Catholic High School

[iFirefly]

woodgrove:

I heard a parent saying if they could build mbs in 3 years why the difficulty in building a jc building in 2 years. Even for building condo or hdb the developer will under promise and over deliver ie deliver the building well before expected date of completion.

The new JC was scheduled to be completed in 2017, ready for its FIRST batch of IP students from CHS, SNGS, SCGS (read link to ST article dated 02 Jan 2014). Then it was delayed to mid-2018. And now to end-2019.

Don't think construction has even started at the site yet, though >1 year has passed by..


http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-ne ... 7-20140102

[phtthp]

http://www.straitstimes.com/news/singap ... t-20150417

[mc_007]

Although the school keep stressing that the students are the pioneer batch and therefore it really does not matter if you are at the new campus or not, I still strongly think that it makes a big difference in terms of sense of belonging.


The children will definitely be disappointed. For some, getting to study in the new campus may be a motivation factor. Who doesn’t like to work in a new and well design office for example.

The Ministry is not being transparent about what cause the delay. This is Education… you are demonstrating a value that promises are not meant to be kept.

I heard from my boy that a lot displeasure are among the senior boys who will be impacted. JC life already 蒙上污点 before it begin.

So far, the mitigation suggested don’t really help. Eg. Start school later may = end school later plus the extra travelling time.

Pay for transport to send children： this is also not a workable solution. First of all, the students stayed in different areas. Secondly, why should parents be penalize to pay extra for something that is not within their control.

I hope the press can feedback to the Ministry .

[jetsetter]

mc_007:

The new JC made a comment that is obviously invalid and stir commotion from the parents..she commented distance should not be a concern for choosing CHS.


If I stayed in the west, why would I choose CHS? There are other gd schools in the west too.

I felt that if we can build blocks and blocks of HDB flats at least 12 storeys high in 2-3 years, why it takes 3-4 years to build a school? MOE needs to let us know the reason.

Traveling long distance will definitely affect resting and learning time.

The thing is not many who stay in the West or East would choose this new JC (unless they are diehard 2/3-gen alumni), which is more appealing to those staying in Central.

Was new light shed last evening on the \"new design parameters\"? It's puzzling to the layman as the Asian Golf Academy driving range is a plot of flat, albeit undulated, land.

In any case, not to rub salt in for the affected students, take heart that distance from Bishan MRT to BV MRT via Circle isn't that punishing (provided no breakdowns). 20 yrs ago, it used to take at least 1 hr by slow bus from Central to Ghim Moh and to cut thru the HDB carpark to get into Mt Sinai campus.

And old girls from SNG and old boys from CHS that did well used to pick JCs (in particular, Hwa Chong) in the West. They duly took the slow bus from AMK/Bishan/Serangoon/Hougang/Marine Parade/Toa Payoh to Hwa Chong, then not accessible by MRT yet. There was also a short period 2-3 batches of old SNGS/CHS students even took MRT all the way to BUKIT GOMBAK (near Little Guilin) where the temporary Hwa Chong JC premises were.

Don't mean to trivialise the impt of distance, time-savings and of informed decision making by students and parents. But given this situation, I guess 17-18 yos have to make some adjustments, if no one can change the building schedule.

However, I feel this warrants a more detailed and transparent explanation from the new JC P. At least the SJI spokesperson came out to explain the high slope was giving them some problem. What then is the new JC's problem?

[phtthp]

Train ride by Circle line, from Bishan MRT to Buona Vista (BV) MRT : 21 minutes, 6 MRT stop


http://gothere.sg/m/directions?f=Bishan ... +vista+mrt


after Exit BV station :
wait for bus 92 (come around, 10 to 15 minutes interval)
only one bus 92 reach 53, Mount Sinai

2 bus stop away, from BV station : can enter by Gate 3
(small, side entrance gate, behind Block 1 Ghim Moh HDB flat)

3 bus stop away : enter by Gate 1
(main gate, where private cars drive up to the sheltered porch, fetch children)

[mc_007]

I guess those who did well and picked the JC in the west voice down to they do have a choice… they are prepared to travel cos they choose it vs now those in IP stream don’t really have a choice. They can’t choose Eg Hwa Chong now since they are gg to travel to the west anyway.


Also, I think in the olden days when there was no MRT, we don’t really end our day in school like almost 6pm daily.

[citylights]

We are staying in Yishun and it takes my boy at least 45mins to reach CHS and that is provided he is able to squeeze into the 1st train that comes along. Gong to Mont Sinai will take him at least 3 hours to and from school each day. By then, he will be so tired. How is he able to concentrate and excel in his study? The distance is killing.


I don’t believe that nothing can be done! And hope that our Mininster for Education Mr Heng Swee Kiat can look into it and work with the other relevant authorities to help us? An explanation is insufficient, we need action to improve on the timeline and we have no time to loose now!

[phtthp]

Yes, those staying in the far North area like Yew Tee, Kranji, Woodlands, Admiralty, Marsiling, Sembawang, Khatib, Yishun, Canberra, Yio Chu Kang :

travelling to CHS Secondary, from 2017 at Mount Sinai, is going to be a nightmare. Furthermore, going to be major "A" level exam, in 2017 and 2018, for some batches.

those staying in the east : going to CHS Sec, also a nightmare, if go Mount Sinai.
There are also some boys staying in the east but studying at CHS, because parents were past alumni ties from CHS primary, kids entered via Phase 2A and their children grow up, continue to study at CHS Secondary

[mc_007]

CHS secondary will still be in Bishan…only the new JC students in the IP stream are impacted.


Not sure wat are the opinion of the parents of the other 2 girls schools? The thread seems to be not really active in discussion.

[reddiechan]

Seek not what the school can do for you, but what you can glean from the experience.


I was affected twice: when River Valley moved to Pandan Reservoir during the O level year, and when Hwa Chong moved to Bkt Gombak. 1.5 hour each leg of the daily journey, total 3 hours plus on the road each day.

Hated the commute but loved the school life. After all, I chose the fraternity. Learnt to study along the way with whatever available time in between catching buses. And yes, still made it to NUS, like many in the same boat.