[Tampines] Primary Schools

[phtthp]

derene:

My parents take care of my son and their add is within 1km of s Hilda while my own house is within 1 km of poi Ching. If I choose st Hilda, I think I may still need to ballot right? If I don't get in, I may also not be able to get into poi Ching since it is my second choice and is quite a popular school too? I'm afraid I may end up to getting either- is that a possibility?

a)
In order to use your parents’ address to apply for a school –
first, certain criteria must be satisfied. Even if your parents do satisfy all the criteria required and your parents stay < 1km, however take note that you’ll still be falling under (1 to 2km) distance range. You’ll not fall under (less than 1 km).
Refer MOE’s reply - with regards to Terms & Condition(s) using parents’ address, to register a child for Primary 1 admission :-

http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=27841

for St Hilda primary, last year 2012 :-
Balloting was conducted for Singapore citizenship children, residing within 1km of the school.

85 registered, 42 places.

If you use your parents’ address to enrol –
because you fall under (1 to 2km), you have zero chance to ballot. Balloting occurred only for those, staying less than 1 km.

http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=452&start=710

b) for Poi Ching primary, last year 2012 :-

All SC children were admitted to the school in this phase.
Balloting was conducted for PR children, residing within 1km of the school.

106 registered, 98 places

If you are considering Poi Ching, do ensure you prepare your K2 child well for Chinese.
if your child’s Chinese is strong, then no issue.

Poi Ching is a SAP school.

Poi Ching navigate a different path, from other school(s).
Poi Ching use their own in-house Higher Chinese textbooks / workbooks called “Yun Yu”. The contents of “Yun Yu” textbooks / activity workbooks were developed in joint venture between the school, and with China’s Suzhou Ministry of Education.

“Yun Yu” help their P1 & P2 pupils build a very good foundation, from scratch.
Pupils need to master & recognize at least around 2000 commonly used, basic Chinese vocab. This is to ease the way, preparing them for P3 / P4 later - when pupils start to write Chinese composition(s), in lengthy content.
P1 and P2 “Yun Yu” is of very high standard.
Inside contain many useful Chinese poems / poetry, for pupils to recite.
“Yun Yu” is much higher standard than our own Singapore MOE P1 “Higher Chinese” textbooks used. (if you browse through them)

you may read more about their parents’ comments concerning Chinese, from their school networking thread, found on page 40. If there are parents from other non-SAP school(s) trying to seek transfer into Poi Ching, do take note.

page 40:-
http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=4503&start=390

page 9 :-
http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=4503&start=80

derene:

there were some talks about going to one school to find out the registration take up rate then decide if wanna go to 2nd choice? Is this common practice?

Phase 2C (open to public) P1 registration is held around –
either end of July or beginning August.

3 days are allocated for Phase 2C.

No need to enrol on the first day of Phase 2C.
Usually, parents adopt a “wait and see” attitude, on first day.
You can either call up this school (provided you can get thru phone line not engaged) or go down to the school directly to gather info on the spot, find out actual situation first, ie. ask how many people applied within less than 1 km, is balloting required or not, etc ?

by Third day 12 pm noon time - parents more or less know what’s their chance like ?

on Third day after lunch,
around 2.30 pm onwards to 4pm (registration close at 4 pm)–
parents will rush down, to place their final bet. Some may withdraw from earlier phases 2A or 2B, and then try their luck in 2C, if they’re confirmed that 2C no need to ballot. Or the school may inform you last minute asking you to withdraw because you've no chance to ballot for your distance range, so quickly go down another school to enrol fast in time, before 4 pm (dong dong dong bell ring Registration counter close). Anxiety is very high after lunch 2pm, on day 3. It is wise to station one spouse at each school - ie. you go to the school that you wish to enrol your kid in, while your spouse go to another backup school on standby emergency, just in case last minute something happen.

[derene]

Hi kiasumaster,


Thanks so much for your reply- I’ve gained more knowledge now. So you mean that if I use my parents address to enrol, it is still considered 1-2km range even though it is physically within 1km? In this case, do you know if i still need to change the IC address? If not, how do I use my parents address to enrol?

And it seems like for st Hilda, the 1-2 km is totally no chance already…

Poi Ching standard of Chinese is high… Do anyone know the standard of their other subjects? Is it just a popular school becoz of its Chinese? I also heard that its PSLE score is below national average?

[Dreamgear]

I dont think PCS score is below national average… If i can recall correctly, all subjects are above national average.

[phtthp]

derene:

So you mean that if I use my parents address to enrol, it is still considered 1-2km range even though it is physically within 1km? In this case, do you know if i still need to change the IC address? If not, how do I use my parents address to enrol?

http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?p=736812#p736812

Yes, you're right.
even if you use your parents' address to enrol -
you're still considered 1-2 km range, even though your parents' house is physically located within 1 km. For St Hilda primary, you've no chance to ballot.

[sweetbaby]

Usually schools that are available in Tampines areas in Phase 2Cs is East View & Junyuan? Any other schools? Which school will you opt for?

[Cassmania]

Is Poi Ching a good school? I am worried that the Chinese is too tough for my kid

[phtthp]

If you start your child from p1, it is ok bec poi Ching Chinese tr will guide them from scratch. For your k2 child now, time to intro her to Han Yu pin yin, bec PC p1 Chinese tr cover hypy quite fast. So if your child has some exposure background first not first time start learning hypy, will help a lot. If you are seriously keen in enrolling yr child into PC, you may buy p1a yun Yu Chinese textbook from her bookshop, start training your child read aloud one Chinese passage every day. From now till p1 jan next year, still in time. Textbook costs $10. But for those who had been reading Si wu kuai du series faithfully minimal at least up to book 4 (read tamarind blog), should be fine. Si wu kuai du series is able to tackle yun Yu.

[Cassmania]

My kid Chinese is quite bad, not sure if is too difficult for him to learn higher Chinese.

How’s the school environment and teachers?

[phtthp]

Dun be afraid of higher Chinese. But ensure you provide a conducive environment at home to help him speak Chinese. Usually pupils are weak bec they hardly speak Chinese at home. If you can encourage your child to speak, bec u speak mandarin to him first, shouldn’t be an issue. Example everyday, ask him read a v simple simple Chinese storybook. Either u read along with him, or u train him read by himself slowly. Besides storybooks, can also read hao Peng you magazine. K2 child can start expose him to hao Peng you magazine. So long as you make a conscientious effort to help child learn, child will not dislike Chinese. But do it when he still young. K2 still mould able. But if child reach p4 and u still don’t help him by then, then will pose a great challenge next time. Rem- if child slow, never mind. but must persevere. recall the diligent tortoise vs the proud rabbit story. For the 2nd qn, maybe pose into poi Ching sch thread direct, perhaps ask those parents to help you answer.

[Cassmania]

Thank you for yr valuable advice