Enrollment for all educational stages is now open, enabling students to join the school from the age of one and complete their educational journey up to Baccalaureate in the same institution.
The Colegio Alemán Santa Cruz de Tenerife has made preparations in recent months to introduce a new educational level in the initial phase of Early Childhood Education. In addition to the existing Early Childhood Education groups, a new group has been established to accommodate a maximum of ten toddlers aged 1 to 2 years.
The new director of Early Childhood Education, Judith Casanova, who brings years of experience in the educational and childcare sectors from Munich (Germany), states, “we aim to provide families with caring and reliable attention that supports family reconciliation, ensuring that students feel secure and protected at all times.”
The School’s Board of Directors has consistently backed this new initiative. “We want to instill self-assurance in children right from the start. During their early years, they learn something new every day, and we aim to encourage them to have confidence in their own abilities and skills,” Casanova further adds. The teaching staff’s aim is to focus on individual development at this stage. According to the Director of Early Childhood Education, each child’s learning journey is unique, especially during their early years: “we guide students through this exciting phase of their development, helping them to explore and experiment. They are able to identify their capabilities and apply them through diverse materials and a variety of activities. Working in small groups – with a maximum of fifteen children – allows us to cater to each child’s needs individually.”
Free play is encouraged to foster the discovery and development of social and creative abilities; engaging in crafts, singing, and painting in comfortable rooms with age-appropriate furniture. These facilities are complemented by a spacious outdoor area with climbing structures and a large sandbox. “There is ample space and stimuli for movement and play! To promote cognitive, physical, emotional, and social development, a wide range of projects and supplementary activities are offered (including weekly excursions or walks, among others).”
Bilingualism
The Colegio Alemán Santa Cruz de Tenerife fosters true bilingualism as a cultural hub. The teaching staff communicates with Early Childhood Education students in German, allowing the little ones to naturally learn a second language in a playful manner. With native or bilingual professionals, students are prepared to progress to subsequent educational levels, progressively enhancing their language skills without pressure, especially for those from families where German is not the mother tongue or primary language of communication.
According to the School’s director, Schneider, “our students are unique as we advocate for a holistic education from early childhood using effective pedagogical methods, fostering students’ autonomy, self-awareness, and creativity.”
Families interested in being part of this initiative can visit our website (www.dstenerife.eu) to request a tour and experience firsthand the impressive facilities of the Early Childhood Education center and the rest of the school.
