VOL 25/1 March 2014 - Methodist Girls` School

to master to grow to serve
VOL 25/1 March 2014
Principal’s
Message
MGS welcomes 2014 with a tremendous sense of excitement
and anticipation. The theme for this year is “Established for His
Glory”, taken from Psalm 90:17. That “the beauty of the Lord will
be upon us and establish the work of our hands for us…”. There
are boundless opportunities for learning and growing as an MGS
community. As a school, as a family, we have our aspirations
and our dreams, we have made good plans and delivered great
programmes. Our teachers are competent and committed to the
MGS mission. But the imperative must not be left out of the whole
equation – God and God alone must be the centre of it all. It is our
prayer that God will take centre stage in our efforts and He will
bless the work of all our hands.
As you turn the pages of MGeSpirit, you will have a vicarious
experience of the vibrancy, the spirit and the pulse of our school.
The experiences and learning are designed to help our girls
master, grow and serve. To master and not give up when the odds
are against you; to grow to become better people, and most of
all to learn to serve with a servant’s heart. When our B Division
softballers were edged out of the semi-finals through a tie breaker,
the girls learnt to deal with disappointment. They learnt to exhibit a
winning spirit that surmounts. Behind every victory or defeat, there
is a story to tell and there are values to imbibe. This is education.
Our teachers, our staff, parents and coaches play an incredibly
important part in the education of our girls. Together as a team, we
make the difference in the MGS experience for our girls. We role
model, we inspire, we encourage and we are there.
Enjoy this edition of the MGeSpirit and allow the photos to be
testimony of the MGS spirit which resonates within the walls of
our school.
To God be the Glory
Ms Grace Ng
2
Welcome to MGS
abilities, interests and goals, and to affirm their plans
for the immediate future. They learnt all about the MGS
heritage and traditions, about the resources for learning,
the support services and the many co-curricular activities
to enrich their education.
Thursday 2 January, the first day at school in 2014 was
especially meaningful for the girls in Secondary One. This
was the beginning of a new chapter in their education.
In the course of the next four school days, they were
introduced to the excitement, the opportunities, and the
great expectations in Secondary school.
At the two-day camp, they played games and participated
in many activities, including the campfire, where they
pledged to stand Together all the Time. Indeed they have
been inspired to “Be completely humble and gentle; be
patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every
effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of
peace.” [Ephesians 4: 2-3]
The Orientation programme was a concerted effort by
the teachers, prefects, student leaders and the MGS
community to ensure that the new students nurture
the sense of belonging, and feel at home in their new
surroundings. The girls had the opportunity to interact with
their classmates and friends, to explore their intellectual
My
Schoolmate, My Buddy
In the first ten days of the new school year, the pupils in Primary Five were
assigned a buddy each from among the little girls in Primary One.
The little ones needed friends to show them around; they needed to be
comfortable where there were strangers by the numbers. The girls in Primary Five
had the energy, the loyalty and the zeal to show
the younger girls what it means to be in school
and sing of MGS forever.
And for two weeks during recess, the Primary
Five girls took their little friends to the Canteen
to show them how to take their turns to buy
snacks and drinks; and then they went on tours
of the campus to appreciate the expanse of
the grounds, the many facilities and the people
they meet in school.
3
Orientation
for Primary One
On Saturday afternoon, 16 November 2013, MGS welcomed
the girls who were to start school in January the next year.
The Orientation programme was intended to allay whatever
anxieties the little girls and their parents might have in making
the transition from kindergarten to Primary school.
While their parents attended a briefing session in the
Auditorium, the girls were taken on a tour of the school before
moving to the Bamboo Courtyard where they played games
and chatted with new-found friends. The look-and-play
session showed them a little of what to expect from school;
at least, they did not have to walk into a totally unfamiliar
learning environment on their very first day at school in 2014.
Fairyland MGS
On Saturday afternoon, 15 February, MGS was a
fairyland, and fairies with their colourful wings were
singing and dancing merrily at the Quadrangle.
The parents gathered in the Auditorium for a briefing
session, but not without making sure the picnic
baskets and mats were there for their fairies in
Primary One.
It was picnic time, and the Student Leaders from
Primary Five, Primary Six and Secondary Three
were showing Tinker Bell and Friends how to make
the most of the event organized by ParentLink to
promote the school spirit and camaraderie in the
community.
First, a group of mothers led the girls in worship
and giving praise to God. Then the Student Leaders
assumed the responsibility of engaging the little
girls in a variety of activities including art and craft
sessions, games galore and mass dancing.
4
Learning with an ipad
at Changi Airport
It was the sixth week of the new school year, and the
students on the Tamil Language programme were raring to
go to Changi Airport to learn all about Asia Pacific’s Best
Airport, and a Top Worldwide Airport.
On Wednesday 5 February, the students
from across the levels – Primary One
to Primary Six – arrived at Changi
airport, eager for a different learning
experience. They were asked to
complete a worksheet to record their
investigations at Changi Airport. But
they had to do this in pairs and with
an ipad shared by each pair.
They used the ipad when they
explored the terminal to interview
pilots, stewards and stewardesses,
tourists and workers at the airport.
And with the ipad they captured on
video all that they had learnt about
the airport, its history, services,
facilities and importance to the
travel industry. Subsequently, they
shared their learning with their
classmates.
Basic
Leadership Programme
MGS upholds the belief that ‘Every Child is a Servant Leader’,
and since 2007 the Basic Leadership Programme has been a
cornerstone in the holistic education at the Primary school.
The programme is conducted during curriculum time; and
qualified trainers are specially engaged to help equip the girls
with the capacity and skills to be servant leaders.
In January, every class in the Primary school enjoyed two
sessions, of ninety minutes each, on cultivating leadership
skills. The girls in Primary One were taught communication
skills, and those in Primary Two, the skills to express
empathy; Primary Three, effective habits in thinking, reflection
and analytical skills; Primary Four, skills for communication
and conflict management; Primary Five, goal-setting and
envisioning; and Primary Six, team-building and skills in
making decisions.
5
Thank
God for You
Bright and early on Tuesday morning 22
October 2013, the full school gathered in the
Quadrangle to say farewell to Mrs Shirleen Ong
who had served as Principal of MGS for six
years.
