2019 Secondary 4 Week 3 Update

School is in full swing now as the Teachers race to finish the syllabus for the year before the O level exams in October/November.

This week, I got a call from BB’s school, his E Math teacher specifically. She called me about Bb’s handwriting and slipshod work submitted. So I had my talk with him and made him apologise to her with a promise that he will not do it again. He has said he will improve and that’s my hope for him too.

We’ve also been thinking seriously about their Early Admissions to Poly these days. When we went to the open houses last week, we learnt that the course BB is interested in is very competitive and the admission committee even rejects good students because they feel they can get in through merit. So to distinguish themselves from the others, we have been thinking of hooks that they both can use when they start applying. We’ve identified one each as of now, and the children have to research a bit more on the hooks to make sure they speak and write well about it.

Happy Sunday folks!

2019 Secondary 4 Week 2 Update

The first full week of school has ended and the children are already tired! GG started CCA from day one of school while BB will start his CCA next week.

The 2018 O level results come out tomorrow and now the stress is real! The current Sec 4/5 cohort has to be in school in the auditorium when the results are declared and S and I will be doing this one year on. I don’t know if I can take the stress…

We also went down to a couple of polytechnics yesterday to check out some of the courses that BB & GG are interested in. Both of their schools also took the graduating cohort to some of the polys to check out some of the courses. We will be going to some of the other polys which were not covered by the schools.

The semester load is also increasing as the schools race to finish the curriculum in time so that the children get enough time for revision. I guess this is the case whenever there is a national exam involved.

On this note, have a wonderful Sunday!

2019 Secondary 4 Week 1 Update

School started on 2nd of Jan and this school week was a very short one with only three days of school.

Both schools started teaching on the second day and they both said they got near identical talks from their respective principals – mostly about being the graduating cohort and how they should set an example to their juniors. They were also told to buck up on their studies as everyone (irrespective of the stream they are in) will be giving national exams this year.

GG had her CCA on the first day of school and also on Friday because this is the competition year for them. They will step down from CCA after the Singapore Youth Festival sometime in April. In fact, given that they don’t have much time to practise there is also talk that they will practise on Friday nights till the competition! GG is already very stressed about it especially since she is her CCA VP.

That’s all from us for this week. More when the weeks leading to the O Level exam unfold.

Have a wonderful Sunday folks!

2018 Week 52 Update

The last week of 2018 and the last few days before school starts on 2 Jan!

The holidays just flew by without us really accomplishing what we wanted to do. As for 2018, I have mixed feelings about this year. I am ending 2018 the same way I started it – with hope. I will do another post once I have more time to myself about the year that went by.

The children will start school on Wednesday and though GG has still not gotten her timetable, she says she will have a long first day because of CCA. The fact that this is the SYF (Singapore Youth Festival) competition year means they don’t have time to waste. The competition will happen some time in April and once that is done, she has completed her CCA obligations. Because of her CCA Leadership role, she has also been awarded an award which she will get sometime in early January.

BB’s first week timetable is out and though it’s not as tight as I thought it will be, it’s not light either. His school has no studies on day 1 and they have been asked not to bring text books on that day. He also ends earlier than GG.

That’s it from me for this week and year. See you on the other side of the new year!

Happy 2019 and may the new year bring you what you have always hoped for.

2018 Week 51 Update

The year is almost over and 2019 is knocking upon our door.

This week was fairly mundane with life being very quiet. I went to help out in BB’s school as a parent volunteer to help out with the incoming Sec 1 student registrations. This is something I enjoy doing each year and when I see those whom I met during the open house I really like it that they got posted to the school.

It’s Christmas this week and it should be another (our last) quiet week before schools starts on the 2nd and we get sucked into the madness that is Sec 4 and the O levels.

To those celebrating Christmas, merry Christmas and may the holidays bring joy and happiness to you and your loved ones.