Hi Trevormummy,


Sorry for the late response... I seldom check in KS forum unless I need to get some information.

I really do not have a good comparison with other SAP or popular school. I knew the friends who have children at Nanyang and St. Hildas, they complaints to me that there are no homework. While some complaint about the difficulty and the amount of homework from the same school. I guess teachers make the differences.

Poi Ching will provide a time table to advise parent on the test and exam upfront. This allow my wife to track my son performance. Without those schedule, we will be all lost.

There are several small tests (written and oral) and one major assigment at year end. They do have a mini mid yr assessment in July which is right after the June school holiday.

I am not able to compare their Enlish and math standard as it look pretty similar to other sch and various sources that I have gathered.

The only thing I could add is that the intensity level for Mandrain is higher than I have expected. There are daily Chinese homework and reading material that need to be completed.

Very hard for working parents who had only evening to complete all their homework. My recommendation is not to have any enrichment lesson in the weekday evening.

learn to split homework that child can do himself in the morning and focus on things that need your supervision in the evening. If not both you and child will find it very taxing.

Also need to be sensitive to your child need as constant homework will dull their minds...resting every 30min interval could help

Hope this help
Michael

Trevormummy:

Hi Michael

My child will be in Poi Ching P1 next year. Understand that there are no CAs or SA, only small tests and a year end exam. How heavy is the school workload over there? Do I need to prepare my child now?

I have heard alot regarding the school's Chinese standard but so far unable to get any comments regarding their English and Maths standard.
Can any parents share their observations?

Many thanks.

Hi anyone on the forum know Wendy Tan a teacher from St Hildas. How is she with children?

Hi amylqf,


My son is in 1I 2009 in Poi Ching also. I think my son is adjusting to school pretty well or except when it comes to writing.

We are still adjusting to the constant homework and CA preparation.

The Higher CHinese standard is pretty high as our neigbour kids from P3 is not able to read some of his chinese text. I find HanYuPingYing (HYPY) is a handicap for children rather than a learning aid. Children tend to read english text then to remember the character itself.

But I am glad the school is weaning them out of the bad habbit. By transitioning into books without HYPY. We also "force our kid" to read book without HYPY.

Not sure about their Math and English standards though.

Michael

ChiefKiasu:

jedamum:

All 33?! Does it mean that those who managed to get in are ONLY clan/church members and active community leader?

I think mum2one is refering to those PVs outside of the 2km zone. There were 33 of them. I'm sure there were PVs in the 45 or 46 successful applicants.

I am not sure about Clan and Church Members. However there is no special privilege for communities leaders. I am outside the 2km range, we are aware that we will have to go though balloting if demand exceed supplies. I am sure the school administration are following the policy strictly for the rest.

I am going for the Jim Roger's route for my sons. So St Hilda's might have help to divert some traffic from Poi Ching.

All the best to those parents who are successful. (Especially the 18th applicant in phase 2B)

Yes.. .Only Executive members will be recognized as community leader

titank:

Hi Ongkb 2000,

Can I concluded that must be at least \"Executive Member\" then can get endorsement letter? Oh then that is too bad as the school I'm going to target is not in my GRC.

Thanks for your valuable information

There are talk that the letter can be used across the country but until now, there are no confirmation on this. My son is going to Primary next year, the letter indicated that I can only use it within the GRC.


The endorsement letter is only given to confirm RC members only.

Hope this helps.

titank:

Hi Ongkb 2000,

Thanks for your valuable information as the school I'm targeting is not in my GRC. I thought can enroll in any Pri Sch as long qualify as Phase 2B.

Just to also clarify that if being Observer it is also not able to get any endorsement letter? Would seriously consider as performing volunteer work in the RC is unlike in a school where can get to know more.

Hi,


You need to go to People Associate(PA) or Community Center that is the nearest to your home and ask for an application form to register yourself as a RC members.

You will be registered as Observers and volunteered in all the PA or RC activities for about 3-6 months before they confirmed you as executive members.

1-2 month before Primary registration starts, PA will ask members to register yourself so that they can prepare a Letter signed by your Member of Parliment (MP) to endorse you as a community leader.

Volunteering in Schools and through RC or CCC is different. Hour is longer then 40 Hours. The committment is also different as people you are working with are usually your neighbours.

Speaking from experience, it is quite fullfilling as your children can also be involved within your neighbourhood.

If you dun enjoy helping within your community, organizing block parties or volunteering in Government Feedback session, I dun recommend it.

Also the endorsement letter is only applicable to your GRC. I have a friend who live near within 2 km of St Hildas but his has volunteered for the wrong GRC. She did not realise it until tit is too late so make sure you dun make the same mistake.

Hope this help.

titank:

Phase 2B2
(i)For a child whose parent has joined the school as a parent volunteer not later than 1 July 2007 and has given at least 40 hours of voluntary service to the school by 30 June 2008;

(ii) or whose parent is a member endorsed by the church/clan directly connected with the school;

(iii) or whose parent is endorsed as an active community leader.

Anyone know how to being endorsed as an active community leader?

Hi Parents,


Just curious to find out if anyone on the forum knows how many PVs do St Hildas and GongShan take in per year.

I have been trying to get into the PV Programs but somehow they have more then they need at the moment.

thanks in advance