GEP 2012 - Screening & Selection

[shine]

comfy:

Hi Shine, I have been nodding my head as I read Nebbermind and Jtoh's sharing. I can understand your concern because I only realised these much later on. Just questions that are related to your dd : What does your dd feel about GEP? Is she excited about it? Is she ok with changing school? Her personality (highly competitive or happy go lucky)?

To me, these are equally if not more important than just finding out what sort of work, projects, teachers etc.

Just to highlight : Social Study is graded and this subject has a few projects that need to work in team (P4). So what Fireflymom said can happen, just need to deal with it (like working world). Importantly the kids will learn to give and take, negotiate with each other/teacher. The stress most likely is due to time constraint and logistic issues.

Hi comfy, thanks for advice. Will definitely think through those questions you mentioned before making a decision.
:thankyou:

[shine]

breezy:

Hey shine,

3 yrs ago, my son was given a big yellow envelop - a ticket to join GEP. We had to make a tough decision, but also a happy decision. Like your gal, my son was well settled into the school with many close friends and was told he would be given a leadership position the following year. After attending the GEP briefing, he was attracted by its curriculum but at the same time, he felt flexed taking it up becos he would have to leave familiar ground.

Eventually, we decided that he should stay put in the neighbourhood school. Apart from a different curriculum, we felt the school was providing enuff for my boy. Though I have to confess there are times when he felt a little stifled when some teachers won't entertain his questions or his alternative solutions, simply told him to just \"follow the model answers\". I feel to manage this, is a learning process itself.

He is indeed very happy in the school and is still suitably challenged - not only academically, but also in many other aspects - leadership, entrepreneurship, math olympiad/UNSW competitions, CCAs, hosting VIPs to the school, picking up Emceeing for major school events, running school open house, involved in buddy tutoring of academically weaker schoolmates, projects, etc.

Most importantly, being in a neighbourhood school, he has learnt how to get along with kids with different family background and learning the important words \"Humility\" and \"Compassion\".

The bottom line is, once the decision is made, do not waver. Move on and make the best out of your choice. There is no right or wrong. Either route u choose for your gal, i m sure it will be a rewarding and a gd learning experience.

Gd luck!

:thankyou: breezy for sharing your experience.

It’s indeed reassuring and I really appreciate it. You mentioned 3 years ago so I assume your son did PSLE this year? All the best to your son’s PSLE results and may he get into his choice school! :boogie:

[iFirefly]

shine:

comfy:

Hi Shine, I have been nodding my head as I read Nebbermind and Jtoh's sharing. I can understand your concern because I only realised these much later on. Just questions that are related to your dd : What does your dd feel about GEP? Is she excited about it? Is she ok with changing school? Her personality (highly competitive or happy go lucky)?

To me, these are equally if not more important than just finding out what sort of work, projects, teachers etc.
Just to highlight : Social Study is graded and this subject has a few projects that need to work in team (P4). So what Fireflymom said can happen, just need to deal with it (like working world). Importantly the kids will learn to give and take, negotiate with each other/teacher. The stress most likely is due to time constraint and logistic issues.

Hi comfy, thanks for advice. Will definitely think through those questions you mentioned before making a decision.
:thankyou:

Errr.. Why worry so much so early? :scratchhead:
Don't think the kids have been informed of the outcome yet, right?

[shine]

firefly38:

Errr.. Why worry so much so early? :scratchhead:
Don't think the kids have been informed of the outcome yet, right?

Yah, you’re right. But I don’t like to rush through important decisions such as this IF we have to make the decision. Need time to digest information and consider all aspects early due to my child’s temperament and experience in school.

[Lock]

shine:

firefly38:

Errr.. Why worry so much so early? :scratchhead:
Don't think the kids have been informed of the outcome yet, right?

Yah, you’re right. But I don’t like to rush through important decisions such as this IF we have to make the decision. Need time to digest information and consider all aspects early due to my child’s temperament and experience in school.

