Raffles International School - changing school timings | ExpatWoman.com
 

Raffles International School - changing school timings

47
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 23 March 2013 - 09:12

Has anyone noticed that they are changing the timing for KG1 next year to 1 pm? They waited for parents to enroll their children and pay the AED 2,500 non-refundable fee and didn't mention anything about the changed school timings. It only appeared in a separate letter recently for enrolment of the older children.

How can this be allowed to change timings only for KG1 when all other timings remain the same, even nursery continues until 2 pm? Two different pick up times? How is one supposed to manage this?
Besides, that smells like an indirect fee increase to me. Less hours, less learning, same fee.

The school knows very well that you don't have any chance of finding another school for your children now. It feels like we're always at their mercy and they are holding us for ransom.

I urge all parents who have children at Raffles and who have an issue with the changed timing to write an email to the school and to KHDA.

100
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 04 April 2013 - 15:16
That's funny! Lazy reporter for sure! Wonder how Raffles World Academy feel about their photo being used in the article. Not sure if the timings apply to RWA as well or just RIS.
849
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EW GURU
Latest post on 04 April 2013 - 12:15
Your discussion was picked up by Gulf News. Must have been a slow news day or lazy reporter if the ExpatWomen folks [u'>ARE[/u'> the news story! [url='>http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/general/parents-up-in-arms-over-new-raffles-kg1-timings-1.1166484[/url'> <em>edited by Meagle on 04/04/2013</em>
85
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 27 March 2013 - 11:48
Hi there, I've just received an email from RIS, explaining why they changed the timings for KG1 to 1 pm, and also advising parents that their KG1-kids can be kept at the school under supervision until 2 pm should they have an older sibling who has to stay until 2 pm (or 2.15 pm in the future). Nothing mentioned about dropping the school fees, or why they changed without doing a survey beforehand. :(
47
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 26 March 2013 - 18:23
No feedback from KHDA nor the school. I will follow up again tomorrow.
1170
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 26 March 2013 - 10:19
no nothing... I was thinking that I am going to start my chain of phone calls..... Man! people do not like it!
5
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 26 March 2013 - 10:17
Sorry to bring it up again - anybody get any reply from the school or KHDA? Just can not imagine 2 different school pick ups with a baby on hand...
5
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 24 March 2013 - 22:27
I absolutely agree with all said below - my younger son will starts KG1 in September when older one will be in Grade 1, both will be going on the bus, so the changing of the hours is a real pain and really unnecessary. I did send the email back to school about it but of course no answer. I will contact KHDA as well this sounds as a very good idea. If anybody gets any update on the progress please post here!!!
47
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 24 March 2013 - 20:01
I contacted KHDA and the first question the lady asked me was: Didn't they do a survey first? Interesting! And the answer was "no" of course. They told me they will contact the school but they haven't gotten back to me yet.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 24 March 2013 - 16:06
I spoke to quite a few parents today who have written to the Raffles principal over the weekend. If anyone else reading this is affected by the changes, please send an email of complaint. Many thanks.
100
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 23 March 2013 - 20:40
Yes, I agree - a total nightmare for working parents and the bus kids. There was a lot of talk about it at the Mothers' Day picnic so lets hope that parents will be proactive and get complaining and not just sit back thinking that someone else will do it for them. I would have definitely expected some kind of survey and consultation process for a decision like this. I'm guessing that the people who asked for the staggered timings are one-child families. I don't have a problem with the parking as it is either.
1170
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 23 March 2013 - 18:10
just got that letter, it was in the spam box... and the timings are: SCHOOL TIMINGS 2013 - 2014: Nursery: 7:50 am - 2:00 pm KG1: 7:50 am - 1:00 pm KG2 - Grade 5: 7:50 am - 2:15 Grades 6 and 7: pm 7:50 am - 3:15 pm It doesn't make any sense?!!!
1170
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 23 March 2013 - 16:02
Ladies, I am surprised from what you had just posted! I was going to apply to DS2 in KG1, so DS1 and DS2 would be attending the same school bus together, now this become another story, if I did apply to KG1, that means 2 pick up times and 2 different school busses. I don't know if this would help or not, I will do send a complain about that, and will do inform the principle that this is affecting my decision of enrolling both my children for that school the next year. Thank you for the heads up.
47
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 23 March 2013 - 14:30
I completely agree. And in my opinion the parking situation is just a lame excuse. It's not that bad at the school. It could be that the principal only received a few complaints as I assume a lot of parents have over-read it. I spoke to a few at school and they hadn't noticed the change. In the letter it states that this change was made based on repeated requests by parents. I have asked the principal: how many parents? And why didn't they do a survey first? I've never been asked. After-school-activities will become a big challenge. And think of all the working parents ... two pick up times are impossible. Will they offer 2 buses then? I doubt it. Or will they offer after school care for an additional fee?
100
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 23 March 2013 - 09:20
Thanks Believe2012. You beat me to it. I was logging on to post the exact same thing and urge all affected Raffles parents to write to the principal and KHDA. I heard that the principal has only received a handful of complaints so far so we all need to get onto this. I have been so happy with Raffles for the last three years we have been there and was excited about my son joining KG1 in September - not least of all the fact that I would only be making one afternoon pick-up. We live in Springs so there is no way I will be going back home in between pick ups. We will have to sit in the carpark for an hour and wait - how does this alleviate the parking situation any? Alternatively parents pickign up KG1 kids will hang around the school play areas and atriums and disrupt the rest of the classes which are still carrying on til 2pm. This also means that my daughter who will be in Grade 3 will not be able to do any after school activities because that would mean hanging around the school for two hours. And don't get me started on the five less hours of learning per week that will be taking place with no fee reduction. Please, everyone, get writing!
 
 

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