BigDevil:

Like to get feedback on the enrichment class \"Speak with Oomph!\".


Did anyone send his/her child to one of these before? Is it any good?

Why don't you try it out and share your feedback here?

We signed up for robotics, as requested by DD. Hopes she likes it. :xedfingers:

Thanks, Dnls_mum. Have been checking almost daily, though not much luck so far. Hopefully will get lucky nearer to the date.


I did think about moving to another ryokan in between, but that would be logistically challenging, and waste precious time too as I don’t have too many days in Kyoto.

Imp75:

Dnls_mum:

[quote=\"Imp75\"]Just curious why do we need so many days at Kyoto? I budgeted 1 dat at north south east west each so max 4 days. Also will kids be bored with Kyoto?

It all depends on what type of traveller you are. The type that take your time or move quickly from place to place. I feel it is a city with lots of walking and so I need time to sit down and relax for a coffee, a dessert or just watch the world go by.

E.g., we spend half a day at Nijo castle alone, going through the place thoroughly with the assistance of audio guide.

Will your kids like it? It depends on your kids. Mine will prob have an overdose of temples after a while. But DH and I love it.

Thank you, DNLS_mum!
Me and my hubby are also the chillax kind, the last time both of us went together, we ended up being so tired b/c we were chasing after ourselves covering the places so this time with kids, definitely will take it slow and take in the scenery and enjoy the wonderful bistros along the way.
My concern is really the kids, while we know we adults will enjoy the sights and sounds, I am not so sure about them. Besides Gion district, I am not sure what else may interest them.
Kids wanna stay at capsule hotel for experience, I am quite wary as I read that most capsules are not allowed to be locked from within or has no door. Sounds very insecure for me.[/quote]What is a capsule hotel? My kids want to stay in traditional Japanese room, hence no choice but to book ryokan. Hopefully they will have no problem with the food.

Dnls_mum:

Busymom:

Thanks, Dnls_mum. Unfortunately both of them are sold out for the period I am looking at. :gloomy:


Do you happen to know of others?

Kyoto is a popular destination. You can search http://www.japanican.com to see what is available.

Thank you! Found something from this link but have to pay through the nose :moneyflies:

Thanks, Dnls_mum. Unfortunately both of them are sold out for the period I am looking at. :gloomy:


Do you happen to know of others?

Does anyone have good ryokan recommendation for Kyoto? Preferably easily accessible via taxi or train. TIA.

I would like to have a white pack if there is a choice. Thanks, Chief.


Funpack with Money Champ Board Game (worth $86)
1. Hquek
2. MommyNg
3. Pen88n (white one pls)
4. Auntiexxx (red)
5. Fantasylandsdream
6. Imami (red)
7. MrsKiasu (red one if can)
8. Phtthp
9. rains (red one, can?)
10. Busymom (white)
11. cool_hi
12. FMXA04
13. bluesclue
14. NerdyMath (red)
15. mom2two
16. SS2
17. Pp62
18. purple (red) *Thank you! *
19. lynntan15 *Thks*
20. jj1111 *thanks.*
21. Joyymum - (Red) \"Thank You\"
22. CMF \"Thanks!\"
23. Blessedwife - red if possible *Thank you*
24. Motherof2LovelyBoys - red if possible - Thanks!
25. aloyboy
26. coolbreeze (red pls, and thanks!)
27. desmin
28. Lenny08 ( Thank you! )
29. alng (red please, thanks so much, chief!)
30. Moochi (red if possible, thanks!)
31. monsterlim
32. nhps2012
33. ellehcim (red if possible, thanks)
34. portia13 (red please, thank you!)
35. Koalamummy
36. Nerov
37. bowling
38. PlatypusAsia
39. dunma
40. weoseek (red pls)
41. floundering
42. pacetone
43. lostbunny

Only Money Champ Game
1. BigDevil
2. starlight1968sg
3. barney
4. mummyv[/quote][/quote]

NDP 2016 fun pack

1. Hquek
2. Mummyng
3. Pe88nn
4. Auntyxxx
5. Fantasylandsdream
6. Imami
7. MommyNg
8. MrsKiasu
9. Phtthp
10. rains (red one, can?)
11. Busymom

:please:

pirate:

Notice how people can have doubts about the admission of a 13 year old, but have no doubt about the admission of a 6 year old. See how even when there is a CCTV recording, people can have doubts about whether a 13 yo molested a 12 yo, but have no doubt when it is alleged that a 6 yo molested another 6 yo.


A 13 yo is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty, while a 6 yo is presumed to be guilty until proven innocent.

