Marymount Kindergarten

[DesertWind]

Rea:

I've registered my gal for next year Nursery with MMK. Would love to hear comments on them cos' I'm concerned with the class size which is 30 to two teachers. Hope parents with children from MMK will care to comment. And can anyone please recommend a playgroup around Bishan,Thomson area. Seems like its only childcare centres everywhere! Where have all the playgoup places gone? Thank you

Hi Rea,
I am sorry to feedback to you that due to the large class-size, my boy could only last 6 months at MMK before I made the painful decision to withdraw him and switched him over to a MUCH smaller kindergarten.

My boy was in the Nursery class last year for Term 1 & 2 but due to his speech-delay, he was not able to catch up with his peers. Teachers feedback that he required one-to-one attention and the class was just too large for them to be able to pay him much attention (24 in the class).

During the 6 months there, I have observed that the kindergarten runs like clockwork and they are really very professional. The teachers are loving and the school-bus and security \"system\" is very good!

I can only say if your kid is developing well and able to follow teachers' instructions and be independant, MMK is a GREAT kindy! However should you feel that your kid may need more personalized attention, just be fore-warned.

Although very painful for me, but I appreciated the teachers' honest feedback about my boy and how they handled him. To the extend they told me straight in the face that they just gave him one toy to play by himself while the rest of the class played group games since my boy could not follow instructions and catch up. So my boy would really be wasting his time there. My boy LOVES going to MMK and to him, the large kindy was not an issue and he tried his best to follow. But it was not enough and I had to concede that due to the large size, it was just too bad he WILL get neglected. I had to pull him out.

All the best!

[Power Puff]

Hi,


My son's now in K1 and has been in Marymount Kindy since pre-nursery (my younger brother attended it too, about 30 years back!). My younger daughter will attending it next year.

We really love the school being up on the hill, its spaciousness and greenery. Don't let its outward rather run-down appearance fool you. It is non-airconditioned but well-ventilated. In fact, it is similar to most of the primary schools you see around in terms of environment and I feel that is important so that the transition from kindy o primary is easier. It has a small wading pool (not huge but the kids love it anyway), has two indoor playground and huge outdoor garden playground. The kids have gym classes and computer (for nursery and older only) classes. I like that such classes are built-into the curriculum and not put after school. There are additional enrichment classes in the afternoons(English speech and drama, Chinese immersion, Science classes) for those who are interested (altho my son's not enrolled in them). Most importantly, I feel the school provides a wholesome Catholic environment for my child - the school teaches good values which are applicable to any religion.

I don't recall seeing 30 pupils per class, at the most 22-24 ? The classes and school activities are well-organised. So far, my son's teachers and assistant teachers have been wonderful - caring, professional, speak good English and Mandarin. Even the non-teaching support staff are warm and helpful.

The school updates parents on the curriculum - termly themes and specific skills, concepts etc. for English, Chinese, Math and events through letters which are stapled in each child's parent-teacher communication exercise book - I like that I can write my concerns and queries in it, and the teacher always responds.

I was at first concerned that MMK's curriculum would not be as academically driven as other kindies (like PCF and even thought of transferring son to Newton Kindy earlier this year - didn't like claustrophobic albeit fully-airconditioned premises and uniforms). Let son stau put because he is happy and has friends. The MMK kids I've seen always seem to be happy and confident.

That being said, different children thrive in different environments. As long as my children are happy and safe, and learn good values and life skills, they'll be fine. As for the academic performance bit, the kids can attend specific enrichment classes (only if necessary) and more importantly, I try to revise with son what's been taught in school, read to him every night, help him improve penmanship.

Hope that helps. Son has swimming (more like waddling) tomorrow and he's looking forward to it

[Power Puff]

Just crossed my mind. If I recall correctly, the pre-nursery and nursery class sizes are smaller. When my son was in pre-N, I think there were about 17 kids in his class. You may wish to check with the school about this.

[Rea]

Thank you for your replies!

Dessertwind, I hope your son is doing better at the new kindy. Must’ve been a painful process for you. Appreciate your frank feedback. At least I kinda know what to expect. My gal doesn’t quite like big groups. Wonder how shes going to settle down in MMK…
Powerpuff, I totally agree with you on MMK’s environment. I went for a tour and loved the calmness and the space. Personally I prefer non-air conditioned place.
Thank you for your good comments. I’m more confident in sending my gal there. Just hope that she’ll settle well.

