Cedar Girls Secondary School
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phtthp:
Hi,at Victoria Secondary school (boys), Hwa Chong Institution -
they use a Grading system, called the Mean Subject Grade (MSG).
The MSG is calculated :
by adding the points together, and then divide the sum by the number of Subjects taken.
do IP students in Cedar Secondary Year (3 and 4) also follow MSG system as like Victoria, or follow GPA (Grade Point Average) system, as in other IP Secondary schools like Dunman High ?
(different Secondary schools use different system to compute score)
VCA IP cumul GPA is calculated with the total sum of 5 subjs' gpas and dividg it by 5. The 5 subj must include 1 HMT/LA/Eng, 1 Sci/Maths, 1 Humanz and 2 other best. The rest must be 1.0 to promote. Cumul gpa must b 2.0 for yr3 and 2.5 to promote.
A thing to note is VJ req an overall gpa of 3.2 at the end of yr3+4 to do 4H2. If less than 3.2 but pass at 2.5 then will hv to do 3H2. So please work hard for yr3+4 as yr3 constitutes 45% of the overall and yr4 is 55%.
It is possible to fail Phy+Chem+Maths+Geog and still get the max gpa of 4.0 : ) -
zeemimi:
Hi zeemimi,What's this obsession with triple science?
Cedar tries to offer the girls the subject combi of their choice as far as possible. Unless the child is not doing well academically, almost all who opt for triple science got their choice. My dd opted to do chem bio and I had to listen to her teacher's ranting on how they allowed her to do chem bio even though they wanted her to do trip science. I believe in choosing subjects according to the child's interest. Many chose double science because they wanted to do 2 humanities. In last year's o levels, about 20% of the girls who scored all A1s were from double science classes. And there is no lack of double science cedar students in the top jcs.
I agree somewat with this provided my child is on the o lvl track as getting the best points is very impt for jc entry. But those on the ip track r a little different. They can afford to fail in some subjs.
I believe in giving my children options. At 14, my ds cldnt decide what his interests were. He did very well in the Chem+Phy modules, even full marks in Phy in his SA2. But he didn't do so well in Bio and passed with a few points. His teacher advised him to drop Bio. He told me he wanted to do so but he wasnt sure what he wanted to do in the future. Eventually he chose the 3 Sci and worked v hard on his Bio. He did so well in that subj that it shocked his Bio teacher (the one who advised him to drop Bio). He still maintained his perf in Chem+Phy so now bcos he pushed himself, he is good in all 3 Sci.
I find it rather interestg now bcos the same Bio teacher is now advisg him to take Bio in JC and aim for a H3 in it. -
whitecarrotcake:
Hallo, your dd's enthusiasm is really admirable. My dd was out with her frens and watchg kdrama this time last yr. If she doesn't mind waitg, the booklist will be avail on orientation day. She can read aft gettg the texts.Hi all
My DD has accepted the Cedar-ip offer and I hope she'll be happy in her 4 years there before moving on to VJC. She said she wants to do Cedar proud:) Can the jie jie advise her on the books she can buy first for year 1 and perhaps give/sell her the year 1 notes as she's so eager to read up?
Thank you!
I didn't buy any texts for my dd bcos she used her bro's text as ref. Mostly she just refers to her notes and tried to understand further from text and online.
She read her bro's Singapore History textbk for Hist. For Maths it was all her teacher's notes but I did get her to do this assessment book 'Algebraic Specialisation' bef she start in Cedar as it was helpful for my ds.
For Lit, they did Animal Farm. If they r still doing this book next year u can get the guidebooks fm Popular and Kino. She bot hers from Bras Basah's second hand bkstores.
For the Sciences she refered to her notes mostly oso. If yr dd can finish the prac papers her teachers give, she can ask for more. That's what my 2 older ones usu does. Very importantly I noticed they consult their teachers regularly. My dd emailed several drafts for her Lit teacher to vet and I was v surprised her teacher actually went thru them meticulously and helped her to improve on them. The teachers in Cedar were all v v v helpful. So it really depends on how effort the child wants to put in.
