[Bedok/Katong/Marine Parade/Siglap] Preschools

[jerejoy]

Thanks Maisy for yr info. My boy can only enroll in the following year cos he’s only 17 months old. But I better hurry since this preschool is pretty hot.

[miraclebb]

anyone has children in christ methodist church kindergarten at east coast road? i need some feedback on this kindergarten… thanks!

[newmummy]

[Moderator's note: Topics merged.]


Hi....what are your thoughts on yuquan preschool and whitelodge in east coast area? i am new to singapore and looking for a good preschool in east coast area,preferably around the marine parade area. I am planning to send my kids to the local primary school, what are the good preschool that will have good curicullum that can prepare them for good local primary school. Any help are very much appreciated

[schellen]

Hi! I did a search and found this: http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?t=289&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=east+coast+preschool


Maybe it'll help?

[diymummy]

Hi parents,


Anyone tried out Bedok Methodist Kindergarten? Any comments?

[santorini]

Hello Parents,


I have been reading the posts and they have been very informative.

Some bad reviews on kinderland academy. My 28-mth is attending kinderland siglap and is falling sick all the time.

Any comments or feedback abt this CC? i didn’t do much research at that time. Juz enrolled her there as the place seems ok and it is near my parent’s place. But now, i am having 2nd thoughts as I find there are so many kids in the school…and only 8 teachers. Many chinese nationals too…not sure whether it is good for her.

thanks

[YingYing]

santorini:

Hello Parents,


I have been reading the posts and they have been very informative.

Some bad reviews on kinderland academy. My 28-mth is attending kinderland siglap and is falling sick all the time.

Any comments or feedback abt this CC? i didn't do much research at that time. Juz enrolled her there as the place seems ok and it is near my parent's place. But now, i am having 2nd thoughts as I find there are so many kids in the school...and only 8 teachers. Many chinese nationals too...not sure whether it is good for her.

thanks

Hi Santorini
How long has your daughter been at the CC ? It is common for kids to fall sick frequently once they start CC/ Preschool as the kids mingle freely & this is the time their body is building up immunity.

As for Chinese nationals - what are they there for? As in.. I presume they are all teachers? If so, shouldn't that be good? Chinese enrichment Schools like Tien Hsia employ 100% chinese nationals to teach... looking at how \"successful\" they are ... i thought having Chinese nationals to teach chinese is an \"in\" thing these days.... a while ago , my son attended Julia Gabriel Bilinggual Playclub -his chinese teachers are from China too.

Apart from the \"concerns\" you hv listed, do u have any other concerns abt the school? If not, then should be ok.... dun worry kids falling sick often means they are building up immunity....of cos so long as it is the usual runny nose , cough...think shouldn't be a problem... How's the school like in terms of HFMD cases? Did u ask them? But of course, most recently the spotlight is on H1N1 - so u may wish to check w them if they have any cases... if nothing of these sort, then should be ok ...dun worry

[santorini]

Hi Ying ying,


thanks for your feedback.

Coincidentally, I got a call at 7pm from the school that they have 1 case of H1N1. The kid had fever on Saturday. so meaning the kid should be contagious earlier than that. Just hope no other cases. I will keep my gal at home for the next few days.
For HFMD, they had abt 5 in May this year. I practically did not send my gal to school for the whole month. I was quite upset with that episode as when I picked her up in the late afternoon, i even chatted with the teachers and no one informed me. I was still "new" then as my gal at that time started CC only abt 3 weeks. Hence, I was not informed that I have to check her school bag for letters. I normally do not unzip the front pocket of her schoolbag. That night at 11pm, i happened to unzip it and found a letter informing me that there is a case of HFMD from her class. I was so upset and next day called up the school how come they did not call to inform me? What if i did not read the letter? The teacher who took my call was telling me that they do not have a norm of calling and it is the parent’s responsibility to check for letters in the school bag. I told her I can play my part in checking her bag since now I know their practice. But HFMD is SERIOUS…shdn’t they call every parent to inform? The next day I started to receive updates via phonecall. And a few days later, the VP called me to apologise on that matter saying they mishandled the case (she was overseas then) and said they had meetings and ensure it will not happen again. Well… that was really a scare.

