Table Spoon:Hi,For sports CCA, do they only take in girls with some background of the sports in primary school? For example, softball team only take in members who are already softball players in primary schools.
Is Nanyang Girls ultra- competitive? My girl is considering between Nanyang and Cedar, both offered her under DSA. For Nanyang, she got it through the academic route while Cedar's offer is for a CCA sport.
My DD was also offered NYGH and Cedar under academic. She chose NYGH because of the uniform :rotflmao: and the red colour seats at the auditorium. I know it sounds ridiculous but to a 12 years old, their criteria of selecting a school is as simple as that. She is currently in upper sec. I am sharing the following based on what I observed my DD's experience in NYGH, other parents might have different views or inputs. There are girls who are ultra-competitive as NYGH is one of the top girls’ school and naturally everyone is academically driven and mugging is like a daily bread. However, there are girls who slack and the school do put these girls who don’t meet the minimum promotion criteria to be transferred to the O-level track or retain.
NYGH has a good programme to nurture, train and teach the girls to be an all rounder academically and in life skills. In the last 3 years, DD was exposed to many out of school learning such as hostel living, 6 days kayak at the sea in Johor, overseas trips, drama theatrical works, music, wu-shu, many talks/seminars conducted for motivation and management skills. Teachers are helpful and caring and consultation to clarify your doubts are always available if the students take the initiatives. NYGH teaches the girls to be responsible for their own revision/self studies and results. The curriculum is wide and it is the students responsibility to be an independent learner to learn the depth and take initiatives to do practice papers.
In Sec 1, DD was loaded with English, Math, Science and Chinese tuitions (until middle of Sec 2). Looking back, the tuitions might not be necessary because NYGH teachers are available for consultations and there are many resources such as past year’s papers which teachers can provide and mark if you do the extra and submit. Now, she only takes Chinese and Math tuitions.
The other precautionary note is that for DSA students, if she doesn’t clear the minimum promotion requirement, the child has to retain or go to international school. She can’t transfer to another school with O-level track even though the other school can take her in. Parents were told late last year that Sec 2 who doesn’t clear the promotion criteria to Sec 3 would have to be transferred to O-level track in Sec 3 or retain in Sec 2. This applies for Sec 3 promotion criteria too.
DD’s favourite is iPad learning in Sec 2 and 3. The teaching materials are uploaded and can be retrieved and learn on the go.
As for CCA, the child has to go for trials and you can try as many sports, dance etc as you want. The seniors and the school will do the selection. My DD enjoyed her Sec 1 tremendously as first of half year was mostly orientation activities and parents are also warmly welcomed to the NY parent volunteer/support group which is a huge group of parents. You might want to search Facebook and see the activities the parents volunteer organized.
I can’t comment about Cedar but when DD was offered CO, she felt very welcomed as there was a formal ceremony to hand her the letter of offer and there was a tea reception hosted by the Principal, a few teachers and DD’s primary school pupils who entered Cedar “buddied” her. Apart from curriculum, I suppose if you want a multi-racial learning environment then it would be Cedar as NYGH has mainly Chinese students. Having said that NYGH girls are cool :imcool: and they speaks English in school most of the time and they are not “Cheeena” or nerds as perceived by other schools…and lastly, the sleeveless uniform and red colour auditorium chairs must have been so attractive to pull her to NYGH instead of the blue and grey colour uniform with tie. All the best to your DD.
my girl has to stay back whole week for CCA auditions as well. Understand that all sec ones were given a test on maths today. Hope yours are doing fine.