2017 Secondary 2 Week 10 Update

Before I start updating this week’s school update, a shoutout to WordPress – I like this new format, slightly different, but lovely. This was the last week of school before they break for a one week holiday and then start term 2.

This was the last week of school before they break for a one week holiday and then start term 2. So in both schools, it was a time for them to do stuff other than regular school curriculum.

GG’s school had a camp for all Sec 2 students. Unfortunately, they didn’t go out anywhere but just stayed in school. On the first day, they stayed in school and did some leadership and other life skills study and on the second day, they went to Sentosa Island (for non-Singapore readers, Sentosa is an island off the mainland, which was developed as a pleasure island and can be reached by a small bridge/causeway) and did some trekking and other outdoor stuff. Then they ended the week with a Cross country run at the Marina Barrage. This is super far from both home and school and though the school had arranged for transport going there, the students had to make their own way coming back. I was a bit worried actually for GG as this was the first time she was going to downtown Singapore and had to make her own way home. The school did arrange for guides along the way to show the students the way to the train stations, so that was useful and she came home safely. I was happy for her that she managed to be independent here!

BB’s school was also supposed to have an overseas learning camp in Malaysia, which got cancelled this year due to logistics reasons. The students were disappointed, but that happens right? Instead, they did a History Investigation by going to a new museum which was set up and which showcased the Japanese occupation of Singapore (which incidentally they are learning in History this year) and a Geography Investigation where they walked around the neighbourhood of the school to learn about the different rocks found there. They also did a Maths trail where they went to a mall and tried to apply maths to real-life concepts (like car park charges, store receipts etc). They also had cohort days where they worked on some Lifelong learning modules. Their school uses art and music as their lifelong learning module and BB has signed up for acapella music and video photography.

This week is a holiday, but GG  has to still go back to school for choir practice since SYF is round the corner. We also need to start working on the mid-year exams and I need to get both to clean their rooms and most importantly, their book shelves!

2017 Secondary 2 Week 9 Update

February just flew past like a wind, I felt!

School is on for the two of them and this coming week will be the last week for this term. Next week is their term break and then on to term 2. Both will be busy with camps this week, so that should also go past fairly.

Yesterday we went to GG’s school for a Parent Teacher meeting as well as a talk from the school about the Secondary 3 streaming. It basically just reinforced to me that this is a really crucial year, especially to someone like BB who only has Science in his head. The other day when I asked him what was his Plan B if he could not get double or triple science as he wants, his response was a blank stare! He just has not thought of a life beyond science and engineering. So for someone like him, this is a super crucial year!

That’s all for the week from my side. Have a happy Sunday folks!

 

2017 Secondary 2 Week 8 Update

BB has his common test this week and also got back his Math results. He was quite confident about doing well this time, but when the marks came out, he realised he didn’t do as well as expected. He lost 7 marks to careless mistakes! Now I wonder what his other papers will show up….

GG also got back some marks, she has done much better than expected, except in Maths, which she didn’t do as well as expected. But then, this is the first exam on taking Maths on a higher level, so I am hoping she will do better in the mid-year exam.

I also went for a breakfast and tea session with BB’s school principal in the latter part of the week. There were approximately 40 parents there and what I realised was the overwhelming fear or perhaps the dread that technology has for parents. Most of the questions was relating to cell phone usage by children and the sometimes excessive Whatsapp and messaging as well as the social media usage they had. One takeaway I also had was that I was absolutely right in putting limits in BB & GG’s phone usage as I realise that if I didn’t do this, they would go absolutely out of hand, as some of the other parents have mentioned.

Anyway, planning to take the children out later today, so hope you all also have a good weekend!

2017 Secondary 2 Week 7 Update

A very blah week for the children. GG’s common tests were on almost the whole week and she has been studying quite hard for it. She even woke up at 4:30 am one day to study since she can’t stay up at night. 

BB’s common test starts from tomorrow and unlike GG, he only has 5 exams while GG had almost 8. He will sit out the Mother Tongue paper since his school does not offer Hindi. Compared to GG, he has a more lackadaisical attitude towards his studies. He’s more of a “I’ll study at the last minute”type and this really pisses me off. I foresee more showdowns with him as the year continues and especially when he sits for his O levels!

Have a wonderful Sunday!

2017 Secondary 2 Week 6 Update

This was the usual week for the children, with school, CCA and some studies. 

GG’s school has had the Sec 3 streaming talk with them and she is not very happy with the subject choices that are offered to her stream. I need to wait until the parents talk next month before I sit with her to discuss what subjects will be best for her. I also need to speak to her form teacher about this. 

I also attended a parent support group meeting in her school where the principal was present and shared with him some of the things that GG has been telling about her class. Apparently her class is already quite notorious and some children are very disruptive in class with the end result being the whole class gets penalised. 

Next week is the parent support group meeting in BB’s school and the week after the tea session with his principal. 

Happy Sunday everyone!