Raffles Girls' School (Secondary) [*IP]

[sob7]

Mangopuff\" post_id=\"1947731\" time=\"1574381436\" user_id=\"181078:

Hi, another question on CCA. My girl plays tennis for recreation, thinking of joining the tennis team (hopefully she is good enough to be accepted into team). How many times per week for training?

Sports CCAs usually 2 times a week but can increase during comp period.
CCAs select the students not students select the CCA, unless student is national player or very good.

[sob7]

Koaru\" post_id=\"1947776\" time=\"1574389118\" user_id=\"96552:

May I ask what is the commitment level for Japanese (eg once a week? And is it only at MOELC at Bishan)

Once a week at MOELC in Newton for Japanese

[sharonkhoo]

Cbk\" post_id=\"1947779\" time=\"1574389576\" user_id=\"49917:

Since the KK earthquake in 2015, school has cut down on overseas trips. For immersions, they are largely restricted to SEA/ Asia. Even the immersion trips to Malaysia in y2 has been cut short. For 'world' class competitions, its a different stories as it all depends on where the competitions is held. The one I know of yearly is the OM (Odyssey of the Mind) final in the US.

Very few CCA requires co-payment. If I am not mistaken, only those that takes part out of school (where they have to rent the venue etc) requires co-payment. Both my girls dont have to pay a single cent for their CCA (one in sports CCA one in performing arts)

I agree there are just too many T-shirts for sale!!! DD1 was all excited with the T-shirts in the first 2 years. But DD2 is very selective and will only buy the one she thinks is really nice. Most would want to buy a CCA jacket which cost $50-60? (cant remember exactly) but they will wear it for 4 years and if I remember correctly, was paid out of their Edusave account too...

All in, I dont remember paying much out of pocket expenses for any school activities that is not covered by Edusave. Of course take out meal for after school activities is a different stories... but so far that had been kept between $5-10. The girls are very resourceful these days. They know how to look for deals... Often they will order pizza and share, costing $5 per person.

Personally I felt that the monthly school fees is the biggest consideration factor for anyone who is worried about cost as that is recurrent for 4 years (and maybe the macbook, which is one off). There are not many other compulsory or optional fees that are not covered by Edusave (except those t-shirts purchases, ordered-in meals etc). I just learned that RGS even hold their graduation party at school hall, to keep cost low and affordable, unlike some schools which have the graduation party at hotels!!!!

Good to hear of the changes since 2015. My daughter was in a PA CCA and we definitely had to pay for a trainer/advisor every semester, and also all the odds and ends here and there. My daughter didn't have much Edusave (too many years overseas), I think, and anyway, I still think of it as \"our\" money.

My daughter did opt out of 1 or 2 t-shirts, but often they will want to take a group photo with everyone in the same t-shirt, or they need to order a minimum no. to get a certain price, so it's hard to opt out. At least she can still use them for years.

As for school fees, I think MOE has forgotten that the EESIS $2400 was supposed to pay for 100% of the fees! The fees went up, but the EESIS is still at $2400...

[Koaru]

sob7\" post_id=\"1947784\" time=\"1574390306\" user_id=\"135725:

Koaru\" post_id=\"1947776\" time=\"1574389118\" user_id=\"96552:

May I ask what is the commitment level for Japanese (eg once a week? And is it only at MOELC at Bishan)

Once a week at MOELC in Newton for Japanese

Thank you Sob7, Any idea if German is also at Newton? Especially now they just shifted to Braddell?

Another related to PA CCA, is it difficult to get into International Dance with no ballet certification? How about Choir? My DD says. O sports but open to PA or clubs..

[lakesidemum]

sob7\" post_id=\"1947784\" time=\"1574390306\" user_id=\"135725:

Koaru\" post_id=\"1947776\" time=\"1574389118\" user_id=\"96552:

May I ask what is the commitment level for Japanese (eg once a week? And is it only at MOELC at Bishan)

Once a week at MOELC in Newton for Japanese

Hi, what about French? Where will it be conducted?

[peasants]

slmkhoo\" post_id=\"1947752\" time=\"1574385866\" user_id=\"28674:

mommyNg\" post_id=\"1947697\" time=\"1574356613\" user_id=\"2838:

[quote=peasants post_id=1947683 time=1574352844 user_id=75885]

1) mac book is compulsory cost
2) not much learning journeys/tours/camps in first year
3) Coping with curriculum and tuition necessity are subject to student. Meeting COP seems the best indicator here.

