Pei Chun Public

[Callie Tan]

jce:

As far as I am aware, P3 and 4 are not streamed according to their academic abilities, but there are 2 sport classes. P5 and 6, if academic is good, you may choose to go to the top class but still remain in the school sports team.

Am I right to assume that P4 streaming to P5/6 is based solely on academic performance only??

[Callie Tan]

jce:

DSA is a tough route, whether it is through arts or sports. Obviously you are eyeing for a top school, and so are hundreds of others. The child really needs to stand out in the sport or art in order to stand a chance. Once the child gets in, he/she needs to be equally strong academically otherwise he/she may be teased by other school kids. I have heard from AC and RI boys regarding this. So consider carefully if you are really thinking about DSA. To excel both in sports/arts and academic, it takes a lot of discipline and a dose of talent.

Thank you for the advice... yes will consider this option carefully...

[Callie Tan]

bridesep:

Aside to Callie - my views is just focus on 1 niche CCA. No way to do two. For me, I think even one is tough. ha ha..

Hi bridesep,

I totally agree with you... that's why I am having headache now to decide which one to choose.

[Callie Tan]

kin:

Hi bridesep,


Understand why you are so worried. I think mummyv more or less summed up everything. Actually,it is a priviledge to be selected to be in sports class. And because the selection is based on sports, there are extremities in the results, hence the class consist of a mixed ability students. And I must second mummyv, I have checked with some of the non-sports classes for SA1 this year, it is the same and some even have even lower result range then the sports class.(we are proud and happy of this fact.)The school does stop CCA trainings temporarily nearer to exams so you dont have to worry about that too.

For my child, she enjoyed VB very much.The kids build team spirit, feel a sense of belonging to the school and when their peers win in matches, the atmosphere is really great. Of course the kids get physically tired with the training but the kids are very adaptive. They get special coaches to train them, they get to understand what sports discipline is like in the sport. I feel that there is value in that kind of school experience. EVen though the sch is top in VB nationals, I dont see the kids being pushed emotionally beyond their limit. The coach do not speak down to them or condemn them when they do not do well. I have not seen my girl come home emotionally upset because of training, except if she feels she has not played enough.I believe the coaches have handled them well and she looks forward to VB trainings.

If your child has art, music and swimming, I think that time management is crucial. In fact, my girl also has art, music, swimming as well as tuition. So her time is really packed. She enjoys it though but I have to be very strict in the sleeping time. I was like her \"manager\", managing her timing so she can enjoy her classes. When she fell sick this year, I cut away her art and swimming for now.

If we can replace CCA with our own enrichment classes, that would be great. But so far, thats not going to work for now. I think you dont have to worry so much for now. The volleyball training is not so tough in P3 and by the time its P4, your child will be well prepared. Of course, he must be consistent with his homework and I agree with mummyv, the teacher is not unreasonable to pile the child with hmwk during their training days.

In terms of learning, there is non of the sort, where,- since the kids are in the sports class, they are not academically inclined and so they need not be challenged academically. The kids are taught and exposed equally as with the other classes.

I believe that if you allow your child to enter sports class, it is because you value the experience your child get to gain from training in the sports class and their exposure to competition etc. At the end of P4 , there is streaming and that will be the real academic stress, by then you can decide to withdraw if you feel your child is not suitable.(in P5 sports class).

Although I know some better sec schools take in students via DSA but is it really true that it is a privilege to be in the sports class? Somehow there's this superiority connected to being in the Sports Class... Isn't CO the niche CCA too in PCPS?

[Callie Tan]

I am really very appreciative with all the opinions and advices from all the parents with regard to my issue now… whether to allow my girl to continue with CO ( which she has already started 2 months ago) or switch her to VB now since she is selected. Till now, nothing is conclusive as my girl is also undecided… she asked me to decide for her actually cos she’s torn between both!! Both of us still very lost…

[Callie Tan]

999happygolucky:

Eventhough your academic results are good, as long as you have a niche CCA, you are in sports class.


