School Of The Arts, Singapore

[Ragamuffin shinobi]

So it’s time to decide whether to take up the offer from SOTA. I am curious why dance teachers in general seem to discourage their students from joining SOTA. They don’t say much other than its not a good school and students regret going there…yet the kids we meet there seem pretty happy.


Anyone of you (current dance students) have any feedback? Or have other parents heard the same thing from their dance teachers?

[midnightstars]

Ragamuffin shinobi:

So it's time to decide whether to take up the offer from SOTA. I am curious why dance teachers in general seem to discourage their students from joining SOTA. They don't say much other than its not a good school and students regret going there...yet the kids we meet there seem pretty happy.


Anyone of you (current dance students) have any feedback? Or have other parents heard the same thing from their dance teachers?

Hi I'm a current dance student here at Sota and Sota really is an amazing school and we all love it here. Sure, it can be really tiring especially since we have showcases and performances coming up so we have more rehearsals, but the environment here is really amazing and things seem so vibrant here. And as for dance, classes are really great as well. The teachers here are really caring and they honestly help you improve so much. I think the best choice I made was coming to Sota (although it wasn't exactly a choice - I've been wanting to come here since I was Primary 2 so to get that CO it was a dream come. I was so happy I cried hahaha) there's the 2015 Cohort and Parent Engagement coming up soon and you'll get to have your first class here, among other things. Hope you accept the offer because it's really one of a kind and I've enjoyed it so much

[Ragamuffin shinobi]

midnightstars:

Ragamuffin shinobi:

So it's time to decide whether to take up the offer from SOTA. I am curious why dance teachers in general seem to discourage their students from joining SOTA. They don't say much other than its not a good school and students regret going there...yet the kids we meet there seem pretty happy.


Anyone of you (current dance students) have any feedback? Or have other parents heard the same thing from their dance teachers?

Hi I'm a current dance student here at Sota and Sota really is an amazing school and we all love it here. Sure, it can be really tiring especially since we have showcases and performances coming up so we have more rehearsals, but the environment here is really amazing and things seem so vibrant here. And as for dance, classes are really great as well. The teachers here are really caring and they honestly help you improve so much. I think the best choice I made was coming to Sota (although it wasn't exactly a choice - I've been wanting to come here since I was Primary 2 so to get that CO it was a dream come. I was so happy I cried hahaha) there's the 2015 Cohort and Parent Engagement coming up soon and you'll get to have your first class here, among other things. Hope you accept the offer because it's really one of a kind and I've enjoyed it so much

Hi midnightstars,
Did your ballet teacher try to discourage you from joining SOTA? And do your seniors regret joining the school ( be it for dance or academic reasons)? We only seem to hear such negative remarks from dance teachers but not from students...so it's all quite confusing.

[midnightstars]

Ragamuffin shinobi:

midnightstars:

[quote=\"Ragamuffin shinobi\"]So it's time to decide whether to take up the offer from SOTA. I am curious why dance teachers in general seem to discourage their students from joining SOTA. They don't say much other than its not a good school and students regret going there...yet the kids we meet there seem pretty happy.


Anyone of you (current dance students) have any feedback? Or have other parents heard the same thing from their dance teachers?

Hi I'm a current dance student here at Sota and Sota really is an amazing school and we all love it here. Sure, it can be really tiring especially since we have showcases and performances coming up so we have more rehearsals, but the environment here is really amazing and things seem so vibrant here. And as for dance, classes are really great as well. The teachers here are really caring and they honestly help you improve so much. I think the best choice I made was coming to Sota (although it wasn't exactly a choice - I've been wanting to come here since I was Primary 2 so to get that CO it was a dream come. I was so happy I cried hahaha) there's the 2015 Cohort and Parent Engagement coming up soon and you'll get to have your first class here, among other things. Hope you accept the offer because it's really one of a kind and I've enjoyed it so much

Hi midnightstars,
Did your ballet teacher try to discourage you from joining SOTA? And do your seniors regret joining the school ( be it for dance or academic reasons)? We only seem to hear such negative remarks from dance teachers but not from students...so it's all quite confusing.[/quote]No, they always encouraged me to give it a shot when they found out I was aiming for Sota. It was my friends and family who discouraged me at first (the usual reasons: Sota's academics are bad etc etc), but they came around in the end. And I don't have any seniors who regret joining Sota (as far as I know)

[Ragamuffin shinobi]

Hi midnightstars,

Did your ballet teacher try to discourage you from joining SOTA? And do your seniors regret joining the school ( be it for dance or academic reasons)? We only seem to hear such negative remarks from dance teachers but not from students…so it’s all quite confusing.[/quote]

No, they always encouraged me to give it a shot when they found out I was aiming for Sota. It was my friends and family who discouraged me at first (the usual reasons: Sota’s academics are bad etc etc), but they came around in the end. And I don’t have any seniors who regret joining Sota (as far as I know)[/quote]

Thanks midnightstars! Good to hear that…maybe my girl just has strange ballet teachers

[kefeng]

Ragamuffin shinobi:

Hi midnightstars,

Did your ballet teacher try to discourage you from joining SOTA? And do your seniors regret joining the school ( be it for dance or academic reasons)? We only seem to hear such negative remarks from dance teachers but not from students...so it's all quite confusing.

No, they always encouraged me to give it a shot when they found out I was aiming for Sota. It was my friends and family who discouraged me at first (the usual reasons: Sota's academics are bad etc etc), but they came around in the end. And I don't have any seniors who regret joining Sota (as far as I know)[/quote]

Thanks midnightstars! Good to hear that...maybe my girl just has strange ballet teachers[/quote]

Hi Ragamuffin,

Did you ask your daughter's dance teachers to qualify why they said that?

