Maris Stella High School
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Hi all! Current Sec 4 in MSHS now and would like to give some feedback and personal experience (and maybe even some tips and tricks). Sorry for the extremely long post but hope it helps!
For the Sec 1 year, its really just an orientation. School is teaching the students how to be more independent and giving them some time to adapt to secondary school life. They have more subjects (and new ones), CCA that requires more discipline etc. The \"wasting of time\" by teachers in class scolding them is part of the process to make them a better person. They don't actually have alot to teach anyway so you will feel like they are progressing very slowly. In fact, they will spend alot more time on things like enrichment and projects, which in my opinion ultimately doesn't really contribute much to the student.
In Sec 1, the content itself is very simple, but most students just slack and play the whole year away, parents nagging and all doesn't help much (personal experience) but most importantly they have to adapt. Most students only start feeling the stress in Sec 2 when they have the subject combinations and all. There isn't even really a need for students to spend all day studying if they concentrate when studying and not use macbook, phone, watch tv etc. And did I mention repeated reading of notes/textbook will not help?
To clarify any questions parents have, I believe students take the Science subject as one now in lower sec. Where they don't split Physics, Chemistry and Biology. This I don't support actually, at least they told us which part of science they were teaching us last time (we had separate teachers for each science) so we knew what we like when picking our subject combinations. The same teacher might not be good at teaching all 3 sciences also. At most, parents can try to explain to them which science they are doing at the moment. Teachers complain to me also since they have to teach all 3 sciences (many teachers usually only specialise in 1/2 sciences out of the 3). Also for the Macbook issue. Macbook is just something that can help them in the process but I believe most of the learning should still be done with pen and paper for best results. You son claiming that he is using Macbook for studying for extended periods is such a lie. I'm sure all of us older/graduated students can look back and see all the lies and excuses we gave to use the macbook.
For Humanities (History/Geography/Literature and Social Studies at Upper Sec), it as an entire new area for the students. Sec 1 is the time for them to adapt and experiment with the different ways of studying. Can't really advice for literature since I don't take it now and I hated it in lower sec. But there are a few \"techniques and skills\" to it that the students must at least know. Geography its better for the students to summarise up their textbooks. No point memorising everything as it will be alot. Geography is quite logical so as long as you see the picture and remember the rough idea, you can link it to the rest. So yup, just memorise the concentrated stuff.
Culture in school is... I can say that students are generally the party hard and play hard type (but more of the former in lower sec). Students can be quite playful and childish and cause alot of discipline problems in school. But when exams hit, students are generally quite hardworking. Even if they don't, they will \"grow up\" sooner or later and realise that everyone around them is studying. School will also push them. At the end of the it all, MSHS's O'Level results are still rather great (although it dropped for the 2014 batch == sorry seniors!), which proves something.
I'll try to end it soon but just let the students enjoy their Sec 1 year but not too much. Results should still be maintained (at least all pass la) and as I said, its \"orientation year\" where they have to learn to adapt to sec sch system of new subjects, handling cca and studies well, late evenings in school (even many nights for me ><), and more more more studying! Most importantly, I realised many Sec 1's are reluctant to memorise things as pri sch doesn't really require that. I believe that as parents, they should also let their sons develop as teens and stop spoonfeeding them. Many things that parents worry about are part of the process and parents should \"grow up\" as they let their sons grow up. Basically, have to understand that they are in a different phase now. Oh yeahh and another thing that popped into my mind, I don't really recommend spamming tuition. Language subjects as long as your son listens well in school, he should be doing well. Math is just practice! Don't know ask in school! Don't let it snowball (like me where I had to study basically my entire lower sec topics near in the later half of sec 2 cuz I let it snowball). Science have to understand, memorise and apply. Physics is more of the understand and apply part. Biology is more of the memorise part. Chemistry is somewhere in between. Humanities always remember to summarise stuff and understand the things well!
All in all, Maris Stella has given many of us an extremely well rounded education. It has shaped many of us from ignorant brats to young gentlemen. See the magic for yourself when you make a comparison between you son's Sec 1 and post-graduation self! So lets not worry too much (I see my poor parents haizz need work and worry for the kids). Let time do its magic
If I had the chance to choose the school I wanted to go after PSLE, I would still have chosen Maris Stella (even though I disliked it at first), the place where I made so many memories and learnt a lot. -
Hi Eriskang,
Thank you for taking the time out from your studies to write in this forum. All the best to your O level. -
Eriskang:
Thanks for the post. Good Mother's Day gift to all the mothers here.Hi all! Current Sec 4 in MSHS now and would like to give some feedback and personal experience (and maybe even some tips and tricks). Sorry for the extremely long post but hope it helps!
For the Sec 1 year, its really just an orientation. School is teaching the students how to be more independent and giving them some time to adapt to secondary school life. They have more subjects (and new ones), CCA that requires more discipline etc. The \"wasting of time\" by teachers in class scolding them is part of the process to make them a better person. They don't actually have alot to teach anyway so you will feel like they are progressing very slowly. In fact, they will spend alot more time on things like enrichment and projects, which in my opinion ultimately doesn't really contribute much to the student.
In Sec 1, the content itself is very simple, but most students just slack and play the whole year away, parents nagging and all doesn't help much (personal experience) but most importantly they have to adapt. Most students only start feeling the stress in Sec 2 when they have the subject combinations and all. There isn't even really a need for students to spend all day studying if they concentrate when studying and not use macbook, phone, watch tv etc. And did I mention repeated reading of notes/textbook will not help?
