Category Archives: Education

2016 Sec 1 Week 1o Update

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BB received his test scores this week and he did not perform to expectations. He missed his target scores by a couple of marks for Maths, Science and English and failed by 1 mark for English Lit! This from a boy who scored an A for English in PSLE! I was very upset with him, but being the first test in a new school, decided to let go. Hopefully this has served as a wake-up call for him, if yes, then the low marks are worth it. If no, then there are more severe consequences.

I’ve told both of them that if in the mid-terms they do not score what targets are set, then I will immediately take away their phones from them. I will provide them with an ordinary phone (not the iPhone they currently have) which can only be used to make phone calls.

As for GG, she is busy with her performance with her choir for the school performance. GG had applied learning days last week and went on her first field trip from school – to Fort Canning Park and the National Museum. The learning trip was for history since they are doing the history of Singapore and where better to start than Fort Canning!

This is the last week of school before term break for a week. BB will be having a science camp in school this week where the highlight will be going to Changi airport. His school’s ALP (Applied Learning Programme) is flight and aerospace and this is what BB’s passionate about…..

2016 Sec 1 Week 9 Update

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This was exams week for BB. His first Secondary school exams in the form of his Common Test. The Sec 1 children were tested on English, Mother Tongue (not for BB), Maths, Science and English Literature. BB’s target scores was to get an A1 (above 75% marks) in all the subjects and he says he will definitely get that for Maths, but not sure about the other subjects. We’ll know starting tomorrow exactly how he has done as the teachers would have finished marking the papers by then and will work out the answers with the whole class then. Normally in primary schools, the children will know their marks when the teachers passes out the papers to be solved in class and then once they’ve worked through the whole paper, they send it home to be signed. I am guessing that secondary schools, especially for the lower secondary will be similar.

BB’s school also had the annual cross country running at the West Coast park, which was a bit far..Boys had to run almost 4 km and girls slightly less. There was also a competitive run portion and interested parents and all teachers ran with the students. BB, along with his bestie left home at 6 am…I became a worried mum and kept texting him to track him till he reached the station where the school had provided shuttle buses.

GG’s school is celebrating 30 years and so they are commemorating the occasion with a dance and drama show at a nearby auditorium. Since GG is in the choir, she gets to participate and we decided to show our support for the school by purchasing six tickets! That the three of us, plus S’ mum and aunt and my helper R!! I need to go with GG out one of these days to buy some clothes for her which she can use for the show. Since her school is transitioning to a show choir, the girls (and 2 boys) will be performing a song and dance routine and GG says she’s front and centre for the routine! Super excited for this….

Other than that, nothing really happened!! So that’s the school update for the week….

 

2016 Sec 1 Week 8 Update

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Where are the days going? We’re already in week 8 and the end of term 1 is staring at us!

This was a usual week for both GG and BB with nothing really of note happening in school. 

GG’s school concert is coming up and she is expected to go on Saturdays for rehersals. So on Monday I called the school for a formal letter from the school about this. But the person in charge of the concert was not around nor was her choir in-charge. I then wrote them a letter and it’s been almost 5 days, but no response from the school. I’m going to try calling the school again and if there’s no response, I have to escalate this to the principal. This was what the principal told us to do at our tea with him last month!

Contrasting this with BB’s school, I find both the school, teachers and the parents support group so responsive!!

BB has his first common test from Monday and I’ve given him targets to achieve…. He definitely needs to be on the ball and not slack at all if he wants to get his favoured majors (triple science)…but will he understands? Let’s see… 

LEAPing your way to success in school

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Secondary school is a whole different ball game compared to primary school. Not only do you have to navigate the onset of puberty and its attendant issues, you are also expected to do between eight and nine subjects, all of which you need to do well in to score well, but you also need to pay attention to Co-Curricular Activities (CCAs).

In Primary school, CCAs are not compulsory, more of a nice-to-do activity and it is not unheard of parents pulling out their child from CCA in Primary 6. But in secondary school, CCAs are taken on to a whole new level with LEAPS!

LEAPS which stand for LEadership, Achievement, Participation and Service is the framework to recognize a secondary student’s holistic development. Students get points in each of the four components of the system with the points being added up the four or five years they are in school. Why it becomes important is that the year they take their O Level exams, if they manage to get an A1 in their CCA, they can shave off 2 points from their raw O level score. This is very important as this then becomes the means where students can make the difference between a good or great junior college or even if the student can make the cut off point for a particular course, especially when he is in the borderline!

The LEAP domains are as follows:

Leadership: This domain recognises students’ leadership development. Recognition is accorded to students’ ability to take charge of personal development, work in a team and assume responsibilities in service of others. In addition to formal leadership appointments, participation in student leadership modules/workshops, the National Youth Achievement Award (NYAA) and leadership positions in the school, CCA or student-initiated/student-led projects will also be recognised.

Achievement: This domain recognises students’ representation and accomplishment in co-curricular involvements beyond the classroom. Opportunities for representation and accomplishment present valuable learning experiences for students to learn discipline, resilience and develop their character. Students may represent the school or organisations endorsed by the school. Recognising external opportunities better caters to students’ diverse interests and talents. It also recognises the community’s role in developing the child.

Representation refers to being selected and endorsed by the school or an organisation endorsed by the school (e.g. the community club or national association) to contribute, perform or compete. It need not be tied to his/her CCA in school.

Accomplishment refers to attaining accolades and awards at competitions, festivals, performances, exhibitions, conferences and symposiums where the student represents the school or other organisations endorsed by the school.

Participation: This domain recognises students’ participation in one school-based Co-Curricular Activity (CCA). Recognition is based on the number of years of participation and exemplary conduct and active contribution3 to the CCA. Sustained engagement in the same CCA allows for progressive development of character, skills, knowledge and friendships, and will be accorded higher recognition.

Service: This domain recognises students’ development as socially responsible citizens who contribute meaningfully to the community. Every secondary school student will contribute at least 6 hours per school year to the community. They can choose to embark on a Values-In-Action project (VIA). Students will be recognised for the time they put into planning, service and reflection, when participating in a VIA project.

So it becomes very important that the student chooses a CCA that interests them in the first year itself as points gained in a CCA cannot be transferred if the student changes their CCA. Also important is that the student tries to get some sort of leadership position within the CCA to get points in the Leadership domain.

It does goes without saying that too much emphasis on the CCA will definitely result in 2 bonus points, but if this does not result in a good O level score, then all the effort put in for the past 4 or 5 years is in vain. The best outcome is of course to balance studies and CCA together and try to get the best score possible!

2016 Sec 1 Week 7 Update

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This was a short school week for BB & GG as Monday and Tuesday were public holidays in Singapore for the Chinese New Year celebrations. 

Wednesday morning was a bit of a drag to wake up for school though!!

School was as usual, with BB’s first common tests the week after next. GG’s school does not have the first common test to give the incoming secondary 1 students time to settle down in school. They do have class tests though, which will be counted towards the final marks. 

GG’s school celebrates 30 years this year and they are celebrating with a musical dance and drama show in April. Being in the choir, GG is also part of the show and this means that some Saturdays will have to be sacrificed for rehearsals.

BB surprised me last week by bringing home the nomination form to become the school councilor! I didn’t think he would do this. The children have to fill in things like why they want to be a school councillor, what are their strengths and weaknesses and a short advert selling themselves…Whether he makes it or not, I’m glad he has taken this first step. After all, you need to get out of your comfort zones and this is the first step!