Embedded deep within the core of Sekolah Pelita Harapan (SPH) Kemang Village’s educational approach lies the 3Is that shape the entire learning experience. These three principles are intentionally designed programs, intensive pursuit of holistic excellence, and intimate community.
These key principles are paired with SPH Kemang Village’s adoption of the Cambridge International Curriculum for Kindergarten to Grade 10 and the International Baccalaureate program (IB) for Grades 11 and 12. This combination enables the school to encourage each student to be inquisitive, follow personal ambitions, set targets for themselves, and cultivate resilience. As a result, the school has produced top graduates scoring above the world’s average for their IB exams.
Lessons Beyond the Classroom
SPH Kemang Village’s distinctive programs, such as Passion Block, Care and Connect in Senior School, and Mission Service Learning (MSL) for all grades, complement their rigorous academic curriculum and give students the opportunity to go beyond the traditional classroom learning setting. As an international school that adopts a holistic teaching method, SPH Kemang Village recognizes that these activities are vital to nurturing the student’s understanding of themselves and others as God’s creation, helping to nurture empathy, compassion, and self-awareness.
SPH Kemang Village's Dedicated Hour for Self-Exploration
Pursuing personal interests and hobbies is one of the key values that SPH Kemang Village champions for its students. One of the ways they achieve this is through the Passion Block Program, where students get to spend an hour a week to focus on the activities they are passionate about, hone in on those skills, and connect with their peers who have similar interests. Ranging from athletic activities such as futsal and basketball to arts such as mural painting and upcycling crafts, SPH Kemang Village’s students have a plethora of options to choose from.
Fostering Deep Connections through the Care and Connect Program
Within the nurturing framework of the Care and Connect program, SPH Kemang Village empowers students to embark on a profound exploration of their spiritual journey with their classmates guided by their teacher. Through various topic discussions, students receive encouragement and motivation to navigate their faith and establish a strong support system that can help them overcome hurdles and obstacles they may face along the way.
Expressing Compassion Through Service Learning
If SPH Kemang Village is envisioned as a puzzle, the Mission Service Learning (MSL) program emerges as the crucial puzzle piece that aligns with the school's overarching mission. MSL plays a fundamental role in fostering the growth of caring and empathetic individuals who contribute to their communities and make a positive impact on the wider world. Through the MSL activities, their students can put their faith into action and learn to love their neighbors by participating in a number of volunteering and community service activities at orphanages, refugee camps, homes for children with disabilities, and other schools nationwide.
SPH’s Heartfelt Commitment to Growth
Fundamentally, holistic teaching stands as one of SPH Kemang Village's core mission statements that serve as the strong foundation for its growth culture. As an urban school that recognizes the dynamic nature of its community members, they have a solid groundwork that has bear results.
According to Mr. Mark Thiessen, the Head of School at SPH Kemang Village, embracing holistic education is not a simple task, as it demands unwavering dedication and a clear vision deeply embedded in the school's fundamental principles. Mr. Mark credits the school's accomplishments to its emphasis on small but purposeful steps that nurture student development and foster a conducive learning environment that promotes spiritual, intellectual, and social growth.
“By consistently striving to improve and educate themselves, students make gradual progress towards their goals and have a lasting impact on their lives and the world around them. Every step taken through education, no matter how small, contributes to developing a more knowledgeable and capable individual,” said Mr. Mark.
Through the holistic education approach, the goal is to cultivate "Flourishing Learners" within each student, where each pupil is encouraged to focus not only on the end goal but rather on the process of their growth. In addition, beyond academic achievements, SPH Kemang Village actively encourages students to explore diverse interests in athletics, arts, and technology through the school’s diverse programs.
Mr. Mark also mentioned that SPH Kemang Village sees and treats students as more than ‘brains on a stick’ but rather as intentionally created beings with varied talents, passions, and gifts that shape them into who they are. Each student is encouraged to grow the skills and attributes necessary to make meaningful contributions to the greater welfare of society.
By nurturing their individual growth, the education they receive as SPH students will equip them for the years to come as they set out their way in the world.
