On November 1st, Zion Education Group’s highly anticipated Annual Fall Professional Development Day unfolded as planned. Despite Typhoon Kong-rey hitting Shanghai with heavy rain and strong winds, the dedication of our staff was unwavering—braving the storm, they arrived on time, showcasing not only remarkable professionalism but also an unrelenting passion for the mission of education. We deeply value every opportunity to learn, understanding that a thirst for knowledge and a strong sense of responsibility are essential in delivering the highest standard of educational services to the families we serve.

Part 01 Address of the Board

At the opening of Professional Development Day, Mr. Ronny Hei, Chairman of Zion Education Group, delivered an inspiring keynote address. He highlighted that the PD Day is not just a practice, but a powerful opportunity to let us get united, unlock potential, and envision the future. Sharing his vision across five key areas, he encouraged every member of Zion to break through personal limits and broaden their professional growth, setting the stage for a dynamic and promising future.

Mr. Ronny Hei pointed out that each individual possesses unique strengths and talents—valuable assets that drive our success. Over the past 20 years, Zion has grown to become a leader in the Montessori field, thanks to the collective effort and professionalism of every member. Our forward-thinking philosophy and meticulous services have earned the trust and praise of countless parents, cementing our reputation.

Part 02 Workshops to Support our Faculty

This year, the Group’s academic team has carefully curated a series of enriching workshops and interactive learning sessions for our teachers. These initiatives offer valuable opportunities to learn, share experiences, exchange insights, and foster continuous growth—empowering everyone to embrace the journey of becoming “lifelong learners.”

Creativity and Children’s Creative Expression

Led by Senior Montessori Director Mary MacIntosh, our EC teaching team delivered the engaging workshop Creativity and Creative Expression in Children for 3-6 year-old educators.

Children are naturally creative, and Dr. Montessori considered creativity as a fundamental tendency for young children. Child psychologists identify it an important skill for children to understand their world. Each group came up with ideas that sparked their interests and will hopefully fuel their passion towards the arts.The workshop explained that creativity is more than typical school artistic experiences. Creative expression through visual, musical, dance and drama require freedom to explore, use imagination and opportunities for personal creations. The children only need tools, media and understanding of their use rather than structured artistic lessons. The tools and media for individual activities are organized and children have freedom to choose and become absorbed in their own creation. Examples of these experiences were shared. The participants collaborated in exploration of different media to discover the process for creative expression without an pre-determined end product.

Each group of teachers were given different types forms of art: visual arts, performance arts, language arts. Putting their heads together they had to think if a new activity that applies the Montessori method and at the same time allows creativity to be explored by the child.

Development of Movement Design Environment & Practice Motor Actions

For our infant and toddler educators, we meticulously designed the workshop “Motor Development of the Child/ Environmental Design and Motor Practice,” inviting a fresh perspective on the core principles of motor development during the critical early years from infancy to age three.

We delved into the development of both fine motor skills and gross motor movements, while also exploring the complex physiological mechanisms behind them—the maturation of the brain and nervous system, and the impact of sensory experiences on sensory integration abilities. Together, these factors form a comprehensive framework for motor development, which, in turn, supports cognitive growth.

Through this learning experience, our educators gained a deeper understanding of the close connection between motor and cognitive development, and how to design environments and practice movements that foster a positive, reinforcing cycle. This knowledge empowers them to create more personalized and effective teaching strategies that promote the holistic development of each child.

Character Training Discussion

Virtue education is a key focus for Zion Education Group in 2024, and during this Professional Development Day, we highlighted its critical importance to our educators.

As a country known for its rich cultural heritage, China has long embraced Confucian values, with an emphasis on “moral education as the foundation.” Traditional virtues such as benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness are not only the essence of our culture but also reflect the qualities of a well-rounded character. Virtue education is not only a vital part of traditional Chinese culture but also a universally recognized cornerstone of personal development. These early years is a critical stage in social development, and virtue education helps children build a solid foundation for a healthy personality. It enhances self-esteem and confidence, fosters prosocial behavior, teaches social rules, and develops interpersonal and social adaptability—laying the foundation for their future success in life.

During the virtue education workshop, teachers engaged in group discussions on key topics, including: what specific actions children can develop through virtue education, how to model positive behavior in different scenarios, how to recognize and acknowledge children’s positive actions through language, and the importance of cooperation and support among classmates. These discussions not only deepened the teachers’ understanding of virtue education but also refined their teaching strategies, fostering a stronger sense of responsibility and passion in their every day practice.

Life Teacher Training

To further enhance the professional skills of our life teachers and better implement Montessori principles, the teachers gathered to watch the classic Montessori documentary Edison’s Day. Through group discussions and sharing sessions, they carefully noted the children’s independent behaviors observed in the documentary, exchanging insights and reflections with their peers.

This process not only facilitated knowledge sharing within the team but, more importantly, deepened the teachers’ understanding of the core values of Montessori education — namely, that every element, whether the teacher or the environment, plays an indispensable role in supporting the child’s growth.

Life teachers are responsible for daily tasks such as caring for children and serving meals, must also deeply understand and embody the essence of Montessori education. To support this, we encourage teachers to engage in continuous observation, communication, and reflection, enhancing their professional skills. This ensures they can provide children with more opportunities for independent exploration and learning in their daily routines.

In addition to watching the documentary, life teachers also participated in specialized training covering topics such as health and safety, classroom cleaning and disinfection, accident response, and infectious disease prevention. The training, conducted in small groups, not only enhanced the teachers’ professional competencies and emergency response skills but also reinforced their commitment to safeguarding children’s health and safety.

Through the carefully structured training, teachers gained a clearer understanding of their responsibilities, enabling them to better ensure the health and safety of the children in their care. This empowers them to create a safe, nurturing environment where children can thrive.

The dedication of all staff at Zion Education Group to knowledge and professional growth aligns perfectly with the core values we have upheld for the past 20 years: no matter the challenges, our goal is to provide children with high-quality Montessori education and an enriching environment that helps them become their best selves. At the same time, we remain committed to our own growth, striving to be the best versions of ourselves.

Looking ahead, we will continue to focus on the holistic development of our faculty, working together to create an even healthier and more positive environment for the growth and well-being of our children!