My dd didn't hv to worry bout notes. Her snrs were so willing to give theirs. My dd already has those from the yr2s this yr. She got her yr1 notes from her snrs when she started her CCA. The camaraderie among these girls r fantastic. -
ilovelaksa:
Hi ilovelaksa,
Hallo, your dd's enthusiasm is really admirable. My dd was out with her frens and watchg kdrama this time last yr. If she doesn't mind waitg, the booklist will be avail on orientation day. She can read aft gettg the texts.whitecarrotcake:
Hi all
My DD has accepted the Cedar-ip offer and I hope she'll be happy in her 4 years there before moving on to VJC. She said she wants to do Cedar proud:) Can the jie jie advise her on the books she can buy first for year 1 and perhaps give/sell her the year 1 notes as she's so eager to read up?
Thank you!
I didn't buy any texts for my dd bcos she used her bro's text as ref. Mostly she just refers to her notes and tried to understand further from text and online.
She read her bro's Singapore History textbk for Hist. For Maths it was all her teacher's notes but I did get her to do this assessment book 'Algebraic Specialisation' bef she start in Cedar as it was helpful for my ds.
For Lit, they did Animal Farm. If they r still doing this book next year u can get the guidebooks fm Popular and Kino. She bot hers from Bras Basah's second hand bkstores.
For the Sciences she refered to her notes mostly oso. If yr dd can finish the prac papers her teachers give, she can ask for more. That's what my 2 older ones usu does. Very importantly I noticed they consult their teachers regularly. My dd emailed several drafts for her Lit teacher to vet and I was v surprised her teacher actually went thru them meticulously and helped her to improve on them. The teachers in Cedar were all v v v helpful. So it really depends on how effort the child wants to put in.
My dd didn't hv to worry bout notes. Her snrs were so willing to give theirs. My dd already has those from the yr2s this yr. She got her yr1 notes from her snrs when she started her CCA. The camaraderie among these girls r fantastic.
Thank you for taking time out to reply to my question. You are one helpful mom! Wow, I'm glad to hear about the good teachers and strong team spirit among the girls in cedar! I think my girl has definitely made the right choice in accepting cedar-ip offer.
My girl has had her mani-pedi, graduation party, ice-skating and other activities done almost back to back such that now she misses the books. Lol.
Anyway,thanks for the heads-up on the algebra book! Have a happy holiday ilovelaksa! -
DD recd booklist. There is no E Maths syllabus in sec 3. Wonder what’s the reason…
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Well, I dunno how to explained to you. But from what I observed from my daughter and had a few talks with her about her school life, she is enjoying every monents of it. The camaradarie and close knit relations they have built in school was a touching sight for us as parents to see when we are there as supporter or participating parents.
Below are some of the girls reviews about the school life in Cedar.
Enjoy reading!!
http://www.thesmartlocal.com/sg/seconda ... ary-school
What can I say, my daughter simply loves Cedar.
Her classmates help each other to collect+copy notes in their absence. They are all concerned for their grades but they know how to support each other on this. This is really very unlike some horror stories I hv heard about other schools. It is the yr-end and her snrs hv offered to give away their notes instead of selling them.
The teachers are always avail for consultations. My daughter is doing pretty well on her own as I think they are really helpful.
I suppose your dds are the lucky ones. My dd1 wasn't that fortunate. My H used to fetch my dd1 and her classmate, residing in our vicinity, to Cedar. After we discovered that the girl always topped in Physics whereas my dd1 needed help in this subject, I asked my dd1's form teacher, during PTC, if she could help to contact this girl to form a study group with my dd1 to help each other (my dd1 is good in HCL) since I did not have the classmate's contact number. Days later, the teacher called to say that the girl was not willing to help. The teacher did not offer any alternative assistance too. Case closed.
I believe there are always a fair spread of helpful & selfish pupils and enthusiastic & passive teachers in any school.
