Marymount Kindergarten

[DesertWind]

Hi all,


Is MMK possibly the largest kindergarten in Singapore?

I could not help counting the class-rooms and then looking at the name lists during the 1st 2 days I was there:

Pre-Nursery = 3 classes (each 18 children)
Nursery = 4 classes (each 24 children)
K1 = 3 classes (each 24 children)
K2 = 3 classes (each 24 children)
Total = 294 children per session.
Which means for 2 sessions (AM & PM) = 588 children!

And registration for the following year's classes starts in Feb/Mar for existing students and thereafter to the public. Vacancies maxed out by the time I registered my son (got the last vacancy!) in May last year!

MMK has indeed lived up to its reputation for good quality and very supportive teachers as far as I can see. I am also impressed by the tight organization during the school re-opening period and the gate and school bus control on starting and dismissal time. Although I was exhausted and almost overwhelmed by the sheer number of children, parents, teachers & the noise on the first day I was there with my kid, yet everything ran like clockwork handled well by very experienced teachers!

Another feature of MMK I am impress with is the large compound up on the hill with greenery so the whole place is very airy and breezy which cools the non-aircon classrooms. Also the separate and dedicated playgrounds for the various classes ie. for pre-Nursery, padded indoor playground at the hall, for Nursery, outdoor playground with a huge structure of balancing beam, bridge and slide, plus the sand-play, water-play and bicycle area! For K1 & K2 it is the outdoor playground up on the hill slope with swings etc.

I too, am glad to have placed my DS there and I hope all will go well with him for the rest of the year!

:celebrate:

[Frenchkitty]

Thank you DesertWind. I want to enrol my son in Pre-nursery too. He will be turning 3 in May 2012. So that means this year (he is 2 this year) I must register him already?

[DesertWind]

Frenchkitty:

Thank you DesertWind. I want to enrol my son in Pre-nursery too. He will be turning 3 in May 2012. So that means this year (he is 2 this year) I must register him already?

Hi Frenchkitty,

Yes, so you should look out for the registration opening in March 2011 this year already. But I see that you are staying in the East so MMK will be a bit too far for your son? MMK is at Thomson there, opposite the many flower/plant nurseries. When you register, you need to put a deposit and can always change your mind before September, you can get back your deposit. But after Sept, the deposit will be forfeited if you withdraw. You sure you want to sign up for MMK since it is so far from your home? Or you can also check up \"The Good Shepherd Convent Kindergarten\", also from same group and with same uniform in the East? But I must say I do not know much about this kindy!
:celebrate:

[DesertWind]

Hi smurf & eileen,


I have PM you both!

[Frenchkitty]

Hi Desertwind, distance shouldnt be a prob cos im driving. But if im working by then, i think i will put him on the sch bus. Is yr son taking the sch bus??

[DesertWind]

Frenchkitty:

Hi Desertwind, distance shouldnt be a prob cos im driving. But if im working by then, i think i will put him on the sch bus. Is yr son taking the sch bus??

Dear Frenchkitty,

No, my son is not taking the school bus since it takes too long (1 hr) even though we stay nearby at AMK!

Having waxed lyrical over the good points of MMK, I must also warn you of the not so good points. Specifically, the traffic jam during peak hours from 11 to 11.30 am when the AM session dismissal and PM session children coming in! Buses, private cars & taxi aplenty since you are driving got to warn you. Of course this did not stop many parents from sending their kids to MMK!

Secondly, for me personally, I will not send my kid to MMK for pre-Nursery because I think at their tender age, the place is too big and too many people for them. Since for many pre-N, it would be their first time going school and in my personal opinion, it is better for them to go nearby their home and in a much smaller place! But then again this is just my own opinion - there are certainly a lot of other parents who put their kid into pre-N at MMK!

All the best, Frenchkitty!
:celebrate:

[Frenchkitty]

Thanks Desertwind!

Your son is in AM or PM session? I’m going to put him in 2nd session because 8am he still sleeping! I thought the 2nd session timing is more apt for us.

[DesertWind]

Frenchkitty:

Thanks Desertwind!

Your son is in AM or PM session? I'm going to put him in 2nd session because 8am he still sleeping! I thought the 2nd session timing is more apt for us.

Hi Frenchkitty,
My son is in the PM session. Yes, timing should suit the child!
:celebrate:

[Frenchkitty]

Desertwind, this morning I called up to enquire about the registration and school bus services (in case I started working and need the bus service)… the lady told me their vacancies always run out fast, and most parents start Q-ing as early as 6AM outside the school on registration day.


That is so kua-zhang… Thought you registered in May and still got the last vacancy??

[DesertWind]

Frenchkitty:

Desertwind, this morning I called up to enquire about the registration and school bus services (in case I started working and need the bus service).. the lady told me their vacancies always run out fast, and most parents start Q-ing as early as 6AM outside the school on registration day. That is so kua-zhang... Thought you registered in May and still got the last vacancy??

Hi Hi!
Wah, this is so kua-zhang indeed! I also didn't know, told you I was quite a sotong mummy last year. It is good the admin. lady told you about the queuing so that if you are serious, you should ask the exact date for registration and then go for it, don't delay!
For me, last year I went around 20th May on a Friday noon and the admin. lady told me they have 3 vacancies left. But I did not bring any documents with me to register hence I told the lady I will come back the following Monday to register and pay. Who knows when I went back first thing Monday morning, she told me she is left with 1 last vacancy for the PM session! I got a shock as I almost missed it and she said she had 2 parents registering the previous Friday afternoon after I left!
So yes, it is better for you to register fast if you already set your mind on it!
For existing students, we have to sign up for the following year in February, I thought it is really kua-zhang indeed. :shock: School just re-open leh and we are still just settling in our boy!