Marymount Kindergarten

[dreeym]

Hi I am considering transferring my daughter into marymount kindy K1 next year, from a CC. Can anyone share your experience with the school so far? Also apart from the regular sessions, are there enrichment programmes? As I have a younger boy at home I prefer if she could enjoy some enrichment class in school for longer time. How is the current principal and the batch of teachers? Is the turnover high?

[zosma]

Powerpuff - Tks, great to know that they have school portfolio as an added bonus


dreeym - I transferred my DD to Marymount and noticed she is happier and more self confident. I like the school provide meals to the kids as well. Very experience and well organised, the teachers are caring and take good care of the children. Another key difference from childcare, the school also focus on moral values and the kids are generally well behaved and polite lot. I see the difference with my DD

[dreeym]

Hi zosma, may I ask at which level did u transfer your daughter? Is the class ratio high?

[zosma]

Hi Dreeym - She was transferred to Nursery class this year. Class ratio is around 24 kids to 2 teachers (one English/one Chinese speaking). I notice they split class events by colour groups and outdoor activity are in smaller groups of 12 eg swimming lessons.

[dreeym]

Hi zosma, how do the teachers manage to give sufficient attention to all the children as the ratio is a bit on the high side?

[dreeym]

Is it through the breaking of classes?

[zosma]

Hi Dreeym - the exact no of children in class could be 20-24 as not too sure myself. My girl ex-school also have similar teacher student ratio and there is a clear lack of attention as my girl show strong dislike to go school. After she joins MKG, she has been one happy kid and loves her teachers. End of the it boils down to the teacher quality and attitude. I also notice at MKG they have assistance to help the teachers...eg bringing kids to toilets etc. Overall ok for me...you could try to make appointment to visit the school and have a look and feel on the ground

[Style]

Any parents here have attended the past parents orientation? Can parents share a lil of your experience

[Matilda Yang]

My nephew transferred from child care centre to Marymount Kindergarten at the beginning of the year and was there for about a month then my brother put him back to child care again after one month. Teachers quite stable but I heard the teacher-child ratio was much higher than child care. My nephew learning also slow down yet stressful cos not full day and less attention from teachers. All the teaching cramp into that few hours. Got home work to do also stress my brother cos he got to teach my nephew. At child care children do all their work in school. My brother no need to worry about home work. Some more he said Montessori child care have very low teacher child ratio and they teach the children individually. Bcos his child in centre whole day when he is on leave he can really rest or do his own things.

[Power Puff]

I suppose whether a kindy or childcare centre is suitable for your child depends on the needs of the parents, and whether there are other suitable caregivers at home who can care for and at the same time teach the child especially if both parents work long hours. Interestingly, I placed DD2 in a childcare centre so that I could ferry DS1 to enichment classes. In the end, I took her out as I found that too much time was wasted on mealtimes, waiting around, etc. Felt that she was always restless and not learning anything. I have also stopped DS1’s enrichment classes (all that ferrying around and logistical nightmare was taking a toll on both me and son) so have taken over the coaching myself. DD2 will join DS1 next year. I like that MMK is run like a mini-primary school with wholesome classroom and school activities, with many caring staff. The children are likely to adapt to primary school setting better. I feel that as long as the children spend 3 hours of kindy everyday productively and parents take some time to coach them, that should suffice. I can do this only because I’m currently on no-pay leave. When I return to work, I might have no choice but place both kids in a a good childcare centre instead (but that’s another headache altogether - which childcare centre is good)