[Bedok/Katong/Marine Parade/Siglap] Preschools

[Domique]

Any parents have their child at Little Empire at Katong. Might be registering with them soon for my son next year when he turns 2.

Any negative feedback?

[Piggymum]

Dear parents, anyone here live in Telok Kurau or East Coast area nearer to nafa arts kindergarten side?


I understand that there is a childcare centre next to nafa called little fairyland child care. Anyone one has kids in there? would like to know more (both positive & negaive) about the centre. Thanks.

[seamonkee]

As above… I’m looking for a Montessori at East Coast / Marine Parade / Kallang or Mountbatten Area…


Any good recommendations?

Thanks!

[auntieM]

You can have a look at Brighton Montessori at Fort Road.

My DS had a great time there and was well prepared for P1.

[corneyAmber]

No personal experience, but I happened to see Bestcare Montessori @ Margate Road one day.


http://www.bestcaremon.com.sg/about_us.htm

[Tika]

Newtotown:

Hi Tika, thanks for your information on Dynamic world Montessori, have an appointment to visit them, but would like to know how much Mandarin they learn there - it doesn't sound like a bilingual immersion environment? Also, are their English speaking teachers expats or local?

Hello! I've PMed you. Sorry for the late reply.

[Tika]

Twins:

Hi Tika

Thanks for the comprehensive feedback on Dynamic World. Am just wondering if at this time, you have any further observations to share. Besides Ros, does your child have interaction with other teachers?

I've just gone to see this school earlier this week and have shortlisted it for my son. To me the quality of teachers are very important, so if you've any fresh feedback, I would really appreciate.

Hello!

Sorry for the truly late reply. Have been busy. Hah.

My 2 year old girl has been in school for 2-3 months now. She's loving it, fortunately. After much observation, and talking to the Principal every few times, these are my updated feedbacks. Hope this helps you decide one way or another.

1) Teachers are warm and caring, but they do not 'baby' the students. This worked to hubby and my favour because we want our 2 year old to be the most independent she can be. When she falls, teachers do not go overboard by fussing over her excessively.

2) After a parent-teacher meeting with Principal Ros, we found out that the she is very particular about students being responsible for their work and behaviour in school, especially K1 and K2 students (Did not know this when we enrolled our dotter). This is to equip them with the proper mindset, as well as skills, before joining primary school two years later. Eg: Student needs to bring passport sized photos for art and craft. It is his responsibility to inform his parents about it. Teachers will not write a note in the Communication Book for things like that.

Hubby and I concluded DWM is not for those with grandparents who like to pamper their grandchildren or else your child will be confused. Haha. (Unless you can get your parents/inlaws to be on the same page as yourself and the school)

3) Our dotter is alot more hands on now than before. She would help me 'fold' towels at home. She would actually roll them but she calls it folding. When probed, she said she does the same in preschool. She can sing her alphabets very clearly on top of every other nursery rhyme. She knows the difference between a living thing and non living thing, sea and land creatures, opposite words. Can quantify up to 6, can count up to 20. (My apologies if I sound like I'm bragging cos truly its not my intention to.) I'm VERY sure your child will probably gain as much knowledge as my dotter,(if not more) even if you decide to enrol him into a different preschool. Im just stating the difference I see in her after being in DWM.

4) My girl was with principal Ros for the first two weeks of preschool because the principal wanted her to get accustomed to 1 teacher (she teaches the pre-n class) before she slowly gets accustomed to the rest of the teachers. After the 2 weeks went by, a different teacher will attend to my dotter every few days so she would not get TOO accustomed to Principal Ros. Worked marvelously. She was a very shy girl before preschool, now she says hello and byebye to majority of the Uncles and Aunties she sees everywhere. Sometimes she would shout \"Good Morning!!!! See you tomorrow!!!!\" to a complete stranger.

