timtim:

hmsg:

Anyone has the info on the laptops Sec 1 should have?

Is it compulsory? Must they bring to school?

Hi Parents with Laptops and Social Media questions,

If you have functional laptop around the house, new laptop definitely not required in Sec 1. No need to bring to school except perhaps during IS Project prep period (and usually someone in the Project group will bring.

School has plenty of computers in labs and library for boys to use and can T-Loan laptops too.

Strongly advised to use Admin restriction to control laptop usage hours from Sec 1 to set expectations. Once you adopt carefree approach almost impossible to reel them in later.

WhatsApp is a necessary evil and do expect 1000s of msg at all hours starting from 5AM till way past midnight. Let's say that a class or CCA teacher starts a WA group, boys will start a concurrent WA group WITHOUT the teacher to gossip and joke. Same goes for official and unofficial WA groups at CCA by level! The other bigger evil parents can control is restricting access to SnapChat because school will never communicate via this route. FYI, official school communications is via EMB.

We had an app last year for announcements to parents, they scrap it and developing their own that should roll out some time soon I hope. Otherwise SMS is used.

Hope this helps

Oh My Gosh:

CCA Selection is really a headache, more so with limited vacancies in each CCA.

(1) Can DS put down less than 9 choices as he really dun feel like putting a CCA just for the sake of having to put 9 choices. In his own words, \"If I anyhow put down the CCA and they allocate me there, then they will say that it is my choice!?!?\"
(2) Any idea of the chance of appeal cos I see appeal dates on the announcement.

Hi,

Let me try to answer some CCA concerns. Have two sons in Sports CCA.

HCI, like most other schools, is very competitive in Sports CCA. Hence Sports get first choice in selection and amongst the Sports, Track & Field gets the choice picks.

Since yr DS have gone for trials, the Sports would tell them they are shortlisted and to put the Sport as their 1st choice BUT Track & Field can overrule all choices.

Majority of non-Sports will end up in UG.

Sports training can go up to 5x weekly during competition session but these hardly affect academic performances. All boils down to DS time management.

Boys can change CCA end of Sec 2 if all effort put in to CCA or health reasons. Most time they change because of poor fit.

Welcome to Hwa Chong!

christie_zhen:

Hi, all,

just got CO from Hwa Chong by snail mail,
but I don't know what to do for next step as the letter only mention that we shall wait until 22 Oct for DSA Symposium.
may I consult you all what we shall do next? shall I contact Hwa Chong? or just wait...
thanks first.

Hi Christie,

No need to do anything. Just attend the DSA Symposium on 22nd and enjoy a fun time laughing at Dr Hon's jokes, alumni parents and corny kiasu parents queries.

Don't worry, HCI has perfected the DSA art.

Seriously, don’t stress yourself out computing probabilities. The numbers changes every year based on cohorts, eg 2000 dragon year more classes, etc. Last 2 years total of 12 classes I believe and roughly 50% DSA.

For those Hwa Chong DSA aspirants, here's a preview of life as a HCI student, teacher and parents.

https://youtu.be/5lmyKpQOAIM

Enjoy! And see you next year!

bliss wisdom:

Louis:

[quote=\"bliss wisdom\"]Thanks ksks. Think will opt for TJC IP instead of banging on DHS WL.

If you really like DHS, no harming putting its as first choice. If the WL becomes CO, good for you. If not, your CO with TJC, even it put as second choice, is still confirmed.

Tks for the good advice. Will leave it to my DS to decide. Apparently he prefers TJC over DHS. [/quote]Hi Bliss Wisdom,

Just my 2cents knowledge of TJC IP. My good fren's daughter was in the first batch of Sec 1 IP (2000 baby), he was apprehensive initially but is now singing praises. Apparently TJC is not a pressure cooker and encourages the students to explore many options eg. No fixed CCA in Sec 1, no hang ups on winning CCA awards (perhaps because of minuscule intake) and numerous field trips to MNCs, NGOs, etc for students to interact with the real world.

In fact, compare to my DS1 IP program thus far, I am kind of envious of the TJC program, alas the school is simply to far from our home although many students do travel across the island to the dream schools.

Anyways, congrats to all DSA participants for your bravery and effort. There is always a positive learning experience and silver lining whatever the outcome (eg. my DS2 who received a WL2 finally decides to study harder for PSLE to get into the only school he DSAed for).

