Briefing for Parents of P6 Pupils 21 January 2014
Overview of Briefing School-parent partnership HGS Vision, Mission, Values How HGS is supporting P6 pupils How parents can support the school s efforts Understanding the computation of the PSLE T- score and aggregate score Choosing secondary schools and Direct School Admission
School-Parent Partnership
HGS Partnership Framework
Our philosophy: Why does HGS value school-parent partnership? Parents are our partners. A meaningful collaboration with our parents supports our students holistic development. Partnership goals: realisation of the HGS vision and mission, achievement of student-centric, values-driven education
Principles of Partnership Trust Respect Pupil-centred focus Shared responsibility Shared goals and values
How HGS Involves Parents As Partners in Education
1) School-Parent Communication HGS keeps parents informed of School expectations, programmes & activities E.g. letters, Briefing for Parents, emails Child s progress, behaviour and well-being E.g. phone calls from teachers, Parent-Child-Teacher Conferencing Session (post SA1) Channels of communication for parents: e.g. email, student handbook, phone call
2) Support for Learning HGS provides information to parents and equips them on how to support their child s learning, e.g. Curriculum Briefings (P1-6) Back to School Day for Parents of P1 Pupils
HGS in the 21 st Century Vision: Leaders of character striving for excellence in a vibrant school Mission: To develop self-directed learners and critical and creative thinkers who lead and serve with integrity and compassion Values: Integrity, Commitment, Concern, Cooperation and Creativity Motto: Knowledge is Power
HGS Education Values-based, student-centric Engaging, rigorous, innovative Prepares our pupils for the test of life, not a life of tests
Gracious, Resilient, Articulate, Civic-minded, Confident, Creative, and Expressive Leaders of Character, HGS pupils are well-regarded and sought after by secondary schools.
How HGS is supporting P6 pupils learning and social-emotional well-being
P6 does it have to be stressful year? P6 pupils worries: My parents will be upset if I don t get the aggregate score they expect I don t get into the school they want me to go to Will I be successful in life if I don t go to [ brand-name ] school? If I don t do well for PSLE, does it mean I am a failure?
Our School s Response Pupils are held to high expectations of work attitude and behaviour We expect them to work hard and give of their best. Unconditional love, support and acceptance We value every pupil for who she is, not her achievements. We will be proud of all pupils who exemplify the school vision, mission, values and motto.
Our School s Response Creating a memorable P6 year for our pupils life still goes on! PE, Art and Music CCAs Events to look forward to: Sports Day, National Education Core Events, National Day, Teachers Day, Children s Day, Graduation Day Integrated Project Work, learning journeys and other post-exam activities
Our School s Response Re-defining Success 1. a successful personal life: healthy, meaningful relationships with family and friends 2. a successful school life: improvement and growth, being the best that you can be; 3. the good that you leave behind: how do you want your friends and teachers to remember you? Have you done something positive and meaningful for others?
How HGS is Supporting Your Child s Learning for PSLE Learning packages designed by our key personnel and teachers Subject banding and smaller group teaching for pupils who need more support for Maths and Science
How HGS is Supporting Your Child s Learning for PSLE Remedial lessons a more focused approach; importance of pacing EL, Maths & Science remedial lessons on Wed and Fri MT supplementary lessons on Thurs, Stretch Programmes: Maths Magic, Science Sense and Let s Achieve (EL) Talent development: Maths and Science D3T2 / Olympiad training
How HGS is Supporting Your Child s Learning for PSLE Focus Study Camp March, June & Sept holidays* *Dates will be issued in P6 calendar Practice papers, PSLE booklet, mock tests Gradual increase in number and frequency, especially from June, holidays onwards Amount of work assigned may not be uniform across all classes
How HGS is Supporting Your Child s Learning for PSLE SPaCES -School Provides aconducive Environment for Study (Mon-Fri) After-school study programme Supervised by staff and parent volunteers, Peer tutoring by alumni who are now in TKGS
How HGS is Supporting P6 Pupils Social-Emotional Well-Being Form Teacher Guidance Period and pupil journals Motivational Talks by school leaders Rapport building sessions with Full-time School Counsellor,
How parents can support the school s efforts Take an interest in your child s schoolwork Ask: What homework do you have today? Check the student handbook & homework file Look through your child s homework: Are the answers neat and clearly-presented? Are the corrections done? What are the teachers comments? What are the kinds of errors that my child tends to make?
