Hi Callie,


When I agreed to accept my girl into sports class, the PCPS netwk was so quiet and I just had the "go for it thinking" and signed my girl up, even though she is suffering from asthma.

Ok, before I forget, yes, There are many niche CCAs in PCPS, why VB has more attention than the rest is because of a few reasons. 1) If you go into the MOE website for PCPS, it is stated that PCPS is a school with special sports selection done for lower pri(let me find the website).2) Also PCPS is the Headquarters of the VB association in Sg , and ALL the competitions in the primary schs are held in PCPS (ie, our kids no need to travel to other schools, we play on home ground.) I hope you dont get me wrong, I’m not promoting VB, just that I believe I am the only mummy sharing now, whose child is in the Sports class P4 this yr so I have the most updated info and hence talk alot…heheh.

Callie, I’m not sure, but just a suggestion, since its too early to say anything. Why not let her join sports class and continue CO (after you talk to the respective HODs). On the basis that its unfair to decide at this point of time…?

From my girl’s sharing over the 2 yrs, her only regret is that she has asthma and is not fit enough to complete their special training especially this yr. She was actually playing in the sch team group but after getting asthma attacks frequently, and missing out in training (you naturally become out of form), you get easily forgotten in that sense. After missing so many training sessions in P3 and early P4, she is not able to play in the competitive team anymore(while they were selecting) and naturally opted out to the others. I even bought a VB and we wanted to train on our own. For you, since you were a VB player, you can coach your girl sometimes. It makes a whole lot of difference, since you can perfect her throws and hits.VB is very much a skill-trained sports , right?

Apart from those normal scoldings you get from the coach, my girl has not been spoken down to even though she is sick (I’m quite impressed with that) and they actually praised her when she does well. And PCPS have Head coach and main coach and some assistants. In P3 there were assistants and main coach.During compeitive yr P4, it is main coach all the way and during weekends, Head Coach will occasionally come down…My girl likes both Head Coach and main coach. They both encouarge aptly when the kids do well. Hope this clarifies some "clouds".

So, there is no putting down. But of course there are also cat fights among the girls too at times. So you must teach your girl EQ… I have seen the girls playing during the matches… they scream and yell at one another during the match (while training), especially when someone misses the ball and it gets quite hot at times.But coach is very smart, everyone is rotated and have a chance, so everyone gets screamed at, at the end, and I also have seen the more nurturing girls who pacify the cat-fights at times. But all in the name of sports. Must have good sportsmanship too. You will not know the type of boys or girls you child is going to be with until the beginning of the year. So they have to learn to accept everyone’s differences and "screaming" during scary VB matches.

mummyv , Callie…
now, my girl is not medically fit to do sports such as VB anymore. VB is high impact, and fast pace. So it is really sad. My girl is upset but she has to accept it.She was able to cope with all the extras and VB and still happy because its true, discipline and responsibility too. But now, no VB, no art, no swimming until the school holidays…

Hi,

Just saw yr message, the prinicipal doesn’t allow any switch of classes in any point of P4 yr. AT the most, llike my girl has a medical condition, she is exempted from all trainings. There is no need to change class. Of course, this is a case to case basis. The quality of teachers the same. In fact, my girl’s teachers for these 2 years are very good.

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).

Hi Callie,


You know, I entered also with that kind of thinking - DSA. IF and if your child is a star player, she probably be invited to the secondary sch -there is one in Bukit timah Rd that is excellent in VB and Academics, the other is near Macpherson, Another should be in AMK.

But as the other mummy said, it is really really tiring. And at the end of the day, the child is not coping well. So I would say, if you want your child to enter through DSA, that means you will push your child for both studies and CCA. Incase, she dont make it with studies, she can use CCA. DSA application starts early. A VB team consist of 5 players. From my understanding, My girl said that there is only ONE VB team in the class, the rest, are either the reserves(not sure how many). My girl can spend the entire VB training playing/ or even just doing drills. If competition draws near, the coach only focus on the team. If not, there will be 2 teams plus reserves. So, can be quite demoralising. The rest of the classmates are table tennis players. Currently, 4I is basketball class and 4H is volleyball class.

