2013 Issue 44 - Ngee Ann Secondary School

Compass
Issue 44/2013
N G E E
A N N
S E C O N D A R Y
S C H O O L
19 th Founder’s Day – Homecoming
For the first time in its history, the school had the pleasure of
hosting the inaugural Alumni Homecoming Reunion (Class
of 1997, 1998 and 1999) on the occasion of the school’s 19th
Founder’s Day celebration and annual prize-giving on 15 March
this year.
It was indeed wonderful to see that the school continues to have
a special place in the hearts and minds of its former students,
a testament to the fact that Ngee Ann Secondary School has
successfully created an extraordinary experience of secondary
school life for its students.
More than a hundred members of the school’s alumni from the
first to the third cohorts turned up for this special celebration
dinner to reconnect with old friends and teachers. There were
many a heartwarming moment that evening as former students
of the school – all grown up now, with successful careers and
some married with children – were reunited with teachers
from their secondary school days. Many of the teachers were
pleasantly surprised that their former students still remembered
them after all these years.
Highlights:
Pg 3. SYF Arts Presentations
Pg 7. Sec 4 & 5 Service Learning Projects
Pg 9. PE Captains Camp
Pg 10. Humanities Fieldtrip to UK
Pg 16. Reading Ambassadors’ Trip to Kinokuniya
International Biomedical Olympiad
28 of our students from 4R1 and 4R5 took part in the prestigious International
Biomedical Olympiad 2013 organised by the Anglo-Chinese Junior College
Science and Mathematics Council (ACJC SMC) in collaboration with the Yong
Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS). This annual
event aimed to provide a platform for students to develop their aptitude and
potential in the biomedical disciplines through critical thinking and problemsolving. Participants also had the opportunity to network with other like-minded
students and the medical academia in Singapore. Our heartiest congratulations to
all participants for their commendable performance in the competition.
Honourable Mention Yuen Wei Han, Goh Shu Qi Celine and Trivia Yeo Chin Ting
Certificate of Merit
Teo Shun Wen Raymond, Wesley Mark Lincoln, Tan Boon Ghim, Celyne Halim, Nur
Nadhirah Bte Mohamed Amran, Kylein Sangco Sarno and Jeric Teng Wen Yuan
Millennium Challenge
On 23 May, twelve of our students participated in the Millennium Challenge 2013. They
designed and built toy cars and bridges from scratch out of recycled and recyclable
materials and competed against participants from other schools. Our school emerged as
the Overall Champion and clinched an impressive total of five Gold, four Silver and ten
Bronze trophies.
‘Prove It’ Research Challenge
On 18 March, a team of students from the school’s CHAMPS programme
participated in the National Library Board’s ‘Prove It’ Research Challenge at
Tampines Regional Library and emerged Third. Congratulations to Abel Yeow
(2R4), Jonathan Chang (2R5), Rebecca Yang (2R6) and Vivien Tan (2R6)!
Singapore Digital Media Awards
The Singapore Digital Media Award (SDMA) is organised by MOE and the Media
Development Authority of Singapore. SDMA 2013 attracted a total of 537 entries from
208 schools. Our Media Infocomm Club members won the Merit Award in the Secondary
Schools category of the Students’ Video Competition. Darshan P Daryanani Dave (3R2),
Lee Xin Yi (3R1), Nicholas Cheow Wei Da (3R2) and Teo Jia Wei (3R1) received the award
for their video production titled “Metamorphosis” which can be viewed at http://sdma.
moe.edu.sg. Congratulations!
ignITE Science Challenge
Siti Farhana Bte Abdul Halik, Nuraisyah Bte Abdul Malek, Nur Effirra Bte Effendy and
Kelly Neoh Kar Mun from 3I1 clinched 2nd Runner-Up in the ‘CAN-DIY’ category of
the ignITE Science Challenge 2013 finals held at the Singapore Science Centre
on 21 May. Judges were impressed by their fantastic presentation on their selfmade lollipop ‘Flower Dome’. Well done!
Debating Championships – Top 20 Speakers
Our school won two of the Preliminary Rounds in the Singapore Secondary Schools Debating Championships this year. Led by Seang
Wei Wen (4R1), the team consisting of Brisa Quek (4R2), Jovin Chia (4R5), Mark Jerusalem (3R6) and Beverley Liao (2R3) fought a
brilliant battle of wits, with Beverley Liao emerging as one of the top 20 speakers in Division II. Congratulations!
