strikes the perfect balance with our teaching. These genuine interactions and close collaboration, all driven by a shared goal, are reflected in the smiles of everyone during every activity.