To me, it's just another typical competitive top school. -
25HMOM:
Hi, u r quite rt. But don't be disheartened.
I suppose your dds are the lucky ones. My dd1 wasn't that fortunate. My H used to fetch my dd1 and her classmate, residing in our vicinity, to Cedar. After we discovered that the girl always topped in Physics whereas my dd1 needed help in this subject, I asked my dd1's form teacher, during PTC, if she could help to contact this girl to form a study group with my dd1 to help each other (my dd1 is good in HCL) since I did not have the classmate's contact number. Days later, the teacher called to say that the girl was not willing to help. The teacher did not offer any alternative assistance too. Case closed.
I believe there are always a fair spread of helpful & selfish pupils and enthusiastic & passive teachers in any school.
To me, it's just another typical competitive top school.
If this girl is unwilling, your dd can always ask her other frens. My children ask for help from many of their frens. The impt thing to clarify doubts once they come up.
Although u mentioned this top performg girl takes reg rides with u, I find it rather strange that both girls can't ask each other directly. It cld be that they may not be on gd terms already. Study grps usu start among frens. I think it might be awkward for the teacher to intervene on this.
In sec sch yr dd needs to take initiative on watever she does. In Phy, if she is unfamiliar with a specific concept she has to consult her teacher and she can ask for more prac qns for that topic. My dd doesn't wait for her teacher to offer the soln. She goes lookg for them herself. If yr dd is in IP, this is even more impt as IP emphasised a lot of indep learng. -
Thank you for your advice, ilovelaska.
I believe your dd is both outspoken and outgoing and hence she will benefit not just in Cedar but in any other top schools. Teachers also prefer pupils who are smart, hardworking and display initiatives which I am sure is in your dd's blood. However, personality, which affects the degree of initiative, cannot be changed overnight. I am hoping for teachers who have the initiative to identify weaker pupils for extra coaching but there aren't many, if any, in our practical society.
On the contrary, they seem to be more keen in helping the top scorers to maintain their grades, for some reasons. :evil:
And if a teacher passes a negative remark regarding a pupil's grade, it will deter the pupil to approach her for future clarification on the subject.
And if your dd's teachers can spare so much time in clarifying her doubts, I believe there aren't many who are really consulting them.
Fyi, that girl did not hold any handphone and it was through the PTC that the thought of getting the girls to form a study group came to my mind as we are staying nearby. My dd1 and the girl weren't in the same clique but they are on talking term. (So only cliques can form study groups & this is typical in all sec schs).I wanted her contact number from the FT but she explained that it was confidential and thus I requested her for assistance. Yes, I agree the FT is not in a position to intervene but a good leader will go beyond that and hence I find that this school's culture is just ordinary and not as idealistic as what you have painted it to be, no hard feeling.
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In Phy, if she is unfamiliar with a specific concept she has to consult her teacher and she can ask for more prac qns for that topic. My dd doesn’t wait for her teacher to offer the soln. She goes lookg for them herself. If yr dd is in IP, this is even more impt as IP emphasised a lot of indep learng.
I do not quite agree that a teacher should give extra prac qns to a few privileged ones only but should share them with the rest of her pupils.
In my ds sch, all past years prac pprs are available in the sch portal and thus available to all. Nobody should get more or less. -
25HMOM:
I don't think the extra questions are given to the privileged few but rather it is because the student asked for more on her own initiative. When my dd asked her teacher how she could further improve on one particular subject, she was directed to some books where she could further hone her answering techniques. And she had to get hold of those books herself.
I do not quite agree that a teacher should give extra prac qns to a few privileged ones only but should share them with the rest of her pupils.ilovelaksa:
In Phy, if she is unfamiliar with a specific concept she has to consult her teacher and she can ask for more prac qns for that topic. My dd doesn't wait for her teacher to offer the soln. She goes lookg for them herself. If yr dd is in IP, this is even more impt as IP emphasised a lot of indep learng.
In my ds sch, all past years prac pprs are available in the sch portal and thus available to all. Nobody should get more or less.
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