The new school year is approaching, and many children will embark on a study abroad journey in Singapore. In order to ensure the smooth study abroad, children need to be well prepared.
This article will provide you with a comprehensive preparation guide, from life, Xi to cultural adaptation, so that you can easily cope with the upcoming study abroad life.
Let's take a look!
What is the arrangement for the new school year in Singapore?
2024 Singapore Primary and Secondary School Holidays and Arrangements
Monday, 1st January 24, is a Singapore public holiday, so the start time for Singapore students will be after that. There will be a holiday between every two semesters, ranging from 8 days to more than a month.
Government primary and secondary schools in Singapore will start on 2 January 2024 and the final term will end on 15 November 2024.
Semester 1:
Term 1: January 2 – March 8
Term 2: March 18 – May 24
Semester 2:
Term 3: June 24 – August 30
Term 4: September 9 – November 15
Note: P1 and K1 students will commence on 2 January 2024, while P2 to P6 and K2 students will start on 3 January 2024
Junior High School Period
Semester 1
Semester 1: March 9 to March 17, 9 days off;
Term 2: May 25 to June 23, 30 days off;
Semester 2
Semester 3: August 31 to September 8, 9 days off;
Term 4: November 16 to December 31, 46 days off.
Singapore School Holiday Schedule 2024
In addition to the inter-term holidays, Singapore 2024 also has four school holidays: Youth Day, the day after National Day, Teachers' Day and Children's Day.
Youth Day holiday: June 30, 1 day off, July 1 is a school holiday
Teacher's Day holiday: August 30, 1 day off
Children's Day (primary school only): October 4, 1 day off
Xi schedule for primary and secondary school students in Singapore
Let's take a closer look at the daily life of students in Singapore's government primary and secondary schools.
The daily life of primary and secondary school students in government schools in Singapore
01
Around 6:00 AM
Students wake up from their sleep and start their breakfast.
02
7:00AM
At the beginning of the morning assembly, most of the students will sit on the floor and concentrate on reading in the auditorium.
Some students do physical activity on the playground.
03
7:15AM
All teachers and students sang the Singapore national anthem and solemnly swore an oath.
After the morning assembly, students will return to their respective classes to begin their Xi journey for the day.
04
早上7:30AM-11:30PM
At the beginning of the course, students will be immersed in the Xi.
Each lesson lasts 30 minutes, and there are a total of eleven lessons per day.
During this period, there are no recesses.
Once the previous lesson is over, students move to another classroom to begin another Xi journey.
During the lesson, students are required to raise their hands if they need to go to the toilet.
The main subjects include English, Science, Mathematics and Mother Tongue, while the secondary subjects include Physical Education, Music and Art, etc., aiming to develop students' talents and abilities in a holistic manner.
05
1:30PM
At lunchtime, students can enjoy lunch in the dedicated cafeteria on campus.
There are many tables and chairs in the cafeteria for students to use while eating.
In addition, there is a small shop in the cafeteria where students can buy food freely.
Here, students can enjoy hearty lunches and dinners for three or four Singapore dollars, providing their bodies with plenty of energy and nutrients.
06
2:00PM
After class, the school will arrange a variety of extracurricular activities to cultivate students' comprehensive ability.
These extracurricular activities not only allow students to relax and develop different interests, but they are also included in the assessment system.
By participating in these activities, students can better develop their potential and talents, laying a solid foundation for future development.
07
下午2:10PM-4:10PM
Students are free to choose to participate in a variety of CCA activities, including dance, band, drama, sports, and more, to showcase their talents and interests.
These activities not only provide students with a colorful experience, but also help to develop their personalities and talents.
08
下午4:10PM-5:00PM
In addition to the above-mentioned co-curricular activities, the school also offers other after-school activities such as advanced Chinese classes, swimming classes, math enhancement courses and coding.
These activities are designed to further expand students' knowledge and skills and provide them with a more holistic educational experience.
09
After 5:00 PM
Students can do their own homework and Xi independently.
After-school arrangements for government primary and secondary school students
From this, we can see that in fact, primary school students in primary and secondary schools in Singapore are not the so-called "only half a day of classes", but the second half of the day is used for moral education and physical fitness education.
