Newton Kindergarten

[loveeveryday]

I’m planning to register my boy for next year’s pre-nursery class (for 3 y.o). I’m a FTWM for now, having thoughts of changing to PTWM in 2014 but it’s just a thought at the moment. Any FTWM / PTWM who send your kids to NK? How do you cope with the half day hours? What are the after-school care arrangements for you?


I’m looking at the PM session (12pm to 4pm) since the AM session all full. My son is attending full day childcare now.

[faithfu7]

at Newton kindy, for Kl - every Friday, form teacher distribute homework for weekend, under supervision by parents. Teachers give out workbooks for all 3 subjects in a green bag – containing English, Maths and Chinese.


English weekend homework – will cover phonics, english handwriting, usual vocabulary, nouns, verbs, etc – the usual components you find in English.

Maths weekend homework.

Chinese weekend homework - may cover Chinese strokes handwriting practise, plus some simple basic Chinese character reading & writing.

every Monday, pupils submit all weekend homework completed, back to their form teachers, for marking.

for K2 Term 1 start – got spelling.
every Monday is Chinese spelling (ting xie).
each week, kids learn how to write 6 new basic, elementary Chinese word characters, into a small jotter book.

come every Thursday, got English spelling. Pupils learn how to spell, write every 5 new words into a jotter book.

c) does the new place also teach, inculcate moral character values?
at Newton kindy, children are taught character building.

Hi
does the school still do this? I realised the school concert standards has kinda of dropped. They no longer do plays but more of dance… any comments?

[Always21]

Hi, my girl is going to NK next year, hope she will have good memories like to brother who attended the school 2006-2008.

[Aussiekidz]

Hi all, I’m looking for size xs or s boys school uniform. Does anyone have any to let go off or sell? Please pm me. Urgent.

[xerith]

Hi, I’m a daddy for my child who is looking to join NK for pre-nursery next year. Just started reading up on the forum and was wondering whether any parents with kids there can share some advice:


1. Are there really a lot of homework for the child? (I personally think they are quite young at this stage and I don’t really want to force them to only work and no play)

2. How are the teachers you know about so far? Are they mainly older teachers? How is their English and Chinese level in your opinion? Are they patient? (because my child is a real handful and still needs some work at heeding instructions)

3. Are children expected to be toilet trained already at Pre-Nursery? My child is still unwilling to use the potty so…

4. I don’t see many events photos in their website. Do they do much other than just all gather at the hall for festive celebrations?

I am not particularly for or against this kindy, just trying to find some info since it is a convenient location for me (both my wife and I are full time working).

Thanks.

[faithfu7]

Hi my girl is in k1 this year and she only started to have 3 pages of homework once a week which is abit little to me . As for teachers , they are pretty patient , I wouldn’t say they are old. The Chinese teachers have a pretty good command of Chinese and the English teachers I would say hmm average but my girl really like both her teachers so far hence I have no complains .


The kids don’t have to be toilet trained , my girl was not when she first attended n2 so no worries on that . As for events , I personally feel they do not invite the school parent to participate in their events ( not very happy about it) . I wanted to pull my girl out at the end of last year but my girl was pretty upset hence I did not proceed. Hope this helps…

[xerith]

faithfu7:

Hi my girl is in k1 this year and she only started to have 3 pages of homework once a week which is abit little to me . As for teachers , they are pretty patient , I wouldn't say they are old. The Chinese teachers have a pretty good command of Chinese and the English teachers I would say hmm average but my girl really like both her teachers so far hence I have no complains .


The kids don't have to be toilet trained , my girl was not when she first attended n2 so no worries on that . As for events , I personally feel they do not invite the school parent to participate in their events ( not very happy about it) . I wanted to pull my girl out at the end of last year but my girl was pretty upset hence I did not proceed. Hope this helps...

Thank you faithfu7.

Teachers who are good in Chinese is important for me since I don't speak much Chinese so I can't really teach my child properly.

Yeah, heard that they don't feedback as much to parents which is a drag since I really want to know what my child is learning and try to engage with him that way.

So does your child seem to have a lot of fun and enjoy going to the kindergarten? I think that's a good indicator of how good the teachers and their curriculum are.

How are the enrichment classes? Do you mind sharing your experiences/effectiveness with the ones you have tried thus far?

Thank you so much.

[ArcherQueen]

Hello *wave wave*


Anyone going for the public registration in March?

[coolit]

Anyone know if their chinese 60% vs english 40% prog really helps kids who come from english speaking families? I went to look see and talked to the principal but cannot tell much…seems like most kindys all say they do the same thing so wondering if the hype about Newton’s chinese prog is to be believed.

[manorway]

I don’t think Newton curriculum is that different from others. The principal and most of the current teachers don’t seem to care much. Don’t be deceived. Kids will still need to be prepared for primary one. Cannot depend on the kindy. Many things are different from what the school and website mentioned. For example, school hrs are supposed to be from 8am - 12pm and 12pm - 4pm. But morning session classes are marched out before 11.45am and afternoon classes at 3.45pm. The teachers have all left school by 4.05pm!!

Same with enrichment. Suppose to start at 10.30am and end 11.45am but so many only begin at 10.45am and end at 11.30am!! Most parents don’t know that is why they can get away.