It is wrong not to let a 13 yo attend some camp, but it is perfectly ok to suspend a 6 yo from childcare.

I have come to the conclusion that in a spat involving children, the one with parents who make the loudest and most emotive noises wins.

Not the same people and not the same situation.

One is admission to the IO who is a stranger to the 14yo, the other is admission to his childcare principal or teacher whom he should know well.
One has an eye witness, the other could be your word against my word (no doubt the police subsequently said that the CCTV recorded the act itself, but this wasn't clear at the start).

And one big difference, the parents of the 6yo have not bothered to check if he did it or not, and if he did, was it purely a plank or something more sinister as some are inclined to think. That's the missing link here. No one knows his side of the story, except that his preschool said he admitted to it.

I do, however, agree with you that a 6yo or a 8yo (if they aren't matured enough or intelligent enough, sorry to say this), could have very unreliable recollection of events, which makes their statements or admissions very unreliable. When asked leading questions, could give the kind of answers that the adult is looking for. (I am back to the old point where a minor should not have statements taken from him without the presence of someone whom the minor is familiar with).

I have personally witnessed an incident in my ds' childcare. I was hanging around after a celebration. Most parents had left; I hadn't as my ds was unwilling to remain in cc after the celebration, but I told him no one was free to look after him at home that day. He started playing some cars with 2 other children. Soon, a couple more children joined in and the original group of children had to share the cars around with each having 2 cars. One particular girl (A) liked a car that another girl (B) was holding, but B refused to give up that car. After some time, B wandered off, leaving her cars behind. Meanwhile, A took over the car that she liked. About 5 mins later, B returned. B wanted the car back but A refused to give to her. B tried to snatch it back and at this point, it was starting to get physical. I alerted a teacher who was nearby but speaking to a parent. She asked the 2 girls what had happened and guess what, B who was the one snatching the car, was very quick to say that A snatched her car. :roll: A, on the other hand, was not as eloquent and when the teacher told her nicely that she should not snatch her friend's toys, she just nodded silently.

By the way, these children are 4yo. But B is clearly the intelligent and more \"matured\" one while A is no match for B. :razz:

cherryc:

Probably we can list out the pros , cons and the concerns we have.


Pros:

1) no one will be defined by a 3 digits for the rest of their lives which may limit their potential
2) a chance for moe to change all the different affiliation points for diff secondary school
3) no need to chase the last point
4) spread out the top talents

Cons
1) may need subjective criteria which may be unfair

Concerns
1) underprivileged kids may lose out
2) parents may be more stressed to outsmart the system
3) they may not select the best students for the respective IP programs

By the way I see the edu minister making a few announcement tdy on Trpt . I Thk he is stretched too thin....

Don't think anyone is being defined by a 3-digit at this moment, secondary school is a new starting line for all.

Cons
Thought many have brought up various cons on this thread?
2) how to compute overall points for those who are exempted from MT or whatever subject
3) how to treat students who take foundation papers for various subjects
4) parents and children will be more stressed because they probably need to be \"special\" to differentiate themselves from others, so more time needed to train to be \"special\"
5) non-academic enrichments will be viewed as trying to get one leg up against others when it could have been pure interest or aesthetic reasons
6) how to determine top 10% for IP/3rd language
7) parents and PSLE students get more stressed because sec school posting becomes less transparent
affiliation to sec school has become even more important, p1 registration would see more parents rushing to schools with sec school affiliation

sushi88:

Busymom:

[quote=\"sushi88\"]

The short answer is if MOE insists in emphasizing DSA via leadership quality as an option, then explain to us why such DSA is required by the schools, i.e. the rationale? If there is no requirement by the schools especially top schools, it is clearly just a subjective ticket for schools to suka suka admit anyone they know or like.... what meritocracy?

To answer the question in bold, I ask you one.
Do you know why today such schools who admitted kids with leadership qualities need them?

Erm, I don't have the answer.. The school lacks student leaders? Or they want to groom student leaders? :scratchhead:

A photo that I got from someone before on nygh DSA 2015 shows that they had 3 DSA categories and the 2nd category is called Academic / Leadership.

Maybe you should check why NYGH wants leadership as a core for DSA albeit it actually makes no sense. Their job is to produce the leaders, being a top school.

If tier 2 or tier 3 schools asking for DSA leadership, I can understand better...so that they can springboard to \"all schools are good schools\" faster by attracting student leaders who should likely be good in studies as well and be role models. MOE could be thinking along this line...to spread the talent around other schools using leadership but will kids take the bite for such schools is another question.[/quote]Because given their culture, they want 品学兼优 students... :siam: