Hi Katherina,


Don’t get demoralise. It is tough to get into the sports CCA, in the first place, places are reserved for those DSA via sports, secondly, they are looking for boys who are able to win medals, so it is very tough.

Like what Snow Crystal said RI is a big pond.

My son got brainwashed by the teacher and seniors and join uniform group last year. He told me he regrets a little. But hubby and I feel that it is a good thing bcos DS is not a outdoor person, and he has more muscles now

To toughen up, NPCC and NCC seem to be 2 of the good choices. Unifom groups provide a lot of opportunities for developing Leadership qualitiy for the boys.

Happy Lunar New year to everyone !

I found my old messages to Zann last year (and it is 11 Aug 2011!!)

It is called History Study Guide by CASCO – bought from Popular book store.

htn:

fruitiplus

Hi, what is the title of the assessment book?Who is the author?How does the cover looks like?
Thanks

Sorry for the late reply. I didn't log on to this website for the past few days...

So sorry I can't give you the title of the assessment books, I think we have recycled them.

I remembered the book is green colour, but my DS said is Blue. The publisher is CASCO, there is a few cherry-like fruits on the book cover. It is in A5 size.

As my DD is 3 years older than DS, I just happened to browse thru her history text books and realized that quite a number of topics are similar in her Sec 1 text book when DS was in P4.

I think any Sec History assessment book that provide a summary for each topic will help as these children are very smart.

DS manage to get a Distinction in SS [or the teacher give chance?? ] in P6 although his overall was just 78.8%. So I think the assessment book did help.....

ngbrdad:

hexagon:

DS's SS teacher gave them a list of topics to study for the SS prelims -:

i) Our Education
ii) Our Industries
iii) Our Transport
iv) Future Problem Solving
v) SEA

Check with your DS, he should have a list too with details on the areas to be tested on. 2 more weeks to go and looks like a lot to cover.

Just got the notice from DS.
The best thing is there is no notes/handouts for all these topics.
How to study ?

From DS past few years's experience, it seems to help by going thru the Sec 3's History assessment book (I bought the CASCO's one if I remember correctly) for P6's SS.

Sec 1 History - P4 SS
Sec 2 History - P5 SS
Sec 3 History - P6 SS

The answers required for SS in P4/P5/P6 is much shorter and much less in-depth compare to History in Sec 1/2/3. But for revision purpose, the topics, main points and summary covered in the assessment book seems to help in SS's exams in P4/5/6.

P.S. Zann may be able to share her experience with you. I shared with her about the CASCO History assessment book either last year or the year before.

Hi Zann,


Year 1s need not bring laptop to school, but they will need one for doing the group projects. My son brought his laptop to his classmate house to do the group projects. He really enjoy doing the group projects.

I think they work and play using the laptop

barbie88:

toilet_kiddo_flower:

my nephew finds RI fun, not too much homework, but more projects. guess he's coping well

Is it really true that there is less homework in RI? My DS is in Yr 1 and he hardly has any homework. But my niece also in Sec 1 in a neighbourhood school is struggling with piles of homework everyday.

I think it is true.

Every time I ask my DS any homework? He said no homework or he has finished his homework in school. haha, so now it is confirmed since 2 of you said so

For this March holiday, only 1 math worksheet, 1 science worksheet, 4 Chinese worksheets and a few group-work projects.

vlim:

Herbie:

Oh! On top of the various submissions, DD got selected to go for debate training. But i dun know whether it is for local competition purpose or just for the fun of it.


:?

Debate training is good..how I hope my ds took part...He only voluntarily take part for Maths related training or competitions ...For Science and others he will opt out without my consent

For debate training, I think they will have weekly training and the students involved would need to prepare scripts at time for their debate training...Those outstanding ones will be selected to represent the school for debate competitions..

Yah, I agree with vlim, debate training will help to build up public speaking skills and confidence, too. My son didn't get selected, sigh...

TwaTau:

thmejlfm:

Hi!


My DD is first year GEP. So, a lot of things I still not very sure.

At the moment, she seem like still quite free. Had started her first project, the 2D Family Tree.

Would like to check with the parents here. We intend to buy a laptop for our DD, as promised. But, worried that in future, the school might require them to have certain software in their computer. Will there be the case?

Some of my friends said that don't buy now, may be later the school will ask them to buy together with some software require in school.

Please advise. Thank you

Just the standard PC will do, with MS office suite, student version is good enough. It should come with powerpoint, word. You will need to get internet access, to do research and a email account which they can communicate with their classmates, for those group project. No special software require.

That's right, Powerpoint, Word and internet access (for research), and email a/c will normally do.

For my son's case, 2 of his P5 projects required some video taking of the presentations and experiments. Thus, a simple movie clip editing software to edit and add some text will do.

Oh, his teacher also got the whole class to 'pretend' to be 18 years old and create a Facebook a/c for online discussion.

vlim:

thanks fruitplus and jtoh for your info :love:


Hope my ds can perform well for the DSA interview as he is no good in 'public' speaking and oral presentation...

vlim,

No need to worry, SA1 get average above 80%, interview ok will do. No need public speaking skill lah, just try to show a bit of confidence, haha

My son shy shy kind, I just asked him to go thru his presentation with me a few times. During the interview, 1 of the RI teachers commented that DS spoke too softly.

As for those 'funny/out of the box' (?) interview questions, as long as the kid can back up his choice with reasonable explanation, that will do.

1 of the questions that was asked by most of the interviewers (so you need to prepare your son to answer the question) :

Why did you choose our school ?

All the best to your son

jtoh:

Hi vlim, I read on the other thread that your kid was awarded the merit scholarship so he must be one of the top students in his school. So DSA should be no problem!

vlim,

Argh, it seems to be more problematic for boys than girls. Boys are generally more playful and mature later than girls.

What I tried to do was to warn DS of the consequences if he didn't work hard and try to push as far as I can (yet cannot made him too stress out, cannot nag too much and irritate him => very difficult to balance). These kids are very smart, you just have to they them know that if they work hard for SA1, after that it is an easy path.

I think my DS work harder in SA1 than PSLE, he found PSLE preparation too boring, probably bcos they had to do a lot of exam papers. Ttheir teachers gave them past year and current year mainstream exam papers from all the 9 GEP Pri. So you don't need to buy past year exam papers for your son to practise

Since your son is 1 or the top students in his school, I think you can be more relax. My DS was an average student only, average from P4, so mom has to worry a lot.

If my DS can make it, I am sure your son has no problem ! Relax!