[Jurong West] Primary Schools

[tiredmum]

Thanks ChiefKiasu for your reply. I seriously thinking of giving Rulang a miss. Never been lucky with lucky draws in my life.


I share the same feeling as the old auntie when I see my friends doing volunteering work in schools and giving so many extra classes and tution to their children. I even commented that they are giving their children so much stress.

All my friends commented that I am not in Singapore that's why I can't feel the pressure. Our family have been away since my son is 9mths old. We hope to be back next year for his primary school education.

In fact, I never pressure him on his work and never send him to any extra lessons or activities. I think bulk of his time is playing and watching TV after school. No homework No spellings as the Montessori school he is attending believe in making sure the children are happy :?

Initally, my plan is to put him into any primary school that my sister (staying around Lakeside) has chosen as I wanted my niece and my son to be in the same school for convenience. She was thinking of putting her daughter to Lakeside which is within 1km from her place and 2km from my place. The school seems to be very new and don't have track records.

After I read the postings in this forum and the comments from friends and relatives, I am feeling the pressure to send my son to a better school so that he won't fall back too much (according to my friend).

By the way, do you have any recommendation of student care cum childcare with tution services around Jurong West?

[Sing]

Juying vs Xingnan ?


I prefer like to let me child to morning session school. Morning session better for child or afternoon session? Can anyone share with me your information? :roll:

[ChiefKiasu]

Sing:

I prefer like to let me child to morning session school. Morning session better for child or afternoon session? Can anyone share with me your information? :roll:

I personally think that morning sessions are better, especially for the P1 classes, so as the kids can build up good habits from the start. Kids are also more fresh in the morning and they have the rest of the day for other activities. Afternoon sessions are right smack in the middle of the day, hot and humid. Kids that have been having afternoon naps since they were born will have a difficult time adjusting.

You are comparing http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/school/juying-primary-school(single session) vs http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/school/xingnan-primary-school(double session) based on this difference? That's a first for me :).

[phantom]

I spoke to this kindergarten principal and she told me that kids concentrate better in the afternoon. But, personally when I was young, I like morning session better because time pass quicker and you feel you have the whole day after school.

[ChiefKiasu]

phantom:

I spoke to this kindergarten principal and she told me that kids concentrate better in the afternoon. But, personally when I was young, I like morning session better because time pass quicker and you feel you have the whole day after school.

That's strange... because full-day childcare centres are notorious for making their kids sleep for a couple of hours after lunch everyday!

[Sing]

ChiefKiasu:

phantom:

I spoke to this kindergarten principal and she told me that kids concentrate better in the afternoon. But, personally when I was young, I like morning session better because time pass quicker and you feel you have the whole day after school.

That's strange... because full-day childcare centres are notorious for making their kids sleep for a couple of hours after lunch everyday!

yup very strange!

[mrs nai]

:roll: Hi, pls advise which sch is better. We are staying at Jurong West near Pioneer Mall so I suppose Rulang is out (outside 2km).

[ChiefKiasu]

I would rate West Grove slightly higher just because they got a top 10 national PSLE scorer last year But really, they are both about the same. Since this is the case, you should visit both and see which one you have better vibes with.

[tamarind]

We have applied for West Grove Primary School as parent volunteers. Just had a session with the principal last Saturday. The parents of about 80 kids turned up. Actually the school has a new principal, this is her first year as a principal. She seems pretty nice and reasonable. I think perhaps there will be some changes under the new principal.


The principal mentioned that the students are grouped into HA, MA, LA meaning high/medium/low ability. They also have special programs to help students who have difficulty reading, parent volunteers are asked to help in this program.

Actually Jurong West Primary School is even closer. I went to visit the school before, somehow I did not have a good impression of the environment and the discipline of the students. This is just my personal opinion. I felt more comfortable with West Grove.

[tamarind]

For West Grove, you will need to ballot even if you are staying within 1-2 km. I remember last year it was about 300 students for 100 places.


That's why we applied to become parent volunteers at West Grove. According to the principal, last year all parent volunteers who completed 40 hours were able to get a place for their child.

Previously I heard that West Grove is also very academically driven, I believe no less than Rulang. But this year they have a new principal, she seems to be very nice lady. I wonder if there will be any changes.

I actually also don't want my kids to go to a school that only concentrates on academic results. But I want a school that has good teachers and good discipline, and there are not many choices in our area.

It is a fact that before entering primary 1, the child must already know how to read and write in sentences, in both English and Chinese. I heard a mommy whose son was in West Grove, and he only knew A,B,C in P1. The teacher is already teaching the children to write short essays in P1. So the mommy was told to withdraw the son and put him back to kindergarten instead

I believe not only West Grove, other primary schools also expect their students to be able to read and write well before entering P1. I did not send my kids to many enrichment classes. They are only attending one Chinese enrichment class (once a week 2 hours). I spend time after work to teach them myself. My 5 year old girl can read English books very well, while my 4 year old boy is also able to read simple books on his own.

I remember when I started primary 1 more than 30 years ago, teachers expect the kids to know nothing, and they started by teaching A,B,C. I don't think any primary school in Singapore has this kind of standard any more.