Kellock Connects! - CHIJ (Kellock)
Transcription
Kellock Connects! - CHIJ (Kellock)
Kellock Connects! Issue 2 26 March 2015 A Christ-centred learning community where every child will develop her unique giftedness to lead and make a difference. From the Vice-Principal’s Desk… As we enter into Term 2, let us recollect the exciting and eventful first term of 2015! It was an action-packed term as we witnessed various exciting programmes and events. Many of such programmes are the result of close collaboration between our departments and the Parent Support Group (PSG). In our endeavour to deliver a holistic education where every child is important to us and where we hope to develop every child’s unique gifts, we need the entire community to work with us. It has been said that it takes ‘a village to raise a child’ and this is especially true as we see our PSG collaborating with the school in many of the events and programmes this year. We began the new year with our annual PSG Welcome Breakfast and was pleasantly surprised by the huge turnout of over a 100 parents who attended the meeting and signed up to volunteer in various events. We are especially thankful that some have generously contributed to our Student Welfare Fund, Sponsor-A-Child, to help the less privileged girls in our midst. It was heartwarming to see many of our parents giving themselves to serve in the different sub-committees lined up by the PSG. We partnered with the PSG who spearheaded Tutti-Frutti Tuesdays, serving fruits at recess to complement the school’s effort in educating our students to eat healthily. Partnership with parents extended to the organising of Careers Day with the CCE Department where all our girls had the opportunity to hear from professionals from the corporate world and different industries. They showed our students what it takes to be an author, lawyer, pilot, choreographer, sailor, flight stewardess, journalist, Olympic hurdler, scientist, game scientist, sports trainer and designer. Each of the 12 professionals shared their expertise, and the skills and demands required in the different fields of work, and also urged our students to cultivate the right attitude and passion to stay on the job. In this issue … 1. Remembering Mr Lee Kuan Yew 2. SG50 Celebrations @ Kellock 3. Voice of our Heads of Departments 3.1 English Dept. 3.2 MTL Dept. 3.3 Mathematics Dept 3.4 Science Dept. 4. Updates/ Announcements 4.1 Staff Appointments 4.2 Safety & Security 4.3 International Friendship Day 4.4 Founder’s Day 4.5 Parents’ Symposium 4.6 Assessment Matters The development of character and citizenship in our children is influenced by what happens in school, in the family and in the wider community. The learning of values, skills and competencies will be more effective and enriching for our children if what is taught in school is reinforced by what is practised at home and what is endorsed by the community. Home-school collaboration becomes therefore, a needful component in raising a healthy, well-adjusted child. To foster greater home-school collaboration, CHIJ Kellock attempts to engage parents through various platforms such as, briefings for parents, beginning-of-year meet-ups with the Form Teachers, mid-year parentteacher conference, parental involvement in class-based activities and the conduct of various workshops and events for parental involvement. 1 Bukit Teresa Road, Singapore 099757 Tel: 6273 0096, Fax: 6273 1710, Email: chijks@moe.edu.sg http://www.chijkellock.moe.edu.sg 4.7 Calendar 5. Parents Support Group Matters To this end, we are launching our inaugural Parents’ Symposium, themed Engaging and Empowering Parents to provide parents with an insight to the academic curriculum and how it is taught in school. At the symposium, parents will have the option to choose from 12 of the breakout sessions which will cover the different academic subjects as well as parenting skills. A keynote speaker has also been invited to touch on ‘Good Cyber-Wellness Values’ with an emphasis on Resilience, a much needed value that is especially important during the growing up years when our children face challenges, pressure and rejection from peers. When schools, families, and community groups work together to support learning, children tend to do better in school, stay in school longer, and like school more. Let us work together to bring out the best in our children and to continue to nurture in them values that will prepare them for a lifelong journey. Yours sincerely, Yap Tsui Lan (Mrs) Vice-Principal 2 2 1. The staff and students at CHIJ Kellock are deeply saddened by the passing of Mr Lee on Monday, 23 March 2015. As the leader among the core group of founding fathers of Independent Singapore, Mr Lee has been pivotal in shaping the course of our nation’s history. He had dedicated his life to the building of a prosperous and cohesive country where Singaporeans can pursue the ideals of democracy, justice, peace, progress and equality. The passing of Mr Lee is a deep loss to all of us. As a mark of respect to Mr Lee, the State flag and school flag will be flown at half-mast from 23 March 2015 to 29 March 2015. The observance ceremony on 24 March 2015 including a minute of silence after the pledge allowed all staff and students to reflect on, and pay respect to, the immense contributions of Mr Lee in our nation-building. Resource packages, customised for the lower and upper primary levels, were provided by the Ministry of Education to engage students in reflection on the passing of Mr Lee. CHIJ Kellock will be involved in the state ceremony on Thursday morning, 26 March. As every school will be involved in paying of respect during the Lying-in-State at Parliament House, only the