GEP 2011 - Screening & Selection

[OrangeJuice]

phankao:

OrangeJuice:

Hi phankao,we \"spoke\" in the PSLE thread on DHS vs NJC when I was considering sec schools for my DD earlier...now I am looking at schools for DS the younger one for GEP, do you have a son in CHS ? Hear lots of gd feedback re CHS and its teachers in the GEP. Do you hv more to share ? Also, do you know how are non-Christian kids excluded or included in religious activities(if any) in ACS? Are bible studies compulsory in Christian schools ?
Thanks !

As far as I know, religious studies are not compulsory. THey will do some other activities while the catholic boys go for \"Jesus & I\" programme (not strictly Catholic either). I'm not sure about ACS. No experience there. I've only had kids in CHS & SNGS. CHS is certainly even less \"catholic\" than SNGS as in, they might not even arrange masses on days of obligation for the catholic boys, unlike SNGS - maybe bc SNGS still have the nuns next to their premises.

I still have a son in CHS primary but graduating class - now p6. Only waiting for PSLE results now. Then it'll be on to secondary.

I have no experience with GEP in CHS, although I do know some of the teachers. There are only 2 classes, so it's a very small but certainly very favoured group. It does seem that alot of the resources do go into the GEP classes from my observation - even the classrooms look much neater and nicer! So if your child goes to GEP in CHS, certainly well taken care of.

Thanks phankao for sharing
BTW good luck to your son in his PSLE results, I am too anxiously waiting for DD

[syshi]

phankao:

I have no experience with GEP in CHS, although I do know some of the teachers. There are only 2 classes, so it's a very small but certainly very favoured group. It does seem that alot of the resources do go into the GEP classes from my observation - even the classrooms look much neater and nicer! So if your child goes to GEP in CHS, certainly well taken care of.

My DS in the GEP. Not true that they are favoured group. Example, during mainstream exam, the school will have early release at 12.30pm (instead of normal 1.40pm). No CCA during mainstream exam, but not during GEP exam which is 1 week earlier.
Feels that a lot of emphasize are put into the 'High Achiever' Class, those passed 1st round but not through 2nd round. I think partially most of the GEP boys will leave to RI/Hwa Chong/etc rather than stay on in CatHigh Secondary, whereas those 'High Achiever' mostly stayed on to the Secondary.

Anyway, as observed from DS previous school and CatHigh, there are good and 'not so good' teacher. It all boils down to luck and our childrens own effort.
Many of DS's classmate attended TLL. When teacher tried explaining in class, mostly will 'fight' to answer as mostly already learn the subject in advance in TLL. Once the teacher think that the children know, it will be skipped to those that nobody know. So you have to catch up yourself either autodidact or through enrichment centre. Last year DS was struggling eventhough in P3 he was 1st in level, best in Chinese/English/Math.
Luckily this year he bucked up. This is also due to the teacher's effort put in in P5. And his mindset changed that once in GEP he won't be the top anymore.

[vlim]

syshi:

phankao:

I have no experience with GEP in CHS, although I do know some of the teachers. There are only 2 classes, so it's a very small but certainly very favoured group. It does seem that alot of the resources do go into the GEP classes from my observation - even the classrooms look much neater and nicer! So if your child goes to GEP in CHS, certainly well taken care of.

My DS in the GEP. Not true that they are favoured group. Example, during mainstream exam, the school will have early release at 12.30pm (instead of normal 1.40pm). No CCA during mainstream exam, but not during GEP exam which is 1 week earlier.
Feels that a lot of emphasize are put into the 'High Achiever' Class, those passed 1st round but not through 2nd round. I think partially most of the GEP boys will leave to RI/Hwa Chong/etc rather than stay on in CatHigh
Secondary, whereas those 'High Achiever' mostly stayed on to the Secondary.

Anyway, as observed from DS previous school and CatHigh, there are good and 'not so good' teacher. It all boils down to luck and our childrens own effort.

