BY PRINCIPAL 5 Aug 2016 Agenda Part 1 Home School Partnership - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

BRIEFING FOR P4 PARENTS BY PRINCIPAL

5 Aug 2016

Agenda

 Part 1

 Home School Partnership

 Part 2

 Curriculum Focus

 Part 3

 Key concerns

 Part 4

 Some Thoughts on Changing Expectations

Home School Partnership

Part 1

Appreciation for Parents

 Feedback

 Very supportive.  Ready to accept feedback and work with teachers.  Very resourceful and ready to share.  Strong spirit of voluntarism.

Traffic Situation

 Significant Improvement  Speed limit is 15 km/hr.  Safety of Staff, Students and other Road Users.

Parent Email on 8 Nov 2015

Dear Mr Tan,

I am writing to tell you that I am very sorry for my child’s attitude and behaviour towards his classmate last week. I know there is no excuse for this kind of behaviour because students are there to learn and not mess around and most importantly to adhere to the school rules. Both myself and his dad have had a good word with him and made him realize the implication. He is remorseful for his act and behaviour and we sincerely hope the school will accept his apology to his friend and provide a chance for him to learn from his mistakes. (所为 “知错能改”)

We as parents truly apologize for his actions and all the hardship that have been caused to his classmate due to my son’s wrongful

behavior. Kindly accept this letter of apology for any harm cause individually and collectively.

Parent Email on 2 Sept 2015

尊敬的陈校长： 您好。 此时此刻，我带着无比沉重的心情给您写这封电邮！其实当上星期四接到老师的通报时，我的 心有如电击，痛苦万分，令我对自己感到万分失望。亏我不时的给他灌输做人的道理，还有我 们的传统美德，比如：诚实，勤奋，节俭，容忍，大量，尊师重道，感恩等等，但他却以

这种行为回报我，使我无颜面对您和所有的老师们。

目前正当是我们要表扬老师的时刻，他却做出这种令我们痛心疾首的事，请接受我代他

说”很对不起“。“子不教，父之过”，我深切明白这个道理。

我问孩子：“爸爸可有要求你一定要拿到高分，以便进入名校中学？”他答道：“没有，你只是要 我用功读书，尽力而为。”我又问道：“那你为何做出这种事？”他无言以对。我连环炮的训他一 顿。他了解我的作风，犯了错，一定会受到我严厉的责骂。

家有家训，校有校规，国有国法，孩子犯了天大的错，他应该 受到校方应当的处分。

陈校长，这绝对不是一封求情电邮，要不然，我就是口是心非的人了。因为之前的电邮，我曾 提到现今社会，家长对学校有很高的要求，所以，孩子必须为他所犯的过错，面对惩罚。希望 他知错能改。 祝 安康

Curriculum Focus

Part 2

Purpose of Education - MOE

The most important gift that we can give to our young and to prepare for their future is education. It's not just preparing them for a job, but learning to live a life, learning to deal with the world, learning to be a full person…Grades are important, don’t forget to pass your exams but grades are not the only

thing in life and there are other things in life

which we want to learn in school.

9

Curriculum Focus

 Opportunity for All to Mix

and Learn

 Values & 21st Century

Competencies

 Culture of Care  Relationship Building  Learning and Feedback

 Elitism based on exam-driven

selection for Class Groupings

 Excessive Exam-Driven

Coverage / Supplementary

 Culture of Competition

 Unhealthy Individualism

 Excessive Testing

More Of

Less Of

Curriculum Changes P1 to P6

 Opportunity for All to Mix

and Learn

 Values & 21st Century

Competencies

 Culture of Care  Relationship Building  Learning and Feedback

 Class Name  Feedback on Pupils to Parents  School Hours  Grade Promotion Policy  Assessment Structure  Award Structure  Teaching & Learning (2014)  LIVEWell (2014)

More Of Actual Changes

Subject-based Banding (SBB) & the Option to Take Higher Chinese Language (HCL) at P5 & P6

What is SBB?