[Power Puff]

Hi Rea,


Oops…I think the K1 classes do have about 30 kids each…was checking out the cubicles for the bags recently. Morning classes seem to be fuller than the afternoon ones. I’m fine as long as the teacher-students ratio is in accordance with MCYS’ guidelines.

My boy howled and yowled during his first 3 weeks of pre-N. I tried to be brave in front of him and his teachers but was actually distressed…could hear him crying even from the carpark! Even thought of deferring school to mid year coz he was born near year end but decided to let him be. Anyway, kids are more resilient than we think. They will adapt quickly as long as we don’t fuss over them too much and trust the teachers to handle the kids. The pre-N teachers are rather maternal and patient so don’t worry. My daughter will be going there next year. Her birthday month is even later than ds1’s and she’s petite, like a baby doll haha but she’s more sociable than ds1 so I think she’ll have a lot of fun.

[DesertWind]

Rea:

Thank you for your replies!

Dessertwind, I hope your son is doing better at the new kindy. Must've been a painful process for you. Appreciate your frank feedback. At least I kinda know what to expect. My gal doesn't quite like big groups. Wonder how shes going to settle down in MMK....

Hi Rea,

Yes, my son has already settled down well in his new kindy, K1 this year! His class ratio is now 2:11 which is a pretty good size. Lots of kids (hundreds and thousands over the years!) have gone through MMK successfully hence all the best for your girl!
:celebrate:

[Power Puff]

Hi DesertWind,


I am sorry to hear about your son..you're doing a wonderful job as a mum, making all the difficult decisions to improve his welfare. I'm sure he's happy and appreciative of your efforts

Rea,

I was also hunting for a play/ toddler group to put my girl in before she enters pre-N next year. Difficult task like you've mentioned! Checked out the expensive Growing Up Gifted, Lorna Whiston at United Sq, Julia Gabriel (my son was at the Evans Rd branch and he really liked it there). Unfortunately, the Evans rd branch has closed. Apart from the sharp fees increase, strange timing, I don't like the claustrophic Forum Galleria and the new Rochester Road (too far off) branches. Eventually decided to enrol daughter in a flexi two weekday mornings childcare program at a childcare centre near my home. Starting in July. I like that there is a structured curriculum and CDA can be used to pay the fees, unlike the above enrichment programmes. Daughter will be unaccompanied - saves time so I can have brunch, run errands and ferry my son to and from school without leaving her at home alone with my maid.

You may wish to check out informal playgroups formed by other forum mums also living in Bishan, Thomson. I had to take into account my elder boy so I decided to go for flexi childcare programme instead. Hope this helps?

[Power Puff]

Rea,


If you have time and can accompany your daughter for 1 and half hour two or three times a week, you can also try out Zoophonics - Thomson or Serangoon branches.

I’m sure you’re having great with your daughter now. Mine has 10 teeth and very active. Can’t believe my baby’s going to school soon.

[DesertWind]

Power Puff:

Hi DesertWind,

I am sorry to hear about your son..you're doing a wonderful job as a mum, making all the difficult decisions to improve his welfare. I'm sure he's happy and appreciative of your efforts

Thanks for your kind words and encouragement, Power Puff!
:celebrate:

[new_mum]

Hi Power Puff

Thanks v much for sharing about Marymount. My son is the same age as your daughter. Registered him for N1 next year and got a place in the afternoon session. However, was still not sure about Marymount and also went to check out Newton Church Kindy. After reading your post, I feel more confident about Marymount. I visited Marymount before and like the green, open, airy school environment. The children also look happy in the school. However, it’s hard to know whether the school is good based on one brief visit so it’s always good to hear from mummies who have kids in the school. I am worried that Marymount’s curriculum may not prepare my child for primary one and lay a good foundation for Chinese so went to check out Newton recently. I feel that Newton definitely has more emphasis on Chinese lessons but unfortunately, I do not like Newton’s school/classroom environment (very small outdoor play area, classrooms are rather small and dark (two classes share one classroom)). I think I will stick to Marymount after all.