Maris Stella High School

[skyjuice]

[quote]
Arrghh....didn't bring the vouchers with me!!!! Great. I called the school bookshop again, and was told to redeem latest by Tuesday.

I saw quite a few parents there just now - which one were you?[/quote]I was with a black top and beige skirt and purple shoulder bag. Picked up my son and his 4 primary school mates who live in Tiong Bahru area.

[skyjuice]

MintLeaf:

von72:

My son has this issue of bringing handphone to school. I was told that one could bring by just having to register with the GO. Is my understanding correct??

I don't think they can bring handphones to school at all. It is something we have a gripe against too. The previous principal felt very strongly that handphones will facilitate BGR that will be a big distraction for the boys.

My son uses the public phone regularly. Other times we make contact through ICQ (messenger software). These are workarounds but we have not stopped wishing that the school will allow handphones.

Will the hp be confiscated for good or just a limited time? My son's teacher said absolutely no hp but his schoolmate in another class said his teacher said just don't let him catch anyone with hp... It's not like teachers search students' bags, right?

I hope the school will see that, for most students, the main use of the hp is to contact their parents. It would be reasonable to restrict the time of use to after school or when out of school grounds then to totally ban it. They are at a age where they spend a lot of time outside either on projects or classes. Hp lets us keep in touch with them. I'm really curious as to the school's official reason for disallowing hp.

[MintLeaf]

skyjuice:

Will the hp be confiscated for good or just a limited time? My son's teacher said absolutely no hp but his schoolmate in another class said his teacher said just don't let him catch anyone with hp... It's not like teachers search students' bags, right?


I hope the school will see that, for most students, the main use of the hp is to contact their parents. It would be reasonable to restrict the time of use to after school or when out of school grounds then to totally ban it. They are at a age where they spend a lot of time outside either on projects or classes. Hp lets us keep in touch with them. I'm really curious as to the school's official reason for disallowing hp.

The handphone is confiscated for 10 weeks. And most of the time, the teachers don't search the bags. In fact, my son's friends did bring the handphones to school for the last 2 years and most of the time they don't get caught.

My son rarely brought his phone to school when he was Sec 1. On the first day of school last year (Sec 2), he brought it to school and was caught after sending a sms to me at 4:30 pm. He was given a stern warning then. Ever since, he has a phobia of bringing his handphone to school and is now absolutely trained to use the public phone.

[von72]

[quote]
Sounds like a good plan to me. 2 hours can tax the kid even more if lessons are conducted at Bishan MOELC.

CCA started immediately after the trial and verdict for my son. If the trial is next week then CCA should start week after. I was surprised to hear table tennis trial is tomorrow (Saturday). It was during a school day for my son 2 years ago.

I understand your boy is going for Archery? I haven't heard of primary school Archery so this should be fair play for all, if there is any need for a trial. For sports like badminton, table tennis, etc, they bring in China students and competitive players through DSA. It seems every other school does this nowadays and this makes it difficult for newbies to get in. Sometimes I am really curious if the China students do anything else other than playing games. They can practise 5-7 days a week.[/quote]Yup, i heard from my neighbour's son who is in Sec 2 this yr telling us that badminton and table tennis are very competitive. And mostly china students. Somehow they can cope very well taking into account of the sch assignment. Guess playing game it's in their blood. Indeed, i agree with you, newbies that goes in likely be reserve and guess hardly hv chance to go for any exchange, let alone competition. My son is now deciding between Archery or bowling.....he has interest in bowling but hasn't have any proper training.

[von72]

skyjuice:

Will the hp be confiscated for good or just a limited time? My son's teacher said absolutely no hp but his schoolmate in another class said his teacher said just don't let him catch anyone with hp... It's not like teachers search students' bags, right?


I hope the school will see that, for most students, the main use of the hp is to contact their parents. It would be reasonable to restrict the time of use to after school or when out of school grounds then to totally ban it. They are at a age where they spend a lot of time outside either on projects or classes. Hp lets us keep in touch with them. I'm really curious as to the school's official reason for disallowing hp.

Same here, i'm curions as to why sch are so against hp....and indeed the main use of the hp is to let our child contact us outside school. Guess will put in suggestion to them on your point on the restriction of time of usage and ground.

