Thoughts

Random thoughts, reflections and dreams

October 23, 2008

Thomasmaina

Last weekend the boys were invited to a friend’s 4yr old birthday party. They were simply thrilled at the party venue as the theme was on Thomas The Train. From the start to the end of the party Ryan was parked on the playmat in the centre of the room busily playing with the trainset that was set up there. The only time he left the mat was for cake cutting and singing happy birthday to the birthday boy. Talk about the Thomas and the law of attraction. 🙂

Roy on the other hand was alternating between the playmat and the buffet table checking out all the delicious homemade dishes that the host’s grandma cooked.

Roy took part in some of the games conducted at the party

– Pin the circle on Thomas ( adapted from pin the tail onto the donkey)

– Getting a peel on tattoo

– pulling of the Thomas pinata

I did try to entice Ryan to participate in the games but his response for every single one is ” No thank you, not interested” with his attention firmly on the train set. He did have a request though, he wanted a Thomas the Train cake on top of his previous request for a Diego and Lightning McQueen cake for his next birthday. It will be quite a tall order to fulfill.

Maybe I should make a cake with Diego sitting in Lightning McQueen with Thomas chugging along at the side? What do you think of this idea?

October 20, 2008

Ask Dominique: P1 Woes

Dominique Thoughts Ask Dominique, P1 woes

: Image by Oberazzi via Flickr

Last weekend I received this question from Cynthia.

She asked

Could you share on how to select a good primary school for our children? Must we really buy a property within 1 km of the school to get in? Our children are about of same age group so we face the same issue. For example, if I want my son to get into ACS but do not stay near there then got to ballot, slim chances of getting in.

Choosing a good primary school is never and easy decision for a parent. There are many factors which have to be considered. [ I have shared about this in my E-book-How to choose the Right Primary School]

I would like to highlight that choosing a primary school would depends on

Ability of child and his/her interest
Distance of school from home and willingness and ease of transportation.

Purchasing a property within 1km would not GUARANTEE that your child will enter the school of your desire as there is still a chance of losing out in the balloting process if there is an oversubscription for that particular year. If the particular school is very popular, as the cited ACS, and has its own alumni ( Old boys club), religious association, Methodist in this case, and parents volunteer club these people’s kids would have a priority over those staying within 1km.

I would also like to state that if you are not able to get into a “Branded”/”favoured” school under Phase 2A1/2A2/2B or 2C you would then have to subject your child to re-apply for a place at another lesser known or not of your choice under Phase 2C supplementary. It is a gamble that you would have to take and it is unknown if the odds are for you or stacked up against you.

Every year during the P1 registration exercise, MOE will state the number of vacancies left for each school after each phase has been closed. There is also a list of primary schools conducting balloting so you will have a clearer idea of your child’s chances for that school.

For me ,personally, the options that I have for my boys are

Under Phase 2A2 if I am teaching in a good school in the year my children are due for registration.
Under Phase 2C and within 1KM from the school of choice.

I won’t be applying to be a parent volunteer and move house just to be nearer my favoured school for my child as I do not see the benefits (time wise or financially) from taking such actions.

What would you as a parent advise Cynthia?

*Update- How to Choose the right Primary School is being updated and currently removed “