Maris Stella High School

[von72]

Hi MintLeaf,


about 3rd language…is it possible if we request to take Higer Ch at sec?? Did your boy took a 3rd language??

[skyjuice]

MintLeaf:

Hi Von72,


You are welcome. Yes, it's a pity Maris Stella does not have fencing. If your son enjoys fencing, it could turn out to be a stress relief for him if he continues. I must admit Secondary school is stressful. However, for Sec 1, let them bump around a bit. To be promoted to Sec 2, the child needs a pass in English and an overall average of 50% and above. You want to practise in Sec 1 and go for it in Sec 2, as streaming depends solely on Sec 2 results.

The school has put some programs in place for all the students to help them achieve the CCA points. But I am still not sure how to compute and where my son stands. Yesterday, my son found out he could check his CCA point status at the General Office. He has yet to make the enquiry at the GO.

I have the impression that annual camps is a Marist tradition dating back more than 20 years. They generally survive well for the Sec 1 camp. At Sec 2, they are not really crazy about going for camp before the fact, but seem to conclude they enjoyed it much more than the Sec 1 camp after the fact. You must miss your son. I did too when he was in Sec 1. Time flies and he will be back soon. Just pray that the weather will be kind to them.

Do you know that if the child takes Malay as a third language, he gets 2 bonus points for JC admission if he passes it at 'O' level? I didn't know about this 2 years ago. This could be a way to work around the lack of HMT advantage, but again, it may tax the kid too much. I understand the 3rd language classes only start next week, so it should still be possible to request to be admitted now. fyi.

Hi Mintleaf, once again, thanks so much for your valuable input.

2 points for taking Malay? That sounds attractive. I've learnt to plan carefully for CCA since DSA time last year, when I realized my son had nothing to offer for DSA entry. So this time round, I told my son to factor in accumulating points on top of interest and learning opportunities.

He told me he wants to give badminton a shot and plans to go for the try out during the CCA maze. But seeing this is MS's niche sport, I'm not optimistic as he never had any proper training.

I noticed swimming is opened only to Competitive Club Members. He's never competed so i guess he can't join this sport? I hope the various sports have spaces for students with no foundation so that they have a chance at it.

[skyjuice]

daisyt:

Hi skyjuice, in general, the hours of sec schools are long nowadays. This is very common. Yes, CCA is that long. Eg. in RV, 2 days of CCA a week, each day is 3 hours. When compeition is near, more time to spend on CCA.


Yes, its torturing in the beginning and the kids would be very very tired. But once they are used to it, its fine. My girl took about 3 months to get use to the long hours, tight schedule and tiredness.

Oh, forget to mention, doze off in class during lessons ..... :shock: :lol: :roll:

Don't worry because you are not the only one worrying. See this,
http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2123
hahah ....

Thanks for the link, Daisyt. After reading it, I truly pity the IP kids. Such a tough start! But I'm sure being the adaptable teens they are, they'll soon get used to it.

Still, looking at those time tables posted by the many parents, I still hope my son is spared... I can't bear to see my son losing his cheer and smile when it's only sec 1.

[skyjuice]

MintLeaf:

Hi Skyjuice,

Only one CCA is required. Did he sign up for more than one? Generally they end at 1:50 pm. Sometimes they get to go off at 1:20 pm. This is only for lower secondary. The school also starts slightly later than other schools. Nan Hua, for example, ends at 14:30 every day.

The timetable runs over 2 weeks, so Day 6-10 means Mon-Fri on the even weeks. When CCA is blocked on the timetable, it does not mean your son will definitely have CCA that day. It depends on what CCA he has chosen and the corresponding arrangement.

Hi MintLeaf,
My son will probably just sign up for 1 CCA, need to test ground first. According to time table, CCA days are Weds and Fris. But I saw in website ODAC meetings are Tue and Thurs. 3pm. Possibly the website is not updated? Am actually a bit disappointed with the website. It's not very informative and not very appealing in terms of design and layout.

[MintLeaf]

von72:

Hi MintLeaf,


about 3rd language....is it possible if we request to take Higer Ch at sec?? Did your boy took a 3rd language??

Hi Von72,

Initially I was told that if the student can get 70% and above for his Chinese, he will be allowed to move to Higher Chinese in Secondary 2. When he was in Secondary 2, we received a notification that the student required 75% and above for Chinese and overall average (ie, average for all subjects) to read HMT in Secondary 3. I supposed that was because HMT students have to take the Chinese 'O' level paper at the end of Secondary 3.

