River Valley High School [*IP]

[justsay]

daisyt:

From what I know, there is one 'O' level class. In DHS, also the same.

All ACSi, Nanyang Girls, HCI have one O level class each. My friend's son was from GEP, went on to that IB boy's school then dropped to Express in Sec 4. Principal wanted him to get below 10 pts below he can join back the IB program. He got 11 and was rejected. He's applying for other JC now. I guess each school has their own criteria for the O level class to continue their IP journey.

[justsay]

rosecy:

well if the kids have lost interest in their studies, not much the school can do even with the best teachers to take that class.


guess probably thats why they ended there n didnt do well for o lvl as well.

cant imagine how a PSLE 250+ can end up with such poor o lvl....sigh

Not all were 250+, some were from DSA. There are many factors to not doing well. I've seen 2 cases of 270+ went to RI and dropped out in JC. Some did so well in their O level but retained in JC1.

[tacit]

justsay:

Not all were 250+, some were from DSA. There are many factors to not doing well. I've seen 2 cases of 270+ went to RI and dropped out in JC. Some did so well in their O level but retained in JC1.

I think this really shows that PSLE is by no means an indicator of how successful students will be in the future.
[quote]A IP school will have most of their best resources dedicated to the IP program. It is demoralising to be one of the 15 kids in a cohort of a few hundred. Unlike a mainstream school where the O level fever and motivation and push is felt by entire cohort, it would seem like you are on your own when most of your friends are skipping the exams.[/quote]traineeks, I really agree, you've put it so well. The O level fever, as you term it, is definitely not felt very much at all in IP schools. I think it's a lot more conducive for IP students to transfer and do their O levels in a O level mainstream school. There's a lot more support amongst the peers in O level schools where the whole cohort is in this together.

In IP O level classes, the students are generally less motivated, and perhaps demoralized. IP schools do take care of their O level students though. They want them to do well too. In DHS, the teachers allocated to the O level class are all experienced. There are workshops and field trips too.

[daisyt]

tacit:

I think this really shows that PSLE is by no means an indicator of how successful students will be in the future.

Of course, I always believe so because kids change as they grow. Change to better or worse, nobody can tell now with the PSLE result. Parents just have to observe and guide them along the long journey.

[daisyt]

traineeks:

It is demoralising to be one of the 15 kids in a cohort of a few hundred. Unlike a mainstream school where the O level fever and motivation and push is felt by entire cohort, it would seem like you are on your own when most of your friends are skipping the exams.

In fact, many students are afraid they might drop to the O level class. But looking on the bright side, it can means, they are working very hard even in the first few junior high years.

[daisyt]

rosecy:

well if the kids have lost interest in their studies, not much the school can do even with the best teachers to take that class.


guess probably thats why they ended there n didnt do well for o lvl as well.

cant imagine how a PSLE 250+ can end up with such poor o lvl....sigh

If the kids lost interest in their studies, the parents and school should work hand in hand to help the kids. School's influence is very great, teachers' power is very strong. I can see from a few kids, from hate to love a subject, because of teachers and via versus. There are some, once there is sign of improvement in their results, their confidence level boast up and naturally they just like the subjects and continue to do well.

[phankao]

tacit:

justsay:

Not all were 250+, some were from DSA. There are many factors to not doing well. I've seen 2 cases of 270+ went to RI and dropped out in JC. Some did so well in their O level but retained in JC1.

I think this really shows that PSLE is by no means an indicator of how successful students will be in the future..

Some students, especially the GEP students, enter ACS(I) by just taking the school's high-ability selection test. Often their psle scores end up being lower than those who enter the 6-yr IP thru S1 posting. I wonder how these students end up doing in the programme?

I'm thinking that since these students manage to do well in a test that they cannot prepare for, unlike PSLE, their learning & thinking approach & foundation might be broader & stronger and they might actually be more suited to such programmes?

[daisyt]

Hi, anyone heard about year 3 next year, no more subject combi selections ? Seems that they have to take all subjects, wonder if the rumours is true because I have not received any notification. Then I am thinking, how about the bicultural class students, need to take all subjects too ? :?

[justsay]

daisyt:

Hi, anyone heard about year 3 next year, no more subject combi selections ? Seems that they have to take all subjects, wonder if the rumours is true because I have not received any notification. Then I am thinking, how about the bicultural class students, need to take all subjects too ? :?

Asked my DD, she has no idea.

Seems like alot of chinese homework. Out of proportion compared to other subjects.

[daisyt]

Hi justsay, yes indeed a lot of chinese homework, dd now also has a lot compare to last year. In fact her teacher told them more to come because there are many things to cover. I guess SAP schools are like that? Basically now, for year1 science is simply studying how scientists work. After that when they start phy/chem/bio more worksheets to come. Lang arts, it would be incorporated into drama later.