Many of DS's classmate attended TLL. When teacher tried explaining in class, mostly will 'fight' to answer as mostly already learn the subject in advance in TLL. Once the teacher think that the children
know, it will be skipped to those that nobody know. So you have to catch up yourself either autodidact or through enrichment centre. Last year DS was struggling eventhough in P3 he was 1st in level, best in Chinese/English/Math.
Luckily this year he bucked up. This is also due to the teacher's effort put in in P5. And his mindset changed that once in GEP he won't be the top anymore.

Glad tt that don't happen in my Ds school or at least not his cohort .. :roll:

[phankao]

syshi:

phankao:

I have no experience with GEP in CHS, although I do know some of the teachers. There are only 2 classes, so it's a very small but certainly very favoured group. It does seem that alot of the resources do go into the GEP classes from my observation - even the classrooms look much neater and nicer! So if your child goes to GEP in CHS, certainly well taken care of.

My DS in the GEP. Not true that they are favoured group. Example, during mainstream exam, the school will have early release at 12.30pm (instead of normal 1.40pm). No CCA during mainstream exam, but not during GEP exam which is 1 week earlier.
Feels that a lot of emphasize are put into the 'High Achiever' Class, those passed 1st round but not through 2nd round. I think partially most of the GEP boys will leave to RI/Hwa Chong/etc rather than stay on in CatHigh Secondary, whereas those 'High Achiever' mostly stayed on to the Secondary.

Anyway, as observed from DS previous school and CatHigh, there are good and 'not so good' teacher. It all boils down to luck and our childrens own effort.
Many of DS's classmate attended TLL. When teacher tried explaining in class, mostly will 'fight' to answer as mostly already learn the subject in advance in TLL. Once the teacher think that the children know, it will be skipped to those that nobody know. So you have to catch up yourself either autodidact or through enrichment centre. Last year DS was struggling eventhough in P3 he was 1st in level, best in Chinese/English/Math.
Luckily this year he bucked up. This is also due to the teacher's effort put in in P5. And his mindset changed that once in GEP he won't be the top anymore.

If the boys don't go to any outside tuition then the problem will be solved, won't it?

Minority always don't get specials lah. On Higher Chinese exam days, there is no early let-off either. As for CCA, can always excuse yourself as there's generally no pressing issues like competition or performance during GEP exam days? Except for SYF in April of alternate years? That one almost everyone affected? FOr my elder boy, in 2009, his p6 SA1(CHS call it Prelims 1) was during the week of SYF.

Anyway, even the high achiever class(there is only 1 class now) - there are many boys who go to other schools. So if the rationale is that the school doesn't put in effort in teaching the ones who leave - then why do they put in effort for the best class? Ultimately, the school still wants their students' performance to be as good as possible, altho' the students may not continue on to secondary. That is inevitable.

[Mvm]

jtoh:

Mvm:

from what I know, if you are fixed on a particular school, just put in that school as first choice. And leave all the rest blank (ie 2nd , 3rd choice) and they will post you to the school of your choice. However if you list more than one choice, they tend to post to school that is nearest to your home with vacancy, even if thats your 3rd choice. If not happy with posting can appeal, and likely they will give it to you.

Friend put NYPS as her first and only choice even though she lived far away. They sent her kid to the GEP school nearest her home bec NYPS was over-subscribed.

I know someone like yours, posted to the Tao nan as they live in the east, but she appealed and got into Nyps! If you appeal, it shows you really want it and they will give. That year Nyps had 26 in some classes.

[syshi]

phankao:

If the boys don't go to any outside tuition then the problem will be solved, won't it?

Problem for me is I can't afford TLL, so during P4 DS struggled for those he didn't understand but other boys 'understand'. I spent long time to 'dig' out info from my U-time and through internet, instead of through teacher.
Whereas the other parents really prepared their boys, even sending since P1. And currently some school marking are based on the class average. So if some of the children achieve better, then you'll end up at the below average.

phankao:

Minority always don't get specials lah. On Higher Chinese exam days, there is no early let-off either. As for CCA, can always excuse yourself as there's generally no pressing issues like competition or performance during GEP exam days? Except for SYF in April of alternate years? That one almost everyone affected? FOr my elder boy, in 2009, his p6 SA1(CHS call it Prelims 1) was during the week of SYF.

