St James Church Kindergarten

[eureka29]

cheapsale:

Headache! should i trsf my kid for 2014? My kid is settled now at her sch and now got vacancy at st james. Hubby did not like the idea of transfer cos we saw many of her friends transfer and did not like the new sch and ask for transfer back to realise it's also full.... Is St james really that worth it that no other school can match?

Same here! and we don't really have much time to decide?

Thanks chien6 for your reply! much appreciated

[cheapsale]

eureka29, I may not take up the vacancy since my girl is settled and happy where she is now. Hubby worry that if we take her out, and she don’t like it…will be worst.

Also we told her about going to new school and she was insistent that there is only one sch. It dawn on us the bonding she has with the sch so…no choice!

[eureka29]

cheapsale:

eureka29, I may not take up the vacancy since my girl is settled and happy where she is now. Hubby worry that if we take her out, and she don't like it...will be worst.

Also we told her about going to new school and she was insistent that there is only one sch. It dawn on us the bonding she has with the sch so....no choice!

Hi cheapsale, I see. I decided to take the offer as my son's current school will move next year and we are not sure where to yet and the chances of fee increase is quite high. Will see when the time comes!

[OrangUtahn]

eureka29:

Hi parents, my child recently received a spot for next year's nursery slot at Harding Road . I was wondering whether I could get some feedback on their Chinese curriculum. Also, my child has mild speech delay and I'm not sure whether the teachers would be receptive. He is currently attending another pre-school at the moment.

I would think correcting speech delay would take precedence over curriculum, after all there are numerous enrichment programs available out there for children to catch up. Vocab can be increased anytime while development delays shouldn't be prolonged if you can help it. If you already have concerns about speech delay when your child is already attending school, perhaps it is a sign that the current school simply cannot do more. Maybe it's time to try another, after all St James staff are all kind and compassionate and their curriculum is flexible to accommodate kids with different learning abilities that other schools cannot tolerate.

Honestly I think their Chinese syllabus is one level behind. My kid was a transfer case and can already read their new vocab and we aren't even a Chinese speaking family. But not a hindrance to me as there are books we can buy or borrow. Most important thing to me is their ability to foster learning and instil self-confidence, something I cannot find in other public preschools. My belief is as long as a child is keen to learn, more than half the battle is won, and I know St James can provide that.

edit: ooops just saw that you accepted the offer.

[hmtt]

Hi,


Am also given a place in SJ for my son. Decided to take up the vacancy but had problem with sending him home @ 11.15am. Any parents staying around Bukit Timah area, with kids studying in SJ willing to do a car pool? I can take the morning trip.

[chien6]

hmtt:

Hi,


Am also given a place in SJ for my son. Decided to take up the vacancy but had problem with sending him home @ 11.15am. Any parents staying around Bukit Timah area, with kids studying in SJ willing to do a car pool? I can take the morning trip.

HI hmtt,

There are a few school buses going around there... Which exact location is your place along bukit timah?

[hmtt]

University Road. SJ school buses are full.

[chien6]

hmtt:

University Road. SJ school buses are full.

Really?? Have you given this feedback to the school? I know the school will make sure every child has a transport back home..

[OrangUtahn]

chien6:

hmtt:

University Road. SJ school buses are full.

Really?? Have you given this feedback to the school? I know the school will make sure every child has a transport back home..

hmtt, please try enquiring within the school again. I know they will make every effort to check for seat availability. At the time of registration, I was told no place. Days before starting, I got a place and the bus driver said he had several vacancies left and we live maybe 5 mins from you. Sometimes kids pull out for a myriad of reasons, including parents whose work contract expired and have to return home overseas (I believe that's how there was a vacancy for my child in the school in the first instance). In short, no harm asking again.

[Joseng]

My 2 children are currently attending St James (girl in K2, boy in N2). I have been a fan of SJCK for the longest time cos I see how happy my children are at SCJK. However, lately, I’ve been thinking of pulling my son out… and would do the same for my daughter except it might be too late and disruptive to do so now…


SJCK is a good school in terms of the following:
- Building Christian values and character (chapel, memory verse, prayers, christian songs)
- It is a very warm, happy, loving and non intimitating environment to raise happy children in
- Children look forward to school because it is mostly fun and play with hardly any academic stress
- Teachers are mostly warm and patient towards the children, although there are exceptions (like the chinese teacher my son is having now)
- Project work for one term and presentation at the end of the term (not sure if any other preschool does this)

Reason why I am thinking of pulling out my son
- At the end of K1, my daughter still couldn’t read. SJCK was still teaching only simply phonic sounds, and havent even started blending. I was not a kiasu parent and didn’t send her for any enrichment classes. We spoke english at home and I read to my children every night; and I thought that was enough; cos I figured SJCK surely will prepare my kid for P1.
- Fyi, in K2 first term, the spelling words assigned are very easy ones like a, is, as, of, for, him, her, they, was, are etc…
- Based on feedback from other parents, their kids could read and write only because either they attended additional enrichment classes outside the school. Those who didn’t are also panicking like me now. This applies for both English and Chinese.
- I decided of course to send my DD for enrichment classes this year. The trouble of having to send her for english, chinese and math enrichment classes every week is simply a pain, not to mention the the stress and agony of helping her catch up with her languages after work.

I thought this was the norm and consulted friends. Most of them told me that their kids’ school helped prepare their kids for P1, and they never had to send them for any additional enrichment classes (except maybe non academic enrichment such as piano / art…)

My advice to parents thinking of sending their kid to SJCK is, unless you are prepared to teach your kids yourself, or send them to enrichment classes, or accept lower academic achievements, in return for a carefree childhood in a good christian kindergarten environment, then dont send your children there.