My sit-in trial period is over but Arissa has been absent from school for a week with a whole host of illness from loose bowels to fever to runny nose to cough that I got a bit worried how she would handle going back to school again. And alone this time no less.
But worry I need not be. She was positively jived up to be with friends.
Nosey girl (in white tee) checking out the boys.. ;)
I'm so thankful to have found out that My First Skool @ Serangoon North, literally 5 minutes drive from Mum's, has a Malay principal and a Muslim cook and really g-r-e-a-t teachers who are gentle (i.e. do not yell) and bond well with the kids. Their playgroup class of 25 kids is handled by 3 teachers and 2 helpers and it isn't just lip service- at any point in time I really see at least 3 adults in the classroom.
It's nestled within a large compound in a peaceful estate and each group has its own dedicated classroom. Arissa's class is fairly spacious.. with lots of nooks and corners that houses books and costumes and innovative toys, even a play theatre.
Thursdays are water-play days where they bring out tubs of water for the kids to play fishing in and Fridays are sand-play days (haven't yet seen what this is all about). There're Mandarin classes and the centre stays open until 8pm on weekdays and 2pm on Saturdays... all these convenience for just $240 after the full subsidy entitlement.
Day 1 ended on a very positive note: the verdict from the teachers is that she is very 'settled'.. so settled in fact that she actually napped with the rest of her classmates. Mummy on the other hand, had separation anxiety attacks, and missed her KPE exit at Nicoll Highway and had to make a big detour into Tanjong Katong. Heee...