Oct 2010 - Methodist Girls` School
Transcription
Oct 2010 - Methodist Girls` School
G M eSprit to master to grow to serve VOL. 21/3 Oct 2010 Principal’s Message All too soon, another school year has come to an end, but we shall always remember 2010 for the excitement and the many accomplishments of school and students. Indeed it has been a fantastic year for all of us. I am grateful for the dedication, resourcefulness and tenacity of the staff and students who clearly love the challenge and are ever ready to seize the day for MGS. At MGS we aim for excellence in all we do, and in 2010 we have been blessed with many successes. It is with pride that I share the school achievements with you, and encourage everyone to get involved in MGS as it stays poised for greatness. In the academic arena, our students have been acknowledged for their expertise and passion in biotechnology, mathematics, mother tongue, poetry and debate; in the fields beyond the classroom, MGS stands tall for its achievements in drama, dance, music, chess, and sports like golf, squash and tennis. MGS did its part to promote international and regional harmony at the inaugural Youth Olympic Games and at our own Regional Youth Conference. MGS has had a wealth of opportunities to enrich the education it provides; our greatest joy is our being included with six other secondary schools in the extension of the MOE’s Integrated Programme (IP); with the IP, the students have time to engage in broader learning experiences. We appreciate that school is not just about bricks, mortar and physical structures, but about building character, enriching minds and cultivating citizens of the world. The days ahead promise to be yet another major challenge; we are looking at a year packed with events and excitement. Until we meet again to continue To Master, To Grow, To Serve, I want to thank you all for the memories of 2010, and especially for your support in helping MGS grow in stature. Together, we seek the Lord’s benevolence and mercy for the next school year and the many years after. Mrs Shirleen Ong Principal 2 Make Your Election Sure On Monday 2 August the prefects in the Secondary school were urged to “be all the more eager to make [their] calling and election sure” [2Peter 1:10]. Ms Joy-Marie Toh was the Guest-of-Honour at the service where the prefects were officially installed in their role as student leaders. Ms Toh, the Head Prefect at MGS in 1988, applauded the prefects for their desire to serve the school; she was confident that they were up to the task, as long as they put all their trust in the Lord. The prefects led by Head Prefect, Chantal Liu (Sec 3S) and Vice-Head Prefect, Khor Ting Yan (Sec 3S) pledged as one to ‘lift MGS to greater heights, bringing glory to God.” The prefects in the Primary school were similarly installed at a service on Tuesday 14 September. Rev Khoo Kay Huat called upon the young prefects to be a ‘blessing to the people around’ them, and to ‘be great to others’. Erika Poh (P5.4) Head Prefect for 2010-2011, supported by Chloe Ang (P5.4) Vice-Head Prefect, and fellow prefects from Primary 4 and Primary 5, graciously asked God for the strength and guidance to fulfill their responsibilities in serving others. 3 Going on an Adventure On Wednesday 18 August, they met at the Bamboo Courtyard, ready for an adventure even Alice would have cherished. All 200 of them from Primary 4 then took the bus to the Dairy Farm Adventure Centre (DFAC) where they were to spend three days and two nights away from home. The DFAC, at the fringe of the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve near the Dairy Farm Quarry was the ideal location for the ten-year old girls to learn about their natural heritage; the Centre also offered a complete range of adventure facilities such as Challenge Ropes Courses, Abseil Tower and Rock Wall and intriguing activities to encourage the girls to cultivate self-confidence and team spirit. The girls were thrilled to be able to cook their own meals in the open; indeed, they slurped up the noodles they had cooked! And at night they were happy to fall asleep in their sleeping bags strewn across the parquet floor. The best part of the adventure was of course the campfire where Mrs Amy Yee was the Guest-of-Honour; the girls sang with gusto, and cheered and played under the stars. Finally, they were awarded prizes to acknowledge their achievements and contributions at the adventure camp. 4 MGS Visits Nanjing Nanjing is a historic city with a rich cultural heritage. Here, poets gathered during the Tang Dynasty (618-907), to write in celebration of the city’s picturesque landscape and glorious past. Here too, during the Ming and Qing Dynasties (13681911), the intellectual elite interacted and took the imperial civil service examinations for southern China. Nanjing was the choice learning environment for thirty-five Primary 5 girls, eager to master the Chinese Language and cultivate an interest in Chinese history and culture. Accompanied by four of their teachers, Mdm Tang Yen Yen, Ms Sandy Yu, Mdm Sun Hui and Ms Fang Yingying, the girls toured several historic sites such as the tomb of Dr Sun Zhong Shan and the Nanjing Massacre Museum. At the National Forest Park, they put their physical fitness to the test in a spot of mountain climbing. They learnt all about the tea culture at a tea plantation and even had lunch at a farmer’s home. The girls were given the opportunity to participate in classroom activities at Nanjing Mingfa Binjing Branch School of Nanjing Langya Road Primary School, and the Nanjing Xing Zhi Primary School. They had lessons in the Chinese Language and also in pottery-making. In Nanjing the girls, like the scholars of old, built on their spirit of independence and sharpened their skills in learning as a team. On the first two days of July, the Primary Three classes took turns to learn about their heritage at the Singapore River. This was where the first immigrants to Singapore eked out a meagre living, and where an obscure little fishing village became a thriving seaport. The girls took a walk along the river and explored the many sculptures that reinforced their understanding of the Singapore River and its history. They learnt that there are several ways to create a sculpture – carving, modeling, assembling, and casting. The girls then went in the bumboats for a cruise to admire the vibrant waterfront where warehouses, so familiar to the Chinese coolies of early Singapore, have been restored to house chic dining and entertainment outlets; here too, they marveled at the magnificent skyscrapers that make the financial district. 