Henry Park Primary
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pellias:
Hiaweh:
Are there any difference in the booklist for the top 4 and the next 4 classes?
i doubt, higher chinese class selection also not firmed up yet.
btw, to confirm, P3's in 2015 will start school 1 day later right?
Pls call school and check. P4 students were told school starts on 5th jan. -
hi I have 2 gals, aged 6 and 2. The elder one will be entering HPPS P1 next year, and we are all excited with her progress into a new phase. I join this KSParent forum hoping to learn from everyone about primary school education and things happening in schools.
I came across a rather shocking book purchase experience recently that I hope other parents in this thread, especially parents whose children are entering P1 next year could share info with me. 2 weeks back, I went to the school to buy textbooks. In this Primary 1 textbook and stationery form given to us by Pacific Bookstore, there are 18 items listed as compulsory exercise books and stationery items (including PVC exercise bk cover, color palette, nylon brushes, sketch book oil pastels etc). I was told by the bookshop assistants that I have to purchase the entire set of items as part of the textbook orders as this is required (‘compulsory’) by the school. I was taken aback by this instruction because it came to me as hard sell of the bookshop’s own merchandise because there were many items there that we already have at home, we can just pack them in my gal’s school bag. But they insisted that I need to purchase the entire set otherwise they could not sell me the rest of the textbooks. Given no choice, I paid for everything. That 18 items totalled $68. I checked the list, the only ‘required’ items were the school exercise and jotter books, report book, name tags and subject files.
Can parents share if this has happened to you? The school management responded that this is not the case and is trying to evade my other queries.
I have also brought up a few issues here.
1) is the school is aware of the bookstore’s actions? Has the bookstore been using the school as an excuse to make profits without the school’s knowledge
2) Or has this practice been allowed by the management all along, which could suggest some sort of profit sharing?
3) items such as PVC exercise book covers, pocket refills, nylon brushes, A3 art bag, in my opinion, are good to have stationery but not essentials. There is no school mandate that all exercise books have to be wrapped or protected with covers. With regards to the art bag, i find it puzzling to insist on the same model, make and color. but fundamentally is there a significant difference for a child to use a similar sized tote bag or canvas bag to carry his or her artworks to and fro school? Or if the child’s ability to paint would be largely affected by the use of nylon or natural haired brushes or a particular brand of oil pastels and poster colours (the shop listed "Omni" brand for these 2 art materials).
sorry if this is too long for your reading, just airing some views. Thanks for sharing too. -
DSMolly:
Thanks for bring this up, I have the same experience when my kids joined P1 a few years back. They did not go so far as to say not sell you any books, but they pressure you to buy things that I would deem as optional. They hard-sell me composition books that were even printed years ago and totally not relevant to P1 students' current syllabus.
Can parents share if this has happened to you? The school management responded that this is not the case and is trying to evade my other queries.
Eventually when my younger went P1 (and i was wiser), I bought the P1 books together with the older ones. Because they knew you are not new P1 parents, they did not bother to cross-sell/up-sell anything. -
Hi DSMolly,
I have always brought only the essentials from the school book shop.And have not encountered such an experience before ( its my 2nd child in the school now). I rarely buy any stationary from school. Usually its the text books, exercise books and school file only. Some times I have even used other exercise books but I always cover all DS’s books with colour paper, anyway.
During such peak times of year end book sale, they get more people to help out, it is possible these temp staff, may have been uninformed, or might have misunderstood instructions. the lady, who usually mans the book shop, is quite nice and treats the children well too.
Sorry you had a bad experience.
PS- you can reuse the school files if your child maintains them well. -
Dear parents
thanks for sharing with me, and I will note your advice!
I contacted Pacific Bookstore HQ and the cluster manager claimed that the booklist is reviewed and approved by the school. In the end, I requested for refund of the items that i do not need and she has kindly obliged. I also suggested editing the book list to clarify further on the compulsory part to avoid confusion. So if any other parents who met the same issue as me, you could contact the Customer Service.
From your sharing, I guessed that the bookstore could be doing this for a long time. And given its status as the largest school bookshop operator in Singapore, the school admin probably has placed enough trust to overlook the other issues. My objective of writing in to the school management was primarily to alert them of possibly unfair practice carried out in their name. I hope they see that point. -
i was also given the impression that i had to buy the whole box along with the stationery. But i didn’t push back, so they probably assumed i wanted the whole thing.
Anyway, I have another question. The school bus operator just called and said they were unable to provide a bus service from HPPS to my daughter’s after school care in Keppel Road.
Anyone who also faced rejection from the school bus service? Any idea on alternative transportation plans like car sharing or private cab?
Thanks. -
Hiaweh:
So far, no such advise. Assume all start on 2 Jan.[/quote]Nope. P3 and upper pri start on 5th Jan...pellias:
[quote=\"Hiaweh\"]Are there any difference in the booklist for the top 4 and the next 4 classes?
i doubt, higher chinese class selection also not firmed up yet.
btw, to confirm, P3's in 2015 will start school 1 day later right? -
useful link on science resources / videos:
http://www.henryparkpri.moe.edu.sg/cos/ ... &rid=40692 -
May Phua's son is in Henry Park Primary:
http://women.asiaone.com/women/people/l ... g-over-son -
Hi
For the boy school poly tee, is it tuck out or tuck in ?
Anyone know the name tag supposed to iron howon many cm above the school crest?
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