School strategy

[taxico]

3 years is a short time to stick a kid into school. make sure you spend enough time with your child, regardless of where he/she ends up at.

there're a few good local primary schools in the area you're at. might not be easy to get in unless you have a word with the principal.

or unless Mr. Minister steps in...

[Thaiclan]

Artusson I totally agree. I read your post but couldnt really contribute. However I read the replies and and wow some posters have an axe to grind! First you were asked how long you intended to say (even though your op stated that), then you were told that your length of intended stay due to your contract was in essense BS.
Why that poster needed to reply at all is beyond me as there is nothing in their posts to contribute to the OP.
Do keep posting however and just log the names of those incumbants with nothing better to do than rant, pick or be basically antagonistic and leave them well alone and flit over their posts with the disregard they deserve.
Welcome to Singapore by the way You will find some great people, lest not first impressions from some forum disuade you!

[road.not.taken]

Well Thaiclan, I guess knowing people with children on waiting lists all over town and also knowing how the current situation is playing out for admissions officers at International Schools, I have a lot less good will for people who can potentially make the situation worse. If that is an axe to grind, so be it Isn't it more helpful that Artursson realize his attitude may cause hard feelings among their potential school community? I'd rather be honest than blow sunshine up someone's skirt anyday.

My post may have had some rancor toward Artursson you didn't appreciate, but it did have the advice he sought as well. It is potentially detrimental to the young Master Arthursson to disregard the options based on assumptions, afterall he'll have no chance at all at getting into Hopkins unless he's in a school here that can bring out his potential. I have seen many times the havoc misguided parent's have wrecked on their children's education because they chose a school based on the accent, not the curriculum.

[artursson]

rnt--I wouldn't send 'Master Artursson' to Hopkins on a bet; maybe you meant Hotchkiss? Luckily, we aren't much concerned about curriculum or anything else: just MA's happiness in whichever school we ultimately find for him. He'll be able to swim in any sea he returns to in US. We just want him to learn Chinese along with a gang of friends from everywhere--we can handle everything else.

[Blue Sapphire]

I've been looking at International Schools lately and visited EIS, UWC and ISS. Will have a look at OFS when school resumes.

artursson, you asked about EIS. Its a new school but is housed at the ex- Australian International School. So the place needs abit of work. Nothing exceptional to send a child all the way to school there when you have OFS and ISS nearby to you. I live at river valley by the way so I'm considering distances.

ISS elementary is next to OFS but despite its small size and less facilities compared to other schools (no pools but they bring the kids elsewhere for swimming) I kinda liked it. It has an intimate environment and seems disciplined.

A question about UWC, I hear so many praising the school. The waiting list is ridiculous with people registering unborn babies! I'm wondering what is such a big deal about the school compared to others?

[artursson]

Sapphire--Thanks for your post. I don't know the why of the cachet of UWC either: I just got off the phone with a brother-in-law who lived in Singapore for years, and he was full of praise for UWC (but also for OFS) in terms of the experience of his friends who had children in schools there. Our only reservation about UWC has to do with the new location: I much prefer to be able to walk my son to school than put him on a bus. And ultimately we'd rather have him in a local school anyway, if there's one that feels copacetic.

[boffenl]

Hello all! and truly welcome to Singapore newcomers! I can't believe we've been here for 16 months already--time flies.

I'm the one with the daughter in a primary local school. We live in Clementi, and she attends Pei Tong Primary on Avenue 5. It's a brand new school facility--long tradition as one of the Chinese clan schools. She is well and truly part of the international student community at her "local" school. Kids from Thailand, Philippines, India, China, Malaysia, Indonesia and get this--Russia!

We also wanted to spend as much time with her as possible and hated the idea of her riding a bus--anywhere. Once you arrive in Singapore, you'll need to check out the facilities of the schools you've mentioned. I continue to be blown away with the labs, library and sports hall at the new school.

She takes Mandarin every day in addition to math and English. Supplementary subjects like Art, Music and physical education are spiced throughout the week. I never thought my daughter was particularly academic (who does with a 6 year old?) but she has consistenly amazed me with her attitude toward reading and math--didn't help that she got a 91% on the PSLE's. I credit her "local" teacher!

If Mandarin exposure is important to you, make sure you ask how often it's taughter. Also, the local Mandarin enhancement classes basically fall into two categories--one for the expats and one geared toward MOE's Mandarin curriculum. I'm on the look out for a good one--we're trying our Berries in Pandan Valley next week.

Good luck with a tough choice! I rooting for the 3rd grader. he'll have an awesome time here!