Nadya Tan (P6.6) and her sister Natanya
(P3.4) sang about the Wind Beneath My
Wings to thank God for the Principal who
“always walked a step behind” them and their
schoolmates. Nathania Ong (Sec 3D) took her
turn to sing of how the Principal “saw the best
there was in me…lifted me up….Because You
Loved Me.”
Other girls, on behalf of their schoolmates,
danced and sang and testified in appreciation
of Mrs Ong; they presented her with tokens,
ranging from a mosaic
of the school crest to art
pieces from the Art Club
in the Primary school and
photographs of MGS
students at work and at
play. As one, the school
wished Mrs Ong all the
best “in the hope to
meet shortly again”.
Baccalaureate Service 2013
The Baccalaureate Service for the Class of
2013 took place on Friday 11 October in the
school Chapel.
In her address to the Class of 2013, the
Principal, Mrs Shirleen Ong, urged them
to try and ‘see the extraordinary in the
ordinary’, especially in relation to the people
and things around them. She assured the
girls that everyone has an interesting story
to tell.
Rev Dr Norman Wong, in his exhortation,
advised the Class of 2013 that “one thing
is necessary” [Luke 10: 38-42] and that is
to be like Mary, Martha’s sister, and sit at
the Lord’s feet to listen to his teaching. He
affirmed that “My Grace is sufficient for you
for my power is made perfect in weakness”
[2 Corinthian 12:9]. The girls might face trials
of many kinds, but he encouraged them to
persevere ‘for you know that the testing of
your faith produces steadfastness. And let
steadfastness have its full effect, that you
may be perfect and complete, lacking in
nothing” [James 1: 3-4].
The Class of 2013 prayed to acknowledge
God’s benevolence and to ask that He gives
them ‘the grace to put aside all anxious
thoughts’ of the Future.
6
Youth
Chapter
2014
The Class of 2013 gathered at the M E Lau Hall on Saturday
25 January 2014 to celebrate the Youth Chapter of the MGS
Alumnae Association. The theme for the day was simply,
You’ll Be in My Heart, a timely assurance that the bonds of
friendship are everlasting and will continue to be reinforced
through every phase in their life.
At 9 a.m., Ms Barbara Chee, President of the MGS Alumnae
Association, welcomed the young alumnae and invited them
to acknowledge the goodness of God Almighty.
For the next three hours, the girls played games which
included quizzes, riddles and a challenge to ensure they
didn’t forget the lyrics of various songs. The parents and the
Alumnae Association provided a feast for the girls; and at the
photo booth the girls took turns to capture, for posterity, the
excitement and camaraderie of the Youth Chapter.
At noon, the girls inscribed their hopes, wishes and goals on
blue and gold balloons before releasing them to the winds. In
harmony, they were ready to let their dreams take flight.
Christmas Service
Mrs Corinne Sim, the Vice-Principal, reassured the Class of
2013 that MGS will always be home to them.
The Christmas Service 2013 was held on Monday
21 October.
In the M E Lau Hall, Rev Rueben Ng and his
team of Clement Sim and Daniel Lee from the
Toa Payoh Methodist Church
led the Secondary school in
singing of the joy of Christmas. Rev Ng rejoiced that “Love Came Down at Christmas, and it was Love
Divine”; thereafter Christmas has always been different for him. In the course of the year, he is invariably
reassured that God is always there for him, and never against him. Indeed, Christmas is all about Mary’s Boy
Child, Jesus who “was born on Christmas Day. And man will live for evermore because of Christmas Day”.
In the Primary school, Pastor Ling Kin Yew from the Covenant Community Methodist Church (CCMC)
affirmed that God’s Gift of Love at Christmas is His son, Jesus, who came to earth to die for the sins of
mankind. The “Moms in God’s Service” team performed a skit to bring home the message of Love, and
then led the school to sing in praise of Christmas.
At the end of the service in both the Primary and Secondary school, the girls made their contributions to
a Love Gift to be presented to Christalite Methodist Home (CMH) for the destitute and the elderly folks.
7
Sounds of
Hope 2013
More than 500 girls in the Primary school took part in
the Sounds of Hope concert on Friday 25 October; they
represented the Performing Arts groups in showcasing their
talents for a meaningful community cause – to raise funds
in aid of the National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS). The
Guest of Honour was Prof Koo Wen Hsin, Head of Medical
Oncology, NCCS.
The theme for the concert in 2013 was Canvas of Life, which
was a timely endorsement of the school’s theme for 2013 –
Courage to Continue. It was fitting that in the Finale, the Choir
with the support of four girls from every Co-Curricular Activity
(CCA), gave a spectacular rendition of the song, Canvas for
Life; the three girls who led the
school in the song were Ashley Yeo
(P3.4), Gwen Lee (P5.4) and Lauren
Tse (P5.6)
There were two shows for the Sounds
of Hope, and tickets were sold out
for both shows. The school raised
$23,165 from the sale of tickets.
Children’s Day
Celebrations 2013
Thursday 3 October 2013 was Children’s Day, and all the
teachers in the Primary school joined forces to take their pupils
back to the past. Ms Yap Foon Lyn, the Vice-Principal created
a ‘time machine’ and invited the children to travel with her
through time, to the years between 1950 and 2000.
The girls were entertained by their teachers who sang and
danced to the music popular in a specific era in the past; to
bring history to life, the teachers were dressed in clothes that
were fashionable in days of yore.
Indeed it was the children’s day at MGS; and it was sheer
delight for the teachers to make the day special.
8
P6 Graduation Service
The Primary 6 Graduation Service 2013 took place in the school Chapel on Tuesday morning, 22 October.
Mrs Shirleen Ong, the Principal shared from the life of Joshua to show God’s faithfulness and affirm His assurance: “My grace
is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. …” [2 Corinthians 12:9]. She urged the girls to keep close to
their heart, memories of their time in MGS and the ‘miracles’ God had accomplished for them – the friends and teachers who
stood by them all this time. She asked that they “be strong
and courageous” as they moved forward into “a new phase in
life” where there are uncertainties and many challenges.
Ms Yap Foon Lyn, the Vice-Principal,
told the girls of the wonders of
God’s Glory, and that “my God will
meet all your needs according to
the riches of His glory in Christ
Jesus” [Philippians 4:19].
Together, the Class of 2013 (P6)
prayed for God’s help as they
looked forward “with full hope”
and grateful that “With You, we
shall not fear what may happen
tomorrow.”
