2009 GEP Screening And Selection

[pinkgorilla]

Hi Again


WORKING INDEPENDENTLY
Some of you mentioned that you need not help your kids in their projects. What happen if other parents are very kiasu and they helped alot and their kids projects look really good. I am all for my dd to work independently but will the teacher be fair in the grading. A project can be done at different levels of quality. Some kids are really better then others at project work and if parents are involved, it looks even better. How can the teacher tell?
Eg. I heard from a parent that the famiy tree project, some just use a vanguard sheet and draw. Some parents buy plastic hanging trees and hang photos.

BICEP
Can parents in Tao Nan enlighten more about the BICEP. They mention that CME, PE and a few other lessons are conducted in Mandarin. I thought it could be good for dd because we don't speak much Mandarin at home. The immersion could be good for her.

Workload
Kinda enjoy seeing dd having some idle time. She reads voraciously, always have alot of ideas to occupy herself making and doing things. We go to the outdoors and exercise and that needs time too. I guess at the end of the day it's all about discipline and time managment. That's tough as when activities are too structured, we fall into a rut and it's not so fun anymore. I know 2 GEP kids who have lost the sparkle in their eyes, what happened?

What's DD's idea of GEP
She's still abit confuse what the fuss is all about. She thinks that GEP is like an extra enrichment class that she has to attend after the normal class. Have to go thru' pupil's guide to help her understand.

Thanks everyone once again for all the advice and moral support. Frankly, it's quite lonely being parents of a gifted child. I had to homeschool dd for sometime in her kindy days because she was so bored in class and because she's so 'guai', she just sat and broke down. Most of the past years, I struggled to keep her challenged and can't talk much to people about it as they may think that I was showing off.

[leeven]

My DS got selected too in GEP. I have only 3 choice of Schools as his MT is not chinese. ACS , Henry, Rosyth. Parents please advise the Niche area's for these 3 schools. which is the best. :?

[turquoise]

Hi Pinkgorilla,


With regard to working independently, yes, it's true that some kiasu parents help their kids with their projects. The sad thing is if every parent fears that their child will lose out, and insists on helping them, they're only perpetuating the problem. And the biggest losers in the end will be their children.

Do teachers know if parents have helped out? I can't say for sure, but I would think they have a fair idea if there was adult input in the projects if the child's performance in class is markedly different from his/her final project.

Finally, presentation and creativity is only one portion of overall marks for projects. So the difference in score between a vanguard sheet and an elaborate 3D model isn't that significant.

Have faith in your child and let her do the project herself. The Family Tree project is one of the easiest ones to do because the child can identify with it.

[turquoise]

Herbie:

My daughter got into GEP... As parents, we have mixed feeling... happy that she passed the exam and worry whether she can cope with the programme.


She is also quite reluctant to leave SCGS...

Congrats Herbie. Any idea how many from SCGS made it through to GEP?

[keroppi]

vlim:

last yr they stated only for parents but when I went there I saw that many of them brought their child along :stupid: I should have brought my boy there :stupid:

Ya lor. Me too. My first reaction was no fair. Should have brought my boy too. :stupid:
Herbie, congrats. Just bring your kid along. The session would be good information for her as well.

[glchua]

My son is out! Don’t know if any from his school got in. Congrats to all who got selected!

[Neko]

Hi. My daughter and 3 of her classmates are in GEP. Just read the letter and realise we are not given a lot of time to make the decision whether to accept the GEP offer (ah, stress, stress, stress).


We are surprised she got selected because she did not find the selection test a breeze. We are leaving the decision to her (erm, not sure if this is wise as she is afterall, only 9 yo).

She is in a dilemma. Her thoughts :

1) cannot bear to leave her friends (2 of them cried and asked her not to leave)
2) proud to be selected, wld be a pity to give it a miss
3) GEP is going to be stressful, don’t know whether can cope and heard GEPers may not do well for PSLE

With respect to Pt 3, are GEPers given any priority to enter Sec schools of their choice, even if they don’t perform as well as the others ?

[girlmum]

WOW! Seems to have quite a lot of bright children in this forum. CONGRATULATION TO ALL CHILDREN & PARENTS! Give your child a pat on the shoulder.

For those who r not successful in the 2nd round, don't be disappointed. Your child tried and moreover, they had managed to get into the 2nd round which is also a good achievement.
I didn't let my DD1 try when she was in P3 (don't want to stress her or myself). DD2 will be in P3 next yr, should I let her try? She is the Gan Jiong type, may freak her out. (LOL) She did pretty well for SA2, scoring 90+ for all subjects. Pls advise.

[Emelyn]

Keroppi30:

leeven:

40+ kids thats great. my DS school I think 34 . he is from SVPA .

are you refering to south view? if yes we probably live nearby my dd is from BPPS...

Keroppi30,

DS1 is from BPPS 4J. DS2 is from BPPS 2L.

BPPS has their own GEP-programme which is mainly for the top 2 or 3 classes. For DS1, it is 4J and 4I.

For eg, this year, Term 3, they had a 10-week Debating workshop. They have other activities for these 2 classes too. Also, they cover a lot more in Science and Maths. They have additional enrichment classes too.

For SA2, the lowest marks for Math in 4J is 90. Got a few with 100 :!:

Just sharing.

[Zann]

My kiddy got selected too. He was the one who said very easy after the first day of selection test but I thought he was just kidding. After the second day, he kept quiet and refused to recall any further so I thought may be "no chance" liao.


Ever thought of sending him for GEP preparation course last time but after I came to know this forum and read "All about GEP" I decided not to and let things be natural. At least now I feel confident of his ability to join the program. He is keen too after discussing with him today.

I am working fulltime and have not been spending much time with him from young. Basically, he is an independent learner and love to read all kinds of book so I guess his good in English has benefited him in the selection test. Thru him, I know what "teach less, learn more" means.

He is already studying in a GEP School, and that makes our decision easier to just stay back in the same school, so that he will not miss his friends.