principal, Ms Magdalene Chin, together with 4 staff and 15 students, will attend the ceremony. To allow more members of public to also pay homage to Mr Lee, Heartland Tribute Sites are also established in some of the neighbourhood estates. For students who could not be included in the school-organised paying of respect at Parliament House, they are strongly encouraged to find out the Heartland Tribute Site nearest to their homes and pay their respect there. Tributes written by staff and students of CHIJ Kellock will be posted onto the school website. If you would like to write a tribute in remembrance of Mr Lee, you may do so at http://www.rememberingleekuanyew.sg/. A tribute from Kellock to Mr Lee Kuan Yew… 3 2. SG50 Celebrations @ Kellock CHIJ Kellock celebrates Singapore’s 50th anniversary of her independence with the theme Honouring the Past, Celebrating the Present & Co-creating the Future. To help our students develop an awareness, understanding and appreciation of The Singapore Story, we have lined up an array of exciting activities and events commemorating the different eras in Singapore’s history. These will be spread over the four school terms as follows:Terms 1 2 3 4 Theme Honouring the Past Honouring the Past Celebrating the Present Co- Creating the Future Era 1960-1970s 1980-1990s 2000-2015 2015 and Beyond Kick-starting the SG50 celebrations in Term 1, was the Chinese New Year concert. The theme was Our Heritage, Our Pride which focused on getting our students to appreciate their roots. Various activities were planned to increase students’ awareness of the different languages and dialects used in the 1960s and 1970s in Singapore. Keeping in line with the theme of Honouring the Past, senior citizens from Radin Mas Residential Community and the grandparents of our Primary 1 and 2 students were invited to our Chinese New Year celebration. The gratitude shown to the pioneers who had sacrificed much in the building of Singapore was indeed very heart-warming. Both the young generation and the pioneers gamely took part in many activities specially planned during the celebration. Involving the pioneer generation in our programmes and activities will be a running theme throughout the year. Singapore Time Machine To help our students better appreciate and understand the journey Singapore took to become what it is today, our very own Singapore Time Machine, a monthly morning assembly segment will feature significant milestones in the history of Singapore. Students will also learn more about the living conditions, education system and Singapore’s pioneers through the fun and interactive assembly sharing by our very own ‘legendary’ school characters Dola and Lola. These activities will propel our students to actively participate in celebrating Singapore’s 50th birthday and cultivate a sense of belonging and love for our nation. 4 3. Voice of our Heads of Departments 3.1 English Language Department by HOD/English, Mrs Jean Toh At CHIJ Kellock, the English Language (EL) Department aims to provide effective and engaged learning and teaching in Standard English to our students. Our key emphasis is to create a vibrant environment that promotes and encourages proper expression in Standard English for our students. As such, the department’s programmes and initiatives have been planned to achieve the department’s vision: English Week 2015: Good English – Any time, Any place, Anywhere! (2 Mar-9 Mar) The EL Department commemorated the launch of the school’s annual event, English Week, in Term 1. EL Week aims to provide platforms and opportunities for students to develop a love for the language through a variety of interesting and meaningful activities planned for the week. As a lead-up, two students, Ananya Sharma of Primary 5 Ixora and Deborah Ng of Primary 5 Lily, played the roles of superheroes to educate their peers on the importance of speaking good English in order to be understood by others. Following the lead-up, the school was honoured to have Ms Tan Ter Cheah, author of the book titled ONE – a true story of grit and courage, to speak with the students about her love for English and how she used her flair in writing to share her personal story so as to inspire and motivate people around her. On top of that, to encourage and motivate students to think, write, read and speak clearly and effectively, there were also exciting level-wide activities from Primary 1 to Primary 6 tailored to suit the different age groups. We had Kellock’s very own signature programme known as Speak Proper English At Kellock (SPEAK) Award Competitions, an interesting story-telling session by Master Storyteller – Ms Kamini Ramachandran, a session with author – Ms Jessica Alejandro and a writing workshop conducted by authors – Ms Monica Lim and Miss Lesley Ann-Tan. In CHIJ Kellock, we are committed to recognise, nurture and develop the potential of each student. As such, the EL Department is implementing the Stretch and Support Programme after school hours to cater to the different needs of the students. EL Stretch Programme @ Kellock Targeted at stretching students with an excellent grasp of the language, the Stretch Programme comprises specially tailored curriculum which is extended beyond the basic syllabus in depth and breadth. It is designed to stimulate individual growth and help students realise their full potential by providing an array of opportunities to deepen student’s repertoire of skills and knowledge with regards to the English Language. 