West Spring Primary

[aurora07]

tenko:

The students should be getting their handbooks soon from the Teachers. The handbooks are used to record the homework.

Thanks once again for the info. I really appreciate it

[cecelia446]

Hi,

I have to resort into getting my support from parents here because currently I am very emotional and disappointed and I have nobody to seek help to address my concerns.

Mc online is still not available for parents. Handbook not received. My girl enter P1 this year.
We attended the orientation on 4th Jan, in fact I took a whole week leave.
The first day was disappointing. My girl was separated from us on arrival having to figure out herself where is her class queue at the parade square. Parents were to assemble at the back. I thought there was buddy system later on so I was still positive overall.
We parents were asked to go to the hall later on to listen for around 2 to 3 hours of presentation slides. We were not given a tour. Till present I do not know where is her canteen where is her class.
After school the fetching was scary. The main gate was choke up with parents like me. Literally I had to pull her out from the crowd.
My girl was still alright but started to complain stomach ache till whole face pale .
2nd day we parents were told during orientation. Kids were to go classroom put their bags and go to hall. I thought my girl was already orientated properly by the school. Who knows she had to figure out to the hall from the main gate. She lost her way and sense of direction. And panicky she walk back to security only to realise I was gone.
She came home and started crying. Was obviously very traumatised and concern how she is to go to the hall. That whole evening she repeatedly whine to me she is scared because she don’t know how to go to the hall.
Again her stomach ache started.
3rd day I thought of helping her ask security to bring her hall. Who knows assembly was to be at parade square.
The same crying process and stomach ache when she’s back from school.
4th day go classroom.
Today Friday go canteen.

Where and when is the hall?? Its already my last day of leave. And her concerns were still not addressed. I am currently tearing as I wrote this. My girl is as disorientated as me at this current point of time. Everyday she is crying and pale from stomach ache.

Talking to her teacher? Looking at the guard house after school, the gate is still crowded with parents, the noise level, the heat of burning afternoon sun, the chaotic… talking to teacher is pointless at present.

Here was what I gathered from friends who had kids attending other schools. Their kids were given an orientation, with guided tour around school during school holiday. Parents get to play activity with kids in classrooms. Fetching process is systematic.
But why it is not happening here?

I have confidence and no doubt in the school curriculum. But what’s the point when the most basic foundation of going to school process was not there. For the very 1st week of school, definitely there will be alot of anxiety. But all the channels of communication with the school were not even ready.

I wrote a feedback to school yesterday and is awaiting for their reply.
But today is already Friday. Next week I’m back to work. My maid does not speak good English. Till now I am still worried on how to assure my girl or answer her how to go to where she is suppose to go every morning.

Can any parent help me?

[Joyymum]

I am very surprised you and your child had experienced such a bad experience. I thought usually there will be many parent volunteers around to help out during the 1st week of school?


Sorry my children are not from West Spring. I happened to chance upon your above comment.

Hope you can have a good talk with the form teacher and help clear your doubts.

[cecelia446]

Parent volunteer were there. But there were also alot of students. Happened my experience was during that moment the volunteers were attending to other kids. So she was left for a few minutes alone not knowing what to do. I have to walk back to her and bring her back to the staff and said can u please bring my girl to the class queue-- this was during the first day morning. After that 2nd days onwards parents are not able to go into school.

[hquek]

hi cecelia446,


My kids not in westspring so unable to comment on the school directly, BUT, my kid’s school do not allow parents to enter the school - first day, recess etc, parents are not allowed in at all. The only time was during orientation that took place on last day of school the year before. I am quite glad because it shows they take security very seriously, who knows if there may be an ill intentioned adult who sneak into the school with the other parents?

Perhaps you may like to call the school directly and have the FT call you back. If your gal doesn’t know where to report, you may want to get the information from the FT. By now your gal should know where is the hall, where is her classroom (I assume).

For after school, it’ll definitely be a crush. I would inform my kids which gate to go meet my dad and there only. Please do factor in rainy days - the crowding should be worse. Last year DS2 started on schoolbus and fortunately, the bus auntie is very capable and told me exactly where he should go. No issues whatsoever. Whew.

[cecelia446]

:thankyou: Hi hquek,

I'm glad you have a good experience with your school. Having a day of orientation before school open is definitely helpful.
My girl after school process is another story which I will not brag in this forum.
I was never as worried and anxious before. Because my girl was all along quite adaptable. Even putting her student care 1st day, she did not express fear at all.
It really saddened me alot with this week experience. I will not result to such forum discussion if not in a desperate state. I would like any P1 west spring mommies or experience mommies to share with me their experience. What could I have done better? Or have I missed out some important parts during the orientation?

Overall I'm still confident with the teachers. I will definately liase with the teacher in future if its pertaining to class matters. Parent support group volunteers are wonderful.

Would appreciate If any west spring mommy can respond.

[berrypie]

cecelia446,


i have pm you.

[cecelia446]

Hi berry pie


I hv send you a msg bcse I can’t see any pm. Thanks for replying

[mauvemom81]

Hi cecelia446,


my daughter joined p1 this year too at wsps. i agree, the last 5 days has been stressful for both parents AND child/ren. My child who was most excited about school on the first day, now cries the whole day because she doesn't know where to gather in school in the mornings. I've written an email to her form teacher and am waiting for a reply. I too feel extremely disappointed with the school's morning procedure and afterschool dismissal. I spoke to other p1 parents who were waiting outside the gate and many of them expressed the same concerns. Their children do not know where to gather. I told my daughter what I was told during the Parent talk which is to go to class, get a book and proceed to the hall. But on Wednesday they gathered at the parade square. And yesterday, she said they played Lego in class and took the pledge in class too. So now IM confused. hehe.

But having said that, this IS a new school and its the first time they are managing 3 levels this year. I believe the school IS trying its best to manage all that needs to be done and hiccups are expected. As much as it pains every mother to see their child wail at home because they do not want to go school the next day, I think we have to be strong for them. Keep assuring them that it will get better and the confusion will subside once they are familiar with the surroundings. This takes more than a week unfortunately.

As for the school, I was told feedback has been given since last year regarding the chaotic dismissal procedure. I'm sure they've brainstormed and are very possibly still brainstorming ways to manage it better. I'm surprised that there was no Orientation done for the p1s this year. My friends who's got kids in p2 said they had orientation for p1s last year in November 2014. I expected it this year but sadly there wasn't any. I wonder why?

I do find the security guards unfriendly. The ladies especially. They scowl alot. Just today I witnessed a shouting match between a lady security guard and a parent. Both their tempers flared and they exchanged heated words in front of many parents and students. It was not a good start to the morning. Everyone's stressed....

[mauvemom81]

My daughter’s teachers just called me. This is what I’ve been told. Try to be in school by 7.30am these next few weeks. This is so that the kids have time to walk to class and walk to the hall.


Mondays and Tuesdays - bags in class, bring along an english story book to the hall by 7.45am

Wednesdays and Fridays - bags in class, bring along Mother Tongue story book to the hall by 7.45am

Thursdays - Play with Lego in class. Majulah Singapura & pledge in class. Teachers will be in class by 7.30am. If they are not, kids are to wait in class.

Drop your child’s teacher an email. I’m impressed and pleased that I got their calls today. I did not expect a reply till next week because the Principal did mention to give them 3 working days for replies. Told the teachers how much I appreciate their calls. Which brings me to still believe that the school is trying their best to address parents’ concerns and to ensure that everything else runs as smoothly as possible.

Hope this helps.