[Choa Chu Kang] Primary Schools

[chipndale]

Hi KP, tks for ur advice. Geez, I wouldn't want the added stress of balloting. I'm juz naive to think P2C registrants wld be lesser based on the statistics given for the last phases which is supply > demand. In that case, I will go for cckps. Thanks

[KP]

chipndale:

Hi KP, tks for ur advice. Geez, I wouldn't want the added stress of balloting. I'm juz naive to think P2C registrants wld be lesser based on the statistics given for the last phases which is supply > demand. In that case, I will go for cckps. Thanks

Past 4 years, always within 1KM balloting for SV at phase 2C.

Yr 2009, 126(within 1KM) registered balloting for 51 vacancies.
Yr 2008, 159(within 1KM) registered balloting for 89 vacancies.
Yr 2007, 165(within 1KM) registered balloting for 79 vacancies.
Yr 2006, 199(within 1KM) for 74 vacancies.

Year 2010 ??? balloting for 33 vacancies.

Under MOE policies, Principal is rotated after having served between 6 to 8 years in a school.
The current Principal at SV was posted to SV since year 2004, and hence already 7 years.

[lengrick]

hi guys…pls any advice which sch do u prefer unity or de la salle. coz unity is just infront of our place while de la salle was just 2km away from our place.

[BigDevil]

lengrick:

hi guys..pls any advice which sch do u prefer unity or de la salle. coz unity is just infront of our place while de la salle was just 2km away from our place.

Unity...because you have no chance for DLS. DLS had always needed balloting for < 1km.

See balloting history here: http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/content/choa-chu-kang

[buds]

lengrick:

hi guys..pls any advice which sch do u prefer unity or de la salle. coz unity is just infront of our place while de la salle was just 2km away from our place.

Agree with BigDevil.

Not so much a matter of preference but proximity could
ease the stress of your chances of getting a seat at Unity.
You could try De La Salle if you prefer it to Unity, but in case
you fail to get a seat (esp since distance wise is already not in
your favour...) in the end... you may have a tougher fight at the
Supplementary Phase where everyone will be vying for the balance
seats left in the other schools like Unity, CCKPS, Yew Tee, (etc) which
won't be that many to begin with.

Unless you're prepared to take the risk, i too would sugest you try for
Unity for first choice especially since you're asking now... i presume you
are in Phase 2C. Hope this helps.

PS. Also do factor in that De La Salle will be relocating to Teck Whye for
at least 2 years... :hugs:

[buds]

buds:

I have old students from my enrichment classes studying in CCKPS. Errr.. they're all Chinese. All of them said their children

are coping fine and enjoy school. Ethnic balance should be same across the board with all schools isn't it... especially government schools?:?

chipndale:

hi buds, I'm still in a dilemma on gg for SV or CCK. Went to SV website, & seems that they really nurture the students with the CCAs that they offered, while CCK doesn't really offer much info. As a parent, I wld like to have the best for my child, but not sure whether their standard will drop since the principal will be changed next year or so. As for CCK, the distance factor will really win hands down, though SV is also within 1km, but will have to walk. So if buds & other parents can offer advice to this v indecisive mum, it will be deeply appreciated!

Indecisive or not, the eventual FINAL decision will still be yours to make,
chipndale. :hugs: The rest of us here are just sharing our personal inputs
to others who are chiong-ing through the registration phases right now.

Personally, i find that webbies are of the least help. A visitation to the
school (open house) and the varied views/sharings from friends with
children in the school are indeed helpful. I did both before finally deciding
on a school based on proximity. Distance was the key factor my husband
dictated during our time of selection for primary school for our daughter.
Even though, i had plans to put her elsewhere.. :politebleah: ..which was
out of our neighbourhood.

I find whether popular school or not.. each school has their merits and
weaknesses. If the school is open to feedback, maintains good partnership
with parents, willing to create positive changes for the benefit of the children
and (etc)... i think the school is a good school. This of course will have to
begin with the head of the school, the principal. A good boss will inspire
good staff... and the chain reaction/response will narrow down only for
the good of the children of the school.

South View is popular for many diff reasons. Being in the news also puts
them in the limelight. They have been producing top PSLE scorers yr
after year... rich CCAs... creative teachers & teaching methods... just to
name a few. But, it does not mean that Unity pales in comparison just
cos they're not similar in strengths as compared to South View. The
parents i spoke to shared that their children are happy in CCKPS. Being
happy in school means that their children look forward to going to school
everyday and that they enjoy learning. Being close to the school (for
them) also helps in the sense that it is easier to commute to school and
for any extra sessions for CCAs and stuff. It gave them more time for
rest and play. A few with working parents enrol their children in after-
school-care. There are quite a few after-school-cares within CCK area.
I cannot offer much on the insights of CCKPS more than what i have
shared as the parents & i did not really go into detail of how the teachers
are or how their methods are and so on.. just that their children are doing
well in school and are enjoying school life.

