Yuquan Preschool

[ChiefKiasu]

outsider:

Hi Chief,

I rem your child was attending school house by the bay... you made a switch ?

She's still at Schoolhouse By The Bay . We don't dare to make the change ever since she demanded: \"Don't change MY SCHOOLHOUSE!\" when she overheard me and my wife discussing about sending her to NAFA when she was 3yo.

[ChiefKiasu]

insider:

... Don't mean to stress you hor but Chinese is just such a subject that if you don't set the foot correctly in the first place, subsequently can be very painful for your son and you and wify...


PS: Base on my experience, can start English language late for a child and is easier for the child to catch up but same is not so applicable for Chinese...

:goodpost: well said, insider. I fully agree with you. Also to add - most children will breeze through P1-P2 for Chinese without much problems even if they don't speak/read much Chinese at home. Usually, the cracks will start showing from P3 onwards. If your child do not naturally speak Chinese at home, you really need to think about additional enrichment for him/her when there is still time from P1 onwards. I learnt it the hard way .

[ZacK]

insider:

I suggest you test his Chinese reading. All those Chinese sight words ideally he should know by now (those 我、你、他、的、有、又、也、是、得、走、看、听、说 etc) and some common nouns/adjectives like 老师、同学、开心、高兴、生气、游玩、 etc). Test him in a playful manner casually and if he can't read, I would suggest you put him in a Chinese enrichment class wef Jan 2010 (P1 Chinese enrichment is still usually quite play based and so not so stressful). You still have time if his reading level is weak coz the beginning of P1 Chinese is HanYuPinYin (and here I am assuming that your son is OK with his Hanyupinyin).

Don't mean to stress you hor but Chinese is just such a subject that if you don't set the foot correctly in the first place, subsequently can be very painful for your son and you and wify...

PS: Base on my experience, can start English language late for a child and is easier for the child to catch up but same is not so applicable for Chinese...

Thanks for your posting insider ... I will have to do something more concrete to help him with his chinese, otherwise I would be doing him a great disservice.

ChiefKiasu:

Usually, the cracks will start showing from P3 onwards. If your child do not naturally speak Chinese at home, you really need to think about additional enrichment for him/her when there is still time from P1 onwards. I learnt it the hard way .

Not too smart am I :oops: ... Will start scouting for chinese classes for him then... Based on your experience, which enrichment schools have a program to learn chinese in a fun way? Dun think DS1 can take the rigid boring style...

[Dee]

I’ve just paid a visit to YuQuan Preschool in Guillemard, and the environment is spacious, clean, and classrooms are huge - however, it’s fully air-conditioned. currently they do not have many students yet, as they just opened. But some of the teachers are transfered from Middle Road, which is good as they will be more experienced. Total 3 chinese and 2 english teachers at the moment.


Their fees for preschool also INCREASED! the fee on the website is not valid anymore. Half day after subsidy with gst is about $750, excluding schoolbus service ($200). full day is abt 1300 (b4 subsidy and gst).

Like all the experienced mummies and daddies were saying, good chinese foundation is very important, which I totally agree, and would like to start off my son soon who turns two next month. But for a Playgroup for 2 year old, I’m just wondering is it necessary to pay that amount of money. Maybe starting him at yuquan when he turns 3 might make more sense?

The key at playgroup could be more socialising, basic reading/phonics, gross and fine motor skills?

[yunempire]

Dear Parents out there,


I am thinking of enrolling my son in the Yuquan preschool @ Middle Road or Guillemard Road. I was very impressive with the school after a talk with the principal of Yuquan, Ms. Song Yu Hong. The strong foundation of preschool is very crucial to children. However, the school fees are very premium $1080 & $1300 @ Middle Road & Guillemard per month before government subsidy S$300.00 for full time working mum.

Currently, my son is enrolled in the chinese enrichment class at Middle Road every Saturday. He enjoyed & loved his class tremendously. He looked forward to his class every Saturday.

