NAFA Arts Kindergarten
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Hi Hi everyone
Remember me? I was the one raving about how good this school was. I actually pulled my daughter out as she was really sick in october… Really sad. She misses school so much.
I’m enrolling her at NAFA again. Though now it’s the afternoon session. My daughter just wanted to to go back so much…
and yes, i agree as parents you will definitely helped with the music homework…very tedious for someone who knows nothing about music. I dun think i will be sending my daughter for extra music classes…anyway, i just want her to be exposed to all the different arts programmes. if she is really keen or HAVE TALENT, then will think about it later.
As for the academic, some of my friends who are teaching in Primary schools said that NAFA is rather extensive in their curriculum ( a bit ks as i also want to prepare my daughter for P1…ha ha). So quite comforted to know that NAFA is doing its best to help…they integrated jolly phoincs in their curriculum too. So need not pay extra… Also they are using Growing With Math program…reviews about this math program also quite good.
As for the fees, if you really calculate and spread it over 3 months, it’s about $650 per month for the am session / $600 for pm session.
Expensive?? will shop less for myself…have another child to send in when he’s 3 plus…
Overall, I like the school. wonderful teachers and the principal like i mentioned before is always on the ground.
Also, heard that they just organized a sleepover camp for the K2 students… apparently the parents who sent their kids to the camp were delighted and you know what? the principal actually stayed overnight and rought it out with the students… -
Hehe… You know what, just one week into school holiday, my daughter was asking me why the school holiday is so long…
She misses school and her teacher. -
wonglady:
That is interesting. When my ds was there, I did not feel that the curriculum was remotely challenging at all. I am generally very relaxed about the academic side of things (my kids must be the only ones in Singapore to enter school only at age 4 and encounter the English alphabet for the first time :lol:), so it's definitely not that my ds already knew whatever was taught in class. Given my nonchalance about prepping my ds for school, I had anticipated that we would need Herculean efforts to catch up when we joined in mid-Nursery 2. But surprisingly (and happily) I need not have worried at all since my ds could cope perfectly well. As an example, there was no homework, nor spelling or ting-xie in K1. With the nice, relaxed pace that they were progressing, I imagine that in K2, an amazing amount of work would be required to prepare the kids for the rigours of P1.
As for the academic, some of my friends who are teaching in Primary schools said that NAFA is rather extensive in their curriculum .
When we left Singapore in the middle of the K1 year for the U.S., my kid fit nicely into kindergarten here, where the academic curriculum would seem completely laughable to any Singapore parent (though the other aspects of an education here are far more superior in my view - wish that Singapore schools can do it all!). However, I note that the Singaporean kids who graduated from PCF etc were miles and miles ahead of their American counterparts in grade school, since they had been so well drilled in math, spelling, reading, writing etc.
I am not suggesting that NAFA's curriculum is inadequate in any way; I merely want to share my personal view that compared to many other kindergartens, it is not inclined to be very academic since the arts, after all, is intentionally its focus. And about that, I feel that for music, starting at NAFA Kindergarten would certainly be a good introduction, but, in all likelihood music theory progression would be faster than the practical (playing) part, as theory is something you can work on with your child. So there is a disconnect here, but that is to be expected since a kindergarten class size is bigger that your average music school's. The music teachers do suggest to parents that for kids who learn fast, private lessons would benefit them more; quite a number of the kids I know have private lessons, not to assist them to catch up but to allow them to progress further. I go the easy way and instruct my ds myself...
At the end of the K2 year, the children would be adequately prepared to take the G1 theory exam, but not the practical exam - that would be impossible. Oh, and parents should also be aware that since the kids learn on the keyboard, fingerwork for the piano may be an issue to be addressed later. -
clare:
...my kids must be the only ones in Singapore to enter school only at age 4 and encounter the English alphabet for the first time...
Oh no... a non kiasu parent amongst our midst! A sheep in wolf's clothings! What is the world becoming! :lol:
Thanks clare, for a most objective and insightful view of NAFA and its good work. Are you in the US right now, then? -
Hi Chief! Yes, I'm in the U.S. right now, where my son totally 'digs' going to school as it's so much fun... can't say that about Singapore schools, sigh...
I am now a believer in kiasu-ism! In fact, I have to thank everyone on this board for opening my eyes. :lol: But my husband rues the day I stumbled upon this forum, because his easy, don't-need-to-coach-anything-days are over when we return to Singapore next year...
I like NAFA... It may need to find its sea legs a bit, being fairly new, but it is on the right track, I think.
Er, do you mean wolf in sheep's clothing??
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clare:
...But my husband rues the day I stumbled upon this forum, because his easy, don't-need-to-coach-anything-days are over when we return to Singapore next year...Er, do you mean wolf in sheep's clothing??
Yuh... I used to be like your husband until my son entered P1, and those days are long gone... sigh.
No. I really meant what I said. We KiasuParents are no sheep :mrgreen: . -
Ok Mr Wolf!
May I sidetrack a bit and ask your opinion. I’m trying to decide between NAFA and Nanyang Kindergarten for my 3 kids when we return to good old Singapore (we have spots in both, phew). I could not find much mentioned in the forum about Nanyang K though. Any idea about which is ‘better’? -
insider:
Nayang Kindergarten has very good Chinese immersion program... I missed all those critical years...
insider... your kid only 5. No need to despair. Plenty of time to prepare him for P1.
So Nanyang Kindy is good if you want your child to be well prepared for P1 and NAFA is good if you want your child to hone his artistics talents with solid foundation for the rest of his life? -
Hi both Clare and insider
I've also heard that Nanyang Kinder is strong in Chinese.. i guess it really depends on individual teachers...
my experience, my daughter doesn't speak a work of chinese till she joined NAFA. When i placed her there, I told the Principal that she doesn't like chinese and she refuses to listen to chinese songs or stories.
i was assured that the lessons carried out by the teachers would be interesting (songs, rhymes, stories and very little writing) and sure enough, my daughter came home and spoke to me in Chinese. My husband was dumb-founded and she was always earger to go to school until i have to pull her out due to illness.
I guess it really depends on the teachers...As a NAFA mum, i'm happy with NAFA's curriculum...holistic...if we want our children to excel in certain areas, then i guess we just have to out in more effort and coach them ourselves...
then again, i wouldn't know when she goes to K2 or will i be really kiasu as to put her thru tuition.
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Hello everybody,
My gal has been offered a place in NAFA for next yr, we were happy
and worried at the same time, Happy becos the school is near to us and it will cut down on travelling and time as compared to her current school. Worried becos we haven't have a chance to view the school and is currently under renovation, and also hopefully my gal will like this school. Moreover we are offered afternoon session, not sure if my gal can get used to afternoon session, becos she usually take nap in the afternoon, so a bit worried .....
Would like to check with the current and ex NAFA mums & dads, appreciate your advises to the following :
1. Understand there are 2 teachers in the class, do both stay in the class throughout the lessons ? afterall the no of children in the class is quite big as compare to her current school
2. Is the toilet attached to the class room ? If no, normally do the teacher accompany the student to the toilet ?
3 How does your children adapt to the afternoon session, for those whose kid is or will be in the afternoon session ? My hubby say children can adapt very easily, how do you train your kid to adapt ?
I hope i don't sound too over-protective, hope to hear some comments. thanks in advance.
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