It is not an exam. It is a mass play date. :imanangel:

Indeed! Son just ran in after spotting a friend from another school! Think his current school's approach to `holistic' learning is working! Just hope it's good for him though.....

eileenp:

Any parents packed their child's bag already?

My son's school bag is soooooo heavy!!!!
And I have only included the 1A books inside.

Like that how they carry?

I had the impression that they don't need to bring books to school during the first few days.
Whoops!

benten2011:

Khordan:

I think it's disappointing that in a forum I had previously thought to be full of rational people is letting this wave of xenophobia run rampant.


Before we continue with this railing and chest-beating about PRs & FTs, don't forget that ALL of us are recent descendents of FTs; our grandparents (or in some cases, great-grandparents) were FTs. Some of our best known and most sought-after schools were built by FTs for FTs.

As for the consternation about the various phases and whether it is right or not, we are just going around in circles. There is no way you are going to convince alumni they are not entitled to their priority. Similarly, clan members, christians, buddhists, and grassroot leaders and PVs all believe they are entitled to that priority (just like many seem to believe they are entitled to more priority just for being Singaporean). Some suggest that distance from home should be the only criteria for determining priority. Personally, I think that's the worst criteria. Of all the criteria in use today, it's the only one that can be solved by money.

Finally, rather than expect a system that can be fair to the 40,000+ kids who are registering each year (I have news for you, there will never be a system that can be fair to all), I do have respect for those who just quietly go and do what needs to be done to 'game' the system; create chances for themselves in earlier phases through PV, or other routes. Perhaps that's why many consider the new immigrants such a threat. Unlike many Singaporeans who just sit back, complain and expect the Government to fix it for them, these PRs & FTs just go and do what's needed and get what they need. I guarantee you that no matter how you 'stack' the odds against them, they will work out a way to game the system and get the child into the school of their choice.

Yes that is true that our descendents and granparents were all foreigners. However they and we build these nation from scratch. There was a time where nobody even knew where Singapore was. And today all that hardwork of our descendents is being questioned. That is sad. Back then our grandparents came here with nothing and built it all up. Today we are seeing the same foreigners coming in as cash rich and competing with the local singaporean for space in schools which should be the first right of the 'son of the soil'. How do we singaporeans compete with the cash rich foreigner who comes in, gets a PR and is able to afford to buy a multimillion dollar home around ACS simly to get that priority at school? Our migrant forefathers did not do that. anyway im just a simple person who is concerned about our kids education. that's all. :rahrah:

`Son of the soil'. This is the very argument that the founding fathers of Singapore were against. Be it in housing or education, the nation should never be xenophobic. So who are the `son of the soil' in America? Perhaps a more equitable way would be to strive to make all schools equal. All schools offer GEP or all instituitions offer IP. Then everything is level play. No incentives to rent an expensive apartment next to popular schools anymore.

mummyo:

Fur-ma:

I chickened out. Went to register at marymount. No heart n guts to go thru another round of balloting for AT. Final number is 68 vying for 20.

Not chicken or not... that's very bad odds.

Anyway, am sure your DD will be great at Marymount. Now at least you can have a good night's sleep, no need to worry anymore! :please:

Totally agree. It's been a tough 2 weeks since 2B. Ballotted at CHS and was one the 18 who failed to secure a place. Assessed the chances of going for 2C but the risk of failing would mean that my DS would have to go to a school least preferred. Didn't have the stomach to risk that and decided to register at SGPS. Will never know whether we made the right choice but will nonetheless try to make the best of it. To all who will be ballotting on 5 Aug, best of luck. The States have the American Dream while here, we live the S'pore Nightmare even with our 2 ballot papers!