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Achievements Gallery
Singapore Youth Festival Arts Presentation
ELDDS
Accomplishment
Chinese Orchestra
Distinction
Choir
Distinction
Dance (International)
Accomplishment
Guzheng Ensemble
Distinction
Choir
After an enriching time at the Winter Choral Festival
in December 2012, the choir turned its attention to an
important date in its calendar – the SYF Arts Presentation.
A total of 127 secondary schools participated in the SYF
Arts Presentation for Choirs, held from 9 to 17 April at the
School of the Arts, Singapore. The Choir’s efforts were
greatly rewarded when it was announced that they
had achieved the Certificate of Distinction, the highest
recognition in this event. Congratulations, Choir!
Chinese Orchestra
International Dance
A total of 53 secondary schools participated in the SYF Arts
Presentation for Chinese Orchestras held from 22 to 24 April at
the Singapore Conference Hall. The school’s Chinese Orchestra,
with its history of strong performance in previous SYF events,
has continued to impress with the Certificate of Distinction it
received at the Arts Presentation this year. Well done!
A total of 115 secondary schools participated in the SYF Arts
Presentation for Dances (International Dance Category)
from 8 to 11 April at the University Cultural Centre Hall. On 10
April, the school’s International Dance CCA presented a
contemporary modern dance piece that tells the story of girl
who uses her shadows to unleash her creative side and exercise
her imagination. Congratulations to Dance for achieving a
Certificate of Accomplishment at this year’s SYF!
English Drama Club
On 9 April, the school’s English Drama Club performed ‘The
Broken Deal’ at this year’s Singapore Youth Festival Arts
Presentations in the auditorium of Anglo-Chinese Junior College
and achieved an Accomplishment Award. The play about
betrayal was well-received by both judges and teachers as the
students gave their best in bringing the roles to life. Well done!
Guzheng Ensemble
At the SYF Arts Presentation on 25 April, members of the Guzheng
Ensemble impressed the audience and were honoured with a
Certificate of Distinction for their impeccable performance. Well
done!
Achievements Gallery
3
Uniformed Groups
Girl Guides
Gold
National Cadet Corp
Gold
National Police Cadet Corp
Gold
Scouts
Gold
Girl Guides
NCC
On 3 November 2012, Felicia Soon Li Ting (4R2) and Yu Yan
Ting (4R6) became the school’s pioneer batch of Guides to
receive the prestigious Baden-Powell Award (BPA), the highest
award presented by the Chief Commissioner of Girl Guides
Singapore to a Girl Guide. The award recognises Girl Guides with
leadership skills and was given out to only 22 Guides in the whole
of Singapore. Well done!
Our NCC Unit achieved the Gold award in the Best Unit
Competition 2012. In February this year, the Secondary Three
NCC cadet leaders took part in the Annual Freestyle Drill
Competition and came in 5th in the district. Our group of cadet
leaders also went on to attain a higher level of competency
in individual field-craft techniques and drills by completing the
Specialist and the Advanced Drill Courses. After weeks of aeromodelling training, its first team of aero-modellers also had the
chance to showcase their glider design skills in the Singapore
Amazing Flying Machine Competition in March.
NPCC
On 4 April, three of our cadets – Leo Chang Jin (4R3), Eldridge
Chang Wen Wei (4R7) and Ho Jia Wei (4C2) – proudly received
the prestigious SPF-NPCC Award at the Home Team Academy.
On 13 April, seven of our cadets participated in the Annual
NPCC Parade as the Guard-of-Honour contingent in recognition
of our third consecutive Unit Overall Proficiency Award (UOPA)
Gold Award.
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Achievements Gallery
Scouts
The NAS Wichita Scout Troop recorded its 6th consecutive Frank
Cooper Sands Gold Award achievement on 25 May. With this
achievement under their belt, the scouts are all geared up
to take part in the ‘mother of all scouting competitions’ – the
National Patrol Camp – at the end of this year.
