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mariayeh
Newbie
Joined: July 14, 2004
Posts: 7
Status: Offline
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 Posted:
July 19, 2004 - 11:21 PM |
 
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| Post subject: Happy with Shanghai Singapore International School? |
I am seriously considering sending my kid to SSIS for its bilingual curriculum but concerned about its teaching method being too stringent. Feedback please. |
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Archer
Lurker
Joined: Apr 17, 2004
Posts: 20
Status: Offline
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July 29, 2004 - 11:57 PM |
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I don't have any personal experience with the school but do know of one (English) family whose children found the structure too rigid and they ended up sending their kids to another school. |
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StMichael
Ranter
Joined: Feb 19, 2005
Posts: 586
Location: Qibao, Shanghai
Status: Offline
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Mar 04, 2006 - 05:51 PM |
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The Singapore curriculum and teaching methods are aimed at academic excellence so its rigour is basically stronger than western schools. I know we are popular with Asian parents, or Asian-Americans/Canadians for that reason.
Still, with a strong academic foundation, the child should be able to do well in college, like many Asian pupils in the States. I've a former pupil in Singapore whose parents were missionaries in SEA and so attended my school. They've returned to the states, and he topped the state of Colorado in Maths. He attributed it to his years in Singapore. |
_________________
Michael Chan www.senseimichael.com |
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chinaolman
Newbie
Joined: Mar 12, 2006
Posts: 3
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Mar 12, 2006 - 10:26 PM |
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Hi STMichael,
Am interested to find out also as you are a department head within SSIS.
1. Are all the teachers trained to teach in the Singapore context?
2. Are majority of the teachers from Singapore?
3. How does the school ensure high English standard when there is a great variety of nationalities mixed within the same level?
4. How does the school prepare the students returning to Singapore?
Appreciate if you could share your views on this.
Thks. |
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StMichael
Ranter
Joined: Feb 19, 2005
Posts: 586
Location: Qibao, Shanghai
Status: Offline
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| Posted:
Mar 13, 2006 - 12:07 AM |
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1. We have about 50%-60% Singaporean teachers who are formally trained, with years of experience in the Singapore context. The other 50% are the local Chinese teachers and expatriate Caucasian teachers, who has to learn from the Singaporean teachers. They generally fit in very quickly. Those that cannot would leave. And we'll be glad to see them go.
2. Like I mentioned, we have about 50%-60% Singaporean teachers. It is not easy to attract Singaporean teachers (the Ministry in Singapore offers very good terms and career prospects, and many teachers like comfort and safety - and Singapore sure offers them).
3. A high English standard is set by the teachers, if you get what I mean  . It is then followed by the eagerness of the child to learn (or forced to learn, in the case of *very* strict teachers - yup, we have them here). I dare say that we do have many pupils whose parents send them to our school because their level of English were unacceptable by schools like SAS and BIS. Sigh, and they always get transferred away to those supposedly more prestigious schools after they have attained an acceptable level (generally after a year or two with us). I guess I've answered your question, in an indirect way  ?
3. I've decided to answer this question more directly . The Singaporean method of instruction is very methodical, and Singaporean teachers tend to be those who are very strict and very insistent on academic success for their pupils. Unlike the Chinese system, oral English is a major component of the examinations - as such, we produce pupils whose English standard is strong not only in "spot" questions (grammar questions without a context, if you get what I mean) but also in conversation as well. We also cater for the different abilities by introducing the IEP class (for those who came in with zero or little English) and the bridging classes (for those whose English are generally weaker).
4. We use the Singapore syllabus (but not necessary the entire curriculum) and the examinations system, so that the pupils are prepared to face the same type of examinations and the same type of books when they return. In other words, it's easier for them to simply return at the same level of study. I suspect they may need to work a bit more on the academic rigour though, if they're returning to schools like the one I used to teach at (Pei Hwa Presbyterian - top 30 school in Singapore). Compared to some of the top schools in Singapore, SSIS' academic rigour is weaker. It is still comparable to those of most neighbourhood schools, though. |
_________________
Michael Chan www.senseimichael.com
Last edited by StMichael on Nov 27, 2007 - 10:49 PM; edited 2 times in total |
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chinaolman
Newbie
Joined: Mar 12, 2006
Posts: 3
Status: Offline
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Mar 13, 2006 - 01:02 PM |
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Hi STMichael,
Thks for aswering the queries so quickly. Much appreciated.
