Kafer:

I did not buy any assessment books for my son.

He study based on the notes given by the teachers for the various sub.

I think the only assessment that would be relevant would be MT only. They still sit for the same O levels exams.

star89:

Hi.My son is p4 this year. I'm looking for math tutor. Any contacts? Thanks.

Where are you staying? My DS used to go to a home tutor. She is very good but she is not at CCK area.

Shan:

Hi, need advice.

DS doing PSLE this year is not motivated. I have to nag/shout at him to do his school/ tuition centre hw, revise & pack his bag otherwise he will be watching cartoons, just lazing around. He said doing work is boring. He is doing ok in Maths & Science but getting 50s-60s for English & Chinese.

He keeps asking to play computer games but I told him he can play only on weekends. In the past, he will be \"motivated\" to do his hw if I allow him to play computer games after he finishes.
For parents of kids doing PSLE this year, do you allow your kids to play computer games on weekdays? Appreciate if you can share. Thanks!

Hi Shan,

My advice is try sitting DS down and have a good talk. Avoid shouting and nagging (I know it is tough but you must try). Plan things with him and make him set goals and work with him to get to his goals. They can only be productive if they want to study. So if you do it by force it will be a waste of time- his and yours.

To me computer games are not totally not advisable as they occupies the mind and taxing to the eyes. Hence, kids can never get enough of it. Talk to him and make a deal. If he must have it, put it in his schedule. Drawing up a work schedule is good and all must try to follow it closely.

I went through 2 PSLEs (last one last year) with my DD and DS. Both experience were different, but we grew a lot closer after that.

All the best! What you need most is patience and more patience and you are not alone.

ToughLfeMummy:

This is the first time I attended parents' orientation in a secondary school but I must say SJI has done a great job in organizing the orientation camp. The bonding amongst the boys (S1 or S3) is so strong that anyone would feel a great sense of belonging. My boy is an introvert but he thoroughly enjoyed the camp and made some new friends which surprises me. I'm confident that our boys will have an enriching and fulfilling time at SJI during their stay.

So happy for your boy...nothing beats seeing the kids enjoying their school. I can't wait to see my DS tonight :rahrah:

JRLam:

Zekezachzoom:

[quote=\"pixiedust\"]My son enjoyed the first few days. He said he loves his new school :boogie: I hope it continue this way.

My DS also enjoys his new school too. He has been taking bus back from school and feels proud in his uniform;) though the journey back home takes about an hour but with his new friends with him, it doesn't feel that long as per him.

Hiaz .. my boy is still struggling to find his comfort zone in the new environment. Not sure is it because he is 1 of the non-affiliated boys in his class (his class has >50% of students from affiliated schools), he has yet to make any new friend He is quite an easy-going boy but he said he is older now so finds it harder to make new friends!

Really hope that he can make some friends during next week's activites, then he will be less 'depressed' .... :sad:[/quote]
Don't worry, boys in general warmed up pretty easily...esp after fun activities. I am sure it will be better from next week.

Alarmchain:

Not sure if this question has been asked and answered before. Does anyone know a score of 250 roughly translates to the ?% of the cohort?


I do understand that it depends on the overall score of each cohort but just a rough gauge, as in the range from the past few years .... 15% to 20% ....... 20% to 25% ......?

Just curious.

Thanks.

I think it is probably the top 15% to 20%. As far as I know the top 10% will be offered a category of 3rd Lang like French, Jap and German. Last year my GF's DD got 256 but was not offered these. Again, I am not 100% sure. Then again, 250 is already a very good score.

[quote=\"Shaolin8\"]Hi DLSS Parent,

cheap labour refers to the definition of exploitation. They should employ adequate staff to do the manual work that is need in administration.


---------------------------------------------
Dear fellow parents,
Sharing my views if I may...labour, be it CHEAP or FREE, as long as it is voluntary, cannot be defined as exploitation. No sane person will volunteer to be exploited. So if you were to ask any of the PSGs, I believe you'll have one default answer, and that is, we are happy doing what we do or what we can do for the school.

We as parents volunteer our time and service for a specific reason and the reasons may vary from parent to parent. Speaking for myself, my reason for being here is so that I too can become a member of this big \"family\" that my children belong to. So that I can be part of their learning journey in this crucial six year.

Am I here to ensure that the school lift up to its supposedly standards to meet my expectations - No. From the day I chose to place my children in this school, I trust that this will be the best school for my kids. Does that mean that this is the best school in the neighborhood? To me no, it is not. By Singapore standards, all schools are good. But this is the school of my choice. I trust that together we will bring out the best in our children so that they can be ready to move on to greater heights.

Am I here to solve the MOE or school's/teachers issues and problems - No. Let's leave this to those whom are paid to do the job.

