Stamford American International School

[tutto_bene]

Hi all, I have 4 kids currently attending Overseas Family School, in elementary and kindergarten. We are italian and arrived only few months ago, so our first priority was that they could learn English. By next year they will start a second language and we would like them to learn mandarin, I am not sure OFS would be the best choice, because they have almost nothing at K and 4 hours a week at elementary. Can anyone tell me something about Stanford? apparently the school is good and they have much more mandarin sessions.
thank you

[Brooklynjenn]

My kids go to Stamford (SAIS). Their Mandarin program is awesome. My youngest, in KG1, gets 45 minutes three days a week, and the oldest, in Grade 1, gets almost an hour five days a week. The kids are really picking it up. We were at an antique store, and were admiring a Chinese medicine chest, and my six year old started telling us what the different characters were, mostly the numbers but a few words too. The shop owner confirmed she was correct. We have been at the school only three months. I am absolutely blown away at how much they have learned. Both of my kids sing songs to taxi drivers, and the oldest is able to understand some words on mandarin radio. They have mini conversations in Mandarin and their dolls now speak Mandarin. The children all love their Mandarin teacher. We had a family over yesterday that has been at the school for three weeks, and the children all started spontaneously singing Mandarin songs, and even the new kids knew all the words. Kids are such sponges.

As for the rest of the school, I am very happy with it. My four year old is spelling a few words now, and learning letter sounds. My six year old went from knowing her kindergarten sight words back in the US, to being able to read nearly everything she gets her hands on in only three months. I am very happy with the school, and I can't say enough good things about it. It is small and personal (for now) and the parents are all nice and friendly. There are social groups to join through the school for parents, and the children love the school and their teachers. I was really apprehensive about choosing a school, because we didn't get to go on school tours and had to choose blind, and I am so thrilled that it has worked out so well for us. I highly recommend it. My youngest has a classmate who did not speak any English when she started last year, and they really helped her out. The parents seemed very happy with the English language instruction.

[kalle028]

Hi Brooklynjenn,
My children will also start at Stamford in early Feb. We are now searching place to live so that the kids will not take a long bus ride. which compound do you live now? Do you know where most people live? I hope to have someone living in the same compound going to the same school.
Thanks

[Michelle Martin]

Hi Brooklynjenn,
My children will also start at Stamford in early Feb. We are now searching place to live so that the kids will not take a long bus ride. which compound do you live now? Do you know where most people live? I hope to have someone living in the same compound going to the same school.
Thanks

Hi, My 3rd grader will start at SAIS in February as well. When you say long bus ride, where are you living or coming from? I am so concerned we have chosen a place too far but our company will pay for the busing. We also have a pre-schooler (in Kinder in Fall 2012 but on the wait list for the KG1 or KG2 class - can't remember). if you have found any more info can you post? We have to close on our place very soon and have narrowed to a couple places in district 9? Whatever that means! ;o) I am so lost.

[kalle028]

Hi Michelle Martin,
We have already closed our housing deal at condo Kerrisdale near Farrer Park MRT at district 8. District 9 is very central to everything so there is not much difference regarding the bus ride. I called the bus company, according to them, everywhere is max 1/2 hour subject to traffic and whether your kid is the first or last to be picked up. We chose that condo becoz of the distance to MRT and can see some of the sea view. I have to consider the MRT ride if the maid need to help pick up the kids as there is no bus service for those joining after school activites. Taxi is not expensive but I worry about the traffic.
I hope it helps and maybe we might meet at school. My elder kid is also waiting list ( grade 4) though my little one at grade 1 got the space.

[VivianeL]

Hi all !

First of all, except the mandarin level, are you happy with OFS ? It looks like it is a nice small school ... What would you say to someone - like me - who intends to send their kids there ?!?! (5 and 8 years old)

Then... SAIS ... you sound so enthusiastic ! ... My main concern here as well would be transport to and from school... would you know the approximate time it would take me to drive from Bukit Tima or Jurong East... ? I'm still in the investigating bit ... and following your note, I'll send a request for a visit !... Thanks :0)

[SCinSG]

Hi VivianeL,

You mention that OFS seems like a "nice small school". It is in fact one of the largest schools in Singapore, with 3,600 students at its campus. It's got a good mix of nationalities and a very central location, but it's not small.

Regarding SAIS's location, I've mentioned a bit in the "Where do parents of SAIS pupils live?" thread on the main Parenting, Family & Schools board on this forum. From Bukit Timah to SAIS (both the current and new campus) would not be a huge journey. From Jurong East to SAIS would be quite a long drive. Despite its name, Jurong East is all the way on the western side of Singapore, while SAIS is a little bit northeast of central Singapore.

[Brooklynjenn]

Sorry for not replying sooner. My father passed away A few weeks ago, and I have not really been online since.

We are at Waterfall Gardens, and there are two other SAIS families here. Several other families I know of live at the Arcadia, and apparently there is one bus from there that goes straight to the school. I know of a family at the Cornwall, and several at Orchard Scotts. Most of the other names of places escape me, but I can say that I love love love where we live. The pool is nice, the condos are really nice and the people here are really friendly. It is an easy walk to the MRT, the bus to Orchard picks up just around the corner, and it is a short walk to Dempsey Hill and to Holland Village. You can also call the bus company and ask them about commute times. Our kids ride for about 20 minutes. The other thing I really like about our location is my daughter does after school activities, and we are a quick walk to where the activity bus lets out. You can also call the bus company and ask them what the bus trip times will be. We did that when deciding on our location, I called them with our top two or three choices and they gave me approximate trip times. Even though we are close to Holland Village, since there are so many kids in this area from our school, they just pick up and go directly from this area, which makes the commute time shorter. The kids all know each other in our condo, and they run out and play together and have spontaneous play dates, which is hard to do with the school days being so long with friends in other condos.

[PrimroseHill]

My daughter is 12years old & in Year 8 in a independent school here in London.
I am currently looking into OFS and Stamford. Stamford is COGNITA own school which also runs and own the school that my daughter currently goes to. My only concern is that Stamford is on an American High School system. Do anyone know if it provides IGCSE?
And is OFS & Stamford any good? I am trying to be realistic here, chances of her getting into Tanglin and Chatsworth is nil, so I am looking into the alternatives

[SCinSG]

Stamford is a candidate school for the International Baccalaureate Primary and Middle Years programs, but don't think they've completed certification yet. The school doesn't offer IGCSE.

International schools in Singapore that follow the IGCSE curriculum are:

- ACS International
- Chatsworth
- Dover Court
- DPS
- GIIS
- Hwa Chong International
- Nexus
- NPS
- OFS
- St. Joseph's Institution
- UWC

[PrimroseHill]

Thank you very much for the list SC. From your list, I have sent an email to Dover Court and St Joseph.
OFS & UWC, I have applied already. I am concern as I doubt that there will be enough time for my daughter to take any exams prior to entering the school.
SAIS have indicated that they do have a place and due to the fact that they are own and run by the same educational group, they can basically transfer the deposit from London to Spore.
Barring some unforeseen circumstances, her place is almost guaranteed.
Chatsworth - my daughter isn't interested. Neither does she like the looks of ACS, Hwa Chung and all the other Indian type schools.
Nexus - we aren't sure. I did a search on here and not much have been written up about this school other than the kindergarden years.
My biggest concern in my daughter going to an American High School is whether it will do her any harm if she intends to return to the UK to pursue her further education.

[PNGMK]

Rbahadur - thanks. There have been other posters who have raised complaints about Stanford. It's a typical for profit schoool.