2011 Request for Advice on Selecting Secondary Schools

[OrangeJuice]

VitoRelax:

jtoh:

You're welcome, Orangejuice. There are quite a few active ksp parents on the DHS and NJC sites. I think Augmum, Phankao, VitoRelax and a few others will be able to help you out with your queries.

Okay Orangejuice, my turn to give some input.

Are they Happy:
Well all I can say is my girl looks Happy. But I think this is the same whether you goto DHS or NJC. Everyone starts from square one, eventually they will make their own friends, irrespective of whether in DHS or NJC.

BOARDING:
I notice a lot of parents are worried about boarding. But let me assure you, the kids love it. It is like a holiday for them. DOn't worry, they come back during the weekend. The kids only miss their parents & sweet home after a few weeks of staying there.

So, for me it is good for them to go boarding. They do drama, martial arts, fine dining etiquette ... etc. At the begining of Year 2, they do a Stage show & perform for us parents. I was impressed with their maturity.

Of cos, during the first week, I saw some parents smuggle in MacDonald, Pizza Hut for their kids. They managed to do that bcos the security guard close one eye lah ...

I was told (but not sure if it true) one very rich parent decided to pull out his kid from boarding & keng to get mc for exemption. Rumour is that the rich parent worry their kids will get kidnap (maybe this is a joke - not vey sure).

WORK LOAD:
Damn bloody jialat. Lots of project work. Intially DD broke down once bcos too much work & group members didn't do work but play xbox instead.

Teachers:
There are both good & bad teachers. Some are very passionate about teaching while some take it just as a job.

CONS:
Most of the programmes, cca & whatnot are run & organized by students themselves. So, very often my girl wouldn't know what time she knock off until the day itself. For example, DD have to attend briefing tomorrow bcos she is taking part in this Sat Open Day. At this hour, she still waiting for her fren to tell her what time. This is also normal occurance for her ccas.

CCAs are worse, some sessions are called up at last min. Eg at 11pm receive a sms from Seniors that tomorrow got to turn up. Or, at 11pm, receive a sms that tomorrow's meeting cancel (this is good liao, sometimes cancel at last minute on the day itself). I got the impression that the meetings are setup at the whims & fancy of seniors who cannot (or forget) decide on the timing & date ...

Hi VitoRelax, thanks for your very candid feedback, I like it

I am not very concerned abt boarding program, just wanted to hear more details, I am actually FOR it then DD will learn to be independent and realise how lucky she is at home when mom and dad (and younger bro) do things for her.

A friend just told me that in NJC, you can opt for O levels program if not doing well, then if results are good, student can \"re-join\" at JC level (plus can get affiliation points if want to return to NJC) , is that true ?

[phankao]

OrangeJuice:

A friend just told me that in NJC, you can opt for O levels program if not doing well, then if results are good, student can \"re-join\" at JC level (plus can get affiliation points if want to return to NJC) , is that true ?

On the contrary, Students in NJC who really can't cope just leave the programme. So far there are have been 1 or 2 students leaving from each of the two first cohorts. Percentage of leavers very small though.

I've heard that DHS has O-level for those who can't cope in IP though.

[phankao]

deleted duplicate

[jtoh]

Nightrace:

Can someone advise? If you obtain at least a pass (E8 grade) in HCL in Y4, you will be exempted from 'A' level exams for Chinese. If take CL (not HCL) in Y4, you have to take CL exams in 'A' level?

I thought it was minimum D7 in HCL to get exemption in JC? And yes, if you do not take HCL you have to take CL in JC.

[Nightrace]

jtoh:

Nightrace:

Can someone advise? If you obtain at least a pass (E8 grade) in HCL in Y4, you will be exempted from 'A' level exams for Chinese. If take CL (not HCL) in Y4, you have to take CL exams in 'A' level?

I thought it was minimum D7 in HCL to get exemption in JC? And yes, if you do not take HCL you have to take CL in JC.

Thanks, jtoh. I was confused with point 2 & 3 in MOE website http://moe.gov.sg/education/secondary/language-programmes/

That means for entry to Uni., students in IP schools need to obtain at least a D7 or E8 for HMTL in Y4?

[jtoh]

Nightrace:

jtoh:

[quote=\"Nightrace\"]
Can someone advise? If you obtain at least a pass (E8 grade) in HCL in Y4, you will be exempted from 'A' level exams for Chinese. If take CL (not HCL) in Y4, you have to take CL exams in 'A' level?

I thought it was minimum D7 in HCL to get exemption in JC? And yes, if you do not take HCL you have to take CL in JC.

Thanks, jtoh. I was confused with point 2 & 3 in MOE website http://moe.gov.sg/education/secondary/language-programmes/

That means for entry to Uni., students in IP schools need to obtain at least a D7 or E8 for HMTL in Y4?[/quote]Oh I think you're right. So long as you pass HMTL, you're exempted from HCL in JC. And minimum D7 to enter the local universities.

