I started to shop piano for my 7 years old son who is going to Grade 1. Although I don't play music, I'm amusing by this beautiful instrument and have done a lot reading about it. I started with zero knowledge and almost being conned by an used piano shop. Luckily, I did not put any deposit and cancel the purchase order. After extensive reading, I can talk like \"expert\" to smoke over and finally find a very good used piano with half of the market price. Here just to share some links that might be useful for you too


Upright piano buying guide
http://www.esteypiano.com/bt_upright.pdf

Detailed info of various Yamaha and Kawai models and its years
https://www.facebook.com/696884150/posts/10155867550194151/

Blogs with where are the used piano shops in Singapore
https://alderline.wordpress.com/tag/buy-piano-singapore/

alwaysbuzymum:

My eldest son graduated from CreativeO and my 2nd son currently in CreativeO. Just to share with you a bit of my experience with CreativeO.


First of all, I would like to say thanks to Li LaoShi who taught my eldest son. She is a super dedicated teacher and well respected by parents. CreativeO has many dedicated and experienced teachers. Sadly say, a few good one incl Li LaoShi have left the school.

CreativeO does not emphasise on academic. It focuses a lot on project learning and character building. No homework, no hypy was taught and not much spelling.

My eldest son is attending one of the top primary schools. The transition to primary school was a painful one for my eldest son, from an unconventional to classroom environment. He was struggling at first (in P1) to catch up school syllabus. His peers were far advanced than him in terms of Chinese writing, hypy, times table etc. He always place at \"hot seat\" in front of teacher because of fidgeting. To survive in highly pressurised primary schools, we have to “stress” him a bit to make sure he is not too far behind. He does not have the “competitive” mindset. But sadly say we live in Singapore.

Having said that, my son is doing fine at school (can be better in the eye of KS parent). He is a fast learner especially enjoys studying Math and Science but not language subjects. He is curious, good in problem solving and strong in logic thinking. Attending CreativeO does help him in terms of character building, boost his curiosity and observation.

For my 2nd son, I am struggling whether should I transfer him to a more academic focused preschool to give him a good headstart. I have not done so because I am in the paradox of good result versus happy childhood, psle versus long term.

If you are KS parent yet like CreativeO learning style, be prepare to help your child during transition or sent them for extra enrichments.

My 2nd son finally graduated in 2017. Although his brother had painful P1 transition, I am glad that I still put didi in CreativeO. My 2nd son has built up very strong characters - very confident, curious, never give up and view learning as self challenge/ fulfillment. He is doing well in P1 and I never regret to put both boys in Creative O.

I see and feel the quality, characters and values built in CreativeO. My boys will volunteer doing house chores, tell me to save environment, they hand make their own toys, do various experiments themselves. “The mediocre teacher tells, the good teacher explains, the superior teacher demonstrates, the great teacher inspires” . I think CreativeO teachers somehow have instilled something and made them so adorable.

JY2011:

alwaysbuzymum:

My eldest son graduated from CreativeO and my 2nd son currently in CreativeO. Just to share with you a bit of my experience with CreativeO.


First of all, I would like to say thanks to Li LaoShi who taught my eldest son. She is a super dedicated teacher and well respected by parents. CreativeO has many dedicated and experienced teachers. Sadly say, a few good one incl Li LaoShi have left the school.

CreativeO does not emphasise on academic. It focuses a lot on project learning and character building. No homework, no hypy was taught and not much spelling.

My eldest son is attending one of the top primary schools. The transition to primary school was a painful one for my eldest son, from an unconventional to classroom environment. He was struggling at first (in P1) to catch up school syllabus. His peers were far advanced than him in terms of Chinese writing, hypy, times table etc. He always place at \"hot seat\" in front of teacher because of fidgeting. To survive in highly pressurised primary schools, we have to “stress” him a bit to make sure he is not too far behind. He does not have the “competitive” mindset. But sadly say we live in Singapore.

Having said that, my son is doing fine at school (can be better in the eye of KS parent). He is a fast learner especially enjoys studying Math and Science but not language subjects. He is curious, good in problem solving and strong in logic thinking. Attending CreativeO does help him in terms of character building, boost his curiosity and observation.

For my 2nd son, I am struggling whether should I transfer him to a more academic focused preschool to give him a good headstart. I have not done so because I am in the paradox of good result versus happy childhood, psle versus long term.

If you are KS parent yet like CreativeO learning style, be prepare to help your child during transition or sent them for extra enrichments.

Hi, alwaysbuzymum.

I am sorry to hear that your eldest son has problem to cope with the P1 life. So you mentioned that his classmates are far more advanced than him. Is it because the parents of his classmates send their kids to tuition classes before starting P1? I chatted with an aunty during my way sending my DD to the school. The aunty told me that her daughter started the English tuition lesson of their 3 grandchilren at age 4. I was ike :scared: as I have not thought of this and hoping that our DD can do well with preschool teachers' guidances. We send her to a good preschool so we thought it will be sufficient oledi. CreativeO should be a good school too but now you are saying your eldest is also struggling in P1..... Your son seems really good to me as he likes maths and science, problem solving.... So it makes no difference where we send them to but need to send them tuitions still before P1...

