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July 2006
There's been on-going discussions on registering our son for primary school since K1 turned 5 last year - right after his party at MacDonald's and right after he blew out the candles on his Star Wars birthday cake.
His well meaning grandmother - a recently retired teacher - had this to say:
'I think you should just send him to St Stephens or maybe Tao Nan. ACS is too far from our house. Do you know how early he needs to wake up? Do you know what time he gets home after school? Do you know what is the travelling distance? Do you know this is a long term commitment? Poor boy. Hmmm...I wonder if I can get my grandson into TaoNan if I do relief teaching there? By the way, here is K's ACS report card I took out from the safe - over to you.'
The well meaning mother's network - those who doesn't think primary school education can make or break their child - has this to say:
'Just send him to a school that is nearby. It is easier for the kid, it is less stressful for the parent. It doesn't matter, if the child is good, he will do well regardless of the school he goes to. Why need to travel so far? How is he going to get home when he has to stay back for CCA?'
The well meaning mother's network - those who think primary school education can make or break their child - has this to say:
'If you don't want to travel too far, Tao Nan is a good school. Oh ! you didn't join Hokkien Huey Kuan 2 years ago? I think the policy has changed - cannot already - too late if your boy is going to Primary School next year. Oh and you didn't volunteer either? Tsk! tsk! tsk!!! How about Maris Stella? I think they have Higher Chinese (Me : Huh? What's that?).'
One of K's colleague said this:
'I want my daughter to go to Rosyth. So I wanted to volunteer at the school. The school said - we have too many volunteers, can you do weekdays? I said - I have to work. The school said - Hmmm....How about lunch time. So, I have to drive to the school during lunch time for the next 2 years - for a chance to ballot (read : no guarantee) to get into the school.'
Oh God! What should we do? Please give me a sign!
One of the teachers at Kindergarten said:
'Your son is a all rounder, he can do very well, you should push him to reach his limits. ACS is a good school, don't worry about the travel distance.'
Another teacher at the Kindergarten said:
'Many of our students go to ACS, don't worry, travel distance no problem. Good choice!'
Are these signs, God?
I went to see the principal:
She was not around.
K's ACS mates said:
'Our sons are all in ACS - is yours going to St Stephens? '
I was totally confused - this is a decision that we are going to make that will affect my son for the rest of his life. Can K1 wake up to catch the school bus at 5.55am? Oh dear! He can't even wake up for his Chinese Tuition at 9.30am. Will K wake up to send his son to school as he promised he will do? What time will he reach home? Will he be hungry? So how WILL he get home if he has to stay back for CCA? St Stephens sounds like a perfectly good choice to me - it is less than 10 minutes walk from our house.
I needed to talk to K - what does he think?
K was crystal clear about what he wanted - his son to be an ACS boy just like him - what else?
12 July 2006
K checked the MOE Website - 108 vacancies left out of 270 spaces for ACS. K1 was born in the year of the dragon and also the Millenium Year - a popular year to have a child - Do we stand a chance?
13 July 2006
The day finally came - we are in Phase 2 A (2) - Those children whose father is an ex-boy.
I was full of ancticipation - I could not hide my excitement, my heart was pounding the whole morning and I could not help telling my colleagues, and I don't care if they wanted to know- 'I am on half day leave, I am registering my son for Primary School today.'
All advice taken into consideration, we headed towards ACS with our 2 boys - including the younger brother K2, who is 3.
Our I/Cs - checked. Birthcert - checked. K's ACS report card - checked. We are on our way.
I was so excited, this is going to be a new experience for my son, as much as it is for me. I didn't want to miss a minute of it - But K2, our younger boy, needed to pee as soon as our car was parked.
Being a typical Singaporean, and thinking that there would be a queue of parents fighting to register their son into the school, I urged K and K1 on, while I brought K2 to pee. And then we made our way - following the signs - up the lift - down the corridor - up the stairs - to the other side - up another lift - finally reached the school library - where registration was done. I saw them, already at the table filling out forms. Where are the other parents? Where is the queue?
'Can I have your I/C madam?' The lady asked politely.
'Of course', I said, still could not believe that there was no queue.
'Let me make a copy of this, altogether 60 cents, thank you, madam.'
What? I have to pay for this? Why don't they ask me to make copies? There was nothing mentioned on the MOE website.
Ok nevermind about the 60 cents - 'when will I know if my son will get in' - I asked another man at the counter.
'Please check our website. There will be a list and your son's name will be on the list with his birthcert number.'
'Really? I have never seen this before? Are you sure?'
'Er...maybe you can check with the lady over there.'
'Hi there, how will I know if my son will get in?'
She pat me gently on my shoulders, smiled and said sympathetically 'Don't worry, should be no problem.'
As we walked out of the library, I felt a sense of sadness overwhelming me. The same kind of disappointment that one would feel after a 3 months holiday to Europe - and now it is time to get back to work. It is what you would call - an anticlimax. I asked K 'You mean That's It?' The whole registration exercise took no more than 5 minutes. K said - 'Isn't that good? Let's go eat Waffle & ice cream.' I wasn't sure, I was in a daze.
Over the next few days, we diligently checked MOE's website http://www.moe.gov.sg/esp/schadm/p1/availablevacancies.htm
And finally, on 20 July 2006, we received a letter from ACS - we're in :-) Praise the Lord.
Congratulations, K1.
I told my son - this is as much as Daddy & Mommy can do for you - the rest is up to you.
And then I thought - Hmmm, we may have just secured a place in ACS for my future grandson.
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