Living Sanctuary Kindergarten

[stjt]

bebebub:

This is what I observed:


worship songs during morning assembly - can see the kids love this, mealtime grace when breakfast is served, and an occasional bible story during lesson time.

My nursery dd comes back and tells me letter sound of the alphabets she learned. So I presume LSK has a in-house phonics program in place. HTH.

tks bebebub
not sure if K1 and K2 have spelling, han yu ping ying...:)

[sassyfire]

Today was my first day with my boy at Living Sanctuary N2.

Frankly, I thought the head teacher for my boy’s class Mrs Quek was easy to communicate with. I like her voice which is clear and firm. But er, can I say the chinese teacher in my hubby’s words "kinda half past six impression".

It was kinda weird when we waited for her after snack/ meal time. In the end, the teacher had to go out to hunt for her. I heard her minutes later mumbling and laughing behind as she entered that she forgot…huh?

And because the other classes were conducted consecutively her voice which is sometimes abit muffled (though loud strange huh) can’t hold the kids’ attention much less english speaking kids so some were sent to stand aside from the class…my boy totally can’t be bothered sigh. The teaching was fast, and ended just as abruptly as she appeared. She seems very strict though yet kind at times. Just that her teaching kinda (at least today to me) left much to be desired. I felt the other teachers kinda surpassed that bit compared to her.

I have never sent my boy to any enrichment class much less teach him to write…my bad cos I was too busy with work at home, spending time talking to him, and my mom that I neglected this part. However he has picked up reading and some phonics on his own, he is more or less pretty clear on shapes. can count etc. But his mandarin lolz…I am very english speaking so…erm, yah. Though I used to be good at mandarin, I did it out to get good grades then er, threw everything behind me. (Sorry very frank).

So to me the mandarin was one of the most crucial to me.
Just wondering did you guys always had the same mandarin teacher or did they just changed? I know it’s the first day so I am just going to give it more time.

any one else experienced this or is it just us today? hmmm…

[bubblepearl]

sassyfire, my boy is also under Mrs Quek, is he in N2 PM session? i believe the chinese teacher is the one in short hair, Mrs Shen?

[Dawnie]

sassyfire:

Today was my first day with my boy at Living Sanctuary N2.

Frankly, I thought the head teacher for my boy's class Mrs Quek was easy to communicate with. I like her voice which is clear and firm. But er, can I say the chinese teacher in my hubby's words \"kinda half past six impression\".

It was kinda weird when we waited for her after snack/ meal time. In the end, the teacher had to go out to hunt for her. I heard her minutes later mumbling and laughing behind as she entered that she forgot....huh?

And because the other classes were conducted consecutively her voice which is sometimes abit muffled (though loud strange huh) can't hold the kids' attention much less english speaking kids so some were sent to stand aside from the class...my boy totally can't be bothered sigh. The teaching was fast, and ended just as abruptly as she appeared. She seems very strict though yet kind at times. Just that her teaching kinda (at least today to me) left much to be desired. I felt the other teachers kinda surpassed that bit compared to her.

I have never sent my boy to any enrichment class much less teach him to write...my bad cos I was too busy with work at home, spending time talking to him, and my mom that I neglected this part. However he has picked up reading and some phonics on his own, he is more or less pretty clear on shapes. can count etc. But his mandarin lolz...I am very english speaking so..erm, yah. Though I used to be good at mandarin, I did it out to get good grades then er, threw everything behind me. (Sorry very frank).

So to me the mandarin was one of the most crucial to me.
Just wondering did you guys always had the same mandarin teacher or did they just changed? I know it's the first day so I am just going to give it more time.

any one else experienced this or is it just us today? hmmm....

Mrs Quek was my boy's form teacher last year. She is quite new, barely a year with LSK, but she is good, my boy likes her alot. I am not sure which Chinese teacher you are referring to, so far I only have compliments for the teachers. My boy looks forward to school everyday

[sassyfire]

Hi bubblepearl, ya my boy is in the N2 class. PM session...quite bad for me now cos it's a mad rush everyday, i fell sick so am late all the time


Ya cos our routine got real bad due to my work from home and he zzz late for the longest time so have a hard time switching the schedule around...sigh...

what's your child's name? (if u don't mind that is :D)

yup the chinese teacher is Ms Shen. I think she is nice la but during the 1st time i was in class i saw her send a few kids to the corner...lolz...cos they can't sit still in her class.

[bubblepearl]

hi sassyfire, will pm u my son’s name…


PM session, he should not be late mah? He sleep till what time?

sad to say, i have no chance to see my boy in the class as i did not attend the orientation week as he been going to LSK since Pre-N.

[sassyfire]

Hi Dawnie...ya I agree the teachers are nice...I am still very unsure about the curriculum. I find them in class sitting down alot. He seems sad when he has to go to school. That was unlike the 1st week.


The chinese lesson is not very interactive. So I am not sure why. Mrs Quek did say to feed back during parents teacher meeting. I didn't tell her anything. But I did say that for kids who are so comfortable in english already (meaning can read too), he may find he doesn't know what the chinese teacher is talking about so no interactive activities. Maybe that is why he cried during chinese lesson today.

Bubble pearl...replied ur PM ya he zzz like past midnight everyday...hence the mad rush the next day and frustration...sigh.

[bebebub]

sassyfire:

Hi Dawnie...ya I agree the teachers are nice...I am still very unsure about the curriculum. I find them in class sitting down alot. He seems sad when he has to go to school. That was unlike the 1st week.


