DSA 2017
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SKGDADDY:
My DS is not sports inclined but this is the little I know.My DS wants to appear to RI Sports DSA , but we are apprehensive about the RI sports DSA. Can someone advice
1) is the course of sports IP and academic IP students different
2) when a student is selected in sports DSA then do they have CCA Everyday or it is only few days a week ?
Any advice would be helpful.
1) Kids who dsa via sports are spread across in regular classes (ie no more sports dsa class) - so curriculum is the same.
2) Kids who dsa via sports will be in that cca (that is, no need to audition). My impression is that those who are involved in competition (dsa or not) will have more practice compared with those who aren't.
So far, I get the feel that RI boys strive to do their best whether in sports or otherwise. They train v hard. I know of RI boys who dsa-ed via sports but would have been able to get in via their psle scores anyway, so whether a child can cope or not is dependent on self. Doesn't mean dsa via sports means academics cannot make it.
Good luck to your child! I still say no harm to try out, if offered then agonize if that is what he wants. Just that if he goes in via dsa sports, he won't be able to change the cca even if he loses interest. -
Estéema:
Yeo Jia Min, Singapore badminton player, who recently became World No.1 Junior, had to switch from NYGH to Sports School. Doesn't mean she did that because she was not able to cope with academic rigors from a top IP school, it could be also be that she wanted to focus on excelling in the sport. But the fact is, it is always a challenge to balance academic rigors and sports excellence.
Google or read about national badminton player Ryan Tay (I believe that's his surname) who was previously fr RI but had to switch to Spore Sports School as he was struggling with studies due to lack of academic support fr teaching staff esp when he had to kiss lessons during competitions.SKGDADDY:
My DS wants to appear to RI Sports DSA , but we are apprehensive about the RI sports DSA. Can someone advice
1) is the course of sports IP and academic IP students different
Consider carefully the rigors of academic vis-a-vi's sports demands. Talk through thoroughly whether that's what your child can go through doing 6 years of sports & the possible need to do extr catching up after returning fr competitions.
I'll leave other subject matter experts to answer your second question.
All the best to your child. -
Not a direct answer to SKGDADDY, but I think when thinking about DSA, whether sport or some other specialty, we need to assess whether our kids have the academic ability to thrive - not just survive - in the chosen school. One guide would be expected T-score. My personal opinion is that if your child’s expected T-score is more than 10 points lower than the school’s previous year’s cut off, this is an indication that the child might struggle. Of course we don’t know what the kid is actually going to get, which is affected by a myriad of other factors, and you would best know if how your child is currently faring in school is actually reflective of his or her abilities, so your gauge might be different from mine, but the point is
While it is sensible to ask what contingencies the school has if the child isn’t doing so well, if you are very concerned that they may be not well, then perhaps it might not be the right school for the student?
The other question to ask if selecting DSA Sport is as some other parents have already said - how much do they love the sport? Would they be happy to train in the sport for the next 4 or 6 years? What if their interest changes in the period? If they are good but they want to have the option to choose another CCA, then perhaps DSA Sport might not be the best choice for your child.
If you feel that your boy is can manage academically, and loves the sport, then it seems to me that DSA Sport makes sense as you don’t have to go for selections to the CCA and can possibly even start training with the school early. If your child represents the school for the sport then for most sports they will be training with the school anyway so in terms of responsibility and commitment there’s really no difference whether you DSA Sport or go in by T-score.
Good luck with the decision - we’re in the midst of making those decisions ourselves! -
Well said, fable.
If I may add, the child’s call is also an important factor in consideration. Last year, DD1 was clear and determined that she wanted to go to a certain school through DSA, so that was it. This year DD2 is two minds about DSA sports, and while I think she may stand a good chance, we have decided to forgo DSA since her conviction does not seem strong enough. So its T-score here we come. -
Just to add, I know of a few sport talents (national level, not just inter-school) courted by top schools but eventually they chose SSS because they are more interested in a sports career. One of them was from GEP.
