2018 P1 registration exercise for 2019 intake

[janet88]

qms:

Let's take an example.

CHIJ Kellock required balloting in P2CS for SCs beyond 2 km in 2015. So, if you had applied for HPPS in P2C and didn't manage to get it, you had to go through another round of balloting in P2CS.

You have to remember that, if you are balloted out of HPPS in P2C and you do not succeed with CHIJ Kellock in P2CS, you won't have that many schools left to choose from. Hence, it is always better to choose a school that doesn't require you to go through balloting again in P2CS.

So, if you really want to try HPPS in P2C, you should look for a backup school that will not require you to go through balloting in P2CS.

agree with qms.
don't waste your chances at 2B/C...go for a school which has vacancies after phase 2A2 has closed.
2B consists of a selected group of parents and if still can't get it, you will be in a bigger pool with those who have no connection to school of choice.

[Cloud Cloud]

Bellena:

Dear all....I’m still can”t decide which school should I choose for my gal...I can register KH under phase 2A2 but i’m staying at SK... i need to find school bus for her as her daddy is overseas at times thus can”t drive her to school...Nan Chiau and Palm View is within 1km but under phase 2C...i really want her to go in KH but she has to wake up v early for 6 yrs as RS transport pick up at 5.45am from

SK...anyone can advise or know any bus service which don”t pick up that early like 5.45am?? Greatly appreciated!!!

Nan Chiau is tough to get in. Palm View is very new. Can consider Compassvale. Strong in MO and robotics. Also particlpated in debate competition. Golf is one of their niche cca.

Unless you move to the east, KH is too far.

[EastCoastAussie]

What is the best way to monitor the registration rates for Phase 2C? If I go in person to a school on the last day of registration (2 Aug), will the school admins know the exact number of registrations, including internet registrations in real-time?

[Cloud Cloud]

HHMummy:

Parents, for your child's sake please think twice about putting your child in a school too far away from home, just bcoz you are an alumni of a good/popular school. Coz even if you managed to secure that precious spot despite the odds, your child is the one suffering the long distance travel to and fro on a daily basis due to your decision.


I'm a PV myself to a popular school within 1km from home and most of the hours clocked by traffic marshal. Even though assembly is at 720am, I reach school car park as early as 620am in the mornings coz that's around the time the 1st few school buses start dropping off the kids. Whenever I open the bus doors, my heart pains for those kids who didn't even realised they have reached school coz they are still catching up on precious sleep in the bus! I hate to do it but I had to gently wake them up and tell them they reached school already. Then help to half carry them and half holding their bags while they alight from the bus still in a sleepy daze.

To be honest, as a mother I get angry at parents who do this to their children. Sorry if I've offended anyone. Just being honest and I can't help it after what I've witnessed. Coz their children are the ones suffering for many years from their cruel selfish decision. If really die die must go to this school, move nearer or go to a school nearer to home. Especially when the kids move to upper primary and in crucial years like P5 & P6 whereby they start to intensively prepare for PSLE, sleep becomes a luxury and staying far from home is really not helping.

If we stay too far away, cannot assume there will be school bus available. Even if available, the pickup time will be very early and the fares will be high. My friend paying over $300 from Bartley to Serangoon. This is one of the reasons why I am going for a neighbourhood school with walking distance although my dd qualify under phase 2A(2) for a gep centre school.

[zac's mum]

EastCoastAussie:

What is the best way to monitor the registration rates for Phase 2C? If I go in person to a school on the last day of registration (2 Aug), will the school admins know the exact number of registrations, including internet registrations in real-time?

Internet registrations will have closed one day before the last day of physical registration.

So on the last day of physical registration, the school admin will know exactly how many walk-in applications there are as they come to the office. If u are there in person, you will be able to observe. Some schools are nice enough to put up a white board and update it. Others keep mum and you have to enquire nicely. If they won’t tell, you probably have to sit there and count the people yourself. Or beg.

I know, the system sucks. Every year same complaints.

[EastCoastAussie]

zac's mum:

EastCoastAussie:

What is the best way to monitor the registration rates for Phase 2C? If I go in person to a school on the last day of registration (2 Aug), will the school admins know the exact number of registrations, including internet registrations in real-time?

Internet registrations will have closed one day before the last day of physical registration.

So on the last day of physical registration, the school admin will know exactly how many walk-in applications there are as they come to the office. If u are there in person, you will be able to observe. Some schools are nice enough to put up a white board and update it. Others keep mum and you have to enquire nicely. If they won’t tell, you probably have to sit there and count the people yourself. Or beg.

I know, the system sucks. Every year same complaints.

