Choosing and Evaluating Primary Schools

[Cherishnews]

phtthp\" post_id=\"2068430\" time=\"1653351194\" user_id=\"35251:

SHHK : Singapore Hokkien dialect huay guan association.

Is for parents, whose father or mother is a Hokkien. As long as either spouse is a Hokkien, can join SHHK.

Oops none of us is Hokkien. But I heard that one needs referral to be able to join the association.

[Cherishnews]

Zeal mummy\" post_id=\"2068395\" time=\"1653323699\" user_id=\"58173:[quote=\"Zeal mummy\" post_id=2068395 time=1653323699 user_id=58173]
Point on, on the advantages of being in a SAP school. Depends on which side you are looking in from, it could be a plus or a minus.[/quote]

Can you share what minus points are there being in a SAP school?

[Cherishnews]

crazymama\" post_id=\"2068588\" time=\"1653450172\" user_id=\"198222:

dear mummies and daddies, a quick question. We have a boy born in 2017 and we are considering where we should send him to P1. The two schools that topped the chart was of course ACS Barker and Catholic High. We can qualify in both schools within 2B but really cracking our head hard where to send him.

We have seen great differences between behavior of the kids between 2 schools. Of course we understand that the kids behavior cannot be totally linked to the school as home parenting also does a great deal to their behavior. So we are lost! We have initially set our sights on Cat High but during this covid period, we have came across many Cat High boys that have somehow wavered our thoughts if we should really do that.

Any one has any comments, please hit me up. Thank you so much!

Both schools are not within my options. But I’m curious about the differences in behaviour that you noticed. Can you share? 🤭 my nephew is in ACS btw and I have a couple of mommy friends aiming CH (through alumni).

[phtthp]

Cherishnews\" post_id=\"2068625\" time=\"1653464360\" user_id=\"198198:

Oops none of us is Hokkien. But I heard that one needs referral to be able to join the association.

only if either spouse is a Hokkien, then can join SHHK. This is the basic, fundamental rule & requirement, to join SHHK. Otherwise, strictly No, out of bound .

[Zeal mummy]

Cherishnews\" post_id=\"2068626\" time=\"1653464522\" user_id=\"198198:

Can you share what minus points are there being in a SAP school?

If you and your family members only speak English, cannot hold a simple conversation in Chinese, are not hardworking enough (haha!) and don’t value the Chinese festivals, culture and heritage. In my opinion, it is about finding the right fit for your child/family.

[crazymama]

zac's mum\" post_id=\"2068590\" time=\"1653451808\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=2068590 time=1653451808 user_id=53606]
I believe Catholic High traditionally ballots at <1km for phase 2B, whereas ACS Primary (not Barker, as Barker refers to the secondary school co-located at the same campus) ballots at various distances in 2B depending on the year.

Unless u are living <1km of Cat High, I dont think there is any dilemma.[/quote]

I have multiple properties and thinking which address to activate. These two schools seems to be balloting from 2A that is what I understood.

[crazymama]

floppy\" post_id=\"2068592\" time=\"1653453792\" user_id=\"97579:

I think you have left out the most important detail, how far are you from each school within the phase?

To further elaborate on zac’s mum point, the 2 or 3 schools (if you consider both ACSs) have been balloting < 1km in Phase 2B in recent years. Unlikely to be any different since Phase 2B will be squeezed further, if not down to the minimum 20 places, following the change in policy.

I don’t see how you can be within 1km of both CHS and ACS (doesn’t matter which ACS), unless you own multiple homes, just waiting to activate the “right” address. Effectively, you are limited to your current address and can only pick the school that’s within 1km.

Yup indeed we are thinking which address to activate as it very much depends on which school we want to try.

[crazymama]

Touch_me_not\" post_id=\"2068600\" time=\"1653456022\" user_id=\"187786:

Hi crazymama,

We are on exact same page (as in choice of schools and year)! Both schools are great and super popular. Also have several friends who had attended CH primary schools and later transferred to ACS and SJIJ (St Michael's previously) and vice versa from ACS to CH, hence they are able to share their personal experiences with me. Personally, we feel much more comfortable with Catholic High as we are Catholic and my son loves Chinese language, but we've thought hard and decide not to go for it in the end

Oh what a coincidence. So does that mean you will not go for Cat High in the end? We are Catholic too but my son is not that into Chinese Language.

[crazymama]

phtthp\" post_id=\"2068605\" time=\"1653457271\" user_id=\"35251:

If a K2 kid is balloted out of ACS during Phase 2B balloting, unsuccessful, Yes, you can proceed to the next phase, ie. phase 2C (Catholic High) to try balloting, provided u are a SC living less than 1 km from Catholic High.

This is very good info. Thanks for sharing!

[crazymama]

Cherishnews\" post_id=\"2068627\" time=\"1653464886\" user_id=\"198198:

Both schools are not within my options. But I’m curious about the differences in behaviour that you noticed. Can you share? 🤭 my nephew is in ACS btw and I have a couple of mommy friends aiming CH (through alumni).

Personally I have seen kids from both CH and ACS from where I live. Kids from CH are more rowdy and less polite than those from ACS. I spoke to some mommies about this too and they observed the same. Some also said that it is perhaps the values of ACS that is the major contribution to this. I am not sure if it this is true but This is just what I have experienced so far but it doesn’t necessarily means all of them are the same.