Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)

[CSN]

Not too sure if any parent or may Autolycus can advise. Why must sports CCA be only for the obj of competition which then means a min of 3x/4x weekly training? It makes it so difficult for parents like us who would like our DS to do sports but just do not think he can cope with 4x training weekly plus Uniform Group CCA. To start with, these kids need to learn how to handle 8 subjects and I personally do not think a typical boy like ours (no time management skills) will be able to manage 8 subjects, train 4x in sports, and attend Uniform CCA. Think Mandarin has shared that her DS somehow manage after 3 years in canoeing. Can Mandarin please elaborate further how your DS manage 4x training plus uniform group and can still find time to complete assignments, do revision, and prepare for exams? By the way, do all these intensive weekly sports CCA stop say x weeks before a major exam such as SA1 and SA2? Thanks.

[autolycus]

CSN:

Not too sure if any parent or may Autolycus can advise. Why must sports CCA be only for the obj of competition which then means a min of 3x/4x weekly training? It makes it so difficult for parents like us who would like our DS to do sports but just do not think he can cope with 4x training weekly plus Uniform Group CCA. To start with, these kids need to learn how to handle 8 subjects and I personally do not think a typical boy like ours (no time management skills) will be able to manage 8 subjects, train 4x in sports, and attend Uniform CCA. Think Mandarin has shared that her DS somehow manage after 3 years in canoeing. Can Mandarin please elaborate further how your DS manage 4x training plus uniform group and can still find time to complete assignments, do revision, and prepare for exams? By the way, do all these intensive weekly sports CCA stop say x weeks before a major exam such as SA1 and SA2? Thanks.

From personal experience, most of the children who pass through ACS(I) become high achievers in terms of time management. Normally, you just force them to time budget, and they'll quickly realise that it can be done. When I was in JC, I had several CCAs too; to me, you had to find something to do everyday after school, or the day wasn't complete.

CCAs mostly finish by August. Some very intensive ones like water-polo are done by May. There is little excuse for slacking. Further, if a student is having problems with work, the school normally helps with make-up lessons. In the end, the majority of students with scheduling problems will find they are surmountable. The process of learning this by experience (rather than having parents or teachers coddle them and do it for them) makes them more useful later in life. ACSians tend to be people who always have time to slack around because they are good at focussing and getting work done efficiently.

Now I do realise that sounds like an advertisement, and perhaps it may also sound arrogant or 'haolian'. But I'm just saying that many students who went through ACS found that life was -easier- after that. The key is the learning environment. Not everyone comes out so well, but everyone has learnt something useful for life. I, personally, was a terrible student, but I think I've managed to catch up.

One should note that cognitive neuroscience teaches us that learning is best initiated by trauma, and what is learnt in that way also remains longer.

[Mandarin]

CSN:

Not too sure if any parent or may Autolycus can advise. Why must sports CCA be only for the obj of competition which then means a min of 3x/4x weekly training? It makes it so difficult for parents like us who would like our DS to do sports but just do not think he can cope with 4x training weekly plus Uniform Group CCA. To start with, these kids need to learn how to handle 8 subjects and I personally do not think a typical boy like ours (no time management skills) will be able to manage 8 subjects, train 4x in sports, and attend Uniform CCA. Think Mandarin has shared that her DS somehow manage after 3 years in canoeing. Can Mandarin please elaborate further how your DS manage 4x training plus uniform group and can still find time to complete assignments, do revision, and prepare for exams? By the way, do all these intensive weekly sports CCA stop say x weeks before a major exam such as SA1 and SA2? Thanks.

For my DS case, his sports CCA is on Mon, Tue, Thu and Sat morning and then Fri is for UG. For for all weekdays except for Weds, he comes home around 7+pm. After shower and dinner, he has about 1 hour for schoolwork and I always insist on him getting ready for bed (whether he falls asleep or not latest by 10.30pm). It was quite tough in the initial year 1 period, but he quickly learnt that to cope, he has to pay attention in class and finish as much of his homework in school with whatever free time he has. It also helps that for him, Term 1 test is not counted and Term 3 is all coursework which he could start in mid year break for some of them. His hectic CCA schedule will slow down after the competition (in time for mid year exam) and also stops for a short period after Term 3 break for final preparation.

My DS has poor time management skills too. But, over time, he has become more conscientious. I remember that for last year, his competition ended quite late and he was left with 2 weeks to prepare for his mid year. Needless to say, his results suffer. We talked about it and concluded that he just have to manage it with the resource he has if he wants to continue with this CCA. I was glad to see that when Term 3 break comes around, he drew up his revision schedule on his own and giving himself at least 1 month to prepare for the final exams.

I am never one that expects excellent results from him, knowing that one cannot have it all. I have conveyed to him that I only want him to be within the top 1/3 of the cohort. He has set higher target for himself and I am glad to say that he still manages to be in top 15% of his cohort last year.

But every kid is different. I know my DS is one who is always too willing to please the adults. So, I do not push him too hard and I always make sure he knows that we will support him anytime he wants out (of his CCA). He will grumble about the muscles aches, the tiredness and all, but I know it is all part of growing up. I believe the perseverance of the mind is one of the greatest learning that he will get out of school life.

