Ai Tong

[daisyt]

mummyo:

Hi Parents


I've a son who was born in 2005. I'm torn between sending him to ATS or HPPS which is nearer home.

I'm ex-ATS and would like him in a more chinese-y environment but dunno if he will be able to cope cos he hates speaking in Mandarin etc. (partly also cos he's not confident in the language). Another concern for me is the distance. We're in Clementi.

Can parents with children in ATS give me some feedback? Especially those whose kids have to travel far to get to ATS.

Please PM me if you're not comfortable sharing here. Your honesty is much appreciated. Thank you.

Hi mummyo,

I was ex-ATS, not staying near ATS but not as far as you. Travel by school bus, my girl had to wake up at 5:30am. Travel by public transport, also need about 1 hour (mrt and bus). She still managed to survive throughout the 6 years, in fact a good training for her because she has no problem with less sleep nowadays. When in P6, she started to go school and come home on her own.

DD never liked Chinese too, even in ATS (we speak English at home). Only till P5, she began to like it. Although ATS is a SAP school, I still see many students dislike Chinese but good enough to manage in exam. Her chinese was bad when in Kindergarden, cannot speak full sentence in Mandarin, but she was coping well in ATS. She never spoke Mandarin to her classmates during normal conversation, but she did well in Chinese PSLE.

Hope the above helps.

[mummyo]

Hi daisyt


Thanks for your feedback. So did your daughter's chinese improve during the time she was there? Did she feel left out because if it was like the time I was there, the students tend to speak Mandarin to each other. I think my son will be quite lost in such an environment.

We have a direct bus here to ATS but it takes like 40min each way. Then again my mum's place in AMK and it takes 3 buses to get there so same difference I guess :oops:

[daisyt]

hi mummyo, yes, her Chinese improved. She was not left out because somehow the classmates, 90% of them converse in English … hhmmm … or maybe, she mixed more with the English speaking students.


You mentioned, "if it was like the time I was there", you mean during your schooling time ? When was that ? Its very different last time our school time and now. Majority of the students now speak more English.

[Cuppamocha]

Hi, anyone got any idea if the P1 students have canteen breaks for lunch or their lunch is catered like some primary schools? Also what time does the school start?

[nothing2do]

Cuppamocha:

Hi, anyone got any idea if the P1 students have canteen breaks for lunch or their lunch is catered like some primary schools? Also what time does the school start?

usually the P1 take their recess in class for the first week. For the Pri 1 i think u hv to be in sch by 12.15pm, bec 12.30pm they have Silent Reading.

[TTLauPeh]

FYI, recess at ATS is a miserly 20 mins.

[nothing2do]

TTLauPeh:

FYI, recess at ATS is a miserly 20 mins.

hi i think they increase to 30min already.

[Cuppamocha]

Wooh, the recess time is short. I am ex-ATS (1980 graduate) that was a long time ago.

I am staying just 100m from Hougang Pri. That would be very convenient for my Yr 2007 girl as it would reduce the transport time (waking up early).
So actually I am in a dilemna whether to get her into ATS or Hougang Pri. Can someone share with me your views on this?

[mummyo]

Cuppamocha:

Wooh, the recess time is short. I am ex-ATS (1980 graduate) that was a long time ago.

I am staying just 100m from Hougang Pri. That would be very convenient for my Yr 2007 girl as it would reduce the transport time (waking up early).
So actually I am in a dilemna whether to get her into ATS or Hougang Pri. Can someone share with me your views on this?

I'm also in the same dilemma. I'm now trying to volunteer at a school nearer my place but even then, might not be 100% chance of getting in.

I guess I'll register for Ai Tong under 2A2 then register at the school I'll PV at depending on the turn-out for Phase 2B. Which reminds me I need to look for my report book from ATS. What happens if I can't find it? Will they believe I'm ex-ATS? LOL

[Cuppamocha]

That was what my wife suggested too. We intend to go for ATS open house.


I am sure that ATS would have records if you are ex-student. If not they can easily check with MOE.