Bukit Timah Primary

[Maple leaf]

HappyLYX:

[color=#4040BF]I

I felt the preparation is insufficient as the school focuses mainly on textbook syllabus, with some supplementary workbook or worksheets for each topic.
Some parents had mentioned before, that PSLE is testing ar 70% from textbook. Henceforth, the kids are not well exposed to other 30% components. To fill this gap, we will have to turn to experience tutor or tuition centre who understand the PSLE requirements and able to help the kids to focus on the missing piece.

If you can get hold of the extra materials given by some schools, you will understand my viewpoint. I have seen some chinese oral package compiled by other school teachers. The THICK package consists of pictures, the vocab to master relating to the pictures as well as the \"model description for the picture\".

To score better in Chinese, I was told that it's important to focus on oral and listening comprehension which add up to 70marks( out of 200marks). I guess this are part of the strategies implemented by the schools that enable them to score abv national average.

Another 40marks come from compo, there's also limited material given to supplement this area. Of course, this require additional efforts from the school to compile the phrases for opening, ending and description of the emotional/appearance etc. I have feedback to school teachers on the current tin xie format. The list of words do not really value add to the kids. I suggest that they shd consider to give good phrases as tin xie. Well...my suggestion was not considered at all.

Currently, the school focuses on textbook which is just 90marks (or even less if we remove the comprehension ). Unfortunately, this component is difficult to score for most kids. Thus, I would expect the school to do more for the other two components.

I feel that Science is another subject that the kids are not well prepared. Currently, they are using SAM as the core learning tool. I like this idea as the kids are given opportunity to write down their own thoughts and learning. Having said that, it also depends on the kids' ability. Not all kids are able to grasp the key concepts and write down relevant observation. Thus I have difficulty to understand the learning outcomes or maybe to be able to get much info from my kid's SAM. This approach is very diff from the exam format in PSLE. With minimum practice on paper 1 and paper 2, the kids will not be able to do well. Esp for paper 2 which require certain answering technique. Again to fill this gap, we have to depend on tuition centre to guide them on paper 2.

I do not like to push kids real hard by drilling them to score well in exam. What I hope is my kid is able to go to a better second tier secondary school. To achieve this, the kid has to get at least 228 for the T-score. Will my kid able to reach this target? well, this is currently a uphill task but I will try my best to help my kid.

HappyLYX, :goodpost:

[Funz]

huaywenandkenneth:

Funz,


Swimming is in P2. My boy is down to his last 2 lessons.

Thanks!

[Funz]

huaywenandkenneth:

Found this on the school website. Sounds like art and music is modular as I have thought.



BTPS has a structured AMIS (Music) programme which is conducted at every level during the class' respective Music lessons. Each module lasts between 8 to 10 weeks, with a short performance as a finale. By the end of Primary 6, each pupil would have learnt to play at least 4 musical instruments. The programme for 2012 is as follows:

Primary 1: Hip-hop Dance

Primary 2: Keyboard

Primary 3: Coloured Bells & Boomwhackers

Primary 4: Angklung

Primary 5: Classical Guitar I

Primary 6: Classical Guitar II

BTPS has a structured AMIS (Art) programme which is conducted at every level during the class' respective Art lessons. Each module lasts between 8 to 10 weeks, with a short performance as a finale. By the end of Primary 6, each pupil would have learnt to do at least 4 types of art techniques. The programme for 2012 is as follows:

Primary 1: Let's Draw and Paint

Primary 2: Let's Draw and Paint (Part 2)

Primary 3: Ceramics

Primary 4: Chinese Painting

Primary 5: Mosaic Art

Primary 6: Batik Painting

Also check out the link to PAL. Looks to have more things there, including PE and creative movement.

That explains a lot.

Hip Hop dance for P1. DS would love that. Have not heard him saying anything about any hip hop thingy. He did talk about some PAL thing where they did some cultural dance stuff but so far no hip hop.

Looks like art has only just started for him.

[Trapwithin]

gvyong:

Trapwithin:

[quote=\"gvyong\"]BTPS needs to host or develop its own in-house GEP programme if it wants to retain its cohort of P3 top students who transfer out. Otherwise, it'll just be a halfway house for those parents who failed to get into the hot schools in Bukit Timah at P1, and continue to be eclipsed by schools stronger identities in the area - PEPS, Keming, St Anthony & BPPS. BTPS (started 1959) is as old as PEPS and BPPS, and has potential to become another HPPS (ironically only started 1977), if only it had just a single GEP class!

Likelihood is almost zero, because there is too many GEP schools in Bukit Timah.

That didn't stop every tom dick n harry mission school that set up along Bukit Timah rd from having GEP or in-house programme. BTPS's issue is resource-lack of HODs as observed by fellow forummer earlier.[/quote]That \"tom dick n harry\" school along Bukit Timah tried for many years but failed. The current \"in-house\" program is a MOE initiative.

[huaywenandkenneth]

Eh, got Tom, Dick or Harry schools along Bukit Timah Road? I thought all very \"heavyweight\" ones. :evil: (BTPS is off the road so not counted)


GEP have gone school-based in the secondary schools. Is there school-based GE in primary schools now (pardon my ignorance, i am more familiar with secondary and pre-school settings in general)? Since they are reviewing education stuff now perhaps GEP in primary schools will be re-looked? I hope there comes a day when all schools can offer their \"gifted programs\", but then again, the entire notion of \"giftedness\" is skewed nowadays. Since there is a separate thread on this I shan't comment too much.

[zync100]

My son was just accepted into P1 at Bukit Timah Primary School.


Just a quick question, are there any after school care provided by BTPS? The school for P1 ended before 1pm everyday. For the working parents without a maid at home, how would you guys deal with this situation?

Thanks in advance!

[huaywenandkenneth]

Hi zync100

Welcome to BTPS!

This was posted by a mummy sometime back so I just cut and paste to "recycle" for you here. Seems like a common/popular after school care for BTPS students.
My son is not in any student care by the way.

=====================================

There is a student care call The Kidz Club at Lorong Kilat (5mins drive fr school). Please call 64646468 to enquire. My DS (now in P1) is currently there. They provide transport from school to student care and also for CCA as well.

[davincci46]

Strange… I thought I calculated 33 vacancy left at end of phase2CS. Now left only 12 vacancy for phase3…

[huaywenandkenneth]

I think the SCs without a place can seek help from MOE to secure a place at the end of p2c, before p3, but I could be wrong.

[lonejean]

huaywenandkenneth:

I think the SCs without a place can seek help from MOE to secure a place at the end of p2c, before p3, but I could be wrong.

You are very right. My DD is one of those who failed another ballot at 2C supp, and got a placement at BTPS (our 1st choice filled on MOE form). So seats are taken up by SCs who failed 2Csupp, before rest of seats release to foreigners at P3.