Newton Kindergarten

[verykiasu2010]

jazz:

Thanks for yr great input! BTW, yr kid still in this school? How many years been there? Yr kid likes this school much? Overall, of course, I hope my kid enjoy the school which is very important.

my kid now in P6...he still can sing the Newton school song. he was there from nursery to k2

when we drive by, he can still point out his classroom...

[jazz]

That means he likes his kindy v. much...that's good to hear Thnx!

Any mummies/daddies would like to comment?

[miraclebaby]

my son likes the school very much too!

[jazz]

Hi miraclebaby,


Is yr son still in this kindy? Can elaborate more y yr son likes this school? I need more feedback. Tks!

[MummyThreeStreams]

My son started attending Newton Kindergarten Playgroup last year. I had received very positive feedback from my three friends who sent their kids there. One of them, whose daughter did not speak a word of Chinese at home, was able to pick up Chinese very quickly after attending.


My son loves it there. The teachers in his class were very loving. He has enjoyed the activities and comes home singing the songs taught in school, and telling me about the stories he heard and things he did. His language skills, colouring and attention span improved significantly during his year, and we managed to potty train him together with the teachers’ help. (Of course, these developments are also just part of a child’s normal development milestones.)

We’re very happy with the school.

[greenbean2011]

Newton church kindergarten is a very good kindergarten !

In the past since 1956, it was a pure 100% Chinese speaking kindergarten.

Today 2011, its curriculum is based on (60% Chinese, 40% English).


a) 4 hrs comprehensive curriculum
=========================

Most kindergarten curriculum in SG are (50% Chinese, 50% English).
However, Newton church kindergarten places heavier emphasis in Chinese. The standard of Chinese taught at Newton is high - so as to ease / facilitate kids into learning Higher Chinese, as they enter Primary 1.


do consider Newton kindergarten if :-

a)\tyr child comes from an English speaking family, and you like child to get exposed to more Mandarin, speak more Mandarin.

b)\tyou worry that yr child dislike Mandarin from young.

Chinese is a lot harder to learn !
English much easier to learn - over the next 20 yrs of yr child’s life, anytime.


A number of Newton K2 graduates had gone on to primary schools located at Bukit Timah area. They have no problem coping with Chinese.

Many parents are concerned that – if so much Chinese is taught, then won’t English be compromised? After all, English also very important !


for this reason, wef 2011 - all Nursery N2, K1 and K2 classes enter into 4 hrs programme. Newton is one of those few rare kindergartens in SG that offer 4 hrs.


however for PG playgroup or some call it nursery N1, parents have a choice – they can choose 3 hr or 4 hr programme, as kids are very young, some as young as just turned 2 still in diapers, esp. those born year end. Normally for Term 1 January beginning of yr, parents choose 3 hrs. Once child settles down, parents can take time calmly, gradually to switch toddler over to 4 hrs programme. If not, PG child can remain in 3 hrs.


4 hrs is great ! Both parents and teachers welcome 4 hrs !
Teachers have more time to teach / impart curriculum to students.
Parents are happy - because their kids get to learn more stuff !

One extra hr everyday, every month per year from Mon – Fri counts a lot, in the long run!


b) quality of teachers ?
===============

Teachers at Newton kindergarten are very experienced, patient, caring, efficient. Some had taught there > 20 yrs, hence very experienced !
Thus, you can have peace of mind – that yr child is in safe hands.

Some of the K2 kids who’d studied Newton kindy 20 yrs ago - are now grown up, studying at poly / university !


c) Phonics ?
========
Letterland phonics is taught at Newton - not Jolly phonics, not Zoo phonics.

Letterland phonics is popular in Primary schools.


d) good, wide availability of enrichment programmes to choose from
==============================================

Besides having good curriculum, the enrichment programmes available at Newton are also very good ! Seldom do you come across rare kindergarten that offer such good, wide variety of enrichment to choose from, at affordable costs.

Due to bulk students available at Newton, parents can reap economies of scale. ie. the enrichment costs $ are reasonable, avoidable.

example:
======

Fast track kids is much cheaper at Newton kindy, than if you were to enrol yr child for the same progamme outside, at commercial, privately run profit centre orientated schools.

