"Living with integrity means: not settling for less than what you know you deserve in your relationships. Asking for what you want and need from others. Speaking you truth, even though it might create conflict or tension. Behaving in ways that are in harmony with your personal values and making choices based on what you believe, and not what others believe"
By Barbara De Angelis
Keep true, never be ashamed of doing right; decide on what you think is right and stick to it.
By Charles Caleb Cotton
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Sunday, March 4, 2007
ONE Advocate and ONE Class Advocate
On Friday, 2 March 2007, student leaders Class CEO Alan Lim (3E3) and Student Councillor Tan Si Hao (3E3) went up the stage and invited fellow students to be ONE Advocate or ONE Class Advocate. These advocates are confident, responsible and dedicated leaders who believe in togetherness and cohesion particularly among students of different ethnic groups. A ONE Advocate is a leader who helps to organise ONE activities at school level while a ONE Class Advocate is a member of a three-member committee from each class who will organise activities for his/her fellow classmates.
Hua Yians who are interested and believe in this cause are invited to join the Advocates. If you are interested to be a ONE Advocate, do approach Alan Lim, Tan Si Hao, Mr Amran or Mrs Lisa Kwok. If you are keen to be a ONE Class Advocate, inform your Class CEO who will collate your committee members' name and forward the list to Mr Amran.
For your information, there are teachers who are known as ONE Champions. They are Mr Amran, Mrs Lisa Kwok, Ms Agnes Kiong, Ms Chin Kah Ying, Ms Leyana, Mrs Heng-Loke and Mr Kuang LY.
Let's all make Hua Yi a VIBRANT and DYNAMIC place. Let's all be ONE!!!
Hua Yians who are interested and believe in this cause are invited to join the Advocates. If you are interested to be a ONE Advocate, do approach Alan Lim, Tan Si Hao, Mr Amran or Mrs Lisa Kwok. If you are keen to be a ONE Class Advocate, inform your Class CEO who will collate your committee members' name and forward the list to Mr Amran.
For your information, there are teachers who are known as ONE Champions. They are Mr Amran, Mrs Lisa Kwok, Ms Agnes Kiong, Ms Chin Kah Ying, Ms Leyana, Mrs Heng-Loke and Mr Kuang LY.
Let's all make Hua Yi a VIBRANT and DYNAMIC place. Let's all be ONE!!!
Thursday, March 1, 2007
War Memorial Service
On 15th February 2007, while the rest of the school participated in the IPP exercise, a group of 20 students led by ONE Champion, Ms Chin Kah Ying, attended a War Memorial Service at Beach Road. The school prepared cards dedicated to the war victims and heroes and presented the cards to the Service.
Here are some of the students' reflections....
Judith Tong, 2E4 reflects...
I personally feel that I was quite privileged to be chosen to represent my class and school to attend this War Memorial Service with the other 19 pupils. Before we attended this ceremony, we were asked to make cards that contained our gratefulness and thanks to those soldiers who fought bravely in the war for Singapore. I was quite impressed when my whole class cooperated and wrote their notes of thanks without fooling around; it really showed that they were truly grateful to those soldiers and civilians. Though it was a short one, it was quite an experience as more than 1200 students, religious chiefs, representatives of all races, government officials and the families of the victims attended the ceremony. I feel that this ceremony is very important, as we can be reminded that without those soldiers bravely sacrificing their lives, Singapore will not be what it is today.
Heng Li Ying reflects...
On 15/2/07, I went to the War Memorial Park, Beach Road. Together with other nineteen pupils and Ms Chin Kah Ying we set off in the morning from school.
It was the 40th anniversary. When we reached there, we saw a tall white Memorial Tower. The whole place was crowded with people. Many family members of the victims brought food and drinks to pray to the victims. Some brought flowers. Government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, religious chiefs, representatives of all races and representatives of organisations also brought flowers to offer their respects. There were also band performing there. Some soldiers were also playing trumpets and drums there too. The whole place was very lively. We also kept quiet for one minute silence to pay respects to the victims.
