Henry Park Primary

[mummyo]

Thanks Cluelessmama…


keeping fingers crossed

[blur-daddy]

Hi Mummyo,


I can’t imagine PV can be that stressful… goodness… you better check even if you did your due work of PV i.e. 40hr, are u ensure a place? Or given a chance to join the balloting group i.e. with those less than 1km?
:!:

[Cheval]

mummyo:

Hi Parents


I'm going for the intervew tmr to see if they will select us to be Parent Volunteers.

Very nervous now. How is the principal like?

Any tips for us from parents who had gone down the same route?

This is our only chance cos if we are selected then we can register under Phase 2B. If not, don't need to dream already cos we live 1-2km from HPPS and balloting is already done for <1km.

I'm so stressed. Don't think I'll be able to sleep tonight

Good luck first!

But personally I feel primary school is not that important. Secondary school is much more crucial.

As a parent from China, I have seen too many kids getting into RI or Hwa Chong from neighborhood school. Qiu Biqing from Qi Fa for 2009 PSLE is even a better example.

Also being enrolled in HPPS does not ensure anything at all. My boy has done extremely poorly at the test exams when we were back from Europe so he was assigned to the last (least performing) class. Now he moved to the top (not GEP) class after adaptation and hard work. So we have seen different classes. A couple of days ago, he brought back the HPPS 2009 Yearbook. It is obvious to me that under the class ranking system, students at HPPS are not necessarily equally better taken care of than those in neighborhood schools.

For PS, most determining factor is kid and parents.

Just my too cents.

[csc]

Cheval:

It is obvious to me that under the class ranking system, students at HPPS are not necessarily equally better taken care of than those in neighborhood schools.

That's rather true. I notice that some neighbourhood schools really take care of their students better than 'branded' schools do.

However, I also observe that students at 'branded' schools tend to speak better English and can express their thoughts well. Neighbourhood school kids may not speak as well as they write. Just my observation and fyi.

[blur-daddy]

Hi Cheval,


Agreed with your points. On top of kids and parent, I will add on teacher as well... if your kid got a good teacher that can stimulate the class learning, it will make the school life all that more enjoyable. My son did get a great teacher last yr when he's in P3, and I can see the diff in school work 'stimulation' and the class comradeship, closeness among themselves.

I believe every school does have good teachers. Just that it depends on your kid's luck whether is assigned to that class. We choose HPPS also because we met one science teacher during roadshow that impress us a bit. Just hope that my kid will be under him when he's in P5

[mummyo]

Hi Blur-Daddy, Cheval & csc


Yes. I totally agree it's the teachers who make the difference. And there are of course good and not-so-good teachers in all schools.

I'm slightly less stressed today. Guess I've a plan B in place in case I don't get as PV into HPPS.

From past years stats, there's a good 90% chance no need ballot for Phase 2B (PV comes under this phase) so really hope if we get selected, our year's cohort won't be so big as to need to ballot cos if priority is given to pple <1km then we are at a disadvantage.

In any case, I'm keeping a relaxed and positive attitude for this afternoon's interview. Mostly I'm looking forward to check out the school and facilities.

Thanks all for your feedback

[kwong]

Hi mummyo


I was also intending to sign up as a PV at HP. But I heard it is not so easy…
Anyway, how old is your child and please share with us after your interview!

Thanks

[mummyo]

kwong


My oldest boy was born in 2005. I applied to be a Parent Volunteer last year I think cos the application for 2005 cohort closed in October 2009!

Anyway, we were shortlisted and went for an interview yesterday. It was very straightforward. They just asked how we can contribute and based on our skills set, we proposed what we could do. So depending on what they need, I guess they will select the PV based on what we do.

My husband and I work in the Media and Creative industries (me, before I became SAHM) so that's all we could offer.

So now just wait for call or rejection letter. Hopefully we would get selected.

[blur-daddy]

Hi Mummyo,


The skillset u quote are quite marketable , can help in brochure, school yearbook etc... 40 hrs between both of u???

I read an article from wan-bao on Thu and Fri about top PSLE students last yr and notice the trend that both kids have SAHM :idea: . Their environment created are quite regimental i.e. discipline... no TV, everyday must do something, learn something, prepare something, absorb something... quite scary to me actually. I think it does help to have one parent close by and provide a FT assistance/monitoring role...

Both my wife and me are working and we struggled everyday with regards to time mgmt. We also don't wanna enforce too strict a discipline, and not to fall into the rat race... main thing we wanna accomplish is that our kids enjoy schooling, but sometime, it can't be helped. So it seems u are on the right path liao =). My wife is seriously considering that option of SAHM.

Wish u all the best.

[cluelessmama]

blur-daddy:

Hi Mummyo,


I read an article from wan-bao on Thu and Fri about top PSLE students last yr and notice the trend that both kids have SAHM :idea: . Their environment created are quite regimental i.e. discipline... no TV, everyday must do something, learn something, prepare something, absorb something... quite scary to me actually. I think it does help to have one parent close by and provide a FT assistance/monitoring role...

I'm a SAHM. I can't speak for all, but the environment in which my kid grows up in is not all that ' regimental and scary' .

The only regimental part - must eat lunch, take shower and complete school work.

Any TV programme? Of course, the answer is a resounding \"YES.\" Kid gets to play on computer and NDS as long as she completes her work (school work as well as those assigned by me).

Usually, she gets to read what she wants too - Pokemon, novels, magazines, etc. - a good mix of trash as well serious reading.

I have always believed that ' all work and no play makes Jack/Jill a dull child'.