[Bukit Merah] Primary Schools

[daddy2007]

sgspurs:

wonder why last year there's ballot for < 1km. From the stats, it doesn't require in the past 4-5 years. :slapshead:

Which school?

[vicki]

Dazz:

hello vicki,


can ask you... is it hard for your kids to study at a school which is far away? i'm discussing about P1 registration with my MIL and she say to register nearby so that the kid dun have to travel so far.. but but... i'm trying to think of a reason to convince... haha.

Hi Dazz,

Im not exactly sure what do you mean by 'hard' but i try my best to answer your qn...

We send ds by school bus up n down (so only issue is to wake up abit earlier to wait for the bus - and ended up almost the same time as those in RMPS n RVPS)!

Last year my boy joined CCA - and my dad volunteered to pick him up after CCA - since his school is connected to an MRT station n i stay quite near a MRT station - so not much of an issue. This year prob not joining any cos his CCA timing changed to weekends...

err... Other than those 2, not sure what other qns you might have...

[vicki]

phtthp:

something not right with school bus. If kids stay near to school, they should be the last few to be picked up. Ask the school why is it so ?

I think i know why. For those staying nearby, it is usually a bigger school bus that comes to fetch them. Think currently, the kids are the first few to get up (for my area). Bigger school bus also means school bus fees are cheaper - think in the range of 50-70?

My boy's school bus is a small one (capacity at 10 students). And in the morning, there are only 5 pickup points and he is the 2nd last to get up. My fees are more expensive - close to 190.

So i guess i pay a premium to be 'fetched' later and be back earlier.

[Dazz]

haha… oppss… i meant… do you have any difficulties getting your boy to school every morning… well, occassional tantrums are expected, but is he tired due to the long travelling distance?

[Crystal Poh]

mummy of 2:

Just to share my own experience, I'm within 1km of Zhangde and Radin Mas and I registered in phase 2B last year. I decided to go for Zhangde as it is within walking distance. After school started, I found to my horror that DS's kindergarten classmates, living next block, are spending 1 hour each way to take the school bus to Radin Mas. That's 2 hours a day . DS is very thankful that he is not studying in Radin Mas. Do consider carefully as all the time spent travelling can add up significantly over the years.

:thankyou:

Hi Mummy of 2,

Thanks for the great feedback. I am staying within 1km of both ZDPS and RMPS. And if I were to register my DS in RMPS will definitely let him take school bus. But hearing from you is sure a turn off to put him in RMPS now.
How's your DS coping in P1 in ZDPS? Kinda getting very worried now. :?:

[mummy of 2]

Hi Crystal Poh


I didn’t know last year that the school bus would take so long when I was choosing between ZDPS and RMPS. So I’m really glad that I chose ZD. DS is very happy going to school and coping well. Of course I can’t confirm if ZD is indeed better than RDM but I think the time saved is certainly worth it. Anyway I always believed that the academic success depends not just on the school but mainly the child and parental support.

No matter which is your final choice at least you have the benefit of information. And that is the intent of my sharing. My only advice is to consider carefully.

[psng]

I had 4 kids, 5th one coming this Aug. My 1st 3 DD only 1 yr gap so I really must be very careful in choosing the pri sch for them.

My eldest DD is going P1 next yr. I'm an old girl in GESPS so do my husband but was not sure if I shld enrol her in.. My choice is RVPS, I had to go MOE to do statutory declaration to prove my child is under the care of my MIL so I can use the address to register her there but under 2C balloting. My MIL's place also very near to ZDPS, after I read posts fm here and realised ZDPS is quite a good school too. Now I saw post that Queenstown not bad too(I'm staying near there)! But it might be troublesome for my DD to travel there as she is being taken care by my ma who is staying at Telok Blangah.
So now I was rather headache if I shld register her to Queenstown or GESPS or ZDPS or stick back to RVPS to try my luck on balloting.
My ma ever told me not to enrol them to a school which required longer time on travelling. She said at least she can still bring them/pick them from school with my dad or maid.
Need advise...

[titank]

RVPS is quite a hot school, it has come to a point where Phase 2C (1Km to 2Km) require balloting.


You may want to let us know where is your location so that can plan the strategy well. :rahrah:

[qms]

psng:

My choice is RVPS, I had to go MOE to do statutory declaration to prove my child is under the care of my MIL so I can use the address to register her there but under 2C balloting. My MIL's place also very near to ZDPS, after I read posts fm here and realised ZDPS is quite a good school too....


So now I was rather headache if I shld register her to Queenstown or GESPS or ZDPS or stick back to RVPS to try my luck on balloting.

Please note that if you were to go by the caregiver route, you would be classified in the 1-2 km category, even if your MIL's house is located next to the school.

So, going by caregiver route, you will be need to go through balloting if you apply with RVPS or ZDPS. In 2010, balloting was open only to those staying within 1 km of the school. Hence, if this year's situation is similar to 2010, you will not even get the chance to participate in the balloting.

As for Zhangde, chances are quite slim, too, although you can still try.

Personally, I feel that Queenstown and GESPS are on par with each other.

[psng]

I understand balloting required 'Luck'... Most of my friends are really on luck and got their kids in those hot schools thru balloting even my step-sis's DS got in to Nanyang Pri thru ballot! :yikes:

I'm staying at Commonwealth and my children stay with my parent near Bukit Merah, my in-law's place at Tiong Bahru. My kids will continue to stay with my parent as my hubby & I had planned to move next to them in 1-2 yrs' time for convenient purpose. My MIL is a very nice lady, she always offered to help to take care of my kids if my parent are busy though she still hv to care for my hubby's niece & nephew.
I was thinking is best to chose a school between Bt Merah and Tiong Bahru. The safest pri sch my DD will sure to get in is GESPS which I find this school average only... :slapshead:
How ya!?