St James Church Kindergarten

[silverspear]

Hi all:


Sorry if this post is abit too specific, but i’m really in need to look for someone whose child is in:

St James Kindergarten
2012 Pre Nursery Play Group Session 1
Harding campus.

If you are keen to swap with my child, who is enrolled into the same campus in session 2 next year, I would love to talk more with you!

Sorry again if i am seemingly posting off-topic. But some arrangment issues for my son cropped up, and thus i am in need to see if anyone is willing to swap sessions with my son.
Thnks!

[busymom74]

Perhaps just sharing my experiences…I heard so much good reviews about the kindy and I have then placed my two kids at the kindy. However as one of my kids is kind of slow as she does not speak up in class, the teacher / principal was not able to provide any further assistance and has not been helpful at all.


Honestly speaking, being an alumnus of the kindy, I was really disappointed with the attitude and the way they have dealt with the whole situation. I have already pulled her out since then and now she’s fantastically settling well in another pre-school. It all boils down to the attitude of the teacher who’s really have the heart in teaching the young. I would also be withdrawing my the gal from this kindy very soon.

I have sat in the class to hv a feel of how things are being taught. All I could said was that if your kid is not fast enough, she/he would certainly be left behind. The treat the kids like that they are in pri sch, but they forgot every kid at this young age (which is only 2/3 years old plus) needs the attention and not every kid can behave exactly the same as another kid. Two kids of the same calendar year do not mean that they will develop at the same pace, esp at this age when one who is supposed to be 4 in the calendar yr would not be 4 but only 3+ as he/she is a year-end baby. Perhaps now the whole education system has changed so much that I am so appalled by the teaching methods they are using now. Things were so much simpler at our times then!

If your kid is the usual kind, who develops at the right pace or even faster, and the more sociable kind, I would say that he/she should have no problem surviving in such a big students/teacher ratio evironment.

However if you are looking for a more personalised environment which you hope that your child can ben given more attention, then I would say that this kindy would not be the one you are looking for.

[Jav]

phtthp:

hi norman08,


last yr, i was like you. Worried if i withdraw my child, will she be able to re-adapt to her new school environment ? In my mind, many qns keep ding dong here & there ... should i let her quit, or remain ? to quit or to remain ... keep boggling me, deep inside. In the end, i told myself, just let go. Just transfer her over. Whatever comes next, will solve it, when come to the bridge.

this yr 4 Jan 2011, 2nd day after school re-open new term, my child in Nursery N2 told me this ... 'Mommy, no need to follow me into classroom anymore. I not scared. Teacher will take care of me. If i need anything, i just ask teacher. If i hungry, i will ask teacher for more rice, more portion, ok ?' Very fast, she settled down. Yes, occasionally, she told me she missed her form teacher from her previous kindy very much. But once she settled down, she soon forgot her past, re-adapt to the present.

Then i realized that ... i worried for nothing, in the past. All my past fears were ungrounded. I realized that kids being so young at this age ... re-adapt very quickly. Only thing is make sure .... you choose a good kindy this time round. All the best to you and yr beloved child !


i realized that i worried for nothing.

So which school you transfer to?

[Phineno]

Greeting mummies!

I have just enrolled my elder boy into K1 session 2 and he will be starting in term 4. Is there any mummies with kids in this session? My boy is currently in a montessori teaching kindergarten. Small group with 99% of attention given by teachers Cross my fingers that he will be able to adapt fast. A vey sociable and active boy though. Any advice on what i can do to prepare him for the switch?

[Jav]

What’s the reason for you to transfer from Montessori to St James Church Kindergarten? I am looking to transfer my gal from SCJK to Montessori environment

[Caynelle]

congratulations, Phineno!


I have children in SJCK in session 2 but they are not in K1. So far, I've had a positive experience with the kindergarten. It is a huge kindergarten, but nonetheless, the teaching staff and principal are warm and personal. So far, the teachers have largely been very approachable, warm, friendly and firm but gentle.

(The non-teaching office staff may not seem very smiley all the time though, but they're really okay).

