2013 P1 Registration Exercise for 2014 In-Take

[lil_jade]

Sembgal,


Thanks! My friend, like you, really much prefers Marymount to Canossa… But when I ask her what if she is balloted out of Marymount, she has no backup school whatever… that is, she cannot conceive of that happening… She’s kicking herself for not putting Marymount in phase 2C, but no use crying over spilt milk.

N she really just wants a gal school as her DS is more or less secured a place in SJIJ cos daddy is an alumni. So now, the stress is really getting to her…

Do you know if Marymount’s waitlist is not that scary, meaning that gals do leave at start of P1 quite quickly, like if they’re offered places in other schools?

Thanks!

[ryes]

Hi lil_jade


Your friend sounds just like me!
I lost the battle at 2c and am choosing bet Marymount and canossa

These are my findings
Phase 2c sup 2012, there were 21 vying for 4 seats more than 2km.
Total had 24 seats (I can’t gtee I remember the numbers exactly but is more of less about there). So it means there are parents who didnt managed to get into a sch in 2c and staying nearby Marymount 1km, 1-2km who managed to secure a place in 2c sup.
this year have 25 vacancies. I think the trend might be like last year. : (

P1 n p2 are in the afternoon session.
They will/might move to the temp location at TPY lor 1 in July 2014. The sch is now occupied by CHIJ TPY.

Canossa convent had 39 in 2012. Of which 25sc, the rest PR. So they could take in 14 more sc.
In the end, there was balloting for the PR. As to how many seats balloted I don’t know. So my guess is if after 2c sup, chances might be, it’s already 100% taken up.
This yr have only 36 vacancies.

P1 are in the morning session (plus point for me)
The sch is temporarily at circuit road, next to macpherson sec sch. The sch they occupy now was onced occupied by kong hwa sch when their sch was under renovation. We drove there today to look see. They will move back in 2015 dec I think to their under renovation school.

I have also in the meantime put my child on waitlist at my 1st choice sch. Pinning all hope they will call me before p1 starts.

-if your friend can take the stress of balloting maybe 5 seats or less at Marymount, then try. If fail at balloting, she have to settle with other schs that still hv vacancies.
I read that she has to fill up 3 schs that moe will post her child to.

- if she don’t want risk balloting and wants to secure a place, go straight to canossa.
Chances are sc will get a place without balloting. keep fingers crossed

So like me, she has to make a decision. On the last day, see how is the chances at both schs then decide which to go for.

HTH.

[sembgal]

lil_jade:

Sembgal,


Thanks! My friend, like you, really much prefers Marymount to Canossa.. But when I ask her what if she is balloted out of Marymount, she has no backup school whatever.. that is, she cannot conceive of that happening.. She's kicking herself for not putting Marymount in phase 2C, but no use crying over spilt milk.

N she really just wants a gal school as her DS is more or less secured a place in SJIJ cos daddy is an alumni. So now, the stress is really getting to her...

Do you know if Marymount's waitlist is not that scary, meaning that gals do leave at start of P1 quite quickly, like if they're offered places in other schools?

Thanks!

The best person to speak to would be Marymount Convent School admin/receptionist. She has been a great source of help and offered her advice to me when I was deliberating if I should consider Marymount Convent in Phase 2C. I'm glad I did because after the results for Phase 2C came out, I realised that my child did not even stand a chance at any of the girls' schools I have shortlisted due to distance factor. I'm very lucky and glad that I made the right decision to enrol my child at Marymount Convent school in Phase 2C.
Call on Monday to speak to Marymount Convent admin/receptionist who has been so patient to answer parents' queries. I believe she is the best person to advise you about the waitlist statistic.

Last point to consider is whether your friend's child is an early riser or late riser. If your friend's child is an early riser, you can consider Cannossa Convent as Primary 1 students will attend morning session. If your friend's child is like my child who is a late riser, it is better to consider to put the child in the afternoon session for Primary 1 at Marymount Convent School. A child who is a late riser will study better and learn better in the afternoon session. My child is not an early morning person and her best learning time is from late morning to afternoon onwards.

[lil_jade]

Dear Ryes,


Thanks for the detailed investigation! I’ll pass the info to my friend… she thought it was 50% chance for her as someone > 2km… In fact, it’s much worse than that! Gosh…

She’s really stressed now… Cos her hubby is very optimistic and doesn’t believe "lightning will strike twice", ie that they will lose balloting twice in a row… Gosh…

I will recommend your advice to her and ask her to monitor the situation in the last 2 hours of registration… If for some seriously bizarre reason and Canossa Convent balloting odds are the same as Marymount, that may change many decisions! I hope that won’t happen for my friend’s sake and yours!