How parents can support the school s efforts Reinforce the school s expectations of the quality of work expected (PSLE standards: rigour and neat presentation), e.g. Maths captions and answer statements with the correct units
How parents can support the school s efforts Set high but realistic expectations Unconditional love, acceptance and support Resilience building Your children may find the work demanding and may feel discouraged;, Provide moral support, but don t mollycoddle
How parents can support the school s efforts Provide a conducive environment for study and for the attempt of practice papers within the prescribed time Pupils attendance, punctuality ** Monitor your child s use of social media and Whatsapp
How parents can support the school s efforts Pacing analogy: running a marathon, not a sprint **Trust the teachers: check with the teachers and understand their perspective HGS manages pupils workload through its homework policy
How Parents can Support School Efforts HGS does not expect parents to provide private tuition School provides a range of programmes to stretch all pupils, Teachers will coach pupils who need additional help
How Parents can Support School Efforts However, if parents do engage tutors, Schoolwork and practice papers take priority over homework assigned by the tutor, Tutors should complement the school s efforts
How Parents can Support School Efforts What happens if your child doesn t know how to do her homework or practice paper? Do not do the homework for the child Guide your child and ask her questions, If you or the tutor provided assistance, indicate next to the answer, Guided by Parent / Tutor This will enable teachers to know what your child can or cannot do
Choosing Secondary Schools
Choosing Secondary Schools Choose schools that are a good fit for your child (her strengths, interests, disposition) What to consider school culture school niches and programmes school s PSLE cut-off point,
Choosing Secondary Schools: Sources of Information MOE s School Information Service http://app.sis.moe.gov.sg/schinfo/sis_index.a sp Secondary school websites Secondary school Open House events Secondary school, roadshows at HGS Secondary school information booklets (distributed Sept-Oct)
Choosing Secondary Schools Please do not hesitate to consult school leaders, key personnel and teachers regarding choice of secondary schools,
Direct School Admission Sec Exercise participating secondary schools have flexibility to select a percentage of their students for admission via their own selection criteria selection criteria can include diverse academic and non-academic, achievements and talents
Direct School Admission Sec Exercise secondary schools participating in the DSA-Sec Exercise include Specialised Independent Schools (SIS) schools offering an integrated programme (IP Schools), independent schools (IS) autonomous schools (AS) and, schools with niche programmes approved by MOE (Niche Schools) http://www.moe.gov.sg/education/admissions/dsa-sec/
Direct School Admission Sec Exercise Specialised independent schools that admit pupils entirely or almost entirely through DSA NUS High School of Maths and Science School of the Arts (SOTA) School of Science and Technology Singapore Sports School,
Direct School Admission Sec Exercise From now onwards: info gathering stage; DSA schools to publish selection criteria on websites June-August: Selection tests / camps / interviews and outcome of selection October: If selected, student submits preference for up to 3 DSA schools, November: Student collects result of DSA school allocated together with PSLE results
HGS Support for Pupils Applying via DSA Letters of recommendation by teachers Pupil achievement records Advice on portfolio presentation Mock interviews conducted by school leaders **Please give us sufficient advance notice to support our pupils.
Supporting your child
How to Support Your Child Take care of her holistic well-being Adequate rest and exercise and a balanced diet a more alert mind and healthy body Unconditional love, and acceptance
How to Support Your Child Believe in her Encourage and Affirm your child catch her doing right, accentuate the positive Make time for your child, BEAM more, compare and criticize less
Thank You Haig Girls School Character Leadership Creativity Established in 1951