I felt sad for the victims but I also felt happy, because they could now rest in peace and remembered by many people. So war is harmful and should be stopped.
Lim Pei Jun, 3N2 reflects...
Before going to the War Memorial Park at the Beach Road, I felt very curious and I think that the place should be very dirty and it must be an old building. I also did not know how a war commemorate ceremony was conducted until I had a chance to attend such ceremony. Everything turned out differently, after going there. I know more about the war and throught this I felt so grateful to those hero. As they sacrifice themselves and let the future generation had a better and peaceful life. Their sacrifice had changed the fate of Singapore and this allowed Singapore now, to be a safe country. Although they had passed away during the war, but they will be remember in our heart. Without them, we will not be so fortunate to live in such a peaceful and safe country. Therefore, we shall not take it for granted. I heartily thanks them for making this huge different for Singapore.
NE Symposium at ITE Simei
On 27 January 2007, two student representatives attended the NE Symposium. Here's their reflections....
Alan Lim, 3E3 reflects...
Reflection of the National Education Symposium
National Education (NE) is developing nation cohesion. It mainly emphasize on the identity, pride and self respect of individuals in Singapore. It also tells Singaporeans about the Singapore story. For example: how Singapore succeeded to become a nation. It also tells Singaporeans about the challenges that the Singapore society has decided and what makes Singapore different from other countries. It also teaches Singaporeans the way of life and would ensure success and the well- being of Singapore.
NE in our school
In our school, we got a lot of National Education taken place. It includes: learning journeys, Community Involvement Programme (CIP) and the National Day Ceremony. In studies, NE is usually discussed in class during social studies.
Students’ idea of NE
During the discussion, we and ambassadors from other schools have concluded that NE among students in Singapore is boring, and usually the word that would come to their mind is ‘propaganda’. They would spread their opinions of what they think NE is to their peers and would most likely influence them to think that it is boring and ‘irrelevant’.
I think that there are a lot of things we can do about NE in our school especially during social studies as NE is part of the subject. For example:
● We can have more “out-of-textbook” case studies.
● Updated examples
● Could have more learning journeys that would engage the students: visiting historical sites in Singapore.
● teachers could let students take over the class and help them when they have a little trouble with the explanation or their explanation is not exact or not so well explained.
I would also say that it is good that the school has engage theatre groups like Act 3 International to perform skits during assembly sessions to deliver key messages about Singapore. The Singaporean rock band group that came to perform for the students was also a good as they told the students about the good and bad things in life.
In CIP, I think that it should not be quantity but quality. In most schools, one would have to work for 6 hours just the get merit points. I think that it should be measured in categories fulfilled by the students.
Most importantly, I think that teachers’ should not mention the words ‘national education’ at all when he or she is about to teach on the subject as it would probably make the students ‘switch their minds’ off. Teachers should keep the students awake by engaging them with questions, telling small jokes once a while to keep the students awake and that they would pay attention as by nature, many people like to hear funny things as they would make them happy.
Tan Si Hao, 3E3 reflects...
Reflections
National Education, NE, is a very important topic which we, Singaporeans, did not really take it into our attention. It is about knowing the Singapore story - how Singapore succeeded against the odds to become a nation; Understanding our country is also one of the purposes why we promote National Education in schools. As Singaporeans, having a sense of identity or pride is what we should observe.
The six messages of National Education are:
Singapore is our homeland; this is where we belong.
We must preserve racial and religious harmony.
We must uphold meritocracy and incorruptibility.
No one owes Singapore a living.
We must ourselves defend Singapore.
We have confidence in our future.
The purpose of this symposium was to discuss and give feedback on NE. It was thought that NE is boring and disengaging. Students have to interest or rather they do not recognize the importance of NE. A presentation was given about the holistic approach towards NE by the National Education Taskforce. After that, we had a group discussion of how and what your school had done about NE. This is some of the things we had shared about:
Having NE in the school but do not feel the presence of it; did not absorb the meaning of it
Having NE ambassadors in school – organize NE activities for schools
Learning NE without being known by students as they will ‘switch off’ their minds when the hear NE
Teaching NE through different ways to catch their attention or rather to get their interest
Finally, not only learning NE but also how to apply them.
