School Opening at Asian Integrated School - A Review

Today is the first day of school, the opening for Asian Integrated School was delayed for 2 weeks. From the time we have enrolled and while waiting for this day, we have been receiving updates from the school administration regarding the developments. I do appreciate those updates, however I was a quite disappointed that parents have been encouraged to e-mail them for clarifications, suggestions and comments, but when I did, nobody replied to me. I have also spoken with a couple of other parents and they have the same "concern", that they did not receive any replies for any of their clarifications. At this time I would call it "concern" and not complaint, I understand this is a brand new school and they would need a little consideration and understanding. I just hope they address our concerns immediately before it all elevates to complaints.

So today is the first day... as expected, they were not ready! Now my anxiety is slowly elevating to panic! I may have a different point of view, but in my opinion if they are not that ready, they should have delayed the opening for a week or even a couple of weeks, that's understandable and I would very much prefer it than coming to an unprepared facility! If I would rate the campus, I would say they are just 30% ready. If I am one of the administrators, I wouldn't open the school just yet. As a parent, I have the right to raise these concerns and I have mentioned them to my daughter's teacher, but the school is such in a state of chaos that you don't know to whom your concerns should be raised! So I guess the only difference with me from the other moms there is that I'm a blogging Expat Mommy, so I have an avenue to vent, rave and rant! :)
So for this blog, I'd play a game, I'd pretend that I am the School Director/ Administrator, and these are the things I would do if AIS was my school (unfortunately for AIS, my dream is to put up a school so I guess I'm a bit more observant than others).
1. First Impressions Last! - I would not have opened up the school just yet! This was a minus factor, parents finding the school in a state of chaos. With this expreience, you wouldn't benefit from the word of mouth marketing if parents' did not have a good thing to say. I think a delay of another two weeks is more advisable, except if given the 2 weeks extension, you'd still be in the same state of chaos!
2. Parents' Orientation - Yes, the email updates are appreciated, but surely parents would appreciate it more, if just before the opening they have set aside one morning or evening to talk with the parents so they'd know what to expect, and also to address the concerns of parents immediately instead of relying on emails. 
3. Teachers' & Staff Orientation - I would also hold a staff meeting and team building with the team at least a day or two before opening, for the mere purpose that they would not answer the parents' questions with "I don't know"! That's the worst thing any parent wants to hear from her children's teacher --- when are the books arriving? I don't know; what is the school timing tomorrow? I don't know; what will you do while you don't have books? aaahhh... no answer; and still a very long litany to write down...
4. School building - aaaahhh duh! It's dirty! Ok before I even touch on hygiene, first and foremost I would not allow construction work to go on while classes are held. Also, for the school opening, at least I would have stopped work during that day and clear the place of any and all construction materials that could post as a hazard to the students! I will never let any cables lying around, furniture, boxes and desks on the hallway with at least an inch of dust! For *#*Y$ sake! You should have cleaned out the place the previous weekend. Locked the rooms still under construction and whatever happens, don't show it to the parents!
And then, dust, dust, dust everywhere! I did not even attempt to locate the toilets for fear of what I'll see! 
5. Pre-school classrooms - is that it??? there's nothing more you'd like to add??? It is so bare! No visual aids that could stimulate the children to want coming back again the next day. And that's the school being advertised as montessori for preschool. There is not an inch of it being a montessori classroom. No books to read on the shelves, no montessori materials, no educational toys, no television/ educational videos to keep the children entertained ... it's either you don't have them or they have not arrived yet, and if it is the latter, then I will wait until they arrive before I start classes!
6. Teachers - when I checked Big Ate's class, I was informed that the classes for Grade 3 have been merged since the other teacher had not arrived yet. And so when is he coming? Well, I guess if I still don't have complete teachers, then I wouldn't start yet!
7. Ok, ok, you might think this is a bit too much, but I do expect to see some outdoor play area for pre-school. Yes it is summer and they cannot play outside, still I would expect that! It just has to be there, even if they won't use them yet but it just has to be there!
8. The class - I would only be able to comment on the Nursery class because the other two girls have not arrived yet, but I was really disappointed. First, because of the classroom I have earlier mentioned, and 2nd it was so disorganized! I'm not sure if the teacher has any previous experience but she just can't seem to manage. I really had that strong urge to take over! Ok, I understand these kids are first timers and they still have separation anxiety, but, if there's one or two students who wouldn't stop crying, I wouldn't give my full attention to them leaving out the rest of the class. Hey, you still have 18 more students around you. Again I would be going back to the tv/ video, they need distraction! See, you have just let all your students focus on the restlessness of other kids, You know that these kids have a very limited attention span, so by Grace! Do something about it. And if your voice it that soft, go get a microphone! And, if at the onset you cannot stop these kids from crying ask the assistance of the parents! Tell them that they would need to take over their child so that you can do your job and so the other kids can start the class, how do you think you'd be able to take over carrying a 3yo around? You just don't have time for that! That's what the assistant is for! See, out of the 20 students, there are only about 3-4 crying hysterically, the rest of the kids are just patiently waiting for any instruction. At about 8:30, I couldn't stop myself anymore and told her she should have requested for a that and she told me she's got a projector! So ok, because she had focused on that 1 crying child she was not able to attend to it anymore... great! And when she finally did, the projector was directed to one of the walls obstructed by the teacher's desk, a filing cabinet and some boxes and plastic bags which i don't know if meant for disposal. And there were no speakers! Also the video played are instructional and not entertaining at all! How's that for 3-yo viewing?!
I am just glad the class finished at 9 instead of 10, or else I don't know how Lauren would last another hour in such an environment..... tsk tsk tsk... AIS have really not made a good First Impression!