Dunman High School (Junior High)
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pm123:
Hi, just to share. My girl's WL was converted to CO last year. And she enjoys her school very much.Any experienced parent can adv , what is the chance of WL converting to CO ?
Aware this is a tricky question, but if any one has any past years' experience, pls share.. thank you !
So don't worry, all the best! -
Hi all,
First time on the forums here, glad to see that our community is active.
I have three kids, one now in SH1 and the other in JH2, or J1 and Year 2 respectively. The middle child is in VS, currently in Year 4 or their IP programme.
Recently, the one in Sec 2 told me that quite a few of his friends were applying to jump ship to the VCA IP Programme ( VS, Cedar and VJC ), and that after reading up on what they offered as well as talking to some of his p6 friends currently studying there, he says he wants to try to apply through badminton DSA as well.
When we asked the oldest one in SH1 for advice, she also agreed and said that it would be a good choice to make because (not only her opinion, majority of the batch) is quite disappointed with the quality of teaching and resources they are receiving, and definitely worser off than those who jumped ship in JH4 to VJC. Now many of them sleep in class and go home to study independently using other JC notes such as VJC, HCJC and RJC. Apparently, VJ’s results for the past few years have all been better than DHS.
The one in VS is doing really well and excelling. Grades are very good, near perfect GPA. Asked the one in SH1 to look at the resources and stuff VSIP is teaching, and she says that based on what she is studying now and what she was taught in Year 4, VS’s content seems more targeted towards building a solid foundation specifically for JC i.e. they bring down stuff like GP AQ to Year 3 onwards, Chem Orbitals to Y3, Genetics to Year 4 etc. ,is comparable if not better than DHS Y1 to Y4 syllabus.
But besides all this academics, we also got the sense that the VS kids are more all-rounded and outspoken. The friends of my kids in DHS who came to the house to do project work was relatively mild and quite quiet quiet shy shy that kind, but those from VS always greet with smile and very vocal ( sometimes can hear them debating about best solution from living room). Plus the one in VS is given far more opportunities in CCA from what we can see. Had hockey experience in primary school, but tried UG and didn’t like for first year. Joined back hockey in Year 2 and the team welcomed him with arms wide open (no discrimination as far as we can tell). But the nicest thing was that this year, when the B div team suffered a shock lost to RI 4-3 in penalty shootout during the National finals (had beaten them by quite wide margin in earlier games), son was not depressed but proud of his team and the team all very gentlemanly. Instead of giving up, the Year 4s decided to continue their training with their juniors to help them win the B div championship next year as well as for them to win the A div championship when in VJ.
As you can see, swinging towards the VCA programme, but not sure whether it is the best thing for the youngest one to switch. For one thing, afraid of discrimination, because as it is with boys, they form close friendships with those who know very well and may not be nice to those who are different, and because it’s a single sex school up till JC, gives them less exposure with regards to interacting with the ladies. Another thing we notice is that the VS boys are very ‘angmoh kia’, hardly use chinese in their conversations, always use english, very different from the Bicultural atmosphere in DHS, which we think is very important in the real world.
When we told our middle son this, he countered quite strongly, told us that some boys also joined them from DHS, RVHS and even HCI due to traveling time and they were very quickly integrated. Meet about once a month with gals from cedar and also have friends of more races, so not awkward around people at all. And it seems that VS organizing a lot of career guidance for the kids, invited former students on PSC and SAF Overseas scholarships to share w kids as well as former students studying in top Unis in the states & uk to share. Also have a boarding programme in school hostel where all Year 4s stay for a month after final exams and go on internships in the day.
Husband and I were from DHS as well and believe quite strongly in the school, but now that the kids seem to have found a better place, what should we do? Grateful for any insights you can provide. -
Its very obvious that you already have the answer.
Think you should have posted this in VS thread rather than here. -
newbie86DHS:
because (not only her opinion, majority of the batch) is quite disappointed with the quality of teaching and resources they are receiving, and definitely worser off than those who jumped ship in JH4 to VJC. Now many of them sleep in class and go home to study independently using other JC notes such as VJC, HCJC and RJC. Apparently, VJ's results for the past few years have all been better than DHS.
:yikes: -
Lisa2728:
My son got the CO from DHS, what marks does he need to get in PLSE? Thx
Just need to qualify for express stream -
sleepy:
Sleepy...dont be so alarmed....newbie86DHS:
because (not only her opinion, majority of the batch) is quite disappointed with the quality of teaching and resources they are receiving, and definitely worser off than those who jumped ship in JH4 to VJC. Now many of them sleep in class and go home to study independently using other JC notes such as VJC, HCJC and RJC. Apparently, VJ's results for the past few years have all been better than DHS.
:yikes:
It depends on which \"category of results\" u are looking at...
Even for 3H2 distinctions...i dont see much of a difference for a percentage of 46% as reported by DHS vs what was reported in VJ website \"About 1 in 2 Victorians scored at least 3 distinctions in H2\"...where the exact percentage wasnt indicated...
IMO, all these percentage are juz an indicative number...
What's more paramount n what we parents need to know is How our own kids perform that matters all...No ?