5 The annual MGS Festival of Arts celebrates the role of the arts in sustaining a vibrant learning community. The arts are universally acknowledged as an indispensable component of a total education; they promote not only cultural development but also creativity which in turn is important to preserve diversity and reinforce inter-cultural understanding. The Festival of Arts 2010 was an unparalleled feast of dance, theatre, music, and the visual arts; it was for the girls, a meaningful experience in working collaboratively with others; it was an impetus for developing curiosity, knowledge and understanding and for giving to the community. The Festival was Xpressivo II, created and produced by the finest talents in MGS. It started on Sunday 4 July with Dance Night; this was to commemorate the achievements of the MGS Dance troupe which won GOLD with Honours in the Singapore Youth Festival Central Judging 2009 for the second consecutive occasion. The MGS dancers have often been commended for their elegance on stage and for their passion to move to ‘the beat of happiness’. The Chinese dance troupe from the Primary school was invited to contribute to the vibrance of the night; their unique dance style and stunning costumes brought on a rousing applause. The Guest-of-Honour at Dance Night was Mr Goh Yew Lin, Chairman Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music and Deputy Chairman, Singapore Symphony Orchestra. On Sunday 11 July, the MGS Handbell Choir joined forces with the MGS Guitar Ensemble to mesmerize their audience with the magic and romance of their music. Theirs was the music, in the words of Sir Thomas Moore, “wakening thoughts that have long slept.” The MGS Handbell Choir, established in 1989 and one of the earliest handbell choirs in Singapore’s schools, has garnered a string of GOLD awards at the biennial Singapore Youth Festival (SYF) Central Judging. It has performed in countless public events, the most recent being the 14th APEC Women Leaders Network Meeting in 2009. The Guitar Ensemble on the other hand, was established in MGS only in 2007; by 2009 it had cultivated the skills and techniques to earn its first award – a SILVER – in the biennial SYF Central Judging. It was fitting that the concert started with the music of Love, composed by Louise Frier, and came to a glorious close with both groups commending To God be the Glory, composed by William H Doane. 6 A Little Murder took place in the auditorium on Friday 16 July and again on Saturday 17 July. This was the Drama Society’s offering of suspense and an unusual adventure that left the audience asking for more. A Little Murder, directed by Ms Grace Kalai, took the audience on the trail of several suspects when someone was bumped off in a madhouse; there was excitement, and there was humour, and of course there was the dashing Inspector Dash Dahling! Who could have resisted the lure of drama in the style of James Bond or Alfred Hitchcock? The MGS Drama Society did win GOLD at the SYF Central Judging in 2009! The MGS Choir, fresh from a tour to St Petersburg, Russia to participate in the 4th World Choir Festival Grand Prix, took to the stage at the Singapore Conference Hall on Sunday 18 July, to show that there is delight in singing, whatever the occasion. In St Petersburg, and in the company of world-renowned choirs, the MGS Choir won GOLD in the category for Children and also in the category for Scared Music; this very Choir has also travelled far and wide – from San Francisco (1999) to Athens (2004), Bratislava and then Prague (2007) – to win accolades in choral festivals or international competitions. The MGS Choir has consistently won GOLD at the biennial SYF Central Judging, and is one of thirty school choirs in MOE’s Choral Excellence Programme. At home, the Choir contributes regularly to serving the community; it lends its voice to charity organizations, the church and others, and it collaborates with other school choirs to promote the joy of learning from one another. The MGS String Ensemble added to the spirit and vigour of Con Spirito; they gave to the Festival of Arts those moments to remember and the sounds of music to echo through the years! In 2009 the String Ensemble secured its 4th consecutive GOLD at the biennial SYF Central Judging; it too has featured in many public performances, including the Circle Line Opening Preview and Sounds of Hope, a concert in support of NCCS in 2010. July was when the Art Gallery at MGS, was flushed with the colours of spring, summer and of autumn, in celebration of another dimension of the Festival of Arts 2010. On display were many paintings, ‘a noble and expressive language’ of the students for whom every painting is what they ‘make others see’. 7 16th Youth Science Conference The Youth Science Conference is the culminating event of the Science Mentorship Programme (SMP) organised annually by the Gifted Education Branch, Ministry of Education. This event showcases posters and oral presentations of all the projects carried out under the mentorship of researchers and scientists. On Thursday 9 September at the SMP poster judging event, a team consisting of Marian Kang (Sec 3S), Rachel Nyam (Sec 3S) and Loh Kah Yunn (Sec 3G) presented their research findings for their project, ‘Mutagenesis of Spathoglottis orchids for the production of variegated traits’. The team was privileged to be under the mentorship of Professor Chia Tet Fatt (NIE-NTU) and Mrs Lam Mei Kien (MGS). Their investigation led to the creation of variegated seedlings with beautiful tri-coloured leaves and stunning structures of leaves that resemble orchid flowers. The team won a Merit Award for their creativity and hard work. The annual Biotech Fair jointly organised by Ngee Ann Polytechnic and Science Centre Singapore attracted more than 90 teams from 18 secondary schools. Two teams represented MGS at the Fair which celebrated its 20th anniversary in August 2010; the theme was ‘Colours of Biotechnology’ which describes how biotechnology has in many ways brought colour to life in general and contributed to improving its quality. The team from Secondary 2T was formed by Janessa Png, Victoria Gan, Natassha Goh and Lim Mengyu; Louisa Cheong, Ke May Sin, Ng Sze Hui and Lisa Tang formed the other team from Secondary 2M. Each team was required to set up a booth to display their products and explain their project to a panel of judges. In the Lower Secondary Category, the team from Secondary 2M clinched a Merit Award with their project, ‘Creating variegated Datura metel’ 8 On Saturday 4 September, MGS hosted the third Under-14 Debate Challenge. This annual tournament provides young budding debaters with ample opportunities to hone their debate skills; fourteen teams took part this year. The tournament included three impromptu rounds, which encouraged debaters to share their general knowledge and their understanding of current affairs. The themes for 2010 included Religion, the Environment, and the Middle East; discussion was centred on concerns such as the banning of the Muslim “burqa” and the development of green technology. At the tournament, debaters sharpened their skills not only in public speaking but also in critical thinking. In the final round of debate on “Singapore”, Raffles Girls’ School was proclaimed champion of the tournament. The MGS debaters who organized the event served as ushers, chairpersons, timekeepers and even cleaners; everyone was driven to ensure that every single detail was perfectly in place and every debater and adjudicator comfortable and happy. It was no surprise that guest adjudicators and teacher advisors of various teams were full of praise for the debate community at MGS. On Tuesday 7 September, Mrs Lam Mei Kien assisted by Louisa Cheong, Ng Sze Hui, Niki So and Dilys Han (all from Sec 2M), conducted a workshop for high ability students from the cluster schools in the West Zone. At the workshop, the participants learnt about the “basic techniques of plant tissue culture”. They attended a lecture and toured the Plant Tissue Culture Room and the nursery, before they observed a demonstration on transplanting tissue-cultured plants into pots. Subsequently they took part in a ‘hands-on’ session where they cultured a plant of their choice into a vial with a colourful medium; and this was their takeaway from the learning experience. The students and their teachers agreed that the workshop met their needs and was interesting and meaningful; of course, they would like to attend related courses in the future. 