Hi fellow parents, I am a parent of a new Sec 1 girl. CGS was our first choice and yes we were elated to be admitted. I am writing to seek fellow parents’ view on what I have observed so far which yes kinda affects me. But I must first clarify that the school hasn’t done anything wrong. Just my observations and I wish to hear from many of you who had possibly journeyed with your girls for a longer time in the school.


My observations
1. The school is DEAD SERIOUS about EVERYTHING from acad to the smallest non-school issue. The girls are given instructions all the time on how to behave, how much time to make it to the lab from classroom, how to walk, how to talk…and based on what I have seen so far in the last 1 month, the teachers issues tons of instructions and warnings from timeliness to reach the lab in 5 min, SMM adherence within and beyond schools else suffer demerit points, and even non-school related stuff like to warn the girls they cannot go out for casual lunch on their own after the early school dismissal. I recalled my children doing lunches with friends outside of school (yes even in 2020 and 2021) and it so helps with bonding. But in this school, my girl was warned cannot - teacher will catch. I was just wondering what the wrong if they are "caught"? For a minute I was beginning to imagine all CGS girls have no real physical social life other than online networks outside of school. Poor girls - yes they are very kwai and they really dare not disobey. The school seems to be super sticky about rules for everything and demands 100% compliance from girls at ALL times. Dont get me wrong, I believe in discipline; but if that stems from fear of caught, suffer penalty etc (yes a lot of talks about demerit points and the subsequent consequences) then honestly I am not confident such rule-based culture helps to build intrinsic motivation/discipline in the girls. How will can there be any growth mindset if the girls are made to feel they are walking on egg shells all the time?

2. Please correct me if wrong on this one. I have an impression Principal and teachers do not like to engage parents much. While I understand the current COVID situation makes face tot face engagement not feasible, certainly zoom or TEAM possible. Teachers’ and P’s speeches are shared via YouTube, which is good as it allows replays. But there is this lack of communications with parents and particularly not helpful for Sec 1 parents with such one-way only communications. My sec 1 girl is my 3rd child so I have had experiences with 2 other secondary schools. And those schools engage parents to varying extents. But zoom meetings with P and FTs at the start of a new school year is a definite protocol. Of cos we want the students to be independent but such engagement I feel would enhance parent-teacher collaboration. At least for blur Sec 1 parents like me, I can be told what is expected by the FT to partner with him/her.

Perhaps this is my very own one-sided experience and would gladly be corrected (or assured) by fellow parents of otherwise.

mumucow\" post_id=\"2034556\" time=\"1629079798\" user_id=\"103456:

My daughter is keen on Visual Arts, but if she does not get into a school that offers AEP, can she apply for AEP in her Sec 1 on her own?

Yes can apply. In fact if she enters an AEP school. Not sure if applies to all AEP schools, but in NJC, all Sec 1 students are given a chance to go thru a selection test and may be selected for AEP even though student had not applied earlier. And the selected student gets to do a 3-month trial of the programme to test interest. So if the teacher/student feel the prog isnt suitable after 3 months, either student can opt out or sch does not offer the prog to the student.

From my previous experience, you will be emailed by the Sec school on the outcome.

cilipadi\" post_id=\"1953892\" time=\"1576752922\" user_id=\"3934:

not sure if i should post here, but i have junior high (JH1&2) boy uniform to give away.
- 5pieces of bermudas size 28
- 5pieces bermudas size 30.
- 4pieces shirt I don't know the size, may be 14 or 16. But my boy wears M size for uniqlo shirt for comparison.
PM me if you want.

I wish I knew earlier...bought liao

phtthp\" post_id=\"1932340\" time=\"1567075943\" user_id=\"35251:

yayoi\" post_id=\"1932316\" time=\"1567070013\" user_id=\"57130:

[quote=Trismom post_id=1932291 time=1567066588 user_id=95333]If anyone Rcv sst email do update ya Thks!

I do hope the email comes by 12 midnight tonight!!! Lol!!! They are supposed tech savvy right? Maybe the emails will auto send at midnight. All the best to all of us waiting for sst news!

how about this ?

tonight, we stay up until 12.15 am.
If after 12 midnight, SST high-tech to set off an auto \"alarm\" clock to release news from their server, then we \"dong, dong, dong\" shout that the news came in .

If after 12.30 am still quiet, no action, then we go and sleep[/quote] :lol: :lol: :lol:
So hilarious

Final? How many rounds?

Hi My girl is also in 1E! SHall we form a network? we pm offline?

Hi dont fret over this ok. It is very very common. All cma kids prefer mental over abacus because its a whole lot easier. If kid resist, then stop doing the hw for a few days and try again with a few sums a day. My No2 and 3 are in the cma programme. And it really helps the kids. I can see very clearly my no 2 can think faster and will be able to handle P2-3 maths easily.


My youngest girl started cma last year when she turned 3. 1 term later we quit because she was a little tired of hw and more importantly my hub was dead against the idea the kid has to attend formal classes at such a young age. For me, the reason I sent her there was to widen her social circle. But anyway girls was upset and later insisted that she wanted to go back and she promised she would do her hw dutifully if she goes back. She resumed the lessons in Dec and till now she is still honouring her word. She just turned 4 this month. Dunno if it works for your child.

Well said, mummy so kiasu. Its a good reminder to know that most of us are average and to set realistic expectation for our kids whom we know so well. It's definitely a worthy time of celebration today, whatever the results.

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