DMK or Sunshine House Kindergarten in Discovery Bay?

C

cathryn

Registered User
I am moving to DB in May so I am now trying to decide which kindergarten to sign my son up to. It is between DMK or Sunshine House. I am leaning towards Sunshine House just because they can offer me morning sessions which I would prefer.

But if anyone can tell me any good and bad points on both, any experiences you have had that would be great.

Thanks alot
 
Hi Cathryn. Welcome to DB!!! My son is going to dmk in sep. The reason that we chose dmk is they offer bilingual class(eng&mandarin 50/50) while sunshine house only has 20 mins per day mandarin time. Also heard from my friends that dmk more focus on the knowledge learning than sunshine house. As well, when we visited these two places , we had better feeling in dmk than the other one. So we chose dmk although only pm.
Hope this would help you somehow. Good luck !!
Joyce
 
Sunshine House always has problems with staff turnover - and while this is endemic in HK KG classes, I would suggest you find out how long each staff member has been at that particular campus.
Also, the fact that Sunshine House can give you am classes should tell you something - that DMK is more in demand.
I would second everything the PP said: I would go for DMK.
 
I have no experience with DB but my oldest went to Sunshine elsewhere (I wanted primarily English for her) and just wanted to say that Sunshine seems to have good relationships with ESF if that would matter to you. Not sure if it's the same at DB. Also no major staff issues at our school. Still same teachers in my daughters old class 2-3 years later. Very smooth transition into ESF (very well prepared).
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My son is going to DMK in August. He is at the DMK Playgroup and I really like their teaching style and structure. Have done the tour at DMK kindy and looks ok (Coastline location a bit incovenient for us but they have a bus). They do have a reputation for being more academic which is a downside for me with kids this young (just want them to have fun) so will have to see how it does but am happy with our choice at this stage.
 
Thanks everyone for your comments and although DMK does seem like it might be better I just dont think I can do it to my son at the moment, he still needs a sleep every day and I would just feel guilty taking that away from him. So I think I will start him at Sunshine and then maybe change him later on when he isnt needing the sleep so much.
 
I can completely understand. I was hanging out for a morning class too as my son still has a lunchtime nap. Have you tried the new Montessori school at DB North? They may still have a morning class free. I was not keen on the style for my son when he was 2.5 (I wanted him to have cars and toys to play with - not just wooden puzzles) but would probably be ok for an older child of kindy age.
 
Have had children at both Sunshine House and DMK. WE initially chose Sunshine House when moved to DB 2 years ago as had attended in Pokfulam and it was excellent. However in DB was awful. Huge classes, high turn over of teaching staff (my 3 year old had 3 different teachers and 3 different support teachers in 9 months!!) as well as children. Neither boy enjoyed the environment or experience and we switched them to DMK biligual initially in afternoon and then in mornings. Much happier. Is quiet environment, same staff, smaller classes with less changes in students. Academically is much stronger as were well behind coming from Sunshune House. Always had the feeling at Sunshine that was about money rather than kids. My eldest now in K3 as no P1 school place and have option for P2 as well which is a P1/P2 standard British curriculum unlike Sunshine House. Would strongly recommend DMK once you have a place compatible with sleeping. You could keep him on the morning waiting list at DMK just in case.
 
Starbucks - I did consider it, but my son is not yet 3 either. Plus when we move to DB this weekend we are moving to Serene which meant Sunshine was alot more convenient or if not there then DMK. When I went to view DMK and Sunshine I found them both to be pretty academic, in classroom like situations which is very different to back in the UK where there were lots of toys and it was generally about playing.

Anyway he will start next week so I'll just see how it goes, fingers crossed he will like it. When I asked him which one he preferred he said Sunshine, I said why and he said because they were having snacks!! Typical its all about the food!

It would be great to meet up for a coffee now that we are moving there (not sure if you remember me but you have helped in several matters on where to live, what schools etc etc!)

x
 
Hi Walnut,
Thanks for the info, you have definitely make me re-think and I am not happy with him having changes of teachers constantly as my son is shy initially so takes him a while to get to know people. I am going to ask them if he can go on a wait list for mornings and if not maybe he could start the next term (which I presume will be next Jan) rather than this August, by which time he will be coming up to 4 in the May so fingers crossed he wont need the sleep so much.

I just know what he is like when he hasn't slept, he doesn't listen, wont do what I say, is very stubborn and will eventually just crash out wherever he is, so i don't want him to be like that at the kindergarten.

Only downside doing this is that he will probably get used to Sunshine and I'll take him out plus I'll have to buy the uniform for only 1 term!
 
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