I am pretty concerned when you say that attracting Singapore teachers here is not easy with Singapore MOE offering a better package. Thus implying that the teachers in SSIS are not really there.
Another concern is being an "INTERNATIONAL" school, and with a high teacher turn over rate, how can our children be guaranteed to having really qualified teachers.
What I have gatherered is that there is an average of 3-4 classes per year, and with the vast nationalities involved per year, its either the slower is forced to be placed in a higher stream or vice versa. This can generate very ill effects on the children. The pace of those who are used to Singapore system prior will end up being dragged downwards.
I can understand that the school has to set the standard and maintain an average for the vast nationalities involved, but is there additional programs or tuition that the quicker ones are given so as not to be lagging behind compared to their Singaporean peers.
This is a concern to many of us parents thinking of choosing the school but knowing that in time the kids will have to return to the Singapore context. Like you said, SSIS is only equivalent to an average neighbourhood school.
Disappointing but thanks for the honesty.
Really appreciated. |
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StMichael
Ranter
Joined: Feb 19, 2005
Posts: 586
Location: Qibao, Shanghai
Status: Offline
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| Posted:
Mar 13, 2006 - 10:07 PM |
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I speak from the viewpoint of an educator, and I want to be candid so you won't get any illusions when you come to our school. I hope the management don't hang me because I'm so candid! But I want to clarify something (in case I missed out a potential client because I was misunderstood!).
Just because attracting Singaporean teachers is not easy doesn't mean that the teachers are not there (as in the standard of teaching). Those teachers that do come here come for different reasons (not for the money, if you get what I mean), and many of these reasons have to do with the fact that we *want* to teach.
If you're familiar with Singapore, you'll realise that we do a lot of "weird" administrative work in addition to all our duties. Here at SSIS, with the smaller class ratio (and less marking because of that), we have more time to plan our lessons, and to truly *teach*. Another attraction for those of us who want to *teach* is the fact that we need not drill the pupils to the extent needed in Singapore (where the examinations are a killer).
You might like to know that the teachers have an average of 10-15 years of teaching under our belt. I personally was a department head in Singapore, in Pei Hwa Presbyterian Primary School, before I took up the challenge of working in China and came to Shanghai. The principal himself has 15 years in education, the vice-principal more than that (I'm talking about the Xuhui campus, not too familiar with Minhang).
If you want the child to be able to fit into the standard of a top school in Singapore, I'm sorry but perhaps there really is no other place available that's even *close* to being better than what SSIS is offering, here in Shanghai. It would be better then, for the child to remain in a school like Nanyang or Pei Hwa, or Rosyth, instead of bringing the child here. But if it is important for the child to be with the family, and yet follow a *system* close to what they do when they return, then SSIS is your best bet.
Any international school will have a high teacher turn-over rate, mostly because most teachers do not treat the host nation as their home country. Even the pupil turnover rate at any international school is higher compared to that in a national school. Honestly speaking, if any of us are looking for something equivalent to that back in Singapore, we are going to be very, very, very, very, very, very disappointed (and I'm being generous). Not even HKSIS, run by Singapore MOE, can claim the same equivalence. As long as it's an international school, this will happen.
We do have additional programmes for pupils who want more of a challenge, on Saturday . I'm glad you asked. These programmes were launched precisely in response to those parents who want even more academic rigour for their children. I personally teach the English class, while another experienced teacher teaches the Maths class.
You might also want to know that Singaporean teachers (at least the good ones ) are trained to do differentiated teaching. We do give additional work to those of our pupils who are able to handle it. It's not different from what we do back in Singapore (where I routinely divided my Mixed Ability classes into 3 groupings and give the better ones more challenging work). In all schools, it's always the teacher that makes or breaks them. It just happens that, for some unknown reason, all the good teachers congregate at the top schools (don't ask me why!).
So while the "upward spiral" effect is not there (like what happens when a child is placed in the top class in a neighbourhood school), I do not think the "lag" effect will be so significant that a hardworking and focused child cannot catch up within a few weeks of returning to a top Singapore school.