9 小一演艺班汇报演出 刚踏进学校几个月,就能上台表演,小一同学的欣喜与期待,可想而知。八月十六日正 是小一同学盼望已久的日子,这天,她们兴奋地换上新装,等待着那紧张的一刻。 朗诵中伴着舞蹈,一字字,一句句传入爸爸妈妈的耳中,原来“宝宝们”进步得那么 快,可喜!可贺!可惜美好的时光总是那么易逝,节目很快就到了尾声。 同学们,让我们再接再厉,明年表演得更好! Science Play On two days in August – Thursday 12 and Friday 13 August – the girls from Primary Two to Primary 6 enjoyed themselves thoroughly while having their Science lessons in the linkway. Trainers from Play and Learn conducted a series of games to allow the girls to explore concepts like magnetism and reflection, and also learn about the life cycle of various animals and insects. The learning experience lasted thirty minutes for each class; some parent volunteers were at school to assist the game master. 10 Monday 12 July was Girls’ Brigade Day. The First Singapore Company stood proudly at the head of the school assembly as they listened to a message from the President of the Girls’ Brigade, Mrs Tay Poh Imm. Members of the First Singapore Company led in praise and worship at Chapel in the M E Lau Hall; they also staged a powerful mime to remind the audience, that ‘We Were the Reason’. Mrs Tay Poh Imm then spoke on the GB theme for 2010 – Living with a Purpose. In the course of the week, the Junior Leaders guided by Mrs Evangeline Tan led the Primary school in worship, first on Tuesday (Lower Primary classes) and again on Thursday (Upper Primary). Rev Tan-Yeo Lay Suan, the GB National Chaplain gave his message on the GB theme and urged the girls to live with purpose. GB Day also marked the start of the Girls’ Brigade Fortnite at MGS. Winners GB International Competition 2010 It was announced in July that Esther Mak (Sec 3O) and Esther Lee (Sec 3E) had won the first prize in the GB International Competition 2010. Their task was to use the most creative way to promote the Girls’ Brigade in the international community; they competed against teams from many other countries across the world. The judging took place in Kuching, Malaysia where the Conference of Girls’ Brigade was held; and Singapore was the winner! The two MGS girls produced a video to promote The Girls Brigade, while Michelle Lau (Sec 1H) designed a poster for the same purpose. The prize was shared with the girls from the 3rd Company Singapore. Pioneer BrigadIer Brooch (PBB) The Pioneer Brigadier Brooch is the highest award for any GB girl in Singapore. To secure this brooch, she has to complete the tasks for several badges and get the Pioneer pin; she has to go through many rounds in the selection process at national level. Eventually she is assessed for her leadership abilities at a camp. This year, twelve girls nation-wide received the PBB; four of them are from MGS – Staff Sergeant Jerusha Lee (Sec 4G), Staff Sergeant Eleanor Koh (Sec 4G), Staff Sergeant Ruth Gan (Sec 4E) and Staff Sergeant Rachel Kho (Sec 4E). 11 Project Care It was in 2004 when MGS launched Project Care to affirm the girls in the graduating class as they prepared to take the ‘O’ Level Examination; the project lasted a month immediately prior to the examination. This year, the annual Project Care took place from Monday 13 September to Friday 15 October. The girls who chose to study in the familiar and safe environment of the school, had the support not only of their teachers, but also that of their parents. The teachers took turns to look after the girls as they studied in the canteen or classroom from about 2.00 pm; at 6.00 pm sharp, as soon as they heard the first strands of the well-loved melody of Bless This School, the girls were ready to leave for home. Where possible, the teachers offered help with the revision of various subjects, and ensured that the girls had some snacks for tea at about 4.30 pm. Parents meanwhile provided the moral support and daily sustenance which included cookies, brownies, sandwiches, fruits, noodles, soup and so on; the parents also contributed cash to defray the cost of refreshments. The annual Careers Fair took place on Friday 27 August, when the graduating class was given a chance to experience the world of work. Dressed appropriately for work, primarily in air-conditioned comfort, and armed with their folders for the day, each girl attended five talks in the course of that one day. Professionals from the corporate world and industry showed the girls what it takes to be a lawyer, doctor, entrepreneur, banker, journalist, psychologist, architect, botanist or an army officer. Each of the 23 professionals shared their expertise and skills; they explained the demands in different fields of work, and they urged their young audience to cultivate the passion and attitude needed to stay on the job; remuneration was another matter of course. Ms Phoebe Cheng, distinguished alumna, shared her experiences on being a MOE scholar and what it means to be studying the German language in a foreign University. Representatives from five local polytechnics, from the PSB, St Francis Methodist School and from Universities in UK, Australia, Canada and the USA set up exhibition booths to disseminate information. 12 Racial Harmony Day The Primary school commemorated Racial Harmony Day on Wednesday 21 July; the girls and their teachers were dressed in ethnic costumes to celebrate harmony in the diversity of culture. Parentlink set up booths to showcase the wedding traditions of the main ethnic groups in Singapore, and prepared for the pupils to sample, food typical of each culture. At the end of the day, all pupils and staff were invited to witness the different wedding ceremonies – Malay, Indian, Chinese and Christian. Some girls from Primary One and Two were dressed up as brides and bridegrooms to celebrate the different customs of Singapore’s multi-racial community. In the Secondary school, the girls observed Racial Harmony Day in their own classrooms and in a variety of ways befitting the range of ethnic differences; however, there was a common activity – a quiz for them to appreciate the richness of a culture uniquely Singapore. Since 1997, the National Education (NE) Show has been organised to help students build a sense of pride in being Singaporeans, and appreciate the significance of National Day. All students in Primary Five are invited to the NE Show, which is in fact a full dress rehearsal of the National Day Parade. In 2010 there were three NE Shows, and the girls and their teachers from MGS attended the first show at the Padang on Saturday 10 July. They watched the parade to celebrate 45 years of independence in Singapore; they were spell-bound when the fireworks exploded under the night sky, with the Marina Bay skyline as the backdrop. 