2012 PSLE Discussions and Strategy
-
Told dd we got to reflect, what went wrong, and move on from there. If it’s the languages that need improvement, she has to kp reading, listening, writing etc.As we analysed with dd, Dh and i also dunno what went wrong. Cannot be blackout on the spot. But she did mention that the math was tough, or maybe panic after looking at the questions. She told me she has not seen some of those questions before. I suspect it’s some kind of very ‘creative’ questions. All long dd s quite strong in math, this time round she managed a b. her surrounding friends scored in the 21 range and they are from the best class. Only 6 pupils scored 253 to 26some in this so called best class. Dd is from a very neighborhood school in the east, won’t name it. The school just let them do psle past year booklet to train them, nothing else. ANd that was after the June hols. On our on, we did the top sch papers.
Dd’s classmate who went up stage to collect prize last week, cried inconsolably yesterday, so much that her mother had to hold on to her. I wonder how many will wake up crying this morning, yesterday was indeed a nightmare. Dd and friends mentioned that thy didn’t want to go back to their primary school, to … Even visit their teachers:( dunno if their primary school life holds bad memory for them. -
[quote="janet_lee88"]I guess when we work so hard, we would have thought we would be blessed.
But after yesterday, I think it is not necessarily the case, at least for me.
This knock hit me especially hard bcos I felt as though I was the one sitting for the exam…anyway, it’s all over.
[quote]
Yes, this knocked me very hard too. I knew DS would fall within a certain range but never could digest it. I never had to study very hard to cut my scores when I was in school. Since I had to study SO MUCH and SO HARD (never like that before) for DS + with DS. I expected him to fall just below mine or meet my grades. Obviously he didn’t and quite far off. So I knew if that happens I would pop 'cos I really can’t take it especially with insulting little remarks throughout the years made by ILs regarding my abilities to coach my DC.
That was why I told DH to standby in case I cannot contain myself. Well, I did pop after we got home. -
Hi janet, fifiyeo, I can really feel your pain as I read your posts. I know it is easier said than done, but like what many others have said, PSLE is but one road block that our kids will encounter on their path to adulthood. Though less than ideal results might hurt really bad right now, I think it will be more devastating if it destroys the children’s confidence and kills their joy in learning.
Let your children know that they are loved. Let them know your faith in them. And let them know that all these "faceless" kiasu aunties and uncles are behind them, cheering them on. I am sure that your DSs will emerge stronger to face the road ahead.
Take care and God bless. -
Janet, fifiyeo and parents who feel down about PSLE results:
PSLE is over and done with. Don’t look back, choose a suitable school and focus on secondary school. You have been great parents and your DC will grow up to remember that you journeyed with them in PSLE. Your reaction will determine their level of self worth. So give them smiles and involve them in pros and cons of the 6choices to show that life goes on. 15 years later, this phase is but a memory. Hugs to all -
In many many ways I’m absolutely unqualified to write because I have never experienced such a great set-back, and I probably will never be as strong. Humans are such fragile creatures. My heart goes out to you in a crisis - I am not a mother, and I will not be for long. I am a child, but being a member of this human population I have watched from afar how people have struggled, and many times they have won.
There have been so many success stories. There have been so many of these recounted in the thread. Ultimately, they represent only a small percentage of all who head in, disappointed, but nevertheless they represent some hope, some chance. I know many family friends, who were never great paper wise. Some have only a high school diploma, but many are now doing better than those who have the university degrees - money wise, job satisfaction wise. I have a cousin, in China, who did badly for his gaokao and ended up in an extremely subpar university in a rural area far from home, with extremely harsh conditions. He managed to get out with a double major and first class honors, and found a job that usually did not hire from that area. I have a family friend in the US, who did not get into all the universities he applied to that year. He took a gap year, saw the real world, worked, volunteered, he practiced piano, and did charity shows, taught other children the instrument - very successfully. He took courses at the community college, he took control of his life. He got into 5/7 colleges when he applied next. Because humans are all people with a heart, soul, and mind, and whatever we can achieve is great.
In Singapore, a lot is dictated by the education system and its exams. But as humans, we are not creatures to be shut in such cages or to follow meekly; if our only skill is to game this system we are doomed. So what if you graduate from law or medical school? It will be meaningless if not for the meaning we give to it. This is a life. We have a carefully planned plan of entering schools whose COPs we meet. But beyond that mere formality, the thing is, what do we do with such a chance?
