sean wife:

My kids are only in p4, but my current thinking is to accept DSA to mid-tier IP school. I am a natural pessimist and not a risk taker...

This is the same feeling I had when we were in our DSA process with my DS last year. But I don't see it as being pessimistic or being not a risk taker. I think we need to understand our DC's passion, interests, strengths and weakness and their own individual learning profile. P4 onwards to P6 will be a good time for you to stay close to your DC's school learning journey. Then you will have a clearer picture of your DC's learning profile when the time comes for DSA in his/her P6 year. As the Principal of my DS's Sec school said in his speeches/briefings to parents, it is important for our DC to be happy in school. As long as they are happy in school, their learning journey and inquiry of knowledge will come naturally.

Yngmng:

lee_yl:

[quote=\"floppy\"]
Therein lies the problem.

The parents don't want any IP schools, they only want the TOP IP schools.

If the child is in the top class in a good primary school, should he try to DSA into the R schools or a mid-tier IP school?

Knowing very well that based on historical trends, the child's PSLE results could well get into mid tier IP school but uncertain for R schools. As the DSA CO once accepted is irrevocable, should the child not give the best schools a shot?

If my child is in the best class in a good school or doing very well in a neighbourhood school, I will only DSA to the top IP schools or choose not to DSA at all. I do not want to subsequently regret if her results qualify for the top school but she has accepted co for a mid tier IP school. For DD1, we only applied for one school.[/quote]
I agree with you......we as parents will know our own DC's learning profile, passion, interests, strengths and weaknesses. Parents will have various reasons for selecting certain IP schools and it is their choice and prerogative. For my DS, we were very realistic about the options available and the competitiveness of the Top Tier IP schools once you are in. We laid down all our cards on the table for our DS to understand and we decided on that basis.

In our case last year, we decided to only DSA for RI and another \"non-top tier\" IP school. My DS received WL from RI and a CO from the other IP school. After our long long discussions, prayers and \"research\", we as a family decided to accept the CO from the \"non-top tier\" IP school.

In our experience of the DSA last year, I think it is important for parents to know what we want for our DC to experience in their Sec school learning journey. It is going to be a 6 year long IP learning journey for our DC. Especially for DSA...once the CO is accepted, there will be no turning back.

Estéema:

I u'stand tt it's compulsory to do 2 CCAs @ ACSI. Anyone can share if this is a burden to students & can they cope with studies? Heard the students finish school late to reach home for dinner past 6pm or 7pm & too tired out daily to finish homework. Also heard that they've rich choices of CCAs & they've lots of achievements both for various CCAs & IB scorers are high in numbers & greater number of students achieved close to perfect scores than even RI or Hwa Chong. Is it true? Sounds like more balance all rounder achievers.


What abt SJII? Does it mean that having less choices for CCAs, the students get more time for academic?

Anyone can provide first hand personal experiences or their kids' encounters?

Hi, I just PM you. Hope it helps you with your above enquiry.

I suppose we as parents, we just want our DCs to do their best in their PSLE and hopefully (if possible) to apply via DSA to a preferred Sec school. But at the same time even with the DSA in mind, we must always motivate our DCs to focus and concentrate on their preparation for their PSLE (for the COP). At the end of the day, as parents, we want our DCs to enrol in a Sec school best suited for our DCs learning profile, character development, and he or she will be happy in that learning environment to thrive in his/her academic and CCA pursuits.

Yngmng:

yap_susan:

Any idea dsa application starts in April or May according to trend?

You can refer to the threads on previous year DSA. I find them quite useful. For DSA via sports or arts, the kid cannot change the cca for the next 4 or 6 years. Hence, need commitment and passion.

Hi, you may check out the school's individual websites for the DSA exercise. Usually starts with School Open Houses and application period. I think usually starts around end Apr/May for School Open Houses and probably by end June / early July for DSA submission. But that was for 2016. Not sure about this year. You probably need to regularly follow-up on the school's websites for DSA info.

Yngmng:

mn_1704:

[quote=\"Yngmng\"]DD2 is entering P1 in 2019 and is now mulling over which school is suitable in view of the recent changes. I have 2 choices. One is a Neighbourhood school within walking distance or a gep school abt 20 mins bus journey. DD1 DSAed via subject domain to her current secondary school. My experience is that the school requires her to demonstrate excellence and passion in a subject domain. This means that the child need to participate and win awards in competitions. Correct me if I am wrong but generally, I noticed that Neighbourhood schools tend to be less active in taking part in such competitions. Will this make branded schools more attractive? I also noticed that in gep schools, most of the academic related awards are won by geppers (correct me if I am wrong). So if the child is not a gepper, sending them to branded gep school does not really increase their chances of winning awards and therefore DSA. Personally, I also feel that with the review, gep becomes less attractive. This is considering the amount of time that they spent on their project works. So even if DD 2 does qualify for gep, will really think twice about joining gep. I would rather she focus on her core academic work. I will also be less enthusiastic abt DSA. From my experience last year, it is really stressful on both parents and child.

Hi, I understand what you had mentioned above.
I can only speak from my personal experience with my DS. My DS is now in Sec 1 in IP a boys school (sorry...not the top IP School... )

My DS's learning journey with GEP - he has learnt a lot (academically and definitely outside of academics) in his 3 years. He is now doing well in his Sec 1 IP programme. As an involved dad from day 1 of his learning journey since he was a baby/toddler, I must say that our DS greatly benefited from the GEP experience.