As much as I said, that is how it is run. There is no unfairness. The fittest survives. To me, now, is for my girl can get in to 5A, B or C ( my goal for my girl now.)So If your girl is really gd in her studies, she will naturally be streamed into 5A, as with the rest of the niche CCA players who are gd in studies. You can call up the head in charge of the CCA and talk to them. In any case, please dont let them know that you know so many details.I believe there is more or less changes to the schedules year after year. So better to check with them if you want a fuller picture.

Hi bridesep and Callie,


Firstly, congrats on getting selected to enter the Sports class…PCPS niche volleyball is top 3 in the National school teams.

My girl knows of some friends, who have both CO and volley ball or tennis as their CCA. ie both niche. However, that is v taxing on the child as that means double time spent on CCA.I am not sure if it is allowed. During the meeting, if you are in a niche CCA, they discourage you to take another niche.

When my girl was in pri 3, volleyball is just once a week after sch hrs. The other volleyball practice was during PE. Sports class has one extra PE class. In terms of taking up a lot of after school times, that happens in P4. The regular sessions will be stepped up slowly. In P3 , there is no Saturday classes until second half of the yr(I think). There is still time to do homework and everything. The down side is because the training can be quite vigourous, so your child must be in gd health and can take physical training. I remember my girl coming home and crying on days she has volleyball training because her muscle ache in her legs were v bad. I told her that she has to slowly acustom to it and after some time its ok. Oh yes, sch holidays, trainings increase not only for VB, but for all other Niche. My friend’s child in Wushu trains on normal days twice a week nightly from 7:30-9pm.

Just to inform you, not every child in the class gets to be in the school team. End P3 and P4 all have competitions, Junior boys and girls. IF you ask me, if your child is outstanding in his volleyball, he will enjoy the competitions and the trainings. Currently, the top girl in the daugther’s class is also one of the 2 selected to be in the school team.

One thing is that volleyball training teaches the kids about discipline and about pushing your limits too. To me that is good training. Pros and cons. Your child must learn to play in a team. In the sports class, there are many students who excel in the exams too. Not too bad. If your child’s results are not so good, they will not put them in the sports class too. So,its just a choice that we parents make, together with the child.

For me, my girl has to "retire" early from volleyball because she suffers from quite bad asthma. So she was unable to take all the vigorous training. She is rather upset about the matter but has come to accept it already.

At the end of P4, there is an important streaming. If your child is outstanding in both VB and academics, the child will be streamed to the top 3 classes. So no worries about getting the best teachers and being in the best environment.

Hope this info is helpful!

Hi Callie,

I remember going for a parent’s talk once and this issue was brought up. I think the selection process is final and because the sports class training is really quite different, personally, I think it is quite unlikely that any other student will be selected to go into the sports class or sports team. The class has extra one or two PE lessons more than normal classes. Training is rigourous. My girl doesnt take any other CCAs because theirs is considered niche. However, I know there are many other kids in the class who do other CCAs too. Unfortunately, my girl suffers from asthma and has since stopped
volleyball training since the middle of the year. Hope this helps.

Hi mummies, my girl is currently in 4H , the volleyball class. Towards the last term, the selection process at P2 for the sports class gets more defined. There r a few rounds of selection. In fact, the kids will know Because they will be singled out for further selection. All these done during the PE lessons. There is both volleyball CCA in the sch but these pupils do not belong to the sports class. The sports class kids belong to the niche CCA where they are trained to be in the school team. They receive special and more training than normal class kids. Usually, you can’t get any info from the teachers until the selection process is over because these are all done by the professional coaches. For me, my girl only received the invite to sports class in the last wk of school.

Hi,

Any parents interested in getting Swissflex ?
I got my daughter a pair today. Eyechamp at nex having a 50% discount uptil 22 jul. I got my girl frameless one. The normal kids one, frame selling at $120. The framless one I got for my girl cost $240 for the frame alone…

Hi Cherrygal, Luanee,

Yes we shld form a small group. but everyones’ child have different needs. Most are myopic. Luanee, yours is long sighted. My 5 yr old is severe astigmatism only.

Can anyone help me out here? I am super worried for my 5 yr old. She has just gone for her appt at the poly who says my girl got really high astig and is reffering her to KKH. One eye is 425 while the other is 275. My appt is another 1.5 wks away. at first, I wanted to go private to see the eye specialist in KK but when I called , the earliest appt for any eye specialist there will be later than my subsidised rate appt. I am so nervous abt it as so far, I;ve not met any mummy whose child has such high astig. What shld I do? Go to see private?(not sure who ?)