Pat's Schoolhouse

[Un-Kiasu Singaporean]

To @Happychildren who claims she is a Pat’s teacher. I don’t really think you are who you say you are. Why? Dedicated Pat’s teachers are not so free. By the time they finish work, they look like they hardly have any energy left as they are usually drained from giving their all to the kids. You’re probably not a full-day teacher. Once they reach home, they begin planning their lesson resources and doing lesson prep. I’m sure there are too many things on their minds like parents-showcases and portfolios that already take up their memory space so I don’t think that they would be bothered to come here and if they even know this forum exists.


Besides, Pat’s staff should be grateful coz’ they save their lunch money as the school feeds them for free daily. If you don’t like then don’t eat…go hungry or go to the kopitiam and tah-pow. No one is stopping you.

From what I observed from my kids experience, the teachers are not of low-quality even got overseas grads and good uni qualifications. You just need to ASK the Principal whatever you want to know. Mrs Koh cares about the children in Pat’s and she has a good heart. You just need to have the opportunity to experience it for yourself.

[Laisee]

Pat,


Thanks for answering the questions on how the food will be prepared in the schools from now on. This helps to regain a little of the trust that parents should expect when they place their loved ones in the care of others.

For those who would blindly accept any assurance, or think that changing schools is a solution, please understand that salmonella can be fatal. Too late then to change your mind or ask for more information.

Hoping this is the last incident of it’s kind for the schools and a quick recovery for those still affected or in hospital.

[fluffy28]

To "unkiasu Singaporean", thank you for speaking up for Pat Koh. I am also a parent of 3 children, one of whom has graduated and I have 2 presently studying at Pat’s Whitley and Pat’s Baby Haven. Till today, my daughter still has fond memories of her school and returns every year to visit her teachers!


I always believe that something beautiful always turns out from adversity. Throughout this ordeal, the school has kept parents informed via sms, email and heartfelt letters written by Pat Koh and the Principals. Behind the scenes, I am sure all of them are working even harder. Within a day or two, the inhouse cooks were activated and our kids were given homecooked nutritious meals. I saw teachers who were still weak, still making calls to parents to check on the children. I really felt for them. They continued to soldier on and put our kids before themselves. I truely respect each one of them.

To those of you, esp Happychildren, who are using this platform to throw allegations against Pat Koh and her team, please take up her challenge to write to her personally and share your grouses with her. Pat has a wonderful team of Principals, district managers, teachers and support staff with whom she has such an open and special relationship with.

[LOLMum]

Un-Kiasu Singaporean:

To @Happychildren who claims she is a Pat's teacher. I don't really think you are who you say you are. Why? Dedicated Pat's teachers are not so free. By the time they finish work, they look like they hardly have any energy left as they are usually drained from giving their all to the kids. You're probably not a full-day teacher. Once they reach home, they begin planning their lesson resources and doing lesson prep. I'm sure there are too many things on their minds like parents-showcases and portfolios that already take up their memory space so I don't think that they would be bothered to come here and if they even know this forum exists.


Besides, Pat's staff should be grateful coz' they save their lunch money as the school feeds them for free daily. If you don't like then don't eat...go hungry or go to the kopitiam and tah-pow. No one is stopping you.

From what I observed from my kids experience, the teachers are not of low-quality even got overseas grads and good uni qualifications. You just need to ASK the Principal whatever you want to know. Mrs Koh cares about the children in Pat's and she has a good heart. You just need to have the opportunity to experience it for yourself.

wow...........

[Kabby]

Actually many of us reading this thread did not take \"happychildren\" very seriously. When I read the post, I was kind of skeptical too.


My son enjoys himself a lot. His center is not affected, so I didn't get to see all the touching scenes of teachers sacrificing themselves. In my son's 2 years there, I have not met Pat Koh herself, but I think most parents are reasonable and as I mentioned before, I wouldn't blame the school for selecting this caterer either since the website points it out to really have a track record..

Most of us don't blame her for this incident. I think Pat has answered really well and shows that she cares. It's great she came in to reply.

In a public forum, where there is anonymity (to a certain extent), a lot of people will say what they want. I have been the victim of nastiness as well. We can explain and move on, hope that the dissenters are convinced, don't take it too much to heart.

Can understand how upset you are, \"unkiasu\", I was once really upset with some people online too. Good that you spoke up as well.

[zeezzen]

I was thinking of sending my kid to pat… will be going for visits next week… can any mummies recommend which branch is good?

[fluffy28]

Hi Zeezzen


Personally I would choose a centre that is convenient for you.
My girl had attended Pat’s Buckley and Claymore some years ago
while my sons are presently attending Pat’s Whitley and Baby Haven.
I am very pleased with these centres.

[patkoh]

Hi Verykiasu2010,


Thank you for your sincere wishes. We do appreciate the support and understanding from our parents and friends in times like these.

We all know that no one wants a crisis like this to occur, but we all know that when it hits us, we need more encouragement and prayers than finger pointing.

We are truly glad that most of the children and teachers have recovered from this ordeal and we have sailed this storm together, and made it through the strong waves that hit us so quickly and suddenly.

We couldn’t have done it without the resilient children, and the support of our parents, teachers and Principals. We are grateful to all.


Aside to all,

Thanks to all who have spoken up on my behalf and that of Pat’s Schoolhouse – made more heartfelt because you have spoken from the basis of your experiences with us. Your wishes and kind words are treasured. I will share them with the principals and teachers as well.

Sincerely,

Patricia Koh

[Jworld]

I went thru the recent posts in this thread. I must say I am most impressed and touched by Patricia Koh’s committment by making an effort to engage concerned parents here. Even though I may not be sending my kids to PATS (due to some distance issues and personal preference), I will encourage parents to send their kids there. I have friends who have already registered or planned for their kids to enter PATS next term/year. If I see them, I will encourage them to stick to this plan as I am confident that the management has learnt from this and they will take all measures to prevent recurrence of such unfortunate incident. Hence, I believe from this point onwards, preparation of kids’ meals will go through very regular and careful QC.


Last but not least, I wish all the affected kids and teachers speedy recovery.

[Un-Kiasu Singaporean]

To Fluffy28 & kabalevksy. Thanks for supporting me in my support of Pat Koh. I really don’t agree with all the naysayers coming here and blasting baseless accusations at her just because of the guise of anonymity. I mean the real issue here is yes a grave mistake was made and the consequences were serious but has there been a repeat? What has the management done to rectify/prevent a recurrence? I mean take our government for example. Votes went down and so they decided to do a post-mortem of the whole situation.

Hopefully we will see the integrity in wanting to change not just putting on a ‘wayang’ to appease people in the heat of the moment.

Likewise, every business is out to make profits whether it is educational or retail…If not, it might as well be a charitable organisation. The main reason that a business is successful is because of the organization’s reputation and integrity. Do people trust and believe in the service that you provide? I mean if Pat Koh had no integrity and just does what she’s doing now for PR to save the company’s image, time will tell. Something major on this scale is bound to happen again and then everyone can judge and these naysayers will then have the last laugh.

But if Pat Koh really is honest and committed to the Pat’s Schoolhouse kids as we all know she is, this adversity will only make their organisation more resilient. I’m sure that her and her entire Operations team have endured enough sleepless nights about this unfortunate incident and done everything humanly possible to rectify it so we should really try and forgive them as our kids got better. I mean her staff, teachers and her grandkids were also affected so it couldn’t have been easy…