All the best, and many thanks!

[lil_jade]

Dear Sembgal,


Thanks for the advice! I’ll ask my friend to personally go to Marymount and ask them about the waitlist issues. I think that’ll help her to better decide if she wants to risk balloting at Marymount…

Thanks!

[lil_jade]

BTW,


She also asks if about this scenario,

Let’s say she ballots at Marymount and lost, and hence she’s posted to another primary school. She puts her name on Marymount’s waitlist. Some time later, Marymount calls up and offers her a place. She accepts. Then, some time later again, maybe start of P1 or midway, her first choice gals’ school calls her up!

Qn: Can she change school AGAIN? Is there any cap by MOE?

Many thanks!!

[gvyong]

patlsy79:

Hi..Need your advice on this....just found out 1 of my dd's childcare mate he managed to ballot in my 1st choice sch in 2c. They are staying just next Blk to the cc and the Blk is actly >1km which was not qualified for 2c in that sch. I really don't know how could he go for balloting ler..my dd's another mate as well(diff mate) when i met the mother before 2B, I asked her choice of sch she said the famous sch all cannot consider cos of their distance also same as mine.and the day after 2B, I met her with the ds again I asked, she said she has not decided but suddenly the ds said confirm going that sch too, not sure the kid just joking or serious. Now I wonder, were they using rental add? Cos I still seeing them staying here le. How shall I find out more abt this as I am very imbalance ler.....Cos the failure in 2b made me very upset as I think it was so unfair...Sorry if you think I am selfish..

Dear Patlsy79,

IMHO, i think you should move on. Your DS is going to be a pioneer of Alexandra Pri, helmed by two star principals. This has not gone un-noticed by parents and the press. Even the great HPPS also started off in a similar way, and in my time it was a new startup sch. Focusing on what 'could have been' only distracts from the task at hand of preparing your kid for P-sch. The issues with the current system need to be addressed, but the fight rests on the collective strength of all the KS parents. The MOE is not dumb, someone is monitoring the opinions and views... Suppose you pursue the case...and the kids get thrown out of FMPS, will that get a place for your DS at FMPS?

[ryes]

Hi lil_jade


No problem.
I also didnt know odds are worst than 50%.
That’s until someone advices us going for 2c sup to read the 2012 theead.
If u have time, go read the last few pages of 2012 p1 registration for last year.
It talks about lots on Marymount.

I also don’t believe to be unlucky twice BUT if its like 21 vying for 4? I will think twice.
She has to be prepared, if cant get in, n she don’t mind other schs for time being till her child is p1, then opt for transfer. That’s my plan now too.

In terms of academic and what the sch can provide, it’s not so much of a priority for me now. Importantly can get in first. : )
I also prefer Marymount. But if all the odds are against me, your friend like me will prob opt for alternative. I’m also in the more than 2km for both sch.

Ask her drive by these two schs first. The original location and the temp location.
Ask her does am or pm session matter to her?
Like for me, in 2c, it matters. I want am session.
Now? Everything also can accommodate including pm session.

It’s because she’s in a similar situation I can understand and share what I try my best to find out. Another thing is, canossa has a small cohort. 120 students, ie 4 classes.
Whereas Marymount has a larger cohort.

[sembgal]

lil_jade:

Dear Sembgal,


Thanks for the advice! I'll ask my friend to personally go to Marymount and ask them about the waitlist issues. I think that'll help her to better decide if she wants to risk balloting at Marymount...

Thanks!

You are welcome. Another factor to consider is the transportation for the child. Tentatively, the child can choose to take the school bus in lower primary. However in upper primary, the child is independent and can travel by herself. Marymount Convent is situated near to the mrt station which is a bonus point.

For Canossa Convent, there is affiliation to the sec sch, St Anthony's Canossian Sec Sch located in the east at New Upper Changi Road. St Anthony's Canossian Sec Sch is affliated to Catholic JC. We are not staying in the east and have no intention to stay in the east in future so Canossa Convent was not in our choice of primary schools that we had in mind for Phase 2C. I believe Canossa Convent School is equally as good too.

Where's your friend residing?

[summerrain]

Can someone explain the waiting list system? Is it first come first serve?