13 45th ingapore’s S y, a D l a nited tion As one u brated Na le t. e s c u g S u G A M Live 6 on Friday pledged to n y, o a ti d la th u ir p b po e school people, th and Fly Our Flag! ms Our Drea d and sed in re s re d s a w gaporean Every Sin happy occasion. e white for th was Ceremony e c n a rv e s b sang nal Day O nds where the girls The Natio u d of parade gro eir Home truly, an th held in the re w world, f Singapo uild a ne “b to ” heartily o e ones sid “side by . The little tors r” e ft a r e standing v e cta f hope for d the spe a world o ool dazzle z item, and a h c s ry a z rim from the P dance, a modern ja s s a m with a e. ing routin cheerlead a minihool had c s ry a m tion, a P5 r, the Pri le competi g in J Thereafte 4 P tion quiz aturing a nal Educa o ti a N concert, fe a d petition etition, an ay Art com en to D l a n o Rap comp ti a s were giv re was a N for all. The onal Colours Award dressed in ti a girls were e th too, and N ll a s where the classe olours. national c a concert lso had a l o o h c gapore’s ondary s ter in Sin p a h c The Sec r e te anoth to celebra prosperity. and progress 14 Founder’s Day 2010: Poised for Greatness MGS celebrated its 123rd Founder’s Day on Friday 23 July; Mrs Anna Tham (Principal 19771994) was the Guest-of-Honour. The celebrations started with a parade of the uniformed groups and Mrs Fang Ai Lian inspecting the Guard of Honour. At the service in the M E Lau Hall, Bishop Dr Robert Solomon sent greetings from the Methodist Church; he urged MGS to persist in fulfilling the mission of John Wesley in educating the young, and to encourage the girls to cultivate ‘a sharp intellect, a deep wisdom and godly integrity’. Eva Cheung, Head Prefect from the Class of 2009 recalled the good times she and her friends spent together, to Master, to Grow and to Serve. Founder’s Day, she affirmed, is special for every MGS girl whose ties to the school grow stronger with time. Rev Paul Nga, in his Founder’s Day address, shared the secrets of greatness from God’s Word. A great person is always willing to be humble (Luke 14), is child-like (Matt 18) and connects with God, for ‘with God all things are possible’ (Matt 19: 26); greatness is making the difference in the life of others. At the end of the service, awards were presented to the students for their academic achievements in 2009. 15 The 4th Regional Youth Conference which took place in the second week-end in July, focused on nurturing Hearts to Change the World. Mr Chew Hock Yong, Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports urged his audience to discover the spirit of giving, and to get actively involved in giving to the community. “There are many opportunities,” he affirmed, “for us to touch somebody’s life in a positive and lasting way.” There is the Young ChangeMakers scheme, run by the National Youth Council (NYC) which provides funding to informal groups of youth who want to carry out meaningful projects for the good of the community; NYC also offers the Youth Expedition Project (YEP) which nurtures confident youth volunteers to contribute actively to communities at home and abroad. Ms Melissa Aratani Kwee, a civic entrepreneur known for her work with marginalized members of society encouraged the young to take action to help others in need; her call for action was endorsed by Mr Doug Farr, founder and Principal of Kuaka, New Zealand, an education-based organization dedicated to promoting service-learning and education for the environment. At this Conference, participants formed groups of eight each to identify areas of concern in a country assigned to their group. They then proposed the change necessary for improving the life of the people in their country and finally, they developed the strategies to bring about the change. 16 To provide the impetus for their ‘world project’, Ms KimHong Hazra shared from her many years of working with students in Zambia and neighbouring countries in Africa; Ms Carol Ang inspired with her experience of more than twenty years in the mission field in Taiwan, the Philippines, India and Cambodia. Ms Fang Si Wei, from the Class of 2001 at MGS, had already spent four years working in orphanages in rural Lanzhou and was preparing to return to China as a missionary intern for another three months; effortlessly she sparked the passion for community service. Then there was Dr V K Williams, Principal of Mount Carmel School, New Delhi, who had dedicated his life to educating the young in New Delhi, India; his dearest wish was to have his students cultivate an enduring relationship with God. All 500 participants spent one morning serving groups of elderly folks in the heartland. At five block parties which took place concurrently in Toa Payoh and Holland Village, the teenagers entertained their elderly guests and served them each a bento lunch. It was not exactly easy to communicate with the elderly generation in their mother tongue or dialect, or to sing the same song in the four official languages of Singapore; but the participants made the effort, and they understood that ‘it is in giving that we receive’! That is why they, the leaders of tomorrow, have the Hearts to Change the World. 17 18 MGS played its part in contributing to the success of the Youth Olympic Games hosted by Singapore in August. Adeline Winata (Sec 4I) took part in the swimming competition; and about 65 volunteers, including a group of Girl Guides, volunteered their service at venues like the Singapore Indoor Stadium and the Toa Payoh Swimming Complex, where they worked tirelessly to ensure that athletes and officials received the information they needed at various times during the competitions. The girls were more than happy that they were doing “the little things that counted” at the games; and they appreciated the team-work, the perseverance and diligence of the people who kept the Singapore spirit soaring. Cheong Su Yen (Sec 2T) was at the YOG as an Equestrian Specialist Volunteer. With her team, she looked after the horses for the riders from South America. They groomed, washed and walked the horses, and cleaned their equipment and stables. The hours were long but the work was satisfying and enjoyable; Su Yen forged close bonds with fellow-volunteers who included students from local and international schools. She confided, “Watching the young riders train and compete was inspirational.” A few Vietnamese scholars in Secondary Three were selected to host the Vietnam booth at the Olympic Village. They entertained visitors for ‘hours on end’ and were physically drained, but they also made ‘many new friends from all corners of the globe’, and this lifted their spirit; at least they had tried to open Vietnam to the world through their traditional games and cultural activities. MGS also sent some ‘tennis-ball kids’ supervised by Mr Ling Lek Suan to do their job at the Kallang Tennis Centre. The teachers involved in the games included Mr Ling Beng Huat at the Cultural and Educational Programme Operations Centre, Mr Kevin Khoo at the World Cultural Village Booth, Miss Lynette Yang and Mrs Joyce Ang, both Senior Media Operations Supervisor, but at different sports venue. Miss Su Pei Luan was the National Youth Assistant Coach for Handball. Mrs Grace Poh and the MGS dancers were also at the YOG, dancing in the prelude to various competitions and also bringing cheer at the end of some competitions; in short they brought colour and vibrance to amplify the joy of the Youth Olympics. 