The chinese lesson is not very interactive. So I am not sure why. Mrs Quek did say to feed back during parents teacher meeting. I didn't tell her anything. But I did say that for kids who are so comfortable in english already (meaning can read too), he may find he doesn't know what the chinese teacher is talking about so no interactive activities. Maybe that is why he cried during chinese lesson today.

Bubble pearl...replied ur PM ya he zzz like past midnight everyday...hence the mad rush the next day and frustration...sigh.

sassyfire,
My dd also dun speak a word of mandarin when she started school this year. Prior to this, she did not attend any school or enrichment class at all. Almost zero contact with mandarin. During her first few days in LSK, I told her chinese teacher, Mdm Shen, that she does not understand mandarin and may not even respond to her chinese name. I was assured that my dd will soon be able to understand. 7 weeks on, I am very pleased to hear my dd singing in mandarin and can even recognise simple chinese character like 爸爸 妈妈 哥哥 姐姐 苹果.

Give your child some time to adjust. I believe if your child does not understand the chinese teacher, she will speak to your child in English, if necessary.

[sassyfire]

bebebub:

sassyfire:

Hi Dawnie...ya I agree the teachers are nice...I am still very unsure about the curriculum. I find them in class sitting down alot. He seems sad when he has to go to school. That was unlike the 1st week.


The chinese lesson is not very interactive. So I am not sure why. Mrs Quek did say to feed back during parents teacher meeting. I didn't tell her anything. But I did say that for kids who are so comfortable in english already (meaning can read too), he may find he doesn't know what the chinese teacher is talking about so no interactive activities. Maybe that is why he cried during chinese lesson today.

Bubble pearl...replied ur PM ya he zzz like past midnight everyday...hence the mad rush the next day and frustration...sigh.

Thanks so much for your reply.

actually I have been very vexed by this whole thing....
everyday he wakes he will ask if he can go to the serangoon school.
i have spoken to the principal and principal is objective...do what's best for him....

mrs quek feels he seems fine with everyone and her class except shen lao shi

i understand how my mom feels now...i wanted out of a top school and she refused due to pride back then...in a way...i am going through the same thing cos I had thought this is a good school...i mean i can't find a single negative feedback on this school. I mean, how bad can LSK be right? So i m reluctant to give up his position. Yet this goes against my parent principles as I practise attachment parenting & believe kids make a choice they have to try it and live with it (meaning i told him no more changes if this really happens). your choice u have to stick with it.

As for Zion serangoon, the principal is so opened she doesn't even mind me sitting in a class one time, going down to talk to any parents or observing their lessons openly.
And i guess for my boy he took to the chinese lesson and also badly wants to try the sportball programme...I feel the principal is not out to earn money kind cos sportball in other church kindy - we have to pay extra.

so the principal will give my boy till end of this term, if he still insist he wants to change, she will enforce my withdrawal letter, if not, I will retract it....i am thankful for her patience. Mrs Quek do not want my boy to give up on the class...that she is very clear as compared to the principal....

he is able to count 1 to 10 in chinese but that's cos i took out the worksheet he took home and told him what it was....the basic ni hao ma? wo heng hao xie xie...or how old is he kinda of questions yes he knows.

the thing i frankly told the principal of Zion ...i can barely find any comment on her kindy...neg or position ( tho i found one neg but that was in year 2009 i think or 2010...that the boy don't enjoy...that's all...and a few tiny positive comments like it's not bad)...my fren had told me Zion is a more fun kindy and practises more learning through play...

i guess i can't afford any more enrichment classes at the moment hence i wonder about the curriculum....

I was supposed to look at paya lebar methodist church kindy too....but wondering if i should just forget about it...otherwise too many options for him.

i have majority telling me - if that is his choice, let him go and live his choice including his pd. and then a minority telling me, that we don't get to choose our teachers right? so we must accept what is given...no choice they don't change we change to adapt....

his reasons: he likes his friends at living sanctuary, mrs quek etc...but he prefers the environment...he says serangoon ( i quote him exactly) : the toys more obvious, not so distracting and noisy, chinese more fun, not so crowded and got sportball.

i guess at the end of the day ...i am just very worried about the k1 & k2 curriculum.

he has always been very vocal about what he likes and don't like since very young....and he doesn't watch cartoons yes even barney mickey mouse etc no. he will sit through ice road truckers, hi 5 or music band, even rather the news be on than a cartoon kind ....so i do not know what the best decision is for him

sorry for the long post....now is what he wants versus what i want...




sassyfire,
My dd also dun speak a word of mandarin when she started school this year. Prior to this, she did not attend any school or enrichment class at all. Almost zero contact with mandarin. During her first few days in LSK, I told her chinese teacher, Mdm Shen, that she does not understand mandarin and may not even respond to her chinese name. I was assured that my dd will soon be able to understand. 7 weeks on, I am very pleased to hear my dd singing in mandarin and can even recognise simple chinese character like 爸爸 妈妈 哥哥 姐姐 苹果.

Give your child some time to adjust. I believe if your child does not understand the chinese teacher, she will speak to your child in English, if necessary.

[cmeilim]

Sportball is really fun n the instructors r very positive, engaging, professional and well-trained. My boy is at neither school but has attended their holiday camp last Dec. he was less than 3yo n the youngest in the camp n he had so much fun. Till today he still remembers the coaches’ names n the classes.