From its well-rounded academic programmes to a warm school community, the Eklunds share why Overseas Family School is a great fit for their family.
Before their move to Singapore, Evan and Lani Eklund applied to enrol their children at Overseas Family School (OFS) in the middle of the year. This means that their children would be joining the school close to the end of the school year. Adding on to that is a tiring and challenging move from the United States with three little ones – definitely no mean feat for a family with three kiddos!
Despite all the challenges, the couple’s two older children settled into school life at OFS without issue, and thoroughly enjoy attending the school. “OFS has exceeded our expectations. It is truly a great school,” Evan and Lani shared. Keep reading for their full review of the school.
What made you choose Overseas Family School?
We were looking for an established school with strong academic programmes as well as a diverse sports offering. But most importantly, we wanted a school that would make our children feel happy and welcomed, as we were moving from the US in the middle of the year. OFS fit the bill, and its admissions team was fantastic.
As we applied before moving to Singapore, we didn’t know what the campus would look like. Happy to share that we were pleasantly surprised at how large and beautiful it was when we finally visited. We also really appreciated how the teachers made our children feel incredibly welcomed, despite it being at the end of the school year. My children never felt lost or left behind in this school.
What do your children like most about the school?
Our son who’s in kindergarten loves chess and cooking classes at OFS. His older sister in Grade 4 enjoys science and learning Mandarin. She also especially enjoys the freedom and independence she has during lunchtime, where she gets to choose her own lunch from the canteen. We love that it serves dishes from different cultures!
Both our children love their swimming lessons, which is part of the school programme. They’re big on sports, while my daughter also likes doing art. So it’s great that OFS offers enrichment programmes in these areas that our children can participate in after school.
Are you satisfied with the level of parent engagement at OFS?
Yes, absolutely. We receive well-informed and thoughtful responses whenever we speak to OFS staff or a teacher. We’re also always kept informed about what is happening in class through the WhatsApp groups, where the teachers send us photos of the children engaging in school activities.
The school frequently hosts coffee mornings for parents as well, and it has an annual international fair every year. These events give us the chance to connect with the wider school community.
How has the school exceeded your expectations?
We’re impressed with the international curriculum it offers, starting with the International Early Years Curriculum in kindergarten, International Primary Curriculum in elementary, then the International Baccalaureate for middle and high school. This solid academic offering includes 15 foreign language offerings, and is balanced with other skills like computer literacy, chess, as well as cooking.
Though OFS isn’t the only school that is open to rolling admissions, we can confidently say that this school is really prepared for new enrollments, based on our children’s experience joining close to the end of the term. They felt welcomed and their transition was smooth.
Do you have any tips to share with parents who are still looking for a school?
From our experience, the admissions team is a direct reflection of the school. You can tell if the school is a good fit for your family based on how organised and responsive they are during the admissions process.
Thanks for sharing, Evan and Lani!
This post is in partnership with Overseas Family School.