Like I mentioned, ultimately we cannot promise you what we cannot deliver. Our clientele base is derived from the fact that we teach in English, and we use the Singaporean syllabus. To pitch the school at an academic rigour equivalent to that of, say, Nanyang Primary, would mean that SSIS may simply cease to exist as a school of it's present size and composition.
Look at HKSIS, run by MOE - they too have to become international rather than Singaporean. Look at Suzhou SIS, which has totally gone away from the Singaporean syllabus and does the PYP (in response to their European clientele). There's too few of us Singaporeans around to run a viable school, even if school fees become USD24k a year (how many Singapaporeans would then send their child to this school if that's the kind of fees demanded?).
I'm sad to hear about your disappointment, but seriously, we really are the best thing available to any parent whose kids are returning to the Singaporean context. There is really no other choice, disappointment or not. Unless you want to start one with precisely the kind of attributes you're thinking of, here in Shanghai ? It truly might be a "non-profit" organisation! |
_________________
Michael Chan www.senseimichael.com |
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StMichael
Ranter
Joined: Feb 19, 2005
Posts: 586
Location: Qibao, Shanghai
Status: Offline
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| Posted:
Mar 13, 2006 - 10:13 PM |
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And if you do intend to do so (the "non-profit" organisation...literally) and would like to look for a principal or something - give me a call! |
_________________
Michael Chan www.senseimichael.com |
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chinaolman
Newbie
Joined: Mar 12, 2006
Posts: 3
Status: Offline
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Mar 14, 2006 - 01:09 AM |
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Hi Michael,
I hope that my response did not get you all fired up.
Anyway, again I thank you for the response. Infact you are kinda spot on the part that SSIS is the ONLY Singaporean school in Shanghai and its the next best thing if we want to return to a Singaporean context.
I am very interested to find out of this Saturday classes and are they available to all levels or otherwise?
Lastly, are your kids in SSIS? That is I am assuming that you have kids and if not would you consider enrolling them if you did?
Thks a million. |
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subhashis.basu
Reacher
Joined: Dec 28, 2005
Posts: 342
Location: India - Shanghai
Status: Offline
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Mar 14, 2006 - 10:20 AM |
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Dear St. Michael,
I am from India, working here as a consultant to a major MNC company for short-term. My family will join me this week, and we plan to stay here till November. My son who is 7 years old is a meritorious student in one of the leading schools of India (He is just being promoted from Grade-I to Grade-II).
I want my son to stay with us in shanghai for the said period.
I will be highly obliged if you can kindly let me know, whether there is any provision for short-term enrollment.
Thanks & Regards. |
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StMichael
Ranter
Joined: Feb 19, 2005
Posts: 586
Location: Qibao, Shanghai
Status: Offline
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| Posted:
Mar 14, 2006 - 05:43 PM |
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| chinaolman wrote: |
I hope that my response did not get you all fired up. |
Heh, I sure was fired up, but not in the anger-response way. More like fired up to ensure that I was not understood or misconstrued in any way.
| Quote: |
| I am very interested to find out of this Saturday classes and are they available to all levels or otherwise? |
At this present point of time, we have it for P5-6. We are still gauging response actually. If more parents clamour for it, and we've teachers who're willing to use up their Saturdays to give the extra lessons, the management will definitely want to do it.
| Quote: |
| Lastly, are your kids in SSIS? That is I am assuming that you have kids and if not would you consider enrolling them if you did? |
My blog has my profile . Yes, I've 2 kids, going 6 and going 3. They are not in SSIS because of 2 reasons.
Firstly, like most international schools, my children do not go for free. I only know of 2 international schools here whose teacher's children go for free (Concordia - all children, and Yew Chung - 2 children). I get to pay only half the tuition fee though, but it is still too much for me (I don't get the kind of wonderful salaries that many western expats get!).
Finally, it has to do with my wife. She is a very strong believer in home-schooling, running one home-school group herself, and the secretary of another downtown. I did manage to "wrangle" a concession out of her, though, that if one day SSIS allowed our children in without fees, she has to agree to it. She still insists on pulling them out at least once a week for the Bible Study Fellowship though...
