Q1: I find the holding site too far from my home. I am considering transferring my child to another school. Can the school help in finding a suitable school for transfer? After PRIME, can the school take my child back?

Response:
Parents who want to transfer their children to another school will have to approach the school of their choice on their own or call MOE’s Customer Service Centre for assistance. Readmission back into the school after PRIME will depend on whether there are vacancies in the school. 

Q2: Supplementary lessons begin at 2.00 p.m. while CCA starts at 4.00 p.m. On days where my child does not have supplementary lessons but has CCA, there will be a long waiting time. Can the school arrange for CCA to commence earlier at 2.00 p.m. instead?

Response:
We wanted our CCA options to be open to all pupils so as to better cater to their interests and passion. That is why CCA starts after supplementary lessons to enable any interested pupil to participate. We will continue to explore if there are other ways to structure the time for supplementary lessons and CCA. We will keep parents updated on this matter.

Q3: Will the plan for no CCA or supplementary lessons on Mondays be carried out for the two years at the holding site?

Response:
Yes, the plan will stay for the two years.

Q4: Can CCA Day be shifted from Thursday to Friday? This will enable pupils to focus on their school homework on Thursday night and rest well for the next school day.

Response:
The school recognizes that different parents and pupils will have different needs. In exploring different ways to structure the time for supplementary lessons and CCA, we will take into consideration this suggestion.

Q5: Will the school bus services continue and will the school bus drivers be the same?

Response:
We are happy that our current six school bus drivers have agreed to provide transport services to our pupils. For pupils living in the Tampines area, the two-way school bus transport fees will be a flat rate of $45 per month. For pupils living further away, the transport fees will remain as they are.

In addition, the school bus drivers will offer free pick-ups after supplementary lessons at 3.45 p.m. and after CCA at 6.00 p.m. There will be additional bus drivers, as we can foresee more pupils requiring school bus services.

Q6: If the school bus picks up a whole bus-load of pupils from a common pick-up point in Tampines, will it help to lower the transport fees and reduce the time spent to pick-up children at different points?

Response:
The school will discuss this with the bus drivers. This option will also be included in the needs survey form the school will be administering to all parents.

Q7: I will be dropping off and picking up my child by car. It is not likely that the car can wait along Upper Changi Road, it being a very busy road. Will the school be arranging for a car waiting area inside the holding site?

Response:
The school will be allowing parents’ cars to drive into the school for drop-off. However, for pick-up, parents can consider waiting in the neighbouring carparks.

Q8. The holding site is situated along a busy road. What measures will the school take to ensure the safety of children if they need to cross the road?

Response:
The school already has a system of having Road Crossing Monitors to see to pupils’ safe crossing of roads. The Operations Manager, teachers and security guards will also be rostered to be on duty to see to road safety.

Q9: Can Edusave be used for transport fees?

Response:
According to policy guidelines, Edusave cannot be used for transport fees.

Q10: For parents and pupils who currently live near the school, there will be newly incurred expenses when the school moves to the holding site. How can the school and MOE help?

Response: Pupils under the Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS) will be given help.

Q11: Will PRIME take so long to complete for the school? Why can’t the school undergo PRIME onsite? Why can’t Tampines Pri use the site of Tampines Sec while PRIME is going on?

Response:
The decision as to whether PRIME is carried out onsite depends on the size of the school and the available holding site. Due consideration has been given to the PRIME arrangements for Tampines Pri and Tampines Sec which share the same plot of land; and it is seen to be the best option for both schools to move out while PRIME is going on.

Q12: Will there be after-school care services provided at the holding site?

Response:
Owing to resource constraints, the school does not intend to start after-school care services at the holding site. We will however administer a survey and check on the needs in this area. 

Q13: At the holding site, the school will be operating on single session. What about after PRIME?

Response:
We are working towards operating on single session after PRIME. However, although the school will have more classrooms after PRIME, whether it will operate on single session will still depend on the pupil enrolment and the number of classes after PRIME.

Q14: The current school site has little play space for the children. How about the holding site and new school premises?

Response:
The holding site has large spaces for children to move around. As for the new school premises, we will be looking into the design and will see to the provision of adequate learning and play spaces for our pupils.

Q15: Will the number of teachers increase after PRIME?

Response:
The school’s staff strength is guided by MOE’s staffing policies. It is dependant on the pupil enrolment after PRIME.

Q16: I can see that for the rest of 2007, the school will be rather busy sprucing up the holding site for the big move at the end of the year. Will teaching and learning be compromised for my child?

Response:
Teaching and learning is the core business of the school. We will not compromise our pupils’ learning and education in any way at any point in time.