Please give input on Overseas Family School

nickyt30 · Post by **nickyt30** » Thu, 17 May 2007 7:51 pm

Hello Everyone:

I have enrolled my children at Overseas Family School because I am familiar with the IB program. However, I am yet to be given a tour of the school and meet teachers etc. Can anyone provide advice on what their K1 program is like and whether there is a strong program on reading. Additionally, are there special education teachers employed with the school? Thanks for your input.

Nicole.

achauhan · Post by **achauhan** » Fri, 18 May 2007 7:39 pm

Hi, there!
I am in the same boat as you, except will have my children in middle school in OFS. So, I don't know much either, but would like to learn about the school as well. Also, I am a bit nervous about where to go for medical help etc. Any ideas on that?

cloverdog · Post by **cloverdog** » Fri, 18 May 2007 9:25 pm

Hi Nicole

We are moving to Singapore in July and have done some research on schools. We visited OFS and were quite impressed by the Kindergarten but less so by the Primary section. Their reading programme seems good - standard IB expectation of year groups (i.e. letters at the end of K1, reading at the end of K2), they use Jolly Phonics and Ocford reading scheme and also do sight words. Largish class sizes though (22-24 I think vs 16-18 at other schools), and the feedback we had from contacts in Singapore was pretty mixed. They have specialists for library, music, PE.

Our kids are going to the Canadian School which we thought was a better fit for us. If you speak to OFS make sure you don't deal with the admissions people (who wouldn't let us speak to any teachers!) but speak directly to the teaching staff.

Good luck

Bruce

nickyt30 · Post by **nickyt30** » Fri, 18 May 2007 11:07 pm

Bruce,
Thanks very much for your reply. Interestingly enough, I visited OFS and was not at all impressed by the admissions staff and as you mentioned, I was not allowed to speak with the teachers. My first impression was one of chaos. I am really quite disappointed because when we left Miami in December, my 4 year old was learning to read in school and has not done that since being in school here for the last 5 months. I think based on your response and others that I have spoken to, it might be best to leave him where he is and work with him some more at home. Thanks for your response.

Nicole.

seasider · Post by **seasider** » Wed, 30 May 2007 1:59 am

A couple of years ago I did some commercial research on International Schools, one of which was OFS. I spoke to some parents with children at the school and my overall impression was that it's a school run for profit, sometimes to the detriment of the children. I also found staff to be evasive.

nickyt30 · Post by **nickyt30** » Wed, 30 May 2007 8:43 am

Thanks for your response. I have spoken to a few people and the responses have been quite varied. However, most people have noted that the teachers seem evasive and unhappy working at the school. This speaks volumes. Anyway, I will make a decision soon.

Take care!

Nicole.

movagn · Post by **movagn** » Wed, 27 Jun 2007 3:54 pm

I just did a tour on OFS (for my daughter entering K1) and found the school to be not so kid friendly. Too many stairs which I think create hazard. They are doing constructions and dont bother to create safer environment to the kids. Even though I think I like the location (since we will live in Balmoral area), and I like the international aspect, I dont think I will send my child there unless someone really gives me a strong reason to do so. I would of course appreciate feedback if I overlook anything here. Liliana

nickyt30 · Post by **nickyt30** » Wed, 27 Jun 2007 7:34 pm

Hey Liliana,

Thanks for your response. I withdrew my application from OFS today because like you, the stairs etc created much concern for me. The school has too many children in a very small area and is a fire hazard in my opinion. However, I noted that in middle school, children are assessed according to their abilities in math and are given extra help if necessary; this is a good thing. However, I prefer to leave my children where they are for now.

Take care!

Nicole.

gabe_martindale · Post by **gabe_martindale** » Fri, 29 Jun 2007 9:27 am

Interesting discussions. I agree with the post on talking to your child's potential teachers. In an article on happiness in Time Magazine the biggest kicks in the pants of happiness are losing a loved one and losing one's job. If a sense of meaning is so important to us from work, then we need our kids to go to schools where the teachers are happy. If the school doesn't let you talk to teachers, leave immediately. Smiling, happy teachers--smiling, happy children. Nothing else at the school is more important than this. I'm a teacher by the way.
Good luck
P.S. There are commissions for each new child in the school--teachers do not get these commissions. Who will be more honest?

movagn · Post by **movagn** » Mon, 02 Jul 2007 2:27 pm

Hi Ladies,
Having toured SAS, CAnadian School, Eton (in orchard and broadrick) , ERIS, and OFS, the final would be registering to ERIS this year since ERIS has a better facility and the admission people seem to be more helpful and I got to stay abit and observe the activities in the class (back In May). Even though I seem to like the IB aspects of Canadian school and the fact that they incorporate Mandarin and French besides lower ration ( 17 students per class) , they have wait list and I may not be getting a spot this year. SAS by far has the best facility even though it is a bit far. ERIS is also the closer location to where we live. I also like Eton but the classroom seem to be very small and the ratio is 24 children in one class which to me seem to be too much. Anyone going for ERIS' K1 this year ? Maybe we can meet up and make new friendship!

Matney · Post by **Matney** » Thu, 05 Jul 2007 9:36 pm

I am a former teacher/parent at OFS. It is run for profit. The classes are large throughout the whole school (up to 25), why do you think they are adding onto to the school--more money. It is crowded. It is a concern if there were a fire. Yes, the stairs are a concern. OFS is the holding school until children are accepted to other schools. So therefore there seems to be large turnover at term times. Frustrating for students and teachers.

Having said this, the teachers care about the children and seem to go out of their way for them. The couldn't be greater bunch of teachers working there. Unfortunately, there is also a huge turnover this year of teachers and administrators (elementary).

Good luck on your decisions. It is difficult. No school is perfect.

Greta · Post by **Greta** » Fri, 06 Jul 2007 9:10 am

Dear Liliana- Our daughter will be attending ERIS too. (I'm happy to hear that other people made the same decision that we did, and we didn't get to tour so I felt that I was really flying blind.) She will be in K2 or K1 -- she is currently 5. We're arriving in January 2008 from the US. My email is [email protected]-- please do get in touch-- it would be lovely for all of us to know someone there. Best, Greta

movagn · Post by **movagn** » Mon, 09 Jul 2007 12:44 pm

Greta,
I just emailed you.

Aussiefamily · Post by **Aussiefamily** » Mon, 09 Jul 2007 2:31 pm

Ladies I also have a little girl going into year 1 at ER. We would love to meet other mums.

nd168 · Post by **nd168** » Fri, 13 Jul 2007 4:25 am

It looks like people are sending their little ones to International Schools. Does anyone consider about the local public schools?

We will move to Singapore this fall from New York; my daughter is going to 2nd grade and my older son K. Any suggestions?

Andy

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Please give input on Overseas Family School

Please give input on Overseas Family School

OFS

Thanks for your response

OFS

interesting discussion

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