Sec 1 was a big jump from primary school in many ways and I had explained here many times. Arshis scholl is icercsnd now next academic year is going to start soon .Arshi has many subjects in sec 1 compared to primary school. THEY have to study English, Literature, Higher Tamil (she was offered higher Tamil after her psle results and we accepted it too ),Maths,Science ,History, Geography, Food and consumer education (FCE),Design and technology (D&T),Arts,Physical Education and all these are graded and taken into account unlike primary schools where only academic subjects like languages and science ,maths were graded.Teaching is done in classroom and kids are given notes (her school prepares notes and hands out to kids )and they follow on.They do group projects for some subjects. They are given individual homework too .As the number of subjects are more the time to do extra assessment books is very rare .Plus apart from these subjects that are spread over the week they have to choose a compulsory Co curricular activity (CCA) too .Arshi took drama and theatrics. So she has 2 days of CCAs after school hours on normal days when exams are not there .During big exam times CCAs are suspended.
She was part of a performance put up by her drama cca for this years open house .Students have to assist in preparing for scripts costume even if they are not part of the cast as there are lot of back work for a drama to be staged .This year she didnt get opportunity to act in stage but she did help out with props preparation etc for that .
.Leadership opportunities are offered to students who are keen and Arshi got into Young Ambassador leadership group. LEADERSHIP involvement are also taken into consideration while they are given 2 points for Leaps 2.0.Arshi told me that this leadership they do national education stuff .Assist in doing games .She performed a song with her group in this years National Day celebration in her school.She told me that each leadership group is assigned few events and her leadership group takes care of events like Racial Harmony Day ,National Day ,Total Defence Day celebrations as well as Bedok Trail and post exam activities. THESE kids also put up some performance for new sec 1 s during their orientation camp and also some performance during year end graduation night out for o levels students. Arshi also helped out in ushering for this years open house .They had a 2 day camp too in their school.They have 1 day leadership session a week after school hours and have to stay up for that. In case of events they have to spend more time in that too .Arshi says they plan for events ,allocate responsibility to different members in such once a week leadership meetings as she terns her leadership sessions .Usually seniors are mentors to sec 1 s and these kids learn from their seniors. Teachers are facilitators and act as guide .Most of the task are done by students. They are taught to be more independent. Arshi's school gave leadership opportunities and those interested can apply and they will e interviewed and selected ones will be informed to join in their chosen leadership group.
Arshi took part in this year's National Day Parade held at Padang and she loved every bit of it though it was very tiring .Major chunk of time was devoted to that. I AM PROUD THAT SHE TOOK PART IN THIS YEAR'S NDP.Most of her weekends were dedicated to NDP rehearsals. She used to go early in the morning avd come back late in the night and we used to pick her from nearest MRT around 10.30 pm where she was dropped from her school during the weekends during July and Aug .I loved her glittery lion costume with tail .And that heavy head gear which she told was really heavy. GLAD that kids loved it and did great performances in front of thousands of live audience from June end week after week till August 9.Arshi's school gave away tickets for parents to watch thanks to Arshi CK watched his first NDP.Arshi had watched many NDPs in TV as well as live but this should be a different experience as she was a participant and not a mere spectator. She knew what goes and how much hard work goes behind the scene as she was one of the performers. No money or classroom training can give this experience to her like NDP.
I had mentioned that Arshi takes higher Tamil I her school.They have to take O level Tamil exam during year 3 and higher Tamil during year 4 and if she passes both with good score then she will get 2 points which can deduct while she joins Junior College .Arshi isn't reading much Tamil books and I have been bugging her to read .I am scared how she will fare her Tamil exams.I still feel she does many spelling mistakes in Tamil and her composions are not upto the mark expected by teachers and She has to use many idioms and phrases and thus can be learnt only by reading which she rarely does.
I am glad to say that Arshi took part in a inter school competition and got first prize for speech competition for lower secondary category. She also got 2 nd place in her school's Tamil speech competition for her level.She also took part in her school's mother tounge festival and took part in fancy dress competition and got 3 rd prize .Infact most of those who took part were given prize .They got Popular book vouchers as prize .Arshi dressed up as Kannagi and spoke a few lines .It was a last min preparation and I had to persuade her to take part as her teachers were encouraging all students to take part .I am sure it was a different experience for her .
Arshi also took part in this years National Public Speaking Competition but she didnt get into finals. BUT that was an enriching experience as her mentor guided her very much in preparing for script and they gained a lot of knowledge through that .
Arshi is also part of her school's TIP program .It's once a week program after class sessions end and again they have to apply and get interviewed. Arshi was lucky to be selected and be part of this program. As of year 1 they didnt have much TIP sessions as they started only from Semester 2.Hope she will enjoy the forthcoming TIP sessions .
From these I guess you can figure out that there are loads of other activities that go on in a secondary school student apart from normal academics and they have to manage their time wisely. TIME MANAGEMENT is a key that they have to learn avd apply in their daily life .
Next year they have to choose subject combination after sec 2 end and that is based on their academic results. I don't even know what are all the subjects that are being offered and what are the subject combination and what are the implications of choosing different subject combinations.Arshi herself isn't sure of this and I am pretty sure her school will guide us when the time comes for that.
As of now she is enjoying her long holidays .Occasionally she goes to her school or goes to practice for her performance due after school reopens for her juniors .Come June 2 she will be a senior and there will be many juniors entering her school.
In between her busy schedule she managed to attend few ukulele sessions too but that was not regular.This Nov she did a group ukulele performance in Our Tampines Hub .Luckily as it was during Nov and her exam finishes by Oct first week itself she was able to attend most of the practice sessions .But next year her class timings is getting changed and we feel she will find find it difficult to attend it as she will come home late that day as she will be having her leadership meetings that day .I have asked to try for few days and then decide if she wants to continue or quit. Ukulele class is the only extra class she goes in .We have even stopped her carnatic music classes last year mid itself as she wasn't showing any interest in that and wanted to quit avd we too thought it was best as her PSLE was nearing that time .
This holidays she also hosted for our neighborhood Deepavali celebrations. She practiced a few days for this .I was nervous if she would talk without stammer but was glad she managed it well.It should be good experience for her.
This year we have been showing Arshi to her skin doctor anc glad to say that she has been discharged as good improvement and asked to avoid sun exposure and use sun screen lotion while in sun which was what she did while having her NDP practices in Kanji Camp and then in Padang and we just need to monitor her skin .As far as makeup is concerned just wipe away makeup properly after performance.
I hope next year Arshi becomes more responsible and gains more knowledge. And God showers his blessing on her and she gets good health.
I will try to post pictures I got but the main problem is getting those pics here as I don't have a single source and most pics are with Arshi's phone and she deletes most of them .
