blitzneo

BLLL:

Let me share my personal experience. Like Imbeebee, I was from that girls's school too and I have both a DD in that school and a DS in Chongfu. So I can see and tell the difference between these 2 schools.


For a start, I feel each school has its own good points and maybe some not do good points. If you talk about Chinese cultural, I can safely say that St Nicks has a solid foundation on it. The Chinese standard is definitely much higher than Chongfu in general (dont compare that few exceptionally good in Chinese kids and PRC kids). I have personal experience in comparing and I can tell you that for P3 standard, the girls in St Nicks are definitely much higher standard as the Chinese program in school is very vigorous. For example, the Chinese spelling list in Chongfu pales in comparision to the Chinese spelling list in St Nicks. The type of composition produced at P3 in Chongfu also pales badly compared to a similar standard in St Nicks.

Of course, Chongfu does have its own good program. The Science teaching in Chongfu is definitely more systematic and better for the children compared to St Nicks. The Maths program also drills the children well.

That being said, we cannot compare the schools at an equal level. Chongfu takes in students from all kinds of standard level while St Nicks gets about 10% transferred girls from the nearby schools with exceptionally good results. Even some of the top girls from Chongfu transferred there too as in my DD class, she has classmates from Chongfu too.

On the whole, both schools are working towards giving our children holistic education and we should give the new Principal a chance. I believe she does have the interest of the school and will be able to lead the teachers to educate our children.

Thank you for sharing your experiences. As my intention is not to compare schools and also not our children with other. As a parent, the concern is how the school being run.

ImMeeMee:

I do agree to give the new P a chance and clarify directly and to listen to the other side of the story. One-sided ranting and putting people down does not seem to serve much purpose ...

I have chosen CF because it is a traditional chinese school. wanted my kids to have more opportunities learning the chinese culture.

There are 2 events that CF had impressed me : 1)interest group (kids expose to different games and game skill) most of the kids know how to roller blade after that . But get to know that it will remove from the interest group in 2014 due to one accident happen this year.

2) Beginning Science( kids get to expose to science when they will in P1 and 2) this is especially good to most of the girls who normally will not read books related to science compare to the boys. they just have a quiz for SA1/2 . But it will be remove from 2014.

i hope that more parents will be communicating with the P and teachers and share your comments. i put forward the info so that more parents are more aware of the changes in the school , i do not mind who is the P and teachers but i do not want my kids to be the guinea pig and knowing that it is not benefitting.

Iluvmygals:

blitzneo:

[quote=\"Iluvmygals\"]You are right that competition comes from everywhere...so a school exam alone is never a good guage of how well a kid is performing. It is always comparative. One year of easy paper should not get parents all too worried. At the same time, I am sure a lot of parents here supplement the school exams with practise paper from other schools exam. That is good enough to help guage how well your kid is doing.


The question for the new principal is what is her plan and vision for the school, in terms of academic excellence, CCA achievements, students behavior/values, etc. Let her show us her plan. This year's PSLE performance is not her doing...it's the previous principal's.

if the parent discover that CF exam paper is much easier than other school and the school is happy with it, will the parent worry and send kids to more tuitions and do more assignment paper ??? will this shift the responsibility toward the parent and less on the school ???

I honestly don't see how there would be a shift of responsibility from school to parents cause parents ALWAYS take FULL responsibilities, including choosing the right school for the kids.

How would you propose to guage a schools exam against the national standard when there is no national benchmark? Would failing 10% of the pupils make an exam of good standards? Maybe MOE should set same exam papers for all schools to be fair?

Already MOE is telling us to move away from using a single exam marks to judge a kid. But parents are finding it difficult to change/accept this cause we are all still kiasu.

Build the right character in a kid and this would help him/her a long way in their life. A good exam marks may not help that much.[/quote]when choosing the right school meant that there are certain elements that the parent wanted the school to impart to the children. Only home schooling have the parent to shoulder the full responsibility .

the national exam benchmark is the national examinations (PSLE, O,A) .

Why we are worried of the Goal and Vision of the school because we do not want kids living in illusion. we want to help and guide them along so that when they come to national exam , they are ready and on par with the others. rather than scolding and blaming them for not doing well.

The seconday school, JC, Poly even ITE accept the kids largely base on marks and result. How not to judge the kids by the exam result ???

MOE rank and paid their teachers base on their certificate (honours, basic degree, non degree). How can MOE convince the people on this ????

Molding the child with good character, proper behaviour,fighting spirit and building up the ability (with decent grade) is not a zero sum game.
kids can possess both. just like they can excel both in academic and sport.

Imp75:

Honestly, I was also quite disappointed when SA2 was visibly much easier than expected, what this meant was that there were not enough challenging questions to differentiate the pupils of varying abilities and even the top pupils did not do as well due to lost marks because of carelessness.


Having said that, I still appreciate the school for how my kids behave in school and outside of school, I think the school inculcate those Chinese values that I am truly grateful for, helping me develop my kids into responsible, respectful and well-behaved kids. This to me is more important than the need to top the school or class. Talking about holistic development indeed.

My kids are in wushu, they learn from very young the need to be disciplined, to put in hard work, to push themselves to the limit and the many many hours they put into this CCA, I think its just worth it, its more than any other tuition or academic pursuance any kid could have.



On the whole, I am still very pleased that I chose this school over a top girls school in AMK.