After the
PSLE 2013
After the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) in
October 2013, the girls in Primary Six were involved in a
number of invigorating activities including rock-climbing
and hip hop dancing. The post-exam programme created
opportunities for the girls to enjoy extreme sports in a
safe environment, and to appreciate the benefits of mass
participation in a shared activity. They also had the chance
to learn all about social etiquette, which they realized is
part and parcel of character development.
9
Graduation Party 2013
The Class of 2013 in the Primary school had their graduation
party at the Jurong Bird Park on Tuesday 22 October.
The theme for the party was Under His Wings and the theme
verse was from Psalm 91:4 “He will cover you with His feathers
and Under His Wings you will find refuge.”
Their joy and excitement were evident at the buffet lunch,
and during the many activities. All six classes put up uplifting
performances, each of which demonstrated a strong sense of
class spirit and togetherness.
The highlight was the Amazing Race. The girls had to retrieve
information from various bird exhibits to solve a crossword
puzzle.The prizes were attractive, but the camaraderie
surpassed all. The teachers too were drawn into the games
and merriment, participating where possible to enrich the
experience for the girls.
At the end of the party, every girl received a small ‘graduation
bear’ and a goodie bag in which were a small bottle of rock
candy, a thumb drive, cupcake and a keychain. And there was
also a lucky draw for the cohort.
Forest
Adventure
In its effort to nurture the robust and healthy child,
the school encouraged all pupils in Primary Three to
participate actively in an unique outdoor experience at
the Forest Adventure, Bedok Reservoir Park.
and the giant zip lines across the waters; they gamely
explored how to navigate the bridges, the ladders, slides,
the zip lines; and they relished the rip-roaring adventure
in the trees.
Over five days from Monday 14 October to Friday 18
October 2013, the pupils had a real “adrenaline-rush
adventure” amidst the stunning scenery in Bedok Park.
They learnt to master many of the man-made obstacles
They were often physically and emotionally challenged
at the Forest Adventure, but they felt safe because the
qualified instructors and their teachers were always there
to support every girl taking on the tree top adventure.
10
Taiwan Experience 2013
Thirty girls on the Higer Chinese Language (HCL)
programme in Primary Five went on a learning journey to
Taiwan on Thursday 7 November. They were accompanied
by the Vice-Principal, Ms Yap Foon Lyn and their teachers,
Mdm Tang Yen Yen, Mdm Sun Hui, Ms Ng Li Nah, and Mrs
Tan Sian Huang.
The Cultural and Language Immersion Trip 2013 took
them to Huaxing Elementary School where the
girls attended lessons and experienced a variety of
classroom activities, and to the Toucheng Leisure Farm
where they learnt about life on a farm. At the Tzu Chi
Recycling and Education Centre, they appreciated how
important recycling is in Taiwan.
The girls also visited several places of interest to learn
about the rich culture and history of Taiwan. For sure,
they enjoyed the sight and sounds, and the learning
experience at the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, the
National Palace Muesum, Yangmingshan National
Park, the Shung Ye Museum of Formosan Aborigines, Bopiliao Education Centre, Ximending and
the See-Join Puppet Theatre Restaurant.
Team MGS returned to Singapore on Wednesday 13 November.
Work
Experience 2013
At the end of the school year in 2013, about forty girls in Secondary Three chose
to spend time at a workplace to extend their knowledge and understanding of the
world of work. Through the Work Experience in their preferred field – selected from
a list which included Healthcare, Food and Beverage, Sales and Retail, Resarch
and Development, Finance and Banking, and Law – the girls developed a greater
awareness of their abilities and possibly, the capacity to make appropriate career
choices.
At their place of work, the girls were made familiar with different aspects of work
within their area of interest and were responsible for work allocated by their
supervisor or mentor. It was primarily their duty to observe and learn, and not to
undertake tasks which required expertise or extensive training.
The teacher-supervisors were Mdm Chu Suat
Bee, Ms Jasmine Goh and Mrs Rhoda Choy.
Angeline Goh (Sec 3D) shared that “the experience
provided an interesting close to a good year
of learning. We learnt about team-work and
discipline, and how patience, striving for accuracy
and remaining open to continuous learning will see
us through any situation we are thrown into”.
11
P5 ROCs in
Malacca
In the last three days of October 2013, Mr Desmond
Yip, Vice-Principal, led a team of 189 girls from
Primary Five and 23 teachers to Malacca. This was
the annual ROCs 5 learning journey to allow the girls
to appreciate the rich history and culture of Malacca.
They visited numerous landmarks and historic sites
ranging from the Stadhuys, St Paul’s Hill, Queen
Victoria’s Fountains, to the Cheng Ho Cultural
Museum, Sarang Buaya, and Jonker Street.
At Sarang Buaya the girls learnt all about life in
a kampong. They tried throwing the gasing and
weaving ketuput casings; they observed the tapping
of rubber trees; and they walked through pineapple,
gula melaka and palm oil plantations.
At the Malacca Peranakan Association, the girls were guests at a mock traditional wedding where they listened to a recitation
of the pantun. They learnt about the the Nyonya Kebaya, and danced the Ronggeng to the tunes of the Dondang Sayang. They
enjoyed a hands-on lesson in making ondeh ondeh; and were thrilled to take part in a game of congkak.
Malacca, might have been ‘just another fishing village’ in the distant past, but in 2013, it was a classroom cherished by the MGS
girls, eager to cultivate a global perspective.
12
Autumn in Xi’an
On Thursday 7 November 2013, twenty-five girls set off for their ROCs trip to
Xi’an, one of the oldest cities in China, to learn of its rich history and culture.
It was autumn, and the scenic beauty of Xi’an was a delight for the senses.
Accompanied by their teachers – Ms Carol Tay, Ms Karen Lim and Mr Kay
Ren Tat – the girls from Secondary Three visited the orphanage, where they
taught the children simple handicraft, and were touched by the children’s
cheerfulness and enthusiasm for learning. The students at Gao Xin No 1 High
School were just as exuberant and proactive in the classroom; they warmly
welcomed the MGS girls and displayed tremendous skills in wushu to inspire
their visitors.
Beyond the classroom, the MGS girls enriched their learning at the terracotta
warrior pits and various museums, where they explored the achievements of
the dynasties of ancient China.
