IP

There's a lot of hype about IP recently, like this article:

"Some students fail to thrive on Integrated Programme scheme"
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_747635.html

To be honest? This is really quite true.
PSLE scores do not determine your secondary school results. In fact, they don't mean a thing as sec school academics are largely based on purely hard work, at least for me. If someone were to predict my academic results based on my PSLE score I would be seriously under-performing now.

Helped out with the Y1 registration yesterday, and I learnt that our COP this year is 256 :( That's honestly a rather big jump from the past few years...........

And this also probably confirms the rumour that our COP is lower than that of the first batches of new IP schools this year - and initially I was damn pissed. I mean, Dunman High leh even if our JC section is not that strong yet we do have a good history for our secondary school section, no?? And to be considered inferior to NEW IP SCHOOLS is seriously an insult to us, especially since we've been doing IP for a few years right now.

And then I went to google, and I found this in a forum:

"We are talking about smart kids with PSLE 250 points and above here. So good exam results is a given for them, and what will be critical is whether they are equipped with the necessary life skills for success in life. Hence in my view, what will differentiate one IP from another is the school's emphasis on developing the kids holistically, imbuing them with self confidence, communication and leadership skills etc. This is where I feel schools which have deep traditions, strong character and good networks will have an advantage.

It seems to me that MOE has deviated from the IP principle by coming out with funny partnerships which will make it difficult for true integration to take place. Even RI and RGS have to take many years before their IP is truely integrated. To do so for schools without common history and ties will be even more challenging. Good luck to all of them."

Sometimes I really question if the standard in IP schools is truly higher than that of normal secondary schools going for O levels.

PS: But if you ask me, I'll never regret coming to DHS :-)))))

2011

Another year's coming to an end and truthfully, 2011 was a relatively good year to me :-) Despite the increased workload from school and all the shit that has happened, I managed to overcome them unscathed and you have to admit that there were some good times through it all!

Here's a summary of my year, in no particular order:
1) Guides/P8 Oriole
Ok firstly, I love my patrol!! Hahaha and P6 Ixora too but yeah :-) I've definitely forged a few strong friendships in guides through the past year, having gone through COJ, PLTC and ATC together <3 All these camps certainly strengthened me and taught me important life lessons...oh and we did a whole lot of fun things this year - heritage trail, rockclimbing course, yoga for initiatives, and many many CIPs that I really enjoyed!! :-) And I'm damn proud of this but I'M DONE W NYAA SILVER and all my guides badges this holiday......not easy okay hahahaha

2) 3Kthxbai
Ahhhhh I love how we're all so different yet we complement one another so perfectly <3 To be honest, it's quite a big change from 2A's happy-go-lucky spirit but nevertheless, 3K's a really awesome and funny class too!! I've enjoyed all our class outings and our vvv cool class service learning haha. Here's to the people who've made it special, you know who you are!! We should go out more, I can only remember going for free cone day and old airport road together~ Looking forward to more great times next year :-)

3)Astra clique
I miss you guys omg WE NEED ANOTHER SLEEPOVER soon!!! Even though we're all in different classes (except for Siyun who's my best bud in 3K <3), I still see Mich and HX's faces everyday when there's school (LOL), Xinyi and Shinyi who's next to my class, midnight dhsmail chats with Neh and not to mention Tsepuay during guides and Kaijing in school~~ I love how our friendship still lasts (although it has obviously faded a little, no kidding) despite not spending a lot of time together this year :-)

4)I really don't know how to name this
But generally they're my primary school friends who I still contact :-) This includes Weiqi who has the weirdest thoughts in her head, Sijia who imo, is an overachiever, Qianyu my fellow cheapskate HAHA and Jiajun my lunch buddy <3 I love how we hang out at the carpark (fml we sound like losers lol) and go out together to just simply have fun!!!!! In another category is Xinling whom I seriously can go any place on earth with hehexz

5) School/other events
Other than the people there's obviously the events that made my year worthwhile!!! There's Chingay which was good but I was so AWKWARD, STEP'11 where the people were all so nice and friendly plus Thailand was a really fun experience, DHS 55th anniversary celebrations (idk why it's here but it was special to me), and last but not least work during the holidays, where I really learnt A LOT and gained some experience hahaha :-)

After typing all this I realized I'm so rusty from blogging :'( Even my style is different from half a year ago.........sobxz. All in all 2011 was really fulfilling and worthwhile, and let's hope 2012 will be a great year as well!!!