[ngbrdad]

Mandarin:

For my DS case, his sports CCA is on Mon, Tue, Thu and Sat morning and then Fri is for UG. For for all weekdays except for Weds, he comes home around 7+pm. After shower and dinner, he has about 1 hour for schoolwork and I always insist on him getting ready for bed (whether he falls asleep or not latest by 10.30pm). It was quite tough in the initial year 1 period, but he quickly learnt that to cope, he has to pay attention in class and finish as much of his homework in school with whatever free time he has. It also helps that for him, Term 1 test is not counted and Term 3 is all coursework which he could start in mid year break for some of them. His hectic CCA schedule will slow down after the competition (in time for mid year exam) and also stops for a short period after Term 3 break for final preparation.

My DS has poor time management skills too. But, over time, he has become more conscientious. I remember that for last year, his competition ended quite late and he was left with 2 weeks to prepare for his mid year. Needless to say, his results suffer. We talked about it and concluded that he just have to manage it with the resource he has if he wants to continue with this CCA. I was glad to see that when Term 3 break comes around, he drew up his revision schedule on his own and giving himself at least 1 month to prepare for the final exams.

I am never one that expects excellent results from him, knowing that one cannot have it all. I have conveyed to him that I only want him to be within the top 1/3 of the cohort. He has set higher target for himself and I am glad to say that he still manages to be in top 15% of his cohort last year.

But every kid is different. I know my DS is one who is always too willing to please the adults. So, I do not push him too hard and I always make sure he knows that we will support him anytime he wants out (of his CCA). He will grumble about the muscles aches, the tiredness and all, but I know it is all part of growing up. I believe the perseverance of the mind is one of the greatest learning that he will get out of school life.

Hi Mandarin from what you describe, your DS simply has no time for 3rd language right ?

[jtoh]

autolycus:

One should note that cognitive neuroscience teaches us that learning is best initiated by trauma, and what is learnt in that way also remains longer.

:nailbite: :nailbite: :yikes:

[ngbrdad]

Is there any training programs in ACSI for math and science Olympiad ?


It will probably take up another one or 2 afternoons per week right ?

How about fees ? I guess need to pay as well since these are not free even during primary school days.

I found out from the ACSI website there is a math competition team, which is a considered CCA. Selection trial is end of Jan I think.
Didn’t recall it as one of the choices in the form for CCA selection.

So it’s unlike primary schools where everyone can take part in a math competition ? Now need to clear a selection trial to be in the team first ?

[Mandarin]

ngrdad: No, he does not take 3rd language. Right from primary school days, he was not a language person and I am not a great proponent of 3rd language, so it was a done deal right from day 1. His strength has always been with Maths, but I do see the program is giving him quite a bit of training with critical thinking. He used to be a quieter boy, but I could see now he is developing to be a pleasant addition in any conversation. He will banter intellectually, neither offensive nor defensive, and peppered with humour. It sure feels like he is going on the right track, but it is a long process, so I shall be patient.

[Mandarin]

ngbrdad:

Is there any training programs in ACSI for math and science Olympiad ?


It will probably take up another one or 2 afternoons per week right ?

How about fees ? I guess need to pay as well since these are not free even during primary school days.

I found out from the ACSI website there is a math competition team, which is a considered CCA. Selection trial is end of Jan I think.
Didn't recall it as one of the choices in the form for CCA selection.

So it's unlike primary schools where everyone can take part in a math competition ? Now need to clear a selection trial to be in the team first ?

I am afraid I am unable to provide information in this respect as my DS is not in any of these.

As far as I know, they have the opportunity to participate in Australian maths competition, SMOJ/S and Dr Ong Challenge (? not quite sure the name but this is a school-based maths competition). Some classes send the whole class, but some will send selected students. It seems quite fluid to me. My DS did well in some of these competitions and he was invited to join the Maths Competition Club. Due to his hectic schedule, he declined the invite. So, I am not too sure how else a student could join the club.

From year 3 onwards, there is the ACS class, so I guess there could be a more concerted effort there to train students for the Science Olympiads. Again, it is just my guess.

[autolycus]

Ong Teck Chin got rid of the usual academic societies long ago as a matter of policy, so the sciences etc are now represented by competition teams. Enrichment in the sciences was then folded into curriculum, which is why the ACS(I) lower sec science curriculum is so unusual.


ACS(I) might seem to be overly competitive, but the point is that a student should find his own time for interests, and if he's really interested in something, he can sign up for the appropriate enrichment programme (EP is during curriculum time in Y1 and Y2) or become competitive. There are still non-competitive (well, not so competitive) CCAs, if you look around.

There is also another route to a third language. If the student meets pre-U lang requirements (normally by passing Higher MT by Year 4), then he can do another second language or third language in his IBDP years, at Y5/6 under Group 2. Clarification: this is a replacement for the MT language, so it's not over and above two language subjects.

[ngbrdad]

Saw on the ACSI website that fencing is listed as special interest group and not sports CCA.

So is it just for fun or they take part in competition too ?