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

[MyMooMoo]

Hi,


Im looking for non-aircon cc with good curriculum and teachers in AMK. Anyone has recommendations? Thanks

[simplemum]

Hi All who are interested in Bishan St 13 MFS,


I have visited the school last Sat and am satisfied with what I have seen and heard from the principal. Why I like this school?:

1) teacher ratio is lower compared to other CC, at most 15 students enrolment at this centre with 2 teachers for K1, which means more attention and best part you are paying no extra for such \"exclusive\" attention.
2) food menu changes every week and rotate same menu every month. The menu looks really interesting and nutricious. They are under healthy living scheme in food planning.
3) there are NO SPELLING or 听写. Ok, this may be \"traumatic\" to some parents. same for me when I first heard from the principal. The reason for this is MFS curriculum seems to be not so much emphasis on worksheets, and memorize by heart spelling words. The principal explained to me that they learn spelling words through games like filling in letters in blanks of a spelt word. Their empasis is learning through games. I wld think of similar montessori schemes, except that this is a very reasonable priced CC compared to montessori schools. In fact, principal also said that MFS has to be stricter than most CC in terms of many aspects, since they are big organization and have many many CC in Singapore = many parents to account for. I agree with low emphasis on worksheets and no kiasu prep for P1, kids' childhood is already so short, why shorten it further with early prep in doing homework and early prep for 20 yrs of formal education?
4) Toys are new in this MFS and everything is new. Environment looks really cosy especially in infant care section.
5) The teachers are sent for courses and training often, during CC closure in stipulated 5.5 days. Sounds to me like they are eager to upgrade the quality of teachers.
6) They have outdoor play daily. This is impt to me because my kids' current CC only have indoor play daily. I feel outdoor play is totally essential for well-being of young ones.
7) School fees is one of the cheapest in Singapore and in return you get good quality CC.

Ok, these are my takeaways from the visit to My First Skool in Bishan St 13.
Share with me what you feel if you have visited the school too

[cherrygal]

Mimama:

Hi, does anyone has any suggestions on programmes for 1.5 to 2 year old near Upper Thomson? Not looking for a childcare or kindy, more of once or twice per week, 2 hours programmes type.

http://ykidzmontessori.webgarden.com/

It's located at Sin Ming Centre (along Sin Ming Rd, which is just off Upper Thomson rd), next to the popular Icekimo gelato shop.

I see many kids going there for a few hours but not sure if they cater to kids that young.

[yplee]

Anybody has any good and bad comment about Young talents childcare at toa payoh west cc?

[puyuan]

Hi, any mom has unused Totsville uniform? Can sell or give to my son? Please pm me~

Thank you!

[Pisceanblues]

Hi,


As I am currently overseas and planning to return sometime around July 2012, is it possible to get into 2013 K2 for my DD?

Any recommendation for K2 school in Toa Payoh area?

Thanks

[carboolie]

Hi

My daughter graduated from LiCdo Schoolhouse after spending 2 years there. It’s located near the junction of Upper Thomson Rd and Yio Chu Kang Rd.
The school is not very big, only about 30 students altogether. Actually that is the great thing about the school. The teacher to student ratio is about 5:1. My daughter really blossomed while she was there.

She used to go to a preschool that has many branches in Singapore, and we had to wait list to get in. But after getting in, we realized that there were nearly 50 children in the K1 class. Going to school was a chore for her.

After going to LiCdo, she loves going to school and she has become more outgoing. Because there is combined play time with other levels (PG to K2), she learned to "take care" of the younger kids in school.

Beside the usual English, Math, Chinese, they having cooking and gardening, which the children love. There’s also lots more opportunity for the children in a small school. For example, at their school concert, every K2 child had a chance to stand on stage and give a graduation speech.

Overall, we had a great experience at LiCdo and would recommend it anytime.

[kitty2]

Lately,I got to know a chinese kindy tutor who’s giving enrichment classes to all the kindy kids.Anyone who’s keen,do PM me.

[bebe]

Anyone heard of Nobleland Arts N Learning Place? Can comment? Thks

[jnemummy]

Hi,


My dd now in P1 attended MFS from play group to k2. They do train teachers and have good caring teachers. Their circumlum is good for PG till nursury as lot of Play n hands on activities, even baking. However if u want your kids to be prepared for p1 n yet do not have to spend much on other enrichment programs, MFS is not a good choice. I realised too late in mid of k1, their cir does not teach phonics which is a common n must have in pre-Sch so they can read by k2 n write short compo. And they do not have textbooks , teachers just paste small notes on notebook in what was taught, cannot revise with kids. Often teachers are too busy to prepare the note . When I hear from p1 mummies abt the min requirement is know to read on her own, I panic and send my girl to phonics class. Since it not taught daily in first Sch, she still struggles reading on her own while kids who attend with strong reading program with phonics are reading very well. I receive first spelling list from p1 teachers yesterday, luckily I send her to Enrichment which has spelling g, else she will not know what is spelling. Conclusion - if u can afford to spend monies on enrichment, find a better CC for k1 & k2 level. PM me if u like to know more abt MFS cir.