Bukit Timah Primary

[rico]

chamonix:

Hi Rico,


Thanks for the info.

Looking forward to the orientation? I wonder how it is going to be like. Think I'm more excited than my son, haha..

Are you staying within walking distance to the school? We are not. Now, I am wondering what kind of arrangement I should make. Heard the parking can be quite trying. :roll:

hi chamonix,

we are not, outside 2 km. need to take transport. I did call the driver to chk the bus fee, but he said will be announced on the orientation day. but heard fr 1 existing BTPS mommy, the charges is not cheap.

[IJJ]

rico:

hi chamonix,


we are not, outside 2 km. need to take transport. I did call the driver to chk the bus fee, but he said will be announced on the orientation day. but heard fr 1 existing BTPS mommy, the charges is not cheap.

My elder child was with BTPS for 1.5 yrs, she was just transferred out this Jun/Jul @ P2.

The school bus service is provided by a new company this year. Comparing the fee with her current school (which is very near to BTPS), they are charging $10 more. We paid $70 for both ways to and fro BTPS/home. We stay in Bt Batok. I was told by my neighbour, whose kid in morning session this year, school bus picks her up as early as 6.10 am.

The teachers' std varies. My daughter was lucky to have great form teachers for both P1 and P2. Both were very motivating and encouraging. They left encouraging words in kids' works and provided pointers on areas of improvements. They were very reachable and approachable. Her P2 FT, IMO, was abit bias. The FT hand picked a few bright kids to specially groomed them for challenging Maths outside school hours. I did hear feedbacks from some other parents that few FTs are not that fantastic. As for CL, her P1 CL tr :roll: gave kids a set of materials full of mistakes which then took a long time (months) to make alterations. Her P2 CL tr, on the other hand, was superb, but as she was also teaching P5 HCL (top class), so the cons were that she was often busy with the P5 class and hence, less time for the P2 class. She did manage to raise interest of my 'potato' girl in Chinese. They simply loved each other. So much relunctance for my daughter to make her choice to transfer initially.

Depending on trs, some classes have more homeworks than others. My child had little homeworks in P1 and when she moved to P2, she had tons of English and Maths homeworks, especially nearing exams. :roll: I was told by her P2 FT that they are doing away with P1 and P2 banding (except CL), meaning, the child will move on with the same class of kids from P1 to P3. That was what happened when my child moved from P1 to P2. They only split into various CL classes during CL lessons. Top 2 classes of CL kids do the shen1kuang3 CL and the weaker 1 class do tao3ru4. I was told the top 2 classes did alot more works compared to the rest. The daughter scored 92 for P1 CL and did not manage to 'squeeze' into the first 2 classes. She scored 92 again at P2 1st semester and they actually did considered to move her up to one of these 2 classes. Most kids in top class scored near full mark at P1 and the cut off for the 2nd top class was at 94/5 (P1 results). :roll:

As for CCAs, swimming classes (for everyone) start at P2. Some other CCAs such as bass band, chinese dance, contemporary dance starts as early as P1.

Their EL and Maths are always above national avg, but not CL. I think that is because the school has many foreigners, Koreans, Caucasians etc.

[JRR]

chamonix:

Hi JRR,


I have also registered my son in BTPS for 2010 P1. First child in a primary school too.

Have you any idea what time the kids are expected to be in school next year?

Hi Chamonix,

I'm staying outside 2km. I did ask the teacher there, he said the school will start at 7.30am but not confirm the after school timing yet.

[JRR]

Hi IJJ,


Did yr child ever miss the school bus after CCA or extra lesson? I was told the school will arrange the bus driver to fetch the kids if they hve CCA or extra classes that cause them to stay back in school.

[FMz]

IJJ:

Comparing the fee with her current school (which is very near to BTPS)

very near? Keming? Pei Hwa?

[IJJ]

JRR:

Hi IJJ,


Did yr child ever miss the school bus after CCA or extra lesson? I was told the school will arrange the bus driver to fetch the kids if they hve CCA or extra classes that cause them to stay back in school.

I am sorry I cannot advise on this because my child has not taken up any CCAs in school yet. I understand that not all CCAs are supported by the school bus company.

[IJJ]

FMz:

IJJ:

Comparing the fee with her current school (which is very near to BTPS)

very near? Keming? Pei Hwa?

She is in Pei Hwa now.

[FMz]

IJJ:

She is in Pei Hwa now.

been on waiting list for long?

[IJJ]

My child’s name was placed in the list for about half a year for P2 before we get the place.

[N3SKiasu]

IJJ:

JRR:

Hi IJJ,


Did yr child ever miss the school bus after CCA or extra lesson? I was told the school will arrange the bus driver to fetch the kids if they hve CCA or extra classes that cause them to stay back in school.

I am sorry I cannot advise on this because my child has not taken up any CCAs in school yet. I understand that not all CCAs are supported by the school bus company.

Hi,
my chidlren are in BTPS. Hope to share some info.
For afternoon Supplementary lessons (I think only start from P3) and those CCAs ending at 330pm, wel have sch bus transport back home. This service is included in the monthly fee. However, if your child joins CCA (like Netball, Soccer, Golf) ending at 5 or 530 then you have to fetch them yourself.
Normal sch time : Morning to reach sch by 715 and release at 1pm.
There is early release on all Wednesdays at 1230 pm due to Contact time for teachers (ie. teachers meeting with sch mgt team)
Btw I am not sure if you are aware, wef 2010, BTPS goes single session, ie. P1/2 used to be in afternoon session will be in morning session next year. Hence I am not sure will there be a change in school hours.
Anyway, I believe these will be covered in coming Nov09 Orientation, pls take note.
Also, there is normally an Open House in July every year. Due to H1N1, this event has been postponed to sometime in Nov, can't remember the exact date. It is a good opportunity to visit the sch as there will be activities like game stalls by students, exhibition of student work. Will update here when I find out. Hope it will not be cancelled eventually, my chidlren love it.
For Bus fee, it has increased quite a lot due to change in operator since last year. It was mainly due to one seat per child rule and also the fee included the CCA/Supp lessons end at 330pm. previous operator used to exclude the CCA transport in the monthly fee and make it optional to pay if you choose to take.
I was paying $95 per child (!) last year but have since stopped it as they are older now and able to take public transport home.

Hope above helps.