5 EL Support Programme @ Kellock The Support Programme at Kellock is aimed at students who face challenges in the English Language. It is designed to support students’ mastery of specific language skills and fundamental knowledge through a specially designed curriculum. With a smaller class size, specific remediation can be done. By providing these students with a strong foundation, they will be better able to gradually grasp basic language concepts and progress towards being a more competent user of the English Language. REAP & READ @ Kellock Reading is an important key to unlock our students’ ability to be confident and effective communicators. It exposes our students to knowledge and experiences, widening their perspectives and enabling them to communicate confidently. Through reading, students gain an understanding of the beauty and power of words, giving them an edge in communicating and writing effectively. To encourage our students to read, READ & REAP @ Kellock comprises a series of outreach efforts to expose students to the different genres of books and to enthuse them to read widely. These efforts include Read-Swop-Share, Books-to-Go and Book Buzz. This year, the English Department has successfully implemented Super Storytastic!, a fortnightly storytelling session for students during silent reading in the morning. Facilitated by parent volunteers, students will be treated to age-appropriate stories where a rich discussion may follow after the reading of the story. To further promote reading, the department will be introducing the Book Crossing programme in this term. Book Crossing is defined as ‘the practice of leaving a book in a public place to be picked up and read by others, who then do likewise’. In order to make the whole school a library, corners will be set up in the school hall for students to share their books with others or to pick up a book of their interest to read before returning it for others to enjoy. To keep this sustainable, students will be strongly encouraged to bring a storybook to school to share with their friends on 21 April, in conjunction with International Book Crossing Day. SG50 Commemoration To celebrate Singapore’s 50th birthday, the English Department will be spearheading a publication of fifty stories contributed by our budding writers. This is in collaboration with the Mother Tongue Department and the Character and Citizenship Department. With Singapore’s history as the setting for their stories, students will learn to appreciate Singapore’s heritage and use their imagination to create beautiful stories set in different eras. To achieve this, selected writers will work closely with authors in residence as they learn strategies in creative writing and apply the skills taught in their final stories which will be published in a book. An electronic version of it will also be made available for download towards the end of the year. Do visit the school’s website, www,chijkellock.moe.edu.sg, to learn more about the English programmes in the school. 6 3.2 Mother Tongue Language Department by HOD/MTL, Mdm Wong Foong Li & SH/TL & ML, Mdm Tunisha Mother Tongue Fortnight 2015 (5 Feb - 18 Feb) This is the fourth consecutive year that the MTL Department has organised Mother Tongue Fortnight for students in CHIJ Kellock. The theme for this year’s fortnight was Our Heritage, Our Pride. This was part of the school’s celebrations for SG50, where our students learned about their roots by increasing their awareness of the different languages and dialects used in the 1960s and 1970s in Singapore. Another objective of the fortnight was for students to appreciate the contributions made by the pioneers of that era. The Mother Tongue Fortnight ended on a high note with the Chinese New Year (CNY) concert on 18 February. To celebrate Singapore’s 50 years of independence, the CNY celebration was used as a platform to pay tribute to our pioneer generation. Therefore, besides the senior citizens from Radin Mas Residential Community, the grandparents of our P1 and P2 students were invited to join in the festive celebration. The pioneers greatly enjoyed the concert and the grandparents participated enthusiastically in the craft making sessions with their granddaughters. This activity which provided an opportunity for the grandparents to bond with their granddaughters was very well-received. P4 Mother Tongue Language (MTL) and Cultural Camp 2015 (13 July) Besides the Mother Tongue Fortnight, the MTL Department will also be organising an annual Language and Cultural Camp for our P4 students. The objectives of this camp are to provide an immersive environment for students to learn and use MTL and to appreciate the different MTL cultures through hands-on activities. Educational Exchange Programme to China (24 May – 29 May) The Chinese Department will be organising a 6-day China Educational Exchange Programme to Xiamen, Chaozhou and Yonding in May 2015. This programme integrates the learning outcomes of the CL Department’s school-based curriculum of “We are Campus Reporters” (WeCaRe) programme and “We are Bilingual” (WeB) programme. The main objectives of this exchange programme are: to extend the WeB programme beyond borders so as to provide opportunities for the students to reinforce and apply the knowledge they have learnt from the WeB programme and the WeCaRe workshop; to immerse the students in the rich culture and history of China so that they are able to appreciate how the different cultures have influenced the language; to enhance students’ learning of the Chinese Language through the learning tasks assigned to them during the trip. 7 CHIJ Combined Schools Malay and Tamil Languages Cultural Camp (16 March) Our P6 students participated in the Tamil Language IJ Cultural Camp while both our P3 and P6 students attended the Malay Language IJ Cultural Camp. These camps are organised annually by our IJ cluster to increase cultural awareness in our students. The focus for this year’s camps is to enhance students’ knowledge of the historical and cultural heritage of the Tamil and Malay Languages. Our students had the opportunity to interact with students and teachers of the other CHIJ schools using their Mother Tongue languages through the various activities. The camp was held on 16 March from 8.