St James Church Kindergarten

[Laura02]

My dd was in SJCK 7 yr ago. Both she and I loved the school. I, because they offer a good balance between academic and play. She, becuase learning was fun.

Learning to read came naturally. I used to read to her before bed. And we used to have lots of fun reading all sorts of road signs like SLOW, HUMP AHEAD, EXIT, etc… She loved the storybooks SJCK asked the students to buy. And they had a small "library" of used and/ or donated books that students could borrow from.
Math is also part of "play". A shopping trip used to be an exercise in mental calculation. Now that she’s in P5, shopping trips are an exercise in fractions, percentages. And road trips are an exercise in rate, speed, etc.

[Saari]

prettymomma:

Mindchamps is great but the fees..

Tell me about it! But if you rationalise that it is a full day childcare and their enrichment programs, and if you child is happy and learning...( ok ok I am consoling myself....) When we were scouting for a good centre, we visited 3 mindchamps branches and we were very impressed with 2 of the principals and the follow up. At Sjck, I must say I have been disappointed by the service staff who attended to my queries, ( I truly hope Sjck management read this forum) and they seem v disinterested and not very helpful. They didn't reply to my email. They seem very bochap and less professional so i am quite flabbergasted. I wonder if it is because they are not exactly a 'commercial' enterprise...I hope I am wrong. There r so many good reviews here regarding teachers and happy kids at Sjck.

[OrangUtahn]

Saari:

prettymomma:

Mindchamps is great but the fees..

At Sjck, I must say I have been disappointed by the service staff who attended to my queries, ( I truly hope Sjck management read this forum) and they seem v disinterested and not very helpful. They didn't reply to my email. They seem very bochap and less professional so i am quite flabbergasted. I wonder if it is because they are not exactly a 'commercial' enterprise...I hope I am wrong. There r so many good reviews here regarding teachers and happy kids at Sjck.

I would call them. Strangely I've never encountered the same as they are very spontaneous and helpful through email, calling and other modes of communication. They were always prompt for me. I love it that their teaching staff volunteer feedback even. Maybe take note of their operating hours - the staff knock off earlier than an average company or school, which may explain why if you sent an email at 4.30 pm, you may only hear back a day later.

[eureka29]

Hi, does anyone know whether St James has a policy on kids being toilet trained? My son has a spot for next year’s nursery slot, so my concern is whether he needs to be toilet trained before then. Have been trying to toilet train him but to no avail.


Would appreciate any advice. thanks!

[chien6]

eureka29:

Hi, does anyone know whether St James has a policy on kids being toilet trained? My son has a spot for next year's nursery slot, so my concern is whether he needs to be toilet trained before then. Have been trying to toilet train him but to no avail.


Would appreciate any advice. thanks!

How old is your child now? Is he going to N1 or N2?

Mine is N2 this year and he has a classmate who was not toilet trained till few months ago... A bit embarrassing for the boy, to be wearing pampers still.. But I have personally witnessed the teachers feeling the pampers to see if needed to change and helped him to change. They were very sensitive to it.. So I don't see much issue with the School..

Having said that, perhaps I could share also that you should try to prepare your son cos he may feel insecure when he sees his friends going to toilet and he having to do it inside his pants.. Just a kind thought I hope you won't mind..

Hope everything goes well..

[coriela]

Hi,


I understand that sjck Harding will not have their lease renewed after 2015. So students enrolled in 2014 and 2015 will only be offered a place for a year.

Any idea if there’s any update on this?

[chien6]

coriela:

Hi,


I understand that sjck Harding will not have their lease renewed after 2015. So students enrolled in 2014 and 2015 will only be offered a place for a year.

Any idea if there's any update on this?

Hi..

It's actually till end 2016. Currently there are several options and plans for alternatives... But nothing is concrete yet..

Even then, I do know many parents are still registering their kids...

[coriela]

So for 2014, 2015 and 2016 they only take play group and place only for a year right? What will happen after the one year?

[chien6]

coriela:

So for 2014, 2015 and 2016 they only take play group and place only for a year right? What will happen after the one year?

We are still praying about it... While many parents are prepared to take the \"risk\" to transfer the kids to another kindie IF the school is forced to close..

[Starkids]

prettymomma:

Dear all,

I was on wait list #20+ and was not offered a place in both Harding/Leedon Campus. Should have applied for the PM session as the wait list was only 10+.


My child is born on 2nd half of 2011.

Congrats to all those who got in! Any idea what are my chances like?

Cos i believe its pretty slim. How can 20 over parents pull their kids out for whatever reasons?

Anyway will be registering for St Joseph.. is it true that their approach are not as academically inclined as St James?

Will also know if i managed to secure a place in NYK via waiting list this June..

I personally find current principal St Joseph CC is good and manage the kids quite well. They do have homework, spellings, hanyu pinyin which i heard of.
However, do not expect much from their teachers. They really work for living rather than showing any passion over the kids. I found them too negative and the worst is they can speak bad things about your kids in front of them. I checked with other parents who kids are there and they feel the same. Not all teachers there are bad. Few married teachers (with kids themselves) does differentiate from the rest. If your kids are not under these teacher, then have to say good luck. I ever witness one of the teacher dragging a kids by his/her hands to one corner. The next moment she did is to continue shouting and scolding at the kid. The poor kid was so affected that he/she nearly burst into tears. I came to know later that because the kids does not want to co-operate during game/music time. What more to expect from a barely 3 years old kid. I think the teachers there should talk less to each other and care more for the children.