PSLE Results Day and Beyond
Ewan set his eyes on a boys' school that he liked.
DSA did not work out although he managed to showcase himself and got narrowed down for consideration.
PSLE results turned out to be a rude shock to him. He was utterly disappointed and I know from many whom I heard that sometimes kids can fumble at PSLE and would not perform as well as they regularly would. Or even those who had not been doing as well consistently in school could turn around in time for PSLE, outperforming themselves.
With that, we went to collect the results with only one focus in mind. That is me being present for him.
No video-recording, no big reactions, no anticipations, no excessive talking.
Just a mommy bear's hug ready to welcome a delighted or disappointed child.
He took a quick look at his results slip, G3 but below expectations, walked away from the crowd and hid himself behind a pillar. I followed and bear-hugged him in silence until he was ready to move.
Holding space is such an important process in healing and it had to be something we consciously choose to do for it to work its magic. Not only did I do that for him, his form teacher wrote him a note anticipating his feelings right after she saw his results:
As days passed, months follow. He still brings up how disappointed he was with his PSLE results, how he did not expect it to be. However, I saw so much good that happened in Secondary School for him that really gave him room to grow and explore!
We chose a neighbourhood school near home that has a higher cut-off than his AL score. This way, we would ensure his first choice will not be jeopardised. There is no point risking school choices in a competitive Dragon year. I was certain most schools' cut-off would drop by 1 or 2 AL grade.
He received both Edusave Merit and EAGLES awards in Secondary 1, was made Class Chairperson, offered Junior Student Leader-In-Training, found his way into the school's Badminton School Team as one of their main players and achieved so much with this team, bringing the school up 2 competitive tiers in just one year!
Recently, he shared that if he had gone to that boys' school he was striving to go, he would probably be benched in the Badminton team. Edusave awards? Erm.. don't think he will be close to sniffing it even.
"You know mom, if I had went to that school, I will never be able to play for any NSGs because the players are definitely better than I. Don't think I will be happy there because being benched is the lousiest feeling in the world. Here, I get to compete!" he reflected with maturity.
It is true.
I see him getting opportunities including an option to take up Higher Chinese!
(MOE offers all students who score a minimum AL3 for MT in PSLE, a chance to study Higher MT in Secondary School)
They say neighbourhood schools have very little resources, poor and unequipped in opportunities. Yet, I see his school in such a different light.
Not only do they have a spanking brand new gym, their D&T, Food & Consumer and Science Labs are huge and well-equipped! They are lucky to have air-conditioning in every classroom as well!
The VIA (Values in Action / Volunteer) programme is so rich that the teens are given a whole lot of opportunities to head out of school to do good for others. The neighbourhood where we are at had all 5 Secondary Schools collaborating on a year-long project for Student Leaders to come together to service beneficiaries, promoting the volunteerism spirit.
These Secondary Schools comprised of a SAP school, a DSA-Only school and neighbourhood schools. They hold regular meetings in mixed groups assigned by the teachers-in-charge and these Student Leaders rub off each other with different ideas and culture. What a beautiful collaboration put together in the heartland of schools!
Did he miss out in anything that he would not have gotten in that boys' school he wanted to go? Yes maybe! But also, maybe not?
Ewan is in Sec 2 this year. The school recognised that choosing subject combinations should not solely be based on grades but on interest. They consciously came up with a series of programmes this year to emphasise on finding out what you are good at through job immersions.
Of course, they may be too young to know what they want to be when they grow up but it's never too early to invoke a thought. If you want to pursue a certain career in research, then hey! Maybe you should consider taking Pure Sciences. Or if you are looking to go into the Arts scene, how about considering taking Literature in Sec 3?
So what is Ewan experiencing this year? The school invited professionals to come in for break-out room talks where the students got to experience what a biotech scientist, veterinary nurse, lawyer, social worker, creative director, event producer do at work. End of this year, a deeper dive into different careers with an opportunity to attend a workshop with a work industry they choose will take place.
There are jobs like Flight Attendant, Hospitality, Sports Event Manager, Aviation Specialist, Game Designer and more to place their interests in. We are excited for our children to attend the course!
You know.. it's just like what my gynae said before "You do not need to overfeed your baby in the womb. A bigger baby makes a harder birth right? You can have an easier birth with a small baby and feed her healthy after she is born. She will still grow!"
Our children will still grow no matter where they are planted. It is important to have the right mindset and put yourself in the right company of people.
How? Like I told Ewan, as long as you are busy with sports and leadership roles in school, you would already be surrounding yourself with activities and people that will fill your days meaningfully.
They will find their footing, their interest, good friends and they will find out what they are good at.
That initial disappointment is really just that initial part of the game.
At the end of it all, they grow up learning so many valuable lessons wherever they may be and that’s still growth! They did not lose out on anything at all.
Sometimes, the schools without the academic KPI stress are the schools that have time to think holistically what their students need for real growth in this new world we are all so unfamiliar with.
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