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. at CHIJ (Katong) Primary School. Educational Tours to JB/Malacca and Sarawak (25 May-26 May) P5 students who are learning Tamil will be involved in an Educational Tour to JB/Malacca in this term. The objectives of the trip are to create opportunities for them to learn the language beyond the classroom and at the same time, understand the Indian culture and traditions. P5 students learning Malay will take part in a similar educational trip to Sarawak in Term 4. More information will be furnished nearer to the dates. Hari Raya Puasa & Deepavali Concerts and Activities The Malay Department will be collaborating with the Creative Arts Department to conduct activities for Hari Raya Puasa. One interesting activity which will be conducted during recess is the ketupat weaving. In keeping with the school’s firm belief of home-school partnership, the grandparents and parents of the students learning the Malay Language will help during the ketupat weaving activity. Similarly, the Tamil Department will organise recess activities and a concert for the Deepavali celebrations. Activities such as saree tying and Rangoli / Kolam drawing have been planned for the recess activities. These activities will be facilitated by volunteer grandparents and parents similar to the Malay Department’s. There will also be a Deepavali concert for the whole school. 3.3 Mathematics Department by HOD/Mathematics, Mrs Arif Hong Mathematics underpins many aspects of our everyday activities. The learning of Mathematics provides an excellent vehicle to train the mind and to develop the capacity to think logically, abstractly, critically and creatively. These are important 21st century competencies that we must imbue in our students (CPDD, MOE, Mathematics Syllabus Primary, 2013, pg 3). In Kellock, we engage our students in a variety of Mathematics learning experiences to develop positive attitude and love for the subject. At the same time, Kellock focuses on the development of problem solving skills in our students to ensure that they achieve a level of mastery that will serve them well in their lives and to meet the challenges of the 21st century. The mission of the Mathematics Department is: To develop the love of mathematics learning and mathematical problem solving abilities in our girls 8 Problem Solving Package (PSP) The programme, Problem Solving Package (PSP), aims to equip our students with various thinking skills and heuristics to help them develop their problem solving skills in Mathematics. Each skill or heuristic is taught under a key concept or strategy. This programme aims to develop appropriate problem-solving skills in our students at the different levels from Primary 1 to Primary 6. Some of the thinking skills and problem solving heuristics are: Thinking Skills Heuristics Identifying patterns and relationships Comparing Sequencing Analysing part and whole Induction Deduction Spatial Visualisation To give a representation e.g. draw a diagram, make a list To make a calculated guess e.g. guess and check, look for patterns, make suppositions To go through the process e.g. work backwards, before-after To change the problem e.g. restate the problem, simplify the problem In equipping the students with problem solving skills in Mathematics, the department has adopted the Polya Model for Problem Solving. Using the acronym, UPER, we hope to scaffold students’ thinking process in their approach to problem solving. Step 1 (A) : Understand the Problem What are you asked to find/solve? What facts do you have? What do you know that is not stated in the problem? Step 2 (B) : Plan What strategies do you know? Try a strategy that seems workable Step 3 (C) : Execute the Plan Write out the steps Think of the big steps first, and then do the little steps Step 4 (D) : Review Re-read the question Did you answer the questions asked? Does your answer make sense? How do you know? 9 3.4 Science Department by HOD/Science, Ms Lui Ling There is always something new to learn about science and the environment! There is no better time than now, in Singapore’s 50th year, to reflect on our natural heritage. The Science Department, in conjunction with SG50 celebrations, will be rolling out a series of level-based activities to celebrate the nation’s 50th birthday through the course of the year. In alignment with the key tenets of the school’s vision to Learn, Lead and Make a Difference, it is the mission of the Science Department in CHIJ Kellock to inspire a passion for science in our students through engaging programmes and inquiry-based activities. With your support as our partners in education, as well as the community, we aim to develop scientifically literate students who can make informed decisions based on scientific evidence - students who not only love science, but who also enjoy the learning process in Science! To this end, the Science Department continues to engage students through enrichment programmes such as the Young Scientist @ Kellock Programme, where activities in the Young Scientist Card series have been integrated into the school-based Science curriculum to make learning real, rich, relevant and rewarding. This year, students are further guided in the completion of the cards through the implementation of take-home weekend assignments through which parents can bond with their daughters