[Jurong West] Primary Schools

[Kabby]

ok now for the detailed one:


Dh and I and kiddo arrived before the stipulated time of 7pm and I still walked rather slowly because I believed mistakenly that we would be one of the first few since most people had to rush from work, and may be late.

We reached the 4th floor and I was so shocked to see the hall 2/3 full already. 500+ had responded, so 2/3 meant at least 300 people? So we quickly registered and got our seats. While waiting, Dh sat while I roamed around to read all the boards with the posters.

There was info on registration, the phases, FAQ that was posted on the website, facebook info. Survey forms were given out to us and slips of paper on which we can write our Qs as well.

What interested most parents were the school programmes and facilities. So more parents clustered around those boards. There were artist’s impressions of the multipurpose hall, student care center, PAL room and indoor sports hall, which are supposed to be in the same block, if I remember correctly.

The PAL room looked like a dance studio with a mirror running along one side, with wooden flooring, nice. There was a drum set at one end, not sure if that was for decorative purposes or the school did intend to buy one.

The indoor sports hall is part of the so called "New Generation School Facilities" which all new schools built from now will have as a standard feature so that students will not be restricted to having PE outdoors only during weather that is not hazy, not rainy, not too hot. Students can also engage in ball games and sports at all times of the day, under all sorts of weather conditions. This was highly emphasised by the principal several times, so I think it is very important. haha.

Either the P or Mr Foo said that this school offers facilities that is the first of the 11 new schools to be seen by the public. Something like that. Can’t remember the exact point. Kids behind me and in front of me were gathered around their parents’ iPhones and iPads and enjoying some games together, discussing loudly at this point. They seem to be classmates from the same kindy and came as a group with their parents who are friends, I think.

Back to the main programme. So…
Mr Cedric Foo was on time and it started at 7.30pm as it was stated on the schedule. The Principal gave his speech first.

A lot of the info has already been given in the brochure, on the facebook page and on the school website. If you need those info, can just ask again. Otherwise I will keep the descriptions of the programmes and just focus on the extras which I think were not mentioned in the above channels.

The school’s programmes will revolve around this acronym: CLAPS
c= cognitive pursuits
l = leadership practices
a = aesthetics passion
p = PERI programmes
s = socio-emotional wellbeing

Stuff like "every child a leader" and other standard phrases and terms were mentioned and these I shall omit unless you are very interested? Cos I think I’ve been to many talks, and every school mentions these same things. "holistic assessment", "experiential learning", "engaging pedagogy" and the std pupil outcomes etc.

Under socio-emo wellbeing, he did mention that for the P1 and P2s to bond with peers, there will be no streaming and the kids will definitely be in the same class for 2 years. (Similar to ds1’s school, which I like)

And the kids will have the same form teacher for 2 yrs as well.

Then he talked about school design, and showed some photos on the slides.
He said the school was deliberately designed and everything small detail was carefully thought out for the students’ wellbeing, and best for learning. Even the colours, the ventilation, lights etc.

As for registration, he clarified that Phase 2B for the school would be for active community leaders. All the rest of us will go under Phase 2C which would be 27-29 July.

School would be single session and will start at 8am. Students will not have CCA for the time being but there will be the PAL programme. Uniform for the entire year in 2012 will be the PE attire first.

After his speech, Mr Foo had a short speech, in which he mentioned that during his Meet the People sessions some years back, many parents told him that it was very stressful in JW because they cannot find a school near their homes, so he gave feedback to Minister of State (Mr Iswaran) that he needed a new Pr sch asap. Later when it was approved, he and the Pioneer leaders felt that Frontier would be a good name for the sch because Pioneer and Frontier are synergistic terms (that’s a direct quote from him). He was very happy when MOE agreed to the name.

Side note: I actually originally felt that it is a nice name, but when he said that, there was a lot of sniggering around me. (particularly when he said, what a beautiful name Frontier is)

He also mentioned that the Principal of the Pioneer PCF branches is also present and he hopes that both Ps will work together closely to ensure that kids transit well and smoothly from K2 to P1, and are adequately prepared for Pr sch life.

After that, it was FAQ.

There were a total of 11Qs, which I summarise below together with the answers.

1. P mentioned aesthetic programme. What would it entail?
Ans: not really ironed out yet because all the staff of the new sch are still in their current jobs and had just only received their new appointments. (P mentioned most of the staff already hired have at least 3 yrs teaching experience)
but he would like to see dance as an important part of the aesthetics prog and then perhaps choir and some instrumental exposure.

2. Did school design take into consideration the train tracks being right beside the school?
Ans: Architect answered that yes, the block nearest to train tracks house the MPH, Indoor Sports Hall and Student care, and are air conditioned. The middle block house all air conditioned rooms as well, so noise is blocked out. The final block that has all the non-air con classrooms are the furthest from the MRT tracks, so would not be that affected.

