St. Joseph's Institution

[smartypants]

Dnls_mum:

smartypants:

[quote=\"Dnls_mum\"]My son is current in the STDP for Computer Science in Sec 2. We were given a rude shock middle of this year when the principle anounced that they are scrapping O level computer science. So even though my son has put in tremendous time and effort on computer science, he cannot continue with this subject which he loves and do well next year. Reason? The school wants to concentrate resource on its new IP programme and not willing to spend funds on this subject for the O level track. It is disappointing because it was not communicated to us parents formally until the parent meeting this year. If we had known, we would not have allow him to be in the STDP Computer Science programme from Sec 1. Sadly, it is quite irresponsible of the school to just drop this half way through. They should have the decency to let this last batch of boys complete the programme. Unfortunately IP is too important for them. So if you want to put your son in SJI for the Computer Science course, don't. They have scrapped it. All students will now only do a computer studies subject which is just learning to use basic computer software programmes. It is still a great school, but sadly, the principal is clearly only motivated by one objective now.

I am interested in the STDP Computer Science course, but as u said, they are scrapping O level Computer science. If so, then how come they have included that particular choice in the TDP form 4 2012 sec 1 students? Is it still safe 4 me to join Computer Science? :?

You can't just choose to do STDP Comp science. You need to have taken the test on registration day and only a select few will be offered itnbased on their test performance.

Not sure what you mean by \"join comp science\". If you are offered STDp Comp Science, you should ask the school point blank if they will have a class offering Comp Secience for O Level. See what they tell you. At least then you go in with your eyes open.

if by \"join comp science\" you mean joining a comp science CCA like Robotics or Micromouse, pls note that they also have strict selection criteria. They will normally take those with competition experience in Pr school or similar.[/quote]Thx.i would like 2 know 1 more thing though. does anyone know how the selection tests will be like?

[Dnls_mum]

smartypants:

Dnls_mum:

[quote=\"smartypants\"] I am interested in the STDP Computer Science course, but as u said, they are scrapping O level Computer science. If so, then how come they have included that particular choice in the TDP form 4 2012 sec 1 students? Is it still safe 4 me to join Computer Science? :?

You can't just choose to do STDP Comp science. You need to have taken the test on registration day and only a select few will be offered itnbased on their test performance.

Not sure what you mean by \"join comp science\". If you are offered STDp Comp Science, you should ask the school point blank if they will have a class offering Comp Secience for O Level. See what they tell you. At least then you go in with your eyes open.

if by \"join comp science\" you mean joining a comp science CCA like Robotics or Micromouse, pls note that they also have strict selection criteria. They will normally take those with competition experience in Pr school or similar.

Thx.i would like 2 know 1 more thing though. does anyone know how the selection tests will be like?[/quote]2 years ago the selection test for all STDPs (Special Talent Development Programmes) including Comp Science, was held on registration day in Dec. If it is still the same case, and you did not take the test on registration day, then you have probably missed the boat. :sad:

[nanosphere]

No test taken for STDP on registration day.if i’m not wrong i think the selection will be done at the end of the 1st term.

[Dnls_mum]

nanosphere:

No test taken for STDP on registration day.if i'm not wrong i think the selection will be done at the end of the 1st term.

So it looks like they have made changes since my son's time. He took his on registration day and so did the rest for art, Maths, english, science etc. They were posted into STDP classes from first day of school. If i did not remember wrongly, I recall my friend's son who is sec 1 in 2011 also knew his STDP Maths status in Jan this year.

[tisha]

Dnls_mum:

nanosphere:

No test taken for STDP on registration day.if i'm not wrong i think the selection will be done at the end of the 1st term.

So it looks like they have made changes since my son's time. He took his on registration day and so did the rest for art, Maths, english, science etc. They were posted into STDP classes from first day of school. If i did not remember wrongly, I recall my friend's son who is sec 1 in 2011 also knew his STDP Maths status in Jan this year.

Yes, no test was taken on the first day, at least for my DS class. And it is mentioned only shortlisted students will be taking the respective tests. And as nanosphere has pointed out, it will be at the end of term one.
Dlns_mum,
Good to have you around to answer our queries. Thankyou.
Can I check with you, abt how many will be selected for the talent program? I believe a student can choose only one talent and there are abt 5/6 talents. Just wondering what percentage of the cohort will be selected for STDP?

[tisha]

tisha:

nanosphere:

tisha, i was there yesterday.may i know yr ds will be in which class?

DS is in 108. But the level head did mention in the briefing that it could change just before the school starts right?
Any idea how the boys are sorted into sections?

nanoshpere, which class is your DS in?

[tisha]

Re-posting some more Qs, :oops: they got burried a few pages back. Hope someone can help out... :please:


Need some help regarding the following:
1. Will all students be given lockers?
2. How often do they need to wear PE attire?
3. The uniform is full white, is it a challenge to maintain it? How do you manage?
4. What is the earliest possible time and the latest possible time they return home?
5. How is the food in the canteen? If school bus reaches early enough, are there any breakfast choices or need to have breakfast at home?

[nanosphere]

Hi tisha, my ds tentatively will be in class 101.He got in by dsa using cca band.

[smartypants]

tisha:

Dnls_mum:

[quote=\"nanosphere\"]No test taken for STDP on registration day.if i'm not wrong i think the selection will be done at the end of the 1st term.

So it looks like they have made changes since my son's time. He took his on registration day and so did the rest for art, Maths, english, science etc. They were posted into STDP classes from first day of school. If i did not remember wrongly, I recall my friend's son who is sec 1 in 2011 also knew his STDP Maths status in Jan this year.

Yes, no test was taken on the first day, at least for my DS class. And it is mentioned only shortlisted students will be taking the respective tests. And as nanosphere has pointed out, it will be at the end of term one.
Dlns_mum,
Good to have you around to answer our queries. Thankyou.
Can I check with you, abt how many will be selected for the talent program? I believe a student can choose only one talent and there are abt 5/6 talents. Just wondering what percentage of the cohort will be selected for STDP?[/quote] Well, that is a huge relief but is the selection teat something like HAST???

[Dnls_mum]

tisha:

Dnls_mum:

[quote=\"nanosphere\"]No test taken for STDP on registration day.if i'm not wrong i think the selection will be done at the end of the 1st term.

So it looks like they have made changes since my son's time. He took his on registration day and so did the rest for art, Maths, english, science etc. They were posted into STDP classes from first day of school. If i did not remember wrongly, I recall my friend's son who is sec 1 in 2011 also knew his STDP Maths status in Jan this year.

Yes, no test was taken on the first day, at least for my DS class. And it is mentioned only shortlisted students will be taking the respective tests. And as nanosphere has pointed out, it will be at the end of term one.
Dlns_mum,
Good to have you around to answer our queries. Thankyou.

Can I check with you, abt how many will be selectAd for the talent program? I believe a student can choose only one talent and there are abt 5/6 talents. Just wondering what percentage of the cohort will be selected for STDP?[/quote]Things may have changed this year.
For my son's year, sec 1 2010, there were 7 STDP classes. Different STDP classes had different criteria. Eg A* PSLE grade for specific subj and min T-score for STDP English, Chinese, Maths, Science. Art and Comp Science are based on selection test.