The Phuket News recently visited the school to find out what makes this school unique.
Prior to Shining Stars, Christine was working in the Swedish community in Phuket helping with an English programme, however, she then looked at opening up a small school which quickly expanded within months.
Christine blends her professional knowledge as an artist and a nurse, together with her beliefs that children should be empowered to become creative, caring citizens of the world.
James brings formal learning, Ph.D in Education, and a commitment to self and oneness into his teaching. His strong love of words and books, combined with his meditative practices, allows him to share with the children a greater focus and clarity.
Christine tells of how she wanted to open something that was affordable, homely and community orientated. The school is a large house with a number of classrooms. The large outside area, including an attractive covered art area makes it ideal for children to express themselves.
The school provides an English-language education for students aged two to seven, and over the years literacy is a strong focal point at the school.
“We hope and aim for the children to learn to read before they eventually leave, but naturally they do it when they are ready.”
“I teach kids to be respectful of where they are, who they are and who they are with. That has never changed, and over the years, has been tapping into how we present ourselves, both in public and private time,” Christine explains.
“It’s all about balancing behaviour. When we are in a group, how do we respectfully listen and actively support someone else, even if it’s not what we want to do.
“In the smallest nutshell, that’s our philosophy. Having the kids being aware of their own bodies, the words they use, and where they are in the world.”
The teachers do meditation, art, and yoga with the children, allowing them to understand the importance of transitioning from place to place.
“We believe the building of the self and connecting to others is important,” explains Christine.
Going forward, the school will be introducing a yoga programme led by Nikki Bonus. She is a yoga instructor from Sydney, who’s been coming to Phuket for over 10 years.
She focuses on yoga for kids and became interested in how they respond and adapt, and how to make it educational. Nikki’s programme is now called the Life Skills Group, where yoga is a large part of it, however it also focuses on how you deal with your own emotions, as well as dealing with others around you. The school’s plan is to implement the programme into the curriculum. The children will keep journals, and eventually the staff hope to see how and if yoga affects groups dynamics and the children’s development.
The incorporation of this programme also compliments Christine’s nursing experience. She can confidently concentrate on how the children feel, both physically and emotionally.
“It will be great to see how the programme changes art, teaching, and how it affects the kids and how they react,” James explains.
The school’s reputation is largely based on word of mouth, which is a true testament to how successful the school has become. The teachers are charismatic and genuinely enjoy teaching and watching kids grow and learn.
Indeed, what is clear is that Christine and James’ priority are the children. They understand how to communicate with children of all ages. They place a high emphasis on the arts. It is evident that their success comes from a number of years of learning what’s best.