Remember that school is but a part of life. To many they would say that it is life, and for those I am very sorry. The world is large, unbound, limitless. There are so many ways to success. We have books, libraries, online courses (like EPGY, also for uni courses - edx, coursera), to teach, so that we can learn. We do not need to depend on schools to give us that competition training - we can do it, if we want to. If you like Math - go ahead. Service learning, also, many schools would emphasize that relentlessly, but real service comes from the heart and your own hands - it’s something you create on your own, when you go out into the community. I know that even in the real world you are sometimes labelled by the school you come from, but to me it always fades through time. Life is yet long. There is still so much you can do, there is still so much hope, so much life for you to live. Never give up.
And while things sometimes fade, that shock, into a mere numb reality, other things, like that painful wound, that grief, never fully do, not that fast. In the next few years as you labor, some children may never bear to face their old school again - but when you grow up, when this goes over, you will look back, and you will smile.
Life is full of ups and downs. Past the first stage, the denial, the immense, numbing grief, should be action. Do not grieve as if your child had suffered a major, paralyzing illness. Your child is fine, and whole, and he has just experienced - life. Life is painful. But it is also beautiful, and it gives chances. Be creative, plan your next step, path, and do not ever feel that your child is worse than others, or that his chances are subpar. If he wants additional stimulus, there is a billion places to find it other than school. That follows for extracurriculars. It takes effort, but it can be done. And when it’s done, especially because of the long road you have travelled, it is more rewarding than ever.
I’m not sure if this is comforting at all - I hope it is, though I’m not qualified in any way to write this - I have never, not yet, experienced such pain. But I write as a fellow human being - you are all great parents, great people. I’m wishing you and your children all the best for the future. Keep on updating us. Whether or not we’re posting, we’re reading, and we’re sending silent cheers ahead. And we’re always here supporting you, even if it’s only virtually.
Let the tears flow, because you will feel better (hopefully). But also look ahead. And try your best to do all that you can - all that you can do now, with your children, to make that brighter future for them. -
fifiyeo:
How to appeal to schools? Before posting results or after the results are released on 19 Dec??? HELP!
You should go to school of your choice NOW. Don't wait for posting date. Some school website gives form for appeal; some need to go down personally fill the form and fee (?) (not sure). Anyway, you should do it NOW! -
a child:
:goodpost:In many many ways I'm absolutely unqualified to write because I have never experienced such a great set-back, and I probably will never be as strong. Humans are such fragile creatures. My heart goes out to you in a crisis - I am not a mother, and I will not be for long. I am a child, but being a member of this human population I have watched from afar how people have struggled, and many times they have won.
There have been so many success stories. There have been so many of these recounted in the thread. Ultimately, they represent only a small percentage of all who head in, disappointed, but nevertheless they represent some hope, some chance. I know many family friends, who were never great paper wise. Some have only a high school diploma, but many are now doing better than those who have the university degrees - money wise, job satisfaction wise. I have a cousin, in China, who did badly for his gaokao and ended up in an extremely subpar university in a rural area far from home, with extremely harsh conditions. He managed to get out with a double major and first class honors, and found a job that usually did not hire from that area. I have a family friend in the US, who did not get into all the universities he applied to that year. He took a gap year, saw the real world, worked, volunteered, he practiced piano, and did charity shows, taught other children the instrument - very successfully. He took courses at the community college, he took control of his life. He got into 5/7 colleges when he applied next. Because humans are all people with a heart, soul, and mind, and whatever we can achieve is great.
In Singapore, a lot is dictated by the education system and its exams. But as humans, we are not creatures to be shut in such cages or to follow meekly; if our only skill is to game this system we are doomed. So what if you graduate from law or medical school? It will be meaningless if not for the meaning we give to it. This is a life. We have a carefully planned plan of entering schools whose COPs we meet. But beyond that mere formality, the thing is, what do we do with such a chance?
Remember that school is but a part of life. To many they would say that it is life, and for those I am very sorry. The world is large, unbound, limitless. There are so many ways to success. We have books, libraries, online courses (like EPGY, also for uni courses - edx, coursera), to teach, so that we can learn. We do not need to depend on schools to give us that competition training - we can do it, if we want to. If you like Math - go ahead. Service learning, also, many schools would emphasize that relentlessly, but real service comes from the heart and your own hands - it's something you create on your own, when you go out into the community. I know that even in the real world you are sometimes labelled by the school you come from, but to me it always fades through time. Life is yet long. There is still so much you can do, there is still so much hope, so much life for you to live. Never give up.
And while things sometimes fade, that shock, into a mere numb reality, other things, like that painful wound, that grief, never fully do, not that fast. In the next few years as you labor, some children may never bear to face their old school again - but when you grow up, when this goes over, you will look back, and you will smile.