999happygolucky

So my girl is considered to be in the Sports Class if she is with Chinese Orchestra, which is the niche CCA according to the Head of PE?

[Callie Tan]

kin:

Hi bridesep,


For my child, she enjoyed VB very much.The kids build team spirit, feel a sense of belonging to the school and when their peers win in matches, the atmosphere is really great. Of course the kids get physically tired with the training but the kids are very adaptive. They get special coaches to train them, they get to understand what sports discipline is like in the sport. I feel that there is value in that kind of school experience. EVen though the sch is top in VB nationals, I dont see the kids being pushed emotionally beyond their limit. The coach do not speak down to them or condemn them when they do not do well. I have not seen my girl come home emotionally upset because of training, except if she feels she has not played enough.I believe the coaches have handled them well and she looks forward to VB trainings.

Hi Kin,

What you have shared is exactly what I am hoping to hear from some parents!! I was a volleyball player during Pr and Sec school days. I missed those esprit de corp feelings and atmostphere... I hope my girl will learn all these too.. but am very worried that the fact that she's not naturally gifted in the sport, she will be half the time training for no purpose and feels demoralized if she is not selected for the school team... or the coaches will solely focus on the top 5-10 players to groom them and neglect the rest. This is the last thing i want to happen to my girl. She doesn't have to be the best but I want her to enjoy the process and be proud of her sport.

So the VB girls won't be put down in any way even if they don't make it to the school team eventually?? Is this the message you are driving across?

[mummyv]

Callie Tan:

Am I right to assume that P4 streaming to P5/6 is based solely on academic performance only??

Callie, yes. If my memory serves me right, this was explained at the sports class briefing and at the P4 parent briefing.

Rationale for sports class is not elitist. It is more pragmatic as external specialist coaches need to be hired and it's easier administratively to group the children in the same class. The sports class students have 1 hour extra PE time which is spent in the niche sports CCA. Wushu is also a sports CCA but they don't group them in the sports class I dunno why...

At P5, children are streamed in 2 groups, those taking 4 core subjects at normal level vs foundation level classes. Streaming is done at school's recommendation based on P4 results. HC remains as a separate session after school. At P5, the parent has a say - for eg school recommend child takes foundation level and parents think their child can cope - they can opt for normal level. However at P6, school will decide and ultimately stream children who can't cope to foundation class.

Here my memory is hazy - I cannot remember what combination of core and foundation subject is allowed. I think some take 3 foundation and 1 normal (MT). I think children who remain in the sports class in P5/6 are a combination of those who take all core subjects normal level and some at foundation level. During the relevant lessons, they just split and join another class.

[mummyv]

Callie Tan:

999happygolucky:

Eventhough your academic results are good, as long as you have a niche CCA, you are in sports class.


999happygolucky

So my girl is considered to be in the Sports Class if she is with Chinese Orchestra, which is the niche CCA according to the Head of PE?

Only basketball, table tennis and volleyball are grouped in Sports Class. PCPS has MANY niche CCAs. CO, choir, wushu, weiqi are others but no special class grouping.

[mummyv]

Callie Tan:

I am really very appreciative with all the opinions and advices from all the parents with regard to my issue now... whether to allow my girl to continue with CO ( which she has already started 2 months ago) or switch her to VB now since she is selected. Till now, nothing is conclusive as my girl is also undecided.. she asked me to decide for her actually cos she's torn between both!! Both of us still very lost...

kin's DD has music, swimming, art, and VB and is coping well. Some children in the sports class hv 2 CCAs and enjoy it. If DD was given a chance for another CCA at P3, we would hv taken it. There are so many things she would like to try. And that's why I added in music at P4. She could cope. If results are a concern, if your DD is above average, she should be able to cope w 2. This could be an exercise in responsibility and self-motivation.