NAFA Arts Kindergarten

[clare]

Hi all. Just wanted to add a little bit more to this thread.

My oldest was at the NAFA kindergarten for a little while before we returned to the U.S. (we go to and fro from Singapore due to hubby’s job). He thoroughly enjoyed it; art & music twice a week and dance once a week agreed with him. However, NAFA is not as academic as, say, PCF, because of its intentional focus on the arts. So, if you’re a super kiasu parent, you may be disappointed about your kid(s)’ ability to learn to read, write, spell etc, IF you leave it entirely up to the school to teach these skills. I’m very lax about academic stuff so it didn’t bother me too much.
Caveat: my son only attended up to mid-year of K1 so i can’t comment on the K2 syllabus. Perhaps K2 will be more intense to prep for P1…

Also, for music, bear in mind that the teacher will have to manage a class of 15-20 kids, so progress is very much dictated by how well/fast each kid learns. My child is fairly fast at learning, but I know he’d have benefited more from private lessons.
I do hear of parents saying that they expected their kids to have learnt more. Personally I think that’s crap - how well can a 4/5 yo play after three months of lessons, even if they’re taught by NAFA teachers?
Btw, the teachers are great, no complains there. They are extremely competent in my experience. But they can’t turn the kids into music prodigies!

clare

[rinakurniadi]

Hi, anybody knows another kindy similar to NAFA kindy (art/physical focus)?

thanks!

[ChiefKiasu]

clare:

Hi all. Just wanted to add a little bit more to this thread...

clare, thanks for your note. We've finally gotten an invitation from NAFA to join the N2 programme (after nearly 2 years!) But we're quite happy with Schoolhouse By The Bay. Tough choice in the making :).

[corneyAmber]

ChiefKiasu:

clare:

Hi all. Just wanted to add a little bit more to this thread...

clare, thanks for your note. We've finally gotten an invitation from NAFA to join the N2 programme (after nearly 2 years!) But we're quite happy with Schoolhouse By The Bay. Tough choice in the making :).

gosh means u applied when the kid was 2yo?

[ChiefKiasu]

ks2me:

ChiefKiasu:

...clare, thanks for your note. We've finally gotten an invitation from NAFA to join the N2 programme (after nearly 2 years!) But we're quite happy with Schoolhouse By The Bay. Tough choice in the making :).

gosh means u applied when the kid was 2yo?

No, no.. it wasn't me... it was my wife... she's the kiasu one :mrgreen:

[corneyAmber]

ChiefKiasu:

ks2me:

[quote=\"ChiefKiasu\"]...clare, thanks for your note. We've finally gotten an invitation from NAFA to join the N2 programme (after nearly 2 years!) But we're quite happy with Schoolhouse By The Bay. Tough choice in the making :).

gosh means u applied when the kid was 2yo?

No, no.. it wasn't me... it was my wife... she's the kiasu one :mrgreen:[/quote]A...so...des..Mrs ChiefKiasu....one mountain has one mountain higher... :lol: So you must thank her for the foresight.

[sallie]

[Moderator's note: Topics merged.]


Would like to know if anyone has put his/her child in NAFA Arts Kinder? Is it really good? As the school fees are extremely high. How is the school environment, teachers, children, etc?Would appreciate if anyone could share their experience before i send my kid to this school.

[Mandie]

I just made an hard decision to withdraw my girl from NAFA. It is good school but I expect better for such high fees. My girl was there for 1 and half year, from PN to N. The acadamic programs are very good, class teachers are competent and they speak proper Chinese and English which I am very particaluar about for preschool teachers. I have no complaint about it. But the arts programs are not up to my expectation, 1 to 20 of teacher/student ratio is not possible for a small kid to benefit technically on music and arts. And my girl does not enjoy the dance class altho she loves to dance at home. After I enrolled her to private music class, she improved alot and I can see her confidence and growing interest for music. i have no regret sending her there for the last 2 years there, as the integrated programs given her exposure to music and arts and she was very happy there. But I am hoping to give her better quality of music and arts education. So i did the maths, with such high fee and I still need to add on on more private tution and that is too much for me to bear. If money is not an concern, it is a good school.

[Belle]

My daughter has just joined the nursery class about 5 months ago.


I could see some changes in her. She likes her school and seems to enjoy herself. She is more lively, outspoken, chatty and not afraid to get to know new friends outside of her class. She is not as shy as before.

The arts (music, dance and art) programs are quite fine. Before this, I used to think that she does not like dancing but lately, I see more of her dancing to music at home, performing in front of us and relatives. As for the music. I felt a bit helpless as I do not have any music background. The music is quite intense. They are taught to recognise the different notes and alphabets of the keyboard. We, as parents are expected to practise with her at home! But, I am delighted that she knows how to play a simple tune like Mary had a little lamb on the keyboard.

[sunflower]

Last yr, I wanted to enrol my girl for this yr’s N1 prog at NAFA kindergarten but they informed that starting this yr, they will not be opening anymore N1 class. They then put my girl on the waiting list for next yr N2 class. Since then, I’ve enrolled her in a church kindergarten where she has been enjoying herself. Her teachers are very creative and I’m really impressed with the artwork that she brought home. Moreover next yr, she’ll be in a class where coincidentally, the same teacher will be teaching her again!


NAFA recently called to inform that there’ll be a place in N2 for my girl next yr. Can’t decide now whether to put her there…