St. Joseph's Institution

[ToughLfeMummy]

ToughLfeMummy:

SJI has always been my dream school for my DS due to the strong focus on character-building and training the boys to be a real gentleman who serves the society. I also saw how close the boys were during the Open Day and after talking to the teachers, I really think this is the perfect one for my DS. Unfortunately, my DS did not make it for their DSA for their IP track but we will not give up. We will wait for PSLE results and try again. The higher fees will not deter us from trying to get my DS into SJI, not even the longer distance when they temporarily move to Bishan in 2014.

Thank God that my DS can try for SJI with his PSLE result. We are so happy for him.

[julongmum]

Thanks emoh.


it was mentioned on its web that it does not effect on the outcome of appeal if you were to submit now or after the posting result. So it’s better to appeal after posting as it would then be certain if you are not posted to the school.

[julongmum]

ToughLfeMummy:

ToughLfeMummy:

SJI has always been my dream school for my DS due to the strong focus on character-building and training the boys to be a real gentleman who serves the society. I also saw how close the boys were during the Open Day and after talking to the teachers, I really think this is the perfect one for my DS. Unfortunately, my DS did not make it for their DSA for their IP track but we will not give up. We will wait for PSLE results and try again. The higher fees will not deter us from trying to get my DS into SJI, not even the longer distance when they temporarily move to Bishan in 2014.

Thank God that my DS can try for SJI with his PSLE result. We are so happy for him.

Congrats! what did yr DS score?

[emoh]

julongmum:

Thanks emoh.


it was mentioned on its web that it does not effect on the outcome of appeal if you were to submit now or after the posting result. So it's better to appeal after posting as it would then be certain if you are not posted to the school.

Normally its quite crowded during those few days immediately after release of posting

[its888me]

As SJI has dual track in 2013, ie IP / Express. May I know whether a child will be discriminated if he is in the Express track, in terms of teachers, facilities, opportunity for activities etc. etc. It seems to me from the earlier posts that SJI has changed to focus more on IP track.


We are family with more of Chinese traditional background. Thus, also not if SJI is suitable. But heard good things about SJI too. Thus, please comment and advise.

Thanks.

[luvdoraemon]

its888me:

As SJI has dual track in 2013, ie IP / Express. May I know whether a child will be discriminated if he is in the Express track, in terms of teachers, facilities, opportunity for activities etc. etc. It seems to me from the earlier posts that SJI has changed to focus more on IP track.


We are family with more of Chinese traditional background. Thus, also not if SJI is suitable. But heard good things about SJI too. Thus, please comment and advise.

Thanks.

Hi. Its888me tks for post

Yes, same concern here, will the express class hv discrimination n lesser attetion.
Hv seen the diff in pri school for top n nontop class.
We are fr more chinese bavkground, so a little unfamiliar here. But heard good comments.
Visited school impressed at their artwork. Sji visit to ds primary has made him keen.

Really concern seeing earlier tracks abt IP n P. Hope can hear more sharing advice fr parents of current students .. TIA

[Dnls_mum]

its888me:

As SJI has dual track in 2013, ie IP / Express. May I know whether a child will be discriminated if he is in the Express track, in terms of teachers, facilities, opportunity for activities etc. etc. It seems to me from the earlier posts that SJI has changed to focus more on IP track.


We are family with more of Chinese traditional background. Thus, also not if SJI is suitable. But heard good things about SJI too. Thus, please comment and advise.

Thanks.

I have already commented previously about Express and IP, so won't comment again.

Regarding Chinese background, can I assume you are non Christian/ catholic? Even if so, don't worry. The school respects freedom of religion and will not force your son to join in religious classes. These are for Catholics only. But the school does have daily prayers at assembly and masses during certain special days, so if your kid attend the school, you need to understand and be accepting of it. It is the religious background and teachings that makes the school what it is and provides the environment that you like. If you can't accept this religious focus, better send your kid to another school. iMHO.

But if by Chinese background, you mean Chinese speaking, then SJI will even be better. The kids are generally stronger in English than Chinese, so it could be good immersion for your son.

[SunnyFlower12]

janet_lee88:

Hi sunny flower,

My son's dream of getting into SJI. He didn't do well for PSLE...so I have told my son to work super hard to qualify for the entrance test.

Hi Janet,

If he wishes to go for entrance test, I suggest he should borrow SJI notes from anyone he knows, as I understand they only accepted about 3 out of 60+ applicants in 2011.

[emoh]

luvdoraemon:

its888me:

As SJI has dual track in 2013, ie IP / Express. May I know whether a child will be discriminated if he is in the Express track, in terms of teachers, facilities, opportunity for activities etc. etc. It seems to me from the earlier posts that SJI has changed to focus more on IP track.


We are family with more of Chinese traditional background. Thus, also not if SJI is suitable. But heard good things about SJI too. Thus, please comment and advise.

Thanks.

Hi. Its888me tks for post

Yes, same concern here, will the express class hv discrimination n lesser attetion.
Hv seen the diff in pri school for top n nontop class.
We are fr more chinese bavkground, so a little unfamiliar here. But heard good comments.
Visited school impressed at their artwork. Sji visit to ds primary has made him keen.

Really concern seeing earlier tracks abt IP n P. Hope can hear more sharing advice fr parents of current students .. TIA

The school had assured parents that it would not want to have 2 schools within 1 school concept, programmes available to the IP stream would be made available for boys from the express stream too.

SJI is inclusive as mention by PM Lee in National Day Rally 2009 Speech

\"Therefore, we have rules to keep all our schools secular and the religious groups understand and accept this. Take for example SJI. It is a St Joseph’s Catholics brother school, but it has many non-Catholic students including quite a number of Malay students who study there. And one year the Josephian of the year in 2003 was a Malay student, Salman Mohamed Khair. And he told Berita Harian that initially his family was somewhat worried about admitting him to a Catholic school and he himself was worried, afraid because he did not know what to expect but he still went because of SJI’s good record. He said “Now, I feel fortunate to be in SJI. Although I was educated in a Catholic environment, religion never became an issue”.

So indeed that is how it should work and I know it works because I understand that Malay students in SJI often attend Friday prayers at Ba’alwi Mosque nearby, still wearing their school uniforms. And SJI thinks it is fine, the mosque thinks it is find, the students think it is fine and I think it is fine too. That is the way it should be.\"

[JRLam]

[quote=\"Dnls_mum]I have already commented previously about Express and IP, so won't comment again.


Regarding Chinese background, can I assume you are non Christian/ catholic? Even if so, don't worry. The school respects freedom of religion and will not force your son to join in religious classes. These are for Catholics only. But the school does have daily prayers at assembly and masses during certain special days, so if your kid attend the school, you need to understand and be accepting of it. It is the religious background and teachings that makes the school what it is and provides the environment that you like. If you can't accept this religious focus, better send your kid to another school. iMHO.

But if by Chinese background, you mean Chinese speaking, then SJI will even be better. The kids are generally stronger in English than Chinese, so it could be good immersion for your son. :)[/quote]

Hi. Can I know, apart from the $300+ school fees every month, the fact that SJI is an independent school which means lesser funding from govt, may I know if there are regular or frequent occasions when parents have to fork out extra $ for other activities / programs etc?

Thanks!