Marymount Kindergarten

[meowie323]

Marymount Kindergarten is moving to a new location that also houses a crisis shelter for women, children and foreign maids…isn’t security a concern with so many strangers moving in/out of the compound?



By TEH JEN LEE
The New Paper
Monday, Feb 13, 2012
The residents were not aware that Marymount Centre children’s services was moving into their neighbourhood.

But when told, most were fine with it.

That’s what The New Paper found when we spoke to residents at Toa Payoh Lorong 8 about the proposed move of the children’s services there next year.

The Marymount Centre, which also has a crisis shelter for women, children and foreign maids, will relocate its children’s services from Thomson Road to the former site of Braddell Primary School.

The relocation is to make way for the upcoming North-South Expressway.

Run by the Good Shepherd Sisters, an order of Catholic nuns, Marymount Centre provides residential care to girls who come from single-parent families or families in which parents cannot cope with the child and/or having marital problems.

The centre also has student care services for children aged seven to 14 who need adult supervision and who come from single-parent or low-income families.

Of the 14 residents of Toa Payoh Lorong 8 that TNP spoke to, only one knew about the plan as she had heard about it from friends.

The housewife, who gave her name as Madam Arsiti, 41, said she felt the move was a good one because the centre will be able to help people in need.

Although the rest had not heard about the plan, there were some strong supporters among them, such as Madam Chuang Ngee, 63, a retiree.

She welcomed the move, saying: "These children should not be cast aside but should be among us. "I felt it was such a waste when the primary school was torn down (last year), but now I’m glad that the piece of land is being put to good use."

Acquired last year

TNP understands that the Good Shepherd Sisters acquired the location last year.

Member of Parliament for Potong Pasir Sitoh Yih Pin told TNP he had met the nuns, Marymount Centre staff and volunteers on three occasions to discuss the move.

He said he wanted the nuns to be able to continue the good work they have been doing.

"They have been serving Singapore well since 1939. It would be wrong if they have to stop," he said.

He added that the new centre will have expertise to counsel low-income families and give talks to the elderly, in addition to serving the children.

Teacher Kuah Leck Ping, 42, who has been living in the area for 30 years, feels the children’s services will also benefit those living in the area.

She said: "Unlike the other places which opposed the elderly facilities, it’s not crowded here."

She was referring to the unhappiness some residents in Woodlands and Toh Yi had expressed over the building of facilities for the elderly.

Mr Sitoh said there will be minimal inconvenience to residents because the proposed building to house the children’s services will be on the fringe of the estate.

He plans to speak to residents about the move later, after determining what Marymount Centre needs. He is confident that it will be "part and parcel of our community".

However, an elderly couple living in Block 224, the block nearest to the proposed site, was worried about whether the centre’s children may negatively influence the young ones in the estate.

The wife, who is in her 60s, pointed out that the centre will be next to First Toa Payoh Primary school.

"While it is good to help children from troubled families, I hope they will not set a bad example for others," said the woman who declined to be named.

Another resident who gave her name as Miss Tay, 54, was neutral about the move but said some parents may worry.

One parent with three young kids told us that he did not have any problems with the move.

"We should not deprive the children of such facilities," said the self-employed man who gave his name as Mr Soh, 39.

"They deserve a second chance."

[piyobaby]

ryanbunny:

Hi are there any SAHM here with toddlers/babies of similar age who would like play dates when there is no school?. Or would just want to have lunch. My older son is in the morning session and 30 months and the younger one is 9months old.

Hihi, I am a SAHM but my son is attending Nursery in the PM session. I have a bb girl who is turning 10mths old soon, July bb.

[piyobaby]

Dumdeedum:

The kindergarten is going to move to toa payoh next year. And they will increase their fees as well. Any parents who children are currently in marymount kindy knows what is the new school fee like?

2 phrase revision - 30% increase in year 2014 & 20% increase in year 2015 :nailbite:


http://www.mkg.edu.sg/Permanent_relocation_Marymount_Kindergarten.pdf

[piyobaby]

Meowie323…Now I am really concerned about that, my guess is that mkg is housed in a building on its own although they will be sharing the same premise similar to the current site wif the only exception of the MPH which is in the administration blk? Hopefully so as I am pretty sure mkg is always very vigilant on safety and security of the children so not likely they will compromise on tis aspect.

[Dumdeedum]

I was set on sending my son to mkg next yr for pre nursery, until they announced a raise in school fees by 50%.


The thing is, I went down to visit the kindly twice, and the second time being the day before they officially announced. The principal did not mention about the moving at all. I mean the reason why parents visit the school is to see the environment of the school. What’s e pt of visiting the school if my boy won’t be school there? And also every parent will consider the school fees before making a decision. So at the very least she could have give me a heads up that they will be revising the school fees, instead of letting me get a shock when I find that out myself on their website.

And there’s really no point in enrolling my son in the new school campus, without having a chance to see the environment for myself.

And to revise the school fees up by 50% is simply absurd.

[bebe]

Dumdeedum:

I was set on sending my son to mkg next yr for pre nursery, until they announced a raise in school fees by 50%.


The thing is, I went down to visit the kindly twice, and the second time being the day before they officially announced. The principal did not mention about the moving at all. I mean the reason why parents visit the school is to see the environment of the school. What's e pt of visiting the school if my boy won't be school there? And also every parent will consider the school fees before making a decision. So at the very least she could have give me a heads up that they will be revising the school fees, instead of letting me get a shock when I find that out myself on their website.

And there's really no point in enrolling my son in the new school campus, without having a chance to see the environment for myself.

And to revise the school fees up by 50% is simply absurd.

The fee hike is 30% for 2014 and another further 20% for 2015. It is considered expensive, in my opinion, especially when the teacher: student ratio is quite high (24:2)

My friend had called and enquired if they were shifting as she saw the new construction in TPY. But none of the staff told us so...and we were planning to sign our kids together, until we read this. So we are back to the drawing board again...need to start school hunt...

[phtthp]

How much is Marymount current school fees today, for k1 / k2 ?

[happysport]

i was also set on transferring my dd to MMK next yr.

But now with the increase of fees over the next 2 yrs, i am also reconsidering if i should send her there…

[piyobaby]

Count yourselves lucky that the increase in fees was announced b4 your kids in mkg, we are caught right now since my son had juz been transferred to mkg tis year. Our hands are tied since it might not make sense to change school again which is like changing every year....

[Dumdeedum]

piyobaby:

Count yourselves lucky that the increase in fees was announced b4 your kids in mkg, we are caught right now since my son had juz been transferred to mkg tis year. Our hands are tied since it might not make sense to change school again which is like changing every year....

i understand what you mean.

I think MKG did not handle this issue properly. I think its unfair to raise the school fees for existing students. Existing students should continue with the current fees until they graduate. Thats what most other kindy do. They fix the school fees for the children until they graduate in k2. New students that come in next yr follow another set of school fees. I think its fairer like that.