Anyhow, my gal was down with fever, cough, running nose, fever, fever, cough, running nose…never seem to stop. She was fine during the 1st 2 mths…but now, it has never stop. she was in fact hospitalized in early august due to prolong fever and early stages of pneumonia. Seeing that she has to take so many kinds of antibiotics all the time… makes me really upset.

Can i ask whether the fully aircon environment is the culprit? Bcoz i am thinking whether I should look for a non aircon environment.

Btw, she has started CC for coming 6 mths. I have another baby at home so when she is sick, the bb will be sick…it is really tough to handle 2 sick kids with no helper.

As for the chinese nationals, I am rather concern as the ratio of the chinese teachers are more than the english speaking ones. I respect the chinese teachers, however, it became questionable to me when they outnumbered the english speaking ones…

[YingYing]

Hi Santorini

Hope you are coping fine w 2 kids at home now (since u mentioned u r keeping your daughter away from school - which, in my opinion is a good decision to make)

First of all , i better clarify that i m no expert in child-minding skills (haha) Just thought i could share some thoughts w you

After reading your post, i also agree the school kinda mishandled the HFMD episode - well i guess they might be right in that it is not their practice to call every parent (esp if they are a large CC) but they should at least keep parents informed of any \"communicative booklet/leaflet\" that they stuffed inside the bag - afterall not every parent check their children's schoolbag - some parents (ie myself) are sometimes so busy - our maids become the ones who \"pack & unpack\" schoolbag ... and not every maid will know the communication leaflet holds important information.

As for H1N1 case, well, it seems that they now are calling every parent (i assume? & i hope they are not calling just u becos u hv complained before) . Was it your sole decision to keep your child at home or the school remains shut for this period?

I have a friend ( i better not mention the CC here) whose child is in another CC has H1N1 confirmed case. The CC remains shut for 10 days as a precautionary measure. I am not sure what the \"protocol\" is like for H1N1 - it seems some schools will \"auto-shut\" while some schools remains open ...

I can understand your stress level with your princess falling sick almost every other week - my friend's daughter also falls sick every now & then but i think she is in another kinderland ... is kinderland siglap fully air-con? Is it the landed property type ? I thought they use fan? no ? I thought only kinderland Marine Parade is fully aircon which was the reason why i didn't put my son there (initially wanted to but when i see it is fully aircon in an old building ; my mind started to question the ventilation - hahhaha)

You hv no helper at home? wOw i salute mums who can make do without domestic help - i cannot hahaha... Are you a homemaker or working mum ?

As for Chinese nationals - wOw it outnumbers the english teachers? If its me, i will just take it that I've enrolled my child in a \"Tien Hsia\" CC hahaha... Are you Chinese? I am chinese but regrettably an english-speaking chinese ie my chinese standard is less than ideal so i wouldn't mind putting my child in a chinese -speaking environment so he won't find the language too foreign but to each his own ... and yes it does sound a little strange if the CC has more chinese nationals than local english teachers..... perhaps maybe the CC is trying to \"rebrand\" itself into a Chinese CC .. u know just like a Chinese Kindergarten ?

[santorini]

hi ying ying,


is your boy in full day CC as well? do you mind to share which CC does he goes to? is it good?

Unfortunately, the school remains open. They told me they will be calling all parents to inform. But they will propose to those parents whose kids are having any flu-like symptoms to stop sending their kids to school. I honestly would have preferred they close the school for 10 days.

erm… i am a full time working mum…with regularly late night conference calls with USA somemore. Very taxing for me. My mum is alone looking after both kids whenever my gal cannot go to CC. Extremely tough on her since my boy is extremely naughty. My gal is also not any better.

I am not sure whether they are turning into a "Mandarin CC". I think i will perhaps slowly look around for a non-aircon CC. If i find something nice and with a slot, I may just transfer her.

Do you have any to recommend in the east?

Btw, her CC is fully aircon in a bungalow.