Hwa Chong Institution (High School)

[Mum1113]

Hi HCI parents, students


With two more days to submit S1 posting, my son and I still thinking should we put HCI as the first choice. With 260+2 score, we think he should stand a good chance to get in HCI. However, the concerns are:

•\tBeing non-gep student himself, does it make one person feel like ‘second class citizen’ as understand those gep/dsa students would end up in iSparks consortium. So much talk about iSparks and so much talk about good resources/elite students in iSparks. In other words, those students in the other three consortiums, do they think or feel that there is different treatment and makes the students feel that they are less important or taught with less emphasis?
•\tHeard that teachers’ teaching style are very different, that is homework given and answers provided. However, solutions to the answers are not taught. Left to the students to figure out the solutions? So call independent learning, is this true? Ends up many students require tuition to guide them, is this true?

As like many parents out there, we hope the child enjoy learning and not stressed out too much. Again knowing IP route would certainly mean certain level of stress is already there, meaning the child should also have the expectations/intention to face the stress.

Hope to hear some advise from parents or students in this school, many thanks.

[wonderm]

Mum1113:

Hi HCI parents, students


With two more days to submit S1 posting, my son and I still thinking should we put HCI as the first choice. With 260+2 score, we think he should stand a good chance to get in HCI. However, the concerns are:

•\tBeing non-gep student himself, does it make one person feel like ‘second class citizen’ as understand those gep/dsa students would end up in iSparks consortium. So much talk about iSparks and so much talk about good resources/elite students in iSparks. In other words, those students in the other three consortiums, do they think or feel that there is different treatment and makes the students feel that they are less important or taught with less emphasis?
•\tHeard that teachers’ teaching style are very different, that is homework given and answers provided. However, solutions to the answers are not taught. Left to the students to figure out the solutions? So call independent learning, is this true? Ends up many students require tuition to guide them, is this true?

As like many parents out there, we hope the child enjoy learning and not stressed out too much. Again knowing IP route would certainly mean certain level of stress is already there, meaning the child should also have the expectations/intention to face the stress.

Hope to hear some advise from parents or students in this school, many thanks.

Mum1113,

Congratulation to your DS for his excellent results.

Given what we read recently about the struggle of some students, I don't dare to tell you your boy will definitely be happy in HCI. But I hope my sharing will be useful to you in some way:

1. I have 2 boys in HCI, both were from mainstream. They never felt like 2nd class citizens in non-iSpark consortium. In fact, the Consortium system is very good in our opinion. They have Consortium Director/AD looking after the kids and they don't feel lost in a big school with 15 classes just in Sec1. For Sec 1/2, it is true the teaching pace and content for iSpark is faster/more compared to other consortiums. However by end of Sec 2, they can choose to go into the various programmes with different focus and different pace depending on both their results and personal preferences. By the time they are in Upper Sec, there isn't much different between GEP or mainstream kids from my observation.

2. About teachers providing answers but not solutions, I have never heard of this. From my own boys' experiences, I can say most teachers are very good and dedicated, beyond our expectation actually. On the other hand, it is also true that the pace is fast and it is demanding as you would expect from one of the top schools in SG.

3. About the need for tuition. There are students without tuition and there are also some with tuition. My impression is that the extent of tuition they have is less than P5/P6 period. But this is just gut feel, I don't have any statistics to confirm.

4. My boys enjoy themselves very much in HCI and we have seen very positive holistic development in both of them. Of course, this is just a sample of 2 and every child is different and may have a different experience/feeling even if they are put in the same environment.

All the best to you choosing the right school for your DS!

[Mum1113]

Wonderm, your reply is wonderful (like your nick :)… it is comforting to know as it adds assurance to the dilemma we have. Every parent knows it’s so important to place the right choice for their kid, hence so much speculation on the COP this year. It’s going to be interesting day on 20th Dec (posting day).


Appreciate your sharing and glad both your boys enjoy the school. My son has kind of set his heart and mind by now…….great to have advise from parents like yourself.

[8228]

When will the new term start? Jan 2nd?

[MummyMoo]

Hi,

DS has got into HCI via DSA.
May I know where can I get school uniform please ? Can I get it from Bibi Baba ?

thank you.

[wonderm]

MummyMoo:

Hi,

DS has got into HCI via DSA.
May I know where can I get school uniform please ? Can I get it from Bibi Baba ?

thank you.

You can get them at the school book shop next to the canteen. In fact, if you want to avoid the long queue on registration day, you can get the Sec 1 books there earlier too. The book shop lady will show you the booklist.

[Song22]

8228:

When will the new term start? Jan 2nd?

I think I saw the school website, it is Jan 6

[Song22]

Also, I called the school, the sec 1 orientation will be on Dec 30, 31 and Jan 2 (half day on Dec 31)

[8228]

Song22:

8228:

When will the new term start? Jan 2nd?

I think I saw the school website, it is Jan 6

:thankyou: I still could not find the info on the school website though. :scratchhead:

[7788]

Hihi, may i know when the boys will know which consortium they will be assigned to?


During the orientation or only when school starts?

Would also like to know parents with kids going to hci s1 next yr who are living in the east. Pls pm me. Thanks.