AIS, Avondale or Chatsworth?

[dandamakem]

Hi peoples.... Just updating this thread as I met with both Avondale and AIS last Monday. We'll choose AIS (if they have us!!) but only because of facilities/options/etc.

Kylie from AIS was magic (as was Lorraine from Avondale) but for my girls think AIS better. I freaked out a little when I asked how many streams of Year 4 they have - they have 9 classes. WT??!! Upon looking at everything though I'm thinking if having to shell out those kinds of $$$'s then AIS best place to do it. I think it's important to remember that out of 168 hours in the week only 30 of them are at school, not even after breaks are taken into account. To that end I'm not going to overcook it all. Currently lodging formal applications and between the medical reports and the teachers reports and just cannot wait to see the tests they make the kids sit then hopefully all done and dusted.

Good luck with your decisions girls and feel free to PM me or email me at danimcmurdo at hotmail dot com if I can help with anything else. Was a whirlwind 5 day acclimatisation trip I know that much - think I could sleep for a week!

[Hobbsie]

I know this post is old now but I was wondering if there was any update from your AIS decision. I am going through the same thought process 2 years later. Are you happy with your choice?

[dandamakem]

Hi Hobbsie...... I placed both my then Yr 9 and Yr 4 girl at AIS and whilst it's been ok for the older one it was a disaster for the younger one. I wound up placing her at Avondale (now Yr 6) and O.M.G the difference!! Sooooooo delighted there and I feel like I have a new poppet. Email me anytime if you wish to chat - I sure wish I knew then what I know now, just a bit!! LOL D

[karenam]

Hi Hobbsie, Dandamaken, I am now going through the same decision! We were in Singapore recently and got a good feel for Avondale though thought the grounds were really lacking (though perhaps a 5 yo would not notice?). We have not heard great reviews on AIS. We really liked Chatsworth East but are loathe to change schools again in 18 months when it closes, and are not sure if everyone will just follow on to Orchard campus or if people will change schools. We are trying to minimise disruptions for our child. We are from Australia and will likely end up back here though we do like the IB curriculum so we are open to schools. I would really appreciate if you have any current insights you are able to share with me.
thanks so much

[Hobbsie]

Hi guys, firstly, thanks for your advice D, forgot I hadn't posted that It was very just when I first arrived here. Our daughter joined Avondale in Early years 2 (she is 4 1/2) and loves it. I agree, thought the same re the grounds looking a bit lack lustre but I took the call that, as a 4 year old, what she needed was a nice, community based school that felt homely, lots of kids like her to hang out with. Avondale maybe doesn't have all the snazzy technology (yet - they are working on lots of improvements) but it has great teaching from what I have seen, kind and helpful staff and we feel happy there. One point to note is that they are looking to move premises at some point over the next two years, the goal being to move to a bigger campus and have better facilities but that is at least a year to 18 months off as they haven't secured a venue yet. They say they are determined to stay central though. Although, I am not sure how practical that is given the density of buildings in Singapore! It's not something that overly bothers me as my child now goes on the school bus so the bus can easily take her to the new campus, she probably won't even notice!! Anyway, hope that helps!

[karenam]

Thanks so much for that. I might meet you at Avondale next year!