Busy Bees Kindergarten

Busy Bees Kindergarten has the following three beliefs:

Learning occurs through social interaction and play.
The role of the teachers is to create a nurturing, co-operative classroom environment where individuals can explore, discover and learn. Materials and activities are designed to foster active learning and creativity. Teachers and parents interact with and guide children where appropriate, as well as organize group activities in which children may participate.
A school should reflect the environment and serve the community in which it operates.
As part of a diverse University community, Busy Bees will strive to create a multicultural learning environment where children of different ethnicities and nationalities can interact and learn in an atmosphere of mutual respect and understanding. Given Hong Kong's unique intersection of Chinese and Western cultures, it serves as the foundation for Busy Bees. Consistent with this foundation, Busy Bees will strive to create a bilingual environment in which both English and Putonghua are used.
Family is an integral part of a child's total development.
Parents and teachers should work jointly for the good of each child. Parents whose children are enrolled at Busy Bees are expected to participate as Parent Helpers in the classroom on a regular basis. This will reduce the child/adult ratio and make a greater range of learning experiences available to the children. Both mother and fathers are encouraged to share responsibility for these classroom duty days.

Busy Bees was founded by HKUST parents who desired a high-quality, bilingual pre-school for their children in campus. Efforts toward establishment of a Kindergarten began shortly after this campus opened. Only during the 1997-1998 academic year, after months of ad hoc meetings on campus and discussions with government officials, were all the hurdles cleared. Busy Bees Kindergarten (then Childcare Centre) was officially opened in November 1998 and has since been licensed under the Department of Education, which enables the school to have morning and afternoon sessions.

Staff Profile

Principal and English Speaking Teacher

Christ Weemaes - Lidman: B.Ed, Msc.Ed.Leadership, PGDE ECE, EDD candidate, Montessori, ESL and IB qualifications

Principal's Message

I am a permanent Hong Kong resident who has been working in Hong Kong with early childhood for 11 years in positions of Kindergarten teacher, curriculum developer, Deputy Principal and Principal. I would like to contribute with my educational background, skills and knowledge from international schools in order to ensure the best possible early childhood experiences for Busy Bees Students.

With a passion for teaching and learning I like to instill in all students a life long interest for learning. I have experience with IB (International Baccalaureate), IPC (International Primary Curriculum), Montessori and ESL (English as a Second Language).

I feel privileged to be given the opportunity to teach your children and I look forward to a terrific Busy Bees School Year!

Putonghua Teacher

Qiao Fang

Qiao Fang is from Beijing and qualified as a Kindergarten teacher in China 1982. She has worked in Kindergartens in Hong Kong and on the Mainland since qualifying. Qiao Loa Shi also holds the Hong Kong Certificate in Kindergarten Teaching which she obtained from The Hong Kong Institute of Education.