Agree with Fresco (I think) marvelous contribution that trust the schools that they know what kind of students they want during the DSA process. As parents and bystanders, we were not in the test centers or interview rooms to see how how DC performed as opposed to their peers, not matter how qualified we believe they are.

justbee:

GiftedGem:

[quote=\"justbee\"]

his dream school is RI, but he didn't make it past the GAT. his main gripe about HCI is it is a 'Chinese' school but i told him it is a very good school which many others hope to get in. Furthermore it runs in the family, most of us are from hwa chong and myself NYGH so i want the same values, vs RI's elitism. My jc was njc though...hehe...he will also go for the hci symposium. i only hope he doesnt give up these COs to bang on RI via psle!

Wow...a nice one having family of 'Chinese sch'
I remembered attending NYGH Fiesta prior for DSA interview and P was saying that we parents having 'upper hand' in deciding for their DC which sch to choose. Will this work for you? Haha.

I dont think it will work. Plus he had one teacher telling the kids, that ultimately it should be the kids deciding since they are the ones going to the school. I almost fainted!!![/quote]Hi Justbee,

Please assure yr DS that HCI today is definitely NOT a 'Chinese' school. In fact you seldom hear the boys speaking Mandarin around the campus (not sure that's a good thing) and their open dialogue topics are so current and sometime amazing controversial that spark off really vocal public debates. Some do struggle with Higher CL but the school helps them not fear or hate the language. I am sure you are aware of the school's massive annual Project competition where some winning entries became commercially available products.

One of my son's classmate was 'forced' by parents to go to HCI and swore to switch school after Sec 1. He has happily moved on to Sec 2 and banished all thoughts abt switching school.

Finally, after PSLE, suggest yr DS check out the combined HCI/NYGH FB Confession page vs the other schools - it's real eye opener. Google the past confessions of a 'Capuccino Guy' which even the others school talk about and one school tried to copy and failed miserably.

aley:

Leewk:

My experience for DSA sports suggests the selection criteria :

1. 'Trial Coach' played the most important part in the selection process (it helps a lot if your child already worked with the coach before or through recommendation)
2. If interviewed by coach/teacher-in-charge during trial must show absolute keenness to attend the school.
3. Your performance during trial.
4. Culture compatibility between child primary school and the DSA school

Very true about the coaches. I would suggest that they have more or less shortlisted players in advance. And trials are a formality and confirmation process. During the open house, DD went to check out the sports facilities. Some of the coaches hinted that they have more or less picked their favourites. Note that this is before DSA or any trials.

Like academic DSA ... the selection criteria is at their discretion (not necessarily the best score etc.). The fact that they know who's who suggest that they know these players well and know who they wanted. Don't think it's out right unfair, just reality.

Hi,

For many sports, the coaching fraternity is small and they exchanges notes on notable sports talents. During inter schools and inter club competitions, the coaches for the top ranking schools for respective sports are always talent scouting. The trials do play a very critical role to sieve out the proven talents, raw / unpolished potentials and the non performers. It's only human for coaches to shortlist familiar proven talents.

I know of a school who rejected a solid netball player because the coach has already gotten an entire top primary school team to join them. In this case, tried and tested team dynamics took precedence over a single star player.

At the end of the day, every school has unique DSA selection criteria. Some schools go for pure talents and top ranked nationals and offer them CO before the whole DSA exercise starts (regardless of academic results). Others take academic results and other qualities equally seriously. HCI this year didn't even invite good club players to their trials because their academic results were found wanting. There were top club players who were not offered CO too, perhaps they didn't perform well enough in the round 2 academic tests and interviews.

iFirefly:

GiftedGem:

[quote=\"GLORYmum\"]
WL1 has priority over WL2?

Is there a WL2?

But.. If there is no #2, why is there a #1 ? :scratchhead:[/quote]
Hi,

HCI has WL2. DS just received WL2 mail.

jajnj:

Do they call or email you?

is your ds from GEP or MS?

Thanks

Thnks.... My ds is from MS. It's via email & we had to respond by 18/8 on our acceptance.[/quote]

The acceptance should be in Oct to MOE.....This is not be the official acceptance.[/quote]


Thnks Yuen Yuen[/quote]

Hi jajnj,

If U are undecided, accept the non-bidding offer first and made final decision during the official process in Oct. That's what a top school advised parents this year. Understand VS is another school that's used same approach 2 years ago and caught many by surprise. ONLY the MOE selection is official.