To inquire costs of enrichment, call up admin office at telephone
6251-5586.

the list of available, enrichment programmes are listed below:-
===========================================

1) Fast track kids
==============

this programme originates from America, US.
It trains / stimulate kids to think creatively, \"think out of the box\".
This crucial life long skill is important, every child ought to acquire.

When a child encounters problems , the child asks himself – Now, how am i going to solve this problem?

for more info, kindly refer Fastrackids website:-
http://www.fastrackids.com/


2) John Langheir critical thinking
======================

John Langrehr Thinking Program - focuses on teaching young students positive mindset and thinking skills, needed for creative and critical thinking.

The Goals of this program include:

•\tDevelop the essential thinking processes associated with creative and critical thinking.

•\tLearn the questions Creative and Critical thinkers ask themselves.

•\tApply these essential thinking skills in solving problems.

•\tInstill the mindsets or attitudes needed for flexible and judgemental thinking.

•\tI hear, I forget. I see, I remember.

But if I do, I understand deeper.

And Now, through JLTP,

I Question, I Think.

I Think, I Create

•\t http://www.todaysmotherhood.com/2010/07/interview-with-dr-langrehr/

JLTP website:-
http://www.jltp.net/




3) English Speech and drama, by famous Helen O Grady
========================================

this programme is good - it helps yr child articulate and be able to express himself confidently, orally in English:-

http://www.helenogrady.com.sg/dramaclasses.htm

in Primary 1, there is this Show and Tell assessment in English.
So, do train yr child to speak / express confidently early.


4) Chinese Speech and drama, by ApplePie
==============================

this programme is good - it helps yr child articulate and be able to express himself in Mandarin confidently, orally:-

http://www.applepie.com.sg/


in Primary 1, there is this Show and Tell assessment in Chinese.
So, do train yr child to speak / express confidently early.


5) Science enrichment programme
=========================

many parents queue up their kids for Science, as vendor Cheery Pie provides a comprehensive Science enrichment programme at K1, K2.


6) creative Art drawing and design
=========================\t

You can look at all the interesting, amazizng, creative art drawings, taught by this vendor teaching Art at Newton kindy:-

http://www.tolartventure.com.sg/Gallery.html



d) there are 2 types of school bus transport available – for both regular days’ transport, and for enrichment days’ transport.


Yes, school bus transport is available.
school bus fees is reasonable.

for enrichment lessons on certain days of the week, school bus transport can also be arranged.


Newton kindergarten school bus service very good !
The school bus operator very kind !

She provides flexible school bus service - unlike some other kindergarten’s inflexible + expensive school bus services which I’d called up to inquire. Newton don’t just provide regular school bus, but also caters to yr child’s enrichment days !

Besides regular day’s school bus transport, Newton school bus can help yr pre school child arrange for enrichment lessons days’ school bus transport - at additional, but very, very reasonable, affordable costs $ per term.

for school bus service contact telephone inquiries, you may call up admin office, 6251-5586.


sharing:-
======
On 4 Jan 2011 (Tuesday) – day 1 Parents’ orientation day, I sat inside the school bus with my child, taking our first maiden ride together to Newton kindergarten. I thoroughly enjoyed the school bus ride so much ! The school bus is fully air con, so cosy with room leg, spacious, got safety seat belt enforced for every child ! The school bus operator that operate the fleet of school buses & the school bus auntie – all very experienced !


Different school bus travels different directions in SG, to pick up students from various districts. Depends on where you stay !

[smurf]

Hi greenbean2011,


:welcome:

Erm, are u teacher/ committee from the school or r u a parent sending your child to the sch?? :?

[greenbean2011]

hi,


i am just an ordinary parent sending my child to Newton kindergarten this year, started only 1 week ago - 4 Jan 2011 (Tuesday).

