The Odyssey Creative Learning Centre

[wm1234]

izu,

Thanks very much for your reply. I really appreciate it.
I have also read the unfavourable comments in blogspot you listed here, so I am concerned.

I understand it is impossible to find a perfect preschool to make all the parents happy. I just want to leave my kid to a place that is safe and my kid is happy, so I can go to work with peace in mind.

Of course if the curriculum is good and can prepare her for P1, it will be fantastic. But it may be too early to talk about preparation for P1 for a 2-year-old kid. The creative idea and the social skill they acquire in the preschool, at least to me, are also important for her development.

[dardar63]

hi

my daughter has been there since last year. She started at 20 months and is now in the nursery 1 class. it's a very nice and loving environment. Teachers are very loving and caring. There has been some turnover no doubt with the teachers and admin staff unfortunately. But we hope things will stabilize in time and hopefully soon. But in the \"upper\" classes, there is no turnover, the N2 to K2 teachers have been around since the start of odyssey and my daughter's teachers have remained the same since beginning of the year.

Curriculum wise, honestly we all say we want them to enjoy and be in a loving environment and that being most important. But deep down we know that we are all very worried and concerned. The approach in Odyssey is very different from other schools (except maybe Eton) whereby it's porject based learning. Every term there is a project and they work on that. And most topics are very inline with the environment, since we are a green school. As a parent you need to have a mindset ready to accept this kind of system whereby there are no worksheets, spelling or homework. Of cos we say we shouldn't pressurize kids so young, but at K2 level when you see your friends kids practicing worksheets of writing and learning their spellings you would somehow be affected. Also there will be NO teaching of hanyupinyin at all in the school. So you need to learn that as an enrichment outside of the school. So if you believe enough into the system then you will have no problems about the curriculum

[Aris starlite]

Hi all,


I am thinking to send my boy to Odyssey @Wilkinson next year Jan 2013. However, I am concerned if the cirriculum for its tots class till K2 prepares them for Primary 1? Cos we are locals...

Also, I am considering Lorna Winston@ Eastcoast. Any feedback?

Many thanks

[huatsup]

HI all,


I would also love to hear from parents in the East Coast area regarding Odyssey, as compared to Lorna Whiston.

[Bunnyhophop]

I’m also wondering… Any mummies had this problem? My son’s tots class doesnt provide menu for lunch and breakfast and doesnt have a comm book…


For meals, they asked me to chk with the kitchen daily!!? Comm book they said instead of communicating via the book, to email them. But how sure am i if they read the email before class? Any thoughts on this?

[dardar63]

Bunnyhophop:

I'm also wondering... Any mummies had this problem? My son's tots class doesnt provide menu for lunch and breakfast and doesnt have a comm book..


For meals, they asked me to chk with the kitchen daily!!? Comm book they said instead of communicating via the book, to email them. But how sure am i if they read the email before class? Any thoughts on this?

Hi bunnyhophop. There should be a weekly menu
Which you can get from the office or CS. The school follows that menu for the children. From bf lunch to tea time. We've Been in odyssey for 2.5 years and there has always been a menu.

[Bunnyhophop]

Thanks dardar63!!! Sorry but what is cs? Cirriculum specialist? Thats what the cirriculum specialist told me... I'll ask her again tomorrow.. First day for my kid.. Feeling nervous.. As if its my first day at school


Dardar63, so issit ok with no comm book? So far so good?

[pinkelle]

Hi, I'm thinking of putting my child on the waitlist for Odyssey Fourth Avenue. I visited the school and came away very impressed with their facilities and fun environment.


However, I have some concerns if there are any hidden costs (on top of their high fees) we should be aware of. I read that schools under the Knowledge Universe Group tends to overcharge parents for concerts, costumes, etc. I'm okay with excursion fees and concert fees but not too many add-ons or exorbitant amounts.

Can any mommies with children in Odyssey comment? Thanks so much!

[dardar63]

pinkelle:

Hi, I'm thinking of putting my child on the waitlist for Odyssey Fourth Avenue. I visited the school and came away very impressed with their facilities and fun environment.


However, I have some concerns if there are any hidden costs (on top of their high fees) we should be aware of. I read that schools under the Knowledge Universe Group tends to overcharge parents for concerts, costumes, etc. I'm okay with excursion fees and concert fees but not too many add-ons or exorbitant amounts.

Can any mommies with children in Odyssey comment? Thanks so much!

Hi

There's no really expensive costumes or concert tickets. Last year it was held at Canadian international which belongs to KUE anyway. I can't remember how much but it was definitely NOT expensive. Also there weren't Any
Particular costumes. The children wore their own clothes according to theme and those that needed add ons the teachers help make them. (At least for my daughters class it was such).

Hope it helps.

[pinkelle]

Thanks dardar! Just sent you a PM, if you don't mind