PGCE Early Years Teaching
Bree Ashton is from Melbourne, Australia, and has lived in Hong Kong for twelve years. She holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) specializing in Early Years from the University of Sunderland, with a focus on the EYFS Curriculum.
Bree is passionate about early childhood education, believing these years are crucial for building the foundations of lifelong learning. She aims to create meaningful experiences that motivate children and foster a love for learning.
In her spare time, Bree enjoys visiting coffee shops and spending time with her family. She often explores new playgrounds and finds the best places to scooter with her two young children.
PGCE, SCITT
Ms. Millie Calkin, originally from the UK, has been a resident of Hong Kong for the past seven years. She is rejoining the Malvern College Pre-School and will be working with the Pre-Nursery Snow Leopard Class.
Ms. Calkin emphasizes the importance of the Early Years in a child’s educational journey. She completed her training at the London Diocesan Board for Schools, SCITT, in 2013, graduating with a PGCE and a specialization in Early Years education. She began her teaching career in East London, spending three years as a Nursery and Reception teacher before moving to Hong Kong. Since then, she has been teaching Kindergarten within the international school system.
Her teaching philosophy is centered around “interest-led learning,” where she provides a rich and engaging learning environment. Through exploration and discovery, she aims to nurture children’s creativity and foster their development as independent learners.
Ms. Calkin advocates for the Reggio Emilia philosophy. In 2019, she completed the Reggio Study Tour in Italy with Reggio Children, deepening her understanding of this approach. This experience equipped her with a deeper appreciation for the values and concepts of the Reggio Emilia approach, which she implements in her classroom.
Collaborating with parents is important to Ms. Calkin, as she believes that a successful early years experience requires a strong partnership between educators and families. In her spare time, she enjoys exploring nature, keeping fit through swimming, running, and hiking Lantau trails, and spending time in coffee shops or exploring the outdoors with friends.
BA in Applied Child Development, MEd in Educational Administration & Management
Ms. Rose Kato is the English-speaking teacher for the K2 Red Panda class.
Ms. Rose has worked with children in Hong Kong at various levels of English for the past eight years, both as a Class Teacher and an English Teacher.
She graduated from The University of Hong Kong with First Class Honours in Applied Child Development and also holds a Master of Education in Educational Administration and Management.
Ms. Rose values the questions and discoveries children make through child-led play, interactions with peers, and their environment. She enjoys observing and guiding children as they create meaningful connections between themselves and their community. In both structured and unstructured settings, she is passionate about fostering intentional moments for children to share their individual learning experiences with their peers, thereby building a collaborative learning space.
Ms. Rose is delighted to welcome families to Malvern College. She feels privileged to be part of each family’s journey this academic year and looks forward to growing and sharing new experiences with everyone.
BA in Film, PGDE in Early Childhood Education
Mr. Russell is thrilled to be part of the Malvern community and brings immense joy to connecting with families and contributing to the growth and development of their children.
Mr. Russell firmly believes that every child is special and unique, deserving of the same respect one would extend to an honoured guest. At the heart of his teaching philosophy is love—a fundamental element that nurtures all learning and relationships. Even on challenging days, he sees determination in every child’s efforts, whether they’re taking giant leaps or small baby steps. He celebrates their attempts and progress, recognizing that they are all on their own unique journeys of wonder and discovery.
Originally from the USA, Mr. Russell moved to Hong Kong in 2010, where he has been immersed in early childhood education ever since. His academic background includes a Bachelor’s Degree in Film, which has enriched his creative approach to teaching. He also holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Early Childhood Education from Hong Kong Baptist University.
Mr. Russell is passionate about the Reggio Emilia approach and is a strong advocate for the RIE (Resources for Infant Educarers) philosophy, inspired by the teachings of Magda Gerber. To continually enhance his skills and knowledge, he actively participates in professional development opportunities, including his recent involvement with the Educator’s Neighbourhood at the Fred Rogers Institute.
Mr. Russell looks forward to fostering a nurturing and engaging environment at Malvern Pre-School, where children can thrive and feel valued. He is excited to embark on this journey together with all families!
M.Ed, B.Ed
Andria Han holds a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from The Education University of Hong Kong. She has five years of experience teaching Early Years, working with both Chinese-speaking and English-speaking children.
