Newton Kindergarten

[IdoPilates]

Hi new parents,


NK is not very welcoming when you ring up for an appointment to view the premises. I was rather put off, and the Principal doesn’t show you around either so there’s no one to answer your queries about curriculum etc. Term has re-opened so call now and book an appointment.

There is only one registration date so make sure you go early to wait in line. They don’t entertain any earlier registrations - first come first served.

I don’t drop my son off at school so I’m not familiar with the teachers etc. I’m not very impressed by the school this past 6 months. A lack of proper communication is my main grouse. I have no idea what goes on save for when my son brings home his worksheets at the end of term. There is very little communication between the school and parents other than collection of fees, signing up for enrichment, fees for school trips (which don’t seem to have any relevance to the topics/themes they are studying), and HFMD breakouts. They don’t even have a method of communication for parents to send notes to the school or vice-versa. I also don’t really like the Letterland Phonics system in place which doesn’t seem very effective in teaching the child to sound a letter, just associate it with some animal character name. I met his teachers in May, and I don’t have much confidence in them. They told me that my son had not participated in the weekly Show and Tell, but I said I wasn’t aware of it and why did they not send me a note??? I would love to have the kindy send me a termly newsletter to update me on activities past and planned, and themes that will be covered each term.

Compared to Holy Grace Kindergarten in the East Coast (where i moved from) which my older son attended, this school does not seem to have its act together or is as progressive. I believe how "good" a school is really depends on its Principal. I understand from parents the current Principal doesn’t seem on top of her game compared to the previous one. My cousin’s son is in K2 at NK and he has the same comment about the lack of communication, teaching standards, and has enrolled his younger child in another kindy. I am also on the lookout for another kindy to transfer my son to.

But please don’t be biased by my own experience, do your own research. Each of us seeks different things from the kindy. I’d like my son to have a holistic experience, not just academic.

[porcupine12trade]

Hi idopilates


May I know which level is your son in? Mine is k1. I totally agree with you on the show and tell. I was never informed about it, occasionally my son told me so n so did show and tell... I asked him what it's all about and wondered why parents are not informed. Haaa and yes... After few months there, every time my son pulls out letters/paper from his bag, I'll think to myself \" fees? Enrichment classes? Hfmd?\".

End of T2 the children took home some of their work bundled with rubber band I was amused a kindy like NK does it this way. My gals' kindy filed their work neatly in a hardcover file. Not really a big deal but I appreciated the effort. btw my email to the school was not answered too. But my son's teachers are good :), however I'm considering to move my son to another kindy.

[vicki]

Hi everyone,


Does anybody know if once I missed today’s registration for nex year - I can forget abt applying for it?

Thkg of switching to kinda from cc n happened to surf their website n noticed that registration is today!! Aiyo! Talk abt surfing in wrong day!!!

[cornopean]

Wow its kinda nice to see how my former kindergarten has evolved over the years. I’m now in my early twenties and used to be from Newton Kindergarten.


I got scolded real badly once for coloring a durian red haha! ( Wasnt on purpose. I just got handed a box of crayons and decided it might look nice in a shade of red. )

But most importantly, regardless of which kindergarten parents send their kids to… I think its fundamentally more important for parents to communicate effectively with their kids.

I used to get bullied on a regular ( almost daily ) basis when I was on the school bus to-from school. Its kinda sad really, because every school bus have a bus aunty to ‘take care’ of the kids. Unfortunately the aunty did nothing even when I cried out for help. The guys in the school bus routinely pulled down my pants to have a peek in. They didnt do anything else to me except for some name calling I suppose? When I cried out for help, the aunty finally woke up from her nap-time and looked - thats when the bullies stop for 1minute and continue again when the aunty went back to sleep. So much for ‘taking care of us’. I dont remember much about the older boy who bullied me apart from him saying that his dad is a lawyer. ( Eurgh ).

As a result, I didnt really like going to school in the past. Haha and I was so traumatised that I didnt like wearing dresses for the next 8 years.

[aussiemum]

I am thinking of sending my kids in and got a few questions:

1) Is this school very academic focus or all round
2) I know they are chinese focus and my kids don’t speak mandarin (which I would love them to learn). would that be a problem in terms of adapting to the environment and communicate with other kids/teachers?
3) I am not a big fan of enrichment class. Are these classes compulsory? If we don’t enrol to them, will the school gets upset?

Thanks.

[Kostum50]

http://www.familienladen24.de/karneval-fasching/kostueme-fuer-kinder-0-64/ serve as an avenue for children to explore and roleplay. Children can dress up in various forms; for example characters from history or fiction like pirates, princesses or cowboys, common jobs like nurses or police officers, or animals such as those seen in zoos or farms

[Mrs_SingRat]

Got a letter from school dated 4 jan. signed off by new principle! Errhhh…Josephine Khoo(or Koh) no longer there? M I being lay back or it is a last minute decision to the change of kinddy principle.


New principle is mrs. Eunice Tay. Haven’t met her, not sure abt her background.

[Always21]

hi, I am thinking of sending my girl to Newton Kindergarten next year. My boy used to study there 4years ago and I have very good memories of the school. Just checking if the school is still as patience and lovely as before.


Hi Mrs SingRat, How is the new Principal? You manage to find out background info about her.

Thanks in advance.

[IdoPilates]

Gong Xi Fa Cai to all NK parents!


Haven’t been on this forum for over half a year, and finally came back to see if there’s any feedback on the new Principal. Was very surprised to receive notification this year of the change in Principal. As always with NK, I’ll have to take leave and go "interview" the Principal to sound her out on her philosophy, as I realize in Kindys, they are only as good as the Principal is. I always find it rather strange with NK that parents have to take the initiative to meet the Principal, as there are few opportunities for interaction, or my son could graduate without me having met the Principal once!! My older boy’s previous kindy used to organise regular events where the Principal would be present. I will say this for the new Principal, I emailed notice that my son had to miss school due to illness, and she replied herself very promptly. I do appreciate that.

Any parents have feedback on the Kinderdance program? I attended my son’s year end showcase last year, and was quite dismayed at what little they have learnt, and the rather poor quality of what they did learn (I did dance for 30 years).

[loveeveryday]

I’m planning to register my boy for next year’s pre-nursery class (for 3 y.o). I’m a FTWM for now, having thoughts of changing to PTWM in 2014 but it’s just a thought at the moment. Any FTWM / PTWM who send your kids to NK? How do you cope with the half day hours? What are the after-school care arrangements for you?


I’m looking at the PM session (12pm to 4pm) since the AM session all full. My son is attending full day childcare now.