All About Parent Volunteers (PV)

[Okosbaba]

Canvas:

I would like to know for PV duties, can a parent bring along the child? I am still thinking of the PV part since there is no schools within 1km from my place and those between 1.5-2km all hold balloting only for <1km


I don't have a helper so if I have to do PV, my DD will have to go along. Do I need to camouflage her? :siam:

I am doing PV in a branded school.. most of the programs you will have a student assigned to you, hence it will be nearly impossible unless you are say doing ad hoc and such as packing up a cupboard or something like that. Most parents do not bring their kids along.... infact all only one has brought her DD along (DD very well behaved mind you and stayed in the library. while the parent did the volunteering duties) and even that is looked upon with certain resentment.. not advisable in my opinion.

[rainn_77]

Hello Tjkok,


Was sick for the past few days so din reply ur post till now… So sorry!

My ideal school for my dd will b Gongshang Primary School (1st choice),
Chongzheng & White Sands Primary School (2nd choice) still couldnt decide which is a better school… Could u advise me based in your expertise which school should b my backup plan should my idea school PV is not successful?

As I do not wish to jeopardise the students’ work hence Im still deciding whether should I do PV for white sands Pri school as my ideal school haven’t gotten back to me regarding my PV application.

Hm… Can u give me some advise? Thank you!

[alng]

rainn_77:

Hello Tjkok,


Was sick for the past few days so din reply ur post till now.. So sorry!

My ideal school for my dd will b Gongshang Primary School (1st choice),
Chongzheng & White Sands Primary School (2nd choice) still couldnt decide which is a better school... Could u advise me based in your expertise which school should b my backup plan should my idea school PV is not successful?

As I do not wish to jeopardise the students' work hence Im still deciding whether should I do PV for white sands Pri school as my ideal school haven't gotten back to me regarding my PV application.

Hm... Can u give me some advise? Thank you!

Hi, just want to share my experience here. Three years ago, I applied for PV in school A. The success rate was less than 20% and the school would not release the outcome till very late. By then, if I was unsuccessful, I would not have sufficient time to apply for PV in another school. So I applied PV in school B. I was accepted by school B and started my PV. When I was about to complete my PV in school B, school A accepted me. I went on to complete my PV in both schools. I never regretted doing that as by doing the PV, I get to know the school culture and change my views about the schools. I started to hesitate sending my ds to school A.

The outcome was my ds did not get into both schools at phase 2B registration last year due to fierce competition. Both schools are also very hot this year. In the end, my ds was transferred to school B when the school term started this year and he is happy in school B now.

So if you can afford the time, continue your PV. It pays to standby two schools for phase 2b.

[rainn_77]

Wow Tjkok, u really put in 101% effort in your ds primary school. Really pei fu!!!

I really should learn from you so that I can have clear conscious in future that I have put in as much effort as you in putting my dd in my desired school! Haa!

As I'm a mother of two and with no maid to help out so really in a difficult situation as in which 2 schools should I do PV (Gongshang, White sands or Chongzheng)? Based on your reply, it seems to me that you would advise me to submit all 3 first as not all PV applications would b successfully accepted right? Hopefully the timeline for the school would b almost the same...

Congratulation in placing your ds in the school b! Im sure all the PV done in the school is worth it and would u mind sharing with me did your ds transfer in his p1? Was it easier to do a transfer as compared to registering?

Await for your treasure advise!

[alng]

rainn_77:

Wow Tjkok, u really put in 101% effort in your ds primary school. Really pei fu!!!

I really should learn from you so that I can have clear conscious in future that I have put in as much effort as you in putting my dd in my desired school! Haa!

As I'm a mother of two and with no maid to help out so really in a difficult situation as in which 2 schools should I do PV (Gongshang, White sands or Chongzheng)? Based on your reply, it seems to me that you would advise me to submit all 3 first as not all PV applications would b successfully accepted right? Hopefully the timeline for the school would b almost the same...

Congratulation in placing your ds in the school b! Im sure all the PV done in the school is worth it and would u mind sharing with me did your ds transfer in his p1? Was it easier to do a transfer as compared to registering?

Await for your treasure advise!

Hi rainn_77, I am not Tjkok . I am not familiar with the three schools you have shortlisted. What I would suggest is that you should find out more about the registration statistics of these three schools. Do the phase 2b always been filled up? If yes, then very likely, the schools are popular and have lots of PVs. In that case, you will face competition when you apply for PVs.