There is a learning journey week every year, but I don't remember paying anything more than the normal daily allowances I give my dd? There was a trip to Malaysia in Year 2, but again, I don't think there's any extra $ I had to pay except maybe S$50 to spend on shopping and stuff As for official CCA camps, my experience has been - free -. There isn't even co-payment for CCA trainings. All costs are covered by the monthly school fees and supplementary fees. The first House T-shirt is free too. Along the way, you might hear of student-groups selling merchandise ($5-20) for VIA/charity/fundraising purposes, but these are optional. Some external workshops or competitions may require you to pay a minimum sum, e.g., $25, but they are usually optional too. If you opt to go for overseas immersion trips, you would have to pay a subsidized rate, and the amount would vary depending on the location and duration of the trip.

Yes, mac book is compulsory, but financial assistance is available for those who need it.

I agree that the girls should be able to cope with the curriculum with some discipline and hard work. While some girls have tuition, others do well without tuition, so it really depends on the individual.

My daughter was in RGS 2013-2015 (only 2.5 yrs, if anyone wonders about the dates). My memory was that there were quite a lot of little \"extras\" that could be difficult for a family with limited means. Our family income is around the median for Singapore and my daughter paid reduced fees, but we weren't eligible for financial assistance.

Macbook was a big cost, but at least it was just once. There were additional co-payments for CCA training which were added on to the fees, but it's very limiting if you tell your daughter to choose a CCA without such extra payments. Similarly with participation in competitions and other activities - you wouldn't want to unduly restrict your daughter. Other items I recall that were not optional were things like Straits Times once a week, school magazine, etc. Or maybe they were optional, but it wouldn't be explicity stated, and we wouldn't find out till it appeared on the bill. Not huge sums individually, but they all add up over the year if you are watching your pennies. Then the t-shirts! Every year, there would be class, CCA, camp, activity and other t-shirts, each costing around $15. My daughter has enough t-shirts to last her a lifetime! They are \"optional\", but no girl will want to be the only one without the t-shirt. (I believe there was some guideline about limiting t-shirts in her final year, so maybe this has improved now.) Sometimes, the others don't just want a t-shirt, but a hoodie, which costs more. And no girl will want to be the one who refuses to agree because of cost. When they stay in school late and order in food, some girls feel that $8 a meal is OK, but for some families, that is double the price of what they are willing to pay. (Maybe now that the school is in the \"heartlands\", they will be able to get cheaper food.) It is hard to be the one to restrict others. Overseas trips are also optional, and the cost varies depending on where and how long, and the subsidies are not that much. I had to tell my daughter that we couldn't afford anything outside SE Asia, which she understood. The 10-day trip to Europe she was eyeing cost $3K (after subsidy), nearly a third of our monthly household income . She went on a 5-day trip to Tioman instead which cost us a few hundred.

I think that some of these items would be covered or reduced for students eligible for financial assistance. For those who are just above the cut-off for financial assistance, I would say that if your family cannot spare an extra $500-$1K each year on top of school and supplementary fees, it may be better not to go to an independent school. If not, your daughter may feel restricted in the choices she can make compared with her peers. Not that all the girls are wealthy, but unless the wealthier ones are sensitive enough to consciously limit the expenditure, the ones with limited means generally don't make it known, and suffer in silence.

My daughter really enjoyed her time in RGS and I am happy we were able to afford for her to go there, although some of the expenses did make us wince a bit. But families with tighter budgets who are not eligible for financial assistance may want to consider these issues. We didn't spend on any tuition (which answers the other question about whether tuition is necessary), so we weren't as tight for cash as some might be at the same income level. On the other hand, some of the expenses did mean that we had to make choices in what we spent in other areas.

That's my experience.[/quote]Same, we weren't eligible for financial assistance and not wealthy either. No chauffeured car in the mornings, cca and events.

For Macbook, there are used alternatives. Depending on which CCA you choose, SAF basically provide everything for NCC. Can't say the same for Judo and tennis.
My children are brought up as realists, else it is a bottomless pit.

School magazines and newspaper are okay but definitely not fanciful t shirts and hoodies. My child dun buy any of them, she dun even want to wear school logo socks. We specifically ask the child to choose Malay Studies which is relevant to Asian culture so not expecting any conti country trips which they can go later as adults. Tuition wise, so far no after first year.

Most importantly, the child must not feel inferior among humble brags, social labelling and must be able to retaliate any forms bullying. Once the mental block done up, nothing really matters.

[iRabbit]

peasants,


Is it typo or your dd really scored avg 98% in Y1? :nailbite:

[peasants]

Sorry ya typo, should not reflect here cos not relevant.

[Tuppkids]

Hi, may I know typically, what’s the number sets of uniform to get? How about PE attire as well?

[TiaUrch]

Thanks a ton to all parents who have openly shared your views. Your views are definitely helpful to decide in considering RGS as an option. Ive one more question regarding third language. If the girl is interested to choose Chinese, will she be able to cope given the fact that we are non Chinese family?