[Toa Payoh] Primary Schools

[janet88]

Hi Breadandmuffins,

I was from IJ school. All of my classmates then speak in English. Nobody speaks Mandarin.

My son is a SAP school and daughter going to IJ school. Like yourself, I was rather confused where to register my daughter. Hubby convinced me that sending daughter to IJ school will lessen one headache as there is an affiliated sec school.
In terms of language, my daughter is better than my son. By sending son to a SAP school, we realized now that it is not easy to maintain his average result. But then he is happy in his school.
Although I foresee my daughter will not be speaking much Mandarin in IJ, I still hope she will do well and do not dislike Mandarin. It’s her Mother Tongue after all, and an asset to have.

[jellybelly]

Hi, we live in Marine Parade, are both working in/closer to town, are thinking of sending our boy to MS next year and have a couple of questions we hope the more informed, experienced parents here can help us with:


1) Can anyone comment on the traffic conditions around Maris Stella and the KPE traffic in the mornings and evenings going towards the school?

2) Is there a bus operator that sends/will send any boys to town after school?

Thanks in advance!

[elijah2005]

Based on the votes submitted, Marymount Convent only garnered 6% of the votes for preferred school in Toa Payoh. Is this because of its location? or because it has no affiliation?

[toffeev]

Hi, depending on the time that I send my boy to Maris Stella, we usually take about 5 mins to Q (from outside the Bartley Station) to drive into the school for drop-off. Their drop-off (non-raining days) is about 6 cars at a time. The traffic there gets quite bad after 7.15am. My friend living in the east have told me that it takes about 10-15mins to reach MS via the new expressway.


Not too sure about the school buses.

Initially, when I was considering which schools for my boy, I was also worried about Maris Stella being a SAP school & coping with higher chinese (we are an English speaking family). But now that he’s already half way through P1, it doesn’t seem that bad. The school does provide support for weaker students. They have remedial (which I think is the LSP), Chinese reading club in the morning, etc. That said, of course, parents support at home is also crucial.

Things to consider for Maris Stella (From what I know): -
1)SAP school (higher Chinese)
2)Affilation to Sec and Sec to JC (last year the Sec had 99.2% going to JC/Poly)
3)Right next to Bartley Station
4)Strict discipline
5)Full school so year end holidays are earlier (end Oct)
6)Academic wise - I feel that its quite fast pace. They have SA1, CA2 and SA2 for P1s, so HW, tests, quiz, etc are a given (otherwise the boys won’t be able to know their work).
7)P1-P3 have their food for recess in their respective classes (catered or home packed)
8)Single session

hth

[jellybelly]

Thanks very much, toffeev. That was very helpful and assuring.


Hope there’s a school bus that goes to town else it’ll be another mad dash to the childcare near the school in the evenings…

[ghostz]

elijah2005:

Based on the votes submitted, Marymount Convent only garnered 6% of the votes for preferred school in Toa Payoh. Is this because of its location? or because it has no affiliation?

Hard to say. Marymount is not my top choice as it is only a 6-year education path. Compared with the other Catholic schools like IJ which are a 12-year education path i.e primary-sec-JC.

[janet88]

elijah2005:

Based on the votes submitted, Marymount Convent only garnered 6% of the votes for preferred school in Toa Payoh. Is this because of its location? or because it has no affiliation?

Did Marymount ever have an affiliated sec school ? I remember how stringent they were back then. My mum wanted to put me there and because we are not Catholics, and also the school was using Higher Chinese, my mum decided not not register me there.

[Gecko]

janet_lee88:

elijah2005:

Based on the votes submitted, Marymount Convent only garnered 6% of the votes for preferred school in Toa Payoh. Is this because of its location? or because it has no affiliation?

Did Marymount ever have an affiliated sec school ? I remember how stringent they were back then. My mum wanted to put me there and because we are not Catholics, and also the school was using Higher Chinese, my mum decided not not register me there.

There was a secondary section as late as the 80s.

I believe that one of the female MPs, Indranee Rajah (sp?), hails from there.

Gecko

[vicki]

jellybelly:

Thanks very much, toffeev. That was very helpful and assuring.


Hope there's a school bus that goes to town else it'll be another mad dash to the childcare near the school in the evenings...

U stay near town?

[bridesep]

Hi


Does anyone know anything about Pei Chun ? Heard that the standard has dropped over the last few years and the principal has changed. In 2009 PSLE, Pei Chun did not have any top student. Does any parent intend to register in that school or has children in that school ? What are your comments please ?

I am an RC member staying within 1-2 km from Pei Chun. Looks like I need to ballot and I dont like the idea of leaving things to chance. I am likely NOT to register there. Has anyone got any suggestion what is my next best alternative? Thanks !!