Oh well, I can't have my children not in school when I am an educator, can I? Currently my wife has the "upper hand" because of the school fees, so my children are being home-schooled. My firstborn is already handling Grade 1 materials for English (not for Chinese, sadly, but that is improving). Reading and writing is not a problem for him. |
_________________
Michael Chan www.senseimichael.com
Last edited by StMichael on Nov 27, 2007 - 10:53 PM; edited 1 time in total |
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StMichael
Ranter
Joined: Feb 19, 2005
Posts: 586
Location: Qibao, Shanghai
Status: Offline
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Mar 14, 2006 - 05:48 PM |
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| subhashis.basu wrote: |
Dear St. Michael,
I am from India, working here as a consultant to a major MNC company for short-term. My family will join me this week, and we plan to stay here till November. My son who is 7 years old is a meritorious student in one of the leading schools of India (He is just being promoted from Grade-I to Grade-II).
I want my son to stay with us in shanghai for the said period.
I will be highly obliged if you can kindly let me know, whether there is any provision for short-term enrollment.
Thanks & Regards. |
This should not be a problem, as long as you don't mind the disruption that your child will get from his schooling (that's a very short term schooling in a system here). I believe we have a refund policy or something like this. Our marketing manager will have a better idea.
We can be contacted at 86-21-64965550. Ask for Joey, the marketing manager. Otherwise I believe Erin or Daisy (marketing officers) can help you as well.
On a personal level, speaking as an educator, you might want to know that (unless your child is very adaptive), it really might be very difficult for him to be put through such a life (changing schools every 1/2 year, for example). I've kids who, after 3 months with us, are still suffering from culture shock, even though we're working with the parents to help them adjust. |
_________________
Michael Chan www.senseimichael.com |
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subhashis.basu
Reacher
Joined: Dec 28, 2005
Posts: 342
Location: India - Shanghai
Status: Offline
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Mar 15, 2006 - 02:57 PM |
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Dear Michael,
Thanks for your response.
However, I will be highly obliged , if you can clarify on the following as well:
1) When does the annual academic session starts here (is it April-March, July-June or September-August)?
2) Do my son need to study chinese (is it compulsory)?
3)I stay in Fuzhou Lu(opposite to Shanghai Book City Store). Which campus will be nearer to my place....what is the distance?
4) Is there a school bus facility to pick-up & drop.
5)What is the school timing?
Thanks & Regards,
Subhashis Basu. |
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StMichael
Ranter
Joined: Feb 19, 2005
Posts: 586
Location: Qibao, Shanghai
Status: Offline
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Mar 15, 2006 - 11:02 PM |
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Dear Mr Basu,
1. The academic year starts from September, and ends in June. July to August are the summer holidays.
2. Yes, Chinese is compulsory - like in Singapore . We do have lower levels of Chinese for beginners and those from non-Chinese-speaking backgrounds.
3. I believe the Xuhui campus should be nearer. Not too sure how far away, but a cab ride to Xujiahui (without meeting bad traffic!) is about 10 minutes. You can probably take the cue from there.
4. Yes, we run a school bus service to nearly all parts of Shanghai. Our administrative staff should be able to provide more details.
5. School begins at 0830h and ends at 1530h, so that we can beat the terrible Shanghai traffic! Trust me, you wouldn't want to be on the roads after 0830h and 1700h!
Hope I've been of service! |
_________________
Michael Chan www.senseimichael.com
Last edited by StMichael on Mar 22, 2006 - 11:50 PM; edited 1 time in total |
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StMichael
Ranter
Joined: Feb 19, 2005
Posts: 586
Location: Qibao, Shanghai
Status: Offline
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Mar 22, 2006 - 11:49 PM |
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luy
Newbie
Joined: Apr 18, 2006
Posts: 2
Status: Offline
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Apr 18, 2006 - 09:45 PM |
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| Post subject: Teaching at SISS |
Hi StMichael,
I'm currently a teacher in Singapore. Could you let me know if SISS is privatised or run by MOE and where/how do they usually recruit their staff? I'm a scholar and have a couple of years left in my bond with the Ministry. Will it be at all possible to serve out my bond in Shanghai?
I will be grateful if you could provide some information. |
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luy
Newbie
Joined: Apr 18, 2006
Posts: 2
Status: Offline
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Apr 18, 2006 - 09:45 PM |
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| Post subject: Teaching at SISS |
Hi StMichael,
I'm currently a teacher in Singapore. Could you let me know if SISS is privatised or run by MOE and where/how do they usually recruit their staff? I'm a scholar and have a couple of years left in my bond with the Ministry. Will it be at all possible to serve out my bond in Shanghai?