In Xi’an, they acquired considerable knowledge to better appreciate the
history and culture of China; and they forged close ties with schoolmates
while enjoying the learning experience.
13
Service
Learning in
India
On Thursday 7 November, 38
girls from Secondary 3 set off for
India on a journey that promised
exciting new landscapes for
learning. Accompanied by Ms
Kek Lay Yan, Mrs Magdalene Tan,
Ms Charmain Loy and Mr Ling
Beng Huat, they travelled from
New Delhi, to Agra, Jaipur, and
south to Chennai.
In New Delhi, the girls visited
Mount Carmel School (Anand
Niketan), where they experienced
a typical school day. At Mount Carmel’s Learning
Centre, the girls worked with under-privileged
children, mostly from the slums.
In Chennai, the girls attended lessons in Vidya
Mandir Senior School. At Little Flower Convent,
a school for the deaf and blind, they organised
art and craft sessions for the deaf children, who
expressed overwhelming joy in response to the
visitors.
The learning experience in the cities was yet
another voyage of discovery; they were awed by
breathtaking landmarks like the Taj Mahal in Agra,
the Amber Fort in Jaipur, and Marina Beach in
Chennai, the second longest beach in the world.
On Friday 15 November, they returned to Singapore;
they quickly affirmed that what they had learnt and
“the laughter and blessings shared are enough to
last a lifetime”.
14
Sports and Wildlife
Down Under
On Wednesday 6 November, 43 girls from
Secondary Three arrived in Melbourne,
Australia for an adventure in learning; they
were accompanied by Mrs May Liow, Ms
Louisa Or, Mr Ling Lek Suan, and Mr Kevin
Khoo.
First, they attended a lacrosse workshop
before taking a tour of the Royal Botanic
Gardens. Then the epic adventure began,
with the girls navigating their way through
a maze of caves at Yarra Junction; here
they discovered a range of wondrous
underground creatures, including glow
worms, cave crickets and others. Here too,
they appreciated the significance of teamwork, and looking out for one another.
At the Howqua Campus of Lauriston Girls’
School, they were awed by a different culture
in education; the girls in Year 9 actually
spend an entire year, without access to IT, in
the outdoor campus.
In the next four days, Team MGS was in
Phillip Island, to research on the wildlife
there. It was an unforgettable experience
to watch the parade of penguins waddling
home after a hard day’s work at sea; and
the prowl for koalas in their natural habitat
was just as exciting and enlightening! The
girls also did a rock pool analysis, similar
to the one they had accomplished at St
John’s Island in Singapore; their aim was to
compare the ecology of Australia with that
of Singapore.
Team MGS found time to visit the many
landmarks in Melbourne. They were at the
Queen Victoria Market, the Eureka Skydeck,
and the Sports Museum and others.
On Thursday 14 November, Team MGS
returned to Singapore.
15
In the
Heart of Asia
On Thursday 7 November 2013, a group
of 62 students, accompanied by their
teachers – Mrs Lam Mei Kien, Ms Krystal
Ong, Ms Malisa Bay, Mdm Yau Poh Yong
and Mr Liu Heok Hing – embarked on
a trip to Taipei, Taiwan; this was Reality
Outside Classrooms (ROCs) for the girls
from Secondary Three.
In Taipei Team MGS was warmly
welcomed at Wesley Girls’ High
School, a sister school of MGS. The
girls attended lessons, including one in
sign-language. Outside the classroom,
they learnt more about the way of life
through a brief home-stay with their
Taiwanese buddies.
also the two night markets at Raohe and
Tamsui, where they indulged in some
shopping!
At the National Palace Museum, the
girls heightened their appreciation of
History, and at the Windmills and the
Taiwan Science Education Center,
they deepened their understanding of
the Sciences. They were also at the
Yeliu Geological Park which boasted a
multitude of landforms, and at Shimen,
where they enjoyed a yacht ride and the
picturesque environment. There were
While in Taipei, Team MGS found time
for voluntary service to the physicallydisabled children at the Happy Mount
Sanatorium. They entertained the
children with song and dance; they
celebrated the birthday of some of
the children, and helped with the
Christmas decorations. And at the Tzu
Chi Recycling Station they sorted out
recycled bottles.
16
A Taste of
Currywurst
A team of 38 girls from Secondary Three arrived in Berlin on
Wednesday 6 November to experience schooling at Romain
Rollando Gymnasium, a top high school in Germany. They were
accompanied by Mrs Shirleen Ong, Mrs Janet Ng, Ms Tsien Jiuan
Jiuan and Mr Gerald Chang.
At Romain Rollando Gymnasium the girls attended classes for
English, Chinese, Mathematics, French, Music and Art; they
certainly appreciated a “different perspective of education”.
And they had the taste of a different culture too – currywurst,
Germany’s favourite fast food. A tour of the city took them to
the Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag Building, Stasi Museum,
and of course, Checkpoint Charlie and the Berlin Wall. In Berlin,
they attended a Baroque music concert, and indulged in Ritter
chocolate.
In Leipzig, Team MGS enjoyed more of Germany’s cuisine,
including sauerkraut and German potato dumplings. They visited
more museums like the Grassi Museum, the Bach museum,
and attended a forum on contemporary history. There was
music everywhere – in the Gewandhaus, Mendelssohn Haus,
Schumann-Haus, and the Semper Opera House, where they
enjoyed a sneak preview of the opera that was taking place later
in the day.
17
In Dresden, the girls visited a historic Catholic church,
a castle, Richard Wager’s house, Lohengrin, and the
supermarket.
They spent two days in Krakow, Poland where “history came
to life” at the Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration camp and
the Schindler Factory museum.
In the ten days of travelling from one city to another, Team
MGS learnt more about the unique culture, food and history
of Eastern Europe than they could have from their textbooks.
Total Defence Day
At Assembly on Wednesday 12 February, the Secondary school
commemorated Total Defence Day, the theme for which was Because
You Played A Part. The objective in 2014 is to reaffirm the role that
Singaporeans play in keeping the nation safe and secure.
Some of the classes in Secondary Four performed skits to promote
the five aspects of Total Defence – Psychological, Social, Economic,
Civil and Military. They engineered a creative take on the past, and with wit and humour they urged their schoolmates to
work together for defending their Future.
