Just a sharing in case anyone looking for a reliable Chinese tuition centre.

Previously, I had tried searching for a tuition centre or a private tutor from Kiasuparents, Gumtree and googled. Tried out a few recommendations from friends too. Finally thru a friend’s friend, I was told of an ex tuition teacher who left the Fu Lu Shou centre and she started her own centre like 5-6 years ago. She is now at Bugis Cube 04-19. She is Han lao shi. Hp 9237 3067. Class size is small. Dedicated. My child’s friends from Dunman High, RGS, RI and Hwa Chong also shared positive feedback.

KitCat,

Yes report in current year school uniform. Bring money to buy books, stationery, uniform. Believe u can go back another day to buy… another trip though. Likely to put in form for Higher Mother Tongue, apply Regional Studies Program if got interest.
Hope that helps. All the very best to your DS.

To be fair to the top schools like RI, I don’t think it is that stressful. If the child is not on acceleration (Raffles Academy program for Year 1 or in Year 4), he only need to do one Core CCA which is every Monday and Wednesday (usually) from 3.45 to 6.45pm. Unless the child does 3rd language (MOELC which is so near the school), he will have lesson on every Tuesday from 2.30pm to 5.45pm. Then he will have Tuesday, Thursday and Friday free to do his homework, project work, study etc and even have the weekends free. The homework is manageable and is not really a lot. So long as he diligently does his assignments, pay attention in class (despite other kids talking or whatever), your kid will be able to do relatively well without tuition. He can always ask the teachers if he has doubts and the teachers are rather willing to help. If your child is a consistent worker and performer and he can get in thru DSA, you might want to consider. Reason being that PSLE can be very stressful with all the additional homework and worst of all the kids around would be talking a lot about it… so it can be really really very stressful cos school teachers also kept telling them to work hard, all the reminders… stressful. A bird in hand is better than two in the bush. Just a sharing.

Thanks ManU123.

Don’t know why can’t get it load… must be some virus in my computer. Have been trying to get it neutralised after the full scan. Will try again later. I got to watch this. Such great leadership. So very seldom you see Principal so passionate and even the posting by Mr Siow. Wow…

He said it’s open to ALL - those not in IP track and also for those from other schools as well. And one parent asked… would those in Victoria get a better chance… then he turned his head around and looked all over the auditorium and asked "any reporters around?" Then he said don’t want to be quoted… and he told Mr Andrew Lim "will tell you later how we should do this"… then he said to his audience … let me put it this way… if both kids have exactly same academic standings… which one should have a better chance… He’s smart guy. Hey, he may be reading this now… cos he said parents will post on Kiasuparents forum. Hahaha… hello Mr Low. Did I say correctly? If not, would like to invite you to add on. Hahahaa

So so scary… my kid after reading the articles thought about how he should respond when faced with similar situation. I told him best don’t respond at all… U see Don n Anand walked passed this small group (of 3) and heard someone said "it’s that him?" He turned to look… see… don’t look! I told my kid hear, look down on the floor BEST… Told him that some 20 yrs ago, some Thai contacts of my boss asked me "Why do you think Thailand is known as the Land of Smiles?" I went "huh? don’t know" He said … best smile then you won’t get into trouble cos if you look a bit funny or born with a unfriendly face you might just get shot. Then I remembered my boss said…"U know he carries a gun near his ankle". I was so shocked… why? He said he is prepared for anything… kidnappers, robbers, weirdos… wah… and that was over 20 yrs ago. And never would I think one day I would read about stories that I hear in the States, in other countries cos Singapore is safe. Sigh… so so sad.

I must find a mountain to go and live for my old age… don’t want to know what would happen in this country? No eyes to see liao.

Jtoh,

The article where it stated that the group pushed Don and Don punched (1st) the others was in Saturday’s Straits Times. Today, has an article too.
Actually, just on Monday (28 Nov), I told my friend to get his relative who is somebody in the Police Force to come out with a holiday program or a school educating kids on how to avoid trouble etc other than the "Soccer Club" which the police is running during school holidays to keep kids occupied. Soccer Club only seem to be mainly for boys… perhaps have something for girls too. Hope anyone in this forum has some connection with Family Service or MCYS to come up with programs to reach out to these kids, esp when parents are already so busy and stressed making ends meet.

We went there on 19 Nov Open House and after his address, some of us went to speak with him. This outgoing Principal Mr Low said he has been with Victoria for like almost 10yrs and will be going back to MOE HQ. he did not say when. Just hope that he will stay (like for another year…hahahaa…wish wish wish) on to ensure the IP program is successfully implemented There is a new principal Mr Andrew Lim, formerly Deputy Principal RI, taught also in some JCs and was also HOD before. Mr Low is really one prinicipal whom I would love to see my kids have in their growing years. He’s so much like a fatherly figure and he’s young. Very approachable type. Very impressive. I have been to a few open houses and heard several principals talk… from the very elite to the good ones. He’s the most outstanding one. A parent complimented him and he admitted that many boys go to him as though he’s their father … and he said "I don’t even have kids of my own". Wow… very impressive guy.

Now re DSA - he did not say how many under sports. But one parent asked what was in the DSA application process - he said that they had to do some ability test… thought he said General Ability Test… and he implied that some kids might not want to go Bishan IP school but would consider Victoria since it is much nearer to their home in the east. And, that many of these kids are very high calibre. Also during the school tour, we met students who were formerly from Tao Nan, Maha Bodhi, Red Swastika and Kong Hwa. So thought they have indeed a good lot of kids from good schools. Apparently a lot of these kids 250s and even 260s go to Victoria cos it is nearer their home. So Mr Low said that during this DSA exercise some IQ are really high. The only figures he mentioned was 43 DSA given out (he did not say confirmed or wait list… but I guess it is confirmed… and he did not say how many wait list DSA he gave out). And he said after PSLE, he is left with only 40 places. However he did say there will be additional intake in Sec 3 year. Perhaps you could give him a call. Am sure he will entertain calls. All the best.

It might just be lower than 259. Reason - I accompanied my friend to Hwa Chong on 25 Nov. Was told that for this year onwards, MOE will not allow appeal for those on DSA (CO or WL but confirmed on PSLE results). From what I gathered is that a number of kids obtained CO DSA or posted on PSLE result day (on WL DSA) appealed to RI when their results are much better than expected from certain schools. Likewise, kids from certain schools appealed to HCI for similar reason. However this will not be possible for this year. Any appeal must be through principal to principal of the respective schools. This was the case too for Year 2008. The reason given was that there are just too many administrative work and cost involved and it defeats the purpose of granting DSA. Personally I think it would encourage people to accept offers only if they are truly serious of going to that particular school. RI seems to be much sought after and hence not many WL or even CO are given out probably due to availability of vacancies. Basing on this, my personal take is that COP might just be lowered for this year. This is only a personal view.

Montfort has a much smaller candidature for NORMAL stream. It would work well for the whole school… whether you are in Express or Normal. DO remember that if your child is in Express you will get Normal stream kids in your CCA activities. With a smaller candidature for Normal stream, it would probably be less stressful for the school to handle. Both Montfort and St Gabriel’s are under the same Gabrielite Brothers who run Boys Town. If your kid is in normal stream, you might get some form of help to get into Assumption Pathway in later years. Assumption Pathway is the only mission run ITE. It also has a brand new facility.