2019 Secondary 4 Week 4 Update

We are in the last week of January and I can’t believe that one month is over.

The children are busy with school and their schedules have been quite tight these days. They hardly have time to even go for tuitions and I’ve been quite busy trying to reschedule timings.

We also went to GG’s school for a parents night and I was quite surprised to not see enough sec 4/5 parents around. After all, this is one of the most important years for their children. I didn’t really learn more at the session, but it was good to see the principal and vice principal who are both new to the school.

The school also has been pushing the direct admission scheme to the polys and junior colleges, and while I am happy that the school is doing this, I feel this will increase competition to the courses that BB & GG are applying to.

The week after is the Chinese New Year and will be a short work and school week for everyone. I am for one, looking forward to the CNY break.

Have a wonderful Sunday folks!

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!