It is quite normal for JC pupils to use other JCs' notes...not only limited to DHS...since some of these notes are easily purchased outside...
As for \" many of them sleep in class\"....oh which class?
Fyi, i juz asked my gal...she replied tt nobody sleeps in her class... as all her classmates are attentively listening to lessons....
As for lectures in threatres...yes, can fall asleep quite easily since it is in a such conducive environment...
i recalled i did that too when i was a student ....
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Just to share for those interested:
![](\"http://i62.tinypic.com/15qdctl.jpg\")
http://i62.tinypic.com/15qdctl.jpg\">
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newbie86DHS:
Dear newbie86DHS,
Husband and I were from DHS as well and believe quite strongly in the school, but now that the kids seem to have found a better place, what should we do? Grateful for any insights you can provide.
I am from DHS84. I have two children in DHS (JH3, JH1) and one joining next year through DSA CO, so we are both 校友·and 家长.
We shall know that there are differences between DHS and VS. It is partly because traditionally one was 华校， one was 英校。Who is to say one better than the other? We have recently one lady Minister of State and Mayor from DHS. Both school produce many scholars. DHS trains the students well in some aspects. If you want your kid to be all rounder, family training have to complement that. But DHS students are in general definitely not the shy shy or quite type. If you want your DS to be VS type, you shall have enrolled him into VS in Yr 1.
30 years back when we were taking O Level, as a Government School, DHS was given any teacher assigned by MOE. In Sec 3 and 4, we have teachers posted from other schools or even neighbour countries who were not familiar with MOE Syllabus. We did not complain, because we love to learn and want to do DHS proud. The first few batches of DHS SAP top the O Level in Singapore. There were no study notes for comparison. There were only textbooks and 10 years series, our respected teachers (who we did not compare) and our eagerness to do well for ourselves and make DHS proud.
MOE's intention in DSA is not to bring the A level content to Yr 3 and Yr 4. Rather, it is to let the students have more time to explore other interests. So I am not sure whether you mention VS bringing \"GP stuff to Yr 3\" is commendable?
DHS last year A Level results is among one of the top few JC/IP school and is very close to VJC (I read that from KSP forum). Given VJC has been doing A level for past 30 years, while DHS only a few years, that is a spectacular achievement. A good Dunmanian will want to help the school to go up the ranking. 光大我德明，永誌乎五中。
You second sons love VS just as my DS (Yr 3) loves DHS. He takes part in many activities outside studies and CCA: Bicultural Program, Math Olympiad, Theatre sport, lots of CIP, City Orchestra Concert Performance, 华文大比拼，Hair for Hope, ....（thanks for IP Program, he does not have to mug for O level) I just asked him will he switch to another JC. He asked me \"Why shall I???\" He is enjoying in DHS, and doing well in his study.
So, to each his own. If your son (and his friends) want to switch to VS and other schools, I wish them the best. However, your post unfairly stereotypes DHS and her students wrongly (in reality DHS students are generally not the shy shy type), CCA (in reality there is no lack of CCA opportunities in DHS), A Level (In reality, DHS A level has been very good and improving. You can refer to DHS website), students sleeping in class (Augmum's DD in SH did not notice that. By the way, in all JCs, there are always some top students who prefer to do own study than learning from lectures.). Many parents come to this forum to know DHS. Afraid that your post will give a slanted view, I post here to show the DHS I know and see.
DHS in KSP has been compared to other IP school by some parents when they want to justify to choose another school, even though it is doing well as an IP School. If you like a school more, go for it; don't need to condemn the other school (ignoring it is good in many other ways). As a parent, if you find the school is inadequate, please feedback to the management for the benefit of your children.
I have always feel that MOE shall allow DHS to open its door to post O level students. So while some students want to leave for whatever reasons, DHS can take in other top O Level students who like the DHS environment and will help to bring DHS to even greater height. -
newbie86DHS:
using other JC notes such as VJC, HCJC and RJC.
I do not want to flame VJC, but want to dispel the myth in the above post.
I quote from Geraldine Phneah's blog
http://www.jeraldinephneah.me/2014/08/5 ... d-and.html
Geraldine is a blogger who studied in VJC. In the blog, she mentioned:
\"In VJC, my geography and literature teachers were all imported from the UK. However, it is not always the case because I got a really mediocre mathematics teacher and average GP teacher.
I won’t say VJC had better notes as well. In fact, I had to outsource my notes for some subjects. I bought Jurong JC’s economic notes and ACJC’s geography notes which I found to be way more useful than the ones I was getting in school. Basically I just skipped all the lectures and did my own self-studying. \"
Hence, I would want to infer from Geraldine's experience that:
1. Not all top JC: RJC, HCJC (if they are still called JC) and VJC, necessarily has very good notes.
2. Even non top-tier JC: Jurong JC, ACJC have very good notes.
3. There is mix of different type of teachers in different schools. (although I shall say that students' rating of teachers are sometimes biased and unkind)
and my conclusion is that: Good students will find ways to produce good results: source for good notes, do self study. That is not to say teacher are not important: they are. I point is: Student's self motivation is more important.
To the students: \"Ask not what the school can do for you. Ask what you can do for the school\" -
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