Choosing a school and putting our child in a good school is becoming like a world cup with different rounds!
We started searching for schools and with the help of our friends we got the list of schools in and arround Velacherry.
Priliminery Rounds
Group A
PSPB Millenium Guindy
Missed the dates when the application was distributed. When contacted, we got a reply saying the applications were distributed the previous week and now they are collecting the filled applications. The tension started since one school was missed!!
Imp Note : The Guindy campus has only the Nursery section and from KG, the campus is in the OMR.
DAV Velachery
Called the school and got update that the application would be distributed in the month of March and we need to keep watch on the newpapers for Announcement.
Imp Note : Got updates that the velacherry branch is not doing good and reviews are not catchy.
BVM Global
The big fish. We waited for this more than other. The announcement was put up on the website that the applications would be distributed on the March 2nd. I visited the school campus at 09:30 AM and found that the queue was running accross streets. Thinking to join the queue after having a heavy breakfast (may have to stand in the queue till afternoon!) went to the hotel. When I am after breakfast, there was no one except the people distributing the application. Don't know how the queue went fast in such pace! Lucky! Got the application at 10:00AM. The filled application was submitted in the next week and the results await!
Imp Note : Got updates that it is the best school in Adyar!
MARG Play School
Walkable from home. Cheapest among the schools we approached. Rs. 1000 per month!! When I went to enquire, I was forced to pull information by questioning them and was different when compared to other schools, where they explained the offerings.
Tatva Pre-School
IIT is beind this school! Yes. it is run by IIT alumnis and that reflected in the approach when we visited them. The reception was neat and we were presented with the offerings of the school. In fact we learned a lot of attributes which should look for, in shortlisting the schools.
1. Curriculum - Combination of bests from Montisory, Matric, CBSE and ISCE
2. Teacher - Student Ratio - 20:1
3. Courses offered
4. Travel facilities
5. School Timings
6. Fees structure
Note : Qualified for the Quarters!!
Navadisha
Saw the website and visited the school after reading the positive comments in the Parantree and ChennaiMoms forums. We got a reply that the admissions are closed. When we came to vehicles parking, we have been called to office room upstairs and handed over the application form. Paid Rs. 500/- towards application form. Submitted the filed in applications the next week and waiting starts for the results in the month of Feb 2011.
San Academy
After reading the feedbacks in the forums, visited the school to enquire. Hereto we were not presented with the details. With the experience from Tatva, i shooted the questions and collected the info. Mostly the same curriculum when compared to other schools. The only difference is the students teacher ratio and the environment. The building is very huge and the kids will not feel at home, atleast for the Nursery section. Mostly the pre-schools score in this point, which this fails.
Kidzee
Visited Kidzee on the way after visiting Tatva. The curriculum, approach and fee structure are same when compared to Tatva. But the environment did not please. Failed to qualify for the quarters.
Seed Pre-School
Almost after deciding to go ahead with Tatva, came to know about this school. Visited the website and tried to contact the school. Nobody picked the phone and that gave a bad impression. Next day thought of visiting the school and did the same. It made me rethink and impression was excellent. All the attributes for a Pre-School is here and very much pleased with their approach.
MAS Play School
Near our residence and visited on the way to office. Nothing positive to mention except the fees which is Rs.2000/- month. This is the only info. I received and was asked to bring the Kid to discuss further.
Semi Final
The battle of the big guns starts here.
BVM Global vs Tatva Pre-School
The much awaited result was published and the school is not lucky to have Anirudh as student!! We should start trying next year, if we can get KG seats. Failed to make to the finals!
Tatva easily moves to the finals.
Seed Pre-School vs Navadisha
Received a regret email from Navadisha. It said Anirudh was not selected in the lot. We represented a legal notice to the school asking for why we were not invited for the Lot, as we have paid Rs. 500/- towards application. In contrast, BVM did not charge for application and here we cannot question the lot system as we feel it is genuine. But we got a reply from the administration that the lot was conducted in front of eminent people in the area and no cheating involved.
Seed makes to the final automatically.
Final
Tatva Pre-School vs Seed Pre-School
Here we started comparing the offerings.
Filled the admission form by paying Rs. 11500 on 17th Mar 2011. The big tournament comes to an end.
Meet you during the tournament next year with new teams to join the battle.
1. Arsha Vidhya Mandir
2. Sankar School - Adyar
3. BVM Global - again