My son is not doing a third language. If I knew about the implication of Malay as a third language, I would have seriously considered pursuing it, although my original wish 2 years ago was for him to move to a Higher Chinese class. In his cohort, there are 5 people who are doing Malay as a 3rd language. I suspect there were many parents who did not know about the bonus points for JC admission.

[MintLeaf]

skyjuice:

Hi Mintleaf, once again, thanks so much for your valuable input.


2 points for taking Malay? That sounds attractive. I've learnt to plan carefully for CCA since DSA time last year, when I realized my son had nothing to offer for DSA entry. So this time round, I told my son to factor in accumulating points on top of interest and learning opportunities.

He told me he wants to give badminton a shot and plans to go for the try out during the CCA maze. But seeing this is MS's niche sport, I'm not optimistic as he never had any proper training.

I noticed swimming is opened only to Competitive Club Members. He's never competed so i guess he can't join this sport? I hope the various sports have spaces for students with no foundation so that they have a chance at it.

Yes, 2 points is extremely attractive. The requirement is like Higher Chinese. Only a pass. No need to get A1 or A2.

I also find schools nowadays very focus on competition. It was so unlike our time, when we can join any CCA to pick up a sport just for passion sake. But back to CCA points. I just heard Councilor gets you at most 4 points. You need only an A2 (20 points) to get 2 bonus points for JC admission. The school is busy helping with the Enrichment and Service. Enrichment can give you a maximum of 4 points. Service will provide another 5 points when 100 hours have been completed.

Assuming adhering to everything the school organises for Enrichment and Service gets one 9 points, the child needs to work out where the other 11 points should come from. 1 point for membership in the same CCA each year will give you 4 points in 4 years. You then need to sort out how to get 7 (20-9-4) more points to get a minimum A2.

It seems even participating in ICAS Maths can get you some points under A for LEAPS. But I am not sure what is the criteria, eg, how many points a Credit or a Distinction gives you. Everything I share here is extremely new to me too, so please vet what I said. My son has only 2 years left, so I am also checking his CCA points now.

[MintLeaf]

skyjuice:

Hi MintLeaf,

My son will probably just sign up for 1 CCA, need to test ground first. According to time table, CCA days are Weds and Fris. But I saw in website ODAC meetings are Tue and Thurs. 3pm. Possibly the website is not updated? Am actually a bit disappointed with the website. It's not very informative and not very appealing in terms of design and layout.

Hi Skyjuice,
I use the web sites mainly for Admin Portal Announcement, Studywiz and teacher's contact (navigate from Staff->Teachers). Probably because the web site is not pretty enough for other things. Most students gather the CCA related information during the showcase.

[blitz]

skyjuice:

Hi Allets,


School bookstore told me the 3 vouchers to redeem the CDRom are inside the plastic Art folder. We are to redeem the CDRoms these 3 days at the Pri Grandstand bookstore. Till Fri that is.

Which class is your son in? Mine is in 1C.

Not sure how the kids are allocated. I also wonder does the school have top classes, etc...

Hi there Skyjuice. My son is in 1C too. He hasn't redeemed the 3 vouchers yet as they have in-school camp for these 3 days.

So this thing about Chinese - the physical copy of the textbook can be found at Popular? What are the titles, so I can get a copy too, please. His CL needs alot of pushing - and his tuition teacher was baffled when I told her that there is no textbook in the list.

Oh, and about the 3 day camp, any idea what time they end on Friday?

[skyjuice]

blitz:

Hi there Skyjuice. My son is in 1C too. He hasn't redeemed the 3 vouchers yet as they have in-school camp for these 3 days.


So this thing about Chinese - the physical copy of the textbook can be found at Popular? What are the titles, so I can get a copy too, please. His CL needs alot of pushing - and his tuition teacher was baffled when I told her that there is no textbook in the list.

Oh, and about the 3 day camp, any idea what time they end on Friday?

Hi Blitz,

Great to know a 1C parent! I'll be redeeming the CDRoms tmr when I pick my son up after camp. I believe there's only 1 sec 1 Express text to be used islandwide. I got his in Popular. Yes, my son's Chinese needs all the help he can get so i feel better with a hard copy around.

The official release time is 12noon but GO told me it's usually delayed till 1+...

[blitz]

skyjuice:

Hi Blitz,


Great to know a 1C parent! I'll be redeeming the CDRoms tmr when I pick my son up after camp. I believe there's only 1 sec 1 Express text to be used islandwide. I got his in Popular. Yes, my son's Chinese needs all the help he can get so i feel better with a hard copy around.

The official release time is 12noon but GO told me it's usually delayed till 1+...

Oh dear, I won't be going to pick him up. And I doubt he will remember to redeem the CD roms. Any idea if it will be available for redemption the following week?