Sports
Archery
Badminton
Basketball
Volleyball
C Division Boys “National” - 4th
B Division Girls “National” - 4th
C Division Boys “Zonal” - 2nd
B Division Boys “Zonal” - 1st
B Division Girls “Zonal” - 3rd
B Division Girls “Zonal” - 2nd
B Division Girls “National” - 2nd
3 rd National Inter-School Archery Championship
The annual Archery Championship was held on 20 and 21 April. Due to changes in the
competition format, intensive training had to begin earlier for the Archery team. All their
hard work came to fruition when the archers rose to the challenge and bagged several
medals at the championship. Some of the proudest moments at the competition were
when both the ‘C’ Boys and the ‘B’ Girls emerged fourth in the Overall Championship
category. Congratulations!
8 th National Inter-School
Wushu Championship
The school’s Wushu team
took part in the 8th Singapore
Schools Sport Council (SSSC)
National Inter-School Wushu
Championship held in Chung
Cheng High (Main) from 8
to 16 April. Despite the close
competition, the ‘B’ and ‘C’
Girls divisions did our school
proud by clinching three
Individual medals. Kudos!
Badminton (Boys)
Tough as it was, hard work paid off in the end when both the
‘B’ and ‘C’ Badminton teams emerged Champions of the East
schools. Congratulations!
Basketball (Girls)
Our ‘B’ Division Girls team emerged Second Runner-Up in the
East Zone Basketball Championships. Well done!
Volleyball (Girls)
The school’s Volleyball ‘B’ Girls team emerged First Runner-Up in
the East Zone Schools Volleyball Championship. Congratulations!
Achievements Gallery
5
Hosting International Visitors
6
Visit by Professor Martha Stone Wiske, lecturer at Harvard
Graduate School of Education and founder of Teaching for
Understanding (29 – 31 January)
Visit by Mr Brian Grimes, Principal of A.B. Paterson College,
Australia (17 April)
Visit by Society of Educational Technology, Japan (1 February)
Visit by The Japan Institute for Educational Measurement (JIEM)
(18 April)
Visit by Dr Dennis Shirley, professor at Boston College and
co-author of The Global Fourth Way (2 April)
Visit by school principals and members of the Osaka City Board
of Education, Japan (14 May)
Visit by professors from VIA University College, Denmark (12 April)
Visit by delegates from the Central Institute for Test Development
(Cito), the Netherlands (29 May)
WorldWide
Sec 4 & 5 Service Learning Projects
Class
Beneficiary
Description of Service Learning Project
4R1
Singapore Children’s Society
Fund-raising through the sale of handmade notebooks and Singapore
Children’s Society’s merchandise.
4R2
All Saints Home
Performance and interaction with the elderly.
4R3
Community Chest
Fund-raising for Youth Appeal 2013.
4R4
Food From the Heart
Food donation drive for distribution to the needy island-wide.
4R5
Community Eye Care
Collection, sorting and calibration of used spectacles for distribution to
the underprivileged in neighbouring countries.
4R6
Kheng Chiu Happy Lodge
Fund-raising through a garage sale ‘A Flea Affair’.
4R7
Children’s Cancer
Foundation
Fund-raising through the sale of tickets for a self-organised concert
‘Whimsical Lights of Hope’ held in school.
4C1 & 4C2
Kheng Chiu Happy Lodge
Performance and interaction with the elderly.
5C1 & 5C2
All Saints Home
Food donation drive.
Developing Character
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6 th Student Leaders Investiture
Friday 8 March marked an important date for the
school’s student leaders. It was the day the school
held its 6th Student Leaders Investiture to formally
appoint its Student Councillors and CCA Leaders.
After the presentation of certificates of appointment
and the recitation of the Student Leaders’ pledge,
all newly-invested student leaders let out a cheer
to signal the start of their journey as leaders of the
student body.
MOE Leadership Camp
Ten Secondary Three Student Councillors
represented the school at ‘A Leader’s Journey
for the Youth’, a five-day camp held from 26 to
30 November last year at the Outward Bound
School campsite in Pulau Ubin, where participants
learnt useful leadership lessons through physical
activities such as high-element challenges,
kayaking and an actual land expedition.
Student Council Presidential Election
The school’s annual Student Council Presidential Election was held
on 25 and 26 February this year for the purpose of voting for a
Student Council President to represent the student body. It being an
important school event, classes were scheduled to cast their votes
in the school hall. Through this event, the school hopes that students
understand better the fundamental principles and processes of an
election.
