As i read about the branded chrisitan kindergartens posts (St James, Newton K, Barker Road), there is a little-known small church (Foochow Methodist Church) kindie in the Newton vicinity (SPARK-accreditated) I would like to recommend.

I have placed my elder kid there back from day 1 in 2013. With no tuition, he got through the Primary 3 GEP (some gifted program in primary school) first round. Though he didnt make it through the second round, we consider this an achievement.
For my younger son, we placed him at different reputable childcares as we could better-afford in 2016. I mentioned different because we tried several centres as he was labelled as autistic, ADHD but I refused a formal assessment because his elder brother primary school in the prime district does not accept special needs kids. I wanted to give him a longer runway. At a renowned reading program at Novena, he was labelled as the "unteachable" group.
In desperation, I brought him back to Foochow Methodist Church Kindergarten, forsaking the working mothers’ subsidy. The experienced teachers and principal (average 20 years each under their belt) quickly dispelled my fears on him. It turned out his inability to sit down at those childcare centres was because he was not engaged and the lack of eye contact was because he felt ashamed he could not cope. His fascination for spinning wheels was rooted with his passion for vehicles.
With love and encouragement from the staff (Principal: Mdm Ten; Teachers: Yvonne, Ms Lim, Riz and even cook: Aunty Ong), his previous behavioural issues were overcome and he is now captain of his own learning progress e.g. an avid reader (reading some extra materials on digestive systems which is a subject at school). Previously, at late K1 when he went Foochow, they recognised he needed help and recommended him to be put on the FLAIR reading program from MOE. (Your kid needs to be weak enough to qualify. Weak as in won’t be ready for MOE P1 unless there is intervention.)
His progress in this short timeframe: At the recent graduation concert, he could introduce a younger class on stage with a memorized prologue confidently. His K2 cohort, over the span of some months designed some robotics (a core curriculum) which winked, bowed, danced to songs. Undoubtedly, they received some guidance on their coding but still, everyone in the audience was awed. Diversity thrives at Foochow with students from various backgrounds (including minority indian muslims), yet these non-chinese students could rap flawlessly in Mandarin. They actually know the chinese characters and were not just ramblings.
Other than academics, the school is also commited to emotional resilience education. Having had two outstanding friends who suffered bullying and commited suicide, I am most grateful Mdm Ten prioritises this.
Learning for my kids goes beyond the school, they would sometimes ask me for online coding games with python as a treat we bond over. (As a data scientist, I can oblige them). I know many parents jam-pack their kids with enrichments. However, at Foochow, an innate desire to learn is already seeded and thriving among their students.

I had always believe in serving until more and more expats(with sons) refused to take up PR bcos they want to avoid NS. They just "cannot bear the thought of their sons wasting their time."


Thankfully, most of the regional FTs I spoke with also believe in the benefits of NS. They feel they have benefitted and it is nothing if our citizens can serve, they should.
A friend separately shared how 2 pinoys in his company annoyed him when over lunch, they asked him blatantly how can they helped their sons avoid NS after reports of the accidents in the recent years. Presumably, they take up the PR to qualify for HDB resale purchase.

We did I can read but it didnt help. Could not even engage my kid.

But Foochow Methodist Church Kindergarten experienced teachers helped my kid.

Does this mean that until we have KS$30, we wont see any button for us to create thread?

I moved in to stay with my in laws after my brother in law insisted on moving out as my mil became diagnosed wtih dementia. Initially I was very unhappy because my in laws were not nice to me. When tiffs happened between their daughter and I, they would naturally defend their daughter without even finding out facts. In fact, they would dote the daughter until give her their master bedroom. You can imagine the bias. I also felt it was unfair bcos my parents helped me with the kids and they only help with their daughter’s so when mil had dementia, they should stay.

But I look at her now, left to sit on the toilet bowl most of the day and in pampers by the maid, I felt sorry for her that she would never expect all her CPF savings given to daughter for studies and helping her kids, that her son in law could convince her daughter to walk out.

It was a huge strain on my marriage. My son is now 9 so it has been many years. In her current state, we no longer have anything to argue, sometimes I hold her hands to pray for her. The one I have issue is the maid. My mum in law is plump so finding a big size maid is not easy. The maid would invite guests over to stay in her room and have weekly parties in the house. I am naturally extremely unhappy about this. But my father in law would tell us to tahan all these (which i feel is easy since he also stay at his other property) bcos the doctor says dont change maid otherwise we will disorientate my mil and cause her anxiety.

Correcting the maid about looking after my mil also yields nothing as the maid would snub me "later…i know what to do ok?" while she talk talk talk or cook for her party.

Attending church, sometimes I feel this is my cross to bear. The only comfort is my younger son knows never to throw away any family member even if the person is useless and a burden.

A parent whom I used to like because she would be correcting her misbehaving children loudly, I thought she was trying her best and it cant be helped her boys were rowdy.

This year, her son had hurt others (i know at least 3 incidents which included kicking at the backside when the victim was bending over, punching another boys tummy, punching someone face. ) All the time I realise she was absent.
For the first incident, i informed her but she went, "The boy is older and is well capable of defending himself. (her son is huge). Anyway, if it is a problem, the teacher would inform me. "Basically she is telling me dont be a kpo. But the teacher was not around as activity class had dismissed. I told her as a parent, she should be around since her son likes to hit people and she said she is busy which means she is using the free activity class as a free childcare.

Parent of the boy that got punched told me she knew the family and she is not surprised at her response.

My hubby told me if she ever hurt our kid, we will be sure to go for medical examination and send her the bill but another parent who is aware and like us, would come to jagar, told us he is telling his kid if this bully comes, punch him in the nose til he bleeds bcos if the parent doesnt teach, we should help to teach. In the beginning I felt it was bad, but after learning how the other boy that got punched in the tummy couldnt z n cried in pain, i can understand why the parent feels this way.

The teacher has been telling the kid why he should hurt people and each time, he does appear sorry. He is already 6.

I used to tell my kids forgive and forget. Until my son asked me but if the person keep bullying him? It got me thinking.

I think alot come down to the chemistry between the child and the tutor.

A tutor who can break down concepts and make learning easy for the child will certainly advances the child’s grades.
I had teachers with excellent grades but couldnt teach.
Other factors to consider are factors like is the child getting enough rest? If he/she is always tired at school, then having tuition wouldnt help. Rather getting enough rest could be the solution.

St Xavier is not bad in terms of student teacher ratio and compound.

Must it be Catholic? Are you receptive to Christian Kindergarten? If so, I would recommend Foochow Methodist Church Kindergarten. The teachers are on average have 20 years experience. I would highly recommend that to anyone.

St Xavier is not bad in terms of student teacher ratio and compound.

Must it be Catholic? Are you receptive to Christian Kindergarten? If so, I would recommend Foochow Methodist Church Kindergarten. The teachers are on average have 20 years experience. I would highly recommend that to anyone.