St Stephen's

[awesome_mummy]

tks hashroop for ur reply…


but i hvnt seen any letters on MTP session yet… n accrdg to calendar on sch website, seems like P1 not included… thurs is for P2-4 n fri for P5-6…

wonder when will be P1’s turn…

[hashroop]

awesome_mummy:

tks hashroop for ur reply...


but i hvnt seen any letters on MTP session yet... n accrdg to calendar on sch website, seems like P1 not included.. thurs is for P2-4 n fri for P5-6...

wonder when will be P1's turn..

Hi, oh is that so..? Hmmm I must hv misread thinking P1 also involved in MTP.. Fret not, they will sure have one eventually Mayberry after 2nd semester

[awesome_mummy]

so swimming starts from P3 onwards? where do they go for swimming lessons?


hashroop, how do you find the school so far?

[gsychong]

awesome_mummy:

hi gsychong,


May I knw which class is your son & nephew in? my son's also in P1 this year.. so far, didn't hear him complain abt teachers yet..


btw, is there a MTP session next week?
Didn't see any letter on this..

I don't think I should mention which class at this moment, sorry but teachers are quite touchy nowadays from what my friends have told me! I hope both my son and nephew will not be turned off school ... Will keep you updated on developments... Not sure when is the MTP session for P1 though but it will not be this coming thursday. My son forgot to bring a story book last week and when he apologised and asked to borrow or share a book, his form teacher told him off harshly ... I understand being strict instills discipline but being harsh and shouting and scolding students all the time can be counter-productive. I have been told that I am over-protective but I am just worried that he will be turned off by his form teacher's temper and hesitate going to school... Sigh...being a parent is easy ! :shock:

[maisy]

gsychong:

Hi All


My son and my nephew just started Primary One at St Stephen's and both were posted to the same class. However, both have informed me that their form teacher is prone to shouting and scolding the students and is very harsh towards the class in general. I know boys can be quite playful but given that this is just the 2nd week of school and the boys are adapting to a new environment, do you think I should have a talk with the form teacher?

Oh dear... shouting & scolding at P1 kids? Hmm... Not very ideal, ain't it? I'm ok with teachers scolding naughty kids from P2 onwards cos some kids just need to be yelled at to instill discipline. But P1 is definitely too young for any harsh treatment especially since they are \"fresh from kindergarten\" (u know where most teachers are nice & patient).

U r certainly NOT being over-protective. I am sure if your child misbehaves at P2 onwards, you'll be fine with the teacher scolding him. I agree with Hashroop that you may wish to speak with the teacher (but be careful to bring it up tactfully) so that your son & nephew will not get \"marked\" (haha) .

I'm a bit concerned cos my son will be there in 2 years' time (altho there's still 2 more years, but 2 years passes by v quickly)... The last I want is for him to \"fear school\" or \"dislike school\" at such a young age.. & at the start of a school year!

Take Care. Do update us on the \"development\" after your chat with the teacher (if possible)

[maisy]

Dear Parents with children doing chinese as a 2nd language in St Stephen's,


Is it true that the standard of Chinese language is very low at St Stephen's?

I knew all along that the boys in St Stephen's do not perform very well in Chinese compared to National Average, but I thought that could be due largely to the boys' mainly English-speaking background making them less competent in Chinese. However, I was told that the Chinese curriculum & teaching methodology at St Stephen's is actually very weak and is a contributing factor for the school's poor PSLE chinese result year after year (as compared to National average).

I'm now very concerned cos I have intention to put my son there in 2 years' time & I worry that his chinese will be compromised in his 6 years there (primary school lays the foundation; if his chinese foundation is weak, it would be harder for him when he proceeds to the secondary school where there will be more subjects to handle) ... I myself struggled with CL2 and I hope to avoid having my son struggle in that language too (if I can help it).

Appreciate any kind responses. Thank you v much

[hashroop]

maisy:

Dear Parents with children doing chinese as a 2nd language in St Stephen's,


Is it true that the standard of Chinese language is very low at St Stephen's?

I knew all along that the boys in St Stephen's do not perform very well in Chinese compared to National Average, but I thought that could be due largely to the boys' mainly English-speaking background making them less competent in Chinese. However, I was told that the Chinese curriculum & teaching methodology at St Stephen's is actually very weak and is a contributing factor for the school's poor PSLE chinese result year after year (as compared to National average).

I'm now very concerned cos I have intention to put my son there in 2 years' time & I worry that his chinese will be compromised in his 6 years there (primary school lays the foundation; if his chinese foundation is weak, it would be harder for him when he proceeds to the secondary school where there will be more subjects to handle) ... I myself struggled with CL2 and I hope to avoid having my son struggle in that language too (if I can help it).

Appreciate any kind responses. Thank you v much

Dear Maisy
During MTP in previous years, the former principal did bring up the issue of weak CL2 in PSLE. During her \"reign\" in SSTS im not sure if anything much was done to improve the results.However, with new principal on board, lets hope something fruitful is done. We met last friday during the upper primary MTP. He sounded encouraging and have the \"lets clean up SSTS image\" speech and look. The teachers assigned for 2011 P6 are seniors with many years of teaching at PSLE level. This, some parents and me included, feel is a great new change. Better late than never. Lets hope that CL2 is improved too and i think you've got 2 years to see. Otherwise around siglap area there are some good schools, im sure you'll knw which schools. Good luck Maisy.
p/s My DS2 is doing PSLE this year. DS1 is in Sec2 and former Stephanian.

[maisy]

Thanks so much for your feedback, Hashroop.


The thing about the \"other good schools\" near Siglap area is that they are \"so popular\" that you'll need to \"sweat it out\" with no guarantee of gaining a place for your child :roll: And I guess, if I can help it, I do not wish to & have no intention of going through those nerve-wrecking balloting exercise hahaha.

And SSS is ideal coz we live within 1 Km and my hubby is a former student so it will be a shoo-in if I were to register my son (i hope!)

It just so happened that I met a friend the other day asking me if I have thought of a school for my son & I went \"oh SSS\" ... Her response was \"huh? the chinese standard is below par...\" and all that jazz... and ended with \"you better think carefully\". It suddenly dawned on me that maybe I ought to do a little bit of \"research\" on my side

But of course my hubby was nonchalant abt my friend's remarks and insisted SSS is a \"great school for great people\" :!:

I struggled through CL2 throughout my years of education and I know very well that it will only get increasingly worse in secondary & JC level (I can still remember the phobia vividly) .... I really hope my son gets his foundation laid well so that it won't be such a challenge for him.

Thanks again Hashroop... yeah I will monitor SSS closely (I am already doing it hahaha) & high chance my son will be there since mummy dearest is just too lazy to get involved with PV-ing.

Here's wishing your DS2 all the best in his PSLE this year

[Namie]

I think if your husband can turn out fine, you can be assured it is not too bad a school. Every school has its top and worst performing students so for all you know your son will be SSS’s top student of his year. I sat in SSS for half day during Phase 2B. Didn’t opt for it because of traffic.

[ice-cream]

any idea which is the top class in all level ?