If there is no guarantee that you will be successful in your PV application, do play safe to apply in more than one schools. If more than one school offer you PV, go and listen to what you need to do. Of all you know, the PV hours and work do not overlap. For example, in school A, other than the 2-3 meetings on site, I only needed to be present in a school's event on one morning. The other PV hours were work done at home. In school B, the PV hours were all clocked on site on 1-2 afternoons a week for almost a year as I was supervising some students. I am a full time working mom with two children. But I am blessed with flexible working hours and my mom-in-law helps me out at home. You could also see if there are PV work that can be shared by your dh.

Some parents opt for traffic wardens where the husbands will do the early morning session and the wives will do the afternoon or evening sessions. Or wives will do recess supervision at mid mornings and mid afternoons. Traffic wardens and recess supervision are two common PV tasks. Involving the husbands is great so that they know the efforts needed to get our dear sons and daughters into our dream schools.

By PVing in more than one schools, you get to know the school management, culture and how the school functions. The first meeting at school A left me with good impression - very organised and efficient. The first time I sat in the general office of school B waiting to meet the teacher in charge, I was impressed to see a 70+ years old teacher coming back to help out in a dance event. I was very touched. I also see how the school teachers interact with one another. I also see how the students behave. The students in school B will greet me good morning or good afternoon when they see me even up to today. All these tell me a lot about the school.

My ds was transferred in early February after the school term has started. I was on the waitlist for both schools A and B. And that \"strike million dollars lottery\" phone call came just after the Chinese New Year holidays. We were very thrilled and within a week, my son was transferred. I found out subsequently from the other parents that that class started the school term with 1 student less. But so how, the school did not contact me earlier. I understand that my ds was the only transferred student in that school so far. Many parents have asked me how did I get the transfer but I really do not know. We must be very fortunate. It must be of good intention for us to go through all these so that we are very appreciative of what we have gained today.

All the best in your application for PV and in getting your child into your dream school!

[Imami]

Hi alng,


First of all, thank you for sharing your experience here. Reading about your experience has opened up new dimensions on this subject for me.

Just to clarify, if your child was not with sch a and sch b initially, is your child with sch c at the start of school term? What are the considerations in deciding to shift your child to sch b? Can you share with us the "go" or "stay" factors? What did you do/prepare your child before/after the transfer?

[rainn_77]

Hello Alng,


So sorry that I mistook u as another user...
Now I have a better understanding in why PV in 2 schools r good. Not only will I get to know more abt the school, I would also have some interactions from the students.

I'm also puzzled by what u have shared with us in transferring your ds to school b. How do the school b knows that u have an intention to put your DS to their school when you couldn't manage to get into phase 2b? Do u still try for school b in phase 2c or can we put on a waiting list so that the school b knows your intention? Kindly do share with us in your experience pls.

Many thanks!

[nattynatty]

Hi all,


Is anyone aware whether the PV is still open to apply for Pei Hwa Presbyterian? My kid is born in 2007 and due for registration 2013 next year…

Any cut-off dates? After reading so much… i feel stressed though i stay within 1km… now only left 28 places for Phase 2C for this year intake…
stressssssss

Natty

[alng]

Hi Imami and rain_77,


As schools A and B are super hot schools (they are two out of the top five hot schools this year based on number of vacancies left), my backup plan was to enroll my ds in school C under phase 2A2. In phase 2B, I had no chance to ballot at all in school A so I did not apply. In school B, I could ballot but I also did not give up school C for B. If I lost my ballot in school B, I would not be able to ballot in school C under phase 2C. All three schools are more than 2km away. A decent average school within 1 km of my home were balloting at within 1 km and three times over subscribed. The stress was terrible. So before phase 2B went into balloting, I had already submitted my application form for wait list.

My ds only spent one month in school C. Dh and I were not happy with school C. I even had to write an email to the VP to comment on the way they dismissed their P1 and 2 on the first day of school. Luckily, they acknowledged my fear for potential accidents and made changes immediately. My ds knows about our PV efforts in schools A and B and our double disappointments during P1 registration. So he has no hesitation to switch school. Dh and I did not hesitate too as schools B and C are not quite comparable. One is an average neighborhood school and the other is a GEP school.

We did not regret on the switch. Though my ds has to get used to school B, he enjoys himself. He has more exposure and more CCA options.

I wish both of you the very best in the pursuit of your dream schools for your dc.

[alng]

nattynatty:

Hi all,


Is anyone aware whether the PV is still open to apply for Pei Hwa Presbyterian? My kid is born in 2007 and due for registration 2013 next year...

Any cut-off dates? After reading so much.... i feel stressed though i stay within 1km... now only left 28 places for Phase 2C for this year intake...
stressssssss

Natty

Please call the school to find out if applications for PV is closed. As the PVs have to complete the PV hours by 30 June 2013 for 2013 P1 registration, schools might have closed their PV application and gone into selection process now. All the best!