Ms. Han is dedicated to Early Childhood Education and believes that children have “a hundred languages” to express themselves. She sees the role of the teacher as a facilitator, provider, and instructor. She is committed to providing children with a warm and welcoming environment and uses innovative teaching methods to inspire her pupils to reach their potential.
Ms. Han values the potential of a child’s ability to wonder and believes in their capacity to express themselves in multiple ways. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, watching live music, baking, and dancing.
Dip (ECE)
Ms. Emma Wang began her journey to Hong Kong in 2014 to pursue a Master’s degree at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Before this, she was an English teacher for Early Childhood in Shanghai. For the past eight years, she has been dedicated to the field of Early Years education in Hong Kong, teaching both Chinese-speaking and non-Chinese-speaking children.
Ms. Wang believes that the early years of a child’s development are crucial in shaping their personality and character. She subscribes to the idea that children possess “a hundred languages” through which they can express their unique ideas, emotions, and perspectives. As an educator, her role is to guide and empower these young minds, teaching them how to effectively utilize these symbolic languages in their daily lives.
In her spare time, Ms. Wang enjoys visiting museums, cooking traditional Chinese food, and traveling. She values exploring the world to bring different cultural experiences to her classroom.
MA in Linguistics, PGDE in Early Childhood Education
Ms. Linda Zhou (Zhou Laoshi) holds a Master’s Degree in Linguistics from The Chinese University of Hong Kong and a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) from The University of Hong Kong, specialising in Early Childhood Education. This background enables her to create engaging learning environments.
With over ten years of experience with young children from diverse backgrounds in Hong Kong, Zhou Laoshi is passionate about early childhood education. She believes every child is unique and has their own strengths, and she nurtures their imagination and creativity in the classroom.
Her goal is to support each child’s learning in a safe and inclusive environment where they feel valued and encouraged to explore. Together with the children, she will engage in activities that promote language skills and social-emotional development.
BEd, (Honours) in Early Childhood Education
Ms. Bertha Luk is the Teaching Assistant in the K1 Pangolin class for the upcoming school year.
Ms. Bertha holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from The Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU). During her studies, she gained valuable teaching experience through placements in both international and local kindergartens, where she was continually amazed by the creativity and curiosity of young children.
Ms. Bertha truly enjoys working with young learners and believe that early childhood is like a sponge — it is a foundational stage where children absorb knowledge, explore their surroundings, and begin to understand the world around them.
She considers it a privilege to support children’s growth by nurturing positive values, building confidence, and encouraging curiosity and creativity within our supportive school environment.
Ms. Bertha is delighted to welcome families to Malvern College Pre-School and looks forward to meeting everyone this August!
PGDE
Ms. Faye Leung is the Teaching Assistant for the K2 Orangutan AM/Full Day class during the upcoming school year at Malvern College Pre-School.
Ms. Faye holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Education from The University of Hong Kong (HKU) and has accumulated four years of valuable experience working in Kindergarten settings, both in international and local schools. This diverse background has equipped her with a broad understanding of various educational approaches and the ability to cater to the unique needs of each child.
Ms. Faye has a genuine passion for working with young children. She believes that every child is unique, possessing their own individual learning styles, which she finds truly inspiring. Her philosophy centres around the idea that learning through play is not just a theoretical concept but a fundamental approach that nurtures children’s curiosity, creativity, and love for learning. She strives to create an engaging and supportive environment where children feel safe to explore and express themselves.
Ms. Faye is delighted to welcome families to Malvern College Pre-School and eagerly anticipates the wonderful experiences that will be shared together. She looks forward to meeting everyone in August 2025!
BEd, (Honours) in Early Childhood Education
Ms. Karen Ng is a fully qualified teacher with five years of experience leading summer holiday activities with young children.
Her educational background includes a Higher Diploma in Early Childhood Education from HKCT Institute of Higher Education (CTIHE) and a Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood Education from Yew Chung College of Early Childhood Education.
Ms. Ng has worked in K1 and K2 during her time at Malvern College Pre-School. Working with young children is her true passion, and she is eager to welcome both returning and new families to the Malvern College Pre-School Hong Kong community.
In her spare time, Ms. Ng enjoys a variety of activities, including dancing, singing, and watching movies. She also loves playing badminton and ice-skating.
