Choosing and Evaluating Primary Schools
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If your child is SC and you are staying less than 1 km of Rulang, can try your luck balloting at Phase 2C.
On actual computer balloting day at MOE, it is your child’s luck that determine in or out. All the very best to your child, on Phase 2C balloting day itself.
Otherwise (if fail to ballot in), just proceed to register in Phase 2C Supplementary, at one of those primary schools in Jurong, that still have vacancies. -
TC25:
While Rulang and Shuqun are popular schools in Jurong area, they are also typical neighborhood schools.
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Option 2: Play safe and go with Jurong. My concern is the environment of a neighbourhood school isn't great for my child, who doesn't have much self discipline
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floppy:
I am not able to relate between non neighborhood schools, neighborhood schools and child self discipline. Can anyone enlighten?
While Rulang and Shuqun are popular schools in Jurong area, they are also typical neighborhood schools.TC25:
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Option 2: Play safe and go with Jurong. My concern is the environment of a neighbourhood school isn't great for my child, who doesn't have much self discipline
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which child is disciplined at 6 or 7 years old?
ultimately, the parents have to be the one to teach and discipline their own kids.
even if the school is popular, there are still black sheep around. -
The “branded” primary schools produce better school results. But is it entirely due to the school? I think parents play a more important part, motivating and supporting the child, laying a strong pre-primary foundation with enrichment like phonics, abacus, pri preparation classes. Will branded school teachers put in more effort to support the child if they fall behind their peers. This depends on the teachers. Most of the time, parents have to coach or send for tuition.
Branded schools win most of the academic awards. But if your child is not one of the better students, they will not even have the chance to participate, esp if the school is a gep centre.
Instead of DD1 “branded” school, I will be registering DD2 in a “neighbourhood” school which is within walking distance. At least, she does not need to wake up at 5.45 am for school bus. -
Cloud Cloud:
branded primary schools have parents who can well afford to send their kids for enrichment lessons.The “branded” primary schools produce better school results. But is it entirely due to the school? I think parents play a more important part, motivating and supporting the child, laying a strong pre-primary foundation with enrichment like phonics, abacus, pri preparation classes. Will branded school teachers put in more effort to support the child if they fall behind their peers. This depends on the teachers. Most of the time, parents have to coach or send for tuition.
Branded schools win most of the academic awards. But if your child is not one of the better students, they will not even have the chance to participate, esp if the school is a gep centre.
Instead of DD1 “branded” school, I will be registering DD2 in a “neighbourhood” school which is within walking distance. At least, she does not need to wake up at 5.45 am for school bus.
even in branded schools, if parents do not have the time or means to coach or send for tuition, these kids will still fall to the last few classes and I don't think the teachers will be bothered to support. -
In evaluating schools I t really depends on combination of many factors :-
1. Good leadership - P & VPs must model good educators professionalism and direct resources appropriately. We've experienced some P opening up one of the most CCAs for kids, but new P shut down golf as taking too much resources. But new P put in programmes to encourage activities tt demonstrates values learning unlike previous P just mention it just as slogan. Believe me there lots of politics in sch & we had lost an excellent Math teacher who designed & put up e-learning Math tt Pri kids enjoyed so much & the kids were using On-Sponge to augment their learning, but unfortunately teacher not in good books so transferred out. This brings down morale in the staff room. So, good leadership is impt in driving school success as a balance place to learn & grow
2. Teachers as educators - there are teachers who just teach text & there are those who wld diagnose problem areas, help a child to close gap, gain interests & confidence to enjoy learning. I had a frd whose boy was hospitalized & the teachers chipped in willingly gave extra coaching on his return - not just one teacher but CL, Math & Sc teachers. And this is in an established Pri sch.
