Choosing and Evaluating Primary Schools

[janet88]

Herbie:

i will go for Nan Hua... it is affifilated to Nan Hua sec???

Nope, not affiliated.

[Herbie]

Oh! Anyway I will still go for Nan Hua…

[alng]

janet_lee88:

alng:

Hello everyone,


Would like to solicit some opinions and comparisons on Nanhua and Rulang. Distance is not an issue and I could register my ds in both schools under the same phase. Thanks very much!

Here wishing all a happy and prosperous lunar new year!

You're another lucky parent...to have 2 good schools to choose.
I will go for Nan Hua since it is a SAP school.

Please pardon me for my ignorance. Why is a sap primary school good? Becos it focuses on Chinese? I am looking for a school which is not overly academic but focuses more on wholesome education and provides an environment for nurturing Chinese. Thanks!

[jenao]

dorisp:

I know its easier said than done but how about considering relocating to near Rosyth since you still have time?

Yes we considered and was looking for a place but have not found any that we liked. With the prices so high now and we like our current location so much better, we are not sure if we shld relocate. Moreover, Rosyth will be at the temporary location for the next 2 yrs.

But looks like we shld step up looking for a place.

[jenao]

hquek:

1. How do you rate your kid? Will he be a performer or laggard? If a performer, wouldn't it be better to put him in an environment that challenges him?

Good point. I am not sure where he stands since he is in K and no real test nor exam to see where he stands. But feedback from teacher is he can read very well. He is like normal boy i think, hates seatwork and does not like writing. But if you push him, he will do.

[jenao]

hquek:

2. Do you like affiliation? GMPS I think is affiliated to GMSS - come PSLE not so worrying as affiliated kids should be able to get in with lower scores.

Not very impress with GMSS though, so affiliation here is not going to sway us but we do have another option - Maris Stella (also under alumni). This is much much nearer our place but its SAP school ( we are considered chinese illiterate) and the other thing is our dd will have to go another sch.

So, the question is - Would you choose Maris Stella with affiliation over Rosyth? WHy?

[janet88]

alng:

janet_lee88:

[quote=\"alng\"]Would like to solicit some opinions and comparisons on Nanhua and Rulang. Distance is not an issue and I could register my ds in both schools under the same phase. Thanks very much!

You're another lucky parent...to have 2 good schools to choose.
I will go for Nan Hua since it is a SAP school.

Please pardon me for my ignorance. Why is a sap primary school good? Becos it focuses on Chinese? I am looking for a school which is not overly academic but focuses more on wholesome education and provides an environment for nurturing Chinese. Thanks![/quote]Nan Hua is a SAP school which uses English and Chinese as first language...so it uses Higher Chinese (compulsory). There is an equal no of hours spent on both languages every week.
From what I understand, Rulang is also rather academic focused too. Do consider your options carefully.

[jenao]

hquek:

You are right, going downstairs is much easier than taking school bus and this should rightly be a point to consider. If logistics is not an issue, then you can probably focus on those other keys.

Need to understand the logistics here fr experience parents. School bus does not take them back when they have extra lessons or cca or anything that is not within the usual time right? So, in the upper primary, what are we looking at? Almost everyday that he will have to take his own transport back?

[janet88]

jenao:

I have a question to ask, which school would you choose?


1) Rosyth (alumni phase 2a)
2) Geylang methodist (within 1km ph 2c, no balloting and will not have since there is no new development within 1km)

Yes both are secured places and yes everyone says Rosyth is a very good school and it looks like a no brainer since you can secure a place in ph 2a. But i heard that gifted school like rosyth focus their resources in gep classes and not the rest, so unless your kid is in gep, they do not do very well?

Also, distance to rosyth is another con. It is much better to just walk down stairs to the school instead of taking long journey by school bus.

Geylang on the other hand was listed as school with good progress for the 2010 psle and neighbour kids who studied there seem to do very well and go on to Dunman or VS.

Geylang Methodist School (primary) is affiliated to Geylang Methodist Secondary. Maybe you would like to consider this affiliation as well when deciding which primary school.

Maris Stella is an all boys school.
Since you have a younger child who is a daughter, I would go for Geylang Methodist.

[alng]

janet_lee88:

Nan Hua is a SAP school which uses English and Chinese as first language...so it uses Higher Chinese (compulsory). There is an equal no of hours spent on both languages every week.
From what I understand, Rulang is also rather academic focused too. Do consider your options carefully.

I heard about the parents' comments on Rulang. And I am sure Rulang will continue to be academic focus after their PSLE success last year. But I find Rulang's management and teachers young and energetic. They are very committed. An example is last year, they have developed and launched an enterprenurship program for all levels. I am very impressed cos other schools would have purchased an off-shelf similar program or outsource to someone else to deliver the program and get the parents to pay.

I like Nanhua's traditional culture and the bonds among the stakeholders of the school. Last year, I ever sat in their general office for about 2-3 hours (waiting) and I really like what I saw that day. A retired teacher, (around 60+ 70 years old and has problems walking) came back to school to provide assistance for SYF dance. I like what I am seeing as this is exactly the same culture I am experiencing in my elder dd's school, which is my alma mater.