EARLY YEARS

Building Strong Foundations

Our Early Years program is designed to be a strong foundation for the growth of every child. We draw on the most effective pedagogical approaches from the USA, UK, and China, blending them into a curriculum that reflects the very best of global early childhood education. Inspired by the philosophy of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme, and Hiba Academy Bay Area is committed to applying for IB authorization at the earliest opportunity. By embedding globally recognized pedagogy alongside bilingual immersion and play-based learning, we prepare children not only for a smooth transition into Primary School, but also for a future in which adaptability, empathy, and cross-cultural understanding are essential.

Hiba's Three Guiding Principles

A young girl in uniform walks down a grassy slope in an open play area at Hiba Academy Bay Area, a private international preschool in San Francisco Bay Area offering Early Years bilingual curriculum.

Every child is unique and capable. They deserve an education that nurtures their resilience, confidence, and boundless potential.

Two Early Years students learning through play on the classroom floor of Hiba Academy Bay Area, a private international preschool in San Francisco Bay Area offering Early Years bilingual curriculum.

Relationships come first. Through strong bonds with teachers, peers, and families, children gain the security to explore, the courage to create, and the joy of belonging.

A teacher goes through a worksheet with a student at Hiba Academy Bay Area, a private international kindergarten in San Francisco Bay Area offering Early Years curriculum.

Learning is a dynamic, personal journey. We honor each child’s individual path, guiding their development with patience, purpose, and flexibility. 

Four Early Years students gardening on the school compounds of Hiba Academy Bay Area, a private international kindergarten in San Francisco offering bilingual education.

Independent Exploration

In our vibrant classrooms, inquiry is the engine of discovery. Children take ownership of their learning through purposeful play, age-appropriate choices, and guided exploration—always asking, testing, and refining their understanding of the world. Teachers act as observant facilitators, tailoring experiences to each child’s needs. It’s a fully adaptive approach in which curiosity leads to discovery, challenges inspire resilience, and every day unfolds as an opportunity to explore the world with confidence and wonder.

Two pre-kindergarten students role-playing as a waiter and chef taking orders on the phone as part of the bilingual Early Years curriculum at Hiba Academy Bay Area, a private international preschool in San Francisco Bay Area.

Literacy, Numeracy, and Inquiry

Our Early Years students develop early literacy and numeracy in both English and Mandarin, with explicit instruction in phonics and rich opportunities to build strong number sense, recognize patterns, and apply mathematical thinking in playful contexts. Alongside these foundations, specialist instruction in art, music, and physical education fosters creativity, expression, and well-being. Books and storytelling in both languages further enrich communication skills and cultural appreciation.

Daily Life in Pre-Kindergarten

At Hiba Academy Bay Area, we believe that a well-rounded early education extends beyond the classroom. Our pre-kindergarten classrooms are designed to create a nurturing and engaging environment that supports holistic development. Here's a glimpse into how your child will spend their day:

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Engaging Learning Environments

Our learning environments are designed to encourage your child to make connections in their learning. Our teachers divide them into different zones, each with a questions or challenges to explore and learn something new. These ‘invitations to learn’ are designed to spark creativity, encourage independent learning, and support meaningful language acquisition. We balance it out with quiet, reflective spaces and areas with open-ended materials that reveal their existing knowledge while inspiring them to think creatively and collaboratively.


Additionally, our outdoor learning areas promote physical, emotional, and social growth. Through physical activity, your child will develop strength, coordination, and motor skills. They will build confidence and learn independence by taking calculated, age-appropriate risks. These outdoor experiences will also enable your child to navigate and negotiate social dynamics as they engage with their peers.

International preschool students riding modified bikes in the outdoor learning area of Hiba Academy Bay Area, a private preschool in San Francisco Bay Area with an Early Years curriculum encouraging holistic development of pre-kindergarten students.

Ambitious Targets For Personalized Learning

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We assess our students’ well-being and involvement with the Leuven Scale and track their progress with individual learning journals. Alongside tracking and supporting your child’s well-being and engagement, we introduce rigorously planned personalized academic learning targets for your child to ensure they meet their potential. This holistic approach to your child’s early learning journey ensures they are developing positive behaviors for learning that ensure ultimately transition to our Primary School, ready for success.