Nanyang Girls' High School [*IP]

[xxjustakidxx]

estellex:

My daughter got a score of 266, with a merit in HCL which would make her score to a 268. She cannot decide between Nanyang Girl's High or River Valley High. The pros and cons (according to her anyway ) are as stated below:


P/S: Since we are Singapore PRs (Malaysians), my daughter is not entitled to any scholarships from MOE

Nanyang Girls' High

Pros: Girls school, good reputation, she likes the uniform and name, she told many people she wanted to go there already.
Cons: Expensive school fees (she is considerate), she does not like HCJC, classroom is non-airconditioned and is like a basement

River Valley High

Pros: Brand new school campus, air conditioning in the class room (is it true? she likes to study in a comfortable place), cheap school fees, she has friends there.
Cons: It's MIXED, she doesn't like the uniform and the name, she doesn't want to disappoint the seniors she knows in NYGH, stress.

Based on the above and your knowledge about the 2 schools, can you give my daughter and i some comments about which school she should go to?

PP/S: do you know if RV's new campus allows visitors? I hope you can tell us that because it would help her decide better.

Thanks in advance!! (I'm a new user here :D)

:celebrate:

HCJC HAS air conditioned class rooms, I've been to one during a maths competition. I agree on the basment part, but its WAY better than RV.

[estellex]

xxjustakidxx:

HCJC HAS air conditioned class rooms, I've been to one during a maths competition. I agree on the basment part, but its WAY better than RV.

how are the RV classrooms like?

[hippo]

Mathematician wrote :

They do not offer O level now (so everyone will go through the IP programme) but girls still have to take the O level for Chinese.

****

Thanks a lot for your advice. I have no idea that it is so tough to choose a suitable school for our kids.

[mew2]

I believe RV is the first school built for IP (for 6 years)

all hardware and facilities should be good

i heard some ip schools need to go elsewhere for lab facilities
other ip schools have lots of software, and 'upgraded' hardware;
not brand new hardware

you may want to confirm this :?

[micko07]

Yup, we don’t take O levels anymore. It’s not just the GEP folks; everyone who gets into NYGH automatically qualifies for IP, subject to passing the promotion criteria.


We don’t take Chinese O level at Sec 3 (typical for O level students). We just offer HCL O Level at Sec 4. Hwa Chong’s criteria is that only students who score a B4 or better in HCL can opt not to take Chinese H1 at JC 1. If you get a C5-6, it’s three periods of Chinese a week. Anything below that is 8 periods of Chinese.

Any questions; feel free to send me a pm or post here!

[pummanuel]

I was very touched by Micko07's entries as given her age, kiasuparents.com seems to be such an unlikely site for her to surf. It was her love for NYGH that prompted me to post here as I share that same love with her - I was from NYGH Class of 92.


Interestingly, like Micko07, my first choice was St Nicholas Girls’ as it was the nearest SAP school for me and the school campus was brand new. However, with a T score of 256, I was rejected though another classmate was accepted, which meant mine was a borderline case. In those pre-school ranking days, my other classmate got into RGS with 254, so the landscape was rather different then.

I came from a new neighbourhood school (definitely mainstream) and was the first P6 cohort. Everything was brand new, with the latest IT facilities, in my school. Queen Elizabeth II even visited my school then. Hence, when my mother brought me to NYGH to purchase textbooks and uniforms, I nearly fainted when I saw the school – built before WWII, used wooden tables and chairs and the toilet cubicle was so small you cannot even stretch your 2 hands straight. The only solace I had was the library, which was built in the late 80s. I cried and cried when I went home.

But as Micko07 mentioned, it was the best blessing in disguise I ever had in my life. NYGH has a very nurturing environment. During my times, the majority of the students came from middle and low income families. Many of my schoolmates cannot afford tuition. Our teachers played a pivotal role in coaching us and bringing out the full potential in us. With such supportive teachers, the school culture was one of sharing and caring, which built up the camaraderie among the students. My friends who have returned to teach at our alma mater told me this spirit is still as strong as ever. And according to them, though there are fewer students from the low income families, most of the students hail from middle income families, and take public transport or have parents who drove them to school. Only a small handful will have chauffeurs.

What I love about NYGH most is the emphasis on CCAs, especially the performing arts. I was with the Chinese Orchestra, with 2 practices a week (2pm-5pm) and during the holidays, the practice hours were extended to 9am-5pm. So unless you are in a club, trying to cope with schoolwork, projects, tests/examinations, CCAs and competitions/performances was extremely draining. And from what I know, things are still pretty the same. So I wouldn’t describe it as laid back but the stress levels are alleviated with the support from teachers and fellow schoolmates.

Many perceived NYGH as a school for the submissive and meek introverts. I supposed this perception came about as, in the past, many of the students came from Chinese-speaking families who tend to inculcate in their children 'do more, talk less' value. However, times have evolved and my friends told me most of the girls are from English speaking families and are much more outspoken than we were before, not that we were a quiet bunch, with many lawyers, journalists, M&A investment bankers from my batch. In fact, the NYGH debating team has been doing very well for the past few years.

As a CO member, we had performances every year, at community centres or some shopping malls. Also, the school, in a bid to nurture the students’ love for the performing arts, will put up a full scale performance at Victoria Concert Hall bi-annually – Nanyang Night. All the performing arts groups and uniform groups had to perform on stage and the clubs like AVA and library will help with backstage, sales of tickets, ushering, etc. I remember there was a dragon dance by the NPCC, which made use of UV Light, laser, etc and the audience was treated to a performance of an illuminating dragon flying in the air. My grandmother who attended asked my mother ‘How can the dragon fly on its own?’ That was in the early 90s and by a secondary girls’ school. Such an exposure has influenced me to appreciate the finer things in life and I will bring my daughter to dance performances, plays, etc.