Mr Vincent Ong, the Vice-Principal reminded everyone to play her part for school and nation, and explained that “readiness
is our protection”!
In the Primary school, during Assembly on Friday 14 February, Mr Desmond Yip, the Vice-Principal, led the school in
learning more about Total Defence. He informed and entertained his young audience with N.E.mation videos and a lively
quiz. This was to help them understand the need to ensure that the nation responds adequately and fruitfully to the
challenges it encounters.
N.E.mation 8!
Team MGS was one of the top ten finalists for N.E.mation 8! a digital
animation competition which attracted more than 500 teams in 2014.
The competition was organised by Nexus to encourage the young to
express their thoughts on Total Defence.
In N.E.mation 8! students were asked to use their creativity to produce
storylines centred on the theme: Because You Played a Part.
The animation clips produced by the top ten finalist teams were
judged by a panel comprising industry professionals. And in January
2014, members of the public were invited to vote online for their three
favourite clips.
Team MGS, better known as Wayne Stark Co in the competition, was formed by Megan Hannah Jakin (Sec 3E), Tabatha
Gwen Chew Rui Yi (Sec 3D), An Jee-Hyun (Sec 3D) and Gillian Goh Ser Lyn (Sec 3M).
18
Pink of Health
On Monday 10 February at about 2.45 pm, the Class of 2014
warmly welcomed more than 180 elderly guests to the Pink of
Health event at MGS.
the MGS girls to show their hospitality. She urged the
Class of 2014 to be the best they could be and bring
Joy, Gladness and Kindness to their guests.
The guests were from Ghim
Moh Blk 3 Caregiving Welfare
Association (CWA), the Lions
Befrienders at Ghim Moh Blk
18 and the Care Corner at
Toa Payoh Blk 149.
In the joyous spirit of the Lunar New Year, a team from
Secondary 4M sang a traditional Chinese song to
entertain their guests, and also the song Give Thanks
with a Grateful Heart ‘because of what the Lord has
done for us’. The group Destiny performed a dance
before the visitors were led to various sites for games,
karaoke, an art and craft session and other activities.
The event was organized
in collaboration with the
Singapore Health Promotion
Board (HPB) which had trained the students to conduct the Quick
Six Steps exercise to engage their elderly guests. Representatives
from the HPB were also at MGS during the event to provide a talk
on Fall Prevention and other health matters.
Ms Grace Ng invited the guests to make themselves at home and
to enjoy the activities organized to promote healthy living. She was
grateful that the ‘aunties and uncles’ were making it possible for
Values in Action CNY
During the Lunar New Year festivities, the girls in Primary Six worked
closely with the North West Community Development Council and Fei
Yue Community Services to bring cheer to the elderly residents in the
neighbourhood. These were neighbours who live in one-room rental
flats.
After school, on Friday 14 February, which was the 15th day of the
Lunar New Year, the girls distributed goodie bags to every household
involved; accompanied by their teachers, they spent near to three
hours putting the values they had learnt, into action. Prior to the walkabout in the community, they had dutifully saved their pocket money
to buy various items for the goodie bags. And they even found time to
write and personalize every greeting card to go with the gift.
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At the end of the day, each elderly guest received a gift
bag and dinner to take away.
Scholars Reunion Dinner
The Covenant Community Methodist Church (CCMC) hosted a
Reunion Dinner for the scholars at MGS on Tuesday 28 January 2014.
Dinner at the Bamboo Courtyard included the traditional yusheng
which came with lots of wishes for success. In the spirit of the Lunar
New Year festivities, the scholars sang song after song in Malay,
Indonesian, Mandarin and Vietnamese; they confessed that most of
the lyrics were really not familiar to them, but they “appreciated the
friendship and the cultural identity” of every group of scholars. They
were delighted to raise their styrofoam cups, overflowing with fruit
punch, in a toast to MGS, their teachers and mentors, and to one
another.
“Lunar New Year would have been adding salt to homesickness…”
explained a scholar, “if not for the reunion dinner in the Bamboo
Courtyard!”
Celebrate
Lunar New Year
It was the eve of the Lunar New Year and the full school was ready to usher in the year
of the horse on Thursday 30 January. They gathered at the Quadrangle for assembly
and then to enjoy performances and activities that celebrated the culture of the
Chinese community.
The Primary school staged a concert which introduced some of the taboos of the
Lunar New Year to enrich the girls’ understanding of their ethnic culture. Primary
2.4 performed a dance item while Primary 2.1 sang for an audience that responded
spontaneously to the joyous mood and happily sang along with the performers. A
group of guest performers from the Secondary school entertained the girls with their
pipa and their singing in Chinese.
In the Secondary school, every class was given the privilege of learning the art of
calligraphy, before proceeding to the M E Lau Hall for a “reunion” of the four Houses.
The programme included an inter-House Rap and Song competition, and the highlight
of a House Reunion with Lao Yu Sheng in designated areas of the hall.
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Annual
Camp 2013
GB
In October 2013, the Girls’ Brigade 1st Company had its
annual camp, based on the theme, Mission for Creation.
Then there was the usual campfire and worship under the
stars, a fitting end to three days of adventure and reinforcing
the esprit de corps.
At camp the girls learnt that they were entrusted with the
privilege to spread the word of God, and be ‘fishers of men’.
In the day, they practised diligently to perfect the different
moves for an inter-squad drill competition; at night they
played games to enrich their appreciation for team spirit. The
drill competition was significant in testing their endurance,
team-work, resilience.
The highlight of the camp which lasted from Friday 25
October to Sunday 27 October , was the stay-over at Gallop
Stables (Bukit Timah) where the girls had to sleep in wagons.
They were also given the opportunity to feed and groom the
horses; of course, they enjoyed riding the horses, and being
up close to Nature.
Girls’ Brigade
Fellowship Camp 2014
On Friday 17 January the Girls’ Brigade 1st Company
enjoyed a day of fellowship at school. This was a
joyous start to the two-day camp which reinforced the
camaraderie and helped the recruits appreciate the
shared interests of the Company. There were activities
to promote service-learning; and there were games and
drills, and team-work in solving hypothetical crimes. In
short, the fellowship camp fortified the Brigade’s drive to
serve at home, in the local community and overseas.