I will be grateful if you could provide some information. |
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StMichael
Ranter
Joined: Feb 19, 2005
Posts: 586
Location: Qibao, Shanghai
Status: Offline
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| Posted:
Apr 18, 2006 - 09:59 PM |
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| Post subject: Re: Teaching at SISS |
| luy wrote: |
Hi StMichael,
I'm currently a teacher in Singapore. Could you let me know if SISS is privatised or run by MOE and where/how do they usually recruit their staff? I'm a scholar and have a couple of years left in my bond with the Ministry. Will it be at all possible to serve out my bond in Shanghai?
I will be grateful if you could provide some information. |
SSIS is a private school, run by Prime Singapore. Nothing at all to do with MOE. The only school run by MOE is the HKSIS. Not Jakarta. Not Surabaya. Not Suzhou. Not Shanghai. Not Beijing. If you get what I mean.
They usually place advertisements in the Straits Times Classifieds. To join us, you do have to resign from the MOE, so I'm afraid you cannot serve out your bond in Shanghai. You can try HKSIS, though I think the chances would be slim.
If you're a scholar, you're going to be very disappointed with the salary and benefits given by SSIS . It is unlikely for the school to even come close to what you'll get in MOE, much less match it! |
_________________
Michael Chan www.senseimichael.com |
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Anitan
Newbie
Joined: Nov 09, 2007
Posts: 3
Status: Offline
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| Posted:
Nov 11, 2007 - 02:22 PM |
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| Post subject: SSIS |
hi
I am Indian Singaporean . My husband is getting good offer in Shanghai. At present my elder daughter (8yrs old) is going to go to class P3 in Raffles Girls Primary School. The younger one is 5 yrs and will go to K2 in 2008. I am v concerned about their education. Can you pls let me know the standard of SSIS? Further she has no exposure to Chinese Language as she does Hindi( Non Tamil Mother Tongue ). As per MOE latest rule , the marks for her mother tongue will be added in her total marks . Are SSIS students able to return and cope up with the standard of top schools like RGPS or it is going to be v v tough ? What second language will she learn if she joins SSIS.? Lastly , my husband's office will be in Pudong .Do u get students from Pudong area ? How much is travelling time ? Pls help by replying to my loooooong list of queries as I have lot of fears and apprehensions concerning their education . |
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StMichael
Ranter
Joined: Feb 19, 2005
Posts: 586
Location: Qibao, Shanghai
Status: Offline
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| Posted:
Nov 13, 2007 - 08:41 PM |
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| Post subject: Re: SSIS |
| Anitan wrote: |
| Can you pls let me know the standard of SSIS? |
The equivalent of a good neighbourhood school. Quite difficult for us to aim for a top school like RGS, with our pupil profile.
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| Are SSIS students able to return and cope up with the standard of top schools like RGPS or it is going to be v v tough ? |
It will take a while for her to adjust to the equivalent academic rigour, but it'd be easier compared to her studying under a different curriculum (like the PYP, British or American curriculum), since she is familiar with the textbooks, the methods of instructions and the format of the exams.
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| What second language will she learn if she joins SSIS.? |
Unfortunately, the only possible "second language" she can learn in SSIS is Chinese. We can peg her Chinese to our basic Chinese, since she has no background in it at all, but she would not be able to go for the iPSLE exams with that.
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| Lastly , my husband's office will be in Pudong .Do u get students from Pudong area ? How much is travelling time ? |
The nearest campus to Pudong is my campus, just across the Xupu Bridge. If you are at the part of Pudong near Jinqiao, expect about 45 minutes of journey in good traffic. Yes, I do get plenty of pupils at Pudong, but not that far out into Pudong as Jinqiao.
I hope I have answered your queries! Feel free to give my campus a call at 64965550. We should be able to answer most of your queries. Look for Michael Chan the Senior Head, and my receptionist will direct you to me. |
_________________
Michael Chan www.senseimichael.com |
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valrossie
Newbie
Joined: Sep 18, 2008
Posts: 1
Status: Offline
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Sep 18, 2008 - 09:23 PM |
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| Post subject: Shanghai Singapore International School |
Shanghai Singapore International School has been an IB World School since February 2004. It offers the IB Middle Years Programme and IB Diploma Programme. The school is private.
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valrossie
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