Life is full of ups and downs. Past the first stage, the denial, the immense, numbing grief, should be action. Do not grieve as if your child had suffered a major, paralyzing illness. Your child is fine, and whole, and he has just experienced - life. Life is painful. But it is also beautiful, and it gives chances. Be creative, plan your next step, path, and do not ever feel that your child is worse than others, or that his chances are subpar. If he wants additional stimulus, there is a billion places to find it other than school. That follows for extracurriculars. It takes effort, but it can be done. And when it's done, especially because of the long road you have travelled, it is more rewarding than ever.
I'm not sure if this is comforting at all - I hope it is, though I'm not qualified in any way to write this - I have never, not yet, experienced such pain. But I write as a fellow human being - you are all great parents, great people. I'm wishing you and your children all the best for the future. Keep on updating us. Whether or not we're posting, we're reading, and we're sending silent cheers ahead. And we're always here supporting you, even if it's only virtually.
Let the tears flow, because you will feel better (hopefully). But also look ahead. And try your best to do all that you can - all that you can do now, with your children, to make that brighter future for them. -
ruohoo97:
No. You have to wait for the posting to be out first before you can appeal. Without being posted, you won't know if you already have a place at the school of your choice, neither would the principal, so how can you appeal to the school without knowing where you are posted?fifiyeo:
How to appeal to schools? Before posting results or after the results are released on 19 Dec??? HELP!
You should go to school of your choice NOW. Don't wait for posting date. Some school website gives form for appeal; some need to go down personally fill the form and fee (?) (not sure). Anyway, you should do it NOW!
The SOP, as I understand, is:
1) put the school of your choice as the first option
2) wait for posting
3) report to the school you are posted to
4) appeal to the school of choice
You must put the school you want as the first choice. If not, no chance at all. -
rains:
No. You have to wait for the posting to be out first before you can appeal. Without being posted, you won't know if you already have a place at the school of your choice, neither would the principal, so how can you appeal to the school without knowing where you are posted?ruohoo97:
[quote=\"fifiyeo\"]How to appeal to schools? Before posting results or after the results are released on 19 Dec??? HELP!
You should go to school of your choice NOW. Don't wait for posting date. Some school website gives form for appeal; some need to go down personally fill the form and fee (?) (not sure). Anyway, you should do it NOW!
The SOP, as I understand, is:
1) put the school of your choice as the first option
2) wait for posting
3) report to the school you are posted to
4) appeal to the school of choice
You must put the school you want as the first choice. If not, no chance at all.[/quote]I fully agree with Rain. yes, you should certainly put your choice of school at the first choice. But for those who know that they have little chance to be posted by PSLE score, appeal is another revenue. It will certainly help to be ready.
I did appeal for my ds two years ago. Upon some friends' advises, we did almost as soon as we received PSLE score, it was not too earlier. In fact, we were told by school, had we waited after posting date, it would be too late. It maybe depends on schools though. All the best! -
It is no true that if you do not put the school that you are appealing in first choice the chances of getting in is ZERO. I appealed successfully to 3 schools for my DS 3 years back without even putting them as one of the 6 choices.
You should start to prepare for necessary documents for appeal. Get the school teacher to write reference letter for your kid is a first step to start and gather any documents or certs to show achievements that your DC may have either academically or CCAs. It will be helpful to know if your DC is good in one of the core CCAs offered in the school that you are appealing, in case the COP is a bit far off.
Hope this helps and the best for your appealing.rains:
No. You have to wait for the posting to be out first before you can appeal. Without being posted, you won't know if you already have a place at the school of your choice, neither would the principal, so how can you appeal to the school without knowing where you are posted?
You should go to school of your choice NOW. Don't wait for posting date. Some school website gives form for appeal; some need to go down personally fill the form and fee (?) (not sure). Anyway, you should do it NOW!ruohoo97:
[quote=\"fifiyeo\"]How to appeal to schools? Before posting results or after the results are released on 19 Dec??? HELP!
The SOP, as I understand, is:
1) put the school of your choice as the first option
2) wait for posting
3) report to the school you are posted to
4) appeal to the school of choice
You must put the school you want as the first choice. If not, no chance at all.[/quote]
Hello! It looks like you're interested in this conversation, but you don't have an account yet.
Getting fed up of having to scroll through the same posts each visit? When you register for an account, you'll always come back to exactly where you were before, and choose to be notified of new replies (either via email, or push notification). You'll also be able to save bookmarks and upvote posts to show your appreciation to other community members.
With your input, this post could be even better 💗
Register Login