Also, in my graduating year, >400 of us (from Sec 1 to Sec 4) went to Australia for a 10 days immersion programme. We stayed with the locals for 3 days, performed in the local schools and Movie World. This is nothing extraordinary now but few of my peers from other schools had such experiences. Hence, I’m not surprised that more interesting activities have been lined up for the students as Micko07 mentioned.

I may have graduated from NYGH but I'm still very attached to the school, as do many of my friends. We felt that the best years in our school life were spent at NYGH. I’m very envious of those parents whose daughters are attending/going to attend NYGH. How I wish one day, I can pen my MSN title – My daughter, my junior.

[kiasuchild]

I have a t-score of 274+2, but I’m not sure if I should go to Raffles/Nanyang Girls.


I’m from Nanyang Primary, so Nanyang Girls High is near my house. Also, most of my friends are going to NYGH.

Raffles on the other hand, has a CCA which I want to join. Most people asked me to go to RGS, so I am confused.

Does anyone know which school should I choose? Both schools are okay for me.

[micko07]

xxjustakidxx:

estellex:

My daughter got a score of 266, with a merit in HCL which would make her score to a 268. She cannot decide between Nanyang Girl's High or River Valley High. The pros and cons (according to her anyway ) are as stated below:


P/S: Since we are Singapore PRs (Malaysians), my daughter is not entitled to any scholarships from MOE

Nanyang Girls' High

Pros: Girls school, good reputation, she likes the uniform and name, she told many people she wanted to go there already.
Cons: Expensive school fees (she is considerate), she does not like HCJC, classroom is non-airconditioned and is like a basement

River Valley High

Pros: Brand new school campus, air conditioning in the class room (is it true? she likes to study in a comfortable place), cheap school fees, she has friends there.
Cons: It's MIXED, she doesn't like the uniform and the name, she doesn't want to disappoint the seniors she knows in NYGH, stress.

Based on the above and your knowledge about the 2 schools, can you give my daughter and i some comments about which school she should go to?

PP/S: do you know if RV's new campus allows visitors? I hope you can tell us that because it would help her decide better.

Thanks in advance!! (I'm a new user here :D)

:celebrate:

HCJC HAS air conditioned class rooms, I've been to one during a maths competition. I agree on the basment part, but its WAY better than RV.

HCJC does have air conditioned class rooms! Most of them are air conditioned, at least 80-90%. However, students typically stay at class benches during break times (only those in Special Programmes are allocated classrooms). Not a bad idea; good for mingling and social chatter!

For the record, even though it does get stuffy, you'll be very glad you don't have air cons on rainy days! If it rains and you're stuck in the lecture theatres without a jacket, you'll freeze. No kidding! The no air con classrooms is not THAT bad, the uniform is pretty light material wise and sleeveless! HCJC\"s uniform OTOH ....

I have no idea about RVHS but of course, I would definitely say NYGH! Not so because of the physical environment (I wouldn't mind air cons though!) but because of the intangible one that pummanuel mentioned. Academics wise, I really don't know how well RVHS did at A levels (has their 1st batch even taken it yet?) What I DO know is that HCJC has a superb track record in As. If she's keen on the Arts, I would strongly suggest HCJC, our Humanities Programme is quite possibly the best in Singapore.

I love NYGH's campus, neat, clean concept yet still feels super homely! AFAIK, I've never had to go to another campus to use facilities, except for the time I went to NUS to do SMP. At any rate, HCI across the road has superb lab facilities with most of the equipment you'll need, short of very specialized ones. NYGH did a lot of software/ hardware upgrading while I was still there, the computer labs and the recording studios for instance. During repainting, they wanted to paint the school a different colour but everyone put their foot down (it was decided by democratic voting). The campus is still relatively new (IIRC we moved in around 2001 ish)

For all those in a dilemma, just go with your heart. You've heard mine and pummanuel's accounts about NYGH and I'm sure there are people who share about RGS here and elsewhere. My experience may not be representative of the entire cohort but it does give you a good idea of what to expect. If you think you'd like that sort of environment, well, hop on! Ultimately, you have to decide for yourself.

@ pummanuel Hello! It's so nice to see a senior here! *hugs* I'm missing NYGH terribly after reading your post. For all the hard work, mugging, tears and tantrums, it's a precious experience I wouldn't trade for anything else. ITA about the school culture; times may have changed but that has clearly remained intact. That's probably one of the best things ever about NYGH; the nurturing and supportive environment. Heck, even the school support staff are very nice and helpful; was Uncle Jack around in your time?

[cyradis]

do the classrooms of nygh have air-conditioning?

[StudentABC]

NatTif Mummy:

turquoise:

Hi NatTifMummy, which school does your dd prefer? I think I remember you saying that a number of your dd's seniors are at NYGH so she would feel very comfortable there.

Hi Turquoise, at first she wants to go NYGH, then pp starts telling her she should go RGS, cos of her out going character. Even her senior in NYGH told her to go RGS, now she is lost. I have not actually discuss this issue with her as I do not want to add stress on her. Poor thing, she seems so tired today, and is sleeping now.
I have friends whose dd are in either NYGH or RGS, seems that all are happy with where they are. My main concern is to let her go to a school which can stretch her ability to the fullest, that is her strength and interest in languages.

Well, I wanted to go to nanyang as well but alot of my teachers advised me to go RGS because of the gd programmes there