I wish I had the option of SOTA during my time, IB coupled with dance.

I do think our kids are fortunate in that sense.

[Ragamuffin shinobi]

kefeng:

Ragamuffin shinobi:

Hi midnightstars,

Did your ballet teacher try to discourage you from joining SOTA? And do your seniors regret joining the school ( be it for dance or academic reasons)? We only seem to hear such negative remarks from dance teachers but not from students...so it's all quite confusing.

Hi Ragamuffin,

Did you ask your daughter's dance teachers to qualify why they said that?

I wish I had the option of SOTA during my time, IB coupled with dance.

I do think our kids are fortunate in that sense.

Kefeng, have PM you.

[EatNonStop]

Hi


My gal is P5 this year and we are interested to try next year DSA / Sota TA. She has been in NAFA Junior arts for 5 years with some art pcs on exhibition. Not in any comppetition. Wonder what will be the chance of getting into SOTA.
Congrats to those success in getting a CO via VA. Can advise how to go about preparing art portfolio and how to prepare the interview and TA.
Can someone help me to line up through estimated phase / timeline from form submission to final wait for the letter? I am quite blur…Thanks alot.

[Mummy Dadeda]

EatNonStop:

Hi


My gal is P5 this year and we are interested to try next year DSA / Sota TA. She has been in NAFA Junior arts for 5 years with some art pcs on exhibition. Not in any comppetition. Wonder what will be the chance of getting into SOTA.
Congrats to those success in getting a CO via VA. Can advise how to go about preparing art portfolio and how to prepare the interview and TA.
Can someone help me to line up through estimated phase / timeline from form submission to final wait for the letter? I am quite blur....Thanks alot.

Hi. You should start preparing the portfolio now. We had some help from an art teacher, Mr Ler, from Chong Pang CC. His website is http://pibilotti.com.sg/ During my DD's batch, he has a few students all trying for DSA. My DD was more into painting (water, acrylic paint) and was taught sketching by him. It was a blessing as the on the spot DSA test was sketching. The portfolio can consist of art work done from P3 onwards. I remember DD has to submit a sketch book as part of the DSA portfolio. During the DSA, they were asked to comment/critique on each other's drawings. Why good or no good. Things may has changed now as my DD is going to Year 4 next year. One advice is that the child's English has to be good as the school combined Literature with Eng Lang. Understand from my DD is that if you fail Eng, you need to repeat. It is an Art school - in all sense, and focus is on Arts - Geo, History, Lang etc. Maths for Year 3 has a bit of E & A Maths - so for those who are poor in Maths, they will find Year 3 Maths (Standard Level) a struggle. However, those who fail Maths at Year 2 can take Fundamental Maths. Maths at SOTA Year 1 and Year 2 is really easy - compared to my other kids in O level school and another IB school. The English is however, a lot more difficult. At Year 2, you need to analyse poetry. IMO, the new principal focus a lot more on academic, then the Art form, which is good. There is no CCA as the Art form is already the CCA. Hours can be long - up to 4pm-5pm each year. Personally, I like the school and the curriculum so far. In Year 1 Maths , they were asked to do an assignment on \"percentage\" and had to find an example of how \"percentage\" is applied in real life. Example given by teacher was LTV for car financing. It is not just Maths worksheets, so it is more fun. The Maths worksheets given out are generally quite easy. Hope you find this helpful.

[EatNonStop]

Mummy Dadeda:

EatNonStop:

Hi


My gal is P5 this year and we are interested to try next year DSA / Sota TA. She has been in NAFA Junior arts for 5 years with some art pcs on exhibition. Not in any comppetition. Wonder what will be the chance of getting into SOTA.
Congrats to those success in getting a CO via VA. Can advise how to go about preparing art portfolio and how to prepare the interview and TA.
Can someone help me to line up through estimated phase / timeline from form submission to final wait for the letter? I am quite blur....Thanks alot.

Hi. You should start preparing the portfolio now. We had some help from an art teacher, Mr Ler, from Chong Pang CC. His website is http://pibilotti.com.sg/ During my DD's batch, he has a few students all trying for DSA. My DD was more into painting (water, acrylic paint) and was taught sketching by him. It was a blessing as the on the spot DSA test was sketching. The portfolio can consist of art work done from P3 onwards. I remember DD has to submit a sketch book as part of the DSA portfolio. During the DSA, they were asked to comment/critique on each other's drawings. Why good or no good. Things may has changed now as my DD is going to Year 4 next year. One advice is that the child's English has to be good as the school combined Literature with Eng Lang. Understand from my DD is that if you fail Eng, you need to repeat. It is an Art school - in all sense, and focus is on Arts - Geo, History, Lang etc. Maths for Year 3 has a bit of E & A Maths - so for those who are poor in Maths, they will find Year 3 Maths (Standard Level) a struggle. However, those who fail Maths at Year 2 can take Fundamental Maths. Maths at SOTA Year 1 and Year 2 is really easy - compared to my other kids in O level school and another IB school. The English is however, a lot more difficult. At Year 2, you need to analyse poetry. IMO, the new principal focus a lot more on academic, then the Art form, which is good. There is no CCA as the Art form is already the CCA. Hours can be long - up to 4pm-5pm each year. Personally, I like the school and the curriculum so far. In Year 1 Maths , they were asked to do an assignment on \"percentage\" and had to find an example of how \"percentage\" is applied in real life. Example given by teacher was LTV for car financing. It is not just Maths worksheets, so it is more fun. The Maths worksheets given out are generally quite easy. Hope you find this helpful.

Thanks...will find out more information from Mr Ler in Chong Pang CC in regards to portfolio preparation.