Henry Park Primary

[cody]

mummyo:

Any parents here in the HPPA?


Realised you need to pay to join... I thought only volunteer time only...

Are u referring to the alumni?
If yes, I am a member.
Fee is $400 one-time payment for a life membership.
Very costly in my opinion but I did it just to be 100% reassured that my kids get in.

Members who run the alumni are all volunteers, so be ultra patient with them. Their turnaround time was more than 3 months just to bank in my payment.

No activities whatsoever, or at least I have not been informed.
No emails, no newsletter whatsoever.
Just pay that $400 to register your child in phase 2A.

(yes I'm ultra kiasu after being bitten once ... Elderst son didn't inform me of priority registration for siblings to enter the same kindergarten. We ended up missing the entire registration altogether! Resulting in my 2nd kid being put on wait list for any withdrawals!)

[cody]

Hello,


Congrats to parents whose kids managed to get I to P1 for 2012!
I accompanied a family member to their P1 balloting and it was jolly stressful!

For orientation, I'll share my experience on what happened last year.

1) Be on time. 

2) if you drive, go early to get parking as there are very few lots in the school compound and at the nearby Henry Park Apartments.

3) bring cash or cheque book.  If you want to join the Henry Park Parent Support Group especially for elective CCAs such as golf, you have to join as a member. $20 per year or $100 for 6 years.

4) bring your child.  After you register your attendance, children will be ushered to their classrooms to meet their teacher while parents attend a talk in the hall (air-conditioned).  After the talks are over, parents will visit the classroom will children are brought on a tour around the school premises.

5) books - bring cash!
Sold during orientation. 
Books can be pre-ordered online and delivered to your house for a fee, or pick up at the school bookshop.
The pick up service is very slow, because the staff has to hunt for your name on the box.
The queue for parents who buy on the spot moved slot faster because the bookshop has pre-packed boxes sorted out according to the mother tongue language.
The box contains all the compulsory items listed on the book list.
You can then ask the staff to add in whatever optional items you need.

The bookstore is like a fish market ... It's very very very crowded.
Looking back, I would have bought the standard box and left out the optional items such as school bag, art file etc. Those can be easily bought at any bookstore.

It's also a good idea to buy optional items from outside the school so that o can differentiate your child's bag from another. Either that or you label your items clearly.

The only optional item I suggest that you buy from the school is the whiteboard marker set for $2.50. The closest alternative to that at Popular bookstore costs $18!

optional reference books: I bought them in case my chld needed to refer to them. It's now term 4 and those optional books are still brand new! 


6) uniforms - bring cash!  Also sold during orientation.
However the store operates within school premises for several days.
Go back to exchange size etc if necessary.
The older ladies manning the stall are very experienced - one look at your child and they will get you the right size.
That said, I opted to buy 1 size larger for more comfort.

you will also need to order the name tag thru the uniform shop.
The name tags will be given to your child on the  first few days of school.
It's an iron on tag, but it comes off rather easily.
Better to sew it on.
Name tags are changed yearly - one colour for each level.


School polo T is also the PE tshirt.
Need to buy gym shorts (gym is part of their P1 curriculum).
For PE, boys can either wear the gym shorts or their normal school shorts.
For the latter, they will have to remove the contents in the pockets.


That's all for now. Will post again when I remember anything else.

[cody]

mum2k:

Hi all,


Am new here.
Would like to find out if there are AM/PM sessions for P1?
And does anyone knows if there is school bus to East Coast?
Thanks!

P1 and P2 are in the PM session.
AM session is only for P3 to P6.

There used to be a link to the school bus operators on the school website but the link has since been taken down.
Best to call the school to find out.
Based on experience last year, i recall the school bus operators had a network reaching out to almost every corner of Singapore!

[cody]

First day of school …


Parents are allowed in school premises.
While children attend lessons, parents attend talks in the school hall.

Parents will be "dismissed" to witness their children experience their first recess.
Each P1 child was paired up with a P2 child as recess buddies.
Buddy system lasts for 1 week if I remember correctly.

When the school day ends, children going home by private transport will wait at the lobby outside the office.
Children going home by school bus assemble at Kids Zone.
(pls bear in mind these areas will change in 2012 when they move to the ex-RJC campus)


Day 2: parents are not allowed in the school premises.
Those who come are asked to wait Around the bus bay.
No accompaniment at recess time either.


If you are pressed for time, just take leave on day 1.
No leave? Just accompany your child for the first half of the school day will suffice.


Hope this helps!

[shilo-milo]

Hi Cody,


Much thanks for your info. Indeed is very usfeul to me.

[sssdarlings]

regarding the name tag colour, it does not change yearly. I expect next year P1s to use brown tag ('inherited' from this year p6 cohort) which will be the cohort's colour til they leave the primary school.


I am heading to Bibi and Baba (the uniform supplier) to avoid crowd at the school premises ;))

[cody]

sssdarlings:

regarding the name tag colour, it does not change yearly. I expect next year P1s to use brown tag ('inherited' from this year p6 cohort) which will be the cohort's colour til they leave the primary school.


I am heading to Bibi and Baba (the uniform supplier) to avoid crowd at the school premises ;))

Oops sorry! I was informed by the uniformed Aunty about the name tag.

[kero]

shilo-milo:

Hi mummies,


I'm new here. My DD will be going to Pri 1 next year.
Anyone staying at north side(woodlands, Admiralty or sembawang).
Any school bus to HPPS?

Hi Shilo-milo,

My son ex-sch bus driver used to send 1 kid to woodland @ $200.
I once called a sch bus driver to drop off my son in AMK and for 1 way only he is charging $90. Morning and evening due to heavy traffic he does not provide the pick up/sending.

We also stayed in the north area. But so far it seems that there is no school bus going to the north. If you find the contact please share with me too. Thanks.

[dadelina]

Hi,

My daughter will also be joining Henry Park next year
And, I've just received a letter from school informing me that she'll be in Primary 1J. Any other parents whose child will be going to the same class?

And, I understand that P1s are allowed to join CCA. But, when the child register for the CCA? cos my daughter loves Art and when she saw HPPS has Art Club, she gets so excited and can't wait to sign up.

Appreciate to hear from any mummies/daddies on my queries above.

Thanks!

[shilo-milo]

Hi Kero,


Thanks for your info.
You are staying at the north?Which part? Is your kids still schooling at HPPS?
So how does your son goes to school everyday? Actually, my MIL stays at Holland Road but I do not want to trouble her. That is why I need to ferry her to and fro.
Surely, will sure with you if I have gotten the contact.