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Monsters Inc Camp
From Monday 18 November to Wednesday
20 November 2013, the Girl Guides were at
camp, enthusiastically engaged in activities
reminiscent of Monsters Inc, their theme
for three days. At camp, the Guides were
organized in groups named after characters
from Monsters Inc, and it was the collective
aim to reinforce their ties of friendship and
the team spirit.
Every morning for Devotion, they reflected
on the significance of friendship, teamwork and acceptance within their ranks and
beyond.
Thereafter, their screams for joy were
heard everywhere, at the morning exercise,
outdoor cooking, tent pitching, and sessions
in axemanship and gadget-making, in the
mass dance, during the Amazing Race and
at the campfire.
At the Guides’ Own session on the first day,
they gave thanks for all their blessings and
shared their thoughts and feelings on a theme
specially selected by the group; the discussion
was on an issue of their own choice, but related
to the Girl Guides and their commitment to
keeping their Promise and Law.
Fellowship Day
Camp 2013
The girls in all the Lower Primary classes were thrilled to
be at a Fellowship Day Camp from Tuesday 29 October to
Thursday 31 October.
Who Am I? That was the question they had to contemplate
as they explored their relationship with Jesus Christ. With the
guidance and support of Mr Reginald Chan, who spoke to
them about the Good Shepherd and the Light of the World,
the girls discovered the importance of Jesus in their life.
They appreciated that Jesus cares for them, and gives them
the direction and guidance in life; and they resolved to stay
close to Jesus.
At the camp there were many adults who
helped to carry out the activities, and the
Secondary school sent some students to
make sure the campers enjoyed the day camp
at MGS. The campers formed groups, each of
which was named after an important person in
the Bible; Moses was there, so were Joshua
and Mary and others. On the last day at camp,
each group had to present a skit to portray the
life of the person whose name gave the group
its identity.
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Prefects
At Camp in October, the Prefects pledged to focus on their goals
as leaders in school, and to be exemplary and serve God to the
best of their ability. “Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your
gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for
your feet and be steadfast in all your ways”. [Proverbs 4:25-26]
Camp 2013
Professional trainers from Lifeskills Enrichment conducted
various sessions to equip the prefects with the necessary skills
to lead at school and to be ready for the next chapter of their
education.
And there were games to test their understanding of school rules,
teamwork, their ability to think flexibly.
Finally, every prefect recorded her goals on a piece of paper
which she then folded into an aeroplane; together the prefects
allowed their aeroplanes to take flight to signify their conviction
“to be steadfast in all [their] ways”.
Chess
Achievements
In December 2013 Team MGS from the
Primary school participated at the 30th
National Age Group Chess Championship,
and made their mark in the fraternity.
Eunice Hng (P5.2) was ranked 1st in the
Girls Under 10 category, where Danelle
Tan (P4.2) was placed 3rd.
Eunice also represented Singapore in the
5th Penang Heritage City International
Chess Challenge and won the Champion’s
title in the Girls Under 10 category.
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A
Green Canteen
In 2013, MGS launched the Project on Greening Canteen
Trellis; this was a project sponsored by Veolia Environmental
Services and initiated by the National Environment Agency
(NEA), under the Corporate And School Partnership
Programme (CASP). The partnership with Veolia has enabled
the school to carry out various clean and green projects
over the years.
In 2013, MGS chose to grow Tillandsias (air plants) at the
trellis of the canteen. Tillandsias are flowering plants which
are hardy and require minimal care. They are suspended in
the air where they receive diffused light from the sun and
daily misting with water from a sprayer.
The Tillandsias project has many benefits, including the
plant’s lasting contribution in cleansing the air by removing
carbon dioxide and replenishing it with oxygen; the project
also promotes the sense of responsibility among the students
who voluntarily take care of the plants.
Environment Champions
The Clean & Green Singapore (CGS) Schools’ Carnival 2013 was held
at ITE College West on Tuesday 12 November and Wednesday 13
November. This is an annual platform for students, educators and 3P
partners to network and showcase their projects and achievements in
promoting awareness of the natural environment.
About 65 projects were displayed at the Carnival 2013. Team MGS,
formed by Klara Chew (Sec 2S), Amanda Tan (Sec 2T), Claire Tan (Sec
2S) and Natalie Han (Sec 2S) took charge of their Air plant showcase
at the Carnival, which attracted more than 6,000 students from preschools to pre-tertiary institutions. At their booth, Team MGS shared,
with visitors young and old, their knowledge of the environment and
its needs; they showed that “every little action plays an important part
in sustaining the clean and green environment in Singapore”.
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ABC Water Trail
On Tuesday 22 October 2013, nine Green Champions from MGS
went to MacRitchie Reservoir to conduct an ABC water trail to
teach students about the reservoir. The Green Champions were
trained by professionals to take on the role of leading groups of
students on the water trail. They also went for a course to gather
information on the reservoir and to learn the skills of testing
the quality of the water by using a
water testing kit; they discovered
the different species of plants
and animals in the environment,
and how rain water is filtered by
natural biofiltration.
The Green Champions enjoyed
leading a group of Primary
school pupils on the ABC water
trail and readily shared their knowledge of the reservoir
with the youngsters.
Megan Tay (Sec 2E) affirmed that “Leading the pupils
was really fun; they were very obedient and were even
taking notes. If I were given the opportunity, I would do it
again with my fellow Green Champions.” Megan’s fellow
Green Champions included Jade Oh (Sec 2S), Grace
Seetoh (Sec 2E), Megan Chu (Sec 2O), Shanon Kua (Sec
2O), Lauren Ng (Sec 2O), Lin Selby (Sec 2D), Batrishya
Kudzai (Sec 2D) and Rachel Chan (Sec 2H ).
Sports Day 2013
Sports day 2013 was held at Bukit Gombak Stadium on Friday 11
October, from 7.30 until 11.30 in the morning. Various events were
organized at inter-class, inter-house and inter-CCA levels to encourage
mass participation in sports and to promote sportsmanship.
There were the usual events like the 100 metres dash, the relays, the
Shot Putt, High Jump, Long Jump and others with which every athlete is
familiar. But there were also novelty events that were specially designed
to promote mass interest in sports and boost an active lifestyle.
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Amazing Science-X
Challenge 2013
In September 2013 two teams from MGS took part in the
Amazing Science-X Challenge (ASXC) 2013 organised
by the National Laboratories (DSO), National University
of Singapore (NUS) and the Science Centre Singapore.