It seems that the principal is very hands-on and very approachable, and will make time for you if you have any questions or need any help. The second time you meet her, she will probably remember your name. This is quite incredible considering the size of the kindergarten.

I think your son will love the Maths teacher for K1, auntie Anita. She is very fun.

Perhaps you could prepare your son by bringing him to school, for him to see the place and perhaps even meet his new teachers after school hours? You'll of course have to make an appointment and explain that it's his \"orientation\".

During term 4, the children also prepare for the year-end concert, although the preparations should not affect curriculum time. The concert seems to be a big thing!

The kindergarten also offers various opportunities for you to volunteer throughout the year (including painting backdrops for the concert, if you're all ready to start right away!) You can get to know the kindergarten better as well as know other mommies and daddies if you have the time to volunteer in the various activities.

May I ask why you are switching your son to SJCK from the Montessori kindergarten?

Since your son is very sociable, he should hopefully make friends fast. All the best, and I hope your son will like it from day 1

[bezzlay]

Hello,


Anyone wants to give away or sell SJCK school bag? My DS’s bag is broken and I couldn’t get a replacement cos its out of stock now.

[jean_mummy]

Phineno:

Greeting mummies!

I have just enrolled my elder boy into K1 session 2 and he will be starting in term 4. Is there any mummies with kids in this session? My boy is currently in a montessori teaching kindergarten. Small group with 99% of attention given by teachers Cross my fingers that he will be able to adapt fast. A vey sociable and active boy though. Any advice on what i can do to prepare him for the switch?

een coping well in the curer
Hi Phineno,

Welcome to the SJCK family!

I am also curious y u wld want to trf ur kid over? To be honest w u, given a choice i wld prob put my kids in a montessori env. And esp if ur kids has been coping well in the current sch and enjoys sch and love the teachers.

Overall, i think the teachers in SJCK are nice, however there are certain things i am not too happy about the school like having many \"school declared\" holidays and even field trips take up 2 days. Not sure if this is the norm in other schools but i feel that sometimes the school does not place themselves in the parents shoes, not that empathetic/ caring as they \"claimed\" to be and what they advocate to be.

I think the school is over rated and prob. that explains their \"big head\" mentality, parents do not seem to have a say in anything..we are like at their mercy.. feedbacks doesnt seem to work. Its a \"take it\" or \"leave it\" attitude. I wish i can afford to send my kids to schools with better curriculum and less stucked up attitude but i cant.

Overall if you ignore all these, i mean if your expectations do not include all those i mentioned above, the teachers are still very caring and loving and your kids will definitely enjoy the stay there. My ger is happily going to school every day, its me who is pissed off with the school but seeing my ger happy i guess thats most impt.

[Celyw]

Hi,

anybody have any idea on the school bus+ driver? Am letting my PNPG1 kid going on the school bus next year but very worried about the distance and safety....

[Phineno]

Hi Ladies,


Indeed is a decision that till now i am still having doubt over if i have made the right choice. Reason for pulling out my elder boy from his current school is because he has a brother (born in 2009) and sister (born in 2011) that needs to be enrolled. If i were to enrol little brother into his current school next year, both of their fees will add up to close $3.5k. It just so happened that when we went St James to register for the siblings and they have a vancancy for K1 and if we enrolled our elder boy, the siblings will have piority in the waiting list. That is why we have to make such a decision. No guarantee place yet for my 2nd boy next year but at least there is a pirority. All i can do is to cross my finger and hope. In our vicinity, there is no much kindergarten and im left with no much choice also.

As for the school holidays, jean_mummy, do you mean that other kindergartens are having class but St James is not? Initially, i am unhappy over my elder boy’s current school having too many holidays when is not a public holiday. But after comparing to other kindergartens, i think is quite common to have holidays apart from the public holidays.

Heard lots of comments on the admin side.Thankfully, i have not encountered any of it yet except for the strict rules they have to follow like not being able to take a look at the school as no appointment is made even though there is a tour going on.

Again, cross my fingers and hope for the best!