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Grooming Student Leaders
Sec One Orientation Camp - geNASis
What a start! The first week of school saw our Secondary One students being
whisked off to Camp Challenge in Sembawang for their two-day-one-night geNASis
Orientation Camp. The objective of the camp was to enable students to get to
know their classmates and bond as a class. The camp was planned and run by
our student leaders. Day One’s programme consisted of ice-breaker games and
station games during the day and a campfire held that night. On the second day
of camp, the students participated in various inter-class games. The camp ended
with an initiation pledge to recognise the students’ new status as fellow NASians.
“As a Student Leader who facilitated the camp, I learnt to
be more responsible in caring for my charges. I found myself
being more precise with the instructions I provided and paying
closer attention to their overall well-being during the camp.”
Felicia Soon Li Ting (4R2), Student Councillor
Sec Three Camp - Morphosis
It was a new beginning for our Secondary Three cohort as
they embarked on the annual level camp at a new campsite,
Tanjung Sutera in Johore. At the campsite which overlooks the
scenic South China Sea, the students participated in several
activities such as water obstacles, raft building, a coastal trek
and interaction sessions with the locals at a nearby village. It
was definitely a memorable, enriching and amazing experience
for the students as they learnt valuable lessons on core values
like teamwork, resilience and respect.
“Our perspectives were broadened by
a visit to the nearby village. Through our
interactions with the locals, we gained
an insight into how life is like for the
elderly locals.”
Neha D/o Yeshwant Yadav (3R1)
PE Captains Camp
During the March term break, the newly-appointed
Physical Education (PE) Captains from Secondary One,
Two and Three took part in the PE Captains Orientation
Day Camp held in school. They took part in ice-breaker
games such as ‘Captains on Deck’ and engaged in
group activities such as creating group flags from old
T-shirts. The objective of the camp was for PE Captains
to get to know one another as it was the first of many
camps that they will be involved in. In future, PE Captains
will help run school sporting events. They will also help
promote the school spirit through sports and games.
Camps Galore
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Humanities Fieldtrip to UK
In May, a selected group of Secondary Three enthusiasts in the fields of English Literature,
Geography, History and Media Studies embarked on a seven-day trip to the United
Kingdom, where they had a taste of the Victorian Era in Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre,
travelled on the London Tube, and even had the chance of reporting both the news
and weather forecast in BBC’s state-of-the-art
studio. The students ventured westwards to the
Pembrokeshire Coast in Wales to study coastal
landscapes and gather first-hand data on the
impact of tourism there. En route, they also
visited the prestigious Oxford University, where
incidentally many of the Hogwarts’ School scenes
were filmed. The students had a whale of a time in
Britain, engaging in fieldwork and admiring places
steeped in the English culture.
Mihama Town Exchange Programme
On 30 May, ten students departed for a yearly student exchange
programme to Mihama Town, Japan. The students spent two nights with
their host families as part of the trip’s homestay programme, which enabled
them to get a taste of the Japanese culture first-hand and bond with their
host families. At Nihon Fukushi University, the students were introduced to
the Japanese traditional tea ceremony. On their last day in Mihama
Town, they visited the monument and grave of Yamamoto Otokichi,
who grew up in Mihama Town but later became the first Japanese
resident in Singapore in the 19th century and continued to live the
rest of his life in Singapore until his demise. The trip to Mihama Town
was truly an enriching experience for the students, through which
they learnt much about the Japanese way of life and formed close
bonds of friendship with their buddies and host families.
Science Trip to NASA, USA
Seventeen students from 3R1 embarked on a Science trip to
NASA in San Francisco, USA on 27 May to learn more about
science and space technology. The students visited the NASA
AMES Research Centre and the Chabot Space & Science
Museum to learn more about space environments – for instance,
how astronauts exercise every day to prevent the deterioration
of muscles due to microgravity.
The students also went on a tour of top universities such as
UC Berkeley, Stanford University and the California Institute of
Technology (CalTech) to learn more about what the American
education system has to offer. As part of the Disney Youth
Education Series in Disneyland, Los Angeles, the students learnt
how theme park attractions like roller coasters rides apply
everyday science concepts such as centrifugal force and
energy.
10 Overseas
Trips
Chinese New Year Celebrations
CNY celebration this year saw students producing festive-themed class videos for an inter-class competition, and preparing gift
hampers, which, in keeping with the festive spirit of giving, were later donated to four selected charity organisations – PCF 3-in-1 Elder
Care, Kheng Chiu Happy Lodge, All Saints Home, and the Christian Outreach for the Handicapped Mental Disabilities. The festive
celebration ended on a joyful note with a concert put together by the various CCA groups.