Allowing pupils to take a combination of Standard and Foundation subjects depending on their academic readiness for each subject

WHAT SBB MEANS FOR YOUR CHILD

 Every child will be encouraged to do the

subjects at the levels that best meet his/her abilities

 To maximise your child’s potential, the

learning experience will be customised and differentiated to meet the needs of pupils of varying abilities

Foundation Subjects Offered

• Foundation English
• Basic Chinese Language
• Foundation Mathematics
• Foundation Science

Foundation Subjects

 Focuses on the mastery of core content and

skills

 Pitched at a more manageable level as

compared to Standard Subjects

SBB will be based on child’s

performance in the following 4 subjects:

English Language Chinese Language Mathematics Science

Achievement Band at P4

Achievement Band Mark Range Brief Description

1 85-100

Is very good in the subject

2 70-84

Is good in the subject

3 50-69

Has adequate grasp of the subject

4 21-49

Has elementary grasp

• f the subject

U (Ungraded) 20 and below Yet to have elementary

grasp of the subject

Ai Tong School SBB Criteria

End of Year P4 Exam Recommended Band

Band 1 in all subjects or Band 1 in 3 subjects including HCL (at least 85 marks for HCL) 4S and HCL At least Band 3 in 2 subjects and at least 1 subject above *cut-off mark 4S

* The cut-off mark for all subjects is 24.

Ai Tong School SBB Criteria

End of Year P4 Exam Recommended Band At least Band 3 in 2 subjects and the

• ther 2 subjects (including CL)

below *cut-off mark

3S1F

At least Band 3 in 1 subject or Band 4 in all subjects below *cut-off mark

1S3F

Below *cut-off mark in all subjects

4F

* The cut-off mark for all subjects is 24

School-based Examinations / Recommendations at P4 Schools will set their own P4 End-of-Year Examinations on which recommendations for the subjects a pupil is offered will be based Parental Choice at the End of P4 Parental Option is given at the end of P4 (after the End-of-Year Examinations) and parents will make the final decision on their child’s subject combination Final Decision by Schools at the End of P5 The school has the autonomy to decide on the subject combination to be taken by pupils in P6. The school will consider borderline cases.

Higher Chinese Language at P5 & P6

 Only one HCL textbook will be used, it will

cover the CL syllabus

 Lessons are conducted during curriculum

time

 Pupils will take one examination for CL

and one for HCL

HCL Eligibility Criteria

For P4 pupils to be eligible for P5 HCL 85 marks and above for P4 HCL (provided he/she attains Band 1 in 3 subjects including HCL) *For P5 pupils to continue with HCL in P6 70 marks and above for P5 CL and must pass P5 HCL *We have the best interest of the pupils at heart and will consider borderline cases on a case-to-case basis.

Bonus Points for Admission to Special Assistance Plan (SAP) Secondary Schools

HCL Grade Bonus Points Distinction 3 Merit 2 Pass 1

Class Promotion Policy

Overview of Promotion Policies

Levels Class Allocation P1 & P2 Classes will comprise pupils of mixed academic readiness P3 & P4 Classes will comprise pupils of mixed academic readiness P5 & P6 Pupils will be broadly banded (block banding) into classes based on their academic readiness.

Promotion from P4 to P5

 Pupils will be broadly banded into classes based on

their academic readiness.

P5 Class Allocation will be based on ‘Home’ / Form Overall Results (EL, Maths, Science and CL) at P4 Banded Mathematics Overall Results for P4 Mathematics CL or HCL Depends on whether pupils opt for it.

Awards Structure in Ai Tong School

MOE Awards (for Singapore Citizens) Awards related to pupils’ character and values

Awards Descriptors Eligibility Edusave Character Award (ECHA) (Presented in School) ECHA is given out to recognise students for demonstrating exemplary character and

• utstanding personal qualities through their

behaviour and actions. P1 - P6 Edusave Awards for Achievement, Good Leadership and Service (EAGLES) EAGLES is given out to pupils who display good leadership, service to community and schools or excellence in non-academic activities. The award is given based on his achievement in co- curricular activities and contribution to community services over a one-year period. P4 - P6

Awards related to pupils’ academic performance

Awards Descriptors Eligibility Edusave Merit Bursary If your child is not a recipient of any Edusave Scholarship awards, he/she will receive an application form for the Edusave Merit Bursary if he/she is within the top 25% of each level in his/her school. Your child will be selected by the school for this award based on his overall school examination results for the year. P1 - P6 Edusave Scholarships These scholarships are to encourage pupils to excel in their studies and reward their efforts. P5 – P6 Good Progress Award The Good Progress Award is given based on the extent of the pupil’s improvement in his/her overall school examinations made in the year, over the previous year. P2 - P6

