Half-Dutch and half-Thai by origin, Karel grew up in the UK. He has a Bachelor's Degree in Business Economics from the UK, and he has also completed a Postgraduate Course in Primary Education, provided by the West London Partnership. He has received extensive training in the IB approach as well as in child safety. He is currently pursuing a Masters in Educational Leadership online at the University of Leicester.
Karel has over 17 years of experience in teaching and school leadership in schools in the UK and at an international school in Bangkok. He entered the teaching profession by what he calls an accident - he joined a school to get some work experience right after college and never looked back after that.
Karel believes children learn best when they are seen, heard and valued. He encourages students to take ownership of their learning and actively participate in collaborative and hands-on activities.
Having recently relocated to Singapore to lead OWIS’ Primary School, Karel is looking forward to getting to know our diverse school community. Aside from work, he enjoys spending time with his baby daughter, collecting vinyl records, playing video games, and reading comic books and anime.
A solid foundation in English and Maths is essential for your child's success. These two subjects equip children to master future educational goals, accomplish daily living tasks and function in the global 21st-century society. The Early Childhood programme at OWIS Nanyang is among the leading preschool programmes in Singapore and features a strong English and Maths curriculum. Our play-based and inquiry-led approach, which is aligned with the IB Primary Years Programme (IB PYP), allow your child to have fun as they discover, investigate and interact with engaging content. Let's explore the foundational principles your child will learn in our top-rated kindergarten and Early Childhood programme.
Language Skills
Children use language skills to communicate and exchange information in a meaningful way. The ability to put words together in a sentence, comprehend and understand word meanings, and follow directions are all essential life skills.
Language skills form the foundation for successful learning throughout life, too. Children need language in order to read, write and develop literacy. Language also equips children to manage behavioural expectations and navigate social situations.
Our programme offers a child-centric and play-based approach that makes learning fun. We also implement differentiated learning and personalised instruction, enabling children to learn at their own pace.
Consider the language skills your child will learn in their English language classes in Early Childhood at OWIS:
Reading:
Writing:
Speaking and Listening:
Viewing and Presenting:
Maths Skills
Children use Maths in dozens of academic and practical ways. The Maths skills children learn during early childhood equip them to advance to higher Maths throughout their educational career. By equipping maths skills in the early years, it will help children problem-solve, measure and develop their own spatial awareness and teach them how to use and understand shapes.
Beyond academics, Maths helps children understand their world. For example, Maths concepts encourage children to see spatial relationships and the connections and functionality of natural wonders. Children also develop problem-solving skills as they learn Maths facts.
OWIS’ Early Childhood grades introduce young children to the intriguing world of numeracy in a no-pressure environment. Through a child-centric approach and differentiated learning, your child gains a personalised educational experience, thus enabling the child to make decisions and solve problems
By the time they are ready to leave Early Childhood 3 and step into Primary Grade 1, these are some of the skills preschoolers would have learned in our engaging Maths lessons:
Numbers:
Pattern and Function:
Measurement:
Shape and Space:
Data Handling:
Socio-Emotional Skills
Along with literacy, language and Maths skills, Early Childhood learners learn the basics of Mandarin, start to explore Science and Social Studies concepts through Units of Inquiry, and benefit from balanced development through Music, Art and Physical Education lessons. Our experienced educators, who model our core value of kindness, also endeavour to nurture social-emotional skills, such as:
To learn more about OWIS, the leading international school in Singapore for Early Childhood development, schedule a virtual tour. We give your child a strong foundation that prepares them to achieve their full potential throughout life.
Visit us from the comfort of your home and find out everything you need to know to make a well-informed decision about your child’s education.