[Novena] Primary Schools

[ChiefKiasu]

karpai:

Actually we would like to start as soon as possible. I was very happy to read your reply and feel more confident about going into a local school. one problem is that we are staying in bukit timah so we have to start the day very early. but really didn't find any school which would be near to us and have vacancies..

Have you tried Bukit Timah Primary school? Try posting in this http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?t=424 to see if you get some help on schools in Bukit Timah.

[spikey]

karpai:

[Moderator's note: Topics merged.]


Hello!

We are a Finnish family who has just moved here for to stay for 9 months. We have a daughter who is going to turn 7 this week and a son who just turned 3. Our daughter speaks English (not perfectly), our son doesn't. We would like to find a local school for our daughter and a playschool for our son. We live in Maplewoods Condo, Bukit Timah Road. We are not that interested whether the school is one of the top schools. We just would like to give our children the opportunity to learn about Singaporean culture, get some local friends and learn more English etc.

For my daughter the nearest local school which has vacancies is Balestier Hill Primary. Does anyone have any helpful information about that school? Thank you for your time.

Any ideas for a playschool for our son?

actually, since you live very close to MGS (under 1 km), you should try approaching the school to try to place your daughter there.

[aggellim]

[quote]We are a Finnish family who has just moved here for to stay for 9 months. We have a daughter who is going to turn 7 this week and a son who just turned 3. Our daughter speaks English (not perfectly), our son doesn't. We would like to find a local school for our daughter and a playschool for our son. We live in Maplewoods Condo, Bukit Timah Road. We are not that interested whether the school is one of the top schools. We just would like to give our children the opportunity to learn about Singaporean culture, get some local friends and learn more English etc. [/quote]
hi karpai ,

Have you tried DANZHONG Primary school AT BUKIT BATOK ?

I know there is vacancy at DANZHONG Primary school. u can call them to check it out. Hope this helps . :love:

[karpai]

Thank you all!!


I have called Bukit timah primary, Danzhong and MGS. No vacancies was the answer. Among them I called 25 other schools with no success… I don’t know if it’s this that we are from abroad? Maybe I should go and visit Danzhong if you know there should be vacancies…

[jedamum]

karpai:

Thank you all!!


I have called Bukit timah primary, Danzhong and MGS. No vacancies was the answer. Among them I called 25 other schools with no success.. I don't know if it's this that we are from abroad? Maybe I should go and visit Danzhong if you know there should be vacancies..

hi karpai,
how about making a personal trip down to the few selected schools (selected based on distance to your home and the more neighbourhood the school is, the higher chance of a vacancy)? it is easier to turn down a phone call than a person you meet face to face with. read more about the school and convince them how they will make learning for your kid allrounded or what you can offer them. try writing a letter to them. try offering your 'services' - you can still be a parent volunteer after your kid has been accepted into the school. services you can offer can be anything native to your country and interesting to us - eg offer to organise a cultural/food exchange day etc (i do heard of korean mummies teaching teachers how to make kimchi or offering basic korean language teaching etc). however, if you feel that 6yrs of commuting to Balestier Hill Pri is more worth it, then maybe Balestier Hill Pri may just be your choice, then arrange to find an apartment nearer to the school thereafter.

and i think the school is DaZhong... better don't get the name wrong when speaking to the school's administrator

[Miracle Child]

[Moderator's note: Topics merged.]


Hi, I am new in this forum. My son is due to for P1 registration this year. we live near Lavender and are thinking of registering him for SJI Junior given that we are Catholics, and SJIJ is the nearest all-boys Catholic school near to us.

H/w, I have heard that SJIJ's standard is not too good and that the chinese level is poor. Anyone can share experience on this?

[smurf]

Indeed, the chinese standard is very low and standard so-so. but I’m keen to put my boy there cos we are catholics too.hahha.

[Miracle Child]

smurf:

Indeed, the chinese standard is very low and standard so-so. but I'm keen to put my boy there cos we are catholics too.hahha.

Thanks. Kinda in dilemma. We are considering between SJIJ and Hong Wen, which are the two schools nearer to our house. My son is strong in English but does not like to speak in Mandarin. If we put him in SJIJ, he will probably be quite comfortable there since I think the general feeling is that the children there tends to be more English (gut feel), but we are worried that we may end up pushing him further away from Chinese. If we put him in Hong Wen, we are not sure whether he can clique with the children there as we think the children there may probably be quite conversant in Mandarin (again, gut feel only). Sigh...headache.

Anyone else can comment on SJIJ or Hong Wen? Appreciate.

[ghostz]

mission schools always stress on well-rounded education. and yes, i think the stereotype that most of the kids there come from english-speaking families is true. depends on what you want. if me, if i were in your shoes being a catholic and all, i would choose st mike's anytime between the two.

[smurf]

Hi Miracle child,


if u want him to be strong in chinese, perhaps u can start to put him in chinese enrichment programme now to build up his foundation.