[Ang Mo Kio/Bishan/Thomson/Toa Payoh] Preschools

[luspen]

hi. tassiedevil


what do they learn in nursery?
what neg feedback you get fr neigbhour?

understand there is another nursery at blk 144, any comments on that?

[georgewong22]

Hi luspen, i think Marymount’s explanation when I asked about the size of the class is that the teacher-student ratio as per MOE’s regulations are adhered to despite the large number of students. You may be right, I think she told me 30 in K1 and 40 in K2.


Sigh, it’s really difficult … I will just pray she gets a good teacher.

I think from this, it’s evident we all agree that’s it’s really the dedication and passion of the class teacher rather than the school.

I do not think Block 115 offers K1 classes. Blk 197 & 144 but K1 afternoon classes.

Please please let me know when you find a good school. Thank you.

[luspen]

hi george,


think we parents worry so much for the kids, subconsciously giving ourselves lots of stress.

i know one neigbhour sent her girl to Agape after finding out Zion was not good, her reason - Zion didnt prepare them enough for Pri 1.

nursery at bishan blk 144 or blk 114, which is better?

[luspen]

why PCF only has PM session for K1 at blk 197??

[georgewong22]

PCF’s K1/K2 are conducted at Blk 197 while Blk 144 is the extension. Both centres are supervised by the same principal but mother tongue classes differ. Blk 144 offers Chinese + Tamil while Blk 197 offers Chinese + Malay.


Classes for K1 for both these centres are only conducted in the afternoons. K2 classes are in the morning.

Agape was the other kinder I shortlisted. Much further away if compared with Marymount. 1st. impression was good. But in my case, because I do not own a car and need to be easy access to my daughter from the city and public transpo + many still recommended Marymount.

Yes, like you said, may not be the best choice … just pray that it is and she gets a good teacher. Will update you as my daughter progresses in her classes.

You too, please update me the results of your research. Appreciate it.

[TassieDevil]

hi luspen,


yup, like what george said, pcf only offers k1 classes in the pm while k2 only in the am. & yes, blk 144 offers tamil while blk 197 offers malay.

if u compare the nursery classes between blk 144 & blk 115, the classroom environment in blk 115 is much nicer. my boy's form teacher (an indian lady) is also a very passionate & dedicated teacher as we can see. not too sure abt the other teachers at blk 144 tho. we went to check out both centers but ultimately decided on blk 115 mainly becos of this teacher & also becos of the nice classroom! :lol:

for nursery classes at blk 115, there are 3 classes - 2 in the am & 1 in the pm. my son is in the pm class cos am no vacancy! btw, for n1 classes or what they call it the pre-nursery class, it's at blk 196. i've just signed my boy for k1 at blk 197 & my girl for n1 at blk 196 next year cos registration is now open. but wondering if i shd switch my boy cos of what my neighbour said.

u said u friend said zion didn't prepare the kids well for p1 but what my neighbour said is the exact opposite leh. what i heard is, pcf don't prepare the kids well for p1 while in zion, the kids learn much more. :? that's the problem lor... :roll:

[luspen]

hi insider,


can pm me what u recommend george? am interested to know what kindergarten is that i have not considered around bishan area

tassiedevil,

my friend switched her girl to agape after attending a year in nursery in zion. she felt that zion didnt prepare her gal and that the student teacher ratio too large, her gal didnt get much attention.

now i very confused if zion or PCF better? what i understand is that different PCFs have different standards.

my neighbour who has 4 boys, shared her experience that PCF does prepare them for pri schools. her boys age from 14 to 4, all attending catholic high/ PCF. so coming from a mother of 4, her words should not be that far off right?

what i dont like is WHY PCF has K2 in the mornings while K1 in the afternoon session?

should it be the other way around so that the K1 kids can nap after school? or that it be a mixed session, K1& K2 both in the am and pm for those whose registered late?

[TassieDevil]

hi luspen,


my neighbour also said that her son's chinese teacher in pcf complained to her abt her son's inability to write instead of teaching him how to. this teacher also told her that she had no patience teaching the class! i just hope that this teacher is no longer there! my neighbour's son is now in p3, so i hope that all these are history with a new principal & hopefully these unpassionate teachers are no longer there.

btw, at pcf nursery my boy is learning to read a book every 2 weeks & every week they learn a new alphabet. the kids also learn to write, colour, cook (nothing too complicated) etc on top of play, sing & dance. they kids even went to pastamania recently to learn pizza making! it's best if u can pop over to peep during school hours one of these day to check it out.

thanks for all the info from george & luspen regarding zion. hmm... now i'm wondering if i shd switch to zion at all. :lol: btw, insider, can u also pls let me know if there is a better alternative besides pcf & zion? thanks!

[TassieDevil]

oops, forgot to reply u regarding the am & pm classes. nope, k1 classes is only in the pm while k2 only in the am. this is their schedule.

[YvetteMum]

ANANYA:

Mummy_Tang:

[Moderator's Note: Topics merged.]


Hi,

I would like to seek comments/recommendations for a good CCC for my 4.5yr old boy. Currently he attends a 3hrly Nursery class at a Church Kindy via schoool bus and travelling time per day is abt1hr 30mins. I am a working mother so weekends are spent on enrichments and activities, would say very little time for family bonding as I have another15mths old at home.

I would like to find a good CCC with enrichment incorporated so that our weekends are free up for other familiy activitives and myself to do housework(gave up the idea of maid).

I am staying in Toa Payoh Lor8 and as most of the times hubby and myself need to work late and my mum cannot help to fetch as health condition no good and with 2 kids outside cannot handle, so would preferably if the CCC has transport services. Does anyone has a good recommendation?

I know of the following around TPY

1) KInderland @ Safra (no schoolbus) / Music enrichment incorporated
2) NTUC (no schoolbus)
3) The little SchoolHouse (no schoolbus) / Enrichment lessons are on Sat and additional costs.


Does anyone has a good CCC recommendation or any comments on the schools above? Appreciate yr help in advance!

hi dear,

i think i'm very late in replying... there is a CCC in Block 141 Toa Payoh Lor 2... i think it's called Jessin... u might want to try it out....

cheers

There is Mindchamp at TP central too