North Vista Primary

[haapycall]

Min_Kecik:

I am glad, my child is finally transfer out of NORTH VISTA PRIMARY school! Yippee!

I hope my boy will be able to adjust to the new school upon school reopen this March 2012...

Hope you guys hang on there and let us hope together that the Principal will be out of the school soon and New Principal will be better!

Takecare

:congrats: :rahrah:

[Momotan]

Advice needed… My child’s ENG/MATH teacher had left NVTPS. I heard that their new teacher, starting from Term 2, is someone untrained. I had met the teacher and she seems nice and young. But, having the fact that she is not trained made me feel a little uneasy. Is it true that NVTPS is using untrained teacher/s for core subjects (instead of letting them act as relief teachers) ? I do not know the guideline under MOE. Could someone, who knows, advise me on this ? I am not doubting the teacher’s abilities, but just want to make sure that things are done in the proper manner, under the approval of MOE.

[verykiasu2010]

Would someone alert Minister Heng Swee Kiat to read this thread ?

[Momotan]

I am not sure if it is true that untrained teachers are put in charge of core subjects. Can someone confirm? maybe i will call moe to check it out later.

[phtthp]

Straits Times

http://www.straitstimes.com/Free/Story/STIStory_260714.html

At NORTH Vista Primary in Sengkang, teachers do not have a set lesson plan.
Instead, the children decide what they want to learn , and the teachers shape lessons around their suggestions.

The method is based on a famous Italian approach called Reggio Emilia, which is named after a northern city admired for its preschools. The free rein is said to encourage creativity and help children absorb lessons they might otherwise find dry.

North Vista Primary, which opened in January, is one of many new neighbourhood schools experimenting with revolutionary teaching methods that rival those of established schools.

Even though the well-known schools get all the attention during the rush for Primary 1 registration, there is a quiet revolution going on in these neighbourhood schools, which are eager to attract pupils.

North Vista's principal, Mr Phua Kia Wang, said he was intrigued by the Italian approach, after seeing it applied first-hand.

Mr Phua said his aim is to make North Vista Primary a fun place for its 200 pupils 'so that they love coming to school'.

So, while a typical school day is 90 minutes longer at North Vista than most other primary schools - it runs from 8am to 2.20pm - pupils get two recesses.

'Children need to play, to interact and pick up social skills,' said Mr Phua.

[Momotan]

I put my child in this school partly because of this Reggio Emilia program. however, in order for this program work well/effectively (it is a very good program, personal opinion), it is important that teachers are well trained to run this program.

[laughingcat]

Sorry…i came in here to kay poh after much hype from this school. I just wonder why would anybody wants to be a "guinea pig" in this new program as adopted by the school? PSLE preparation starts all the way from P1 leh.

[Momotan]

Well...sometimes it is good to have a change... I thought... my child went to an oversea kindergarten that used the Reggio Emilia program and I liked it. It allows the child to think and their make own decision instead of waiting for directions. Children in this program are also given chances to freely express their thoughts and this allow creativity. Show n tell is also part of it whereby kids are encouraged to speak in public. Children are also encouraged to learn from their environment and not limited to classroom learning. As I had mentioned in my earlier post, trained teachers are important so that the children can fully benefit from this program. My child benefitted from this program previously, because of the well trained teachers and country's education system (no exams in public elementary schools). Probably, it is harder to implement this program in SG as we are very result oriented (PSLE, GCE O LEVEL, Banding,GEP, etc) *sign ... no time for creativity, self expression, etc)...coz if we do so, we we will not be ready for those CA1, SA1, CA2 and SA2....ooopppsss.... :?:

[Wan]

Only bite size assessment for P1 & 2 so no stress. My son is designing a new game as his group projects, after "researching" on games last term. He’s enjoying every bit of school & teacher has been responsive to reply parents to address any concerns.

[laughingcat]

Momotan:

Well...sometimes it is good to have a change... I thought... my child went to an oversea kindergarten that used the Reggio Emilia program and I liked it. It allows the child to think and their make own decision instead of waiting for directions. Children in this program are also given chances to freely express their thoughts and this allow creativity. Show n tell is also part of it whereby kids are encouraged to speak in public. Children are also encouraged to learn from their environment and not limited to classroom learning. As I had mentioned in my earlier post, trained teachers are important so that the children can fully benefit from this program. My child benefitted from this program previously, because of the well trained teachers and country's education system (no exams in public elementary schools). Probably, it is harder to implement this program in SG as we are very result oriented (PSLE, GCE O LEVEL, Banding,GEP, etc) *sign ... no time for creativity, self expression, etc)...coz if we do so, we we will not be ready for those CA1, SA1, CA2 and SA2....ooopppsss.... :?:

I really don't know much about this new system. But it sounded like Montessori style. However according to Newsweek, it is popular in pre-school education leh.

I agreed with you on the free play and creativity in learning environment. You are right that SGP is meritocracy. This is pointed out by MM LKY.

However this program is really very new in SGP and i really doubt MOE is ready for such. If MOE is ever so ready for such program and if the program really that good, why didn't MOE implement it on more established school like NYPS or ACS or \"branded school\".......just like stellar program when it was first launched in some school only. For me, i wouldn't try out for a totally new school with a new program. It is really way too risky. For any organization, it usually takes years to bring up the standard using any new program. That is my humble opinion lah. Dun flame me okie.

I can totally understand the frustration from parents, because at the end of day it is about PSLE result.