19 Methodist Girls’ School is one of seven selected secondary schools recently included in the extension of MOE’s Integrated Programme (IP). In many ways, IP is a natural choice for MGS which has always promoted the ethos of excellence, not just in academic performance, but in all aspects of education. The Sophia Blackmore Class (SBC) was started in 2005 as a customised learning scheme for high-ability students, and IP will serve to enrich the holistic learning of the students. The MGS mission, vision and motto form the cornerstone for the implementation of the IP; it is appreciated that the distinctiveness of the MGS education thrives on the values essential in the nurturing of Godly Women of Excellence with a Heart of Love. With IP, MGS will be the only all-girls school to offer a through-train journey to the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme at ACS (Independent). MGS expects to admit for the IP, students at the Secondary 1 level in 2013 and Secondary 3 in 2015. The Integrated Programme (IP) was one of the key recommendations of the Junior College/Upper Secondary Education Review Committee 2002, and was first implemented in a few schools in 2004. IP allows the students to bypass the GCE ‘O’ Level examination and take the GCE ‘A’ Level examination or its equivalent e.g. International Baccalaureate (IB) at the end of six years of secondary school. This means students could use the time to engage in broader learning experiences. 20 Outstanding PARTNERS Award 2010 MGS has been conferred the Outstanding PARTNERS Award 2010. The biennial PARTNERS ((PARents, Teachers and NEighbourhood Resources in Synergy) Award is presented by COMPASS (COMmunity and Parents in Support of Schools) to acknowledge the efforts made by the school in collaborating with stakeholders to promote the total education of the students. COMPASS, a national council which advises the Ministry of Education on ways to promote home-school-community collaborations, launched the PARTNERS Award in 2002; there are two categories – the Merit Award for significant achievements in collaboration with stakeholders, and the Outstanding Award for excellent efforts and commitment. The Outstanding award is valid for 5 years. At MGS, it is the priority to engage parents, the alumnae association, partners in industry and the community, and many other stakeholders in adding value to the learning experience and environment. MGS appreciates the essential role of its partners-in-education in helping the girls Master, Grow and Serve as responsible citizens of Singapore and the world. The 2010 MOE Work Plan Seminar took place at Ngee Ann Polytechnic on Thursday 23 September. At the seminar, under the Ministry of Education (MOE) Masterplan of Awards (MoA) 2010, Dr Ng Eng Hen, Minister for Education presented 467 Special and Level Two Awards to 225 schools. The MoA recognises the schools’ efforts in providing students with a holistic education to enable them to achieve the Desired Outcomes of Education. The awards in MoA serve as milestone checks to guide schools on their journey towards achieving excellence; these awards provide a systematic and progressive framework for the schools to chart their own progress through benchmarking and making continuous improvement. Mrs Shirleen Ong, Principal and Mrs Amy Yee, Vice-Principal received on behalf of MGS, the following awards: Sustained Achievement Award (SAA) –Sports, for the 5th time for the Primary school; 12th for Secondary school SSA (Aesthetics) Secondary school 2nd SSA (Academic Value Added) Secondary school 12th - MGS is the only school receiving this award without interruption since its inception in 1999. MGS is also the proud recipient of the following awards: National Education Award (Development) (2010-2012) Full School BPA (Teaching and Learning) (2006-2014) Full School Character Development Award (Outstanding) (2009-2014) Full School PARTNERS Award (Outstanding) (2010 – 2015) Full School School Distinction Award (SDA) (2009 - 2014) Full School Singapore Quality Class (SQC) (2009 - 2014) Full School 21 On Tuesday 29 July, Dr. Lee Fook Kay was the Guest-ofHonour who gave the Sophia Blackmore Lecture at MGS. Dr. Lee, the Chief Science and Technology Officer (CSTO) at the Ministry of Home Affairs, shared his expertise on Science and Technology in Countering Terrorism and Emerging Threats to Homeland Security. Dr Lee’s lecture was straightforward yet thought-provoking; it provided a behind-the-scenes look at Singapore’s security measures. Dr Lee stressed the importance of being vigilant at all times; the global security climate, he explained, is constantly fluctuating. The lecture was a timely reminder that every citizen has a part to play in the well-being of Singapore. Feedback from the students showed that they were especially impressed by Dr Lee’s enthusiasm and sense of humour; he was ‘engaging’ and he made it ‘so easy’ for them to understand the issues related to terrorism and its threats. Learning to Swim From 28 August until 3 September the girls from Primary Two enjoyed themselves at the ACJC Sports Complex; they were there to learn to swim or to hone whatever skills they already had. The novices learnt to tread water, blow bubbles under water and paddle with a kick-board. Some of their friends worked hard to at least master the breaststroke and freestyle, while the seasoned swimmers learnt to master all the other techniques of swimming competitively. At the end of every session, the girls were encouraged to play water games to relax and cultivate the sporting spirit. RECESS CHALLENGE On Thursday 5 August, parachutes were the name of the game at the Primary Basketball Court, and friendship, the theme of Recess Challenge 2010. The Challenge was for each group of participants to manipulate a parachute and have fun in the process. The girls sang as they tried to keep their parachute inflated; they sat under the parachute and enjoyed the camaraderie. When they decided collectively it was time to let go, they released the parachute into the air. Every girl was encouraged to have a new friend with her and then to make more friends during the parachute games. Essentially, the parachute experience was their opportunity to explore team-work and the value of excellence, friendship and respect; the Recess Challenge was aimed at promoting interest in the Youth Olympic Games hosted by Singapore. 