P6 Briefing for Parents22 January 2016

Agenda• School’s Directions & Special

Programmes for P6 • PSLE Matters• How the School will work with your child• Tips for Parents• Curriculum Talks

Cedar Primary School2016 SCHOOL PHILOSOPHY AND DIRECTIONS

Our VisionEvery Cedarian a lifelong learner, a

person of character

Our Vision UnpackedEvery Cedarian every student is importantA Lifelong Learner to cope with the VUCA landscape and in line with the nation’s desire to build up a nation of adaptable knowledge workersPerson of Character character formation and building a sense of rootedness to the nation

Our MissionNurturing

Enthusiastic Learners and Responsible

Citizens

Our Mission UnpackedNurturing consciously done through our school programmesEnthusiastic Learners enabling our students to be active participants in their own learningResponsible citizens ensuring that our students are civic-conscious and contributing members of society

Our Strategic Focuses

Striving for Academic Excellence for Lifelong Learners

Developing Cedarians of Character

Pursuing Staff Excellence to build capacity and competency in Teaching, Administrative Efficiency and Customer Service

Cedar Primary SchoolDeveloping Cedarians of Character

Special Programmesfor P6 pupils

Special Programmes for P6Creative and

Inventive Thinking (CIT) Programme

Semester One Music Guitar and Coding with Art

Lessons

Study CampsPost-PSLE

Enrichment Programmes

Career Guidance P6 Farewell

Cedar Primary SchoolStriving for Academic Excellence

for Lifelong Learners

Mark Range Grade91 and above A*75 to 90 A 60 to 74 B50 to 59 C35 to 49 D20 to 34 EBelow 20 U

SBB & PSLE:Standard Subject Grading

SBB & PSLE:Foundation Subject

GradingMark Range Grade85 and above G170 to 84 G250 to 69 G330 to 49 G4Below 30 U

Mark Range Grade80 and above Distinction65 to 79 Merit50 to 64 PassBelow 50 Ungraded

SBB & PSLE: HMT Grading

Computation of PSLE Score

PSLE T-score• T-Score is not the mark that a pupil obtains in the

examination; sum of the T-Scores for the subjects taken

• T-Score gives the rank or position of a pupil’s performance compared to all other pupils in that subject whereas the mark obtained in the examination only shows how good the pupil is in that subject

• All 4 / 3 subjects that the pupil offers carry equal weighting

PSLE T-scoreHow is it calculated?

T = 50 + 10 [ (X – Y) / Z ]X is the pupil’s mark for the subject

Y is the average mark (mean) scored by all the pupilsZ is the spread of the marks around the average mark

(standard deviation)

We have no way of ascertaining what the Y and Z for any particular exam is

Pupils need to put in their best effort for all subjects

Some Realities – T-Score• Average score (Y) obtained by all pupils for a

subject is 68.0

• Spread of marks around the average score (Z) is 14.0

A child scoring 80 will obtain a score of :T = T = 50 + 10 [ (X – Y) / Z ]

or T = 50 + 10 (80-68) / 14 = 58.57

Some Realities – T-Score• Average score (Y) obtained by all pupils for a

subject is 68.0

• Spread of marks around the average score (Z) is 14.0

A child scoring 50 will obtain a score of :T = T = 50 + 10 [ (X – Y) / Z ]

or T = 50 + 10 (50-68) / 14 = 37.14

Some Realities – T-Score• Therefore in the example cited,

the pupil based on his raw scores should obtain 1 A and 1 C.

• But after applying the formula for T-scores, he receives 1 C and 1 D.

Educational Pathways after Primary School

PSLE:Progression to Secondary School

• Express Course: 4-year programme leading to the GCE O-Level Examination

• Normal (Academic) Course: 4-year programme leading to the GCE N-Level Examination; A 5th year leading to the GCE O-Level examination made available to N(A) students who perform well in their GCE N-Levels

• Normal (Technical) Course: 4-year programme leading to the GCE N-Level Examination; programme prepares students for a technical-vocational education at the Institute of Technical Education (ITE)

Cedar Primary School Express

4 years

Normal(Acad)4 years

Normal(Tech)4 years

‘O’ Level

‘N(T)’ Level

‘N(A)’ Level

Integrated Programme6 years

PSLE

Sec 5N(A)1 year

Junior Colleges/Centralised Institute

2-3 years

AlternativeQualifications

Polytechnic3-4 years

‘A’ Level

Universities3-5 years

Work

Secondary Schools

ITE1-2 years

Primary6 years

Secondary4-5 years

Post-Secondary3-6 years

Which Education Pathway Will You Take?

Diploma

Talent Management & DSA Matters

by Mr Jabbar

DSA Matters• From March onwards – check respective

school websites for information• Some specialised schools only admit

students via DSA• Child must have a portfolio of recognised

accomplishments• Applying through DSA the child will

continue to contribute through his / her present CCA

DSA Matters• If your child has a CCA portfolio, he / she

needs to maintain his / her participation and attendance until the competition season is over

• We acknowledge external CCA achievements in the Holistic Report Card where evidence is provided

• Academic performance is still important to many schools offering DSA

DSA Matters• Candidates may be asked to attend trials,

auditions, interviews and / or aptitude tests

• Shortlisted candidates will be informed of the outcome:– Accepted– Rejected– Provisional pending certain criteria

DSA Matters• Candidates who are not rejected need to

confirm their choices shortly after receiving the option form

• If they are successful and based on their PSLE results, these candidates may only have the option of the stream and additional subjects. They CANNOT choose another school and must honour their commitment

The Road Ahead How the school will work with your child

The Road Ahead…• All Lessons • All Remedial/Supplementary Lessons 2 afternoons a week in Term I 4 afternoons a week from Term II