while completing science assignments that require further exploration of their surroundings or more in-depth study of science topics. Going beyond the confines of the syllabus, the Young Scientist @ Kellock Programme this year, will be extended to include a Scientist in Focus series. Through mini articles, students will be introduced to scientists who have made significant contributions through their scientific discoveries. It is intended that these articles extend classroom discussions to include the value of science and values in Science. School values as demonstrated by these featured scientists will provide the reflective learner with much food for thought. In this term, in support of the Student Management Department’s Women in Leadership series, Scientist in Focus will feature prominent women in Singapore who have contributed to Singapore’s society in the areas of science, the environment and research. As part of the Science Department’s SG50 celebrations, a theatre group engaged by NParks, has been invited to stage the play Secrets of the Swamp in Kellock. Based on the book of the same title written by author and journalist Neil Humphrey, the story follows the adventures of siblings, Alfie, Luke and Pacey, as they go in search of horseshoe crabs in a mangrove swamp. Besides encouraging children to develop a relationship with their natural environment, the play aims to raise awareness of Singapore’s biodiversity by featuring native species of flora and fauna. Full of twists and turns, it also reminds children to do their part in keeping our garden city a beautiful place to live in. The staging of Secrets of the Swamp heralds the start of a series of SG50 activities to be conducted at the various levels, including the following highlights: Primary 3: National Butterfly Campaign Primary 4: Nocturnal Animals of Singapore Workshop (P4 Camp) Primary 5: DNA Model Making – The Kellock DNA Primary 6: Animate to Advocate – Kellock Video Awards 10 Our littlest scientists in P3, who are working on the Young Zoologist and Botanist cards, embarked on an Imaginary Animal Project under the DIVERSITY theme in the Science syllabus. Students did not merely dream of, but actually created a 3D model to bring to life an imaginary animal using both Science knowledge as well as art and craft skills. This challenge will culminate in an exhibition to be held in the library in late March. Our P3s will also get the chance to get up close and personal with the American Bull frog species in the upcoming Social Studies / Science learning journey to the Jurong Frog Farm in Term 2, where students will be expected to apply science, as well as ICT skills, to create a comic strip (Comic Life) to illustrate the different stages in the life cycle of the frog. Working in teams, our P4 students put their engineering skills to good use in an attempt to breathe life to their models of the Human Digestive System. As part of their study of the human body under the SYSTEMS theme, students had to select appropriate materials, relating property of materials to the intended function of the organ. The objective is to build and create realistic 3D models that simulate the functions of the Digestive System in humans. Lower primary (P1 and P2) students will get a glimpse of what learning Science as a curriculum subject is like when they get invited to view an up-coming exhibition of students’ works to learn more about the Human Body Systems. Still on the theme of SYSTEMS, our P5 students will be going on a Science Learning Journey to the Science Centre’s DNA Lab where they get to be a forensic scientist for a day! Students will be engaged in activities that lead them to unravel the mysteries of life, and in the process, give them a deeper understanding of life Science topics (Cells, Genetics and Heredity) and bioethical issues. This event will end off with SG50 – the Kellock DNA. Moving on to the theme of INTERACTIONS, our P6 students will foray deep into the heart of the Sungei Buloh mangroves to discover the diversity of local flora and fauna species found in this local natural heritage. The inter-relationships between the environment and the organisms living there will fascinate our young explorers, who will take home with them the key messages of nature conservation and preservation in a world coping with climate changes. Back in the classrooms, students will reflect on and log their outdoor experiences, applying their research and learning in a Science animation project on environmental stewardship. By engaging students in the above manner, we hope that our girls, your daughters, will see the value of science in their everyday lives and relate daily events to their understanding of Science. It is our hope that the enthusiasm and curiosity for Science developed through the Primary school years will continue throughout their lives as students grow in knowledge of themselves and the scientific world around them. 11 4. Updates / Announcements 4.1 Staff Appointments We are pleased to announce the following new appointments to our School Executive Committee (EXCO) Team: • • 4.2 Mrs Janet Tan - Upper Primary Year Head Miss Chan Wen Hui - SH PE & CCA Safety and Security Matters Temperature-taking and Haze Management We started the year with a temperature-taking exercise on 7 January. All Primary 1 students were issued a thermometer. After the temperature-taking exercise, students were encouraged to always keep their thermometers in their school bags, ready to use, when the need arises. We also conducted a briefing on haze management in Term 1 to ensure that students are prepared if there is a need to evacuate. The school has also arranged to provide our students with packed meals at $1.50 to be consumed in the allocated areas should the air quality deteriorate to the point where dining in the school canteen is not recommended. In-Place Protection As the safety and health of our students and staff are of priority to us, the school conducted an In-Place Protection exercise in conjunction with Total Defence Day. This exercise is aimed at safeguarding the lives of students and staff in the event of the release of toxic gas into the atmosphere and it involves everyone staying indoors and shutting off windows and doors to reduce potential exposure to the hazard. Automated External Defibrillator (AED) The automated external defibrillator (AED) is a medical device that analyses the heart’s rhythm and delivers an electrical shock (defibrillation), if necessary, which helps the heart re-establish an effective rhythm. Thus, in the event of anyone experiencing a heart failure, the AED helps to increase the person’s chance of survival. Three AEDs have been installed in the school and all staff has undergone training in the use of the AED and CPR awareness. Playground Updates A thorough safety review of the school playground was completed in Term 1, with the help of a Senior Specialist from MOE. Students have also been briefed both at assemblies and during PE lessons on the appropriate use of the playground equipment. As with Term 1 guidelines on 12 the use of the playground, the school playground continues to be accessible to students during recess, under the supervision of our school teachers. School Gate Opening Hours / School Passes As safety and security are very important issues in school, we appeal to parents and guardians to help us to promote a safe and secure learning environment for our students. We seek your kind understanding in obtaining a Visitor’s Pass in exchange for your Identification Card if you need to enter the school. For parents who are using the side or back gates, the information below will help facilitate your drop-off and pick-up of your daughters/wards. Side Gate A (Bukit Teresa Road) Opening Hours During School Days Morning Monday - Wednesday 6.30 a.m. - 7.30 a.m. Afternoon 1.30 p.m. - 2.10 p.m. 3.00 p.m. - 5.30 p.m. Thursday - Friday 6.30 a.m. - 7.30 a.m. 1.00 p.m. - 1.40 p.m. 3.00 p.m. - 5.30 p.m. Back Gate C (next to the Church) Opening Hours During School Days Morning Monday - Wednesday 6.30 a.m. - 7.30 a.m. Afternoon 1.40 p.m. - 2.10 p.m. 3.00 p.m. - 4.20 p.m. Thursday - Friday 6.30 a.m. - 7.30 a.m. 1.10 p.m. - 1.40 p.m. 3.00 p.m. - 4.20 p.m. Traffic Updates We would like to thank all parents for cooperating with the school in facilitating the smooth arrival and dismissal of your child. With the LTA’s implementation of No Right Turn to Kampong Bahru Road, we are happy to announce that traffic at Bukit Purmei has been smoother and less congested. We continue to appeal to you to be patient and to slow down when approaching the school as there are many parents and children walking to school from Bukit Purmei, Kampong Bahru Road and Bukit Teresa Road. To further enhance road safety, we would also like to inform you that LTA carried out the following works during the March school holidays: a) Widening of the turning radius from Kampong Bahru Road towards Bukit Purmei Road to make it safer for cars turning in. 13 b) Building additional walking path from Kampong Bahru Road to Bukit Teresa Road (AYE Side) to make it safer for both parents and students walking to school. 4.3 International Friendship Day – Deepening International Friendships (10 Apr) Celebrating International Friendship Day (IFD) provides us with a great opportunity to help our students learn and appreciate other cultures in cosmopolitan Singapore and nurture in our students the spirit of friendship and collaboration among different people. The theme for this year is Deepening International Friendships. As we get more globally connected, it is important to develop an appreciation of and celebrate the diversity of the different nationalities, cultures and religions amidst us. It is important to maintain good relations with our neighbouring countries and celebrate the vibrancy of the different nationalities who live next to us. A series of exciting activities have been lined up for students to deepen their understanding of the relations that we share with other countries: 1. A series of pre-assembly talks will be conducted during IFD week to help students understand the importance of having a harmonious relationship with our neighbouring countries and to develop an appreciation for the different nationalities and cultures. 2. The Finger Players, one of Singapore’s leading theatre companies, will be presenting a special assembly programme, My Friend, A Japanese Soldier, on 7 April, Tuesday. Revolving around an unlikely friendship between a Japanese soldier and a local boy, this performance is a powerful, educational drama about survival and courage. 3. The main event will be an international fiesta where students get an opportunity to learn more about the culture and food of other countries. To enhance the learning experience, students will have extended recesses on IFD. All students are also encouraged to come dressed in traditional costumes of countries around the world on IFD, 10 April. 