22 On Thursday 19 August, MGS participated in a competition for essay-writing in the Tamil language; 156 students from 93 schools took part in this event, organized by the Curriculum Planning and Development Division, Ministry of Education. R.Krishnadivya (Sec 2H) represented MGS at the competition and was duly rewarded with the crown of champion essayist. In late February, six girls from MGS took part in the Raffles Institution Literary Competition (Tamil Language) and won several prizes too. Sanaa Sheriff (Sec 4T) was Champion in the Upper Secondary Oratorical Competition while Moneshaa (Sec 2M) won the consolation prize in the Lower Secondary Oratorical Competition. A team of three – Supraja Saravanakumar and M Has Nilofar (Sec 2M) and Ameena Jennifer (Sec 2T) – were 3rd runner-up in the Quiz competition (Writing). R.Krishnadivya (Sec 2H) was the 1st runner-up for essay writing in the Lower Secondary competition. At the Raffles Institution Literary Competition (Translation Competition) in February, Sheryl Lynne Tan (Sec 3I) won the 1st prize for the Upper Secondary category; Nur Syamimi Bte Awalludin (Sec 2D) was ranked 2nd in the Lower Secondary category. In July, the team of Azura Bte Muhammad Irwan (Sec 3M), Puteri Nur Emilia Bte Samian (Sec 3M), Sheryl Lynne Tan (Sec 3I) and Emma Tan Sze-Ern (Sec 3I) was awarded the top prize in the Cultural & Language Quiz at the Mother Tongue Cultural & Language Fiesta 2010, organized jointly by the W3 Cluster and Boon Lay Secondary School. Nur Fathin Bte Awalludin (Sec 4R) won a consolation prize in the Essay Writing Competition category. The Mother Tongue Department (Malay Language) organized a Malay Language and Cultural Camp on Saturday 22 May, for fifty students across the levels. The objective was to stimulate interest in learning the Malaya Language; the Department organised interesting activities to encourage students to appreciate the literature and culture of the Malay community. Mr Ishak Latiff, a prominent writer, shared the perspectives of an author, and Mr Herman Rothman from the National Library Board conducted a Creative Writing Workshop for students in the Upper Secondary classes. The cultural activities included a session on the making of Bunga Manggar; this activity involved only the Lower Secondary classes. There was also a National Library Exhibition, Rihlah, which featured the Arabs in South East Asia 23 Kok Jo Ee (Sec 4E) is a National youth golfer with an outstanding record of achievements. On Tuesday 7 September, Jo Ee received, for the second consecutive year, the Tay Cheng Khoon Eagle award in recognition of her sterling performance in the 2010 HSBC Youth Golf Programme at Laguna Country Club; the trophy for Jo Ee came with a $2000 cash grant. In July, at the Callaway Junior Golf Championship 2010 in San Diego, Jo Ee was ranked 10th in her age group among 137 golfers from various parts of the world. This was the best finish any Singaporean female golfer in her age group had achieved. After Callaway, Jo Ee went on to compete at the College Golf Combine - West in California; she was placed 2nd among 41 golfers in her age group. Several colleges, scouting for talent, offered her a scholarship, and she has decided to accept the golf scholarship to study at the University of California, Berkeley. After her ‘O’ Level examination, she will continue her studies at Victoria Junior College until she leaves for America in September 2011. Phoebe Tan (Sec 4H) also a National youth golfer represented Singapore at the British Junior Open Championship 2010 which took place in July at St Andrews, Scotland; she was ranked 4th among 33 golfers (boys and girls) in her handicap index category. In July too, Asha Lakshhme (Sec 3M) competed in three tournaments in America; she was at the two competitions where Jo Ee made her mark, and her third competition was the Optimist International Championship 2010. In all three, Asha earned a commendable place in the ranks. In early September, during the HSBC Youth Golf Challenge (Leg 3) three of the four top prizes were won by golfers from MGS – Asha Lakshme (Sec 3M), Alisha Teo (Sec 2 H) and Ariel Lee (Sec 2O). Acknowledgement: We thank Mr Marc Seow for the two photos of Jo Ee 24 In the third term, the girls from Primary 2 went on a learning journey to IMM the shopping mall in Jurong East; their parents were invited to accompany the girls. Every P2 class was divided into three groups, each closely supervised by an adult; the girls worked in pairs to learn about the goods and services available at a major shopping mall and how the shops were organized for the convenience of customers. The learning journey, which was multidisciplinary in aim, allowed the girls to put into practice the ethics they had cultivated in the classroom. They kept left on the escalator and spoke softly to one another; they showed respect for all service providers and were on their best behaviour especially in the playground. They learnt to plan a healthy breakfast menu, and were careful in counting their money; while engaged in some retail therapy, they kept stringently within their budget. They enjoyed themselves thoroughly especially when, in pairs, they had to find the answers to a quiz on what they were learning at IMM. Primary School Squash At the PROSPEC-SSRA Primary School Squash Tournament held during the school break in June, three girls from MGS were ranked among the top squash players. Christy Ko (P3.4) was 4th in the category for Girls in Primary 3 and 4; in the category for girls in Primary 6, Jeanette Tay (P6.3) was 3rd, and Cherie Ko (P6.4) was the Champion. Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS) Essay Writing Competition 2010 This year, the Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS) gave Special Awards to writers who excelled in specific fields of writing, in the competition which attracted about 4,000 participants from various countries in the Commonwealth. Vanessa Tan (Sec 2T) received the Special Award for Imaginative Writing (Class C), and Christine Tan (Sec 3T), the Special Award for Satirical Writing (Class B). Both girls were invited by RCS to fly to London in October for a series of workshops, meetings and visits to the BBC, Marlborough House, Oxford and more; the invitation was for them to attend the Commonwealth Gala Awards Ceremony, with award winning film maker, Gurinder Chadha the Guest of Honour, and other Commonwealth VIPs in attendance. 