St Gabriel's Primary

[flyboy744]

Charis21,


Can I check with you what was the balloting situation like? How many applicants versus the vacancies?

Cheers!

[melvingohca]

Hi, my boy is going to SGPS 2012. Can I know if there is any where we can get old text books that pass down from old boys? Or anyone is interested to pass down their current P1 books?


Thanks in advance

[Charis21]

wenthena:

Hi charis,


I also recently received sms from St gabes! Looks like our boys are gonna be schoolmates!!

@weethena, looking forward to orientation and probably then we can meet to introduce our boys.

flyboy744:

Charis21,

Can I check with you what was the balloting situation like? How many applicants versus the vacancies?

Cheers!

Praises to St. Gabs staffs for Providing a very thorough session of balloting exercise. Probably also the oversubscribed rate is not very high, it's 41 seats for 66 children. The admin staff will go through the children names with corresponding ballot ID no., and sgp citizens will get 2 ballot slips and PR 1 slip. All slips are displayed on overhead projector to show that they are all accounted for. After which, it will be fold and put in the transparent \"big fish tank\". Ballot starts and they will call up volunteer parent to pick the ballot ticket, when child's named called, the school staff will ask the parent of the successful balloted child's ID no. to pick up the next ballot slip. All picked slip will be stamped with MOE stamp and ballot ID no. be written on the paper with running serial no. of 41 seats.

Seriously nerve wrecking, even though I've experienced this before in 2000, where I was in the position to stand in for balloting in Rosyth, for my nephew who was away in the US then.

[eileenp]

Hi,


My son is going to St. Gab in 2012 as well.
He will not have any friends going with him as we stay in Hougang.
Hope he can make new friends there.

Hope to see you mummies at the Orientation!

I heard they have Student Care in the school right? Anyone know more about the student care?

[Charis21]

Hi eileenp,


the student care is called Morning Star Community Service.
more information of the student care services can be found http://www.stgabrielspri.moe.edu.sg/St.%20Gab%27s%20Daily%20Programme.pdf.

monthly charges is SGD270+SGD30 (one time registration fees)+SGD35 (half yearly conservancy charges). you may need to further verify with the student care services in charge on these charges.

hth.

[flyboy744]

I have been observing this thread and realize that all the questions about the academic achievements and disciplinary issues were not answered at all.


Either the forumers of this thread have nothing to contribute or there are some underlying issues that no one wants to discuss or raise.

Really hope and pray that I made the right choice for my son.

Cheers!

Elliot

[eileenp]

Hi Charis,


Wow! That really helped. Thanks a million!


Hi Elliot,

I do notice that as well. Looking at the results and tables done by Kiasu Parents as well as MOE website. It does seem like St. Gabriel have not had much of an achievement academically.

It's name didn't even appear in http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/content/singapore-primary-schools-ranked-academic-excellence.

[jacsplace]

Hi eileenp,

Even St Margaret’s is not in that list, but I think that’s because Christian schools have a different agenda. They focus more on the holistic development of a child, so they don’t just focus on academics. This is what I want from my son, I wish he had gotten in to St Gabe’s. You all should be very happy that your sons are there.

[flyboy744]

‘holistic’- This is exactly the word that I am hoping not to see and hear. It is such a over used, abused and subjective word.


It is a general word that people has been using to cover up for inadequency, imperfect and ‘hope for the best’ replacement adjective. At least, that is what is meant in my organization.

Yes, I understand it is intangible. It can be interpreted in many ways. Sorry for sounding so skeptical, but I am so so over this word.

Sorry for all the ranting, this is just my personal and humble opinion. We can agree to disagree.

More importantly, back to the school, so far, mixed reviews about the school I gathered. What is just as crucial is the parent’s support we give to the kids to supplement the curriculum. Hope to learn more and share more to educate ourselves better to give the best to our kids.

Cheers!

[eileenp]

Hi Jacsplace & Elliot,


Parent’s support is definitely very crucial in Primary School. Therefore, regardless of which school they go to, shouldn’t make any difference in this case.

But I feel that for children at this age, peer pressure is quite an issue.
Therefore, the kind of peers from different schools play an important part in our son’s primary school life, i gather.

For holistic education, I think it’s quite subjective. I know of schools which drill like nobody’s business so that their pupils will do well in exams, which is ultimately the PSLE.
And I also know of schools which focus on values/character building, etc, and really have pupils interest as core business.
Ultimately, it’s still up to the parents. What kind of education do you want your child to have. And therefore, which school to send them to according to your needs.

Anyway, I’m just glad that my son has gotten into a school, without having to go through balloting, which i totally cannot take the pressure. Hahaha…