Our Monthly Bulletin Founded 1947 Nan Chiau Primary School August 2017
Dear Parents,
Established in 1947, Nan Chiau has been striving to progress with time, continuously undergoing self-renewal in line with the needs of the nation and making positive contributions to the educational development of Singapore. As we celebrate the school’s 70th anniversary this year, the school will be organising a carnival with the support of our dedicated PSG. We welcome the alumni to return home to join in the celebration and catch up with their ex-primary school teachers.
In August, we also celebrate National Day. The theme for 2017, #OneNationTogether, reminds Singaporeans that regardless of origin and background, we unite as one people and one nation. May we set the right tone for our children, ingrain in them the right mindset and values so that they can grow into citizens of good character and build the long-lasting friendship with their peers.
We will be celebrating Teachers’ Day at the end of August. As the Chinese saying goes, “饮水思源” which literally means “when drinking water, think of its source”. Let us not forget the teachers who have nurtured our students tirelessly. Giving them a note of appreciation will be a nice gesture to thank them for their support, guidance and sharing of precious life lessons.
I wish all of you a happy National Day and to all my wonderful colleagues,
A HAPPY TEACHERS’ DAY!
Mdm Mae Quah Principal
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Upcoming Events
Date Activity Remarks 31 Jul – 1 Aug P6 Prelim Oral 3 Aug and 11 P4 VIA @Tampines SAC 4IT and 4RP Aug 8 Aug National Day Celebration Early dismissal @ 10.30 a.m. 9 Aug National Day Public Holiday 10 Aug School Holiday 17 – 18 Aug PSLE Oral Exam Non-school day for P1 to P5 21 – 25 Aug P5 CA2 / P6 Prelim Exam 23 – 29 Aug P2 Learning Journey to the Hort Park Refer to the consent form via SNAC 23 Aug P3 GEP Screening Exercise During curriculum time 30 Aug NC70 Carnival II cum Teachers’ Day All in PE attire celebration 31 Aug Teachers’ Day School Holiday
National Day Celebration: Early Dismissal
National Day celebration will be on Tuesday, 8 August 2017. Students will be in school from 7.30 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. Students are strongly encouraged to report to school in red T-shirt, PE shorts, school shoes and socks. All supplementary and remedial classes will be cancelled on that day. Students only need to bring their storybooks and water bottle. 9 August 2017 will be a public holiday and 10 August 2017 will be a school holiday.
Nan Chiau’s 70th Anniversary Carnival II
As part of Nan Chiau’s 70th Anniversary celebration, we will have our carnival on 30 August 2017. All lessons will be suspended and students will report in their PE attire. The Primary 3 to 5 students will be designing and organising games for friends from other levels. It will be a day of fun learning and character building. It also gives them the opportunity to challenge that entrepreneur dare! We thank our PSG for co-organising this event together with the school and the parent volunteers for supporting the event.
Alumni are welcome to join in the carnival from 12.30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Do take time to meet your ex-teachers while enjoying the fun activities!
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Parenting Talk Organised by FAMILYmatters@NCPS
FAMILYmatters@NCPS will be organising a Parenting Talk on 12 August 2017, Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at Family Life Centre. The topic is “Help my Child Beat Procrastination” by Mr Adrian Choo. Procrastination is a habit of delaying work. With the guidance from parents, children can overcome the habit of procrastination and reduce the unnecessary stress on parent-child bonding. Do sign up to learn practical tips on how to help your child in beating procrastination. To register, please email to [email protected] with your name, contact number, your child’s name and class.
Announcements
Words of Appreciation – Teachers, Staff and Service Providers Appreciation Day 2017
The school will be celebrating Teachers’ Day on 30 August 2017. We strongly encourage students to express their appreciation for their teachers through simple and thoughtful ways such as presenting them with handmade cards and crafts. Please do not buy gifts as our teachers are unable to accept them. Words of gratitude are the best form of appreciation for teachers.
We would also like to invite parents and students to share experiences with teachers, staff and service providers (e.g school bus, book-shop, student care centre) who have performed their duties with dedication and excellence. It will be helpful if you can give the staff member’s full name and specific evidence of what he/she has done for your child. The appreciation emails or letters will be put up on our school notice boards.
You may write in to the school through the school’s email, [email protected] or submit a hard copy to the General Office. In your email or letter, kindly state:
Your name, email and contact number Your child’s name and class Name of teacher(s) or staff (including service providers) you are complimenting
Please write in to us before 21 August 2017. Your words of appreciation will encourage our NCPS staff to do even better!