Truly agreed with your statement, your kids is in Wushu (school team) that is why the long hour of training. how many of them can be selected ?? maybe 50 out of the whole school ? how about the other ?? that is why the parent willing to provide the funding and coaches for new CCA so that other kids can enjoy other sport ; and football and badminton are common sport in singapore. Thing had started to change in 2013.

sembgal:

blitzneo:

[quote=\"Iluvmygals\"]You are right that competition comes from everywhere...so a school exam alone is never a good guage of how well a kid is performing. It is always comparative. One year of easy paper should not get parents all too worried. At the same time, I am sure a lot of parents here supplement the school exams with practise paper from other schools exam. That is good enough to help guage how well your kid is doing.


The question for the new principal is what is her plan and vision for the school, in terms of academic excellence, CCA achievements, students behavior/values, etc. Let her show us her plan. This year's PSLE performance is not her doing...it's the previous principal's.

if the parent discover that CF exam paper is much easier than other school and the school is happy with it, will the parent worry and send kids to more tuitions and do more assignment paper ??? will this shift the responsibility toward the parent and less on the school ???

Are you a CF teacher?[/quote]what is all these changes affecting the CF teacher?? will the school standard and reputation affect the CV ??? the children are the one facing the PSLE and other challenges in the future.

Iluvmygals:

You are right that competition comes from everywhere...so a school exam alone is never a good guage of how well a kid is performing. It is always comparative. One year of easy paper should not get parents all too worried. At the same time, I am sure a lot of parents here supplement the school exams with practise paper from other schools exam. That is good enough to help guage how well your kid is doing.


The question for the new principal is what is her plan and vision for the school, in terms of academic excellence, CCA achievements, students behavior/values, etc. Let her show us her plan. This year's PSLE performance is not her doing...it's the previous principal's.

if the parent discover that CF exam paper is much easier than other school and the school is happy with it, will the parent worry and send kids to more tuitions and do more assignment paper ??? will this shift the responsibility toward the parent and less on the school ???

2013 SA1 oral exam was removed. the reason given during the parent session was " oral exam will take up too much of the teacher time"


CF conduct the SA2 oral exam in one day (until 3pm) ???

As MOE trying to emphasis a lot more Oral presentation into the future PSLE, how can the school give this excuse. if 2012 the school can do it , why can in 2013. in additional , the teacher did not teach the child with presentation skill especially those who are shy and lack of presentation skill .

in additional, after the SA2 exam , the classes are still doing the practise paper ???

iemum:

Imp75:

On the badminton and soccer, I am guessing due to lack of space, the school could not start these two new CCAs. The hall is used by the TT team while the indoor sports hall is used by the wushu team. There is no more space for a soccer field after they erected the school extensions.

Agree... I believe if space and staff deployment is not of a concern, most schools will not reject proposal to start new CCA.

it is a matter of willingness, Wushu will not take up all the days and time slot. as for the field, it can borrow from the other school such as northland and Ahmad Ibrahim secondary .

If the school can conduct swimming , than it is a matter of coordination .

there are about 1800 students in CF, more can be done for these children to expose to different sports. it cannot be half hearted if we want our kids to involve in more holistic education.

CF has one more VP in year 2013, staff deployment should not be an excuse. the ex-principle have only 2 VPs , the task were completed. now they have one more VP , more can be done . FYI the annual income of a VP is about $180K. a teacher is about 60K -80K(degree holder ).

iemum:

Imp75:

On the badminton and soccer, I am guessing due to lack of space, the school could not start these two new CCAs. The hall is used by the TT team while the indoor sports hall is used by the wushu team. There is no more space for a soccer field after they erected the school extensions.

Agree... I believe if space and staff deployment is not of a concern, most schools will not reject proposal to start new CCA.

it is a matter of willingness, Wushu will not take up all the days and time slot. as for the field, it can borrow from the other school such as northland and Ahmad Ibrahim secondary .

If the school can conduct swimming , than it is a matter of coordination .

there are about 1800 students in CF, more can be done for these children to expose to different sports. it cannot be half hearted if we want our kids to involve in more holistic education.

CF has one more VP in year 2013, staff deployment should not be an excuse. the ex-principle have only 2 VPs , the task were completed. now they have one more VP , more can be done . FYI the annual income of a VP is about $180K. a teacher is about 60K -80K(degree holder ).

Iluvmygals:

You are right that competition comes from everywhere...so a school exam alone is never a good guage of how well a kid is performing. It is always comparative. One year of easy paper should not get parents all too worried. At the same time, I am sure a lot of parents here supplement the school exams with practise paper from other schools exam. That is good enough to help guage how well your kid is doing.


The question for the new principal is what is her plan and vision for the school, in terms of academic excellence, CCA achievements, students behavior/values, etc. Let her show us her plan. This year's PSLE performance is not her doing...it's the previous principal's.

There is a group of parent willing to sponsor(funds and coaches) the school of setting up the football as a new CCA, the school just provide the place and time. the school turn down the offer.

there is another group of parent propose to the school to setup the badminton as another sport CCA. the school turn down and ask the children to learn when they goto secondary. How many children can goto table tennis and Wushu !!!!

the tour of duty of a principle is 5 years. one year pass and 4 more to go. Let see what will happen next year and whether will she share the vision and goal of the school.