Henry Park Primary

[tree nymph]

ZacK:

Hiya... Pls goto this link and download the file: http://www.henryparkpri.moe.edu.sg/wbn/slot/u1674/others/Bus_Operators2008%282%29.pps


I have already secured the transport for my son for next year when he goes to Pri 1.

The bus driver gave my son a name tag which he has to wear for first 2 weeks or so, so that the bus driver will be able to recognise my child. I believe the practice shd be the same, the bus driver will bring the kids to the hall during the first 1-2weeks and the teachers will bring the kids to the school bus at the end of the day so that they can board their bus.

The bus driver told me, HPPS insists all school buses to be in the school compound by a certain time, then the school gates will close. The school gates will open and the buses only start to leave when ALL the kids have boarded their buses. This may take a longer time for the kids to reach home but I think this is safer for the kids as everyone has to be on board their buses and doors closed before any bus can leave the school compound.

Hi Zack,
Thanks for the link. I've called 3 operators and all 3 do not want to confirm my seat. They told me that they can only confirm with me nearer to school reopens! Oh dear, what if they all told me that they are not able to give me a seat then how is my ds going to school? Even though we are quite near to the school, I cannot trust him to walk to school by himself. He is so playful and I'm worried about him crossing the road, Holland Road - where most cars speed. i'm really worried.

The school system of picking up the kids and dropping the kids off is good. I think its very safe to do this way.

Can you tell me how much is your bus operator charging you?

Thanks for sharing!

[ZacK]

tree nymph:

[/code]I've called 3 operators and all 3 do not want to confirm my seat. They told me that they can only confirm with me nearer to school reopens!

This is funny... thot many would want to firm you up fast lest you go to other operators?

tree nymph:

Can you tell me how much is your bus operator charging you?
Thanks for sharing!

Mine is 140 two-ways... think the fare depends on location/distance and whether need to go into ERP zone.

[tree nymph]

thanks zack.


i think i have to call them again to check in another week or so. really don’t like the feeling of hanging…

[ZacK]

tree nymph:

thanks zack.


i think i have to call them again to check in another week or so. really don't like the feeling of hanging...

Actually I suspect... Cos you are located very near to the school...
- They may not be able to charge you very much to be fair to you.
- But to the school buses becos of the seat belt restriction, the buses would have a fixed number of students that they can take. The bus that my boy is on is limited to 12 pax only.
- My guess is they want to fill up their seats with students within their route but relatively further away so that they can charge a decent amount of fare.
- Those that are nearer to the school, based on remaining seats the drivers have left before the school term starts... Then they will look at allocating seats to the shorter distance kids.

If you want to confirm the seat early lest your kid gets left out... See if you can get an indicative rate that they would charge based on your location and see if you want to pay a slightly higher premium for the sake of confirming the seats? Just my thots.

[tree nymph]

Zack,

i think you are right. cos we are so near the school they wanna fill up their bus with further away students so that they can earn more. I understand it could be around $55 to $65 for my place to school, given the distance. but no bus operator wants to confirm me yet...

If i call cab everyday, that will be quite expensive... gotta pay for advance order of cab right? that will be at least $5 per day? :moneyflies:

[ZacK]

tree nymph:

Zack,

i think you are right. cos we are so near the school they wanna fill up their bus with further away students so that they can earn more. I understand it could be around $55 to $65 for my place to school, given the distance. but no bus operator wants to confirm me yet...

If i call cab everyday, that will be quite expensive... gotta pay for advance order of cab right? that will be at least $5 per day? :moneyflies:

Well you may wish to take the cab scenario as a basis to work out how much you are willing to pay to the bus operator... Of cos it's not apple to apple comparison but nonetheless a possible consideration.

Based on cab scenario, $5/day x 22 days/mth = $110/mth --->> So using this as a gauge, would you be willing to fork out say $100/mth to the bus operator to confirm a place for your child now?

Alternatively if you find that a hefty premium to pay, then would you be prepared to wait and subject yourself to the possibility that there may be no space for your child and you would need to make your own private arrangements? If there are only 3 bus operators plying your area, you are looking at possibly 36 seats before the buses gets filled up ...

[tree nymph]

Zack,

i guess i will have to check out again based on this fare. guess this is really a case of pure business man's thinking - very jia lak...

if i'm really not able to get a seat, how?? :scared:

[ZacK]

tree nymph:

Zack,

i guess i will have to check out again based on this fare. guess this is really a case of pure business man's thinking - very jia lak...

if i'm really not able to get a seat, how?? :scared:

It's definitely a case of $$ and cts ... So if you do not want to deal with the stress of making your pte arrangements... May take my suggestion and see what they say

[ZacK]

I attended Henry Park's P1 orientation ... I thought I was relieved when they said that there are no examinations in P1:

- there will be ongoing mini assessments to test the kid's understanding of subjects being taught
- The end of year report will not be in the form a grading (if I recall correctly), basically the end of year report will comment on the teacher's observation of the kid's overall performance and how he is coping at school.

My wife thinks otherwise... Anyway not sure if it is common not to have year end exams for P1 :?

[tree nymph]

ZacK:

I attended Henry Park's P1 orientation ... I thought I was relieved when they said that there are no examinations in P1:

- there will be ongoing mini assessments to test the kid's understanding of subjects being taught
- The end of year report will not be in the form a grading (if I recall correctly), basically the end of year report will comment on the teacher's observation of the kid's overall performance and how he is coping at school.

My wife thinks otherwise... Anyway not sure if it is common not to have year end exams for P1 :?

I heard from my colleagues, one next year in P1 in Tao Nan and the other one in P1 at Ai Tong, all told me that their kids will not have exams in P1 too. think its the norm now since MOE announce that they are doing away with exams for lower primary.