• All Study Camps First week of June holidays First 3 days of September holidays Wellness activity at end of each day

The Road Ahead …•CA in Term I Week 9•SA1 in Term II Weeks 6 and 7•Prelims in Term III Weeks 5 and 6•PSLE Oral in August; PSLE LC & written

papers, starting in Term IV Week 1 and ending in Term IV Week 4 with breaks in between

The Road Ahead …• Education and Career Guidance• Secondary School Talks• Good Progress recognition• Pep talks by VPs, me and teachers• CA1 and SA1 PTM for parents• Special School Events Cedar Sports and Health Carnival National Education Events Go for H3

28/01/2016 33

How the School will Work with the Children

• What my VPs and I intend to do :– Lesson Observations– Pep talks for the children – whole cohort,

class, individual– Sharing of assessment results with the

children– PTM with P or VP for parents whose children

are in danger of failing their CA or SA

28/01/2016 34

• Helping your child move up to the next grade or more

• Remedial and supplementary lessons during term time, June and September holidays

• Review of concerns raised from CA1, SA1 and Prelim results

• Monitoring and expecting every child to participate actively in lessons

How the School will Work with the Children

Tips for ParentsHow parents can work with the school

28/01/2016 36

Communications• We will be keeping you informed if your child is

misbehaving and we need your support • Please refer to your child’s Pupil’s Handbook

daily for daily homework updates / important announcements / PSLE Matters

• Should you need to meet with a teacher, please make an appointment ahead of schedule and refrain from contacting him / her after 6pm and on weekends.

28/01/2016 37

Homework Policy• 2 forms:

– Incomplete work started in class and to be submitted the next day

– Assigned homework with a 1-2 day deadline

• Spelling lists are assigned ahead of time for children to manage their learning and does not fall under assigned homework

• Teachers try their best to manage the amount of homework assigned for the students

28/01/2016 38

Homework Matters• Pacing your child and monitoring his / her work – he

/ she may not have developed the maturity and discipline to work at a steady pace. Your child needs to take his / her school work seriously

• You need to monitor his / her daily and weekend homework as they will need to be able to cope and complete with the increased workload in time to come. Regular school attendance is assumed.

28/01/2016 39

Homework Matters

• Working with the teachers and reinforcing the importance of completing their homework assigned by their teachers

• Planning of a timeline or timetable to help your child manage his time can be useful

• Monitoring has to start now

28/01/2016 40

Homework Matters

• My teachers will be very firm with their pupils when they do not complete homework assigned to them sending mixed signals as to which homework is more important can be frustrating for your child

28/01/2016 41

Assessment• Please ensure that your child takes

assessments seriously as the assessments serve as a yardstick of your child’s current progress

• The SA1 and Prelim assessments simulate the format of the PSLE papers

Tips for ParentsHow parents can work with their children

28/01/2016 43

Balance• Providing your child balanced lifestyle – exercise

and recreation time should also be factored in his /her work schedule

• Your communication about and involvement in other aspects of his / her life

• Realistic and positive target setting for and with your child

28/01/2016 44

Recreational Activities• Minimise games and online activities, K-Pop and

Youtube viewing which are major distractions to studies

• Children under the age of 13 are not allowed to have Facebook accounts

• Ensuring that the children spend their holidays wisely and communicating with them on matters other than school work as well – do monitor their levels of stress

28/01/2016 45

Role Modelling• Role modelling so that the children have a more

positive attitude to reading and the use of Standard English and Standard Mother Tongue

• If you do have external sources of help coaching your child, do monitor whether they are value-adding to your child’s learning by helping him / her improve his / her understanding and his grades. The school is here to support you.

• Sending the right signals about attendance of school, afternoon and holiday classes

28/01/2016 46

Understanding your pre-teen child• In terms of :

– His / her physical development– His / her interests and aspirations especially

use of handphone and social media– His / her interpersonal relationships– What is happening at home– Your role

28/01/2016 47

What can affect your child – actual cases

Cedarian A:Parents separated when he was young. Had to cope with family issues when he was between 8 – 9 years old.

P1: 73.7%; P2: 74.3%; P3: 71.3%Results improved as the family condition improved. He also grew stronger in character.

P3: 71.3% (tipping point or turning point) , P4: 74.3%, P5: 75.5%; P6: 75%

PSLE : 4As - 230

28/01/2016 48

What can affect your child – actual cases

Cedarian B: Steady pupil who was conscientious about her work.

P1: 90.5%; P2: 86.0%; P3: 80.0%; P4:86%; P5:83%Lost a parent suddenly in a natural disaster. Parent was the sole breadwinner and remaining home-maker parent had to look for work for the first time. Cedarian B remained resilient for her siblings and committed to her studies.

P6: 82.7%

PSLE : 1A*,1A, 1B - 241

28/01/2016 49

What can affect your child – actual cases

Cedarian C: Family had financial difficulties. Despite his hardships, he was attentive and self-motivated and even encouraged his classmates to be serious about their work.

P1: 73%; P2: 63%; P3: 53.8%; P4: 64%; P5: 55.8%Cedarian C took his teachers’ advice seriously and he took pride in his work. He made a steady progress throughout the year.

P6: 69.3%

PSLE : 3As, 1B - 221

28/01/2016 50

How we would like to work with you

• Do update us, where possible, on what is happening at home to your child so that we can provide the relevant support

• We will do our best to support your child academically and where possible emotionally

• We need your support and to bring out the best in your child and appreciate your following up on advice given to the best of your ability

28/01/2016 51

How we would like to work with you

• All our Cedarians are capable of clearing the PSLE and the result is final determining the type of course and school that they qualify for

• So we need to be consistent in our messaging to them