Pat's Schoolhouse

[pummanuel]

GTGT:

Hi Pummanuel


Thanks for such a detailed explanation of iMaths.

Can I ask you something about Fastrack Music (or ABC Music)? This is included as part of the extended programme.

Do they learn notes reading in this course? Or is it covered under one of the enrichment programme called Harmony Music ?

Regards

Hi GTGT

My daughter only attended ABC Music & Harmony Music for a month before I decided to opt her out of it as she needed to nap and I preferred to keep her at home for my personalised enrichment programmes. In fact, before we opted out, she attended all the additional programmes as there was a special package for extended programme + 3 enrichment programmes, namely Harmony Music, iMaths & swimming.

For ABC music, it's alike the music class in the am session. The children will get to sing and dance. Personally, I'm not too fond of the extended programme as I see it as a repetition of the am curriculum. However, I do know of many parents (working and non-working) who like it.

For Harmony Music, for children without formal piano/keyboard lesson, they will start the first year without their personal keyboard. There will be a music book (excluded from course fee) which the teachers will use to teach them keyboard basics like recognising the keys, fingering, etc. The children will take turns to play on the teacher's piano/keyboard. After the first year, in K1, the children will have to buy a keyboard and practise selected pieces during HM class. It's alike the classes conducted by the external enrichment centres. As my daughter didn't proceed to K1 for HM, I'm not sure what is the teacher-student ratio.

Like what Buds once advised, it's good to visit the school in the pm and see for ourselves how the classes are conducted. As my DD is the talkative type, I will also seek feedback from her.

Lastly, for iMaths, the workbooks come at extra costs too.

[crystalbelle08]

Hi Shiyuni,


Yes, the renovation has completed.
The school is beautifully done up. Yr DD will love it!
They even has a sand pit now.

Oh, do keep me updated. I am curious too…

[smurfy]

pummanuel:

GTGT:

Hi Pummanuel


Thanks for such a detailed explanation of iMaths.

Can I ask you something about Fastrack Music (or ABC Music)? This is included as part of the extended programme.

Do they learn notes reading in this course? Or is it covered under one of the enrichment programme called Harmony Music ?

Regards

Hi GTGT

My daughter only attended ABC Music & Harmony Music for a month before I decided to opt her out of it as she needed to nap and I preferred to keep her at home for my personalised enrichment programmes. In fact, before we opted out, she attended all the additional programmes as there was a special package for extended programme + 3 enrichment programmes, namely Harmony Music, iMaths & swimming.

For ABC music, it's alike the music class in the am session. The children will get to sing and dance. Personally, I'm not too fond of the extended programme as I see it as a repetition of the am curriculum. However, I do know of many parents (working and non-working) who like it.

For Harmony Music, for children without formal piano/keyboard lesson, they will start the first year without their personal keyboard. There will be a music book (excluded from course fee) which the teachers will use to teach them keyboard basics like recognising the keys, fingering, etc. The children will take turns to play on the teacher's piano/keyboard. After the first year, in K1, the children will have to buy a keyboard and practise selected pieces during HM class. It's alike the classes conducted by the external enrichment centres. As my daughter didn't proceed to K1 for HM, I'm not sure what is the teacher-student ratio.

Like what Buds once advised, it's good to visit the school in the pm and see for ourselves how the classes are conducted. As my DD is the talkative type, I will also seek feedback from her.

Lastly, for iMaths, the workbooks come at extra costs too.

pummanuel
ur child is in serangoon right? my boy is in playgrp morning half this year. during our recent meet the parent session (yes, it's over coz his chinese teacher going maternity leave, so it was conducted before she's off duty), his teachers informed me that as of next year , there is only morning half, after half, and full day.. no extended half. so meaning to say, if i continue him w morning half, he will not be attending all these enrichment classes right?

but likewise, i am still not keen to let him go full day leh, would prefer him to nap at home as well. but problem is i am working n he's probably doing nothing but playing w his car collection after his nap in the afternoons.

did ur child classmates in playgrp maintains the same in nursery (wat about those who opt for full day, they maintain in his/her same class or got separated to those full day class?)

[shiyunu]

Hi Crystalbelle08


Just spoke to Ms Tanya. She is having 28 children in PG next yr, so there will be 2 classes of 14 children each. As for the classroom, 1 PG class will be in the new room while the other PG class will be in the big hall.

Hope both our kids are in the classroom setting...

crystalbelle08:

shiyunu:

Hi Crystalbelle08

Hope ur DD is feeling better.

So our PG left with 3 vacancies? I have a strong feeling that we are going to have 21 children for PG next yr...

Thanks Shiyunu,
She is happily back in school now.

Actually, I am very confused over the number of students in the class now.
As the students are mostly \"international\", its common to have kids going back to their countries.
Also heard that some parents were on waiting lists to their international schools so once they are accepted, they will move over.

I dunno how many children left her class last month.
But from the latest newsletter, there were 3 new kids in Sep for her class.

[crystalbelle08]

Shiyunu,

I pm you.

[smilingmummy]

Seems like most of the feedbacks on most of the PSH branches are really good. My child is currently at the Arena branch but because of the poor management of the principal, I am considering of transferring her to Halifax branch.


Anyone knows if there is priority for school transfer as i understand that Halifax always has really long waiting list…

[DC Mummy]

smilingmummy:

Seems like most of the feedbacks on most of the PSH branches are really good. My child is currently at the Arena branch but because of the poor management of the principal, I am considering of transferring her to Halifax branch.


Anyone knows if there is priority for school transfer as i understand that Halifax always has really long waiting list....

I have spoken to Ada (priniciple from Halifax but now heading Tanglin) before and was told that priority is given to siblings first and followed by internal transfer. Confirmation has to be done by end Sep with registration form submitted.

Initially, I was contemplating to change there as well after hearing good reviews but utimately put the thought away. Reason is he's doing very well in current branch. He knows his friends, teachers, enjoys the rustic school environment and learning much, thus I don't want him to go through all over again in a new environment.

I heard that Halifax, Seranggon and Buckely are having the long wait list esp those born in 2007 and 2008. Maybe you would like to share more about what are the unpleasant stuff you encountered at Arena? Have you raised your concern to the principle ......

[ppnqq]

Any branch around Yishun area? Good?

[dfstan]

[quote=I heard that Halifax, Seranggon and Buckely are having the long wait list esp those born in 2007 and 2008. Maybe you would like to share more about what are the unpleasant stuff you encountered at Arena? Have you raised your concern to the principle …[/quote]


Interesting…

2008 has a higher amount of live birth in recent years or more parents willing to spend? here is the result excerpt from Statistics.

1999: 43,336
2004: 37,174
2005: 37,492
2006: 38,317
2007: 39,490
2008: 39,826
2009: 39,570

[DC Mummy]

Statistic could reveal the actual birth rate but it doesn’t reflect whether the new born is the first child, second or third child of the couple. I guess parents with only one child or two children, are more willing to spend more on preschools education. Moreover, nowadays parents value preschool with much importance as compared to previous years. Those with more kids (e.g. 3 kids), they would probably need to leverage the cost of school education / enrichment fee unless they are real big salary earners.


Franchise chain of childcare centers (including the premium ones) also sprung up despite birthrates is declining comparing to 1990’s. More parents are also starting the toddler learning process earlier. Probably, this will reflect parents holding high regard towards preschool education. Of course, there could be other family factors that resulted childcare centers increased through the years. Anyway, just my own thought……