Kindly give me any feedback on Yuquan preschool if any of the parents out there have enrolled their children at Yuquan before.

Thank you very much for any valuable feedback provided.

[atfc]

yunempire:

Dear Parents out there,


I am thinking of enrolling my son in the Yuquan preschool @ Middle Road or Guillemard Road. I was very impressive with the school after a talk with the principal of Yuquan, Ms. Song Yu Hong. The strong foundation of preschool is very crucial to children. However, the school fees are very premium $1080 & $1300 @ Middle Road & Guillemard per month before government subsidy S$300.00 for full time working mum.

Currently, my son is enrolled in the chinese enrichment class at Middle Road every Saturday. He enjoyed & loved his class tremendously. He looked forward to his class every Saturday.

Kindly give me any feedback on Yuquan preschool if any of the parents out there have enrolled their children at Yuquan before.

Thank you very much for any valuable feedback provided.

hi, you can try out this preschool called stamford little geniuses in bugis. (http://www.stamford.edu.sg/genius)

they are giving out free for the 1st month for new-comers.

my girl is studying there right now and its not bad. their teachers are very nice and caring. since its free, might as well try it out and see whether its suitable for your kid

[curioxete]

Hi aftc,


Just curious as to whether you went with Middle Road or Guillemard in the end. I visited both schools yesterday. Guillemard seems more like a preschool, in terms of the spacious environment and different play rooms, whereas Middle Road appeared more cramped and like a tuition centre.

However, the atmosphere at Guillemard felt very different from the vibrant atmosphere we experienced at Middle Rd… not sure why…maybe it’s cos Guillemard has less students… but the teachers at Guillemard didn’t seem as enthusiastic either (maybe bec the principal’s office is at Middle Rd and the teachers at Middle Rd are thus kept more ‘on their toes’??).

Appreciate any comments. Thanks!

[junemum72]

curioxete:

Hi aftc,


Just curious as to whether you went with Middle Road or Guillemard in the end. I visited both schools yesterday. Guillemard seems more like a preschool, in terms of the spacious environment and different play rooms, whereas Middle Road appeared more cramped and like a tuition centre.

However, the atmosphere at Guillemard felt very different from the vibrant atmosphere we experienced at Middle Rd.. not sure why..maybe it's cos Guillemard has less students.. but the teachers at Guillemard didn't seem as enthusiastic either (maybe bec the principal's office is at Middle Rd and the teachers at Middle Rd are thus kept more 'on their toes'??).

Appreciate any comments. Thanks!

Did you enrol your kid? I was put off by the fees when I went to see their place at Guillemard when they first started.

I wonder are they full now?

If you are looking at this nearby place, you may want to consider Child First at Mountbatten sq. Price comparable to Quyuan but looks more pro.

[curioxete]

junemum72:

Did you enrol your kid? I was put off by the fees when I went to see their place at Guillemard when they first started.


I wonder are they full now?

If you are looking at this nearby place, you may want to consider Child First at Mountbatten sq. Price comparable to Quyuan but looks more pro.

Hi
I've not enrolled yet, cos i actually stay in the south west, and thinking abt sending my son there every day is a little off-putting. They are almost full at Guillemard, for the N1 class, but i think the other levels still hv vacancies.

Thanks for suggesting Child First. I took a look at it, it does seem quite pro, but my son's current childcare also follows the multiple intelligences methodology. i think it's no big deal, and am currently looking for a place that's slightly more academic, with good chinese teachers/teaching methodology.

[junemum72]

Most of my frens who went there didnt like it.


The teacher kept calling me for months to convince me to send my kid there. WHen I told them the fee is at the high side, she asked me to consider their other outlet which i think its not pro to do so. They gave me an impression of wanting to earn $$ than wanting to fulfill parent’s needs.

Months later again, the same teacher called me and ask me to consider their chinese enrichment class since I was no longer keen in their CC.