A long time ago I read the poem “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten”
By Robert Fulghum
I have put a copy of this poem at the bottom of my post for you to read if you are interested, but really, all we ever need to know, we learn in Kindergarten.
Over the past few weeks, exciting changes have been made to the front of the school, transforming it into a vibrant space filled with new play opportunities for students. From a giant tic-tac-toe board inside a tyre to a painted road on a wheel, and from soft artificial grass for jungle play to our newly planted vegetable garden, these additions are more than just fun—they are essential for learning. These additions join the sandpit, the bus, the music wall and of course, our lovely, little ducklings.
Play is a crucial part of a child’s development, yet many of our students are still learning how to share, collaborate, and engage meaningfully with one another. Play provides a natural setting for developing these social skills, fostering teamwork, communication, and problem-solving. The new spaces encourage creativity, cooperation, and exploration, helping students build confidence and positive relationships with their peers. This does not just apply to our younger learners but also to those students in the Secondary School . Hands-on experiences remain vital at all ages, helping students develop resilience, leadership, and a sense of community. Engaging in activities outside of the four walls of a classroom fosters curiosity, problem-solving, and a love for learning that extends well beyond the classroom.
A special mention goes to three of our Grade 9 students, who (as part of their personal project) led workshops for primary students, guiding them in planting different vegetables. Their efforts not only helped create a thriving garden but also introduced younger students to hands-on learning about nature, responsibility, and sustainability.
These changes are just the beginning of our commitment to fostering a playful and engaging school environment. We encourage all students to embrace these new spaces, learn through play, and enjoy the opportunities they bring!
All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten
By Robert Fulghum
All I really need to know I learned in kindergarten.
All I really need to know about how to live and what to do and how to be,
I learned in kindergarten.
Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain,
but there in the sandpile at Sunday school.
These are the things I learned:
- Share everything.
- Play fair.
- Don’t hit people.
- Put things back where you found them.
- Clean up your own mess.
- Don’t take things that aren’t yours.
- Say you’re sorry when you hurt somebody.
- Wash your hands before you eat.
- Flush.
- Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
- Live a balanced life –
learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some. - Take a nap every afternoon.
- When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands, and stick together.
Everything you need to know is in there somewhere.
The Golden Rule and love and basic sanitation.
Ecology and politics and equality and sane living.
Take any of those items and extrapolate it into sophisticated adult terms,
and apply it to your family life or your work or your government or your world,
and it holds true and clear and firm.
Think what a better world it would be
if we all—the whole world—had cookies and milk about three o’clock every afternoon
and then lay down with our blankets for a nap.
Or if all governments had a basic policy to always put things back where they found them
and to clean up their own mess.
And it is still true, no matter how old you are—
when you go out into the world,
it is best to hold hands and stick together.
