+603-7954 5802
+6012-2667 288
Lot 8, Jalan Pantai 9/7,
Off Jalan Gasing
46000 Petaling Jaya
-- In Pantai Baptist Church, right next to the Thai temple.
I have not come across any other schools that is as organized as this one.
From the first phone call to a few other ones with questions like the fee structure, information about the school, transportation and so on.... I have not been let down.
What also amazes me is how well they do with following up on my queries and concerns.
I was never rushed through, instead was given information and walk-thru even without asking for them. Apart from Vital Years, the principal of this school, Mrs. Callie Tan at my first visit brought me around the school and showed me the classrooms up to 6 years old and also the other rooms.
There is a library where they call the Resource Room, a room for Music and Movement, a huge... very spacious room for the children who join the daycare program to sleep in.
At one end of the corridor is where the indoor play area is.
There is an outdoor play area (photos as attached). It's not particularly huge but it's sufficient. The children spend most of the time in the classrooms anyway so what's also important is the condition of the classrooms and the the quality of the teachers.
The bathrooms are basic. There's no kiddy sized toilets and sinks. Something I thought they could improve on but it's no biggie to me. The toiletries they use is by Pureen and the parents have the option of providing the toiletries that their children are use to.
The kids are brought to the toilet at every half an hour so it's a good thing for those who aren't potty trained yet.
The classrooms are split by age groups. And I'll find out about the minimum age accepted when I'm sure of it. There's a baby's room so they do accept babies... Just not sure how young in age.
Currently, there are 3-4 teachers to about 12 students in the 3 years old class.
The older classes have 25 students in one class with a ratio of 2:25. Too big a classroom if you asked me. Speaking about the classrooms, this is the only place that I've been to which has spacious classrooms and they're not cluttered as most that I've seen. Even the biggest school that I've been to was Kinderland in Taman Desa and their classrooms are very small by comparison.
About the menu, there was nothing specific told to me but knowing that they serve a balance diet meal is good enough for me to know. Better yet, no processed food like sausages, fries and so on.
The principal was never defensive for one bit when I asked about the qualification and background of herself and the teachers (or about anything else for that matter.). She did explain the reason behind the turnaround of her staff, which is for the sake of maintaining the quality of the teachers. I noticed that not all of the teachers speak good English. But from my observation of the teachers in the 3 years old class so far, they do love kids.
Back to talking about the principal, she's really easy to talk to. She's willing to hear your concerns and although she or the school may not have all the solutions and answers to my queries.... As we do have different circumstances, she listens and she gives feedback.
It's easy to see through someone with a passion in what they do and what they believe in. Mrs. Callie Tan the principal sure DOES have that fire going in her.
About timing, for parents who need to drop off their children early, they can do so as early as 7:30am. There's an option for picking up your child late... You know, in case of the horrendous peak hour traffic.... The cut-off time is at 6:45pm and every subsequent half an hour after, a fee of RM10 will be charged. That surely adds up but what other choices do working parents have?
What I wish about the hours is that they'll extend it to at least 7:15pm.
The traffic around the neighborhood itself is horrid on most evenings.
Timing for pre-school-kindy -
The half day program ends at 11:45am
And then the is a 3:30pm (if I'm not mistaken... There and abouts)
The full day program ends at 6:30pm.
After-school daycare and tuition classes are offered to the primary school students.
About safety, I was iffy at first as it's a huge place with 1 security guard seen at the drop-off compound. There are actually 2 security guards on duty. And then I thought, this place has been operating for what... over 40 years before the current management had taken over.... They must know what they're doing.
Even the guards report to their H.O.D. Talk about being organized!
You can see the class schedule below (3 years old class). As this is a Christian school, almost all the teachers are Christians and there are prayers with the children every morning and before meals. There are non-Christian families who send their children here too.
Friday mornings are fun.
All the children will congregate at the hall for assembly and they get to sing a few Christian songs accompanied by the piano and then a teacher will tell a Bible story.
Also, every morning as the kids are dropped off, the security guard and a teacher (or two) on duty will receive them to send the children to their respective classes..... but not before they (the chidren) have their temperature checked with a thermometer and a squirt of hand sanitizer to be rubbed on their hands. Good practice, huh? Sets a good example about hygiene too.
At the end of the day while waiting for the parents, the children will hang out in the Resource Room where two teachers will watch the children. It's free play and also storytelling time!
Makes me wanna be in that school.
So I guess that's how I gauge for the right school.
I have to wanna be in that school to enroll my child there.
(More after today.)
Extra curriculum during the school hols - (no classes during the first half of the day but daycare program will be carried out as usual during the school holidays)
This is new... Speech and drama classes from 3yo onwards on Saturdays.
On another note, below is the holiday camp during the school holidays. Daycare still runs as usual with the option of signing up your child for holiday activities. They cost about RM150 per week on average.
