Thanks for the support Double E


Heng that other one in Pathlight which has an automatic exemption, otherwise I’ll cry twice!

And yes, lesson learnt is never to ASSUME and make an ass of u and me.

Hi DesertWind


Unfortunate similar story, my boy in P3 also had his MT exemption rejected in May. Of course we were in shock for a while because it never crossed our minds that he wouldn’t get the exemption. His MT results were so dismal despite tuition, like single digit over 100. As mentioned by others before, perhaps they do look at the other subjects’ results and if those weren’t too bad, they hope the kid will be able to cope with mandarin eventually. Anyway, we will appeal again or speak to MP, whichever earlier.

Seems like there was blanket rejection for all the latest MT exemption cases. Just wondering now if there are really too many ASD cases or extreme parents out there going to the extent of getting their kids diagnosed ASD (since it is a spectrum) to gain exemption to up PSLE results. This is my anger talking though.

Gisten, that was super informative. Thanks for sharing and you must be so proud of your son. Don't forget to congratulate yourself too for all the efforts put in to get him to where he is now :rahrah:


Do you know if the vocational track option also offered at the same time as the standard and foundation track if the child CMI academically? Or is that offered as and when identified during IEP?

PL is famous for loads of homework and there's also the online portion... Taiko, don't worry about running out of things to complain


The weekend journal is kinda fun. The teachers will also get the kids to read out what they wrote to the rest of the class. Helps in their speech and confidence. Now at P2 the themes get really specific instead of just describing your weekend. Last week we got the topic of describing a sound, chim-ness.

Hi Mummies ImMeeMee, Dessertwind, pinkamoon, simkhoo et al and of course Daddy Tai ko.


Happy New Year!

Just catching up briefly on the posts since I last came here. So heartening to see many achievements and much progress. Congrats on those crossing milestones and surviving the holidays (keeping them occupied meaningfully without electronic devices was a pain)

My boys just started primary 3 (mainstream) and primary 2 (PL). TOO FAST LA! Seems like only yesterday that I was so down when my DS2 almost didn’t make it to PL. For TaiKo and jme, best of luck for the boys, DS2 had the best time in foundation and us parents from that class still keep in touch. Am sure your darlings will thrive in the PL environment. Erm just don’t be shocked at how expensive the school canteen or rather café food is, rem to give more pocket $.

Of course there were challenges along the way with bullies, low academic scores and difficulties in making friends. Probably more prevalent in mainstream. Still we worked through it when it came and will work through them when it comes again. Like DS1 coming home yesterday with an accidental cut on his cheek after losing a pencil ‘lightsaber’ fight. All DH could grumble was that he lost to a gal…. Haiz…

All the best for 2016 and keep shining!

Hi folks!


Long time no chat liao. :please:

In all honesty, all laziness on my part as my boys have somewhat settled in their respective primary standards. Course there are obstacles here and there but largely manageable. Only biggie decision to be taken is whether to go for MT exemption coz older one still flunking.

Good to see that your kids are progressing well even to the point of settling in mainstream.

Couragemom: wavering attention is standard for every kid la, I would be creeped out if any young child is able to sit still for long, machiam Poltergeist *shudder*

Mashy, Double E: You are both cool parents, hope to grow up to be like you 

Mr Taiko (Tyeogh): still keeping that dry sense of humour. that the attitude goes a long way in NOT going insane.

Slmkhoo: bow down to your Oracle greatness, if I come here at all, it’s to listen to your great advice and experience.

keep Boogie-ing folks :boogie:

Totalstranger, it’s not so easy to switch EIPIC programs because all Govt subsidised ones have year long waiting lists. Parents really have no choice but to go private and kena ker tok $$$. Also logistics wise, these EIPIC programs only run 2-3 times a week for a couple of hours. For the dual income family, means your child also has to go to a kindy for the rest of the time, double whammy. Less intervention means more parental involvement which from personal experience, puts mental strain the marital and family relationships.


Poor Tyeogh. Heart really goes out to you and the frustration you must feel. All parents want the best for their kids wor.

40% increase is criminal but not unheard of unfortunately. My boy’s schoolbus fees increased from $270 to $320 this year but bo pian as that is only bus plying the desired route. With his PL fees of $420 per mth plus after school care with intervention of $950 (no subsidy as it is private). That’s $1.690 just to go to school not counting enrichment or tuition. Here I thought going to primary school would be cheaper than his early intervention years.