Mother Tongue Fortnight
The school’s Mother Tongue Fortnight programme in February aimed to foster a
better understanding of one’s culture and to promote the use of Mother Tongue
languages through a range of activities, such as an introduction to the Malay
martial arts, Silat Pengantin, and the traditional Malay Zapin dance, a seminar on
Chinese Language essay-writing, and a Chinese Culture day camp. Overall, the
students not only enjoyed these activities immensely, but they also gained valuable
experiences.
Speak Good English Movement (SGEM) Fortnight
The Speak Good English Movement (SGEM) Fortnight this year kicked off with Assembly talks
by Mr Darren Tay on public speaking, covering topics such as non-verbal communication,
impromptu speaking, and pronunciation. For the first time, students were encouraged to do
dramatic reading of extracts from storybooks of
their choice. This served to help them build their
confidence in reading before a small crowd. To
get their adrenalin pumping, two representatives
from every class took part in the “Write It Right”
race. Contestants had to use photos to locate
and correct signs with errors within a given time.
Besides applying grammar rules, they needed
to get up on their feet and race against time
and opponents to get to various locations in the
school where the clues were found.
SchoolWide
11
Combined Schools Sports Meet
The 33rd Four Schools Combined Athletics
Finals was held in Bedok Stadium on
5 April. For the first time in seven years,
our school emerged as Champion in
the Inter-School Cheering event. Special
thanks must go to 3R1, 3C1 and 3I1 for
their creative contribution to the winning
cheer, and all Secondary Two and Three
students who put in hours of cheering
practice for the competition. Of course,
kudos to all athletes for their participation
in this year’s sports meet!
International Friendship Day
To celebrate friends of different nationalities, International Friendship
Day this year was marked with a presentation by a relatively new
cultural group in Singapore - the Turks. The sharing and demonstration
by representatives from the Turkish Cultural Society on their art form,
the ebru, their ethnic wares and cultural roots were an eye-opening
experience indeed.
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SchoolWide
YouNG Academy @ NAS Programme
Engaging youths is at the heart of the school’s YouNG Academy @
NAS programme. This year, students across four levels of the Normal
(Technical) stream are engaged in a year-long line-up of stimulating
programmes which include sports and games, service learning projects
and life skills training. The programme hopes to engage, enable and
empower the students so that they will continue to achieve more in
school and in life.
Follow us on Facebook at
https://www.facebook.com/Youngacademynas.
YouNG Academy Values Award
The school’s YouNG Academy programme wrapped up 2012 with a
simple award ceremony to recognise students who were exemplary
in their conduct and character. Mr Paul Leong, our Vice-Principal,
presented deserving students from 1I1, 2I1 and 3I1 with awards which
were linked to our school’s core values of Responsibility, Resilience,
Respect, Integrity, Commitment and Care. Well done!
Project Quan Tam
At the end of 2012, seventeen students from 4C2 and
3I1 embarked on Project Quan Tam, a service learning
project that took them to Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam. The
students spent weeks planning and preparing for the
project, raising funds in school to help paint a classroom
in Phu Tuc Primary School, where they also taught
simple English vocabulary through games and activities
to the students.
YouNG Academy @ NAS
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Sec One Breakfast Meeting
with Principal
More than 70 parents turned up for the Sec One Breakfast
Meeting with Principal on 6 March. The event not only fostered
positive parent-teacher relationships but also enabled parents
to learn more about the school’s programmes.
Student Leadership Challenge
As part of the school’s Outdoor Learning
Experience (OLE) in January, Secondary Two
students underwent the Student Leadership
Challenge. Through a mixture of class games
and presentations, they learnt about personal
leadership and relevant life skills relating to
communication,
time-management,
and
decision-making. A service learning component
of the challenge had selected students
organise a lunch gathering for the elderly from
the Tampines PCF Aged Day Care Centre. The
programme culminated in a Student Leadership
Profiling Inventory through which students gained
deeper insights into their personal leadership
styles and traits.
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SchoolBuzz
It’s Showtime!
It’s Showtime! this year kicked off with much excitement
and enthusiasm on 20 February with performers wowing
the audience with a well-coordinated duet, energetic
breakdance moves, a K-pop dance item and other crowd
favourites. What a feast for the senses!
