Anglo-Chinese School (Junior)

[zac's mum]

llDaddy:

With the new principal, there is no CCA available for P1 & P2 boys. Reason given is resource limitation, as the school can only support CCA for P3 onwards.

To be honest, I don't understand how can resource be so limited in ACSJ, which has a bigger than normal campus and a stronger than normal alumni.
How is the view of other parents?

My boy is in P2 this year and CCA is open to them. The resources refers to the funds from MOE, the staff/coaches, and the CCA rooms and the field/courts which are a limited size and must be shared among all the sports.

It depends on what is your purpose for putting your son into a CCA? Quite frankly, if the reason is for exposure, almost every sport - you can always find external lessons, at a better quality and with better feedback on progress. Even music and dance, robotics or Chess lessons u can find outside as well. Probably the only exceptions are Concert Band and Boys Brigade. These are IMO worth joining because they can never experience it elsewhere.

[Estéema]

Thot most current CCAs still there for lower Pri? Only CCA I’m aware taken out was golf.


This P is higher on building programmes for re-enforcing values and character building. The way the new P build her programmes had been in using current resources to imbibe learning having the upper Pri kids plan their activities with teacher guidance to execute & exhibit learning values & engaging their games or activities with the lower primary. Can see the teacher resources re-directed that way. She practically eradicate the need for most parent-lead events - like in the past, parents wld be busy preparing food & games for Int’l Frd’ship Day or Racial Harmony Day but now the older boys will conduct these activities with teachers guidance. So it’s kid’s own ideas & involvement in planning & they own it (not the busy mum’s). MHO is that the kids will be more mindful & can think on their feet & get into action more than just having fun with food & fun prepared for them.

The 1st term of her tenure, she enforced strict punctuality & that kids hv to take responsibility for their timeliness. No more mollycoddling at the gate or drop-off causing morning traffic jam. In the past, prefects were told just to give warnings but never executed seriously. I feel it’s been too soft on the past generation under previous P. Kids are encouraged to be independent including canteen are out-of-bounds for parents so right fr P1 (except 1st week) learn to queue for their own food.

Like zac’s mum said, u can still check with school get yr child do CCA outside & inform school to formally put into report book for future DSA. I know one family sent both their boys for outside training even tho tennis is available as CCA coz they wanted to ensure their boys are in top form to rep sch & DSA via tennis into sec. Now the older one is going to the French Open for juniors this June.

[galaxyraider]

llDaddy:

With the new principal, there is no CCA available for P1 & P2 boys. Reason given is resource limitation, as the school can only support CCA for P3 onwards.

To be honest, I don't understand how can resource be so limited in ACSJ, which has a bigger than normal campus and a stronger than normal alumni.
How is the view of other parents?

CCA is open to P2 boys onward. Previously it was open to all, hence my older boy managed to join CCA when he was in P1. Sadly, my younger boy will have to wait until he's in P2.

[llDaddy]

I believe there is some misunderstanding here. CCA is only available for P3 onwards since 2018 intake. Quote from the slides from my son's orientation: \"Selected CCAs that are available for 2018 P1s from 2020 (when they are in P3)\"

[llDaddy]

Hi zac's mum and Estéema, thanks for your replies.


I do send my son to various classes after school, but CCAs will still be a good complement. e.g. Badminton, Concert band, Chess etc, which we can’t easily find outside resources. Also CCAs at school don’t require additional transportation, which is meaningful as both of us are working.

However, I do learn from your replies: 1, outside enrichments may have better quality; 2, school does have resource limitation as they direct more teaching resource to older boys (then requiring less parents’ contribution). So I feel better now.

Thanks again!

[Estéema]

llDaddy:

Hi zac's mum and Estéema, thanks for your replies.


I do send my son to various classes after school, but CCAs will still be a good complement. e.g. Badminton, Concert band, Chess etc, which we can’t easily find outside resources. Also CCAs at school don’t require additional transportation, which is meaningful as both of us are working.

However, I do learn from your replies: 1, outside enrichments may have better quality; 2, school does have resource limitation as they direct more teaching resource to older boys (then requiring less parents’ contribution). So I feel better now.

Thanks again!

I sent my child to SCF (Spore Chess Federation) at Bishan CC, which is just a stone throw fr Junction 8. In fact, DC took up to Development level before joining school Chess CCA. You can try during school holiday but it's very popular so gotta sign up early.

Btw, maybe I didn't clarify that tho they get teachers to guide boys plan events as a learning journey, the purpose is multi-prong. The older kids will engage the younger ones in turn. Both enjoy the events but there's a lot of learning on caring, empathy, .... leadership imbibed.

[zac's mum]

Hi Esteema, when I click on your name, it does not show your profile, nor can I send u a PM. The link leads to an articles website within KSP forum.


I wanted to PM you regarding another Chess centre which I found. And also to ask u about Thoburn program. Could you maybe look into enabling your PM function? Thx!

[Estéema]

Hi zac’s mum,


I’ve no idea why my profile don’t show. I’ve been trying to get into it myself & never managed to "find myself".

Curious thing is some managed to pm me but many cldnt. Strange. Very strange.

Had pm u dear.

[zac's mum]

I read this very interesting and thought-provoking article on CNA thjs morning: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/teo-you-yenn-this-is-what-inequality-looks-like-on-the-record-10246872


Am reflecting on the other points she brought up, but I just wanted to mention here that I’m very grateful that our school has removed streaming/banding based on the P2 results from this year onwards. Truly appreciate the steps which the school is taking to allow our boys to grow at their own pace. I have heard of boys in other schools who are so miserable and demoralized from P1 Term 1 onwards all because they haven’t yet reached the developmental milestones for reading and fine motor writing.

Quoting the article:

“Because children have such different developmental capacities, some may just not be ready to read and write. It doesn’t mean that they are incapable. Learning is partly about what people think and believe they can learn. Many of the kids I see are demoralised quickly once they enter school. These are smart kids. These are kids who have capabilities and yet they are demoralised very quickly because they are framed as 'weak'.

When asked how to remedy this situation, she puts it simply.

“All anybody needs is time. Give it more time. We don’t have to be so quick to judge which child should be in which lane, which child should be in which kind of band. When we do that, we are losing our very precious human talent.”

[peasants]

zac's mum:

I read this very interesting and thought-provoking article on CNA thjs morning: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/teo-you-yenn-this-is-what-inequality-looks-like-on-the-record-10246872


Am reflecting on the other points she brought up, but I just wanted to mention here that I’m very grateful that our school has removed streaming/banding based on the P2 results from this year onwards. Truly appreciate the steps which the school is taking to allow our boys to grow at their own pace. I have heard of boys in other schools who are so miserable and demoralized from P1 Term 1 onwards all because they haven’t yet reached the developmental milestones for reading and fine motor writing.

Quoting the article:

“Because children have such different developmental capacities, some may just not be ready to read and write. It doesn’t mean that they are incapable. Learning is partly about what people think and believe they can learn. Many of the kids I see are demoralised quickly once they enter school. These are smart kids. These are kids who have capabilities and yet they are demoralised very quickly because they are framed as 'weak'.

When asked how to remedy this situation, she puts it simply.

“All anybody needs is time. Give it more time. We don’t have to be so quick to judge which child should be in which lane, which child should be in which kind of band. When we do that, we are losing our very precious human talent.”

Indeed, she can afford not to have tuition for her child when she can afford to. I admit can't afford to let my child have all tuition cos I can't afford to. She should come visit me.