Childrens art school

SINGAPORE: When my parents began planning for my education, they were largely saving up to put me through university. Fast-forward some three decades: I am now paying a comparable amount for my daughter’s pre-school even before she can speak in full sentences. In recent decades, pre-schools went from being an exception to a necessity for many. While childcare duties traditionally fell squarely on mothers or grandparents, today women play an increasingly larger role in the workforce, and nuclear families are also more common. As such, pre-schools have become a crucial part of family planning and budgeting. So when Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat announced in his Budget speech on Tuesday (Feb 18) that the government will double spending on the early childhood sector to more than S$2 billion a year over the next few years, I was delighted. READ: Budget 2020: Enhanced bursaries for low- and middle-income students as part of education measures … [Read more...] about Commentary: Why do parents still pay top dollar for pre-schools when there are more affordable options?

We all know Disney Plus has Star Wars, Marvel, Pixar and classic cartoon nourishment for you to hit up whenever you need a comforting night in. But aside from all that, there are a host of great Disney movies which might not be front and center on your radar. Here are some of the best -- and newest -- movies on Disney Plus you might have overlooked. SEE DISNEY PLUS SUBSCRIPTION OFFERS CNET Culture Entertain your brain with the coolest news from streaming to superheroes, memes to video games. Read more : The 13 best TV shows to watch on Disney Plus | Everything you need to know to sign up to Disney Plus Zootopia (2016) Disney Plus Zootopia, also known as Zootropolis in some countries, has a little more bite than the average wholesome Disney film. It does a good job of explaining its unique world where carnivores and herbivores coexist. But optimistic police officer Judy Hopps still faces the prejudices that come with being the first … [Read more...] about 36 best movies to see on Disney Plus

REUTERS: Katy McAvoy hoped she would have more time for her job search after her 5-year-old daughter started in-person kindergarten in mid-November after months of virtual learning due to the pandemic. But the school near Grand Rapids, Michigan closed again a week later as COVID-19 infections surged there and across much of the country. The unpredictable schedule made it difficult for McAvoy to find time for interviews and networking or to figure out a feasible work schedule. So even though school opened again in January, McAvoy, who was furloughed from her job with a local arts organization last June and permanently laid off in November, decided to stop searching. "What do you say to an employer in that situation?" said McAvoy, 41. "They're going to hire someone who doesn’t need a bunch of exceptions." After being hit disproportionately by pandemic-related job losses last year, women in the United States are struggling to get back to work. A slowdown in the jobs … [Read more...] about Pushed out by pandemic, women struggle to regain footing in US job market

Cancel culture activists have come for Dr. Seuss, who they deem a racist despite the fact that his books were undoubtedly woke for their time. It shouldn't be dismissed as yet another silly instance of fringe activists overreacting. It's part of a coordinated campaign to indoctrinate children to take on progressive causes. After complaints from teachers and academics, Dr. Seuss Enterprises decided to cease publishing six books, including And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street and Scrambled Eggs Super!, accused of having racist and insensitive imagery. The move was supposedly long in the works, but it comes as Virginia's Loudoun County Public Schools issued guidance to promote "inclusive and diverse" books rather than to "simply celebrate Dr. Seuss." Read Across America Day coincides with Dr. Seuss' birthday. "Research in recent years has revealed strong racial undertones in many books written/illustrated by Dr. Seuss," the school district said in a statement. One … [Read more...] about Don’t Scoff at the Push to Cancel Dr. Seuss | Opinion

SINGAPORE - UOB raised more than $1.2 million during its annual Chinese New Year charity fund-raiser this year. The money will go to four organisations supporting art, children and education, including The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund, it said on Thursday (March 4). In a creative twist to accommodate safe management measures, the bank and its clients raised funds through bamboo art workshops and an e-hongbao donation drive. This year's edition of the fund-raiser - which has been running since 2011 - also featured the auction of a bamboo art piece by Mr Wee Ee Cheong, deputy chairman and chief executive officer of UOB. It went to Mr Kelvin Lim, executive chairman and group managing director of LHN Limited, for $100,888. The artwork was handcrafted during bamboo art workshops for UOB's commercial banking clients, who contributed more than $250,000 during the fund-raiser. The bank matched these donations dollar for dollar, up to $250,000. The bank said that bamboo, a … [Read more...] about Over $1.2m raised by UOB’s annual CNY charity fund-raiser

SINGAPORE - UOB and its commercial banking clients raised more than $500,000 through the bank's annual Chinese New Year charity fund-raiser this year, it said on Monday (Feb 8). The money raised will be channelled towards arts, children and education programmes in Singapore. More than $250,000 was contributed by over 20 clients who participated in a series of bamboo art workshops, and matched dollar for dollar by the bank up to $250,000. The bank said bamboo, a resilient and robust plant native to Asia, was chosen as it symbolises "the strength and cohesiveness of local communities in facing and overcoming Covid-19 challenges together". The bank's clients learnt about traditional bamboo art and its use in furniture-making, and also carved and painted auspicious Chinese greetings on bamboo panels. Wee Hur Holdings chairman Goh Yeow Lian was among the clients who attended the workshop. He said: "The inability to hold physical fund-raisers will not stop us from … [Read more...] about UOB and its commercial clients raise over $500k for charity through CNY fund-raiser