Hi MomG,
Thanks for sharing.
Er... I don't think the school informed us late. As far as I know, the school has to shift because the church wants to renovate, and the church only decided on this after June. After that, they had to find another location for the school and get approval from government. So, I may be wrong, but I think the school informed the parents as soon as it received confirmation of the new venue.
I don't think the school is scared of losing students or "profits". Compared to most non-PCF schools, Evangel fees is very reasonable. I'm not sure if they make much of a "profit" at all. I actually think the cost may be partly subsidized by the church, so the school fees can be kept low.
If you're really not happy with the school, maybe it's better for you to put your child on the waiting lists of other schools nearer to your home. Even though there is no vacancy now, usually there will be vacancy now and then. That's my experience anyway. Early this year, Kinderland told me no vacancy, but then called up a few times after that to tell me there's a new vacancy. I turned it down after I decided on Evangel.
I also think if you're not happy with the school already, maybe better not put your child there. Your child may sense your unhappiness and that may affect his mood about the school.
For me, the concern is with the new venue and environment only. Having had my child in the school for almost a year now, I have found the school to be very responsible, both the admin staff and the teachers. My child has grown a lot under the care of the teachers, so I am happy.
In fact, in some ways, the school has exceeded my expectations. Though they don't always use very creative ways to teach, like at the more expensive schools, it has been very good no-frills education. Aside from learning to read and write, my child has been taught values like recycling and not wasting electricity. My child didn't like Chinese before going to the school but since joining the school, my child has started speaking some Chinese and likes the language now. Really, it's not the best school - like those schools with lots of enrichment programmes and excursions - but for what I pay, the education is very good.
Just my point of view.
Hope I didn't offend.