2009 DSA(Direct School Admission)

[MdmKS]

acforfamily:

I have been trying to understand what DSA and IP is all about and am afraid that I am still quite clueless.


What exactly is the purpose of doing all the additional stuff like Maths Olympiad etc. Is it so that one can have a better portfolio to get into a secondary school via DSA?

Is getting into the secondary school via DSA an end in itself? i.e. merely to bypass the PSLE results?

Or is it to get into the IP so that we can bypass the O Levels?

Does DSA mean that the child will be on IP?

I am quite confused. Could someone please enlighten me?

How old are your children?

[wiimum]

acforfamily:

I have been trying to understand what DSA and IP is all about and am afraid that I am still quite clueless.


What exactly is the purpose of doing all the additional stuff like Maths Olympiad etc. Is it so that one can have a better portfolio to get into a secondary school via DSA?

Is getting into the secondary school via DSA an end in itself? i.e. merely to bypass the PSLE results?

Or is it to get into the IP so that we can bypass the O Levels?

Does DSA mean that the child will be on IP?

I am quite confused. Could someone please enlighten me?

All the information will slowly filter down to you from the school during briefings when you child gets from P4 to P5 and then finally in P6 you will receive a whole set of information about how to select your child's secondary school. The MOE website is also a useful source of information.
But as usual the information provided is always \"sterile\". Here at KSP, you get a lot more juicy bits, useful tips and exchange.
I guess your children are still young, hence you are bewildered by all this. Stay cool , because by the time your children's turn come, the rules/scene may have changed/evolved. Whatever is discussed here is currently relevant for this one two years.

[acforfamily]

Thanks for the response.


The reason I am asking though my kid is still in lower Primary is because the school gave us a letter in P2 telling us to prepare for DSA. They stated that if you want to get in via DSA, some of the things have to start now.

[MdmKS]

acforfamily:

Thanks for the response.


The reason I am asking though my kid is still in lower Primary is because the school gave us a letter in P2 telling us to prepare for DSA. They stated that if you want to get in via DSA, some of the things have to start now.

Kind to share what things got to start now for DSA as early as P2? My school never told us that when my kid was in P2.

[Jennifer]

acforfamily:

Thanks for the response.


The reason I am asking though my kid is still in lower Primary is because the school gave us a letter in P2 telling us to prepare for DSA. They stated that if you want to get in via DSA, some of the things have to start now.

Is the school referring to those niche DSA like music/dance/sports? These talents/skills need to be trained early. Then over the years, the child should be involved in national competitions and do well in them.

[Jennifer]

MdmKS:

Kind to share what things got to start now for DSA as early as P2? My school never told us that when my kid was in P2.

I remember when last year PSLE results was released and the Nanyang Pri Sch principal was interviewed, she said PSLE preparation starts in P1.

[turquoise]

Jennifer:

I remember when last year PSLE results was released and the Nanyang Pri Sch principal was interviewed, she said PSLE preparation starts in P1.

That's Nanyang for you. And that's why they turn out the most number of top PSLE scorers every year.

[MdmKS]

Jennifer:

I remember when last year PSLE results was released and the Nanyang Pri Sch principal was interviewed, she said PSLE preparation starts in P1.

Thot we are talking about preparing for DSA ? Not PSLE...

[CMF]

To say that one should prepare for DSA as early as Pr 2 is true to the extent that parents should ensure that all relevant certs relating to participation in competitons etc should be kept properly, so that when time comes in P6 it won’t be a mad scramble to locate them.


Also if the child has a talent in a certain area eg. sports, music, dance, arts and there is an intent to pursue that option further, then it would be useful to also start "building" on that talent from Pr 2.

Other than certs etc - good pieces of work esp from Pr 4 onward can be kept to form part of the DSA portfolio too, esp to substantiate academic achievements.

As DSA provides a student to enter a selected school based on his / her area of "talent", whether academic subject, sport, dance, music, arts etc, just regard the compilation of the DSA portfolio in that light, meaning materials that would substantiate and highlight the child’s talent and achievements would be useful.

Just sharing what I am now aware of after my dd’s experience from 2 years ago, when it was then all so new to me and I had no idea whatsoever what was required nor who to ask!

[csc]

turquoise:

That's Nanyang for you. And that's why they turn out the most number of top PSLE scorers every year.

They are able to churn out top scorers due to the cohort of the students they are accepting in Pr one and not to mention most top scorers are from the GEP stream. I'm afraid it has very little to do with the management. Most principals, even from neighbourhood schools, mention that statement too, during Pr 1 orientation. :lol: