Grade 9 Subject Choices  @ Rustomjee Cambridge

English FLE:  First LAnguage English, English ESL:  English as a Second Language

PCB:  Physics, Chemistry, Biology

ICT is  Information and Communication Technology

GP is Global Perspectives

FAQS

1. What are all the Stream Options for students to choose

   • We offer two basic Streams:  Science  (with Biology or ICT) and Commerce.  Depending on whether your child wants to study abroad or in India after Grade 12, we have created Codes as below:

     • S-bio (Science with Bio - for engineering, medicine, pharmacy and any other science field in India or abroad)

     • S-ict  (Science - ICT - for engineering only after Grade 12  in India or abroad) 

     • C-ict (Commerce -ict)

2. My child is unable to decide whether to pick the Science Stream or Commerce Stream.  Which stream should I select?

   • Select the option:  "Science-bio"

   • If your child is not decided, then we recommend the child picks the Science Stream with Biology  option so that the child keeps all the options open after Grade 10.  

   • A Science student can transfer to a commerce stream after Grade 10, but a Commerce student cannot transfer to a Science Stream after Grade 10.

3. Why is GP being made mandatory at Grade 9 and kept optional at Grade 10

   • Over the past two years, we have observed that our students who have opted for GP in the past have developed a stronger personality because of their enhanced critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity through individual and group projects.  

   • We would like to make it mandatory because these life skills are esential for success, beyond just academic performance.

   • Since this is our first cohort of 240 students in Grade 9, we would like to give the students the option to review their interest and performance in GP at the end of Grade 9. 

   • We believe NO Student will drop GP in Year 10.  We are confident all students will enjoy GP.

   • In the future years, the school will make GP mandatory at Grade 10 as well.

4. We were informed that Global Perspectives is a lot of work, and very hard?

   • Global Perspectives does require time and effort, but it is definitely worth it.

   • The skills development in the students because of Global Perspectives is significant and the impact will be visible when the student enrolls into their Bachelor degree program.  

   • We strongly recommend Global Perspectives as a subject.

5. Why is a foreign language not offered?  Why is Hindi made mandatory? Why is Marathi being made compulsory at Grade 9?

   • We are fortunate that in India most of us are multilingual.  

   • Any language which is not your mother tongue is a foreign language.

   • So, for most of us English is a Foreign Language, and so is Hindi, and Marathi. 

   • This multilingual ability stands us at a fabulous advantage when our students apply to international universities. It speaks of our student's ability to grasp a language

   • French/German/Spanish at IGCSE do not provide any additional advantage to students when they apply to international universities.  

   • Unless you choose to go to France or Germany for further studies, these languages do not offer any advantage.

   • And if you would like to keep your option open to go to France or Germany for further studies, even then the IGCSE level assessment doesn't offer any advantage.  

   • French and Germany certifications start at A1 level, and then go on to A2, B1,B2.  Universities in France and Germany require proficiency level of  B1 which IGCSE French or IGCSE German doesnt match.

   • We have an alumnus of our school, Tannavee Korgaonkar, who has started her own venture, Linguaphiles, https://linguaphiles.org/, offering the following certifications for students and parents who would like to explore further studies in France and Germany.  They teach European languages in 6 levels : A1 for absolute beginners, A2 for pre-intermediate users, B1 for intermediate users, B2 for upper-intermediate users, C1 for advanced users and C2 for proficient users.  

     • 1. Foreign Language: as an external certification. 

       2. DELF is an official diploma awarded by the French Ministry of Education to certify that foreign candidates have achieved a certain level of French. 

       3. The Goethe-Institut certificate (Zertifikat) is recognised worldwide as a German language certification, and can be used in Germany for visa, residence permit and citizenship applications, as well as for university entrance requirements.

6. Why are you going to form divisions based on whether a student goes for tuition or not?

   • We strongly advocate 'No Tuition' policy.  We would like to support students and parents who believe in the philosophy of 'No Tuition'

   • Students scoring above 70% in Grade 8 definitely don’t need any tuition assistance.

   • Students struggling to understand concepts in a subject may seek tuition support.  

   • We find students who go for tuition classes DO NOT pay attention in the school and disrupt the environment for all learners.

   • This puts students  who haven't opted for tuition at a disadvantage, depriving them of their only learning opportunity in school.

   • The goal will to form 'no tuition' division but will depend on other factors such as subject choices, class strength, etc. 

   • Undertaking to be given by the parent and the student at the beginning of the year

   • Any student disturbing the learning environment in anyway will NOT be allowed to attend class.

   • Please note that the Division formed basis "self-study" is only to prevent disruption in learning.  There will be no discrimination in teaching style and approach based on divisions formed.

7. Can my child write the English ESL in March and the English FLE option in May?

   • FLE: is First Language English, and 

   • ESL: is English as a Second Langauge.

   • Yes, your child may write both the options.  Though it is really not necessary.

   • Kindly note that admissions to junior college or undergraduate programs in India or abroad DO NOT differentiate between English ESL or English FLE.

   • There is absolutely no disadvantage to writing English ESL.

   • Besides,  in Grade 9 all students are studying English FLE

8. My child is struggling with Marathi.  What can I do?

   • To help your child improve his Marathi reading and conversation skills, we recommend you can look at additional tutorial support in the form of external tuition.

   • Focus on building reading skills first, and oral grammar.

9. We are working parents, and we send our children for tuition so that we can ensure that the child is atleast studying

   • Unless we teach our children responsibility, the children will never learn.

   • It is important to trust our children and work with our children to teach them how to study, how to read the textbook, how to make study notes.

   • If you need someone to supervise your child when he is studying, look at alternative options. Find out how other parents whose children are opting for self-study are coping with this.

   • Encourage your child to form study groups with his classmates.

   • Review the notes that your child is making in the subject.  You can even ask your child's friends or school teachers to review that the notes are being prepared

   • Teach your child to study reading aloud.  When a child reads aloud, there is lesser distraction as the mind doesn't wander during reading.  If a child reads silently, then the mind gets distracted with multiple thoughts.

   • Finally if you must send your child for tuition classes, please do consider school recommended teachers who will be able to guide your child better.

10. My child is always on social media and on the phone or computer

    • As a parent it is important you establish certain ground rules with regards to use of phone and social media.

    • Collectively all parents can get together and form rules which can work

    • You can negotiate with your child what is acceptable and what is not acceptable

    • You might to look at how the earlier generation of parents raised children, and maybe learn a few tricks from your parents on how to inculcate discipline

11. Why is sports important?

    • Any physical activity that gets the child out in the open - running, walking, cycling or playing football is beneficial and helps children expend their boundless energies as well as relax them.

    • We have observed physically active children do much better in studies and in life

12. External counsellors are recommending Psychometric tests for students to help them decide their streams.  Should we consider them?

    • The School doesn't endorse any Psychometric testing for students at Grades 8 or 9.  

    • The students are still young and their interest and aptitude will evolve.

    • Most of the pyschometric test results are not accurate because the administration of the test and interpretation of the results is suspect.

    • We recommend that you keep the subject selection broadbased at Grades 9 and 10 so that the student keeps all career options open and can take a more informed decision in Grade 11 and 12.