any comment about SJI International Elementary School?

[HR Guy]

I think it has to do with giving the impression of it being more popular than what it is. Nothing against SJI, as i have no knowledge of what it is like, but there is no way it doesn't have spaces given the low student numbers. But if people hear a school has waitlists, they then think it must be good/popular. Personal opinion only. I've heard a few good reports on SJI from parents.

[SJII ex to be]

I have a child at SJII and we were one of the first intake at the elementary when they opened the school. We are now after 1 1/2 years moving to another school.

Reasons:
1. The elementary school is truly international.
2. High school is NOT! It a local school that has been given a few extra freedoms, but is underlying the MOE. I.e. local holidays, local curriculum, local ECA's. (although most classes have international teachers) IB is only kicking in from year 10! and is an extra exam, as each student must sit for the local exams first and foremost.
3. The ratio local to expat in high school is 3/1
4. From year 7 (high-school) you may have your child transferring from elementary and he/she would be around 11 years old. Most of the local students however will be around 13 years old.

I have absolutely nothing against locals, please do not get me wrong. I love this country and actually consider this my home. However, why pay ~ S$ 23.000 per year when the curriculum is primarily structured towards local students?

When we joined, we knew that SJII would not have the same facilities as many of the other larger International schools and we accepted this, as we liked the smaller (cosy) school environment. But, we were also informed that come the time when our child would be ready to transfer from elementary to high school, the high school would be full fledged international. Alas, after 3 attempts, this is not happening.

If we would stay, our child, who is now in year 5, would start year 6 in August this year. Then go through a accelerated year 6 curriculum for 5 months only, because the local school year starts in January and our child would have to start year 7 in January 2011.

That is the main reason. Unfortunately, we have other issues as well, but whereas these may be of more personal nature, the ones above is however, something everyone should take into consideration, as the school is not very forthcoming with that little piece of information.

[wow]

  I have been folloing this thread- and well said! We also moved our older child to another International school because of the exact same reason just this past year.

It seems a shame because I had high hopes for the school and did take a chance on a new school. Wish I knew ahead of time as this was an unecessary distruption.

[sji2011]

Do all the year 6 children have to do the accelerated program, or do they also offer a full year program for children you may wish to transfer to another international school for secondary?  I have my cild enrolled to start in 2011.  Many thanks.

[SJII ex to be]

To: SJI2011

The start of the international (elementary) and local school (high school) years are set and are unlikely to be changed. It is therefore that the transfer from elementary year 6 to high school is accelerated. The latest now is, that year 6 is being offered 18 months of year 6, should the parents or the school feel that a child may not be ready for high school.

The elementary school is a good school. We however have chosen to move our son because of the above mentioned reasons. We would have preferred to have our child in the same school, elementary to high school and had we known that we would have to change school we would in all probability not have started in SJII. Whereas expat kids to a large degree for better or worse have to change schools often when parents move countries because of jobs, we feel that this should be kept to a minimum, especially while living in the same country.

[options]

  The option of 18 months was also mentioned to us, however, I couldn't see holding my child back an extra term of school(plus the fees) for no reason other than school calendar. There is also the social aspect of friends moving on to High school while you remain in Elementary. Plus, then the child held back would remain repeating the units of inquiry. It just didnt seem like a proper year 6, which most kids need.

However, the high school probably wouldnt be a fit for our child, and I was concerned with the age of the students coming in to the secondary as well.

The elementary is a good school, completely organized- we were happy. The discipline is no nonsense, and mandarin was great. It is unfortunate that the High school seems to be a different school. just some thought to think about if you have children in the older years.

[haazlt]

I am not an authority on international schools but i developed a negative image of SJI int'l (high school) after finding out that it is  dumping ground for kids from affluent local families who did badly for their primary school national exams (PSLE). Instead of going to a lesser-brand or no-brand secondary school, they pay their way into SJI so that they don't lose face. 

[and?]

I'm sure they are still very talented academically. The local system is very competitive and you can still be very good and not get into a top tier school. You can be sure they will have a better work ethic than most western kids.

We have just started in the elementary school. We don't plan to use the high school for the reasons mentioned above. Our daughter is loving they school so far. I though we would have some challenges because of her personality and have had NONE! I'm very pleased. The parents in her class all seem to be lovely. The school emphasises community and I feel I have friends there already.

The Admin is not great. They have a very small admissions team (Principal and her assistant I think!). This means it can take ages to get an appointment to see the place. There are also waiting lists at most levels now. There are only 3 classes at each level and they don't intend to get any bigger than that.

I'm sure its not for everyone an no school is perfect. We are really happy though. (and relieved  )

[sji mum]

A dumping ground for weak students ..I think not!
Their PSLE entry score is 210 I believe and from the students I have met they seem very capable, competent  students.

I am not Singaporean but it a very boring us and them conversation about the children in the secondary school.
Singapore International Schools under the memorandum of understanding between these types of schools and  MOE that they will take 50 percent Singaporean students  and 50 percent International students.
The  Singaporeans students are very cosmospolitian by nature  as their many of  parents were educated abroad , work for International companies and dare I say it employ many of the expats in Singapore in their companies.

The MOE has no direct role in the day to day running of the school and the curriculum is an International curriculum.
IPC for Primary, IGSCE for the Secondary and the IB diploma for Senior High school.
The secondary teachers are all well trained  International School teachers who have taught in good schools around the world and have had training in IGCSE and IB which you will find in many International Schools they havent had that training nor experience.

If you are really worried about your children being with Singaporeans then send them to the traditional International schools .
For many parents, one of the reasons why we chose SJI is to give our kids the opportunity to be settled in Singapore and not to have to deal with many of their friends leaving regularly and also   to enhance their opportunity to learn Chinese.

Yes there are some  growing pains being in a new school and some conflicts of personality but all in all I think SJI is a good little school with a bright future .

Each to their own but I felt I should clarify the MOE involvement
I think the important thing is that your kids are happy and learning to the best of their ability , some kids suit small schools and some thrive in big schools.

[just curious]

  It has been stated to the parents that the MOE made the decision not to allow the secondary to run on an international calendar. Truly curious as to why the MOE would make such a descision when they have no say in the running of the school?

[kitty kat]

Its  the historical reason why Singaporean students were not allowed to go to International schools
....National education and defence, unfair advantage in terms of age for entry to NS I think.Thats what a friend told me.

[SJII ex to be]

SJI was together with 3 other local schools given approval to open a international section a few years back. They are all and still are local schools, so they are still underlying the MOE rules and regulations. The Elementary (international) is not
SJII I.e International only is applying to the Elementary school. The school has 3 times attempted to get a international status for the high school with all that includes (holidays, curriculum etc.) changed but have not been given the approval. The reasons for this you would need to ask the school or the MOE. But this is a major problem for the school now and there has already been 2 major parents meetings where the school has been trying to explain and argue the transfer from elementary to high school.

[2010]

I think the school are figuring out the best way to transit the students through to the high school given the situation they have been put in. Do people really think that teachers would repeat the units of work for those students who stay on in Grade 6 for 18 months? I am sure that is not the case.

[SJIparento]

I agree with many of the above posts about the skip from elem to high school-seems cloudy and the answers from school are vague.

Elem seems good and organized but the traffic is garbled in and out. The system needs improvement

note: Buses are expensive, the contracted ones anyway. best to use public or drive

[security]

does anyone know if they've sorted out the security at the elementary? there didn't seem to be any at all last time I visited, which is a real concern. A friend of mine (out of Sing) at the moment did follow this up with them, but I'm not sure whether they were actually going to do anything about it.