Schools in the east? Or is it okay to commute to work?

[smoothsailing]

Happy New Year from the other side of the world!

Our family of four has a good chance of being in Singapore within the next few months. My husband's job will be in Changi. We are thinking of enrolling the children in a local school (and I know it's slim pickings given the timing of our move). I have probably read 20+ pages of this forum topic, and am quite enamored of some of the schools mentioned (Pei Tong being one of them).

We'd like to live near the children's school. They'd be in P1 and P4. If we get into one of the schools in the west, would it be too far to commute to Changi for work?

Can anyone recommend some local schools in the east? It would be ideal to have a school that has a decent international enrolment, if possible -- being from New York City, it would be great to retain that aspect of school here.

Thanks for the help.

[Sheyha]

You can try Telok Kurau Primary
Damai Primary
Bedok West Primary

[tjwonders]

Tanjong Katong Primary school has a good mix of kids from all over the world! Its in the East Coast area. Not a walk to changi but a cab ride/ bus ride! Most kids take the school bus anyway.
The timing is alright, as long as the kids don't stay out of school for too long. I know of some kids and even teenagers who stayed out of school for 1 year when they moved and found it difficult to adjust back to school life with maths being the main problem(14 years old then) but every kid is different so it depends on the individual. and another teenager joined the school in July after moving to Singapore. You can try St.Anthony's Canossian Primary school which is an all girls catholic convent school in Bedok(near Changi). They are many non-catholics there. CHIJ katong in the east coast(again another girls school) and haig girls school in the east coast. I've seen a few expat kids in Bedok Green Primary school.
Primary 4 is a really important year in the Singapore education system because it determines what class the child will be in in Primary 5 and in secondary school. but don't be too worried, some children get better at studies as they get older and will still go on to do fairly well beyond Primary 4. as for the primary 1 kid, not to worry.
Also, try to get them exempted from Mother tongue (2nd language).
It can bring down their grades a lot! They can still sit in with the class if you wan't them to learn another language but they just won't be examined in it!

Have a possible happy move !
cheers.

[smoothsailing]

Thanks for all the replies!

Slight change of plans: we're now thinking of living towards the middle of the island instead of in the east. I called some schools mentioned on these boards so far: Pei Tong (no spots) and Clementi Primary (waitlist for 1st, competitive for 4th; need to take the PACT test)

I am now at a loss as to which schools to call next. Does anyone have recommendations for schools towards south central Singapore?

[Sheyha]

check out the MOE site

http://www.moe.gov.sg