Nanyang Kindergarten
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Just done registration for pre-N 2014, but having a lot of doubts at the moment.
Boy is currently in full day at pat’s and is loving it. Admittedly, it’s more play then learning at their age but we don’t really mind it for now. What has been disappointing for us at pats is that the bilingual immersion which they talk so much about has not yield any results. Boy still refuses to speak mandarin and I have no clue how much he understands.
Key for us at Nyk is mandarin but there has been a lot of poor feedback on quality of staff and curriculum. Can anyone share recent experiences on this aspect? As a ftwm, the 3 hr school time is also a pain as I will need to find other things t entertain the boy. Any feedback on quality of enrichment classes and do they always start at 315pm?
Don’t want to be in a situation I need to send my kid to 2 schools to keep him entertained (tv and iPad surfing at home doesn’t count as entertainment!)
P/s:We were on phase 4 of the registration, and nyk admin suggested that they have not opened up to public wait list as priority lists have until this week to accept. -
Just found out NYK no longer offering enrichment classes for preN children from 2014. That’s when most childcare starts offering extra-curricular classes.
Another reason to stay at pat’s ;( -
When my son was in PN last year, there was only one enrichment for PN, English speech and drama. I sat in one of the sessions, I was not impressed by the course provider and did not continue after 1 term, so I think no loss there.
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Hi Hi to the parents who queued in Jan 2012 for 2011 Babies! I think we were number 8 sleeping just below the staircase that night!
We just got a call this week for a space for the 2014 afternoon session also.
A little undecided now cause our boy also got a space at Living Sanctuary, which has quite raving reviews. Also the lady that we spoke to a few times over the phone this week seems always to be in a foul mood. Hope her attitude is not reflective of the environment in NYK now.....
Will be visiting the school early next week and see how it goes. -
GoodtoGoh:
Also the lady that we spoke to a few times over the phone this week seems always to be in a foul mood. Hope her attitude is not reflective of the environment in NYK now..... Will be visiting the school early next week and see how it goes.
Haha, that was EXACTLY my impression too. In fact, I immediately decided NYK isn't worth it, if that's the attitude they have. There are many (ok, maybe not that many but at least a few!) other options and I don't need to be that kiasu to put up with this! -
We just confirmed our son’s slot for prenursery PM session 2014. It was a pleasant surprise to receive this great news!
Anyone joining too? -
GoodtoGoh:
Hi Hi to the parents who queued in Jan 2012 for 2011 Babies! I think we were number 8 sleeping just below the staircase that night!
We just got a call this week for a space for the 2014 afternoon session also.
A little undecided now cause our boy also got a space at Living Sanctuary, which has quite raving reviews. Also the lady that we spoke to a few times over the phone this week seems always to be in a foul mood. Hope her attitude is not reflective of the environment in NYK now.....
Will be visiting the school early next week and see how it goes.
Hi! How was the visit? Have you decided on which school you gonna place your child? Perhaps we should have a network for 2014 intake: parents of NYK students haha -
hi hi...
was just popping in to see the discussion. just sharing my experiences..
My elder son graduated from nyk 2 years ago. He studied in both the old and new campus too. My gal started off with their PN group but I took her out in less than a year.
NYK provides the environment for a child to learn the mandarin language especiallly if the child starts from PN or N as these 2 years are primarily taught in mandarin. Much to the dislike of every child who comes from english speaking background, you would see crying children in the classroom all through first few months ( to the extent of beyond 1 term of school), children throwing into fits and tantrums refusing to attend school. But well, children adapts very well in environment, regardless whether they love or resist. Given time, parents rejoy that their children begin to pick up mandarin language. This is how my children experience in nyk.
NYK provides the environment for the mandarin language. However, if parents expect children to be able to adapt and flourish into the primary school system just by attending nyk alone, the expectations may have to be adjusted. Their english and math curriculum lacks the academic rigour to settling into p1. My son is a fast learner and he has been attending other academic classes at 6 years old. He enjoys reading and this habit is cultivated from very young so primary school is an easy brisk for him.
Looking at his work from nyk, I would not think he would have any much easier time settling in p1 without other enrichment.
I rather my children speak confidently, be kind and enjoys the process of learning to drill learning. I like my children to have creativity and analytical skills. All these are soft skills which brings a child far ahead into his adulthood. These, are survival skills.
With my son's experience, I place my gal into the school. She loves school but she has a strong character. The teachers see her with behavioural problem. My gal's class teacher uses foods and sweets to bribe her into listening and following instruction. I do not think this is appropriate. She was not speaking much even after almost a year in the school. The school environment has changed over the last few years. the strong sense of chinese values and systems somehow seemed lost by the time by gal was enrolled (compared to my son's time). So i withdrew my daughter and took her into antoher school. I saw great progress in my gal in her language skills within a month's time. She is much happier in the new place she is in, surrounded by very caring and supportive staff. The school she is in has a good balance between academic and respect the child as an individual. They truly recognises each child is different and give them the space to grow beyond their capability and milestone. It has been over a year and I am very happy for her.
Most importantly, parents should see from the child, based on the child's progress and development, as a personality, if the environment is suited for him or her, rather than on brand name.
just my 2 cents worth... -
Hi TSP,
We are really glad to hear your honest feedback on NYK as a parent who has perhaps seen the best and worst of NYK. Seldom in forums do we see such a balanced view.
For the longest time, we had thought so much about sending our kid to NYK because of its strength in mandarin and its ability to get the children interested in the chinese culture which was important to us given its the area we were least suited to educate our kids on
But we have heard much about the changes (teachers/ culture etc) in the school in recent times for the worse. Some feedback we have heard:
- very regimental, teachers expect all students to follow instructions strictly without exceptions
- limited efforts to cater to different development needs/ advancement of the different children
- of the 3 hours in PN, there is only about 1 hour of real lesson time (meal time was included in the 3 hours)
- limited feedback (not close to anything like the Learning Visions, Pats, Kinderlands)
- lots of tired (and hence irritable) children (estimated 30-50% children attend another school during the other session)
- lots of fundraising
Therefore, despite us being an alum, having Q’ed overnight, secured a much coveted spot and paying the $2000 registration deposit, we have decided that we are keeping our kid at where the current school, where the kid is happy and flourishing as a child.
As for the mandarin/ chinese, suspect we’ll have to rely on other enrichment programmes elsewhere
Cheers. -
Hi mummy_excited,
There is truth in those reviews you heard… with regards to fund raising, the most immediate task is to raise fund for the new building in nyps. There is always an option provided to everyone to opt in/out.
The treatment from staffs to every parents differ according to parents’ profile, likewise the same to the children too. Teachers are stressed with high profile children so naturally more time and effort is spent managing parents.
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