Thank you! So what is the best way to register at a school but withdraw and register at a new school if the walk-in applicants start adding up quickly on day 3. Practically speaking. Register at one school first but then pull the registration if looking unlikely to land a spot — and have a parent at the other school with the documents ready to register there? How long would that registration process take with the school admin? 10 minutes?

[ammonite]

P1 registration is as stressful as you want it to be. Parents who pulled all stops to get their kids into "top" schools but their kids did not thrive, will rarely come forth to say they regret the time and money spent.

[ammonite]

EastCoastAussie:

What is the best way to monitor the registration rates for Phase 2C? If I go in person to a school on the last day of registration (2 Aug), will the school admins know the exact number of registrations, including internet registrations in real-time?

Just call? Organised schools will have the numbers ready. If they keep it a secret or make it hard for you, you will have a taster of how life as a parent of that school will be for the next 6 years if the principal does not change.

[zac's mum]

EastCoastAussie:

Thank you! So what is the best way to register at a school but withdraw and register at a new school if the walk-in applicants start adding up quickly on day 3. Practically speaking. Register at one school first but then pull the registration if looking unlikely to land a spot — and have a parent at the other school with the documents ready to register there? How long would that registration process take with the school admin? 10 minutes?

I did the “withdrawal” method and regretted, because it takes time to process the withdrawal. Just wait at both schools (1 parent each) before deciding, then do the application at your chosen school. Give yourself time for travel in case the parent holding the originals needs to rush over. Usually 3pm is already cutting it a bit tight.

[Bochapmum3]

Estéema:

I cannot agree more with parents who've given Bellena critically impt advice - consider your child's welfare & yours.


Do not subj your child & yourself/hubby to wake at unearthly hours to catch any kind of transport for such a long journey. It's for a long 6 years & it's tough enuf when your kids hv lots of hmwk, CCAs, extra curricular learning you might want to nurture her interest. It's not so simple as finding the tpt to solve problems of arriving in school & long journey.

You wld want yr child to do well, be happy and enjoy exploring learning with teachers & friends. If the child is subjected to daily lack of sleep, they wld not function well (sleepy, can't pay attention, fall more easily as tired, immunity becomes lower, etc). It'll defeat any of yr well intended purpose.

Let her go to a school nearer yr home. Then asks if there are options within SK, or do u hv resources to move nearer to sch. Be wise in your choices. Many sch ard SK are not too bad & don't confine yourselves to Nan Chiau. One frd stays in that vicinity & had both her kids at Compassvale and both kids are avid MO participants & learnt Coding with their friends too.

The key is to consider yr daily process of getting the family out to sch & work with least hassle. As adults, we will feel dread to wake up too early day-in & day-out, what abt yr girl? Even for us when we moved near to both work & sch, DH hv days when he didn't feel like waking early to do his usual walk with kids to sch (only 5 min). There were times when my kids fell in sch & sch called up or when kids have fever & stay home, I've to get to sch before sch gates closes to collect the pile of hmwk or after an entire day of sch & CCA yr child gets tired out & im sure u don't want to subj her to ano long journey home.

Keep your sanity & give your child a good start by simplying yr long-term logistics & health (both physical & emotional).

I believe MOE's rqmt to direct parents to give priority to living close is wise esp when u consider the devpt'l needs of young children at Pri sch age. Sleep is impt. Esp getting at least 8-10 hours for lower Pri students. Sleep helps them to rest & organize their brains (memory function, cognitive, organs devp & healthy muscle growth).

Moreover, Pri 1 sch enrollment does not stop there when parents think abt kids edn. You wld want yr child to hv sufficient rests, not be sleep deprived when you want to sit revising their work with them or help them spend time exploring reading for knowledge & tuition to help them close gaps. All these need time.

The last thing u want is for yr child to underperform or worst health affected bcoz of lowered immunity fr poor heath & then u can't think of her enjoying studies coz u've constantly to boost her immunity & return her health.

Work within yr options of schools & don't stress yourself or yr family. I don't like stress. So I don't subj my kids to it when possible. When kids in Pri sch we moved near with the obj to reduce stress of logistics & more rest time esp for PSLE & when they need more rest time during puberty. We moved for their sec so they get home for lunch & home earlier for dinner after CCAs & more time for hmwk. Find an optimal solution that is sustainable for 6 years.

I'm sorry I rumble as im really concern for your child and yourself. Guess I stress you too much right? Forgive me.

You only have 1 child? I shifted to be near to kids’ primary school, but next worry is what happens when elder one goes secondary school? Or when both goes to different secondary schools based on results? Personally, I don’t think any primary school is worth the long travelling time. So unless parents have the options to shift, better to consider near-by schools. If ferrying 2 kids or more, may be more worthwhile to take grab/taxi everyday rather than school bus. Cost a bit more, but easily can save more than 1 hr each day or even each way.