GIULIA ZIGGIOTTI is the School Manager and Deputy Supervisor of the Italian International Nursery and Kindergarten (IIN&KG). She shares some insights about the trilingual curriculum and Italian language, art and culture classes for international kindergarten and nursery students.
Introduce the Italian International Nursery and Kindergarten to us and its values.
IIN&KG is a non-profit private international school founded in 2019. It’s a flagship of the Italian presence in Hong Kong and contributes to promoting the Italian language and culture. Italy’s Renaissance, rooted in Greek-Roman classical culture, is the mother of European civilisation and has provided the basis of European and “Western” art, music, medicine, law and science. Besides, two famous educators from Italy, Ms Montessori and Mr Malaguzzi (founder of the Reggio Emilia Approach) have contributed highly to developing children’s contemporary education methods.
The school’s motto is “Tradition, Research and Innovation”. The mission is to provide children of all backgrounds the opportunity to join an advanced education system, helping them become conscious and active citizens in the modern globalised world.
Explain the unique curriculum and Italian language offerings
IIN&KG is a trilingual school with two curricula: English-Chinese (Mandarin) plus Italian language and culture; and Italian-English plus Chinese language and culture. There is a key focus on cultural traditions and art activities; the school celebrates important festivals of various nationalities, and special activities are regularly organised in cooperation with local, Italian and European institutions in Hong Kong. Art is one of the predominant activities in the children’s daily schedules. Their artistic creations will also appear in temporary exhibitions in the Foundation’s upcoming museum. (See “What’s New?” below.)
The curriculum follows the Hong Kong Education Bureau Kindergarten Guidelines. Jolly Phonics and phonological awareness are key features of English teaching, and all activities are project-based and Reggio Children-inspired.
What are some activities the children enjoy at the international kindergarten and nursery school?
During the school day, they participate in assembly, small group and corner activities, art classes, cooking workshops, and physical and free play. The campus has a “Light and Shadow” signature room to stimulate curiosity and nurture exploration and creativity, while the learning environment makes full use of natural materials.
Every activity is conceived by teachers for the holistic development of the child. Children learn in a safe and joyful environment. They’re stimulated to express themselves, develop abilities, achieve goals, and grow emotionally and socially. A low pupil-teacher ratio means every child can bond socially with classmates and teachers.
About the founders
FRANCO and PAULINE CUTRUPIA have been entrepreneurs in the textile machinery industry for over 30 years. Franco is from Rome, while Pauline has Italian citizenship but is originally from Hong Kong. Together, they’ve worked actively within the Italian community in mainland China and Hong Kong. Franco was Chairman of the China-Italy Chamber of Commerce for six years, and they financially supported the Italian Embassy School in Beijing before establishing IIN&KG in Hong Kong. Their focus is now on education and cultural activities, a non-profit approach guaranteed by their Sapientia Foundation, incorporated in Hong Kong. (“Sapientia” is the Latin word for wisdom.)
They say: “The establishment of the school has given us the possibility to meet our desire to contribute socially by investing in a long-term, quality early childhood education project that caters to local, Italian and international families and which bridges Italian and Chinese culture in Hong Kong, a truly international city.”
What’s new?
The Open Day on Saturday 27 April is an excellent opportunity to meet the team and current and prospective families. You’ll also experience on-campus activities. Check the website and social media channels for details.
The second half of 2024 will see the Foundation open a private museum premises in Wong Chuk Hang. This educational space will host visits, playgroups and extracurricular activities, providing an immersive experience to nurture creativity and imagination and promote art appreciation.
IIN&KG is located beside a seaside promenade in Ap Lei Chau.
Podium Level 1, Block 4, Phase 1, South Horizons
2662 3066/36 | WhatsApp 5702 2731 | iikg.edu.hk
This article first appeared in the Spring 2023 issue of Expat Living magazine. Subscribe now so you never miss an issue.
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