25 MGS Entrepreneurs in the Making In mid-September, Temasek Polytechnic played host to some budding entrepreneurs from the Secondary schools; they were vying for the top prize in the 2010 Tourism Innovation Competition. The organisers were indeed impressed by the “pretty polished presentations” on how to make Singapore a tourist hub for eco-tourism, mega-dance events and for activities to showcase the diversity of the local culture. MGS sent three teams to put their entrepreneurial acumen to the test, and all of them were placed among the top ten teams. One of the teams was highly commended for its ‘extremely well-thought out idea for an iPhone app, effectively combining the best parts of Buuuk, Gothere.sg and Lonely Planet.” The team apparently, had pitched their project “better than many startup founders”. The participants had to answer this question before a panel of adjudicators – how will your idea/project generate enough money to sustain itself? The teams were able to think quickly on their feet and deliver appropriate business models; they compared favourably with ‘seasoned entrepreneurs’ who often stumble over this issue. The competition was very close, but in the end, the MGS team with the iPhone app idea took home the top prize. This was the team formed by Amanda Chua Hui Yi, Saumya Vasuthevan and Rebecca Lee Yue En (all from Sec 3G) Another team from Secondary 3G – Chua Hui Yan, Keren Ann Henry and Rachel Chan Hui-Lin took the 3rd prize. The third team – Rohini Anant, Gracia Mercy Tay Ling Hui, Alicia Wee Hsueh May (all from Sec 3G) and Lim Se Ern (Sec 3T) – was placed in 6th position. On Saturday 17 July, four teams from MGS participated in the National Youth Poetry Slam League Championship 2010, a part of the Lit-Up Singapore Festival 2010. The competition was held at De La Salle Arts College, and participants had to write their own poems and perform these in a variety of styles. The girls enjoyed the experience, a fitting follow-up to the poetry slam workshop conducted by Chris Mooney-Singh at MGS in March. The Lower Secondary team of Shreya K Vijay (Sec 2D), Joveena Mary Josephine (Sec 2M), Hasini Damsara Makawita (Sec 2T) and Nikita Menon (2E) won the second prize in their category. In the Upper Secondary category, Team MGS also won the second prize; the team included Joni Sng Aik Woon (Sec 3T), Natalie Lim Li Min (Sec 3E), Kara Quek Tze-Min (Sec 3T), Ho Ka Onn (Sec 3D), Marcella Low Rui Yan (Sec 3E) and Denise Chng Huiru (Sec 3O) 26 Tenpin Bowling Championships For about two weeks in July, MGS (Primary) took part in the 9th Inter-Primary Tenpin Bowling Championships 2010 at the Orchid Bowl @ SAFRA Yishun, and won a number of awards. 0 1 0 2 In the Senior Division (Girls), Louisa May Fung Yu Xian (P6.5) was ranked 3rd among 96 competitors; in the Junior Division (Girls) Grace Lim Hui Ping (P5.1) was ranked 3rd among 140 competitors. Louisa and Sarah Seow (P6.4) also won a place each in the Masters Events. Louisa, Sarah and team-mates Rebecca Goh Wen Li (P6.6) and Myra Ling (P6.1) took the third position among 16 teams in ranking for All Events (Overalls), Senior Division (Girls). Chess Challenge 2010 The Inaugural Singapore Schools (Zonal) Team Chess Championships 2010, organised by the Singapore Chess Federation and Ulu Pandan Community Club, took place on Thursday 22 July. Fifteen girls, forming three teams, from the Primary school represented MGS at the event which lasted from 8 am to 1.00pm. The teams played five rounds of chess, and the MGS Under-11 team won the 2nd prize in the Championships. MGS-Nanyang Primary School Chess Challenge 2010 On Monday 26 July, the Chess instructors from both MGS and Nanyang Primary School (NYPS) collaborated in conducting a Chess Challenge. The aim of the event, which took place in the M E Lau Hall from 2.00pm to 4.30 pm, was to encourage the chess aficionados to network and interact and share their love for the game. Mrs Alicia Lau sponsored the event and also the club tee shirt for all members. There were 28 participants from NYPS and 30 from MGS; every participant played two rounds and all received medals in recognition of their contribution to this Inter-School friendly challenge. There are plans to organize a sequel in 2011. 62nd National Schools Individual Chess Championships 2010 At the National Schools Individual Chess Championships 2010, Eunice Hng MeiXian (P1.1) won the Merit prize and Emmanuelle Hng Mei-En (P3.5) won the 3rd prize; the participants at this event in March played eight rounds of the game. MGS sent 15 participants to the competition which lasted from 8 am to 7 pm. 27 The 17th Commendation Awards Ceremony took place on Thursday 2 September. The Guest-of-Honour was Ms Tay Chin Joo, Vice-President (Synchronized Swimming) Singapore Swimming Association. Ms Tay was barely ten years old when she took to the swimming pool to represent Singapore at the SEAP Games in Kuala Lumpur 1965; her illustrious career as a national swimmer spanned ten years over which time she accumulated nine Gold, ten Silver and five Bronze awards. Ms Tay urged the girls at MGS to always be the best and strive to win, but they must also remember that it is ‘the struggle, not the triumph’ that matters in every event in life. She advised them to stay focused in whatever they undertake, to understand and appreciate teamwork and respect for one another, and to always be humble. Sportsmanship is of utmost importance – one has to accept setbacks or failures graciously, and never to give up, whatever the cost. In their journey through life, the girls will always have family and friends for support, and this they must value without reservation. Twelve girls from MGS received the National School Colours Award at the 40th Singapore School Sports Council (SSSC) National Colours Awards Presentation held on Friday 17 September; the ceremony took place at the Nanyang Polytechnic. The National Colours Award is given annually in recognition of students representing the Singapore Schools Team and for their outstanding achievements in sports and games within the official SSSC Sports Calendar. The Award promotes exemplary conduct and sportsmanship, as well as excellence in sports and games. The following MGS girls received the National Colours Award (Individual): SN SPORTS NAME CLASS AWARD NO. 1 Badminton Grace Chua Hui Zhen 2T 1st 2 Gymnastics Caitlyn Joy Loo Yang Xin 2S 1st 3 Squash Rachel Leong Ai Ting 4E 1st 4 Swimming Adeline Shu Jian Winata 4I 3rd 5 Swimming Marina Chan Shi Min Nur 1H 1st 6 Swimming Joie Chan Syn-Ee 4M 1st 7 Swimming Charmaine Tan 3R 2nd 8 Swimming Christabel Chai Juan Yi 2S 1st 9 Swimming Natasha-Lin Low E-Hsuen 1M 1st 10 Swimming Meagan Lim Shen-Hui 2S 2nd 11 Swimming Zerlynn Tiang 3D 1st 12 Tennis Julienne Keong Si Ying 4E 3rd The girls received awards for their contributions in five sports. 