The two teams participated in Category B for Secondary
and IP (Years 1-3) schools.
Shen Zhuoyu (Sec 3O) the team leader, Ni Shuang (Sec
3M) and Xiao Yi (Sec 3O) formed Team B9 Newtons’s
Apples.
Li Yuting (Sec 3O) the team leader, He Zichang (Sec 3M)
and Wang Xiaoyu (Sec 3M) formed Team B10 Spring.
The teams had to design and build a stand-alone science exhibit
that best explained a physical science phenomenon. The exhibit
had to express a marvel of science, and was expected to engage
and excite the audience through its fascinating sights and sounds.
Team B10 Spring won Bronze Award with an exhibit related to
water pressure.
F 1 in Schools Challenge 2013
In 2013 six girls from Secondary
1H attended the F1 in Schools
Experience Workshop with the
intention to participate in the F1
in Schools Challenge 2013 in
late July.
After weeks of hard work, Team
MGS won the award for the
Best Car Aesthetics Design,
and also the Gold award in
the Bloodhound Class, Novice
Category.
Team MGS included Chan Yi
Juan, Chloe Aw, Jenifer Rizpah,
Raksana Ayub, Angela Lee and
Tarrah Yap, the leader. The
team’s sponsor was SingTel
Group Digital Life and their
teacher mentor was Mrs Anna
Lim.
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Australian
Mathematics
Competition
In the Australian Mathematics
Competition 2013, Team MGS
achieved 6 High Distinctions (2 in
the Junior division, 4 Intermediate),
63 Distinctions (47 Junior, 12
Intermediate) and the Prudence
Award – one for each school and
given to the student who scored
the highest number of consecutive
correct responses starting from
Question 1.
The annual competition is administered by the Australian Mathematics Trust, and every year, more than 40 countries participate
in this competition. In 2013, the competition took place on Thursday 1 August, and the results were released later in the year.
The High Distinction winners in MGS were Tai Yan Yee (Sec 2H) Lee Seo Hyeon Ash (Sec 2T) in the Junior division, Wang Xiaoyu (Sec
3M), Zhang Lijun (Sec 3M), Huang Zijin (Sec 3I) and Xiao Yi (Sec 3O). Tanzima Rowshnya Raquib (Sec 2M) won the Prudence Award.
Young Entrepreneurs
On Thursday 26 December, Team MGS - Mona Chia, Erica
Chiang, Tay Hui Teng (all from Sec 3E), Simar Bhalla and
Tiffany Yin (both from Sec 3O) – participated in the Youth
Entrepreneurs Competition 2013 organised by the Singapore
Discovery Centre. The aim of the competition was to foster
and affirm the entrepreneurial spirit in our youths; fifteen
Secondary school teams made it to the final challenge.
Team MGS was delighted to have secured the lion’s share of
the prizes. The Team was the Best for Business Plan, the Best
for Retail Identity, and the Best for Digital Marketing & Social
Media.
Team MGS was the 1st Runner Up in the Youth Entrepreneurs
Competition 2013. The team raised S$510.30 in the competition;
50% of the income was donated to The Straits Times School
Pocket Money Fund, and the other 50% to the charity of their
choice, St Luke’s Hospital.
Graphing
Design with
Calculator Competition 2013
In July 2013, MGS submitted 12 designs for the Graphing Calculator
Competition 2013, organised by Hwa Chong Institution in collaboration
with Texas Instruments (TI); the theme for 2013 was Festivals in Asia.
In October, it was announced that six of the designs from Team MGS
were ranked among the top fifty; in effect, five of them were found among
the top twenty. Eow Doo Nee (Sec 4M) was ranked 8th in the competition; Joyce Gao (Sec 3I) was 16th, Natalia Tantono
(Sec 3H) 17th, Shen Chen Hui (Sec 4H) 18th, Andrea Cher (Sec 3G) 19th; Jacy Mok (Sec 3G) was ranked 48th.
Team MGS secured the top position in the competition and won several awards including a TI gift voucher worth S$1000
and a sponsored trip for one of their teachers to the T3 Conference in the United States in March 2014.
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MGS
Team
Excels at
Tournament of Champions, Yale
Every year thousands of students across
the world participate in the World Scholar’s
Cup, which features four exciting events:
Team Debate, Scholar’s Bowl, Collaborative
Writing, and the Scholar’s Challenge.
The top 100 teams compete for honours at
the Tournament of Champions which takes
place at Yale University, USA.
Team MGS competed at this year’s
Tournament, 15-17 November 2013, and
was ranked 4th among all the teams
competing for the World Scholar’s Cup. The
team made its mark in all the events.
Team MGS was ranked 3rd for the Scholar’s
Bowl, 6th for Debate, 6th for Writing and
8th for the Scholar’s Challenge.
Beth Chow was placed 9th for Writing and
9th among the Champions; Sara Mollison
was placed 17th for Individual Debaters.
Future Problem
Solving Programme
(FPSP)
The National Finals of the Future Problem Solving
Programme (FPSP) 2013 took place at Raffles Girls’
School (Secondary) from Wednesday 30 October to Friday
1 November.
Rachel Wong (Sec 3T) was ranked 1st in the Scenario
Writing Competitive Evaluation (Middle Division) category,
while Sophie Seeyave (Sec 3G) was 2nd for Best Scenario
Writer, Alison Tai (Sec 3G) was 4th and Jodi Yam (Sec 3S)
was placed 8th in the Middle Division.
All four girls were invited to participate in the On-site
Scenario Writing competition, held on Thursday 31
October 2013. Rachel was acclaimed the Best On-Site
Writer, and was a member of the Champion team for the
competition. Alison was with the team that was ranked
2nd for the Team award.
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Budding Writers at MGS
MGS won two awards at the
13th Budding Writers’ Project,
an annual event organised by
Marshall Cavendish Education
in partnership with the National
Library Board (NLB) & National
Book Development Council of
Singapore (NBDCS). The 2013
Project, which encouraged children
to write for other children, attracted
about 900 entries from both
Primary and Secondary schools.
Team MGS - Kristen Chiaranussati,
Li Ann Ng and Bronte Weaver (all
from P 4.6) – received the award
for the Top Ten Finalists. The three girls wrote the story, A Rare Bit of Love, which
told of Fluffy, a runaway rabbit, and Mother Rabbit; Bronte illustrated this delightful
little story.
