[Toa Payoh] Primary Schools

[Miracle Child]

flametree:

Hi GreenQ and shrex,


I have a son who has graduated from Maris, another son who is P5 there and the 4th child who is a boy, will also be attending Maris Stella next year.

Personally, i have never heard of anyone that is being asked to leave due to poor grades. Being a SAP sch, the Chinese standard is high but not as high/tough as some other top SAP schools.

Hope it helps.

We are Catholics and have been skewed towards SJIJ which is the nearest Catholic school to our place. H/w, judging from past balloting history, we are unsure whether our son will get into SJIJ as we are >2km. So, considering backup plans and Maris Stella is one of them....

Could you share a bit more about the standard of Maris Stella? Are your boys happy in school? Are the teachers pleasant and ethusiastic? Anything that you think could be done better by the school?

Appreciate any comments that you may have. Thanks.

[flametree]

Hi Miracle child,


If you are referring to the exam standard of Maris Stella, it is consider relatively high, near to those popular school exam papers - esp for Math and Science.

For both of my sons - 1st n 3rd child, during their years, maris stella did not practise any streaming into \"best class\" etc till p5. So they actually get to mix around with boys of different capabilities for the 1st 4 yrs. As such, my son esp the 3rd child, picks up leadership skills (to help to control class, to help the weaker students etc) along the way from lower pri. They learnt to be compassionate and be understanding. But the downside is, some boys can be very disruptive in class and teachers may need to spend more time on class management.

My 3rd boy is a very outgoing person, he's in the sch team and academically doing well too. Needless to say, he enjoys school very much. Being a all boys school and boys can get quite rowdy esp during recess or anytime that they gather tog, my 1st son - the quiet, indoor type, took a while to settle in. But eventually, he also \"bloom\" in upper pri as his teacher recommended him to be a prefect upon his request.

Like all schools in singapore, maris stella has its share of good and not so good teachers - it really depend on your luck. So far, i have no major complaints, hopefully it stays that way.

Hope this helps.

[acforfamily]

flametree:

Hi Miracle child,


If you are referring to the exam standard of Maris Stella, it is consider relatively high, near to those popular school exam papers - esp for Math and Science.

For both of my sons - 1st n 3rd child, during their years, maris stella did not practise any streaming into \"best class\" etc till p5. So they actually get to mix around with boys of different capabilities for the 1st 4 yrs. As such, my son esp the 3rd child, picks up leadership skills (to help to control class, to help the weaker students etc) along the way from lower pri. They learnt to be compassionate and be understanding. But the downside is, some boys can be very disruptive in class and teachers may need to spend more time on class management.

Agree that it all depends on the teachers. Some of them are really committed. One thing to take note though. My opinion is that there is more emphasis on academic rather than CCA (not compulsory at any level). Even PE gets cancelled due to the most minor reason (punishment for boys being too naughty, not enough time to teach other subjects etc).

Their official line is that students change class only in P3 and P5 - not based on academic results. Having said that, noticed that almost 8 prize winners from previous year were all moved into A class.

[acforfamily]

Luanee:

muche, most school buses do provide one-way service, but the price is not going to be half of the two-way serivice. And do note some school buses do not ply to particular locations esp if it is too far from the school. Do call up the school to enquire about the school bus service, whether it serves the location u want. You may also want to refer to the following thread for more related info:

http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?t=475

For some schools, even if the bus services the location that is far from the school, they may not do it for CCA hours i.e. at the regular school going time, it will not be a problem but they may be no buses to take your kid home after CCA.

[mamemo]

I live near Catholic High, but my alumni is Pei Chun Public School. I’m contemplating to send my boy to CH because of the distance and because it has affialiated sec school. However, I understand that it’s very difficult to get into CH too.


Sigh, in a dilemma

[jedamum]

mamemo:

I live near Catholic High, but my alumni is Pei Chun Public School. I'm contemplating to send my boy to CH because of the distance and because it has affialiated sec school. However, I understand that it's very difficult to get into CH too.


Sigh, in a dilemma

hi mamemo,
you like cows?
anyway, you have to decide if you want to take a risk at CH (where past stats shows a trend of definite balloting situation in Phase 2B and 2C even for those living <1km) or go for a confirmed spot in Pei Chun. You should also look at your available backup choices of schools with vacancies left in Phase 2C supplementary, to see if they are acceptable to you (ie in case CH ballot unsuccessful, you still have a reasonable 2nd choice to fall back on in Phase 2C Supp). If they are not within your selection criteria (seems like in Bishan area, only GuangYang Pri has vacancies of Phase 2C Supp and if you are choosing other choices that required you to commute, it makes no sense to commute to a 2nd choice school when you already have a good alumni school to start with when both also needs commuting), you probably should just stick to Pei Chun.

[mamemo]

jedamum:

hi mamemo,

you like cows?
anyway, you have to decide if you want to take a risk at CH (where past stats shows a trend of definite balloting situation in Phase 2B and 2C even for those living <1km) or go for a confirmed spot in Pei Chun. You should also look at your available backup choices of schools with vacancies left in Phase 2C supplementary, to see if they are acceptable to you (ie in case CH ballot unsuccessful, you still have a reasonable 2nd choice to fall back on in Phase 2C Supp). If they are not within your selection criteria (seems like in Bishan area, only GuangYang Pri has vacancies of Phase 2C Supp and if you are choosing other choices that required you to commute, it makes no sense to commute to a 2nd choice school when you already have a good alumni school to start with when both also needs commuting), you probably should just stick to Pei Chun.

Hi jedamum,
I like the cartoon ! haha
that's what my husband said, probably just stick to pei chun. But then CH is just beside my block ! so it's real attractive. I've applied for PV, hopefully that helps.

[jedamum]

mamemo:

But then CH is just beside my block ! so it's real attractive. I've applied for PV, hopefully that helps.

Hi,
CH accept PV? Most Catholics schools doesn't. The thing with Catholic schools is that you cannot gauge how strong the demand is at Phase 2B. But based on past stats, a definite balloting is required for <1km applicants. If you are staying <1km from CH, at least you know that if you did not success in Phase 2B balloting, you still get to participate in Phase 2C's balloting. But then again at balloting, everything boils down to your luck.
Good luck again.

[smurf]

does anyone knows the reason why, despite MSPS is a SAP sch, but there is no balloting for phase 2C? :?


thought good sch should have balloting?

[ChiefKiasu]

smurf:

does anyone knows the reason why despiste MSPS is a SAP sch, but there is no balloting for phase 2C? :?


though good sch should have balloting?

If you are referring to Maris Stella High, it did have balloting in Phase 2C for the last 3 years, for distances beyond 2km in 2006-2007, and between 1-2km in 2008. See http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/content/toa-payoh.

Popular schools will have balloting in Phase 2C, but not all schools that require balloting in Phase 2C are necessarily \"good\". It could simply be in a highly populated area where parents may also be less discerning.