Then the editor will lead you to the government primary and secondary school students after-school arrangements~
Unlike other countries, after-school services for primary and secondary school students in Singapore consist of two components: Student Care Centres (SCCs) and Co-Curricular Activities (CCAs).
SCC primarily serves elementary school students, while CCA focuses on secondary school students.
The co-curricular activities offered by the school fall into four broad categories:
The first is sports, which aims to enhance students' physical fitness, establish the concept of fair competition, and cultivate teamwork spirit;
The second is the performing arts, which combine students' interests and talents, cultivate elegant taste, tolerate multiculturalism, and form unique artistic insights and creativity;
The third is to uniformize groups, cultivate the spirit of self-discipline and service consciousness through organizing collective activities, enhance the sense of social responsibility and national honor, form social identity cognition, and cultivate a sense of social dedication;
Fourth, clubs and clubs, students organize and explore on their own, integrate social services, scientific and technological innovation, traditional culture, earth ecology and other aspects, fully explore their own interests and expertise, and acquire practical knowledge and skills.
The next thing to face is how to quickly adapt to the life and Xi pace of life in Singapore's government primary and secondary schools.
How to quickly adapt to the Xi and life of government primary and secondary schools
1. Adjust your mentality and face the new environment positively
First and foremost, parents and children need to recognize that adapting to a new environment is a process that takes time and patience. Don't be too anxious and worried, keep a positive mindset and trust that your child will be able to adapt gradually.
2. Formulate a reasonable Xi study plan
Xi Parents can help their children make a reasonable Xi plan and arrange their daily Xi tasks and rest time. At the same time, children should be encouraged to complete their homework independently and cultivate their independent learning Xi ability.
3. Actively participate in extracurricular activities
Parents can encourage their children to actively participate in extracurricular activities in government primary and secondary schools, and cultivate their hobbies and teamwork skills. By participating in activities, children can make new friends and expand their relationships.
4. Strengthen communication and exchanges
Parents should maintain good communication with their children and understand the problems and difficulties they encounter in school Xi and life. At the same time, it is also necessary to keep in touch with the school teachers to understand the child's performance and Xi in school, and work together to help the child grow.
As the most solid warm harbor for their children, parents need to consider and do the following things for their children in advance:
01
Essentials card for life
For students who have just started their study abroad life, the most important thing in life is to develop the ability to live independently.
In order to help students in Singapore adapt to study abroad life more quickly, there are some necessary cards that need to be obtained, such as bank cards, student IDs, phone cards, and transportation cards.
Obtaining these cards can make life in Singapore more convenient for students.
02
Considerations for daily life
Singapore is known for being clean and tidy, so don't litter or spit around.
If you are caught throwing cigarette butts or paper balls, you may be fined up to S$300.
Damaging public property, climbing and damaging flowers and trees in public places will be subject to fines, while spray-painting and graffiti in public places will be punished more severely.
Chewing gum, which is very common in China, is not allowed to be eaten in public, let alone spit out, in Singapore.
If you litter after eating gum, you will face a fine of up to S$1,000.
For repeated violators, not only will they be fined more, but they may also be required to perform compulsory labor.
03
Visa validity date
In Singapore, overstaying is prohibited regardless of the pass holding.
Therefore, it is important to pay attention to the validity date of the Student's Pass, etc., and update it in time.
Exceeding your stay will result in fines and imprisonment, and it will be more difficult for you to apply for a visa or even be unable to re-enter the country.
The student pass is a necessary document for international students, and the holder of the pass can freely enter and exit Singapore within the validity period, but it should be noted that if you take a leave of absence, you need to cancel your student ID card in advance, otherwise it will be difficult to apply for a new course visa.
How to process a student visa after graduation?
Usually, the school will send an email reminder to change the student visa to a white card before graduation.
If you decide to return to your home country, make sure to leave the country before your visa expires, and the school will automatically cancel your visa.
You can also go to the official ICA website to cancel your visa.
If you want to stay for a period of time after graduation, you can go to ICA 1/2 day before the visa expires to return your visa and get a white card (social visit pass).
If you need to work before the expiry of your white card, you can apply for a short-term visa without making an appointment and go directly to the ICA during working hours.
When the child is successfully enrolled in school and the rest society is on the right track, this is just the beginning, and parents need to plan the future path and development plan for their child so that the child can successfully enter the ideal university.