The aunty told me that kids are required to wrong short comprehension but not only spelling now in P1. Is it true? Definitely, her grandchildren, all are quite smarts one, are also quite stressed up and the 2 elder grandchildren are attending one of the elite primary schools. I am also a bit worry on DD's progress now...

Sorry can't give much suggestion but just wanna share my thought...

Hi jy2011
U r right, other parents send their kids to tuitions at very young age. Some of his classmates even started doing P1 assessment book at K1 :yikes: . After 2 stressful years and a lot pushing, I am satisfied with his progress....I think his results is above average (school doesn't share ranking).

Hi,

My son currently is attending P3 Fusion Math at Bukit Batok branch.

I do have concern whether the quality of teachers is deteriorating at Bukit Batok branch. It seems like many good trainers have been allocated to other branches. Those trainers with diploma are they qualified to teach? After all, paying such amount for group tuition is not considered cheap.

julialai:

BraisedPorkBelly:

[quote=\"starmoon\"]anyone who has gotten the contact of the science tutor in Holland from Julia earlier on - can you please share it with me please? Kindly PM me. Thanks.

Noticed that many has seek this Holland tutor, can anyone kindly share any feedback? Expensive? 1-1 or class tutoring?

Please PM me the contact # as well. Thanks!

So sorry, fellow parents, for not responding promptly! My DS is now in Sec 2 and I seldom check in this forum nowadays. I happened to log in today and have just replied to your PMs.

My husband and I credit our DS's PSLE results to this amazing tutor at Holland. (Sorry, I don't want to post her contact details in a public forum, as I have not asked for her permission.)

My DS was very fortunate to be under her tutelage since P5. My DS's P4 form teacher recommended to us when his results dipped in P5 SA1. He was not coping well with the transition from P4 to P5 then. He told us that the tutor and her team are experienced MOE teachers who are also PSLE markers for many years, they have written very good materials and are excellent at explaining the concepts. Besides, this particular lady tutor is very good at motivating and inspiring students. Everything he told us about her has turned out to be true. She has taught my son very well. He looked forward to his weekly lessons, and even initiated to join her English classes. What I also appreciate is the meticulous marking for compositions and Science open-ended questions. All the worksheets are neatly and carefully marked with feedback/ encouragement on the worksheets. It is very hard to find qualified teachers who not only teach well but have a heart for our children. This road to searching for the right tutor for my DS has been fraught with some very bad experiences with irresponsible/dishonest tutors. I've also paid for expensive tuition from a 'branded' tuition centre only to find out that the class tutor is a fresh graduate. Hope this helps! Julia[/quote]Possible to PM me the contact of the tutor? Many thank

julialai:

BraisedPorkBelly:

[quote=\"starmoon\"]anyone who has gotten the contact of the science tutor in Holland from Julia earlier on - can you please share it with me please? Kindly PM me. Thanks.

Noticed that many has seek this Holland tutor, can anyone kindly share any feedback? Expensive? 1-1 or class tutoring?

Please PM me the contact # as well. Thanks!

So sorry, fellow parents, for not responding promptly! My DS is now in Sec 2 and I seldom check in this forum nowadays. I happened to log in today and have just replied to your PMs.

My husband and I credit our DS's PSLE results to this amazing tutor at Holland. (Sorry, I don't want to post her contact details in a public forum, as I have not asked for her permission.)

My DS was very fortunate to be under her tutelage since P5. My DS's P4 form teacher recommended to us when his results dipped in P5 SA1. He was not coping well with the transition from P4 to P5 then. He told us that the tutor and her team are experienced MOE teachers who are also PSLE markers for many years, they have written very good materials and are excellent at explaining the concepts. Besides, this particular lady tutor is very good at motivating and inspiring students. Everything he told us about her has turned out to be true. She has taught my son very well. He looked forward to his weekly lessons, and even initiated to join her English classes. What I also appreciate is the meticulous marking for compositions and Science open-ended questions. All the worksheets are neatly and carefully marked with feedback/ encouragement on the worksheets. It is very hard to find qualified teachers who not only teach well but have a heart for our children. This road to searching for the right tutor for my DS has been fraught with some very bad experiences with irresponsible/dishonest tutors. I've also paid for expensive tuition from a 'branded' tuition centre only to find out that the class tutor is a fresh graduate. Hope this helps! Julia[/quote]Possible to PM me the contact of the tutor? Many thank

My eldest son graduated from CreativeO and my 2nd son currently in CreativeO. Just to share with you a bit of my experience with CreativeO.


First of all, I would like to say thanks to Li LaoShi who taught my eldest son. She is a super dedicated teacher and well respected by parents. CreativeO has many dedicated and experienced teachers. Sadly say, a few good one incl Li LaoShi have left the school.