Understanding Personality
Types for Sec Ones
As part of OLE, Secondary One students learnt more about
their individual personality types through the use of DISC
profiling, and were encouraged to leverage their personal
strengths. They were also taught essential communication
skills to help them work better with others of different
personality types.
East Zone stART Exhibition
On 27 May, Yang Wei Tao (3R3) participated in his first art
exhibition, the East Zone stART Exhibition, held in Siglap
Secondary School. This is what he has to say about his
experience:
“My work, titled “饮水思源”, was a tribute to
my mother. My mother will always cook for
me no matter how busy she may be, thus the
artwork featuring a spread of home-cooked
favourites. Through the exhibition, I received
useful feedback on my artwork. At the same
time, the many works on display have greatly
inspired me.”
Yang Wei Tao (3R3)
Self-Portrait Exhibition
“As students of the Enhanced
Art Programme (EAP), one of
our assignments this year was to
paint a self-portrait. To begin work
on the painting, we sketched
our favourite photographs onto
canvas frames, using technique
references from contemporary
painters
and
background
references from famous works.
In this three-week exercise, we
found ourselves challenged by
the technical aspects of painting
and learning new mediums. Some
of my peers took the opportunity
to work on oil painting. At the end
of the assignment, we exhibited
our work outside the art studio for
an informal critique.”
Tan Eng Khang (3R4)
SchoolBuzz
15
TCM Learning Journey
In May, 150 Secondary One students went on a learning journey
to learn more about Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). They
learned about the medicinal value of TCM foods and how these
can be consumed to cure certain common ailments and for
the maintenance of one’s physical well-being. They were also
introduced to traditional Chinese massage and acupuncture. It
was an educational experience for the students who also learnt
how to prepare their own herbal jellies!
Plants-and-Pots Fund-Raising Sale
On Youth for Environment Day this year, in a collaboration
between the Art Club and the Horticulture Club, students sold
potted plants, handmade ceramic pots and paperweights to
raise funds and to raise awareness on environmental issues.
Through this sale, they raised $1,108.60 for the Straits Times
School Pocket Money Fund. Well done, NASians!
Reading Ambassadors’ Book Selection
Trip to Kinokuniya
Our Reading Ambassadors, comprising selected
Secondary Two and Secondary Three students,
went on a book selection trip for the school’s
Media Resource Library in Term Two. The
destination was none other than Kinokuniya
Bookstore, which boasts an extensive collection of
over 500,000 titles from all over the world. Armed
with mobile book scanners, the students sure had
tremendous fun scouring the book shelves for
titles that piqued their interests. We are definitely
looking forward to the new books arriving at our
Library in Semester 2!
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SchoolBuzz
Chinese New Year Hosting by PSG
What a treat it was for selected students this year when a parent
volunteer invited them home to partake in Chinese New Year
festivities! This annual hosting of students by the Parent Support Goup
has proven to be a success in fostering inter-racial understanding
and appreciation of different cultures.
Interview with the Ortega Brothers
All three brothers of the Ortega family were graduands of our
school. Mark, the eldest, studied here from 2001 to 2004; Luke,
from 2003 to 2006; and John, from 2009 to 2012. Mark Ortega,
who is graduating from NUS in July, read law. Luke Ortega is
currently studying for a Bachelors of Engineering (Civil and
Environmental) degree at the University of Adelaide, while the
youngest, John Ortega, is studying in Temasek Junior College.
They agreed to an email interview for the school newsletter to
share with NASians how they achieved success in their studies.
During your years in Ngee Ann Secondary, all three brothers
managed your studies without help from tuition classes. What’s
the secret of your academic success?
Mark: For myself, I’ve always believed in consistent hard work
because for most of us, we can’t do without plain old hard work.
Consistent work is important. For myself, what really gave me the
drive to do consistent work was my own interest in the subjects.
Try your best to find a genuine love for what you are studying.
Read widely. Read outside the syllabus. Too many people are
too fixated on what’s ‘tested’ or what’s in the syllabus. That’s
a stifling way to learn, and your education will be greatly
impoverished. But sometimes, try as you may, you cannot find it
in yourself to find a love for the subject. If that’s the case, just bite
the bullet and slog through it.
