Briefing for P6 Parents

1. Briefing for P6 Parents 18 January 2013

2. Agenda • Introduction of the P6 Team of Teachers • Important Dates / Key Programmes • Inculcation of “Excellence” value • Briefing on Direct School Admissions • Briefing on 1-1 computing for Excellence 5 and 6 parents / Touching base with Form teachers for Excellence 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 parents

3. Introduction of P6 Team • Excellence 1 • Mr Ramesh and Mr Lee H K • Excellence 2 • Mr Keith Tan and Mrs Elizabeth Woon • Excellence 3 • Mr Ng Y H and Miss Lee Xiaoxi

4. Introduction of P6 Team • Excellence 4 • Mrs Shun and Miss Cheong H L • Excellence 5 • Mrs Tan C K and Mr Kenny Chua • Excellence 6 • Mrs Chan J L and Mr Kenny Chin

5. 2 Key Focus for P6 • Preparing our pupils for PSLE • Preparing our pupils for Secondary 1 • Coping with the greater rigour and need for self-directed learning in Secondary 1 education • Continuous journey in Values Education

6. 2013 PSLE EXAMINATION CALENDAR (TENTATIVE) Registration 11 March – 27 March Oral Examination 15 August – 16 August Listening Comprehension 20 September Written Examination 26 September – 02 October Marking Exercise 14 October, 16 – 18 October

7. Other Important Dates for 2013

8. English Language Core curriculum - STELLAR • (Writing, Listening, Reading & Speaking) Supporting Programmes • EWA (Writing) • Explicit Teaching of Language Components

9. English Language Approach • Banded-class – For differentiated teaching • Strategize in terms of components Before School Programme (BSP) – For selected pupils Oral Practice - 7.20 to 7.45 am

10. Chinese Language • 第二学段：普华: 《体育学校开放日》 • 《感谢左手》 • 《想别人没想到的》 • 《躺在波浪上看书》 第三 / 第四学段：总复习 • 第一学段：普华: 《珍珠项链》 • 《红头巾》 • 《倾斜的伞》 • 《小青蛙和它的朋友》 • 《黄龙的化身》 • 《差不多先生》

11. Malay Language Key Approaches • Focus Scaffolding Approach for Composition Writing • Focus on answering Inference Questions for Comprehension • Infusion of ICT-enriched lessons • E-Learning: Marshall Cavendish and EDN Media • Enhanced reading programme to improve on oracy skills

12. Tamil Language Key Approaches • Explicit Teaching of Grammar • Infusion of ICT-enriched lessons • E-Learning: RK Systems • Enhanced reading programme to improve on oracy skills • Appreciation of culture through Literature Circles

13. Mathematics • All the 11 topics will be taught in Semester 1 Algebra Fractions Percentage Term 1 Ratio Speed Solid Figures & Nets Circles Pie Charts Volume of Solids and Liquids Term 2 Area & Perimeter Angles in Geometric Figures

14. Mathematics • Term 3 and early Term 4 • Topical / Problem-Solving Skills Revision Packages • Mock Tests / Practice Papers • Learnology.com

15. Science • All the 7 topics will be taught in Semester 1 Forces Environment Term 1 Web of life Adaptations Man’s Impact on the Environment Energy Forms and Energy Conversions Term 2 Photosynthesis

16. Science • ProgrammesforTerm 3 and early Term 4 • Topical Revision Packages • Mock Tests / Practice Papers • Learning Journey to SungeiBuloh Wetland Reserve • Early Term 2.

17. ICT • ITAP • Learning of Web 2.0 tools. • 1-1 computing in 2 classes; Excellence 5 and 6.

18. Social Studies • Field-based Learning Journey to National Museum. (Term 1 Weds) • Learn about the origins of spices, its medicinal values as well as its uses in our present society

19. Physical Education • Skills to be taught • Frisbees and Table Tennis • Sports Carnival • Care Programme • NAPFA

20. Evening Outreach (tentative) • From Term 3 to PSLE • Aim is to provide a conducive and safe environment in our school for self-revision for pupils who need and will benefit from having such an environment • 5pm to 7.30 pm (tentative) • Teachers will take turns to supervise during the outreach.

21. Common Parental Concern –Child’s stress level • 2 Form Teachers per class • One-to-one interactions • Open communication / partnership with you • 2 full-time school counsellors.

22. Post PSLE activities • Talks by selected secondary schools • Sexuality Education • Hip Hop lessons (tentative) • Community Involvement Project (CIP) • Learning Journeys (tentative) • Marine Life Park, Discovery Centre, West Coast Park. • Graduation night (tentative)

23. Inculcation of “Excellence” Value • 6 School Values and 1 value is tagged to each level. • Primary 1 – Care • Primary 2 – Respect • Primary 3 – Integrity • Primary 4 – Responsibility • Primary 5 – Resilience • Primary 6 – Excellence • All classes are renamed in 2013 to reflect such a tagging

24. Inculcation of “Excellence” Value • Hierarchical development of school values from P1 to P6 • All P6 pupils are expected to have already understood and developed the 5 school values tagged to previous levels. • Our focus this year is to help pupils to understand and develop the value of “Excellence”. • It should be owned by all P6 pupils, not just some classes or pupils.

25. Inculcation of “Excellence” Value • There is a need for a common language and approach. • “Excellence” is a performance value in action, it’s not about excellent results • It should not be developed in isolation. It should support and complement academic pursuit and the overall holistic development of the child.

26. Inculcation of “Excellence” Value • Academic pursuit • Putting in “consistent hard work” • “trying my best in everything and at all times”. • Behavioural Excellence • Being a good role model for the younger ones. • It encapsulates all earlier behavioural expectations in P1 to P5 • Leverages on their role as the most senior pupils in our school

27. Direct School Admission (DSA) • DSA-Sec is an admission exercise to allow participating schools to select some P6 students for admission to Secondary 1 based on their achievements and talents before the PSLE results are released. • Application is done directly to desired secondary school(s) and not through the primary school. • 2 domains • Academic Talent • Talents in Sports / Aesthetics

28. DSA • Stages in DSA • Application Stage • Selection Stage • Exercise School Preference Stage • Results release Stage

29. DSA – Application Stage • From now till end June. • Pupil gathers information on sec schools; niche areas, selection criteria, dates of trials / tests / interviews, etc, through school websites, calling school and attending open house events.

30. DSA – Application Stage • Pupil identifies the school(s) he/she would like to apply to. • Pupil checks with the secondary schools he/she is interested in, on how to apply. • Submit application. (Different DSA schools have different deadlines for submission).

31. DSA – Selection Stage • End June to End August • Selection by schools • Shortlisted pupil goes for selection tests / camps or interviews at the DSA-Sec school(s). • Selection Outcome • Student receives outcome of application from the school(s) he/she has applied to (i.e. Confirmed, Waiting List or Rejected) by end Aug 2013.

32. DSA – Exercise Sch Preference Stage • End October. • Pupils with "Confirmed" Offers or who have been put on the "Waiting List" of a school will receive a School Preference Form from their primary schools. • Parents can indicate their child’s school preference(s) for up to 3 schools in the DSA-Sec School Preference Form.

33. DSA – Results Release Stage • End November. • Pupil collects his/her DSA-Sec allocation result from his/her primary school, together with his/her PSLE results. • Student who is unsuccessful in the DSA-Sec Exercise will be notified of the outcome of the application and will participate in the Secondary One Posting Exercise

34. Specialised Schools • NUS High • School of Science and Technology • School of the Arts • Sports School

35. Q & A