[smurf]

Oh, ok…I’m thinking of changing to newton kindergarten…my child is now at marymount kindy…

[greenbean2011]

hello smurf,



Marymount (mmk) is also a very good kindergarten !

difference is - Marymount is Catholic, whereas Newton kindergarten is Presbyterian denomination church based.


similarity – kids in both kindergarten all say grace, give Thanks to God for blessing food on the table, before the little children eat their meals, to fill their hungry stomach.


On 4 Jan 2011 Parents’ orientation day 1 at mmk, my friend shared with me how mmk is run very efficiently, like a clock !

She said - all mmk teachers are superb ! Not too old, but very experienced ! Her child is in Nursery, turning 4 this year.


She said for initial first 3 days, mmk Principal deployed all K1 and K2 teachers to help out – in both the younger pre-nursery play group, and Nursery sections. All teachers were deployed to help the young toddlers settle down. So in her son’s class - there are not 2, but 4 teachers helping out per class, for the first 3 days start school.

She said in total, there’re about 300 children at mmk, just for 1 session alone ! That’s a lot !

And all the mmk teachers are very experienced, loud but polite. All run like clock work effiently ! Amazing !


At mmk, there’re 4 nursery classes, 3 pre-nursery classes, 3 K1 and 3 K2 classes – are all max up to the brim, with 24 kids each class. And this is just 1 session. Amazing !


Mmk teaches English well ! Mmk English is strong.
K2 graduates from mmk can cope with English well.

For Chinese, mmk also have daily immersion enrichment lessons - at K1, K2. Mmk also conducts computer lab lessons for children too.

now, the differences … to help you decide whether the switch over to Newton kindergarten is worthwhile ……

a)\tthere is no computer lab at Newton kindergarten.
So, no computer lesson at Newton. But mmk has.

at Primary 1, students will learn to use computer in schools to type, create, edit, cut and paste simple pictures into simple word documents, or create very basic, v simple powerpoint slides.

if you transfer yr child to Newton, you can help yr child learn IT at home. But dun worry. Nowadays, young kids learn IT very fast !
Look at the way how kids nowadays press their mobile handphone keypad so fast - like no need to see, close one eye, kids also know precisely which button to press !


b)\tat K2, there is hanyu pin yin enrichment class at Newton.
Because hanyu pin yin is tested and examinable at Primary 1.
I’m not sure if you’ve same enrichment at mmk.

note:
====

Hanyu pin yin is not taught within the regular K2 Chinese curriculum. Because MOE worry K2 kids got confused between English phonics sounds (be it Montessori phonics, Letterland phonics, Jolly phonics, or Zoo phonics) with Chinese hanyu pin yin.

So, hanyu pin is not inside the MOE syllabus for K2 curriculum. But when kids enter Primary 1, Yes, primary schools will teach hanyu pin yin.

If you want yr child to learn hanyu pin yin, then learn it outside under enrichment.


c)\tat mmk, K1, K2 kids have daily Chinese immersion, conducted by external vendor.

But Newton don’t have. Why ? because the 60% daily Chinese in-house built in curriculum taught at Newton has already incorporated this. Newton will teach kids Chinese vocab, learn to read and write. Hence, there is no need for extra daily Chinese immersion, by external vendor.


However, yr child may still need to go for Chinese speech & drama enrichment. This is different. The purpose of s&d is to build up confidence in a child - to speak / articulate clearly, coherently, confidently in front of audience. Not stammering.


S&D will help yr child at Primary 1 in Show and Tell, where kid holds a favourite toy in his hand and share with the whole class his favourite toy, or some other favourite topic of his to talk about.

Speaking & writing are different. Some kids can write well, but can’t speak properly. And vice versa !


d)\tNewton has Fast Track kids enrichment. Mmk don’t have.
Newton has Creative Art drawing, JLTP.
I’m not sure if mmk has.


e)\twhich kindergarten nearer yr house ?
you shifting house ?

unless got very good reasons to transfer, otherwise, stay put mmk.
changing kindergarten is traumatic for young child - esp. when he has got used to his form teachers, his classmates. The close, precious relationship bond has been built up overtime.


just for sharing
============

my child currently has a classmate from mmk.

last yr, her classmate spent one yr at mmk.
But because family shift house to Newton, so transfer over, nearer to Newton.