5) The only drawback I noticed was that some of the teachers did not appear approachable. Feedbacked to Principal Ros and she explained that she prefers her teachers to be stress free from questioning parents. They need all their energy for caring and educating the children. So if parents need to clarify anything at all, Principal Ros and the school admin, Regina, will be there to provide updates on your child. I thought it was a fair explanation.


Hope this helps!!!

[helloagain]

Hi


My son is turning 3 coming Sept, although he has secured a place in Bethesda Katong and Good Shepherd Convent Kindergarten for next yr N2, I would like to start him in N1 this yr to get him accustomed to pre-school independently and also to catch up with his peers next yr rather than staying at home now and do nothing but watch tv. I need to get him started asap bcos his little bro is arriving in late Aug, I don’t want him to start off with N1 when baby comes, he may feel I don’t want him. All this while, he had attended GUG and then zoophonics (both accompanied program, never tried independent program) but I pull him out last 2 mths bcos my maid went back for holi (so nobody to help out at home).

I’m thinking of sending him to Kinderland Marine parade but have concerns on the academic standards for both english and mandarin and also the air-ventilation given that its fully-aircon in a old building with no outdoor activities (both Bethesda and Good Shepherd has outdoor playgrounds but classrooms non-aircon). I like the fact that they have music appreciation once a wk and keyboard classes in K2 and also the kids start phonics/A-Z awareness and also follow-the-dots tracing of alphabetics in N1 (Bethesda and Good Shepherd start writing only in N2 or K1, in N1 they only do colouring). I was thinking if Kinderland is a fine school for him, i can stick to the same school all the way to K2 to avoid the unnecessary crying again due to transition to new schools.

Any feedbacks on Kinderland marine parade?

My ideal school is one with aircon classrooms but with outdoor playground but most of such schools are too exp or full. eg Brighton, Eton, Pat’s Schoolhouse, GUG Mountbatten (new!), Montessori for children, Schoolhouse by the bay. My son hates the heat, he screamed and insist to leave places that are too hot for him! I’m afraid he may not want to go to school if its non-aircon (well of course by P1 age, he don’t ve a choice by then, for now as introduction to school, i prefer to get him to like school rather than hate them)

[maisy]

helloagain:

Hi


My ideal school is one with aircon classrooms but with outdoor playground but most of such schools are too exp or full. eg Brighton, Eton, Pat's Schoolhouse, GUG Mountbatten (new!), Montessori for children, Schoolhouse by the bay. My son hates the heat, he screamed and insist to leave places that are too hot for him! I'm afraid he may not want to go to school if its non-aircon (well of course by P1 age, he don't ve a choice by then, for now as introduction to school, i prefer to get him to like school rather than hate them)

I am the opposite of you. When I searched for schools, i was looking for non aircon but well-ventilated classrooms. Classrooms with open windows to allow fresh air & good working fans to keep the classroom cool.

Prior to kindergarten, my son was in half-day CC fully aircon classroom with outdoor play (The type that fits your bill). But, my son kept falling sick ! No joke ... he came home sick every month - some times twice a month ! Coughing ,runny nose , fever ..etc.. non-stop! It drove me nuts... and made me incur hefty PD bills !

When i finally transferred him to a kindergarten with non- aircon classrooms, u cannot imagine the difference. He is N2 this year. 6 months have past and (touch wood) not a day of MC yet ! !

Worry not - we all hate the heat; not just your son. But really, Non aircon classroom is not as hot & bothered as you have imagined - it can't as hot as hawker centres and surely it won't be so hot for your son to scream protest - i mean, if it is that bad, how can the teachers even conduct classes ?

I think if your intention is to have your child be in the same school til K2, then it would be wiser to focus on the curriculum & teaching staff & the overall feel of the school when you visit it.... aircon classroom or not is really immaterial.

Just sharing my personal opinion

[helloagain]

I guess you are right, I might b over-concern. Understand that ur son is in Bethesda, how’s everything so far? Academic wise n is he happy? My son only got a place there for next yr n2, which mean I still have to look for a school for him for this yr.