I had learnt much from this symposium with the NE taskforce. It has enlightened me the importance and allows me to know more about what National Education means to us. As a Singaporean, had learnt to have pride for my country no matter where I go. Therefore, I concluded that it had gained much experiences and knowledge of what NE is.
Alan Lim, 3E3 reflects...
Reflection of the National Education Symposium
National Education (NE) is developing nation cohesion. It mainly emphasize on the identity, pride and self respect of individuals in Singapore. It also tells Singaporeans about the Singapore story. For example: how Singapore succeeded to become a nation. It also tells Singaporeans about the challenges that the Singapore society has decided and what makes Singapore different from other countries. It also teaches Singaporeans the way of life and would ensure success and the well- being of Singapore.
NE in our school
In our school, we got a lot of National Education taken place. It includes: learning journeys, Community Involvement Programme (CIP) and the National Day Ceremony. In studies, NE is usually discussed in class during social studies.
Students’ idea of NE
During the discussion, we and ambassadors from other schools have concluded that NE among students in Singapore is boring, and usually the word that would come to their mind is ‘propaganda’. They would spread their opinions of what they think NE is to their peers and would most likely influence them to think that it is boring and ‘irrelevant’.
I think that there are a lot of things we can do about NE in our school especially during social studies as NE is part of the subject. For example:
● We can have more “out-of-textbook” case studies.
● Updated examples
● Could have more learning journeys that would engage the students: visiting historical sites in Singapore.
● teachers could let students take over the class and help them when they have a little trouble with the explanation or their explanation is not exact or not so well explained.
I would also say that it is good that the school has engage theatre groups like Act 3 International to perform skits during assembly sessions to deliver key messages about Singapore. The Singaporean rock band group that came to perform for the students was also a good as they told the students about the good and bad things in life.
In CIP, I think that it should not be quantity but quality. In most schools, one would have to work for 6 hours just the get merit points. I think that it should be measured in categories fulfilled by the students.
Most importantly, I think that teachers’ should not mention the words ‘national education’ at all when he or she is about to teach on the subject as it would probably make the students ‘switch their minds’ off. Teachers should keep the students awake by engaging them with questions, telling small jokes once a while to keep the students awake and that they would pay attention as by nature, many people like to hear funny things as they would make them happy.
Tan Si Hao, 3E3 reflects...
Reflections
National Education, NE, is a very important topic which we, Singaporeans, did not really take it into our attention. It is about knowing the Singapore story - how Singapore succeeded against the odds to become a nation; Understanding our country is also one of the purposes why we promote National Education in schools. As Singaporeans, having a sense of identity or pride is what we should observe.
The six messages of National Education are:
Singapore is our homeland; this is where we belong.
We must preserve racial and religious harmony.
We must uphold meritocracy and incorruptibility.
No one owes Singapore a living.
We must ourselves defend Singapore.
We have confidence in our future.
The purpose of this symposium was to discuss and give feedback on NE. It was thought that NE is boring and disengaging. Students have to interest or rather they do not recognize the importance of NE. A presentation was given about the holistic approach towards NE by the National Education Taskforce. After that, we had a group discussion of how and what your school had done about NE. This is some of the things we had shared about:
Having NE in the school but do not feel the presence of it; did not absorb the meaning of it
Having NE ambassadors in school – organize NE activities for schools
Learning NE without being known by students as they will ‘switch off’ their minds when the hear NE
Teaching NE through different ways to catch their attention or rather to get their interest
Finally, not only learning NE but also how to apply them.
I had learnt much from this symposium with the NE taskforce. It has enlightened me the importance and allows me to know more about what National Education means to us. As a Singaporean, had learnt to have pride for my country no matter where I go. Therefore, I concluded that it had gained much experiences and knowledge of what NE is.
NE with a twist
Students from secondary schools in Singapore are taking part in N.E.mation. You can view their animation clips over at the site! Cool stuffs, indeed!NE.mation is now linked to the website on the left! Go ahead and check it out!
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