Our Journey
As Told by Our Community
From the parents and children to the founding team and all our staff, the people are the heart of EtonHouse. We decided to celebrate the EtonHouse family with our 25th anniversary with 25 Tales – The Story of EtonHouse — a book that charts our journey from its humble beginnings to its present global presence through 25 personal stories.
These stories were written by well-loved members of our family — the founders and early leadership team, past and current principals in Singapore, and staff members from the global team. Together, they offer intimate and heartfelt insights into the dedication and drive that laid the foundation for, and continues to propel EtonHouse. Here are some excerpts from the book.
Chapter One: Setting The Stage
“When I was a young girl, there was nothing joyful about education. Everything was dictated by teachers. In college, I struggled because I came from a Chinese school. When I became a mother, I wanted my children and all children to have a different experience from mine. This motivated me to start EtonHouse 25 years ago. It hasn’t been an easy journey, but I am glad I persevered. I am humbled by what we have achieved.”
“Becoming An Entrepreneur” by Mrs. Ng Gim Choo, Founder of EtonHouse International Education Group
“Everyone is different, so don’t impose your own aspirations on others. Even if you have the best intentions for your children, make the effort to truly understand their passions and interests. Do not try to control their lives and criticise their decisions. Instead, support their decisions and provide sound advice and candid feedback in a respectful manner. Assure your children that they can always come to you for guidance and moral support.”
“Passion, Honesty And Dedication Take You Very Far In Life” by Mr. Jimmy Oh, Chairman of EtonHouse International Education Group
Chapter Two: Paving The Way
“The countless ideas and family backgrounds of EtonHouse was a stark contrast from the schools I previously taught in. Our children came from everywhere and I feel that being able to meet different people with different perspectives was an enormous privilege for everyone’, adds John, who compares his classrooms to the United Nations. ‘Life in EtonHouse gave us the opportunity to see how others viewed the world and helped us appreciate one another. Everyone in our school became very open-minded without even thinking about it.”
“Celebrating Every Child’s Uniqueness” by Mr. John Cooley, former Executive Principal
“Mrs. Ng and Beiyan were strong believers in the bilingual policy of Singapore. However, given that not many international schools were providing bilingual education, it was a challenge to deliver the Mandarin curriculum in the international school context. With the guidance and support of Mrs. Ng, Beiyan developed and implemented a programme that catered to both native and non-native speakers. The programme made Mandarin fun and engaging through cultural immersion and experiences in art, drama, calligraphy, and music. The children began to appreciate the Chinese culture and language acquisition happened naturally and spontaneously.”
“Bilingualism and Biculturalism Create The Foundation For A Good Education” by Ms. Zhao Beiyan, Group Director of the Mandarin Department, and one of EtonHouse’s longest-serving staff
Chapter Three: Room For Expansion
Anli recently implemented ‘The Pedagogy of Nature’, which involves him bringing EtonHouse families on excursions to the mountains. “We make camping trips to surrounding nature parks, we hold summer camps too, on some weekends, rent a farm in Chiba prefecture. In nature, children become more focussed, they connect with quickly and develop social skills rapidly.” He notes that children are more enthusiastic in challenging themselves in the great outdoors. “By the end of a camping trip, they grow to enjoy nature more and this develops into a life-long appreciation. As they grow older, caring for nature becomes a habit.”
“Nature Is A Great Teacher” by Mr. Anli Tan, Managing Director of EtonHouse International Pre-School, Tokyo