Awards related to pupils’ character and values

Awards Descriptors Eligibility Dynamic Learner Award The Dynamic Learner award is given out to pupils who exhibit qualities of the 4 Dynamic Learners (a Socially Responsible Leader, a Knowledgeable Innovator, a Bilingual Communicator and a Sports and Cultural Enthusiast). P1-P6 Friendship Aspiration Merit & Excellence Experiences (FAME) Award FAME award is given out to recognize our pupils’ hard work and achievements in both the sports and aesthetics arena. P1-P6 Student Leader Award This award is given out to pupils who exhibit exemplary leadership qualities. P3-P6

Awards related to pupils’ academic performance

Awards Descriptors Eligibility Excellence in Academic Performance (by Level) This award is given out to pupils who are among the top 3 positions in the level based on their overall academic results in the following 4 subjects applicable to the level: EL, HCL (P1-P4),CL (P5 & P6), MA and SC. These awards will not be presented in any rank order. P2-P6 Excellence in Academic Performance (by Class) This award is given out to pupils who are among the top 4 positions in class based on their overall academic results in the following 4 subjects applicable to the level: EL, HCL (P1-P4),CL (P5 & P6), MA and SC. These awards will not be presented in any rank order. P2-P6 Good Progress Award (by Class) This award is given out to pupils who have made significant improvements in their overall academic results within the year. P3-P6

Category Previous Practice Revised Practice (w.e.f. 2013) By Level Discrete Ranking of Pupils e.g. 1st, 2nd and 3rd placing in the level No discrete ranking of pupils based on their academic achievements. The pupils among the top 3 positions in each level will receive the same recognition for their efforts. By Class Discrete Ranking of Pupils e.g. 1st, 2nd and 3rd placing in class No discrete ranking of pupils based on their academic achievements. The pupils among the top 4 positions in each class will receive the same recognition for their efforts.

Social Emotional Competencies Cyberwellness

Part 3 Key Concerns

Social Emotional Competencies

 Family situation – more privileged  Social Media – Cyberwellness concerns  Too much structured time – lack of self-

• rganising and self-monitoring

competencies

Social Media Concerns

 Widespread use of social media  Games addiction  Use of inappropriate language  Failure to differentiate real and cyber world

How Technology Changes Brain

 Follow the link below and watch a video n how

technology affects the brain.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HffWFd_6 bJ0

Cyberwellness

Extreme Overseas Examples

School Real Life Examples

Thoughts on Changing Expectations

Part 4

Teacher’s Reflection

 在八十年代，我曾经教过小学延长课程七、八年级

的学生（当时成绩不好的学生要读八年才小学毕 业），那时在很多人的眼里，这些学生不但学业成 绩差，而且品性也不好，面对这样的学生，老师更 要有爱心和耐心，才会接受劝告，虚心学习。如今 已过三十年，那班大约有十六、七个学生还请我到 茶渊喝茶吃东西，其中好多位在一些行业身居高位， 他们都感谢我当年的严厉教导，使他们不会走错方 向。至圣先师孔子曾经说过：“有教无类，因材施 教”，对不同的学生用不同的教法，但我们现在教 导学生已趋向于呵护，稍重的指责就可能会伤到学 生的自尊心，这一点是不是值得我们去探讨呢？

Parents’ Expectations

 Academic Results

 High expectations  High stakes!

 Lots of Tuition  GEP preparation classes  DSA preparation

 How much is enough?

Parents’ Expectations

 Values Education

 Values in Action – parent’s feedback

Parents’ Expectations

Higher parents’ expectations today. Prefer more engagement with

school.

But need to always approach school

in a mutually beneficial and respectful way.

Concerns over Report Book Feedback

 Feedback in report book is based on what we

• bserved in school.

 A mix of positive comments, encouragement and also

feedback for improvement.

Concerns over Discipline

 Discipline

 School has a process in handling discipline issues.  Positive Reinforcement is preferred. Working with the family

closely is also preferred.

 Corporal Punishment is a last resort for students who commit

serious offences or refuse to change despite repeated advice.

Canteen Food and Pricing

 Challenges School Face

 No vendors interested despite low rental of $15/month.  Reality that vendors may not want to work in school because of lack of

profitability.

 Food Quality

 Range of healthy food including brown rice.

 Food Prices

 Range of pricing.

 Choices

 Range of food stalls.

Joint Responsibility in Education…

Thank You