Lower Primary Parents’ Briefing

Principal’s Address by Mrs Ming Kum

18 January 2019

Student-Centricity, Holistic Education

“The purpose of education must therefore be beyond

just academics. It must be to prepare our students for

life, for work and for citizenship. But life, work and

citizenship are evolving rapidly. Hence, our approaches,

programmes, and areas of emphasis must keep pace to

be relevant for the future.”Extract from Speech by former Minister for Education, Mr Ng Chee Meng, 2016

Changes at a Glance

Changes at a Glance

Changes at a Glance

Learn for Life

“Let us prepare every child for the test of life, and not just a life of tests.”

PM Lee, National Day Rally, 2012

Learn for Lifehttps://youtu.be/r6cbrw-V41c

• Have more time and space to deepen their learning, especially in

the transition years (i.e. P3, P5).

• Better enjoy the process of learning and develop dispositions for

lifelong learning.

Changes aim to help our students:

Addressing Parents and Stakeholders’ Concerns

• Even with the removal of mid-year

examinations for some levels, teachers will

continue to assess the students.

• Parents will be kept informed of the child's

progress.

How will I know about my child’s progress?

Will my child beready for nationalexaminations?

• Even with the removal ofmid-year examinations forsome levels, the numberof examinations to assesslearning is still adequate.

• Assessment serves to support students’ learning, gaugetheir progress and address learning gaps.

• There will still be assessment (class tests, performancetasks) and these are no different from current practices.

Which assessments would be counted? Howare the various assessments weighted?

How will my child’s academic progress be measured if there are completely no examinations and weighted assessments at P1 and P2?

• Current practices to gather information about students’ learningthrough checkpoints (e.g. class discussions, in-class work,homework and bite-sized tests) will continue.

• The change is that these checkpoints will no longer counttowards an overall result.

• Use of qualitative descriptors instead of marks and grades toreport students’ learning progress in the report book (HolisticDevelopment Profile).

Holistic Development Profile

Date : 6 Nov 2019

Name : Jane Ong Identification No : T0612345F

Age on 1st Jan : 6 S/N : 5 Course : Primary One

Class : P1-Respect

Form Teacher : Miss Tan

Co-Form Teacher : Miss Low

SUBJECT

MATHEMATICS

• Understands number notations, representations and place values up to tens. Accomplished

• Understands the concepts of addition and subtraction, including the relationship between adding and subtracting.

Competent

• Matches, sorts, compares and orders quantities/objects (e.g., by colour, shape, size or orientation.)

Competent

• Adds and subtracts reliably and fluently using number facts. Developing

Reflection of Learning Outcomes & Qualitative Descriptors

For illustrative purposes only.

Reporting of P1 & P2 Students’ Learning Progress in the HDP

On changes to the HDP

“We will make adjustments to theHolistic Development Profile, or morecommonly known as the report book, tobetter reflect a student’s progress inlearning, and to discourageexcessive peer comparison. Theseadjustments will also help to reducetest anxiety.”

- Minister Ong Ye Kung, WPS 2018

How will my child be selected for Edusave Academic Awards?

• Considers positive learning dispositions (e.g., diligence, curiosity,collaboration and enthusiasm), instead of academic performance.

• Edusave Merit Bursary: P1 and P2 students who display positivelearning dispositions consistently.

• Good Progress Award: P2 and P3 students who have made significantimprovement in learning dispositions.

Partnering Parents

Encourage Joy of Learning!

• not over-emphasising academic performance

• focus on your child’s learning journey, rather than

compare them to others

Give our children the time and space todeepen learning

Home-School Partnership

Importance of setting structures and routines in

place, e.g. sleeping early at night

Encourage the formation of good habits that will lead

to a strong foundation in Primary school e.g. reading

Attendance is critical. Do ensure that your child

attends school daily except when he/she is unwell.

Doctor’s MC must be provided.

Home-School Partnership

Students will be taught to take down their homework in

their Student Diary. Do check your child’s diary for

assigned work on a daily basis.

The whiteboard in the class will reflect the subject,

assignment & due date.

Teachers will communicate and coordinate on the

amount of homework to be given per day / school

holidays.

Home-School Partnership

Ensure that your child has a proper breakfast at

home before coming to school. A meal break will be

given in class after recess.

Home-School Partnership

Inculcate responsibility and instill the right values

from a young age. If your child forgets any item from

home, it is fine. Do not panic. He/She can bring the

item to school the next day. Kindly partner the school

to develop personal responsibility in our children from

the start. Unless the item is essential and critical, e.g.

a pair of glasses, there is no need to bring the item

down to school.

Home-School Partnership (Punctuality for school)

Inculcating the value of responsibility by being punctual –

report to school by 7.40 a.m.

Understanding consequences

• Late coming: arriving after 7.40 a.m.

• After the 3rd instance of late coming, Form Teacher will call

the parents

• After the 6th instance of late coming, there will be School-

Parent conferencing

• For persistent late coming, a “Fair” conduct grade would

be given

Home-School Partnership (School Discipline and Tone)

The school should be a safe environment for all students to

learn in.

In order for the students to feel safe (physically and

psychologically), consequences will be meted out for

misbehaviour, including bullying, use of physical force and use

of hurtful words/vulgarities.

We would like to work together in strong partnership with all

parents in order to ensure that the school remains a safe

place for students to learn and grow.

Home-School Partnership

Celebrate your child’s successes, both big and small.

Provide your child with support and encouragement.

Make time to find out about your child’s day.

Praise your child as a kind word goes a long way!

Home-School Partnership

Main communication channels with the school:

1. Student Diary

2. Class Teachers’ email address and direct phone

extension number

3. PLVPS school generic email

4. MOE Parents’ Gateway App (upcoming)

WELCOME TO PARENTS GATEWAY

Introduction

The Parents Gateway (PG) Mobile App is an initiative by MOE to enable parents to:

interact with the school on administrative and financial matters

stay updated on school’s programme and activities.

The PG App will be implemented in all schools over the course of 2019.

Parents with two or more children, even if they are in different schools, will

receive notifications for all their children on the same PG App.

SingPass and 2-Factor Verification (2FA) is required to access the PGApp.

The PG App can be downloaded from Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

iOS Android

Timeline for Onboarding Parents Gateway

Registration Phase

1 Feb to 15 Mar 2019 (Term 1)

Parents are strongly encouraged to download the PG App onto their mobile phones.

Parents are to perform a one-time registration process.

Transition Phase

25th March to 31st May 2019 (Term 2)

Parents will continue to receive hard-copy letters and consent forms through their children.

School will send out the same letters through the PG App.

Consent forms will not be sent through the PG App to avoid parents having to give their consent twice.

Implementation Phase

1st July 2019 onwards (Term 3)

Parents will only receive the letters and consent forms through the PG App.

The school will stop sending hard copy letters and consent forms to parents.

Support for Parents

Our school will provide:

A step-by-step guide on the school’s website.

Helpdesk support at PG_helpdesk@plvps.edu.sg.

Thank You