Corporation Primary

[ExpatMom]

Hello,


My son will be going to P1 next year and I'm looking at the different options in the Jurong West area for him. Since he's an expat, I wanted to see whether any other foreigners have had any difficulties with their kids transitioning at Corporation. My son is a very outgoing kid and has many friends at one of the local preschools, so I'm not too worried about this, but wanted to hear what other parents had to say about it. I am also particularly interested in Corporation since the principal has spoken out against using corporal punishment. I recognize many parents here may be ok with that, and I respect that, but it is nonetheless an important criteria for me and my family.

The single session sounds more productive since I know I can barely function before 7am. When I was a kid, the first class of the morning was always the one I made the lowest grade in because I was never quite awake enough to let the information take root. So am I understanding this correctly that P1 and P2 do not have any exams?

Thank you in advance for your input.

[Kabby]

Hi expat mom,


Perhaps you can pm me. Especially if you have many specific questions to ask.

I too was initially worried and concerned if my son can adapt to the schooling system here even though hubby and I went through it fine. It's just because of the difference in focus and the pace.

My son is very happy there now. If you notice, Corporation did not have a high take up rate with Singaporeans. Although, they have 10 classes of P1 kids this yr, but some 20% at least, enrolled after the last phase for Singaporeans. So I am assuming that 20% at least, are foreigners.

Some Singaporeans do not like that, but I am for it, because my son gets to mix around and interact with kids of different cultures and backgrounds.

I think we should not place too high an emphasis on academic excellence at such a young age, and instead, let them experience and explore as much as possible. I am saying this because I have many friends who dissuaded me from registering him in a school with too diverse a mix, because they feel the academic results of the cohort will be affected, since the range of abilities is wide.

I'd be most happy to share more with you, just pm me!

[ExpatMom]

Oh no, I am totally against corporal punishment. Sorry if that wasn't clear. We moved from the US where, as I'm sure you know, corporal punishment is a big no-no. Knowing that a school is likely to use negative reinforcement is a big showstopper for us. It's not that I expect my kid to be a misfit, but kids can and do make bad decisions for a variety of reasons, and I don't want to send him to a school that is likely to hurt him when he makes a bad decision.


Hm, 20% foreigners does sound promising. With those odds, he won't likely be singled out for being so different from the rest. I was a bit worried when I saw they didn't teach Tamil as I figured the variety of kids would suffer.

[Kabby]

Which 2nd language would you be likely to choose?

yes the school offers chinese and malay. Indian students take their mother tongue classes after school at the language center. Because of this, indeed, there aren’t that many Indian kids taking Tamil in the school.

Ds1 has an Indian classmate who does that. Some other Indian kids take either Malay or Chinese as their 2nd language.

I didn’t see any Americans amongst his P1 schoolmates yet, but as you mentioned, your son is in a local kindy? I think he’d be fine. The diversity is more of the Asian countries, although ds1 says there is a Caucasian girl in P6 in his school. He says she speaks like his former teacher (last yr in kindy) who is Australian, so maybe that’s where she’s from.

Welcome to Singapore and I hope you are having a good time here.

Are you a SAHM? Do you have other kids? I think you live in Jurong West right? If you want more local Sg friendly faces, I’d be happy to meet up and show you around. I had really hospitable and helpful friends and neighbors while I was in the US and China and I would pay it forward if I could.

[ExpatMom]

He's learning Chinese now. At his age, it's a perfect time for him to learn the nuances of the language since it is so different from other languages. Not to mention, I need a translator when I go visiting China.


I don't expect there to be any Americans in his class (and really that's fine-- I didn't put him in the public school system to be surrounded by kids like him), I just don't want him to be automatically singled out and ridiculed for being different. But that hasn't been a problem in his local preschool. He's so friendly, I'm probably just worrying about it too much. He's had such a great experience so far, and he loves school. I just want him to continue to love school for as long as possible. I made a great decision with the preschool, and I want to make an equally good decision with the primary school.

I'll send you a pm.

[rush1.0271065]

me too, i wasn't sure which sch i want to go to after unsucessful 2B at Westgrove, i was thinking of xingnan but now after reading the info frm u guys i will enrol my daughter at Copr.

[novena]

understand that CCA is very important for P1~P3 foundation… any1 knows their CCA program? some info i got it fm their website… d teaching environment quite simmilar to XNPS…is sound good… but most their info is only upto yr2008… any1 knows their 2009 achievement…eg PSLE???

[princess20222022]

I am unable to get my son into Rulang Primary School. The balloting result was unsuccessful, hence I am thinking of registering my son at Corporation primary school.


Any comment on this school?

[Kabby]

I’ve given quite a detailed introduction of the school above. Unless you have other Qs? You can ask specific ones, if I can help, I will.


My son’s only in P1, so I can’t comment on PSLE results or upper primary stuff but the P1 teachers are great. And the programmes so far are wonderful. I have no complaints.

[Kabby]

deleted