Catholic High (Primary)

[JonC]

@jojolulu


Looks like you have only a DS (De Son). Some other people have to consider DS2 or DD2 (De Daughter number 2).

Reading your situation, if I were you, I will not consider moving to Bishan, wiping all my savings, and not sure if you can get into PV. And even if get into PV, not sure if can get lucky in ballot.

CHS is quite selective for PV as they try to limit the numbers, so as less parents will get disappointed when they fail to get a place in the ballot. Yes P2B for PV, Church members, grassroot, all will have to ballot for some 9 places (2010 registrating 2011 P1) and 20+ places? (2011 registrating 2012 P1, more place due to school added 1 class).

First round, besides within 1km, not sure what other criteria, few gets selected, Second round, how they select, will depend on the project you proposed and if school likes your proposed project.

[24hr-mum]

for cath hi, yes, even if its within 1km, you have to ballot. for this year i think it is 18 parents will be kicked out for 2b. not sure if next year will the sch increase the intake.

you must be prepared that you may not get a place after all the shiftting n volunteering. and try again at 2c. if 2c fails, be prepared for other schools that still hv vacancy. if u do research you will know whc sch.

whcc is why i gave up Cath hi and in the end went for Maris Stella cos within 1km no need to ballot…cos my hubby dont want to spend $ and still take a risk.

my other reason is the internal cut off for own boys to stay back in cath hi sec is quite high, and i will be very stressed out cos i already hving problem push my boy to do work…

[chschs]

JonC:

@chschs

Cannot say for other years, for DS's P6 year, 2 GEP P5/P6 classes have 20+ students each. Mind you, there is boy students who get transfered out of GEP. The so call 2 better non GEP classes have about 40 students each, the rest are 30+ students each. 1 class is half take HCL, half didn't (mixed class), the other 3 are class who didn't take HCL.

Mind you, besides the GEP class normally stay intact, there will be another round of streaming after P4, so it is P1/P2 same class, P3/P4 another same class, P5/P6 another same class.

Next year's P1 intake additional 1 class, what will happen is still not known.

@24HrMum
As far as DS's year, the teacher put in a lot of effort in all the classes. I think the Principal wants an overall good result. 2 GEP classes cannot give overall good results. In fact there is 1 year the GEP performed below expectation.

Hi JonC,

Thanks for the info. Do the teachers (Eng, Chi, Maths) stay the same for P1/P2 since it's the same class during your DS time? I certainly hope they do but I heard they usually replace some teachers.

Being a SAP school, I am surprised so many people do not tak HCL (> 100 from what I deduce above). But well, this is perhaps the current state of Mandarin in Singapore and not specific to CHS.

[JonC]

@24HrMum & jojolulu

CHS Pri to Sec, students figure somewhere around a third to less than half, even with lowered points, the rest of CHS Pri either go to IP schools and other schools.

As for ballot, unless you are the lucky type who always win lucky draws, strike 4D or toto type. Even so, the balloting process is very stressful. I have seen and talked to those parents in school before, phew!!!

[24hr-mum]

at the end of the day, even if u get into a popular sch, still need to work hard and even tuition. sometimes good tuition more important than good sch.


u still need to push the child urself and send him to good tuition if the child is not self disciplined type.

i m more worried if the child cant get to stay back in his own sec sch, how he will feel. maybe becos i m pessimistic and risk averse.

[JonC]

@chschs


P1/P2 usually same teacher unless teacher left school, P3 different set of teacher, P4 another set of teacher (because of the GEP movement), P5/P6 same teacher (but some classes do change). No fix rule, school make the final decision.

So 2 sets of P5/P6 teachers sign on 2 yrs each (P5 to P6), not so stressful for teacher, 2 year kanna 1 time PSLE. But some good teachers sign on P6 again the following year.

[JonC]

@24HrMum

You are right, I agree. There are students who cannot cope, leaves the school themselves. Some as early as during P1. After 3 months in P1, if you are the "on" type, you will know if you kids "can" or "cannot", I mean in any school also the same.

@24HrMum & jojolulu
Another route is get in during P4 via GEP or after PSLE.

[chschs]

jojolulu:

Hi Parents, I am new to the forum and am not sure if this is the right thread to ask this question, very sorry if not, and would really appreciate some advice


I am hoping to send my son to Catholic High, and am intending to move within 1km of the school as well as signup for the parent volunteer scheme so that I could be eligible under Phase 2B.

As this move to 1km of school will potentially wipe out our savings, just wanted to do some fact finding first as would be a major decision.

1. Is the school very selective with parent volunteers? What would boost our chances?
2. So far, how is the \"acceptance rate\" for the PVs. Do most people get a slot or do many leave disappointed? The statistics make it out to be very scary, as in have to ballot even if you live within 1km of school in Phase 2B, but are the odds still reasonably good or is it a heart stopping gamble?

Really hoping someone can advise, am hoping the parent network group here might have some ex parent volunteers who can share your experiences. Thanks.

Hi jojolulu,

I think it is too drastic an action for you to take. Catholic High (CHS) had the least vacancies available in 2010 (P1 for 2011) after initial phases - only 9 left for P2B. This year (P1 for 2012) the situation is slightly better as they increase 1 class (240 intake) but the odds are still pretty low.

You did not mention why you want to choose CHS. You seem really keen so perhaps you should call the school and enquire about PV. Sometimes they already have certain projects in mind and if you can convince them you are the right person for those projects, perhaps they will let you know \"the acceptance rate\". You should also check the history of CHS's P2B balloting so that you know your chances as a PV in P2B (but be aware that it fluctuates from year to year). Check with the school if they know the P1 intake for your son's year.

[24hr-mum]

its also heartbreaking if the parents spend so much effort to get the child in, but the child cant cope and have to leave or cant stay back after psle…will strain the parent-child relationship too

[chschs]

JonC:

@24HrMum & jojolulu

CHS Pri to Sec, students figure somewhere around a third to less than half, even with lowered points, the rest of CHS Pri either go to IP schools and other schools.

As for ballot, unless you are the lucky type who always win lucky draws, strike 4D or toto type. Even so, the balloting process is very stressful. I have seen and talked to those parents in school before, phew!!!

Hi JonC,

I wonder which group is bigger - the \"top\" PSLE students leaving CHS or the \"average\" students not qualified to stay at CHS.

There will be some upcoming changes at CHS:-

1) Increasing COP for affiliated students to 240 (I heard it used to be 220), so the \"discount\" is 10 points from the normal 250 COP
2) New JC (IP) for CHS, St Nic and SCGS - this will help to retain some top PSLE students who want to take the IP route