Pat's Schoolhouse

[Augmum]

crystalbelle08:

:shock:
So it has been like this all along!
Thanks Augmum for enlightening! :salute: :salute: :salute:

Your gal must be in primary school now!
I have always wanted to know if the things taught in Pat's is enough for them to breeze through Primary one.
Can share with us please?

hi crystalbelle08
my gal now in Sec 1 liao........
so shd be more than 7 years ago at pats
she was at pats katong and halifax from nursery to K2

i had posted some reviews on pats many many moons ago at this thread...
let me go and dig it out for u......
in short...all thumbs up for me for Pats

[Augmum]

hi crystalbelle08

here it goes......
but i would say nowadays, parents are more KS, so
it's not surprising to hear that kids who attended even the better preschools
are sent for further enrichment programmes which i think it's not necesary

weekends shd be their rest and play days with family bonding :dancing:

Augmum:

Hi all parents

Today, i happened to browse through the “pat’s schoolhouse” thread, I would like to input my view and past experience since my gal was there from nursery to k2.

Time really flies. it has been more than 6 yrs ago. My gal is already P6 now.

Being trained in early childhood education myself, I was very particular in choosing a good preschool for my gal as I realised the importance of it. after visiting a few preschools, ( all those premium ones), I settled her for pat’s schoolhouse. But the main drawback was the school fees. More than 6 yrs ago, I was already paying $600 ++ a month after the miserable govt subsidy of only $75 for half day care. I remembered the “undesirable feeling” I had whenever I wrote out the cheque payment. It amounted to $1,300 (+gst) as the payment was made once in every 2 months.It was almost like paying the U fees (compared at that time).

I studied their environment, their children, their teachers and their curriculum closely. I won’t say they ‘re definitely the best of the best (in fact, I think nobody can tell u which is the best, depends on what u’re looking at, there’re always plus and minus) but on the whole they are GOOD. (I agree on some postings regarding the tricycle thingy)

I urge parents to visit the centre which u wanna to put yr child in becos diff centres have diff “qualities of teachers”. Although their teachers’ qualifications are high , most of them do have a degree in early childhood education unlike some others (not to mention the centre’s name, the teachers there are not even trained to teach young children), there are still a difference in their passion/movitation/style in teaching .

Initially, my gal was at the katong branch but later I transferred her to halifax branch after her teacher left despite of the long journey on the road. I found that Halifax branch got better teachers, better principal. (they might have left by now). Her Chinese teacher was from china, speak excellent Chinese. That’s how my gal picked up her accurate pronounication and that helped her a lot in Chinese oral. There was once the examiner asked her whether she was from China.

My observations are such, kids there were very confident, articulate, expressive (both language and body gestures, maybe becos of their speech and drama class). And something I love to hear after my gal had gone to pats was that the sentence, “ I CAN DO IT”, these words were instilled in her mind even till now. Thks to her form teacher for the building of their self confidence.

Regarding about their curriculum, they taught the kids and equipped them everything they need to know in P1. When I talked to the founder, Patrica, she told me that. I was skeptical at that time but when my gal went to P1, I really need not to teach her at all, esp maths, she had learned everything there. In fact, I “neglected her studies” only in P3 or P4 onwards, then I started to coach her.

One thing, prepared to spent alot when it comes to K2 graduation ceremony. :roll: :roll:
I remembered spending about $500 years back. whether justifiable or not, depends on individual but I can assure u that u will be very proud of yr young kids for putting up such an unforgettable and remarkable musical concert.

(wow......such a long posting, din realise i could type so much but it's fun bringing back memories when gal was young)

[arielle08]

Augmum:

Actually , I like Pats' non-uniform attire, reveals of each and individual uniqueness


and also dun expect the usual caps and gowns sets for their graduation ceremony
kids would have to put on all white attire with black shoes
girls with lovely white gowns and
boys with smart white shirt and long pants with bow tie

:rubhands:
Wow, white gowns..

[arielle08]

Augmum,


Thanks so much for the information.
Give me great assurance to put my kid with Pat's.

:thankyou:

[littlehelper]

Yep i do agree that it’ a security to not have any school uniform.

nope it’s not a KU thing, learning vision has their own uniform.
Mayb no need to worry so much cos the teachers are really good and kids are well taken care of.Also i think pat’s don’t usually go out for excursions cos they have their own big outdoor spaces.
I saw somewhere that they do not have uniform cos of their philosophy of celebrating confidence,creativity etc. If there is uniform it’s not very creative? I suppose.