Yet there are teachers (DS encountered one) had who did not alert parents (so we can work to resolve issues as education collaborators) that child hv not been doing hmwk till Sept when he had to do students' progress report as required by HOD. He said he was of impression tt parents wld hv tutors follow-up learning unlike 领里学校. Was appalled but realised his wrong perception had caused his inaction for 9 mths resulting in my child not doing any hmwk. But I learnt my lesson the hard way too for not asking qns why my son did not submit work tho the wkbk was kept in classroom all that time. Thankful for HOD's vigilant check with her dept teachers.
3. Holistic Learning Environment - DS wld not hv survived P1 if not for sch Councelor who spotted him in 1st week, holding hard onto gate refusing to enter with dad. He was proactive in spotting P1 kids & invited DS to his lego collection & suggest him invite his classmates over. That changed DS start in Pri sch, owise he was struggling with adjustments fr a smaller kinder setup to a >1000 sch population; classmate's who kicked at his chair all the time & thow his pencils to the rubbish bin, etc. He won't hv survived those stressful moments as mum cannot be in class with him. Counsellors hv contributed a whole lot to holistic education
4. Good library collection - We had a very well stocked & constantly updated library thankful to the efforts of PSG who reviewed titles to ensure appropriate contents, interesting updates, reading-up with kids (yes there were mothers who spend half-hour daily to help kids read thro reward system), etc. Now I feel like going back to DS alumni to work (happy work & very rewarding to our sense of mind) as PSG again.
5. Collaborative Parents - the sch culture & environment is only as good as the involvement or non-involvement of parents. Some parents can involve & meddle with their strong opinions or even boast & lord over other parents or teachers showing their prowess. There are parents who wld qn teachers haughtily to account for their kids having suffered punishment or injuries without checking cause; or parents who rush & park in sch indiscriminately showing inconsideration to others & poor modeling to child. Prev P had to stand at drop-off point (to show authority) to Marshall traffic bcoz many parents had abused operation staff in those stressful few hours of early morning & afternn pick-ups. I had myself personally reasoned with an elderly lady & relieved a warden when a grandmother refused to move her car away fr zebra crossing while waiting for grandchild.
Yet, there are parents who wld gather feedback with open mind & help their kids to adjust, cooperate with school teachers & fellow students. Parents who always ensure they signed forms & make prompt submission to relieve teachers fr over-deadline follow-up (these are added stress to an educator's teaching time). Parents who hv good handle of their child's learning & ensure hmwk religiously done & submitted on time, emulate positive participation with school authorities.
Collaborate with other parents to help one child & other kids grow & develop together. Organize learning programmes outside sch tt build stronger bonds & fun-learning. I've gained many lovely frds over the years & benefited fr my kids' schooling (as a by product!).
Just reflecting puts a lot of memories & emotions in me. Happy to share though.
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Many good insights ! Admit that I am on the other end of the spectrum as I am old schooled.
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janet88:
It all depends on the child. I only send mine for Chinese enrichment and I coach him on the rests of the subjects whenever I have time, but so far he's doing fine.
branded primary schools have parents who can well afford to send their kids for enrichment lessons.Cloud Cloud:
The “branded” primary schools produce better school results. But is it entirely due to the school? I think parents play a more important part, motivating and supporting the child, laying a strong pre-primary foundation with enrichment like phonics, abacus, pri preparation classes. Will branded school teachers put in more effort to support the child if they fall behind their peers. This depends on the teachers. Most of the time, parents have to coach or send for tuition.
Branded schools win most of the academic awards. But if your child is not one of the better students, they will not even have the chance to participate, esp if the school is a gep centre.
Instead of DD1 “branded” school, I will be registering DD2 in a “neighbourhood” school which is within walking distance. At least, she does not need to wake up at 5.45 am for school bus.
even in branded schools, if parents do not have the time or means to coach or send for tuition, these kids will still fall to the last few classes and I don't think the teachers will be bothered to support. -
Hi,
We live in Woodlands and my 6 year old son has been going to Greentree montessori in Sembawang.
I am just wondering if there are any Montessori inspired primary schools in Woodlands?
If not, for those parents who sent their children to Montessori pre-schools, how does your children coping in mainstream schools? :thankyou:
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