Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Tadika Happy Sunshine, Taman Desa (Part 3)

From my long phone conversation with her (the conversations with Reanne are never brief),
they are updating their syllabus to Scholastic in 2013 for the 4yo-6yo classes.
Mandarin classes are on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
It seems like they use flash card method but they flash the cards in a group of children and not individually.

Finally, I got the chance to take a look at this place since it moved to a new premise.
I must say, I'm disappointed that the previous place was neater and cleaner.
If you are more into an academically heavy pre-school then this might be the place to send your child to.
They do take into account that parents will most likely send their children to Chinese schools.
There aren't many reading or story books at their 'reading corner' which is on the first floor by the staircase.
The classrooms aren't all that spacious but it's OK with 5 to 6 children. That's just my opinion. I prefer a larger space  for my child explore in.

There are 3 teachers and 1 helper, a part-time maid who's there till 6pm.30 students for the 2012.
The highlight of this school to me is that they use the syllabus by Scholastic.
Mandarin classes are on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Suppose they place importance in Mandarin lessons. There is simple art and craft daily with the kids and the parents can also opt to pay an extra fee of RM40 or RM45 a month as an enrichment class which usually is at 12:30pm for an hour and a half, once a week.

The garden is quite bare, such a waste. Didn't seem like they do much outdoors when I took a walk around the compound. Sadly, the place is dusty and it's right by the busy road with heavy traffic.

The things I like about Rhyann is that she encourages the parents to communicate more often with her about their children, ie: what they're like at home or if there are any behavioral issues out of school that they want the teachers to take notice.

A very book heavy place. Good academic books, though.
Moral,
Science,
English,
Phonics,
Bahasa Malaysia,
Math
Mandarin writing, etc

About the cut-off time to pick up the children, this is probably the only school that ends officially at 7:30pm and Rhyann is totally fine with parents getting there at 8pm or later. To her, she understands the rush that parents go through after work just to pick up their children.

They're also not particular if the children aren't  fully potty trained by the time they're enrolled to Happy Sunshine, or if the children take longer to be fully potty trained. About the toilets and bathroom, they're small and there aren't children sized toilets.

The children in daycare (12:30pm-7:30pm) sleep for an hour or so in the living room, which is to me, better than having them all cramped up in a tiny room like I've seen in ELC, Bright Horizon, Judith, Danau Permai Condo (DeBest Kids), Kinderland and JC Kids.

I still wouldn't rule out this place just yet.
Much improvement needed in terms of having more story books, play through learn.... or they probably should really spruce up the place pronto.

Transportation (by Rhyann)
RM80, 2 ways within Taman Desa


**Will update this post with their fee structure and timetable soon.

Rhyann prefers to be contacted on this number and here is their current address.
016 555 9180
513, Jalan Desa Utama

Related post:
Tadika Happy Sunshine (Part 1)





Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Kinderland Brickfields

Kinderland Brickfields is in fact in Taman Seputeh right next to the furniture mall.
They used to be in Brickfields which is also the reason for the majority of the students, about 95%, being Indians. All the teachers are Indians too. The classrooms are tiny and rather cluttered.

Was told that the children get outdoor and indoor playtime. They go by thematic play and learn method but too bad that there's no reading exercises at all for the 3 year old class, only 4 years old onwards.
There's a list of transporters.

I'm not keen on this place for several reasons.

The menu is one.
I asked the principal if they could omit certain kinds of food or drinks off my child's meals and she said they can do that. But I don't get why they serve Ribena, Chrysanthemum tea, Milo and sweet drinks to children.
Really.
The principal said that's what they do. That's what they've been doing all these past 5 years and they will not consider changing the menu.
The bathrooms are quite small. I didn't get to tour the 1st floor... was told they're in the midst of furbishing the rooms. There's suppose to be a music room and a reading room on the floor above.

I like the concept of thematic play and learn but no reading at all?
Sad.

The numbers to call:
03-79846282

Shamla, the principal:
0162834858


Please try to rotate the image on your own.

Indoor play area. Good space.