For CCA always have to find excuses during exam not to go. Especially when they were busy preparing for the CHS Performance. And if the boy never turn up, normally the teacher will call the parents up. Good measure if in case the boy actually skipped CCA and went somewhere else. But also stress out for parents
Next year DS will have to be busy for PSLE preparation and SYF also. Not sure whether he'll be involve with SYF, if not, I think I'll pull him out of the CCA to concentrate. Some of the other boys in his class do that. Not sure whether what is the implication. Can share?

phankao:

Anyway, even the high achiever class(there is only 1 class now) - there are many boys who go to other schools. So if the rationale is that the school doesn't put in effort in teaching the ones who leave - then why do they put in effort for the best class? Ultimately, the school still wants their students' performance to be as good as possible, altho' the students may not continue on to secondary. That is inevitable.

That is the reason. When the Principal sharing with GEP parents, he also mentioned that most of the GEP boys will be going to those top schools, not many will stay back. Compare to those high achiever, the percentage staying back higher. Somemore, those are considered as 'Old Boys' as compared to GEP boys which came in in P4. Even for Sports CCA, were told that all full and GEP boys cannot choose. Unless you have some achievement, then they'll be considered. So only left Aesthetics CCAs.

[felinej]

Was just wondering.. if my DD has always attended a non-GEP school near NYPS, will they take that into consideration that she has always been traveling this distance even though we don't stay near the school?


My choice are either NYPS or RGPS. DD is from a girls school, was wondering whether we will stand a better chance with RG. Btw.. We stay at SengKang

[syshi]

felinej:

Was just wondering.. if my DD has always attended a non-GEP school near NYPS, will they take that into consideration that she has always been traveling this distance even though we don't stay near the school?


My choice are either NYPS or RGPS. DD is from a girls school, was wondering whether we will stand a better chance with RG. Btw.. We stay at SengKang

If you really keen on NYPS, you can just put in NYPS as the choice. Leave the 2nd choice blank. But at the same time write the reasoning in the form (example: near to current school which is near to your office, etc).
that's what I did for DS when he insisted to go to all boys school and CHS is the nearest...

[phankao]

syshi:

For CCA always have to find excuses during exam not to go. Especially when they were busy preparing for the CHS Performance. And if the boy never turn up, normally the teacher will call the parents up. Good measure if in case the boy actually skipped CCA and went somewhere else. But also stress out for parents

Why sweat? Why dont' you just simply SMS the CCA teacher-in-charge to remind the teacher a day before or on the day itself and say that your boy's GEP exam is from what date to what date and won't be at CCA. Parents have a say too.
[quote]Next year DS will have to be busy for PSLE preparation and SYF also. Not sure whether he'll be involve with SYF, if not, I think I'll pull him out of the CCA to concentrate. Some of the other boys in his class do that. Not sure whether what is the implication. Can share?[/quote]What implication? What CCA is he in? THere are many mainstream and GEP boys who have done SYF and done very well during PSLE too. Teachers, esp the CCA teachers will help manage if you raise your concerns with them.
[quote] Even for Sports CCA, were told that all full and GEP boys cannot choose. Unless you have some achievement, then they'll be considered. So only left Aesthetics CCAs.[/quote][/quote]

CCa is like that in many schools (yeah, even primary schools) now, sad to say. In secondary school, really not much chance for sports unless you have experience in it in primary or show very good potential during the start-of-year trials.

The school wants the students to bring school glory in CCA as well as PSLE lor.

[MotherHen]

felinej:

Was just wondering.. if my DD has always attended a non-GEP school near NYPS, will they take that into consideration that she has always been traveling this distance even though we don't stay near the school?


My choice are either NYPS or RGPS. DD is from a girls school, was wondering whether we will stand a better chance with RG. Btw.. We stay at SengKang

I think no issues . My DD1 was from an all-girls school, and was posted to RGPS. My reason was that we prefer an all-girls environment. I live in Punggol.

As for NYPS, many of DD1's ex-classmates were posted there, and I know some stayed in the Upper Thomson area. The reason they gave was the preference for SAP school (DD1's pre-GEP school was an all-girls SAP school).

So I actually think that the reason (if valid) is important.