Minister for Social and Family Development and Second Minister for National Development, Mr Desmond Lee, together with Dr. Lam Pin Min, Senior Minister of State for Health and Transport and Grassroots Advisor to Sengkang West GROs joined several other officers from the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) and NParks graced the official opening of SKool4Kidz Campus at Sengkang Riverside Park. They sponge paint the image of a butterfly to officially mark the opening on 25 July, Wednesday, 2018.
Minister for Social and Family Development and Second Minister for National Development, Mr Desmond Lee, officiated the opening ceremony.
In his speech during the official opening ceremony, Mr Lee said that the government would bring such outdoor learning experiences to more childcare centres. This includes those located in HDB premises, adopting preschool designs that “enable children to access the outdoors easily and safely”.
He also announced that five new large childcare centres would open in Sengkang and Punggol before by the end of 2020, to provide an additional 2,600 childcare and infant care places in the two estates.
Social and Family Development Minister Desmond Lee together with our VIPs.
From left: Mr Kong Yit San (NParks), Ms Ng Mie Ling (ECDA), Dr. Lam Pin Min (Advisor of Sengkang West), Minister Desmond Lee, Dr. Jane Ching-Kwan (Skool4Kidz), Mr Robert Leong (Skool4Kidz)
After the official opening ceremony, the Minister toured the campus that is spread over 4,000 square metres to accommodate 460 children. SKool4Kidz provides holistic learning to help develop children into wholesome individuals who are healthy and strong, socially-emotionally confident and environmentally responsible.
He had the opportunity to join and mingle with the children in their class sessions, including one on a coding activity, and another at the community garden, KidzPatch.
All smiles on Minister Lee, Dr. Lam and the K1 children after their interactive coding session.
At the ceremony, Dr. Jane Ching-Kwan, director and curriculum founder, shared the intentional nature curriculum developed by SKool4Kidz that focuses on 2 areas: Learning in the Park and Learning about the Park. The aim is to equip teachers to support children in cultivating a sense of wonder and respect for our green environment.
The park and community garden outdoors, as well as garden atrium and butterfly lodge in the campus, allow children to enjoy and engage with nature daily. Children can also explore Singapore’s biodiversity along play corridors and as they cycle safely along sheltered cycling tracks.
Minister Lee together with our grandparent volunteer, Mr Teng, planting a pandan plant for our community garden, KidzPatch