I have the same sentiments as you, Shine. But I have sort of come to a decision after reading all the posts here. Regardless of the final result, I will want my DS to stay put at where he is. But I will also discuss with my DS shd he get through the 2nd round. Afterall, he's the one who will be in the program.

[shine]

Lock:

shine:

[quote=\"firefly38\"]
Errr.. Why worry so much so early? :scratchhead:
Don't think the kids have been informed of the outcome yet, right?

Yah, you’re right. But I don’t like to rush through important decisions such as this IF we have to make the decision. Need time to digest information and consider all aspects early due to my child’s temperament and experience in school.

I have the same sentiments as you, Shine. But I have sort of come to a decision after reading all the posts here. Regardless of the final result, I will want my DS to stay put at where he is. But I will also discuss with my DS shd he get through the 2nd round. Afterall, he's the one who will be in the program.[/quote] :hi5:

[tayv]

After reading some of the posts here, I kinda have this feeling that some of the forumers are already certain that their kids will get into GEP.


I guess the selection results will be only be out in a week time. The right thing to do is to hope for the best but not harbour too much hope.

The level of disappointment is directly proportional to the amount of hope one has.

[sunflower]

Melodies:

How abt the kid with band 3 for all 4 subjects with many tuition is still selected de? What say u? I have seen that too!

Nebbermind:

[quote=\"gogoahead\"]my ds SA2 score is so poor and i cannot understand how come he can pass the GEP screening test....

What do u mean by 'so poor'?

I've seen kids who didn't even get band 1 for math n science For p3( ok, maybe high band 2) n got into gep, No prep, no tuition, while the one with 90ish consistently didn't even get past 1st rd. There will be some :scared: on the day of the gep selection result.

[/quote]Well, I guess how one is being selected for giftedness is always puzzling, be it in the academic, artistic or even in the sporting realm. Other than those cases cited here in GEP selection, I’ve also heard of cases where children who were trained in art or music etc since young, and presumably have acquired quite a good standard were rejected by SOTA; while some others who did not have much or no training, but exhibited some kind of innate ability were selected. Of course the vice versa happens as well.

These children with little or no formal training may not be always producing consistently good output (I guess they have their moods also), but maybe during audition (like our one-time GEP selection tests, though conducted in different forms as it’s subject specific), they must have exhibited some kind of in-born talent of a certain stringent standard that the panel thought could be further nurtured and developed, unlike those who were trained but did not show the “X” factor.

So, in my opinion, fair or not fair, hot-housed or not, is not for us to judge. Every child would have to face the consequences of all the decisions made in our children’s learning journey. What’s the point of saying (s)he got/didn’t get in after years of training/no training and it’s fair/not fair? It’ll be what it’s meant to be. So let it be. We just have to take it in our stride.

[metz]

shine:

chamonix:

Is it possible for parents in GEP to be totally hands-off (and no enrichments/tuitions) if their children are enjoying the process but not scoring well like 70% and above? Won't the teachers have a word with the parents in such a scenario?

This is what I fear, got to be involved in their work and then no more ME time liao!

Hi Shine,

If that's what you are worrying about, then take it that certain amount of parental involvement is required by the program. From friends' experiences, this is very true.

This is the first time my son is taking school exams in Singapore. So, it is a learning experience for me. Now, I do understand why most parents still send their kids for enrichments/tuitions (or are involved in their studies) even though their kids are at the top...

[metz]

Nebbermind:

gogoahead:

my ds SA2 score is so poor and i cannot understand how come he can pass the GEP screening test....

What do u mean by 'so poor'?
I've seen kids who didn't even get band 1 for math n science For p3( ok, maybe high band 2) n got into gep, No prep, no tuition, while the one with 90ish consistently didn't even get past 1st rd. There will be some :scared: on the day of the gep selection result.

Being in GEP doesn't necessary equate to being PSLE top scorers.

In the same manner, doing well in school exams/tests does not necessary correlate with doing well in screening/selection tests.

If one can acknowledge and accept the differences, then there should be no undue surprise or shock. Just my 2 cents.