An Interview with the Team Behind Thrive After-school Sanctuary

With dual-income households now the norm in Singapore, the need for parents to find a trusted after-school centre – ideally one that offers quality enrichment programmes – has never been more important, particularly when it comes to empowering your primary school child to thrive in all areas of school and life.

That’s exactly what Thrive After-school Sanctuary offers. Hear from the passionate team behind Thrive for an insider’s view into what makes its after-school programme the ideal environment for inspiring young minds.

TNAP: What sets Thrive apart from other after-school care centres in Singapore?

Thrive Team: At Thrive, we are more than just an after-school programme: we’re a community that inspires, supports and transforms young people to develop into mindful, well-rounded and courageous individuals. We’ve designed Thrive to be a place where children feel secure, happy and motivated. With our unique combination of care and enrichment, Thrive is not just about helping children finish their homework. At Thrive, we encourage students from Primary 1 and above to explore new perspectives, challenging them to think beyond the norm as they interact with others and participate in engaging activities.

Children who thrive are those who are comfortable exploring new possibilities. They express themselves freely, and they’re supported every step of the way as they discover their own unique potential. That’s the heart of what we do.

TNAP: That sounds amazing! How do you ensure that each child’s needs are met?

Thrive Team: We take a holistic approach to nurturing every child, and that means catering to their physical, cognitive, and emotional needs. Our programmes include bilingual support in English and Mandarin, weekly Maths sessions, language enrichment, sports activities, and even mindfulness practice which is so important in building qualities such as emotional resilience, empathy and gratitude. Every aspect of the day is carefully designed to help children unwind, enjoy, and enrich themselves after school.

TNAP: How do your educators contribute to the children’s growth?

Thrive Team: Our educators are the backbone of Thrive. We have a team of highly qualified, caring, and bilingual educators who are passionate about building strong, nurturing relationships with both the children and their families.

We maintain a small teacher-to-student ratio of 18 students per class, which allows educators to give each child the individual attention they need. This really helps us create a supportive, inspiring learning environment where children feel safe to express themselves and explore their interests.

TNAP: Parents often worry about the balance between academics and extracurricular activities. How does Thrive strike that balance?

Thrive Team: That’s a great question! We understand that academics are important, but at Thrive, we believe in developing the whole child. While we make sure children have time for homework with daily supervision from our trained educators, we also offer a wide range of enrichment activities that focus on creativity, physical and mental health, and personal growth. What’s more, one of the advantages to students who attend Thrive After-school Sanctuary is that they benefit from our renowned EduDrama® methodology!

Created by our Founder, Julia Gabriel, EduDrama combines children’s drama with planned educational outcomes to foster learning through positive interactions, engaging children in using and extending their language, communication skills, knowledge, and unique strengths. Children respond enthusiastically to this approach because they are active participants and co-creators in their developmental journey.

Delivered through EduDrama, daily activities help children build important life skills including confidence, problem-solving and collaboration, in fun and engaging ways. Meanwhile, EduDrama powers our dynamic enrichment programmes, such as Think N’ Ink for example – a unique programme that cultivates key literacy skills, ensuring competent readers and writers in readiness for the English PSLE.

TNAP: Could you tell us more about the enrichment programmes that Thrive offers?

Thrive Team: Of course! Here’s a snapshot of the enrichment programmes we offer:

• Julia Gabriel Centre Drama and Communication Programme (1hr 30mins): This programme helps children develop confidence in speaking and expressing themselves through drama, poetry, theatre, mime, puppetry, role play, storytelling, reading aloud and creative writing. It’s not just about communication – it’s about giving children the tools to express their ideas creatively and confidently.

• Julia Gabriel Centre Think N’ Ink Programme (1hr 30mins): This literacy programme enhances reading and writing skills through creative exercises centred on the ‘six traits of writing’. Our goal is to foster a love for books and reading while helping children discover and cultivate a passion for writing.

• Chengzhu Mandarin Centre Language Skills Programme (2hrs): For children in Primary 1 to 4, this programme helps them master the Ministry of Education’s Chinese curriculum while developing listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. It’s fun, engaging, and goes beyond just textbooks.

• Chengzhu Mandarin Centre Mandarin Expressions Programme (2hrs): For older students (Primary 5 and 6), this programme enhances fluency in both spoken and written Chinese, preparing them for academic requirements while also enriching their lives with meaningful experiences that foster a genuine passion for the language.

• Maths Enrichment (1hr 30mins): Licensed by Acer Academy, this programme supports children’s learning through fun, hands-on methods that make Maths concepts and word problems easier to understand by developing logical thinking and analyses.

• Sports and Movement (45mins): Physical health is just as important as academics. Licensed by KIDSmoov, this programme focuses on developing strength, stamina, and flexibility in exciting and compelling ways using activities that suit their interests and abilities.

TNAP: It sounds like you’ve covered everything! What else can parents expect at Thrive?

Thrive Team: At Thrive, we also believe in the importance of mindfulness. Every child participates in a daily thirty-minute mindfulness practice that helps them build emotional resilience, self-awareness, and collaboration skills. It’s a secular practice that’s accessible to all children, and it really helps them learn how to manage feelings and challenges.

And let’s not forget about meals! Children enjoy nutritious, catered meals that are balanced and delicious with a variety of wholegrains, lean protein, vitamins, minerals and dietary-fibre. We work closely with our caterers to ensure all meals are healthy and free from beef, pork, and nuts. Fresh fruit is always available, and we focus on providing meals that have lower sugar, saturated and trans-fat, and sodium.

TNAP: Where are your centres located at?

Thrive Team: We’ve made it easy for parents to send their children to Thrive, with centres located near major schools. For example, our East Coast centre is close to Tanjong Katong Primary and Haig Girls’ School, while our New Bahru centre serves students from River Valley Primary and Alexandra Primary amongst many other schools in that area. We even have a new centre at Rochester Mall opening in January 2025 to cater to students whose schools are located in the Buona Vista and Holland area.

Our hours are designed to fit parents’ busy schedules, operating on weekdays from 1pm to 7pm during the school term, with extended weekday hours of 8am to 7pm during school holidays and e-learning days.

TNAP: With such a comprehensive programme, what would you say to parents who are on unsure about putting their child in an after-school care programme?

Thrive Team: We invite parents to come and see for themselves! Book a personalised centre visit and get a firsthand look at how Thrive can help your child develop confidence, creativity, and resilience. Thrive provides highly qualified, dedicated and specialist educators who use our unique proprietary approach to learning known as EduDrama® to give your child trusted care and enrichment in one place.

Are you ready to empower your child with an exceptional after-school experience?

Schedule a visit to Thrive After-school Sanctuary today and discover how your child can grow into a confident, well-rounded individual. Watch your child flourish, as they unwind, enjoy and enrich their after-school experience.

About Thrive After-school Sanctuary

Thrive After-school Sanctuary offers after-school care to children between the ages of seven and 12 years old. Programmes are delivered through EduDrama®, Julia Gabriel Education’s unique methodology and philosophy that nurtures children’s personal growth and academic success. Find its locations here.

📧 thrive@juliagabriel.com

This post is in collaboration with Thrive After-school Sanctuary.

By Julia Chan.

The New Age Parents – TNAP Awards 2024

Congratulations to Thrive After-school Sanctuary for being the winner of TNAP Awards 2024 (Education) – Most Holistic Student Care.

Find out who are the other winners of the TNAP Awards 2024 (Education) here!

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