Fostering a Close-Knit Community
“Having attended SPH Kemang Village for the past twelve years, one aspect of this school that kept me motivated, comfortable, and thankful for the education here is the tightness of the community. The relationships built between students and teachers highlight the solid support system, which remains this school's most prominent underlying strength,” said Arsenio Christianto, Student Council President.
SPH Kemang Village does its best to foster an inclusive learning environment that promotes a sense of belonging and equity in its melting pot of students. Acknowledging the varied backgrounds of its students, the school understands the significance of having a diverse group of educators who bring unique perspectives to the table. By embracing multifaceted educators, SPH Kemang Village ensures that students are exposed to a wide range of viewpoints, experiences, and cultural insights.
“This school has become my second home. Growing up in this school, I have witnessed various changes in areas such as facilities and education systems, but the connectedness of this community remains the same. I continue to appreciate everyone here and am thankful for all the opportunities this school has given me,” said Arsenio.
The feeling of being part of a community also extends beyond the school grounds. Parents are encouraged to be part of the conversation as an essential part of the SPH Kemang Village collective. The school introduced the Parent Advisory Group (PAG) to embrace parental involvement in students’ learning journey.
By joining the PAG, parents from all grade levels can actively participate in several events and programs to enhance their parenting skills and empower them in raising their children. This inclusive platform serves as a catalyst for community support and collective growth where parents can exchange insights and establish lifelong connections and friendships with their peers who share an interest in promoting family values, healthy relationships, and practical parenting skills.
Envisioning the Future for SPH Kemang Village
SPH Kemang Village remains committed to discovering new methods to accommodate the increasing educational demands of its students. To address this, SPH Kemang Village is introducing the Middle School Program in 2023, offering a dedicated focus on this crucial stage of students' academic journey as they transition from Junior to Senior School. Through the program, the school aims to better support students’ transition and prepare them for success in the IB Diploma Programme.
Tailored specifically for students in grades six to eight, the program will provide an array of opportunities for students to develop their interests and pursue their passions, all while receiving personalized guidance from the dedicated team of teachers at the school. This innovative framework will enable students to spend a significant portion of their school day with two core teachers, fostering a highly personalized approach to learning. Each day, students will engage in two blocks of study: Mathematics/Science and English/Humanities, alongside additional classes in specialized subjects such as the arts, Physical Education (PE), foreign languages, and design.
“My vision for the Middle School is to have a culture where students feel safe, respected, heard, and challenged to strive for more. I believe this is a unique opportunity to ignite an excitement for curiosity and learning within the Middle School students as we reduce the stress load that has traditionally come with Senior School and increase our holistic vision of education,” said Jenae Daniels, Associate Principal for the Middle School Program.
She continued, “In a post-pandemic world, we have come face-to-face with the stark reality that education as we know it is not meeting the needs of our students. Intentional Social-Emotional Learning, explicitly taught learning skills, an engaging and rigorous academic program, and a strong spiritual life focus are vital pillars in recasting what a holistic learner at KV looks like.”
The program is built on four pillars that reflect SPH’s core values: culture, community, learning environment, and teaching team. Rooted in the International Baccalaureate (IB) framework and the holistic approach embraced by SPH, this program is thoughtfully designed to foster collaboration, interactivity, and a deep sense of engagement among students. The learning environment is meticulously crafted to serve as an incubator for curiosity, encouraging students to pose meaningful questions through inquiry-based learning while nurturing their ability to creatively solve real-world problems. The learning schedule is also structured to allow students to learn and work on multiple subjects at once in an interdisciplinary setting.
Explore SPH Kemang Village’s programs for a transformational learning journey! Visit their website at bit.ly/sphkvmiddleschool to learn more about the new Middle School program.
About SPH Kemang Village
Located amidst the vibrant surroundings of South Jakarta, Sekolah Pelita Harapan Kemang Village (SPH KV) is an esteemed member of the Sekolah Pelita Harapan group of schools. With a proven track record since 2010 as one of the country's finest international schools, SPH Kemang Village emerged over a decade ago as the fourth campus in this prestigious educational network. Find out more about Sekolah Pelita Harapan by visiting sph.edu