That said, exam strategy counts for a lot. Study smart. You see,
I was a Science student for a long time, and I apply scientific
and logical principles to my study methods. The first principle
is the concept of efficiency. Efficiency = Output / Input. It’s a
simple formula. So always ask yourself – how do I maximise my
output? If I study x number of hours a day, and get y in terms
of results, how do I increase y? Answer: You either increase x,
or increase efficiency, which is the y/x ratio. Too many students
make the mistake of thinking: if I spend more hours studying, I
can do better. Yes, that’s the answer if you are spending 2 hours
a day studying. But if you’re already spending 5 hours a day
(From left) Mark, John and Luke Ortega
studying after school, you won’t get much better by increasing
x (weariness will decrease the marginal benefits), you’ve got to
think: how do I improve my efficiency?
Here are some tips. Use mind maps or make notes. It’s like making
an investment. You spend a much longer time the first time you
study the subject. But you reap the benefits the 2nd, 3rd, 4th time
you study it. Always make your own notes. The process of writing
and organising the information will do wonders for helping you
internalise the information. Another method is to view every
piece of homework and every class test as an opportunity to
study the subject matter one more time. Too many students say,
“I’ve got too much homework, I’ve got no time to study.” But
homework is studying! Every moment – whether sitting in class
or doing your homework – is time you could potentially spend
learning. Why waste it? A final example: Some students do the
counter-productive thing of mugging all night (for some test the
next day), and then sleep through class because of this. Why
let your original error carry forward like this? It’s being inefficient!
Any words of encouragement for NASians?
Believe in yourself. Never short-change yourself. Be the best
person you can be. “Our deepest fear is not that we are
inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond
measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.”
PSG & Alumni Diary
17
International Conference on
Thinking (ICOT) 2013
Young Education Leaders Award
Microsoft and the British Council accredited three outstanding
Young Education Leaders across the world who have contributed
significantly to the development of globally aware and globally
competitive young people through the innovative use of
technology in education. Mr Neo Guang Xian was one of the
inaugural award recipients in 2012. Congratulations!
Mr Tan Wei Zhong, Mr Md Imran Mawardi & Mr Eric Ong
Wellington, New Zealand, 21 – 25 January
Consortium for School
Networking (CoSN) 2013
New Education Expo 2013 Tokyo
Mr Yeo Zhong Wei & Mr Sharom Mak
San Diego, California, USA, 11 – 13 March
Mr Joseph Teo & Mr Paul Leong
Tokyo, Japan, 6 - 8 June
agIdeas 2013 International
Design Forum
21 st Annual Conference of the
International Association of
Chinese Linguistics
Mr Vincent Tang & Mr Samuel Ong
Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, Australia, 1 - 3 May
Just Married!
Mr Thong Wee Sin, Mdm Zhang Lu & Mdm Lei Mee
Taiwan, 7 – 9 June
Ms Chen Wei Jun
My husband and I started out as classmates
at NIE before love blossomed. To be honest,
taking on the role as wife is not as easy as it
seems! For a start, I have to cook and clean!
The responsibilities that come with marriage
aside, we both look forward to becoming
a part of each other’s families, supporting
each other and growing together in this
new journey.
Mdm Nur Farhana Bte Hamzah
My spouse and I met through mutual friends.
Being married has been like an adventure for
us as we rarely went on dates before marriage.
Marriage has not changed my lifestyle much,
but it has changed certain priorities in my life.
As a married couple, we are both looking
forward to sharing our different interests, and
having loads of little ‘us’ soon!
18
Staff Snapshots
Mrs Sim-Loh Kah Lye Sarene
My husband, Ray, and I dated for more
than five years before we decided to take
the next step. Ray loves to read biographies
and spends many hours in the bookstores.
Not surprisingly, I often have to spend heaps
of time there, too! Married life has been
lovely. For one, we have become more
accommodating of each other’s needs.
Bundles of Joy
Mrs Tan-Chen Mei Chuen
and her daughter, Chelsea
What is it like to be a mother of
two now? Tell us in less than six
words!
Easier than I had expected.
So tell us, do you have a favourite
of the two?
They are actually quite different,
and this makes life pretty
interesting.
Mdm Sharon Yap and her
son, Ashton Sim
What is it like to be a mother of
two now? Tell us in less than six
words!
Time, please fly!
Tell us one thing you have
observed about your older child
since the new one came along.
Finally, he has someone to boss
around!
