Departure @ NAIA TERMINAL 1
We all arrived at the airport around 2am to catch our 5:15am flight to Singapore. Really! We’re not that excited!
Welcome to Singapore!
Here we are! Landed safely. Yey!
Bought what we need for this trip.
We did not take a cab going to our hotel, instead we rode a train from the airport to Clarke Quay. Yes, pulling and carrying our luggage while riding those escalators. It was an experience. Whoo!
Day 1
Meeting with Ms. Cynthia
After we checked-in to our hotel, our headed towards our first stop – Cambridge @ Robertson. We met Ms. Cynthia and the rest of the staff there. Oh! She’s really an amazing woman. I love her exciting spirit. She served us our first Singaporean snack. Yey!
Cambridge @ Robertson
Before we sat down with Ms. Cynthia, we first had a mini tour around their centre. I so love the kids’ artworks displayed in every corner and walls of the school. I mean not just chosen artworks but all works done by the students can be seen. There are collaborative and individual works, mobiles, hand-made toys for pretend play, and a lot more. Perhaps this can be done to our centres who have accommodate a wide area. It’s very pleasing in the eyes to witness what the kids really do in school.
But, what really captured my attention in this centre tour is their JAPANESE CLASS! that is definitely wow. The moment I heard that they teach kids how to speak nihongo, I feel something that this can also be done in Binondo. We cater to a lot of Filipino-Chinese clients. Having Chinese-English/English-Chinese Enrichment Program that can help kids/adults in conversing mandarin and fookien language fluently and vice versa, can be a great part of our curriculum/program.
Time to Meet the Suppliers
After going through a lot of walking and shopping, I’ve come to realized that I perhaps want to do this as a business in the Philippines hahaha 😀 All the Montessori Materials are definitely to buy!
Lunch at IKEA
We ate around 4pm for lunch, and we’re all like Godzilla craving for foooood. Most of us ordered 6 pcs. chicken wings, rice, and side dishes. *burp* excuse us 🙂
Let’s call it a day
Teacher Iris and I headed towards the gym and the pool. We’re so glad they have them in the hotel. The water swayed all the stress I have in my body. *breathe in, breathe out*
First night in Singapore
We enjoyed our first night touring in Riverside Point. We wanted to try the Hokkaido ice cream but the store went close when it’s our turn to buy huhu. So, we ended up eating a $1 Selecta ice cream. Well, it still tasted yummeh!
Good Night, Singapore! Thank you, Sir Gerry for this very cozy accommodation. We were able to have a good night rest.
Day 2
Centre Visit
So, this morning we’re all headed to visit different centres in Singapore. Yeeey! Let’s do this!
Breakfast!
But first, we need to get our tummies ready! 🙂 the ambiance of the place was extremely nice
First Stop: ChildFirst
Of all the centres we visited today, ChildFirst would be my favorite. I extremely like the ambiance of the school – it’s clean and conducive for children’s learning. I like how they incorporate technology and innovation as part of their learning. Not only that, they also proposed Howard Gardners’ Multiple Intelligences. Graduated from an education major, I really have a strong belief for children’s multiple intelligences. And it’s extremely nice to know that this school is practicing Gardner’s approach. As I talked with the principal on how they categorized students based from their strengths, she said that family involvement plays an important role in this, and their individual assessment as well .
As I relate this in our situation in the Philippines, perhaps we can also make this possible. Adding to our rays as one of our new approach in teaching. Maybe a day in a week we can nurture the kids’ variety of talents. We can also collaborate with other specialists for this. It would be a great learning experiences for our students. It would probably be one of our edges with other schools.
One thing I also like in this centre – THE PRETEND PLAY AREA! It’s so nice!
Second Stop: Shaws
What I admire in this school is how the Teachers involve play as their form of socialization, teamwork, and new learning. In this school, I witnessed the importance of Chinese language and teaching in their classes. I saw an English boy who can fluently converse in mandarin, and I really caught my attention. I was thinking to improve our Chinese curriculum in Binondo. Giving kids lots of learning opportunity to get to know the culture even more.
We were asked to write about what we like in the school and the things we think that needs improvement. 🙂
Third Stop: Cambridge @ Mei Hwan
I honestly love their outdoor area. It’s an opportunity for the kids to explore nature, their surroundings, and other sports like swimming. I really wish I can teach kids how to make friends with the water 🙂
I asked one the Teachers why do they have Schooling’s Olympic post. I wondered if Joseph Schooling studied in Cambridge during his early years. The Teacher told me that it was to remind their students that they can achieve anything if they believe in their dreams. Aaww inspiring! <3 🙂
Fourth and final Stop: Cambridge @ Serangoon
Look at those chinese calligraphy! Isn’t it nice? We’re planning to have in Binondo 🙂
So, after the centre visit Ms. Cynthia and the whole team went to a Singaporean resto and try their different cuisine. Finally! Fooooood 🙂
Free Time!
So, Teacher Iris, Teacher Erika, Teacher Kat and I had the rest of the afternoon together. We went to Chinatown! 🙂
Day 3
Peranakan Culture Exhibit
It was a beautiful day for everyone, kids and parents to witness the hardwork that the students and the teachers have put in for this event.
Perhaps, we can also do something like this in the Philippines. Letting everyone see what is preschool in the eyes of children. Building connections and collaborating together I believe what made this event a success 🙂
All artworks were made by the kids. Extremely amazing! 🙂
Free Time Again
We first had our lunch at Sushi Express. Yum! Yum!
Walked all the way from Raffles City to Merlion Statue. It was a nightmare in the morning huhu 🙂 haha but it was fun cause we’re all together 🙂
Teacher Ez and I really got tired in walking so we decided to have some chill food.
Went to Orchard Road, walked around the city like a tourist haha, had dinner in Haji Lane, listened to a guy playing his guitar, tried Godiva ice cream for the first time (woohoo!), went to Bugis Street to buy some pasalubong, rode an MRT going back to the hotel alone (It was an experience!) 🙂
Day 4
Time to say Goodbye
I honestly don’t want to go home just yet 🙂 hahaha The experience I had here will forever be treasured. I feel so blessed to be part of this team 🙂