For the kids with the potential to score 252 and above in PSLE (the kids usually in the best class in mainstream, or in GEP), they can cope with the top schools’ academic rigour with strong parental support. The sports talents need a core CCA in secondary schools anyway and having a confirmed CCA in a sport which they are already excelling through DSA is not a bad deal actually. However, for those who are scoring 240 and below, it is generally very difficult to cope in top schools. Parents have to assess if it really makes sense to chiong via the DSA Sports route. -
Can someone also share about music cca/mep DSA commitment? Thanks.
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feedback from DSA students in reality, who went through DSA experience themselves for past 4 or 6 years.
Some Secondary schools offer DSA for 4 years, while others offer for 6 years.
Some of these DSA students enter with 30 to 40 points, below the individual Secondary schools' official Cut-off point.
Some struggled a lot, while some managed to survive :-
https://www.redsports.sg/2016/05/10/dsa-sports-your-experience/ -
fable:
hquek & fable are really clear subject expert & gives in-depth perspectives..... I think when thinking about DSA, whether sport or some other specialty, we need to assess whether our kids have the academic ability to thrive - not just survive - in the chosen school. One guide would be expected T-score. My personal opinion is that if your child's expected T-score is more than 10 points lower than the school's previous year's cut off, this is an indication that the child might struggle. Of course we don't know what the kid is actually going to get, which is affected by a myriad of other factors, and you would best know if how your child is currently faring in school is actually reflective of his or her abilities, so your gauge might be different from mine, but the point is
While it is sensible to ask what contingencies the school has if the child isn't doing so well, if you are very concerned that they may be not well, then perhaps it might not be the right school for the student?
The other question to ask if selecting DSA Sport is as some other parents have already said - how much do they love the sport? Would they be happy to train in the sport for the next 4 or 6 years? What if their interest changes in the period? If they are good but they want to have the option to choose another CCA, then perhaps DSA Sport might not be the best choice for your child.
If you feel that your boy is can manage academically, and loves the sport, then it seems to me that DSA Sport makes sense as you don't have to go for selections to the CCA and can possibly even start training with the school early. If your child represents the school for the sport then for most sports they will be training with the school anyway so in terms of responsibility and commitment there's really no difference whether you DSA Sport or go in by T-score.
Good luck with the decision - we're in the midst of making those decisions ourselves!
:thankyou: -
Schootopia:
For the vast majority of students, I will suggest that they pay more attention to their studies and realistically choose their secondary schools based on their grades alone.
Put this DSA gimmick/distraction aside.
Nearly every single primary school student is telling me they want to DSA.
...
Unless you are confidently world-class, don't waste your time and energy.
Don't give yourself false hope.
Sadly, I do agree with you, Scootopia.
I figure this generation of kids had been in \"entitlement\" mode fr parents who give gadgets freely, teachers/tutors gift readily, so anything latest/in-thing others are doing, they wanna do. They're not taught to discern & their smartness are mostly head knowledge (some lack this area) and no-depth.
I once walked past several P6 classes & pinned on boards were written aspirations of the kids & they ALL reflect the same school (premium) they wish to enter for sec edn thro DSA! It's a good way to make kids aware & build aspirations & work towards goals. Educators also need to counsel the other possibility of \"NOT GETTING\", teach resilient thinking, reach reality!
As a parent, like most, I'm KS but still I don't want to set my kids up to shoot for the stars but they never adjust their sights & foot back to ground. I always tell them to \"try\" but if didn't make it it's OK. There are other possibilities & to learn as well as enjoy the process & experience. But if I know my kids are not sporty, then I tell them to be more active but explain that DSA Sports is a different league. My kids know as we had a neighbor who trained son since 5 years old for tennis, and spent most of his time away fr classroom just to train for competitions, which are used for DSA but whilst he is confident at court, he's shy & low esteem back in classroom. He's got only DS as best frd coz DS enjoys sharing his math work with him & helps him catch up. When they sit together, DS is half his bulk! Tough journey. -
Schootopia:
You would think that after years of interviewing and looking at the DSA candidates, schools (especially the popular ones) would have gotten very good at telling the potential, the passable and the let-it-go.
The truth is, most try the DSA route because their grades will not make the cut for admission to that sec school. Most DSA applications will fail. But a huge amount of time would have been wasted on \"competition\", \"training\", \"CCA\" ...
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