4.4 Founder’s Day (28 May) On Founder’s Day, we remember the founder of all the IJ schools, Blessed Nicholas Barrè. The Founder’s Day celebration will begin with a Eucharistic celebration at the Church of St Teresa at 7.45 a.m. In conjunction with the celebration of SG50, the focus of the 2015 Founder’s Day celebration will be on the contributions made by the pioneer educators of CHIJ Kellock with a tribute and a short play in the school hall. We will be taking this opportunity to show our respect and appreciation to the contributions made by our pioneer educators to CHIJ Kellock. In addition, the Primary 5 students will participate in a heritage trail where they would learn more about Blessed Nicholas Barrè and his contribution towards the founding of the CHIJ Schools around the world and in Singapore. The heritage trail will take place on this day and the venue will be within the school compound. This trail will allow students to better understand our founder and the IJ mission. Lessons will resume in the second half of the day for the rest of the levels after the celebrations. 14 4.5 Parents' Symposium 2015 – Engaging and Empowering Parents (18 Apr) We are pleased to organise the Parents' Symposium 2015 for all CHIJ Kellock parents. The theme for this year’s symposium is Engaging and Empowering Parents. We hope that through the enriching workshops, sharing sessions and activities planned in this programme, parents will be engaged and empowered to guide their daughters in the learning of the various subjects, as well as receiving parenting tips on family and parenting issues. As a mark of respect during this period of national mourning on the demise of our Founding Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, this event has been postponed. The details are as follows:Date: 18 April (Saturday) Venue: CHIJ Kellock, School Hall (Level 2) Time: 8.00 a.m. – 12.30 p.m. (Light refreshments will be provided.) We would like to thank the parents who have registered for the workshops for their support. As parking lots are limited in our school compound, please park at the nearby public car park on the day of the symposium. Your kind understanding on this matter is greatly appreciated. 4.6 Assessment Matters This term, Primary 3 to Primary 6 students will be having Semestral Assessment 1. This assessment carries a weighting of 40% for Primary 3 to Primary 5 students, while for Primary 6, it is 100%. The following table shows the schedule for Semestral Assessment 1. Day Monday & Wednesday Date 20 April & 22 April Subject English Language Orals & Mother Tongue Language Orals Level P6 (after school hours) Monday & Thursday Tuesday 27 April & 30 April 28 April English Language Orals & Mother Tongue Language Orals P5 (after school hours) English Language Orals & Mother Tongue Language Orals P3 Wednesday 29 April P4 Monday 4 May English Language Orals & Mother Tongue Language Orals Higher Mother Tongue Language Paper 1 P5 & P6 Wednesday 6 May English Language Paper 1 P3 – P6 Thursday 7 May Mother Tongue Language Paper 1 P3 – P6 Friday Monday Thursday 8 May 11 May – 14 May Higher Mother Tongue Language Paper 2 Written Papers – English Language, Mother Tongue Language, Mathematics and Science P 5 & P6 P3 – P6 15 We would like to remind parents to ensure that your child is present on the examination days. If your child is unable to sit for any of the above papers, a medical certificate is required for her absence. The table below indicates the various codes which will be printed in the Result Slips of students who are absent for any paper/components during the examination. Code AB MC VR Reasons for Absence Absent without a valid reason Absent with Medical Certificate Absent with valid reasons (Official supporting document must be submitted. Please note that letter of excuse from Parent/Guardian is NOT acceptable.) Follow-Up Action by School Score of ‘0’ is entered for the component(s)/paper(s) missed. Component(s)/Paper(s) missed will not be used for the computation of the overall results. More information on the duration of each paper, the topics and components to be tested for Semestral Assessment 1 will be given to you in a separate circular. 4.7 Calendar We have received positive feedback from parents on the newly-introduced K-Bites, a monthly update on the School Calendar. Thank you for your support and encouragement. Below is a snapshot of key events in Term 2, for you to take note of. The April 2015 K-bites will be distributed by 31 March 2015. Date 31 March Event/Programme Prefects’ Investiture 06 April NAPFA – 5-items (P6) 13 April NAPFA – 5-items (P4) 17 April NAPFA – 1.6 km run (P6) 18 April Parents’ Symposium (8.00 a.m. – 12.30 p.m.) 24 April NAPFA – 1.6 km run (P4) 22 May E-Learning cum Administrative Day 27 May Parent-Teacher Conference & SA1 Results Day 28 May Founder’s Day 29 May Founder’s Day School Holiday 16 5. Parents Support Group Matters CHIJ Kellock PSG Welcoming New Parents, Unfolding Great Ideas “When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is BLESSED” From The Chairperson Kellock PSG had an astounding Term One, filled with activities of celebration, making new friends and launching new initiatives. The Exco, our newly formed SubCommittees and adhoc parent volunteers worked very hard but the responses from the children and teachers made it all worthwhile. A big thank you to all volunteers who have taken the step forward and made a difference! 