If you're picking a school from abroad, you'll be happy to know that Stamford American International School helps make the entire process seamless and swift.
Choosing and enrolling in a school from abroad can be tough; and we haven’t even got to the part of settling the kids into their new school yet! Stamford American International School understands this, hence going the extra mile to ensure a seamless transition for Bridgette Reid and her three kids.
We had the chance to hear from Bridgette herself about her family’s experience with Stamford American, who are now happy to be part of the school’s big family.
What was your experience like picking a school from abroad?
It was difficult, especially with the time difference. We were looking for a school that has a strong bilingual programme at kindergarten level; as well as one that can provide extra academic support for our daughter Chloe, who had a rough few years during the school closures due to the pandemic.
Thankfully, Stamford American had a great academic team who answered all our emails promptly and made the enrolment process quick and easy. The team even arranged for us to have a private tour of the campus after we arrived in Singapore, which helped ease the kids’ first day jitters.
How else did Stamford American make your kids feel welcomed?
When the kids were still settling in, their teachers made a point to share frequent updates through emails and phone calls. It also helped that the staff learned not just theirs, but all the students’ names quickly. The superintendent, Matt Mills, also greets the students with high fives at the school gate every morning. It’s all these little touches that make Stamford American such a welcoming school.
What do your kids like about their new school?
They enjoy the extracurricular activities at Stamford American very much, particularly the swimming lessons in one of its many swimming pools.
Our son, John, recently went on a Field Studies trip to Thailand for a week. He and his classmates stayed in an eco lodge and did different activities every day. We could tell that he enjoyed his learning trip, as he came off the plane with a huge grin on his face despite feeling exhausted. We’re very pleased that Stamford American provided him with such an incredible learning experience.
Does Stamford American have a community for parents?
Yes, there are many ways that we can get involved at the school. There’s a Parent Teacher Association welcome event that’s organised at the beginning of the year to introduce parents to the different activities and connection groups Stamford American has, such as the popular hiking, mahjong, food pantry volunteering, and yoga groups. There’s a group for everyone based on their interests. The school also has a parent cafe that serves great coffee; it’s a great place to relax and get to meet other parents.
Does the school live up to your expectations?
Definitely, our kids are challenged academically while being supported by great teachers. The teaching staff at Stamford American are truly wonderful, and they’re just an email or phone call away.
Our kids’ teachers are always ready to listen to not just our concerns, but our kids’ as well. One of my daughters’ needed help with her handwriting, which came with a bit of extra work. As she wanted to enjoy her reading hour fully, she had a quick conversation with her teacher and they agreed that she can do her extra work after the reading hour. That’s how we know Stamford American’s teachers have each student’s best interest at heart.
Thank you for speaking to us, Bridgette!
This post is in partnership with Stamford American International School.
