We applied as parent volunteer and completed the mandatory 40 hours of service. Then we hope for the best that the take up rate for 2012 primary school registration would be the same as last year, where parent volunteers beyond two km have a chance to get in.
On the first day of registration for phase 2b3, the school shared that they had more parent volunteers than the places available. On the last day and even before the result was out, Boon Heng heard from his source that there 19 applicants applying for 11 places. Our heart sank. Now, it shall depend on Oliver luck.
Come the ballot day, we both took leave to witness the process. We were briefed by the Principal on the process . First time in history, he said, parent volunteer staying beyond two km had to ballot, and he explained, prior to the balloting, that the non-selected ones were be placed on waiting list. We listened intensely as we imagined ourselves staying behind later to put our name in the list.
Each child was allocated a ball with unique number and Oliver's no is 18. Second last in list. Systematically, all the balls were individually shown to the parents and put into the spinner. Imagine drawing toto, it is almost the same. The spinning started, and I felt my heart beating faster as the number of chance of getting in narrowed. It was like watching a slow motion film and you have the urge to fast forward it. Nine balls had been drawn and left with top 3 'prizes'. 3rd's down , then '18' was called out. Damn it, it was such a relief and unnecessarily stressful process. We got the second prize. When the last ball was announced, My mind was already somewhere else. We are really lucky, and thanks go to all who prayed for us! Hooray, I can plan now to prepare the change in our life.