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Achievements
The 13th National Primary School Chinese Story-Telling Competition 2017
Ai Tong School and the Singapore Middle School Chinese Teachers’ Association, with the support from Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan and Capital 95.8FM, jointly organised the National Primary School Chinese Story-Telling Competition 2017 on 15 July 2017. The objectives of the competition are to motivate all students to learn and speak Chinese, as well as to promote Chinese culture and traditional values.
15 students have been selected from 77 participants of 42 schools in the preliminary round. All participants displayed their innate gift on Chinese story-telling in the finals. After a fierce fight, our CLDDS member, Teoh Zhi Ling, of Primary 3 Responsibility emerged as the national champion. Great job, Zhi Ling!
The CLDDS welcomes new members to join and support the CCA.
“I am really happy to clinch this award. I want to thank my parents and teachers. Although I was very nervous during the competition, I managed to overcome it in the end” – Teoh Zhi Ling (P3 Responsibility)
2017 Speak Up! Competition
Speak Up! Kids is Singapore’s first national public speaking competition for primary level students. Organised by Speech Academy Asia and Sphere Exhibits, a subsidiary of Singapore Press Holdings, this competition serves as a public speaking platform for the young.
Our school sent 7 teams of Primary 4, 5 and 6 students to participate in this competition. More than a hundred teams from schools all over Singapore participated in the competition. We are proud to announce that the Upper Primary team clinched the 1st Runner Up after a fierce competition. The three girls are Noelle Leow (6 Responsibility), Lim Kang Ying and Alina Su (5 Respect). A worthy mention are our finalists from the P4 level. They are Toh Jun Hao (4 Respect), Hamilton Seah and Eason Low (4 Responsibility).
Congratulations!
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iDigix 3D Tronics Challenge 2017
A group of our students from Primary 4 Sincerity took part in the iDigix 3D Tronics Challenge 2017 held at Singapore Science Centre on Saturday, 8 July 2017. Their challenge was to build and code a smart vehicle.
It was no easy feat for them during the competition as they had to change their components and codes before they could finally complete all three segments. We are proud to announce that a group of our students achieved 2nd runner up in the Junior Category. They are Isaac Wong Xin Kai, Han Jun and Henrik Koh Liang Ming. Another group won the Best Teamwork for the Junior Category. They are Bryan Yoong Kar Chong, Bryan Ong Zhong Yi, Lim Qi Jun and Leong Cong Jie.
Let us congratulate them for their performance. You have done us proud!
2nd Runner up team Best Teamwork team
2017 SYF Art Exhibition
Our student, Vera Yang Kai Qing, from Primary 6 Respect, represented the school at the SYF Art Exhibition and obtained the certificate of recognition. Her artwork “My Dream House in Green Space” was showcased in the ground theatre of SCAPE.
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School Events
NC70 Art Exhibition
As part of Nan Chiau 70th anniversary celebration, Nan Chiau High and Nan Chiau Primary had a joint Art Exhibition at The Arts House from 13 to 16 July 2017. It featured 40 artworks by 75 students from NCPS. It was a tribute to the deep learning and rich experiences our students have gained through the art curriculum in school.
Our Art Club members visited the exhibition on 14 July. The students learnt to appreciate how the artists imagine, inquire and discover the ways to interpret and express the concept of “space” at the exhibition.
Racial Harmony Day (RHD)
NCPS celebrated Racial Harmony Day (RHD) from 17 to 21 July 2017. A series of activities were planned for our students during this period. They had the opportunity to find out more about our diverse culture and tradition through the Assembly programme, recess activities, social studies lessons and classroom activities. On 20 July, many of our staff and students were adorned in different ethnic costumes to demonstrate their appreciation of cultural diversity and willingness to embrace others from diverse backgrounds. Our students thoroughly enjoyed celebrating diversity during this commemoration.
Kinmen School Exchange Programme
On Tuesday, 18 July 2017, 81 P5 students from Kinmen County, Taiwan, visited us for a 2-day exchange program together with their teachers. The Kinmen students were placed in four P4 classes and four P5 classes. They also attended our Racial Harmony Day Assembly programme in which they performed - 扯铃 (diabolo). It was a feast for our eyes!
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“Prior to their arrival, we gathered together to design a simple folder for our guests. Teachers also prepped us adequately on what we were supposed to do and being a good buddy to our visitors. When they first arrived, they were uncomfortable and the atmosphere was awkward. However, as time passed, the ice slowly melted and we began to know a little more about each other as we spent fun times together during recess. We introduced them to our favourite places and food in school. We found out that they really loved the variety of food in our canteen! We had an amazing time getting to know our buddies better. We hope that our Kinmen buddies would come and visit us again soon!”- Alena Siaw and Chloe Ang (P5 Responsibility)
Hari Raya Puasa Celebration
On 29 June 2017, the school celebrated Hari Raya Puasa. Our Malay students and teachers wore their traditional costumes on that day and other students celebrated by wearing traditional ethnic costumes too. A series of activities were planned on that day. The students were entertained by a dance, skit and quizzes during assembly. During recess, they had fun learning to make cookies and even had a chance to taste them.
