Cedar Girls Secondary School

[octoberbaby]

Give this school sometime to make adjustment. Maybe the girls will change mind at the end of Y2.

The ‘real’ reason also not sure what the girls experience in the school. They compare with their ex-classmates who are in RGS when they met during Teachers’ Day.
If result permits, most probably will transfer.

[Bestmark]

livewith_vanilla:

As a pupil in a Secondary Two class, I can tell you that even though I'm not in IP, the amount of stress here is no joke.

Honestly, after reading the junior's post about the things they do, I'm shocked. But after I think about it, I'm not.
This opinion is going to be for the express stream.
Even though we learn things meant for secondary school education, it is not going to be easy. The maths and science we learn, sometimes it overwhelms me. We have integrated syllabus. At sec one, we buy sec one and sec two books. At sec two, we buy sec three and sec four books, and use sec two books.
For science, our performance task was on digestion. We were given a problem situation, and told to diagnose the patient's illness. However, not all information was given, so the diagnosis can be anything. There is more than one diagnosis.
It may sound okay. But honestly, we weren't taught the topic beforehand. We were left like this, and we had to finish this performance task that was for maths and science. The math part had to do with quadratic equations, which at that time we were taught the term before. It was all very messy and stressful for us. Even my tuition teacher says time to time that my school is crazy.
Throughout this year, my class have had many complains. Complains that we brought up to the teacher, to the principal even. Like how our timetable was ridiculously long. Tuesdays and Fridays we end at 3.15 pm. On Fridays, most have CCAs until 6. Yes we have the weekend, but I would really love to let myself rest during the weekends. But I can't, the amount of homework, catching up on revision etc . It's crazy.
My maths teacher is a really good teacher, but he's really fast. Too fast. Things like graphs, i never understood clearly until i cleared it up with my tuition thing. My science teacher is so unbelievably soft, sit further than the second row, you have to strain your ears to listen. We told him that he was too soft, but nothing really changed. I guessed it didn't really matter after a while, we all developed sensitive hearing to hear him.
In Cedar, textbooks are sometimes just there for show. We have no textbooks for English, and our textbooks for maths is used only for the questions in them. We have our own notes. For history, the workbook isn't even touched. For Science, we do touch our textbook, but we are very much more dependent on the notes they give, because the textbook is insufficient. Work like EMS (Electromagnetic Spectrum) and Light and Lenses, we depend on notes, worksheets and our own research and understanding.
I guess, for Cedar, the only thing that I really, really love is my CCA. The friends I make in my CCA are real and true, they don't pretend and I really love them alot. They pulled me up when I fell, helped me through everything and supported me when I'm at my lowest. In Cedar, my friends and I all joked that with the amount of pressure we face now, and the way that we are so used to it we no longer care that much even if we stay up pass midnight to finish everything, we will have no problem managing life later on. Cedar taught us to be self-sufficient, not be dependent on others to spoonfeed us with answers.Cedar taught us how to cope with negative stress, positive stress, and shaped us into determined,strong,open-minded characters that are successful at study and play at the same time.
I guess, it's a love-hate relationship for me with Cedar. I don't like the system, but at the same time, I acknowledge that this system is what makes me have an opinion, stand up for myself, know what I want, how to cope with different people, different things, how to face stress, and more importantly, how to study hard, play hard and appreciate the things we've been given.
This system at Cedar gives one an enormous amount of stress, yet I feel that it is this stress that we learn to cope, accept and get used to that allowed Cedarians to be so successful in everything we put our hearts to doing. When I look at my seniors, my classmates, I feel that the amount of resilience we have is commendable, to be able to live with the pressure of excellence coming from our school, teachers and parents, and from ourselves.
To all potential sec ones, yes this school may seem very scary, very stressful. I once doubted my choice of school, wanted to transfer out, even doubting if I'll be able to survive, to love this school as my school. When I came into this school, i was looking for an all-rounded education. And after a turbulent year and a half, i can't exactly love this school, but this school has definitely gave me an all-rounded education.
Whether or not you are in IP or express, you WILL face stress. You WILL feel like you're gonna die, gonna give up on everything. But if you give up, then you WILL fail. But if you don't give up, persevere on, then you WILL reap the benefits. Do everything with an open mind, with appreciation, gratitude, and you will be able to see for yourself, beneath that entire strive for excellence facade, is a huge valuable store for you to open, explore and benefit.
Goodluck.
*No offence meant to the school, to anyone. This is my honest opinion.

Hi Live with vanilla

Do you mind to recommend your math's tutor to me as my dd is currently in sec 1 and she is having big problem with her Math.She is totally lost during every maths lesson. Really appreciate if you could pm me.
Thanks

[blitz]

Hi all. I understand your current principal is leaving. What is she like? Is she an approachable person?

[anneshirleygilbert]

Oh, so the current principal is leaving? any idea when? Anyone know who the new principal will be? and when will he/she be taking over the helm?


Sure wish to have more input!

[whitety]

anneshirleygilbert:

Oh, so the current principal is leaving? any idea when? Anyone know who the new principal will be? and when will he/she be taking over the helm?


Sure wish to have more input!

Hi Anne,
You can read more at http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=42091

[Individualist]

anneshirleygilbert:

Oh, so the current principal is leaving? any idea when? Anyone know who the new principal will be? and when will he/she be taking over the helm?


Sure wish to have more input!

The new principal will start her term on 15 December 2012. She's the (current) principal of Pasir Ris Secondary School from what I've heard.

[Individualist]

blitz:

Hi all. I understand your current principal is leaving. What is she like? Is she an approachable person?

Yes, Mrs Ouyang is very approachable. She has a somewhat motherly feel to her and she definitely does listen to our feedback and actually work on any problems we raise up. She's a tad soft spoken but definitely firm in discipline. I really did like her as the principal.

[livewith_vanilla]

Bestmark:

Hi Live with vanilla

Do you mind to recommend your math's tutor to me as my dd is currently in sec 1 and she is having big problem with her Math.She is totally lost during every maths lesson. Really appreciate if you could pm me.
Thanks

My tuition centre is at Learning Habitat (Buangkok). The teachers there are really good, at least to me.
If she is lost, get her to approach her maths teacher. Tuition should not be the only resort. I do approach my maths teacher in sec one. Getting a strong foundation laid is extremely fundamental to understand sec two maths, and later on, A Maths.

[isetan]

Hi Individulaist, can I check with you…does the school hours starts every day at 7:30am or 7:45am?

[Shinnio]

isetan:

Hi Individulaist, can I check with you....does the school hours starts every day at 7:30am or 7:45am?

At 7.30am, assembly/flag-raising starts. After 7.30am, you will be counted late.