River Valley High School [*IP]

[MXYMum]

cascada:

MXYMum:

Being Autistic, my son is very poor at comprehension as most of them are very literal in interpretation and lack social understanding. Hence, he has problems understanding the subtle meanings of passages, especially for Chinese.

The P6 this year is in the pilot programme with the new Chinese syllabus with strong emphasis on understanding (comprehension) and oral. HCL is practically consisted of comprehension passages only, which was the reason he didn't do well. He did well with the old syllabus of which recognition of words were emphasized.

My son's strength is in memorizing things, as he has excellent memory. His sister is much better in Chinese (she's good with writing and comprehension) but cannot memorize things as well.

Hmm ... I really need to think hard when doing school selection.

Thanks for all the information!

Hi MXYMum, I kpo here a bit.
Did u read today's ST Forum. A reader wrote that he was able to get his 2nd child exempted from PSLE CL due to medical condition. Would this exemption help your boy?
I know of someone who was exempted from PSLE CL (not sure what was the reason they gave possibly returning student from overseas), so his t-score was calculated based on 3 subjects. During S1 posting, he was assigned to a more English-focused IP school but he appealed successfully and is now in HCI. I was quite shock to hear that HCI accepted him cos HCI also has very high requirement for HCL. As he didn't take PSLE CL, really not sure how HCI ascertain his CL ability since he also didn't take any CL admission test administered by HCI too.

My understanding was that the PSLE T-Score for those exempted from CL is actually lower, which is why I didn't apply for it. Moreoever, MOE does not grant exemption for all SN kids. If the kid is failing Chinese in school, the school can write in to apply for exemption.

My son was getting A's for Chinese from P1 to P4, he started getting B's from P5 onwards. In fact, he was selected by the school to do HCL last year but was requested to drop HCL when his grades dropped to B.

Anyway, he wants to appear as 'normal' as possible just like his peers, without any special treatment. Thus, he does everything just like the other kids. Just want to keep him happy.

Regardless, it's too late to do anything now.

[daisyt]

justsay:

MXYMum:

No exceptions even if the pupils does well for the other subjects other than CL or HCL? :shock:

I don't know and I hope so, dd is one of them.

I doubt so

[MXYMum]

justsay:

daisyt:

[quote=\"MXYMum\"]
What happens if they do not get full promotion? Do they need to repeat the entire year again or get kick out of RV?? No exceptions even if the pupils does well for the other subjects other than CL or HCL? :shock:

From what I have heard. In the past, there was so called promotion with conditions, retained and the O lvl class. Promotion with conditions means you get to be promoted to the next level but you must meet certain conditions they set for those results you not good at, within a time frame. Also heard that the students need to go back during Nov/Dec school holidays to brush up. O lvl class, maybe only applicable for those year 3s who don't show good results. I am not very sure on this.

Now, there is a change. Either retain or transfer out and no more O lvl class - from P's mouth. Promotion with conditions, not very sure because no mentioned and only end of this year, then get to see see hear hear again.

Now, there is partial exception and full exception for end of year exams. Partial is when you score GPA3.5 and above, those subjects you score As would be excepted. Full exception of all subjects if score GPA4.0.

Are you referring to yr 2 students ?

For yr 1 students, parents received a letter from school to say B4 for HCL and English, GPA 2 for overall results for full promotion. Otherwise, they will look at CCA and other 2 criteria for advancement to year 2.
GPA 3.5 will have exemption for subjects with A1.
GPA 3.8 and above will be full exemption.
But last month P met yr 1 & yr 2 students to tell them that they will need to be transferred if doesnt meet minimum B4 criteria but parents did not receive any letter on this.[/quote]Sorry but I'm getting really confused ... What do you mean but exemption for subjects? Exempt from what?? :? All this rules on promotional system is really confusing .. so complicated. And how does CCA comes into the picture?

[justsay]

MXYMum:

Sorry but I'm getting really confused ... What do you mean but exemption for subjects? Exempt from what?? :? All this rules on promotional system is really confusing .. so complicated. And how does CCA comes into the picture?

Sorry to make you confuse.

If a student scores average of GPA 3.5 (computed from CA1, SA1 and CA2), he/she will not have to sit for year end exam for those subjects attained A1.
If a student scores GPA 3.8, he/she will not have to sit for year end exam for all the papers.
This is what I understand, not sure is that for year 1 only or across all level.

If HCL or English get below B4, the student will not be considered as full promotion, they can only advance to year 2 and that is provided they meet other criterias, 1 of the criteria is the CCA attendance, another criteria is the involvement in school activities and 1 more I could not remember.

[MXYMum]

justsay:

MXYMum:

Sorry but I'm getting really confused ... What do you mean but exemption for subjects? Exempt from what?? :? All this rules on promotional system is really confusing .. so complicated. And how does CCA comes into the picture?

Sorry to make you confuse.

If a student scores average of GPA 3.5 (computed from CA1, SA1 and CA2), he/she will not have to sit for year end exam for those subjects attained A1.
If a student scores GPA 3.8, he/she will not have to sit for year end exam for all the papers.
This is what I understand, not sure is that for year 1 only or across all level.

If HCL or English get below B4, the student will not be considered as full promotion, they can only advance to year 2 and that is provided they meet other criterias, 1 of the criteria is the CCA attendance, another criteria is the involvement in school activities and 1 more I could not remember.

Thanks for the clarification. But I thought it's a strange that they actually allow the kids to be exempted from year-end exams. From my experience, it's difficult to get the kids to study if there isn't any exams to sit for.

I told my daughter about the information I've gathered so far and she's still very enthusiastic in joining RV. Will see what happens to her DSA application in 1 week's time.

Thanks again for all your inputs!

[justsay]

MXYMum:

I thought it's a strange that they actually allow the kids to be exempted from year-end exams. From my experience, it's difficult to get the kids to study if there isn't any exams to sit for.

The new P was once from HCI. HCI practises that too.

MXYMum:

I told my daughter about the information I'e gathered so far and she's still very enthusiastic in joining RV. Will see what happens to her DSA application in 1 week's time.

All the best to your dd's DSA ! :celebrate: Do share with us when you receive the good news...

[daisyt]

I MXYmum, all the best for yr dd's DSA


Actually i see the kids are putting more effort in daily tests, hoping to qulalify for partial or full excemption. :lol:

[snowsam]

Hi MXYMum, Has your DD went for the DSA interview?

[MXYMum]

snowsam:

Hi MXYMum, Has your DD went for the DSA interview?

No, still waiting for letter after selection test. I think we should be getting it soon??

[daisyt]

MXYMum:

snowsam:

Hi MXYMum, Has your DD went for the DSA interview?

No, still waiting for letter after selection test. I think we should be getting it soon??

kpo a bit, hows the selection tests? 4 papers to do?