National Education (NE) Show
The P5 students attended NE Show 2017 on 15 July, Saturday. It was held at the The Floating Platform. This year’s theme #OneNationTogether is to remind Singaporeans that regardless of origin and background, we belong as one people and one nation. It encourages Singaporeans to harness our diversity and to leave no one behind as we strive towards an even brighter future. ‘Together’ emphasizes the importance of unity in times of uncertainty and challenges ahead and represents
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a call-to-action for all Singaporeans to overcome the odds together. The students together with the teachers had a wonderful and exciting time at the NE show.
Learning Journeys
Our Primary 2 to 4 students had gone for their learning journeys in July. Our Primary 2 level was selected to visit the exhibition at the Arts House and the National Gallery on 13 July 2017. At the National Gallery, they were taught about gallery etiquette while they explored dreams and stories through site-specific installations and interactive artworks.
The Primary 3 students went on an interactive trail to Kampong Glam as part of the school’s National Education/Social Studies initiative to enable students to find out the origins of Kampong Glam. Our Primary 4 students went to Chinatown Heritage Centre for experiential learning of the 19th century Singapore.
“The students had an exciting and thrilling experience at the Arts House as they get to explore new and different things as well as appreciate the impressive Art pieces on display" – Mdm Syairah, Form Teacher of P2 Sincerity
Growing the Reading Culture
To promote the love for reading, we have book blasts twice a term to promote new books purchased by the library using different themes. Video recordings of book recommendations by teachers and school leaders are broadcasted to students. Once a term, we create a special books' day to invite the students to browse and borrow books from the library. Partner us in cultivating the reading habit by bringing your children to the public library. Join your children in reading too. Together, let’s help our children to develop reading as a lifelong habit.
Term 1 Pick a book for your Valentine Term 2 Read, Share and Swap activity for P1 n P2 Term 3 Celebrate the Reading Month with the 20th anniversary of Harry Potter Term 4 Books -to-Go event by NLB
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Education Career Guidance (ECG) Fair
Our 6th ECG fair was held on 29 June 2017. The theme for this year was "Dream it! Do it!" 24 speakers were invited from different professions to share about their careers with our P5 and P6 students. The students were able to attend 4 sessions of different speakers. We have also invited representative from Nan Chiau High School, Anglican High School and Raffles Girls School to share their school programmes to our Primary 6 students.
Primary 5 Prefects Value-In-Action (VIA) Activity
Every year, the Primary 5 Prefects will have the opportunity to help in the packing and distributing of food items to the needy at Owen Road. These food items were donated by our NCPS students. This is done 5 times a year. Besides distribution of food items, our prefects spend time interacting with the senior citizens as well.
This VIA platform is for our prefects to develop community leadership. It also serves as a learning experience that supports their development as socially responsible citizens who contribute meaningfully, not only to the school but also to the community, through the learning and application of values, knowledge and skills.
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P4 Value-In-Action (VIA) @ Tampines Senior Activity Centre
The school organises VIA programme for the Primary 4 students with the objectives of learning to be a caring person as well as to learn to communicate with the senior citizens. All the P4 classes are scheduled to visit Tampines Senior Activity centre. They perform items, such as wushu, guzheng, play games and sing together with the senior citizens. Through this event, students are given the opportunity to display the value of sincerity and respect to the seniors they interact with.
Nan Chiau 70th Anniversary Celebration: A Special Interview
Mdm Evon Lim Kim Eng joined our Nan Chiau Nascan Student Care Centre since the start of operation in 2014. Her job involves mainly logistic work.
Although she was given a few choices of schools to work in, she chose NCPS because she is an alumnus here. When she was studying in Nan Chiau, the campus was situated in Kim Yan Road. The female uniforms were all white and they shared the campus with the high school students.
Thanks to the good education she received from Nan Chiau, she is very fluent in Chinese. Although her parents spoke dialects, she still picked up Tang poetry, Song Ci, Chinese idioms and proverbs easily. This helps her in her job greatly.
Over the years, she realised that the motivation of students to learn Chinese is not as strong as before. She tried her best to impart her knowledge to the students. She enjoys talking and working with students. She really loves our NCPS students. The students are often shocked to know that she used to study in Nan Chiau.
She feels that Nan Chiau’s 70th Anniversary is a very meaningful event and she wishes Nan Chiau a happy 70th anniversary.
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