22 & 23 Nov 2025 (Pastoral Page) CLOSURE OF CLEMENTI WOODS KINDERGARTEN: SOME HONEST REFLECTIONS

by Elder Glen Tan

By now, all of us would have read that Clementi Woods Kindergarten (CWK) will be ceasing operations with effect from 1 January 2027. The Church Council has explained the rationale for this decision in previous e-bulletins.

This has been a painful outcome for some. As a member of the Church Council that had to approve this decision and concurrently a parent of children who went through a total of 10 years in CWK, I am still coming to terms with the heartache of the closure. As I processed my own thoughts, I felt the need to share some honest personal reflections with the church.

Honest Reflection #1 – More than just a closure

CWK is a much-loved kindergarten. It has become known for its enriching curriculum, engaging student experience, caring staff and the solid biblical foundation it has been laying for our children. Through CWK, the seeds of the Gospel have been planted in the hearts of our little ones. A couple of weeks ago, I was so touched to hear the kindergarten children singing a medley of two Chinese worship songs with such uninhibited joy and exuberance. There is much we can learn from them. No wonder we read of numerous instances in our recent study of Matthew where Jesus spoke of children with such fond affection.

A question that parents asked upon the news of the closure was whether they could have come forward earlier to keep the kindergarten going if given the chance to. The sense of ownership was evident. It shows that for so many of us, CWK has become more than a school that our children attend. Its closure will be more than just a legal or administrative procedure. It will be the loss of a community that we have become so much a part of and an entity that we have become so belonged to over the years. The overall sentiment at the announcement of the closure to the parents was that of a sense of loss and grief. More than the hassle of having to find another school for their children, it is the gaping emptiness that affected parents have to deal with moving forward.

Honest Reflection #2 – Did we lose sight of our intended purpose?

Clementi Woods Kindergarten (CWK) was started about 40 years ago as a ministry to reach out to children and their families in the neighbourhood. Today, a number of families whose children attend CWK are pre-believers. Some of the staff at CWK have yet to know the Lord. While many of us have been active in the various outreach initiatives in our vicinity (which is good!). I wonder if we had unknowingly lost sight of the intended purpose of CWK and had actually done enough to capitalize on the outreach opportunity that was already at our doorstep. How many of us today know about the existence and understand the purpose of CWK? Have we taken an interest in what the children were being taught? Do we know the CWK staff or the parents of the children? Surely, there is more that we could and should have done. This is not just the purview of the staff or leaders. It is our collective responsibility as a church. As a church leader who had eyes and ears on the ground in this area, I acknowledge that I myself should have done better in spotting the gaps. Moving forward, we need to be mindful not to allow the opportunities that are presented right before us to slip anymore.

Honest Reflection #3 – It is still not too late

It is however not too late, as CWK will be in operation for one more year. It is therefore imperative that we make the most of this remaining time we have with them. We are hoping to explore possible opportunities to build deeper connections with the CWK staff and families and more intentionally offer pastoral support to those in need. A CWK mums’ group was recently started through the initiative of some of our staff and volunteers. Through platforms such as these, we hope to continue building relationships with these families, even beyond 2026 if possible. Whenever such opportunities arise, I invite you to pray about being involved in some way if you are available.

Meanwhile, we thank God for the spiritual legacy of Clementi Woods Kindergarten and the fond memories it has left for all our children.