28 More Blessed to Give On Monday 30 August the staff of MGS spent two hours at various places in the community to bring cheer to the elderly people in need. They volunteered to do some spring cleaning at a number of homes in Geylang Bahru, and organised a block party to celebrate the birthday of the elderly guests born in July, August and September. MGS provided a birthday cake and light refreshment, and of course games to entertain the elderly folks; they enjoyed playing bingo and simply passing the parcel or ball, and were delighted to take on a ‘forfeit’ when required. At the karaoke session the teachers gamely sang in Chinese dialect and in the fashion of Teresa Teng and her contemporaries. Some teachers, in pairs, went from door to door to conduct a survey on services offered by TOUCH Community Services to the elderly folks in the Bendemeer-Geylang Bahru area. They were happy to leave their comfort zone, speak in dialect and investigate the needs of the elderly residents. When a resident was not at home at the appointed time, they went on the hunt in the neighbourhood until they found the person, with the help of elderly neighbours of course! The satisfaction that comes with bringing joy to others was enough reason for the staff at MGS to want to do this again – unite in volunteering to help those in need! Teacher’s Day 2010 MGS celebrated Teacher’s Day on Tuesday 31 August. Early that morning, the full school assembled in the quadrangle to pay tribute to their teachers. They sang and danced, and the prefects presented each teacher with a rose. Subsequently, the Primary school staged a concert, where the girls serenaded their teachers and danced to music familiar to an older generation. In the Secondary school, there was a tea party in the tradition of Alice in Wonderland; the girls were prettily dressed as various characters in the likes of the Mad Hatter, the March Hare, the Queen of Hearts, the Cheshire Cat and so on… and they served tea even Lewis Carroll could not have imagined! After the celebrations at school, the teachers were invited to have lunch at the Guild House, National University of Singapore; their hosts were the Board of Management and the MGS Alumnae Association. At lunch, the teachers threw caution to the wind and ‘walked on the wild side’; camouflaged in the colours of the jungle, they reveled in the camaraderie and unaccustomed leisure. It was their Day after all! 29 On Thursday 30 September, the Primary school celebrated Children’s Day with a masquerade. The teachers were the masked entertainers in colourful, exotic costumes, and they gave the girls a performance to remember. The teachers showed their young audience how to “Move it, move it”; they swept the girls off the feet in a ‘Miss-Used-To-Be-Single’ pageant, and they took on the persona of the Blackmore Buskers to croon “Stand by me.” Another group of teachers shook the stage with their interpretation of “Waka, Waka – this time for Africa”; and yet another, complete with maracas, turned up the heat with their “Hot, Hot, Hot,” salsa item. There was also a ‘cheeky’ quiz to keep the girls in suspense. The finale was a mass dance, starring Mrs Yap Tsui Lan & Mrs Amy Yee, the VicePrincipals; it was then that the entertainers took off their masks to ear-splitting screams from the audience. The resounding applause was proof that the teachers had excelled in their role as entertainers, energizing the children’s imagination, and making it easy for them to laugh and have fun. Children’s Day is never the same without the teachers! Maths Whiz Kids Australian Mathematics Competition The girls in the Secondary school participated in several Maths competitions between June and September 2010 and were duly rewarded for their skills and talents. In early August 309 students from MGS took part in the annual Australian Mathematics Competition; launched in 1976, this is the world’s largest mathematics competition, attracting around 100,000 of participants from outside Australia, bringing the total to around 600,000 participants. Singapore Mathematical Olympiad 2010 In June, 118 students took part in the Singapore Mathematical Olympiad 2010. The school obtained 1 Gold award, 7 Silver and 20 Bronze awards. In the Junior Category (Secondary One and Two), Team MGS was ranked 6th among the 122 schools participating. The Junior Team was formed by Grace Chua Hui Zhen (Sec 2T), Priyanka (Sec 2D) and Yoon Eun Kyung (Sec 1D). Designing with Graphic Calculators 30 54 of the MGS participants scored a Distinction each, while 148 were awarded a Credit each. Grace Chua Hui Zhen (Sec 2T) won the Prudence Award, which is limited to one per school and given to the student with the highest number of consecutive correct responses starting from the first question. Sudoku Enrichment Programme In July seven girls from Secondary 3 and ten from Secondary 4 took part in the Designing with Graphic Calculators Competition organized by Victoria Junior College; eleven Secondary schools and Junior Colleges competed at this event. In September, the MGS Maths Department conducted a Sudoku Enrichment Programme for the Secondary One classes. The girls had to complete a series of Sudoku puzzles in six consecutive weeks; subsequently, every class sent the top three girls, with the best timing for solving the puzzles, to a Sudoku competition. The top 50 designs were awarded prizes, all of which were sponsored by Texas Instruments Singapore (Pte) Ltd. Eight MGS girls won prizes which range from a Graphics Calculator Pouch to a $500 voucher for the second prize. Marissa Chong (Sec 1E) was the Sudoku champion, and the runners-up were Bay Jo-Lene (Sec 1E) and Eunice Halim (Sec 1I); they won prizes sponsored by BRANDS Singapore. Longest Day Friday 3 September was the Longest Day for the graduating Class of 2010. The day started as usual at 7.30 am; after assembly, there were lessons until about 1.00 pm. Then at two in the afternoon, the girls were back at the assembly area – this time for some games and camaraderie. It was Ohana after all! The Longest Day 2010 promoted a tradition cherished in Hawaii, where the ties of an extended family are of utmost significance; Ohana reminded the girls, as a family, as the Class of 2010 to co-operate and remember one another for life. Ohana during the Longest Day was aptly underscored by the theme: Uptake, Uphold, Uplift! All the activities of the day were weaved into a story about the adventures of Lilo and Stitch, as well as that of many other television characters from the girls’ childhood. They played games at different stations and also a mass game where they threw water bombs at one another; then they investigated various clues to solve the mystery of the kidnapping of Stitch. They dashed around and laughed and screamed in wild abandon; it was ‘fun’ to be wet with water, sweat and tears and dirty with mud and paint. Then it was time to give thanks to God for the joy of being together, for the candlelit dinner and for four wonderful years of being at MGS, “for friendships made and pleasures shared, and lessons learned apace”. The Longest Day came to an end with the traditional campfire, but this time in the spirit of Ohana, when tiki torches, a totem statue and stars everywhere helped the girls carve yet another memory of MGS to keep “down through the years” and always in “a loving place”. They danced to the melody of Aloha E Komo Mai; and they raised their glasses filled with sparkling apple juice. It was fitting that before they parted company for the night, they sang heartily to one another the theme song, Lean on Me. And when the confetti came down in torrents there was the assurance – Once an MGS girl, Always an MGS girl! 31 Tim the Tiger Roars and WINS award for Budding Writers at MGS Methodist Girls’ School 11 Blackmore Drive Singapore 599986 Tel: 6469 4800 Fax: 6469 8717, 6462 4166