[blitz]

MintLeaf:

My son said you may ask the principal for permission to bring a handphone, but we don't know anybody who has succeeded in justifying to the previous principal. 2 years ago, we did try talking to the principal. We are, however, not sure what the new principal stand is. My son also told me that his Sec 2 classmate had his phone confiscated this week.

The new principal is kinda young, so I was hoping he has a different idea abt hp. Apparently not, since the sec 2 bpy had his phone confiscated only this week. Maybe because of the principal's age, he knows how distracting a mobile phone can be!!

But like skyjuice mentioned, the boys will stay back in school usually, and so far, even this week, they haven't been released on time, sometimes parents and grandparents get worried. Not all the kids stay near the school (mine definitely doesnt) and it helps to have a mobile to contact him after school hours.

Skyjuice, I dont think I saw you - perhaps I was late in getting there.

[skyjuice]

[quote]Yup, i heard from my neighbour's son who is in Sec 2 this yr telling us that badminton and table tennis are very competitive. And mostly china students. Somehow they can cope very well taking into account of the sch assignment. Guess playing game it's in their blood. Indeed, i agree with you, newbies that goes in likely be reserve and guess hardly hv chance to go for any exchange, let alone competition. My son is now deciding between Archery or bowling.....he has interest in bowling but hasn't have any proper training.[/quote]
My son went for badminton try out today. Out of 40, they took in 1-- school team caliber! I really wonder the priorities of CCA in schools these days. Compete for the glory of the school or nurture the interests of the child... My son was really keen to take up badminton after he started playing the sport over the Dec hols. After being rejected at the try out, he still wants to learn it privately. That's a child's interest level. But I guess schools these days are more keen on kids that can win awards for them. So sad...

There seems to be so many CCAs to take up in MS. But if look closer, not many my son can qualify without prior training. He doesn't know which to join cos those he's keen only take in competitor levels, the rest are just not so appealing!

As for bowling, MS team is quite strong. Be prepared to buy gear if your son joins. They can be a hefty sum. My 2 younger boys are under bowling training privately so that they've a sport to offer in sec sch DSA and CCA. A lesson learnt the hard way after seeing my eldest's experience.

[blitz]

skyjuice:

My son went for badminton try out today. Out of 40, they took in 1-- school team caliber! I really wonder the priorities of CCA in schools these days. Compete for the glory of the school or nurture the interests of the child... My son was really keen to take up badminton after he started playing the sport over the Dec hols. After being rejected at the try out, he still wants to learn it privately. That's a child's interest level. But I guess schools these days are more keen on kids that can win awards for them. So sad...

There seems to be so many CCAs to take up in MS. But if look closer, not many my son can qualify without prior training. He doesn't know which to join cos those he's keen only take in competitor levels, the rest are just not so appealing!

As for bowling, MS team is quite strong. Be prepared to buy gear if your son joins. They can be a hefty sum. My 2 younger boys are under bowling training privately so that they've a sport to offer in sec sch DSA and CCA. A lesson learnt the hard way after seeing my eldest's experience.

Yes, unfortunately most schools want kids who can win awards for the schools. Sigh. Schooling during my time wasnt that complicated and difficult.

[MintLeaf]

von72:

Yup, i called the school bookshop this morning and was told latest by tuesday too. Gosh, looks like we have to arrange kind of \"blind date\" for the Kiasuparents group to meet up huh!!

Do you fetch your son home from school everyday?

Sometimes the school gates are closed like during CAs, SAs and H1N1 outbreak, etc. When this happens, you will see the parents parking their cars by the side of the road and that can cause frequent deadlocks. As a result, the cars in the deadlock (not those parking by the side waiting) would be forced to reverse their cars up the slope along Mount Vernon Road towards Gurkha. I personally find this a difficult task. I have hit the black and yellow barricades at Gurkha once with a very loud bang. Not fun at all, even though there was no damage to the bumper.

[MintLeaf]

blitz:

Not all the kids stay near the school (mine definitely doesnt) and it helps to have a mobile to contact him after school hours.

We don't live nearby either. I believe it was Wednesday when CCA was cancelled but my son did not know about it. The school wireless network was down and the public phone was being repaired. My son could not contact me as it didn't occur to him to borrow the phone from the General Office. Wished he did as it would have been a perfect opportunity to make a statement. He took a bus home eventually.