We did not prepare him with any extra MO classes or special enrichment classes with the hope of getting into GEP when he was in Pri school. He only had CL tuition since we do not speak mandarin at home. He just did it when he went for the selection tests in P3. And now he is in Sec 1 IP, and I can only say that he has gain a whole new learning experience and landscape during his GEP days which benefits him in his Secondary IP.

My conclusion - only able to comment with the experience of my DS. Let nature takes its course. If the child is able to get into GEP with his or her own ability (without all the extra classes and enrichment), then it will be great for the child. The child will be exposed to a totally different aspect of learning and knowledge inquiry.
If the child is able to thrive in a non-GEP school, than so be it. Parents can do more to encourage, facilitate and support the child to explore his non-academic interests, passion and knowledge exploration. I believe as parents, we just do our best to support our children in their learning journey, be it in GEP or non-Gep. I always believe that Parents are always and will always be the main educators and partners of our DCs learning journey.

Hi nm, agreed that DD1 has also benefited from the gep programe. She now appears to be coping well in her sec school. As for DD2, will try to strengthen her foundation in academics and give her a good head start. Personally, I am inclined to enrol her in the neighbourhood school for logistic reasons. From my experience when DD1 was in the school, the teachers and the program in the school are not too bad.[/quote]
Hi, Yes...for your DD2 in strengthening her foundation in academics. And I also understand your reason for the choice of a neighbourhood school. My DS spent P1 to P3 in a neighbourhood school as well. Slightly far from our home but he took the school bus since P1. You are right in wanting to give her a good head start. All parents do, me included.

In my opinion, the school can only do so much for our DCs as they need to follow the school curriculum. But as parents we can try to do for our kids (not so much in terms of extra tuition classes or enrichment), for the development of their personal character, thirst for knowledge, the love for reading and the pursuits of their personal interests and passion.

Yngmng:

DD2 is entering P1 in 2019 and is now mulling over which school is suitable in view of the recent changes. I have 2 choices. One is a Neighbourhood school within walking distance or a gep school abt 20 mins bus journey. DD1 DSAed via subject domain to her current secondary school. My experience is that the school requires her to demonstrate excellence and passion in a subject domain. This means that the child need to participate and win awards in competitions. Correct me if I am wrong but generally, I noticed that Neighbourhood schools tend to be less active in taking part in such competitions. Will this make branded schools more attractive? I also noticed that in gep schools, most of the academic related awards are won by geppers (correct me if I am wrong). So if the child is not a gepper, sending them to branded gep school does not really increase their chances of winning awards and therefore DSA. Personally, I also feel that with the review, gep becomes less attractive. This is considering the amount of time that they spent on their project works. So even if DD 2 does qualify for gep, will really think twice about joining gep. I would rather she focus on her core academic work. I will also be less enthusiastic abt DSA. From my experience last year, it is really stressful on both parents and child.

Hi, I understand what you had mentioned above.
I can only speak from my personal experience with my DS. My DS is now in Sec 1 in IP a boys school (sorry...not the top IP School... )

My DS's learning journey with GEP - he has learnt a lot (academically and definitely outside of academics) in his 3 years. He is now doing well in his Sec 1 IP programme. As an involved dad from day 1 of his learning journey since he was a baby/toddler, I must say that our DS greatly benefited from the GEP experience.

We did not prepare him with any extra MO classes or special enrichment classes with the hope of getting into GEP when he was in Pri school. He only had CL tuition since we do not speak mandarin at home. He just did it when he went for the selection tests in P3. And now he is in Sec 1 IP, and I can only say that he has gain a whole new learning experience and landscape during his GEP days which benefits him in his Secondary IP.

My conclusion - only able to comment with the experience of my DS. Let nature takes its course. If the child is able to get into GEP with his or her own ability (without all the extra classes and enrichment), then it will be great for the child. The child will be exposed to a totally different aspect of learning and knowledge inquiry.
If the child is able to thrive in a non-GEP school, than so be it. Parents can do more to encourage, facilitate and support the child to explore his non-academic interests, passion and knowledge exploration. I believe as parents, we just do our best to support our children in their learning journey, be it in GEP or non-Gep. I always believe that Parents are always and will always be the main educators and partners of our DCs learning journey.

Lieu:

Subconsciously most parents still hold RI as the standard bearer, hence the unconscious drifting to RI. But many parents will deny it.

I guess I'm the odd one who does not aim for RI although my DS may have a high chance to get it based on the earlier \"analysis\" posted here :)[/quote]


Any particular reason/s for you to draw that conclusion of not aiming for RI? Even if your DS may have a high chance?

bboomer71:

Sometimes is not the parents doing the pushing. DS wants to try. He doesnt see himself any worse than other kids. I have already spoken to him to manage his expectations all along. In fact, RI is not my first choice school (though I was a Rafflesian myself). I just want to lend my support to him and let him see for himself the competition out there. I think it will broaden his perspective and sharpen his decision making skills.

May I PM you with a few queries? Much appreciated. Thanks.

That’s life…not so straight forward as one would like. I feel that as parents we just have to try to find a School that will be a potential good fit for our child. This is after we as parents truly understand the personality, character and learning styles of our DC.

Nothing is for sure…just have to pray and hope for the very best that our DC will do well in which ever school that they are enrolled at.