To clarify any questions parents have, I believe students take the Science subject as one now in lower sec. Where they don't split Physics, Chemistry and Biology. This I don't support actually, at least they told us which part of science they were teaching us last time (we had separate teachers for each science) so we knew what we like when picking our subject combinations. The same teacher might not be good at teaching all 3 sciences also. At most, parents can try to explain to them which science they are doing at the moment. Teachers complain to me also since they have to teach all 3 sciences (many teachers usually only specialise in 1/2 sciences out of the 3). Also for the Macbook issue. Macbook is just something that can help them in the process but I believe most of the learning should still be done with pen and paper for best results. You son claiming that he is using Macbook for studying for extended periods is such a lie. I'm sure all of us older/graduated students can look back and see all the lies and excuses we gave to use the macbook.
For Humanities (History/Geography/Literature and Social Studies at Upper Sec), it as an entire new area for the students. Sec 1 is the time for them to adapt and experiment with the different ways of studying. Can't really advice for literature since I don't take it now and I hated it in lower sec. But there are a few \"techniques and skills\" to it that the students must at least know. Geography its better for the students to summarise up their textbooks. No point memorising everything as it will be alot. Geography is quite logical so as long as you see the picture and remember the rough idea, you can link it to the rest. So yup, just memorise the concentrated stuff.
Culture in school is... I can say that students are generally the party hard and play hard type (but more of the former in lower sec). Students can be quite playful and childish and cause alot of discipline problems in school. But when exams hit, students are generally quite hardworking. Even if they don't, they will \"grow up\" sooner or later and realise that everyone around them is studying. School will also push them. At the end of the it all, MSHS's O'Level results are still rather great (although it dropped for the 2014 batch == sorry seniors!), which proves something.
I'll try to end it soon but just let the students enjoy their Sec 1 year but not too much. Results should still be maintained (at least all pass la) and as I said, its \"orientation year\" where they have to learn to adapt to sec sch system of new subjects, handling cca and studies well, late evenings in school (even many nights for me ><), and more more more studying! Most importantly, I realised many Sec 1's are reluctant to memorise things as pri sch doesn't really require that. I believe that as parents, they should also let their sons develop as teens and stop spoonfeeding them. Many things that parents worry about are part of the process and parents should \"grow up\" as they let their sons grow up. Basically, have to understand that they are in a different phase now. Oh yeahh and another thing that popped into my mind, I don't really recommend spamming tuition. Language subjects as long as your son listens well in school, he should be doing well. Math is just practice! Don't know ask in school! Don't let it snowball (like me where I had to study basically my entire lower sec topics near in the later half of sec 2 cuz I let it snowball). Science have to understand, memorise and apply. Physics is more of the understand and apply part. Biology is more of the memorise part. Chemistry is somewhere in between. Humanities always remember to summarise stuff and understand the things well!
All in all, Maris Stella has given many of us an extremely well rounded education. It has shaped many of us from ignorant brats to young gentlemen. See the magic for yourself when you make a comparison between you son's Sec 1 and post-graduation self! So lets not worry too much (I see my poor parents haizz need work and worry for the kids). Let time do its magic If I had the chance to choose the school I wanted to go after PSLE, I would still have chosen Maris Stella (even though I disliked it at first), the place where I made so many memories and learnt a lot.
Good luck for your upcoming 'O' levels exam. -
Thanks Eriskang, what you wrote is very encouraging. Current I am very worried about the discipline issue in my boy’s class. Teachers can’t control the boys and son is complaining everyday that the class is noisy and he can’t hear and concentrate during lessons. Hopefully the situation will improve.
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Good luck to all the boys taking SA1 next week.
Work hard and hang in there. -
Hoya:
Thanks Eriskang, what you wrote is very encouraging. Current I am very worried about the discipline issue in my boy's class. Teachers can't control the boys and son is complaining everyday that the class is noisy and he can't hear and concentrate during lessons. Hopefully the situation will improve.
That sound really bad.
My DS told me some classes is okay & the teacher can control but others is not. He told me he have to take his chair and go to the front so as listen properly. -
Sexyviper:
Good luck to all the boys taking SA1 next week.
Work hard and hang in there.
Thanks Sexyviper.
All the best to your DS. -
Hoya:
Thanks Eriskang, what you wrote is very encouraging. Current I am very worried about the discipline issue in my boy's class. Teachers can't control the boys and son is complaining everyday that the class is noisy and he can't hear and concentrate during lessons. Hopefully the situation will improve.
DS class also very rowdy and noisy. Teachers always made them stay back as punishment. Don't think that's working actually. DS said usually it started with one boy in class said something, then another boy will shout \"shut up lah\" then other boys started shouting other insults too! And the whole class get out of control and it happens everyday. Quite worrying to hear.
I know I am not supposed to compare but can't help wondering if other all boys school like CHS or SJI boys behave the same way in class. -
Sexyviper:
Hoya:
Thanks Eriskang, what you wrote is very encouraging. Current I am very worried about the discipline issue in my boy's class. Teachers can't control the boys and son is complaining everyday that the class is noisy and he can't hear and concentrate during lessons. Hopefully the situation will improve.
DS class also very rowdy and noisy. Teachers always made them stay back as punishment. Don't think that's working actually. DS said usually it started with one boy in class said something, then another boy will shout \"shut up lah\" then other boys started shouting other insults too! And the whole class get out of control and it happens everyday. Quite worrying to hear.
I know I am not supposed to compare but can't help wondering if other all boys school like CHS or SJI boys behave the same way in class.
generally gender specific schools are nosier than co-ed schools. However, research has shown that students tend to perform better in these schools. -
Hi, Not sure if anyone heard about SmartLab education centre (http://www.smartlab.com.sg)? I am impressed by the large number of students who improved with their tuition program. Wow! Saw that they give full refund if our children do not achieve the desired grade in their final year exam.
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