05.01.15 PSG Welcome Breakfast The training room was filled to the brim with over 100 new P1 parents and P2-P6 parents, wanting to learn more about our PSG activities and events. Parents were briefed on how they can play a more proactive role in school and learnt in greater detail the different areas they could contribute to. Kellock PSG rolled out 3 new initiatives this year: Tutti Frutti Tuesdays, Reading Mums & Dads and Dads For Life. Each committee set up booths around the room and the signup rate was very encouraging. We thank all who came and showed us your support; it truly boosts our motivational levels as well. 28.01.15 – 12.02.15 CNY Cookie Sale ~ Fund-raising for PSG Fund The PSG Fund supports the activities and events organised by Kellock PSG for the school, its students and its community. This fund allows the continuity of these activities that promote parental involvement and bonding with their children, enriching our young and helping those in need. We raised $1,209 from this year’s sale of CNY cookies and we hope you enjoyed the delicious cookies made by Cambridge Deli. 03.02.15 Tutti Frutti Tuesdays ~ Launch Day In line with the school’s healthy living initiative, Tutti Frutti Tuesdays was started in a bid to encourage more students to have fruits to complete a well-balanced meal. To make our launch more attractive and to spread our message across to the girls, our very creative mum, Betty, created 4 fruit costumes out of everyday items – don’t they look awesome! Special thanks to our 17 mascot parents: MK as Wang Wang, Katherine as Mei Mei, Juliana as Gua Gua and June as Tao Tao! Not forgetting our group of Tutti Frutti parents, led by Lynn and Germaine, who specially got certified by NEA in order to cut and serve fruits in a safe and hygienic manner. Since the launch, we have sold over 1,800 packets of fruits priced at 20 cents only! We hope to be able to continue this meaningful and healthy initiative. If you are a NEA certified parent or wish to be NEA certified and want to support the Tutti Frutti Sub-Committee, please contact Committee Head – Christine Lee at dec24noel@yahoo.com.sg. With enough support, we can expand this to Tutti Frutti Thursdays too! 04.02.15 – 13.02.15 Valentines’ Day Sales ~ Fund-raising for the Sponsor-A-Child Fund Love was in the air as a group of 15-20 parent volunteers led by SubCommittee Heads, Karen & Puja, handcrafted more than 20 varieties of lovely gift items ranging from super hero lollipops, pencils with words of appreciation and washi-taped glass jars. An estimated 900 items were on sale and everything was sold out! A total of $1,600.35 was raised for the Sponsor-A-Child Fund. Thank you for your generosity! 13.02.15 Total Defence Day ~ Strength of Our Nation As Kellock PSG’s support towards this NE Commemorative Day, Committee Head, Celine, and her group of Tutti Frutti parents prepared an estimated 1,000 pieces of sweet potatoes for our girls to sample. Celine also prepared a poster explaining the different foods sold during TDD, their nutritional values and why these foods were eaten during the Japanese Occupation when water and food were scarce. 18 17.02.15 Careers Day ~ Exploring Horizons An SIA pilot, research scientist, sports management entrepreneur, journalist, children wear designer… these were some of the occupations presented by our parent volunteers for Careers Day. Kellock was also honoured by the attendance of an ex-Olympic hurdler, Dipna Lim Prasad, who shared her experiences to our upper primary girls. The school also invited a special guest, celebrity and author, Edmund Chen, to talk about his profession as an author. The girls were delighted to meet him in person but I think the teachers may have been more excited than the kids this time! 24.02.15 Reading Mums & Dads ~ Launch Day Reading Mums & Dads is a joint effort by the English Department, Mother Tongue Department and Kellock PSG with the aim to promote reading. The programme is currently conducted for English and Chinese reading in 2 formats and are both held before morning assembly: 1) Super Storytastic! – A fortnightly English story-telling segment for different levels on a rotational basis. 2) Buddy Reading – A weekly English and Chinese reading session targeted to level up weaker readers by pairing up with a student buddy and mentor. The programme has so far been well-received by our girls and we hope to continue this effort. If you would like to be a part of the Reading Mums & Dads Sub-Committee, do contact Maura Fogarty at mfogarty312@gmail.com. We are in need of more parents to assist with the Chinese Buddy Reading programme, so do let us know if you can support in this area. 19 Coming Up in Term 2… Phew! That was quite a number of events that happened for Term One, wasn’t it? The preparation time, planning and execution required a concerted effort and loving hearts of our parent volunteers. Be a part of our Sub-Committee and the PSG community! The PSG activities will taper down in this term but we will be lining quite a few activities in the 2nd half of this year. Hence, the PSG Exco will be recruiting more Sub-Committee volunteers for Terms 3 & 4 in May and we need all the help we can get! Look out for our broadcast via email for a recruitment drive in May. Alternatively, you can email Sabina Wee at sabinawee@gmail.com or psgkellock@gmail.com to put your name down or for more enquiries. Visit Us @ Parents’ Symposium 2015 Do visit our booth at the Parents’ Symposium on 18 April 2015 where we will showcase events that we have organised and share some details on upcoming events. Come by and have a chat with our parent volunteers and the EXCO. Do take the opportunity to sign-up for upcoming events as well. Help Needed: International Friendship Day – 10 April We need 15-20 parent volunteers for IFD on 10 April to assist with setup and manning of booths during recess. There will be 7 booths representing 7 countries. Do let Committee Head, Celine, know if you can volunteer. Her email is cmabueg@yahoo.com. Closing date to volunteer: 31 March 2015. Kellock PSG Webpage We are currently at the last phase of updating the page’s content and will upload more photos and announcements on the various PSG events. Our page is on the school’s website at Parents' Portal > Parents Support Group. We appreciate your patience. We remain contactable at psgkellock@gmail.com. ~~~ Volunteering Is A Work of Heart ~~~ 20
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