Am I here to stand in as administrative assistance due to the short of resources - No. I wonder how did that impression come about actually. :?

So the up side is that, the school will not collapse without us (sadly we are not indispensable). The downside is that, if you are expecting to see a whole portfolio of fancy stuff from us the PSG, you may be disappointed.

At the end of the day, to many, we may just appear to be a bunch of housewives (too free), waiting to be \"exploited\". Does that perception really matter? To me not really. We are not here to impress anybody. Honestly, for all you know, we may just be simple housewives who are willing to volunteer our time in providing help and service in areas of need.

To answer to your question about if we have any volunteers who does not have kids in this school, I am proud to say yes we do. Why are they here? You may like to ask them personally when you have a chance to do that.

As for me, I have one who has graduated and one who is graduating this year. Will I still volunteer my time here next year since there is no more apparent reason for me to do so. Not saying this to impress any of you, my answer is YES.

Reason...when I look at how my children had developed through these years to be who they are today, I am grateful. For that, if the school needs me, and if I can help contribute, be it just a tad, to help the other kids in anyway, I am happy to do so.

De La Salle is no longer my children's school, it has become mine too.



P.S...with regard to the closed FB Grp. Very good idea. You really need each others support if you do not already have one.

Brownbear:

I would like to know the market rate for higher Chinese tuition for sec 2 student. Recently a tutor quote me $50 / hr (min 2 hrs per session) and I think it's very reasonable but my friends all think its expensive.

I would think that this is reasonable rate. Taking into consideration that tuition centres charges from $45 - $60 for an hour for a class size. I do hear of home tutors charging $100 per hour for 1 to 1 for lower sec. And students have to travel to their home - which I find is not reasonable.

Then again it really depends on how good the tutor is.

pecalis:

I asked as my aunt wanted her son to go NA in St Hildas but his score was 20+ and she said no option to go NA. Told her to go MOE and ask for special provision but I believe she din do that. This was many yrs ago.


Another niece had 19+ last yr and parents opted for NA instead of Exp for her in a gd sec sch in the east. She's doing very well - top in class and hoping to transfer to Exp next yr but i believe she'll struggle as her overall % is just slightly more than 70 instead of 80%. I told her NA pace is more suitable for her and so what if she needs 5 yrs instead of 4 yrs to complete her O levels. Age no longer matter when you are in uni, as i realised i have classmates who repeated o or a levels, some are from poly and the guys have to serve 2 yrs in the army... I thot I saw the sparkle in her eyes!

Pecalis, tt is very good advice for your niece. There is really no hurry to complete O levels. Best is for kids to do it at a pace most suited for them and enjoy studying.

linden2000:

Chenonceau:

[quote=\"janet_lee88\"]Hi a child,

I read your post with delight (in fact i printed it) bcos it was posted based on your personal experiences...and for first-timer parents like myself with kids going to secondary school, it's really interesting to read.

Mummies,
The first 5 days after PSLE has been FUN...completely no academic work. He truly deserved that break.

Then I got son to read newspapers everyday and write a diary on day's happenings.
Went to SAP (publisher) website to check out some reference titles. Wow, the English grammar/vocab at sec 1 is no joke :nailbite:
Once sec 1 exams are over, I will borrow some titles for son to read them. Language is very impt especially in secondary...cannot be so lax.

Hi Mummy Janet... if I may... I thought I would make a gentle suggestion here. Would you consider letting your child choose his own titles? I've let my son choose his own readings ever since P2. He didn't like newspapers at all. The main section was boring to him... so I helped him choose non-fiction books that he found interesting.

As weeks piled into months, his choices went up the reading levels until now he is reading books such as \"Churchill's Unnecessary War\" and this 1.5 inches tome entitled Democracy that he borrowed in P5 and tried to force me to read. And only then he turned to the newspapers, but he only reads the Insight articles or other opinion pieces (because he doesn't like all the news about accidents and petty crime)... as well as Time and Newsweek.

Your DS will be Sec 1 soon. Perhaps consider asking him to browse assessments and choosing his own and then drop him off at the library to choose his own books? He is a boy after all and must grow into a man. The earlier he starts on his journey towards being his own man, the better.

Agree that it's definitely easier to get the child committed to the reading if you let him choose. DS is not interested in current affairs, only occasionally when the articles are about education will he be interested. But he reads voluntarily the Science and Tech section of the Economist we have at home so I try to pass the copy to him whenever it's here (a gentle nudge to read it).

I'm still trying to get him to improve his Chinese since there is still Chinese in sec school. Intend to get him to choose some Chinese books and read them together when we have the time.[/quote]yes, don't neglect the Chinese books. Somehow when they get to Sec, they tend to dislike the MT more...don't know why. They just cannot wait to get shot of it - esp boys