Mdm Nurmushthafiah Alias &
her daughter, Hannah Soffiah
What words came into your mind
when you first set eyes on your
newborn?
“She’s so chubby!”
What is it like to be a first-time
mother? Tell us in less than six
words!
It’s really tiring!
Mr Lee Chin Teck and
his son, Elliot Lee Jia Yi
What is it like to be a father
of two now? Tell us in less
than six words!
Enjoying every minute of it!
Tell us one thing you have
observed about your older
child since the new one
came along.
He’s so curious about his
younger brother!
Mr Mohd Farhan and his son, Wafi Hadi
What is it like to be a father of two now? Tell us in less than six words!
Tough, tiring, & testing, but fulfilling.
Tell us one thing you have observed about your older child since the new one came along.
He exhibits jealous behaviour at times. We just have to ensure that we divide our attention
equally so that he won’t feel left out.
New Staff
Mr Kevin Ng Woon Bing
EL & Geography
I am not exactly new to the
profession but I am not a master
of it either. The more you learn,
the less you know, they say. There
is indeed a lot to learn and every
day is a new experience for us
all. I hope to reach new heights
in my career in this school.
Mdm Choo Hwee Nee
Allied Educator / Teaching &
Learning
I have a degree in Sociology &
Statistics from NUS. I rejoined the
workforce after ten years as a
full-time homemaker. Teaching
has always been my passion and
I hope I can touch the lives of the
students who cross my path.
Mr Edwin Zhuang Junming
Chinese Language
In my leisure time, I like to
engage myself in reading,
swimming and running. Reading
expands knowledge and helps
me to keep in touch with the
world. Swimming and running
help to relax my mind and keep
me healthy. My motto in life is
‘Carpe Diem’, which calls on us to seize the day
and live every day like it’s our last!
Mr Turner Lam
Physics
As an educator, I believe that
every student has the ability
to learn. My role is to help my
students make connections
between what they learn in the
classroom and the world outside.
Staff Snapshots
19
New Staff
Mr Tan Hee Pheng
Physical Education &
Mathematics
I like reading and watching
movies. I fell in love with the great
outdoors during my secondary
school years, and it is my hope
to instil in my students a love for
outdoor activities.
Mr Kendrick Tan Kim Chwee
Mathematics & Science
Having worked as a banker
before, I feel teaching is a more
fulfilling profession. I look forward
to embarking on my new career
as a teacher in this school.
Mdm Du Meishan Grace
EL & Elements of Business Skills
After I attained my Master’s
Degree in English Linguistics
several years ago, I embarked
on the teaching profession as
I considered that it would be a
rewarding experience. I hope
that the pursuit to help my
students achieve their goals is a
step in the right direction.
Mr Ong Zi Xiang
Chinese Language
There’s nothing I like more than
playing the guitar and watching
movies. I’m also quite into table
tennis. I’m definitely an optimistic
person.
Ms Pearly Siah Bee Shian
Chinese Language
I enjoy travelling. I get to witness
the beauty of nature and learn
about cultures in different
parts of the world. My favourite
quotation is “You can’t start the
next chapter of your life if you
keep re-reading your last one”.
Ms Elizabeth Eng Yan Ling
Music & English Literature
I love travelling and visiting new
places. The most adventurous
activity I’ve done so far is to go
shark-cage diving. I want to live
a purposeful life, and I live in
search of new adventures.
Mr Tan Gim Choon, Sam
Co-Curricular Programme
Executive (CCPE)
My job requires me to handle
administrative work relating to
co-curricular activities (CCA)
to enhance the students’ CCA
experience. Prior to taking on
this job, I worked in the financial
sector for 28 years. I value the
opinions of others and am quick
to show my appreciation.
Ms Jamilah Bte Hamzah
Allied Educator / Teaching &
Learning
I love adventure sports! A
favourite quotation of mine
is ‘No man is an island entire
unto himself’.
Ms Nur Azlyna Bte Md Tahir
Geography & EL
I enjoy outdoor activities such
as hiking, kayaking and fishing. I
love nothing more than to spend
my free time in nature reserves,
parks and in the water, away
from the hustle and bustle of
Singapore’s busy streets.
20
Staff Snapshots
Editorial Team:
Mdm Grace Du
Mr Tan Wei Zhong
Mdm Zhang Lu
Mdm Azrina Salleh