METHODIST SCHOOL OF CAMBODIA KINDERGARTEN (MSCK)

Ros Samneang, Principal of Methodist School of Cambodia Kindergarten.

The Methodist School of Cambodia (MSC) Kindergarten is a Christian kindergarten in Cambodia. As its first local principal, I strongly desire to share God’s love with the teachers, parents, and children. Our aim at the kindergarten is to share God’s Word with all the 235 children of different faiths and cultures who come to study in our school.

Our school’s motto is RISE and SHINE. To rise and shine for His glory, we focus on three main things - Education, Health, and Spirituality.

Class activity

In the area of Education, our school teaches English, Khmer, Math, Science, Sports, and Art & Craft. Children learn English as their second language with our experienced and good national teachers. It is a joy to see that the children very much enjoy this subject as most of them can speak with their friends very well in English. For the Khmer language, the teachers make sure that the children can read and write properly before they move to Grade 1. The children also learn Maths and how to count in fun ways. I can see that they really enjoy doing Art & Craft activities and other subject worksheets which they bring home to show to their parents. Their parents, in turn, are very happy to see their children doing well and have given positive feedback to the teachers and me.

Games day

For Health, we look into two areas - physical health and mental health. We make sure that the children come to school with strong and active bodies. During Physical Education and Sports sessions, we do activities to train their body movements in all areas. For mental health, we focus on how the children communicate and develop good relationships with their friends, parents, and teachers. We also teach the children how to share their feelings and talk to their friends freely while keeping an open mind, without feeling nervous or being shy. We also speak to parents who might need advice on growing emotionally healthy children.

The most important area is Spirituality – sharing God’s Word with the children, parents, and staff. How do we do it? Every morning, the principal and staff will have worship, devotion, and prayer together before the children arrive. We conduct a Bible lesson programme for each level. Every teacher will teach Bible lessons in their individual classes every week which are made interesting with the use of creative pictures and the planning of meaningful activities. They also teach new Christian songs whilst singing familiar ones. We can see that the children really enjoy these lessons. To reinforce the lesson, the craft is done and brought home to be shared with family members. Besides teaching, the teachers also guide the children in praying and talking to God. We lead the children to feel close with the Holy Spirit, have peace, and develop a good relationship with God. When the children feel safe and are at peace, they love coming to school every day.

Our chaplain, the assistant pastor from Toul Kork Methodist Church, comes to school to lead devotions, sing some songs, offer encouragement, share God’s Word, and pray for our teachers. Teachers are able to share with and request prayer for one another. During devotion, we see that God works in our lives and empowers us to be better persons. In addition, our teachers go through quarterly training and skills upgrading programmes. They encourage one another through peer teaching and by creating useful children's resource handbooks, the use of which has been affirmed by the kindergarten community network in Phnom Penh.

Principal-Parent Meeting

Three times a year, the school conducts parents’ training that focuses on children’s mental health, parental needs, educational psychology, and God’s Word. Education is for everyone; our school does not just provide education for the children but also seeks to educate parents on how to develop and learn how to help their children through homework or housework at home. MSC Kindergarten helps to provide guidance for parents on some of these different activities.

Staff training

God has blessed our kindergarten with many children who come to study with us every year. When parents choose a Christian school for their children, they want to see results, especially in their children’s good character, morals, discipline, and respectful attitudes. We thank God for looking after all of us at the school and empowering all the children to worship Him during either lessons or devotions. This is how we RISE and SHINE for our Father’s name on earth.

Our purpose besides being a school known for our academic excellence, is to share Christ with one and all so that they may accept Him as their personal Saviour in their lives.

All in all, our purpose besides being a school known for our academic excellence, is to share Christ with one and all so that they may accept Him as their personal Saviour in their lives. I also thank God for this opportunity to serve His mission as the principal of MSC Kindergarten, which I truly believe will grow and attract more and more children in the years ahead.

Staff of Methodist School of Cambodia Kindergarten