Kindergarten
From Kindergarten to Secondary, GSIS offers a through-train education from start to finish in two streams – German International Stream (GIS) and English International Stream (EIS) – providing students with a seamless and coherent learning experience. Our Kindergarten integrates both streams where students are working and learning together under one roof. While each stream teaches a different curriculum, they both encourage learning through a mix of play-based and adult-led learning, have similar daily routines and timetables, and embody the same ethos and educational goals. This enables our students to develop their skills and knowledge as well as transition smoothly into either the GIS or EIS Primary Department. We believe that every child deserves an environment that fosters their curiosity, creativity, and confidence, and we work hard to create such a space for all our students. Our campus floor plan and classroom layout reflect our ‘One School, Two Streams’ philosophy where GIS and EIS classes are arranged in pairs, sharing a common area. This allows us to facilitate buddy classes and cross-stream activities that promote social, cultural and language exchange, and learning among their peers.
OUR PHILOSOPHY
We nurture confident and independent learners through a broad and well-balanced curriculum. Each child is respected as a unique individual where we strive to support their learning at a pace that suits them best. Our approach is centred on the child, using play-based methods that build on their strengths and promote holistic development. At the heart of our philosophy are the following core values:
Resilience
Self-awareness
Empathy
Independence
Responsibilty
We build positive relationships among children, teachers, and families in order to create an inclusive culture and welcoming community. We believe in the importance of intercultural learning with a focus on German culture and traditions. To achieve this, we incorporate theme and project-based learning to reflect the interests of our students.

German International Stream (GIS)
The GIS Kindergarten is non-selective, and no entry assessment is required. We encourage learning through a mix of play-based and adult-led learning and follow the Curriculum of the State of Thuringia from Germany which is seen throughout the educational journey in Primary and Secondary as well. The GIS Kindergarten consists of:
- Three German / English bilingual classes which follow the dual-immersion (50/50) approach.
- Each class is led by two qualified teachers following the principle of one teacher - one language.
- Our classes are mixed age ranging from 2.8 – 5 years old.
- The maximum class size is 20 students per class.
As part of our commitment to supporting our students during their early years, we have included German language and learning support in our weekly timetable. This ensures that our students have access to a rich and stimulating language experience that will help them develop a strong foundation in German language and culture. By providing this additional support, we can better prepare our students for future academic and personal success, while also fostering an appreciation for different cultures and languages.
English International Stream (EIS)
The EIS Kindergarten is selective, and an entry interview is part and parcel of our Admissions process where the total intake in the first year (KG1) is 40 students per year. We embrace an adaptation of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework, followed by the British National Curriculum of England and Wales in Primary and Years 07 – 09 in Secondary which is modified to suit our students' selective and international nature. In Year 10 and Year 11, students will prepare for the British IGCSE examinations, and ultimately, complete the International Baccalaureate Diploma in Year 12 and Year 13.
The EIS Kindergarten consists of:
- Two Nursery (KG1) classes of children 3 - 4 years old
- Two Reception (KG2) classes of children 4 - 5 years old
- One teacher partnered with one teaching assistant per class
We further support the diverse needs of our children through classroom integration activities and games.

Core Curriculum

German International Stream (GIS)
The German Curriculum of the State of Thuringia is designed to provide children with the learning opportunities that commensurate with their abilities, needs and stage of development. Through play, children are encouraged to share their experiences, ideas, and achievements with their teachers and peers, fostering independence, cooperation, and a love of learning. The GIS Kindergarten is based on seven different areas of learning and development, consisting of three prime areas and four specific areas.
- Personal, Social, and Emotional Development (PSED)
- Communication and Language
- Physical Development
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding of the World
- Expressive Arts and Design
For our maxi-children (turning 5 years before 1st of September), we gradually transition to a more structured learning programme to prepare them for Pre-Primary, otherwise known as Vorschule (DVOR). This dedicated year helps DVOR students lay the foundation of a natural continuation of their personal, social, and competence development to the next chapter in their lives to Primary school. It is intended to enhance their fine motor and graphmotor skills, attention span, numeracy skills and personal competencies. They learn to understand the changes in space and time, didactic-methodical arrangement, and social relationships.
English International Stream (EIS)
The approach we take with our adapted Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum is centered around play, creating an environment where children engage in meaningful discussions about their experiences, exchange ideas, and learn collaboratively and independently. Additionally, they have the opportunity to celebrate their accomplishments alongside their peers and teachers. Our Kindergarten embellishes seven different areas of learning and development, consisting of three prime areas and four specific areas for Nursery (3 – 4 years old) and Reception (4 – 5 years old).

- Personal, Social, and Emotional Development (PSED)
- Communication and Language
- Physical Development
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding of the World
- Expressive Arts and Design
In Reception, students are prepared for the transition to Year One. We do this by following a synthetic phonics programme and by enhancing the EYFS curriculum with broader-based themes such as ‘Growing’, ‘Moving Around’ and ‘All About Me”. Our students acquire solid reading, writing and numeracy skills and have regular access to the school library. At the end of Reception, children will endeavour to have achieved the Early Learning Goals set up by EYFS before moving on to Year One.
Daily Routine
Kindergarten is a fun and enriching experience for children. They get to learn new skills, make friends, and explore their interests. One of the typical activities in Kindergarten is circle time, where the children sit together and share their thoughts and feelings about the day. They also have arts and crafts activities where they can express their creativity and imagination. Free play allows them to choose what they want to do and how they want to do it. Outdoor play gives them a chance to enjoy nature and exercise their bodies. Music and movement help them develop their musical and physical abilities. Snack time and story time are also important parts of the day, where they can nourish their minds and bodies with healthy food and engaging stories.

Throughout the school year, we celebrate festivals from Germany, Hong Kong, and other cultures within Kindergarten. We welcome prominent and engaging visitors, including artists, authors, conservationists, scientists, and pilots.
Daily Routine | |
---|---|
07:15 to 07:35 am | Arrival |
07:40 am to 12:20 pm | Teaching and Busy Learning Time |
12:25 to 12:45 pm | Dismissal |
In addition to our regular Kindergarten activities, our children’s learning is enriched by specialist lessons:
- Library
- Music
- Physical Education
- Mini - Maxi Children’s Activities
- Cooking
- Science
- German as a Second Language
- Learning Support Lessions
- IT
- School Counsellors - Personal, Social, and Emotional Development (PSED) and Wellbeing
- Putonghua
- Library
- Music
- Physical Education
- Cooking
- Science
- Learning Support Lessions
- IT
- School Counsellors - Personal, Social, and Emotional Development (PSED) and Wellbeing
PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT
We value a strong partnership with parents to support their child’s learning and development. Our Pok Fu Lam Early Years Campus has a compulsory school bus policy, so we do not have so many interactions with parents on a day-to-day basis. Therefore, we welcome parents to get involved with their child’s Early Years education as much as possible in the following ways listed below.
- Parent Orientation
- Classroom Visits
- Opportunity to be Class Parent Representatives - Klassenpflegschaften (KPRs)
- Reading to their Child’s Class
- Board Games
- Celebrating the Child and their Culture
- Parent Teacher Conferences
- Outings
- Parent Workshops
