Victoria School

[rainbowie]

:thankyou: Lionhesrted for all the useful information!

[pandabear101]

Hi, DS going VS, .. can I check, how big is each IP class & how are the boys sorted ? random or by results ?

I thought I heard 30 during open house but not sure if I am right.
Also, based on the orientation handout, there is a badge pinning session .. are the parents invited or its just done by the boys in school as part of orientation activity .. thanks in advance ! and hope to meet fellow VS parents here too .. happy new year :rahrah:

[googaga]

Lionhesrted:

The Term 1 and 3 tests are typically in Week 8 of these two terms. The results will be out by end of the term.

For mid year, language papers are usually in end Apr while other subjects take place from first week of May.
Year end exams typically start in late Sep/early October.

At the January Parent-Teacher Meeting, the school will share key dates with parents. The Letter to Parents (beginning and end of every term) will also state key dates and activities for every term. Watch out for these key info.

For transfer to IP, it is usually done at end of Sec 2. The school can transfer about 1 class from O level to IP, subject to eligibility. However, students have to be good (overall percentage 70%). Again, the school will share the criteria at Jan PTM with Sec 1 and 2 parents.

Thnx Lionhesrted for the info!

[googaga]

There’s a Swim form in the folder given on registration. May I know what’s it for?

[Lionhesrted]

Lower Sec class is about 30+.


Allocation seems quite random to me.
Each class will have students of different PSLE score.
However, students doing RSP/MSP, AEP, 3rd Language are usually grouped together eg students in AEP in one class. this is for timetabling reasons.

The school organises Swimming for the new Sec/Year 1. For those who do not know how to swim, good to let them go. See the form for more details.

Refer to the Principal’s letter in the folder. it should have more details.
The individual forms etc in the folder also have more info.

[rainbowie]

googaga:

There's a Swim form in the folder given on registration. May I know what's it for?

Many outward bound activities for the boys will involve waters so in order to ensure the boys' safety, they are advised to learn swimming.
DS can swim but he did not have any certificate to prove so he was encouraged to sign up for a group swimming course organised by VS. The fee is cheap. It comprises of 6 lessons at Bedok swimming complex. Transport will be arranged to pick them up but they will be dismissed at the complex. A test will be conducted on the 6th lesson and those who passed will receive a cute swimsafer cert. to submit to the FT.

Alternatively, you can arrange your own private swimming coach if your ds has yet to learn or hasn't obtained a cert.

[rainbowie]

pandabear101:

Hi, DS going VS, .. can I check, how big is each IP class & how are the boys sorted ? random or by results ?

I thought I heard 30 during open house but not sure if I am right.
Also, based on the orientation handout, there is a badge pinning session .. are the parents invited or its just done by the boys in school as part of orientation activity .. thanks in advance ! and hope to meet fellow VS parents here too .. happy new year :rahrah:

Happy NY!
Parents will be invited for their ds' badge pinning 'investiture' but it is optional. We did not attend the ceremony for some reasons so my ds got his badge pinned by his FT.

[pandabear101]

rainbowie:

pandabear101:

Hi, DS going VS, .. can I check, how big is each IP class & how are the boys sorted ? random or by results ?

I thought I heard 30 during open house but not sure if I am right.
Also, based on the orientation handout, there is a badge pinning session .. are the parents invited or its just done by the boys in school as part of orientation activity .. thanks in advance ! and hope to meet fellow VS parents here too .. happy new year :rahrah:

Happy NY!
Parents will be invited for their ds' badge pinning 'investiture' but it is optional. We did not attend the ceremony for some reasons so my ds got his badge pinned by his FT.

Thanks for the reply ! Also, can I check, will the class time-tables and stuff info be made online via school website or it will be thro school portals ? Will the boys require a lap top often for their project work / research ? Am thinking if DS can share with sibling or better for him to have one of his own... school will have wifi I presume... I hope the laptop / HP policy is strict... I have heard of some schools allowing the kids to use the HP in class / school compounds during school hours..

Have been looking around for a pair of track shoes for DS too that will comply with policy.. so far have not much luck.. any experienced parents can give an idea if coloured base shoes are ok ? or a no-no....

thank u :salute:

[Lionhesrted]

For the information to students and parents, it is usually through school portal (not website). Otherwise, there will be a lot of school internal information that public can access.


For laptop/handphone, students can only use in the classroom when teachers ask them to bring out and use (eg to do some group work or research). Those caught misusing laptop/handphone will have the device confiscated till end of the day. For the recalcitrant students, parents will have to go down and collect. During recess and after school, the students can use. if there is laptop/handphone addiction, FTs will speak to parents to have devices kept by parents and usage monitored. As parents, we can teach our Dear sons to use technology meaningfully.

For badge pinning, it is more in-house. Badges pinned by form Teachers (assisted by Peer Support Leaders, their seniors who induct them into the school). Don’t think parents are involved. For my son, even in Sec 1, he did not want us to be so present when he entered secondary school. Just have to learn to let go.

The good thing is, the school keeps parents involved in other ways eg PTM, CCA showcase (usually mid-Jan) for Sec 1 students and parents to find out about CCA. Some of the CCAs invite parents for key activities eg Band invited Sec 1 parents at year end when Sec 1 band members are trained and ready to perform. Boys’ Brigade also invite the parents for thei Awards Ceremony in April.

[3kiddos]

Yes, I didnt attend the badge pinning ceremony for my son either. Don’t recall seeing any parents present in the pictures that were posted on FB that year.


There is indeed a lot of information sent to parents via email or the school portal. If you know your son’s login details, you can also login using his account and see the updates. Timetables, assignments, past year papers etc can all be found within the portal. Teachers will call or meet parents if the boys fall below a certain standard (about 60% average for IP, 65% for Os) so there is a lot of communication.

So far, my boy is starting yr 3 IP and he still hardly brings a laptop to school. No problem using our shared laptop at home for projects or research or assignments that need to be typed. They also have access to the computer lab in school if they need to. They are quite strict on HP use during school hours.

There is no streaming by psle tscore for IP classes. Kids are all mixed up. In my son’s batch, there were 30 boys per class.