3. PAL programme within school curriculum hours?
Ans: yes, within curr time but in the afternoon so there will be 1 day a week when students have to stay back.

4. When will student care center start?
Ans: 2nd sem (July) because block will only be ready in May 2012.

5. How many students will there be per class?
Ans: 8 classes of 30 each, total 240. P1 and P2 will have only 3 per class. P3 onwards will have 40 usually.

6. Why is Tamil language not offered?
Ans: (by cluster superintendent) Tamil resources are limited and have to be centralised, so in JW, only a few schools offer Tamil. Frontier currently cannot offer Tamil but may consider in the future, if there is a strong demand.

7. When construction is underway, how is student safety ensured?
Ans: sorry, this one I was again distracted by something happening around me, so didn’t catch the full detail, but apparently they make sure kids don’t have to walk through the construction zone to get to places they need to in school. eg classrooms to canteen to hall or school gate.

8. Will PCF students have priority in admission?
Ans: No
What will be done in the student care center?
Ans: Sorry, didn’t catch the answer again, there was kind of a fuss after the 1st Q by the same lady, so I didn’t hear the subsequent parts.

9. We need to know the 1km boundary, and whether there would be balloting?
Ans: If all the people in this room were to register, then there would surely be balloting and as the P, of course I would be happy to have balloting.

10. Are Indian parents still encouraged to register with Frontier then?
Ans: Currently HQ dictates that Frontier cannot offer Tamil in 2012, so you can still register, but there will not be Tamil lessons in 2012. In future, maybe.

11. What is a good time to send my kids to school? Any activities for those who are early?
Ans: 8am start time would mean flag raising around 7.50am. Perhaps silent reading would start at 7.30am. Let the kids sleep more, don’t send them too early. They are all young, all P1, need more rest.

After that, we had some refreshments. The food was pretty ok. Decent. Siew Mai and fruit tarts went out so quickly! I guess the kids loved these, that’s why. There were so many kids there! From newborns to teens.

Many parents swarmed to ask the P more Qs. Dh and I met up with some friends who are ds2’s classmates’ parents and some others. We kept discussing our options, then we walked home.

All of us are worried that if everyone there are genuine parents going to register for P1 this year, then there’d surely be balloting.

[superdat]

Thanks kabalevsky for the detailed description.


I guess most of the parents will still prefer the older and more established school instead of a new school which is still planning everything. It could be a risk?

[Dec]

Just check what is the difference between the new school and the established school? What is the Risk??

[Kabby]

LKVM:

Thanks kabby for brief and detailed updates.. kudos to you!!

you're :welcome:
:snuggles:

[Kabby]

superdat:

Thanks kabalevsky for the detailed description.


I guess most of the parents will still prefer the older and more established school instead of a new school which is still planning everything. It could be a risk?

hi superdat,
there were some there who were saying this too. that with the new school there is no track record.
the P did admit that everyone just received their postings. they only knew it in May. yet everyone's still having their current jobs. eg the P himself is still P at Zhenghua Pr.

Although they are all excited and enthu and hard at work perhaps in their free time thinking and planning, but still, how much planning can they really do? In reality and in practicality?

Usually Ps/ Vps leave the current school and join new one on Dec 15 (at least during my time). That gives them 2 weeks to prepare for the new school? SOunds like a herculean task to me.

I think things will only become more established and concrete at least a year later, so indeed, it is a risk.

[Kabby]

Dec, above post to superdat lists some of the risks. like lack of track record. but in the course of 6 years to PSLE, the teething problems may be solved or ironed out and it’ll turn out good. but like superdat mentioned, it’s a new school, not proven, so it can turn out not good too. a risk in that sense.


oh ya, i failed to mention, the new sch is very near my place lah, that’s why Dh is keen also.

[RRMummy]

:thankyou: for the both detailed review on Frontier Pri, kabalevsky.


I'm sure many will benefit from it!!

:celebrate:

[RRMummy]

kabalevsky:

But usually for other matters, Dh usually wins too. So I am thinking... most probably we are risking it this time. Dh keeps telling me, let ds2 be his own person. CPS is wonderful, and ds1 is doing well there, I say, and DH agrees but he says ds2 will be in ds1's shadow if he goes there. Teachers may notice they are siblings and compare. He wants ds2 to be the pioneer, the big one, not display middle child characteristics... wants him to be a leader at a new school.


Sigh, what can I say to all these? I lose, I think.

I must admit that your Dh does have very valid points... but yeah, I think the fact that it is a new school does add further unknown factor to the equation..

Hope you come to your decision soon - before your head explodes..

:snuggles:

[ish]

Hi all,


I’m deciding whether to go for Jurong Pri or Frontier Pri. Any advice?

Thanks!

[Dec]

Thanks for the info:)

I’m thinking of West Grove Pri, it is very near to my house.
What do you think of the school ‘standard’ ?
It seems to be a very popular school at my side! It is popular because of their good academic or new family staying nearby?