This is only for one boy. And before you all ask, there are not many after school programs for primary school years and above with learning intervention in Singapore. That’s why they dare to charge such fees. (Business idea though)

There has been many articles recently on Singaporeans sense of entitlement. However, this area certainly warrants more examination to help ease the financial burdens of the middle class sandwich generation who is not poor enough to get assistance and not rich enough to provide necessary support

tyeogh:

So happy today.This afternoon, ds performed at his mainstream kindy school concert. He got on the stage, did his dance item together with his classmates, then left the stage. Got most of the moves right. Well, none of his 20 odd classmates did it perfect anyway. The sight of him stamping his feet with his NT classmates at a certain part gave me an indescribable joy. Its like he can hold his own with his peers.


One year ago, they could not handle him so he had to watch his classmates from the spectator seats. This year, the Holy Grail - school concert. And the boy was visibly happy to be a part of it.

A teacher from another class came to congratulate us saying she saw the difference in him. I feel so blessed

:congrats:

Can imagine your heart almost bursting out of your chest

Hi Optrex80


Hope my sharing will help in your preparation. I have twin boys, one is pri1 mainstream and the other in Pathlight foundation. We made the decision to split them up due to their differing levels of ASD and so far we haven’t regretted the decision. However it wasn’t an easy ride for the one in mainstream.

We declared his condition to the school so several adjustments were made to accommodate. During the first half of this year, the skool AED officer met him once a week to check on his adjustment socially. She also checks his behavior in class to see if he is able to pay attention and cope academically. My boy also gets to sit on the desk directly in front of the teacher’s desk while the other kids have to rotate. His form teacher is also special needs trained. Even with the class of 30, we feel that she gives a lot of personal attention and care to my boy for which we feel very blessed. He is also in a school care nearby (ya, he had a double whammy adjustment). They initially had some reservations and accepted him on a trial period. In a short time, he managed to somehow charm the center teachers to the point that I get gently told off by them if I am too strict with him.

Those are the plus points, now for the other side of the coin. He had to be on a skool bus that had no bus aunty and the boys were pretty notoriously naughty. Couldn’t change bus as that was the only bus route available. My boy is very talkative and very straight in terms of the black and white so the rest somehow got pissed at his constant nagging. There were a few episodes earlier this year that he rolled onto the bus floor and pushed around by the bigger boys. Initially, we didn’t intervene because we thought that’s how the world works, need to experience toughening up etc. But when it got to the point where he became fearful of taking the bus that I became a tiger mum and threatened the bus company. His form teacher was also very supportive that she counselled the rest of the bus mates. We managed to successfully campaign for a bus aunty now so all is well but am quite sad that my boy had to experience that tough time earlier. He also had a few skirmishes in skool due to his black and white mentality. Like he will never apologize if he doesn’t think he is wrong. Even certain social circumstances which we take for granted to say sorry to close the issue, he will make a fuss. He also had a heartbreaking meltdown when he wasn’t wearing the proper attire for a skool outing. Small things that we don’t think matter, matters a lot to them so my advice is to pay attention to triggers that will set your child off and work on negating such situations.
Socially he doesn’t have close friends and a bit of a loner. He spends his spare time at the skool library these days. But am less worried about that now. How many of us keep in touch with primary skool friends anyway. I’ll probably worry if he is a loner in Sec skool and above coz that’s where more lasting relationships are built. He is also struggling with MT but we are still hopeful that he can cope with his good memory. Will decide on exemption later.

Earlier he broke his arm and had to be in a cast for a month. His classmates took turns to be his buddy to carry his bag and such. Somehow after that incident, my boy toned down a lot in terms of unnecessary talking and his classmates also learnt how to take care of each other in need. Overall, a year of ups and downs but that’s life right? Cannot shelter all the time.

Double E, have to do Pavelovian conditioning if the teacher or school isn’t willing to compromise.


This is what I do to his completed homework: If it is in sheet form, put them into transparent folders (the thin kind) labelled with colored subject stickers maybe blue for English, yellow or maths etc. If it is a workbook, fold the page or put a neon post-it on the page so that something sticks out of the book. Then I will keep reminding my boy to pass this folder/book to the subject teacher. He knows he will get a scolding if he forgets. Luckily once a routine is established, they follow very faithfully.

No such problems in Pathlight as the teachers check their bags daily.