any good American school outside of SAS in singapore

[Rachael Ray]

Hello All,

Pls suggest any alternative  to SAS which follows an American system.Looking for my 10 yr old
who is currently in 5th grade in America and looking to move in June this year.

thanks all in advance.

RR

[west2east]

A new American school just opened called Stamford.  I don't know much about it, though.  I think it just opened last summer.

Why would you not want to send your child to SAS?  It is a fantastic school! 

[another one]

If you are ok with a Christian school, there's International Community School which also follows american system and has a lot of US teachers.

[scarbowl]

A new American school just opened called Stamford.  I don't know much about it, though. 

  Stamford is owned by a for-profit British company - Cognita.  Stamford is the only "American" school they operate.   

The principal is Australian.  The curriculum is from a British firm and sold almost exclusively to British schools.  Even their application form uses British spellings.

American school?  I think not.  But for most it doesn't matter.

It may be a great school even.  But it isn't "American."

[Rachael Ray]

A new American school just opened called Stamford.  I don't know much about it, though.  I think it just opened last summer.

Why would you not want to send your child to SAS?  It is a fantastic school! 

I needed a back up in case SAS  does not have a seat for my son.

regards
RR

[scarbowl]

Suggest ICS until a space opens at SAS.   ICS has an American curriculum as long as the Christian part doesn't bother you.  If you don't mind IB there's a long list of schools but if you really want "American" then those are the two primary options.   ICS seems to have about 400 students so there are 30 kids or so per grade.  Your child would have some choices in friends. 

[historygeek]

A new American school just opened called Stamford.  I don't know much about it, though.  I think it just opened last summer.

Why would you not want to send your child to SAS?  It is a fantastic school! 

Because their Math and English Curricula are crap?  And I say this as a certified American 1-6 teacher with 5+ years of experience.

[scoobydoo]

Because their Math and English Curricula are crap?  And I say this as a certified American 1-6 teacher with 5+ years of experience.

Can you expand on this?

[Sorry, but]

with 5 years of teaching experience you really don't know enough about any curriculum to call it 'crap'. That's far too strong of a word.

[totally agree]

with 5 years of teaching experience you really don't know enough about any curriculum to call it 'crap'. That's far too strong of a word.

Yes, your big 5 years certainly hasn't allowed you to see much variety of curriculum, much less enough of one curriculum to really be an accurate judge.

From what I've seen so far with my kids at SAS, the Chicago Math is good for young children - not sure if the school uses it beyond the primary school anyway & if they do, I'd have to take a look at what it entails in the higher grades to even begin to make any kind of judgement. As far as English curriculum goes, well, my kindergartener is doing a fine job of learning to read and sound out words, etc. They don't focus on spelling yet, but, surprise, surprise, with all the letter sounding they work on, words that are spelled like they sound phonetically get spelled correctly - and those words that aren't spelled like they sound would have to be learned via memorizing anyway.

My kids are doing more academically at SAS than their similar aged cousins are doing in the US - I have no complaints.

[no probs]

Hi,

I looked at Stamford school for my children next year and it was fine,   I also looked at Avondale as I wanted a small school.

Stamford won hands down as they had a pool and ice rink and the facilities looked great.  Not sure about the teaching methods.

But it also depends on how old your children are my ones are 3 and 4
years old.

[ishq]

My kids are doing more academically at SAS than their similar aged cousins are doing in the US - I have no complaints.

Well, the standards of most schools in the US isn't anything to brag about

[1st week]

just moved here and started at Stamford this week, the kids love it! (granted only 3 days in) What a cute campus and the food in the cafeteria looks really good. I am actually jealous of my kids lunches.

Seems like a very international school and but met a bunch of americans at the open day this weekend. 

[the mind boggles]

just moved here and started at Stamford this week, the kids love it! (granted only 3 days in) What a cute campus and the food in the cafeteria looks really good. I am actually jealous of my kids lunches.

Seems like a very international school and but met a bunch of americans at the open day this weekend. 

cute campus?  good food?  Is that your main criteria for choosing a school?

[ex-SAS mom]

Hi Rachel Ray
Have you heard back from SAS? Did they give you any general info about how easy/difficult it is to get a place in 5th and Middle school grades...? And have you assured them with that (new) hefty deposit I keep hearing about?

Sorry with all the questions... my son went to SAS for several years when we were living in Singapore; we left a couple years ago. We might have a chance to go back to Singapore next year, so of course I'm hoping to re-enroll my son, who will be in Middle school.

If you can share your experience so far in terms of your contact with the school, would be great. I'm planning to get in touch with them myself sometime.....