[phankao]

phankao:

OrangeJuice:

A friend just told me that in NJC, you can opt for O levels program if not doing well, then if results are good, student can \"re-join\" at JC level (plus can get affiliation points if want to return to NJC) , is that true ?

On the contrary, Students in NJC who really can't cope just leave the programme. So far there are have been 1 or 2 students leaving from each of the two first cohorts. Percentage of leavers very small though.

I've heard that DHS has O-level for those who can't cope in IP though.

If I didn't remember wrongly, if GPA 1.5 and below, will be \"kicked out\" of NJC IP programme. There is no alternative track. Maybe you check at open house tomorrow. Generally the Student Information Booklet will have these details on grading.

[VitoRelax]

OrangeJuice:

VitoRelax:

[quote=\"jtoh\"]You're welcome, Orangejuice. There are quite a few active ksp parents on the DHS and NJC sites. I think Augmum, Phankao, VitoRelax and a few others will be able to help you out with your queries.

Okay Orangejuice, my turn to give some input.

Are they Happy:
Well all I can say is my girl looks Happy. But I think this is the same whether you goto DHS or NJC. Everyone starts from square one, eventually they will make their own friends, irrespective of whether in DHS or NJC.

BOARDING:
I notice a lot of parents are worried about boarding. But let me assure you, the kids love it. It is like a holiday for them. DOn't worry, they come back during the weekend. The kids only miss their parents & sweet home after a few weeks of staying there.

So, for me it is good for them to go boarding. They do drama, martial arts, fine dining etiquette ... etc. At the begining of Year 2, they do a Stage show & perform for us parents. I was impressed with their maturity.

Of cos, during the first week, I saw some parents smuggle in MacDonald, Pizza Hut for their kids. They managed to do that bcos the security guard close one eye lah ...

I was told (but not sure if it true) one very rich parent decided to pull out his kid from boarding & keng to get mc for exemption. Rumour is that the rich parent worry their kids will get kidnap (maybe this is a joke - not vey sure).

WORK LOAD:
Damn bloody jialat. Lots of project work. Intially DD broke down once bcos too much work & group members didn't do work but play xbox instead.

Teachers:
There are both good & bad teachers. Some are very passionate about teaching while some take it just as a job.

CONS:
Most of the programmes, cca & whatnot are run & organized by students themselves. So, very often my girl wouldn't know what time she knock off until the day itself. For example, DD have to attend briefing tomorrow bcos she is taking part in this Sat Open Day. At this hour, she still waiting for her fren to tell her what time. This is also normal occurance for her ccas.

CCAs are worse, some sessions are called up at last min. Eg at 11pm receive a sms from Seniors that tomorrow got to turn up. Or, at 11pm, receive a sms that tomorrow's meeting cancel (this is good liao, sometimes cancel at last minute on the day itself). I got the impression that the meetings are setup at the whims & fancy of seniors who cannot (or forget) decide on the timing & date ...

Hi VitoRelax, thanks for your very candid feedback, I like it

I am not very concerned abt boarding program, just wanted to hear more details, I am actually FOR it then DD will learn to be independent and realise how lucky she is at home when mom and dad (and younger bro) do things for her.

A friend just told me that in NJC, you can opt for O levels program if not doing well, then if results are good, student can \"re-join\" at JC level (plus can get affiliation points if want to return to NJC) , is that true ?[/quote]Your friend is definitely wrong. NJC does not run dual course. There is no O level program in NJC for you to opt. The student will be \"kicked out\" from NJC if the results are not up to mark. But this seldom happens once you are in ... will only happen if the students suddenly changed & show no interest in studies ... so don't worry ....

[VitoRelax]

phankao:

phankao:

[quote=\"OrangeJuice\"]
A friend just told me that in NJC, you can opt for O levels program if not doing well, then if results are good, student can \"re-join\" at JC level (plus can get affiliation points if want to return to NJC) , is that true ?

On the contrary, Students in NJC who really can't cope just leave the programme. So far there are have been 1 or 2 students leaving from each of the two first cohorts. Percentage of leavers very small though.

I've heard that DHS has O-level for those who can't cope in IP though.

If I didn't remember wrongly, if GPA 1.5 and below, will be \"kicked out\" of NJC IP programme. There is no alternative track. Maybe you check at open house tomorrow. Generally the Student Information Booklet will have these details on grading.[/quote]I think is GPA 2.0 ? Or was it 2.0 given warning ? Not too sure ... but I think by & large everyone gets above 3.0. The Principal target for all students is 3.5

[Nightrace]

?[/quote]


I thought it was minimum D7 in HCL to get exemption in JC? And yes, if you do not take HCL you have to take CL in JC.[/quote]

Thanks, jtoh. I was confused with point 2 & 3 in MOE website http://moe.gov.sg/education/secondary/language-programmes/

That means for entry to Uni., students in IP schools need to obtain at least a D7 or E8 for HMTL in Y4?[/quote]

Oh I think you're right. So long as you pass HMTL, you're exempted from HCL in JC. And minimum D7 to enter the local universities.[/quote]

Thanks, jtoh.