Primary One School Orientation

[ChiefKiasu]

I guess the lesson learnt from this thread is that schools still have to work at wowing us parents AFTER we've gotten into the schools :). We all know how hard they worked during the open houses in June while trying to introduce themselves to us.

[jedamum]

ChiefKiasu:

I guess the lesson learnt from this thread is that schools still have to work at wowing us parents AFTER we've gotten into the schools :). We all know how hard they worked during the open houses in June while trying to introduce themselves to us.

Chief, while my boy's school has yet to win me over totally as i still find that they can be clearer in their instructions to parents, my boy is totally won over by the school after they showcase their performance to the kids and their mascot during the orientation. My boy told me that he feel that the school is a 'good' school.
He happy, I happy.

[ChiefKiasu]

jedamum:

Chief, while my boy's school has yet to win me over totally as i still find that they can be clearer in their instructions to parents, my boy is totally won over by the school after they showcase their performance to the kids and their mascot during the orientation. My boy told me that he feel that the school is a 'good' school.

He happy, I happy.

Wah... you lucky. My recollection of my son's orientation in Konghwa was how the English HOD impressed me with her command of language despite Konghwa being a SAP school. In fact, I don't recall a single word of Chinese spoken throughout the meet-the-teachers-in-the-school-hall session. No performance or anything else. Ended up with a pasar malam in the canteen where service providers tout their school bags and transport services.

[winth]

Hi, how do I know when the primary school is having orientation?


My boy is born 2003, so does it mean that the up and coming orientation is meant for my boy? Sorry, I’m really outdated on this.

Haven’t been to any orientation yet, thought it was suppose to be near June next year during registration?

[ChiefKiasu]

winth:

Hi, how do I know when the primary school is having orientation?


My boy is born 2003, so does it mean that the up and coming orientation is meant for my boy? Sorry, I'm really outdated on this.

Haven't been to any orientation yet, thought it was suppose to be near June next year during registration?

Open House (June) = Before you sign up... no commitments
Orientation (Dec) = After you have successfully registered, preparing your kid to go to P1 in that school

So I think orientations aren't for those of us who don't have kids going to P1 NEXT year.

[winth]

wow... thanks for the definitions.

[Strawberry Milk]

ChiefKiasu:

I guess the lesson learnt from this thread is that schools still have to work at wowing us parents AFTER we've gotten into the schools :). We all know how hard they worked during the open houses in June while trying to introduce themselves to us.

Chief,
I totally agree with what you have said! While I sympathise with my colleague, I also must say that the school has taken a great effort to plan for the open house as well as the orientation day.

While now that my colleague is patiently waiting for the school's reply to her e-mail, she is also battling whether should she register her child under the waiting list in another neighboring school. She is not confident that the current school will provide good studying environment to the children.

Does any parent has any advise for her? Thanks.

[Luanee]

Wooh, I didnt know primary schools have 'open houses' to wow the parents?? And I am supposed to be a ks parent leh!


Strawberry Milk, I think it may be too late now to be placed on the waiting list as priority be given to those who put their names on in July right after the registration. Unless ur colleague dont mind transferring in P2. Why not give the school a chance first?

[Strawberry Milk]

Luanee:

Strawberry Milk, I think it may be too late now to be placed on the waiting list as priority be given to those who put their names on in July right after the registration. Unless ur colleague dont mind transferring in P2. Why not give the school a chance first?

Hi Luanee,
Thanks for the advise; indeed I agree with you too that it is too late now to be put on waiting list unless those school that still has vacancy then it will be easier to transfer. I will also advise that she waits for the school's reply to her e-mail first and to give a 2nd chance to the school :mrgreen:

[tanzyjac]

Dear Strawberry Milk,


You can ask your colleague to try to request to be placed on waiting list at the other school.

We were in our 1st choice school’s waiting list immediately after we failed to secure a place on Phase 2C (they were already full on Phase 2C, hence not open for 2CS). We got our area MP to help, school called me later to verify my details, but till now still not able to offer us a place.

As I have told you earlier, the school we had successfully registered at Phase 2CS was not our ideal school, but we had no choice. As time passes, we got more and more disappointed in the school. We were still hoping that our 1st choice school will call us soon.

When I still didn’t get any updates from the 1st school, I went to our next choice school in the 3wk of Oct to request to be placed on waiting list. The administrator told us they had a huge stack of people in their wait list and we would not stand any chances. I told myself I can’t just wait, I must get my only child into this school. So after spending about 2 days drafting my email, I sent it to the school principal on the 1st week of Nov. She didn’t reply me but she got one of her vice-principals to call me the next day, followed by the administrator calling me an hour later to tell me that the school is offering my daughter a place in their school.

I felt that as long as we take that extra mile to ask and try for our little ones, even if we are not successful but at least we have tried out best and done our part as a parent. And we will live with no regrets.