CreativeO does not emphasise on academic. It focuses a lot on project learning and character building. No homework, no hypy was taught and not much spelling.

My eldest son is attending one of the top primary schools. The transition to primary school was a painful one for my eldest son, from an unconventional to classroom environment. He was struggling at first (in P1) to catch up school syllabus. His peers were far advanced than him in terms of Chinese writing, hypy, times table etc. He always place at "hot seat" in front of teacher because of fidgeting. To survive in highly pressurised primary schools, we have to “stress” him a bit to make sure he is not too far behind. He does not have the “competitive” mindset. But sadly say we live in Singapore.

Having said that, my son is doing fine at school (can be better in the eye of KS parent). He is a fast learner especially enjoys studying Math and Science but not language subjects. He is curious, good in problem solving and strong in logic thinking. Attending CreativeO does help him in terms of character building, boost his curiosity and observation.

For my 2nd son, I am struggling whether should I transfer him to a more academic focused preschool to give him a good headstart. I have not done so because I am in the paradox of good result versus happy childhood, psle versus long term.

If you are KS parent yet like CreativeO learning style, be prepare to help your child during transition or sent them for extra enrichments.

By Pearl Lee


The school bus firm owner who had his contracts with two primary schools terminated just as the new year began, had also drawn complaints from other schools in the last three years.

The Straits Times understands that at least 10 more schools also had problems with the owner of bus firm Sindoz Group, known to some as Mr Andy Lee, with some cases going back to 2012.

This included the three pre-schools that contacted The Straits Times over the weekend to complain about Mr Lee after it reported about Red Swastika and Coral Primary ending their contracts.

One earlier case involved Creative O Preschoolers' Bay in Boon Lay, which in 2012 engaged Mr Lee's service under his firm, which was known as East Coast Transport Group at the time.

\"He showed us company documents and gave us names of the other pre-schools he was working with, and he told us he ferried tourists too,\" said a spokesman of the school.

But his minivans were often late and, on a few occasions, he said his vans had broken down.

\"One day, he stopped coming and stopped answering our phone calls,\" said the spokesman, adding that 27 parents had paid about $8,880 in all to Mr Lee. This has not been refunded although the parents have made a police report. One of the parents, Ms Rachel Chin, 40, who works in logistics, said: \"Right from the start, the buses were late, sometimes by up to 30 minutes.\"

In August 2013, Chinese International School in Dunearn Road hired Mr Lee's bus firm as its school bus operator, charging $720 to $1,575 per student for each semester, according to documents obtained by The Straits Times. Parents said Mr Lee collected one month's bus fare on top of a $200 deposit from each child, but provided less than one month of transportation.

Former staff members of Mr Lee's firm, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he sometimes operates under a different company and uses a different first name - he was previously known as Ady. They said he insisted on advance bus fees of up to two months and would go to the workplaces of parents to collect the fees. But after the money was collected, he would not respond to calls or replied to messages only hours later.

When parents and schools found his services unsatisfactory and tried to end their contracts, he would threaten to sue them.

At Red Swastika and Coral Primary, the parents of more than 200 pupils had paid at least $50,000 in all to Sindoz.

At Red Swastika, Sindoz could not confirm transport arrangements with parents; at Coral Primary, buses were late by up to one hour on the first school day.

The Ministry of Education (MOE) said on Tuesday that it is working with the two schools to ask Sindoz to refund the parents.

\"MOE does not rule out further action against Sindoz Group,\" a spokesman added.

Yesterday, lawyer Doris Chia from David Lim and Partners said it would be hard to get a refund even if parents were to sue the firm. \"Even if one is successful, the ability to recover the debt depends on whether the company has the money to pay,\" she said.

Contacted yesterday, Mr Lee repeated \"no comments\" when asked about fresh allegations and if he would refund the affected parents.
- See more at: http://www.straitstimes.com/news/singap ... tor=CS1-10

His real name is LEE CHONG BOON.

ACRA Sindoz report > http://www.docdroid.net/p55p/sindoz-gro ... e.pdf.html

The other partner is his father LEE PHEK GUAN. Together they set up many different businesses before but most of them have closed already. It kind of reflects that they are very used to this type of run and go way of tactic.
ACRA people profile > http://www.docdroid.net/pbcf/east-coast ... e.pdf.html

Riviera:

Bethesda-Bedok Tampines Kindy the latest to kenna a disappearing bus operator.



http://www.channelnewsasia.com/mobile/s ... 92794.html

Bus operator for Bethesda Bedok-Tampines Kindergarten at least served 5 years. My sons preschool CreativeO engaged East Coast Transport (Now called Sindoz) cheated parents' money by exploiting the loophole in law.

It is non longer the issue of services, it is scam! Andy Lee, Adrian Lee or Ady Lee is a conman like Jover Chew. He keeps changing company name and his personal name but using the same trick again and again to run away with parent hard earned money!