As for chances of getting in either school, if you're under 1km from CCKPS
@ Phase 2C, your chances of getting in is almost confirmed as opposed
to risking it @ South View, though you're still welcome to try if you reali
find South View will be the best for your child. Parents' definition of what
they want (the best) for their children are different so you hafta weigh the
pros and cons. South View came out in the papers last year if i remember
correctly over the issue of oversubscription of PVs and they had to ballot.

I remember a friend was fretting over it much.. cos she thought it was
almost a confirmed placement for her after the hours she had done. While
a few who got booted out still adamantly went on to vie for Phase 2C with
South View together with new contenders from 2C, a few others we knew
scurried to go for Unity, CCKPS and Yew Tee (just to name a few..) and
thankfully managed to secure their seats and even avoided balloting.

I dunno how much this will help, but like i said.. the rest of us here are
just sharing our thoughts and varied experiences. The choice is still yours.

Wish you all the best, chipndale. :hugs:

[chipndale]

Thanks buds for ur explanation as well as KP :love: I will choose cckps then, cos of proximity reason. I have checked with neighbours & frens who placed their children at cckps but I've gotten views from majority to ask me try for south view. Realistically speaking, it will be a very tough fight since there are only 33 seats to be vie by 100+ students. Will instead have an Ah Q attitude : if my children are talented, they will shine regardless of which school they are placed in. :lol:

[pixiedust]

I am not 'in the system' but I find it ridiculous to say 'for sure' standards will drop when new principal joins a school or that if the school moves to new premises. Even octopus Paul can't predict who is the new principal and lest to say about the 'standards' which I assume refers to PSLE results. When Mrs Yeo first join the school, was the prediction standard will drop too when this 'new' principal join ?


The one thing 'for sure' is that we are the parents and regardless of what 'lousy' school/principal/location the child gets into, we can still help our children acheive their potentials. Maybe the road will be longer or more difficult but FOR SURE we can be there for them !

chipndale, if I were in your situation, comparing risks and available vacancies, I will also go for CCKPS. If you are phase 2B in SV then probably there are more other factors to consider.

[buds]

chipndale:

Thanks buds for ur explanation as well as KP :love: I will choose cckps then, cos of proximity reason. I have checked with neighbours & frens who placed their children at cckps but I've gotten views from majority to ask me try for south view. Realistically speaking, it will be a very tough fight since there are only 33 seats to be vie by 100+ students. Will instead have an Ah Q attitude : if my children are talented, they will shine regardless of which school they are placed in. :lol:

You're welcome. Just our sharings. :love:

I would say it is a VERY VERY VERY tough fight. :nunchuk:
Some parents do think it is worth a shot or kick
themselves for not even trying. That's why i did
mention, the definition of what's best to parents
vary amongst us.

Here's a toast to your Ah Q attitude.. Hehee.. :celebrate:

Parents can definitely help by being there to support
our children's needs for education, not just @ P1 but
all the way.

All my best to your coming registration! :xedfingers:

[oneheart]

chipndale:

Thanks buds for ur explanation as well as KP :love: I will choose cckps then, cos of proximity reason. I have checked with neighbours & frens who placed their children at cckps but I've gotten views from majority to ask me try for south view. Realistically speaking, it will be a very tough fight since there are only 33 seats to be vie by 100+ students. Will instead have an Ah Q attitude : if my children are talented, they will shine regardless of which school they are placed in. :lol:

Hi chipndale,

I live within 1km of SV, CCKPS & TWPS. The nearest is SV which is just opp my block. the other 2 schs, are not within walking dist which means my boy has to take the sch bus.

For me, the most impt factor is distance...the nearer the better as it solves a lot of logistics issues. It just so happen that SV is also one of the hottest sch in CCK. I dun know whether to be happy or not that I have a very popular sch in front of my hse cos it makes getting into the sch so hard. I had to PV, fight for PV assignments to complete the required hrs , applied in Ph2b but still have to bite nails hoping for no ballot. Eventually, I did get a plc in SV as no balloting is required within 1km. But the stress was there, I have to admit, the possibility of balloted out and having to send my kids to a sch further away while the most convenient one is out of reach.

My pt is that you have to access your priority. For me, distance is the deciding factor yet I had to go thru so much just to get my boy in the nearest sch.I believe you stay walking distance to CCKPS, which I think is very gd for you, if distance is your priority, cos it's quite easy to get into CCKPS at Ph2C, without u having to go thru what I have gone thru.

Yes, a popular sch with all the right track record is the most ideal. But with parental support, I believe a child can do well anywhere.

I was prepared to register my son at CCKPS at Phase 2C if I did nt get a plc in SV at Ph2B. Cos TWPS's location is less convenient.

Having said that, you can always take the advise of SV administrator & monitor the stats at the last day n decide. For all you know, most parents wants to avoid the battlefield at SV & flood CCKPS, lesser no at SV. hehehe.....

All the best to you