Claire Tan (P 3.4) won the award for the Most Creative and Original Work; she wrote and illustrated the story of Willy the
Warthog. Claire’s story is about Willy, a mischievous wart, who leaves his home in Planet Wart in pursuit of entertainment;
he finds himself on Planet Earth and lands on the forehead of a human; that is where the adventure begins.
You may read the two books in NLB’s MobileRead.
CB Paul Science Quiz 2014
On Wednesday 22 January
Team MGS won 4 GOLD
awards, 4 Silver and 3 Bronze
at the C B Paul Science Quiz
2014 organised by the Science
and Math Council at ACJC.
The annual Science Quiz is a
platform for the students to
apply textbook knowledge in
explaining daily phenomena,
and encourages them to
exercise their analytical and
critical thinking skills.
The members of Team MGS
who won the individual
awards were among the top
40% of participants at the
Quiz; and the winners of the
GOLD award, were among
the top 10% of participants.
PSLE 2013
GCE O Level 2013
The results of the Primary School Leaving Examination
(PSLE) 2013 were released on Friday 22 November. Of the
224 girls who took the Examination, 95.5% qualified for the
Express stream, 2.7% were given an option for the Express
stream, and 1.3% made it to the Normal Academic course.
In 2013, 28.1% of the cohort attained an aggregate score of
250 and more.
On Monday 13 January 2014, the Class of 2013 received the
results of the GCE O Level Examination. All the 272 students
scored at least 5 O Level passes. More than 70.2% attained
five Distinctions or more each; in fact 48.5% of them scored
seven Distinctions or more each. 60.3% attained an L1R5
score of 10 points and below, and earned for MGS, a place
among the Band 1 schools in Singapore.
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Trinity Guildhall
Examination (Drama)
Three teams of girls from the Drama Society took the
Trinity Guildhall Examination (Drama) in 2013. All three
teams achieved Distinction. Team MGS (Secondary One)
in Grade 5, Choral Speaking, the Secondary Two team in
Grade 6, Choral Drama, and the Secondary Three team
in Grade 7, Group Drama.
In the course of the Trinity Guildhall Examination,
the girls received critical appraisal and guidance for
mastering a wide range of performance skills, and
embellished their self-confidence. The Trinity certificate
is an internationally recognised record of their personal
achievement.
Champions
– Singapore Games
Creation Competition 2013
Team MGS assumed the name Sam Francisco to participate in
the Singapore Games Creation Competition 2013, organized
by Nanyang Polytechnic. On Monday 28 October, the team
was proclaimed the Champion for 2013. Their game, entitled
RED is a fantasy-adventure game with puzzle elements, and
features Red on her journey to her grandmother’s house.
The competition, which lasted from Tuesday 4 June to Friday
13 September, encouraged the participants to learn more
about the development of the digital media and the creation
of games for cyberspace. The teams attended a 2-day
workshop where they had the opportunity to create their
games. Subsequently, twenty teams were selected to attend
a 5-day workshop where they focused on creating a game for
the final showdown of talents.
Team MGS the Champion was formed by Jade Wong Kok
Leng (Sec 3H), Marnell Louise Mendoza Esmilla (Sec 3 H),
Samiksha Mahawar (Sec 3H) and Sarah Lim Hui En (Sec 3M)
Explore the world of RED at http://gdev.nyp.edu.sg/sgcc/
Welcome to our World
MGS welcomes to the Primary school, Ms Thesigambigai d/o Sinniah, Ms Belinda Goh, Mrs Jayanthi Kadiresan, Ms Yanti
Bte Rahim, Mdm Subaidah Motea, and Ms Jennie Tan.
The Secondary school is delighted to welcome Mrs Natalie Lim, Ms Lim Shiau Yean, Mr Dennis Auyang, Mr Christopher Ow,
Mrs Michelle Mok, Ms Seow Lay Kuan, Mr Lionel Chia, Mr Lau Chee Keen, Ms Wong Khai Shin, Mrs Karen Chia, Miss Wong
Kiew Ming amd Mr Mohd Nassir Bin Osman.
We bid farewell to Mrs Yeong Siong Chye, Ms Candice Kong and Ms Han Mengshi from the Primary school; and Mrs Cherie
Heng, Mrs Florence Lim, Mrs Tan Binxi, Ms Gan Kam Jean, Mrs Charmain Renjan, Ms Angela Ng and Mrs Rhoda Choy from
the Secondary school.
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National School
Games 2014
On Thursday 6 February the Opening Ceremony of the National
School Games (NSG) was held at the ITE College (Central). All
schools with athletes participating in the NSG were encouraged
to conduct the oath-taking ceremony in their own grounds.
On Monday morning 17 February, Team MGS officially took
the athletes’ oath to affirm the importance of the NSG in their
learning.
Mr Vincent Ong, the Vice-Pincipal reminded Team MGS that
‘winning is not everything’, but that the learning through
training and competing is; he urged the athletes to be
disciplined in training and to ‘compete safely’, and to uphold
the spirit and values of MGS at all times. Sportsmanship for
Team MGS and their supporters is of utmost importance
anywhere, anytime.
Ms Grace Ng, the Principal, then read the Message from
Mr Heng Swee Keat, Minister for Education. The Minister’s
message exalted the sportsmanship of young athletes,
including Janine Khoo (Class of 2013), and persuaded
athletes and all “to display character, camaraderie, and
mutual respect” at the NSG.
Ms Ng, in affirming the significance of sportsmanship, brought
to mind 1Timothy 4:12 - “Let no one despise your youth, but
be an example …. in word, in conduct, in spirit,….”.
Visitors from Abroad
In January, two groups of educators from overseas visited MGS to learn more about the school and its programmes.
On Tuesday 14 January the first group from the Department of Education, Western Australia took a tour of the school and
observed some classes in progress. The visitors were provided an insight into the MGS Education in the Primary school, and
especially, the Sophia Blackmore Class (SBC).
Another group of visitors came from the United Kingdom; they were educators on the Building Educational Bridges (BEB):
Singapore-UK programme, whose goals include generating ideas on innovation and change for a high performing education
system. At MGS, on Wednesday 22 January,
they learnt about the school ethos, and the
significance of its innovations in learning and
teaching.
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