[shiyunu]

Hi all


actually I prefer no uniform even though they will stain the clothes. I think the children look more comfortable in their own clothes. In any case, they will also be wearing uniform frm p1 onwards, so it doesn’t really matter.

I am concern abt the PM activities as I understand that most of their children go hme ard 3pm. So for full day children, they will be grp together & do activities, perhaps story telling etc. I think the enrichment classes in PM r only for nursery & above.

I do look forward to have my gal to start sch at Pats. She is with LV nw & it is really nt up to standard. The teachers don’t speak perfect eng! Their classroom setting is also partition into small areas. To conclude, nt very happy with them

[MLJ]

crystalbelle08:

Hi MLJ,
Have decided to stay at Mt Emily for next year since there is a \"room\" for playgroup after all. Even though its converted from store room, its better than sharing the big room with the bigger kids.
Yes, that big room is indeed cramp and the partitions is low. At most shoulder level.
When my kid is promoted to nursery level next year, i will have to consider again as that open concept is not quite ideal.

Whats the fees for Eton?
Have you consider Pat's Tanglin?
Understand from fellow mummies that it is a new branch. Vacancies shldnt be an issue.

By the way, Eton has school uniform?

Eton has school uniform. Their school fees is expensive-$4000 plus for one term. Must really think through if I want to sink in so much cash for preschool.

Pat's tanglin? Where exactly is it? I did not know they had one there. Might check it out.

[Koolmama]

Hihi, this is such an interesting thread for me 'cos my elder child is in Pat's Halifax and i'm currently trying to decide between Halifax and Mt Emily for my younger girl!!


What Augmum says is true, Halifax has really really good teachers. When my ds first joined them (in the middle of Nursery), he couldn't speak any chinese at all. Now, his chinese is so fluent, it even surprises my (chinese-speaking) grandma!!

The other day, my mother pronounced the chinese word for \"chocolate\" wrongly and he corrected her, \"Qiao3 ke1 li4\"!! :lol:

i even noticed that he pronounces the word for \"ear\" more accurately than locals do... You know how people here will usually say it the lazy way \"e-duo\"?? He pronounces it as \"ER-duo\"... which is more correct!!

Anyway, the reason why I was considering Mt Emily is 'cos we actually live quite near that branch... so driving her there would save on ERP charges (since going out and in, past the stupid thing would cost us about $5 everyday! ) But we love Halifax, and they are bigger and have better facilities... but since Mt Emily just renovated, it's also not too bad... but.... am not so keen on the open concept.... SIGH!! So hard to decide!!!

And yes, our beloved principal Ada Teo is moving over to Tanglin... she's really nice!! If not for the distance, I would've moved my kids over to Tanglin too hehehee....

P.S. By the way, just to give you an idea of how expensive my bus fees are (for 2- way, including ERP charges the bus has to pay) - $400 a month!! That's like childcare fees some pp pay elsewhere already

The government really makes alot of $$ from parents like us... SOB!!

[crystalbelle08]

Hi shiyunu,

Rest assured. Mt Emily's teachers speak perfect english. So definately better than LV

Hi augmum and koolmama,
Thanks for sharing! So, I made the right choice to put my kid in Pat's. :lol:
Now i understand why halifax has long waiting list! I'm impressed!

Koolmama, Why dont u check out Mt Emily and talk to the principal, Tanya.
She is a very friendly lady too. I suppose Halifax has individual classroom for different level?

So u intend to transfer your elder one to Mt Emily as well?
Gosh, $400 per month is per kid, so for 2 kids will be $800 per month for school bus?? :!:
then u might as well charterd a taxi!

[preciousmoments]

Hi all


Been a silent reader of this thread for a while. Just wanna pen my 2 cents worth…

My 2 kids have been studying in a Montessori childcare since my elder girl was 2 years old - the montessori setup is a huge room partitioned by shelves into smaller sections for the different levels of classes. My kids, though very active do not have problems learning in such a setting. Engaging teachers can engage the most distracted student. If not engaging, even in a classroom, the distracted student can stil be distracted. In fact, according to their montessori, a smaller partitioned space is better than a bigger classroom as distracted students will wander off around the big classroom. I agree with that.

As my elder girl will be going on to P1 next year, we thought of switching my boy to Pat’s. We visited two, Halifax and Mt Emily. Though we were impressed by Ada of halifax, it was really Mt Emily that captured our hearts. We love the park right at the doorstep, the very new and big toilet/bathroom, the big open space on 1 level only (no staircase to climb), and best of all no classrooms (except for 1 or 2 I think) - all of the above different from the Halifax branch. We signed up almost immediately, just that we did not bring along the cheque! Anyway, my boy will joining Mt Emily next year and we are excited!