缤纷

A brand new knowledge

trail unfolds in this issue!

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In This Issue

Principal’s Message 02 – 05

马年南洋三校团拜活动 06 – 08

骏马奔腾喜迎春 09 – 10

春到河畔 11

Chinese New Year Food Drive 12 – 14

National Schools' Games Opening Ceremony 15

CCA Leaders' Investiture 2014 16 – 17

Prefects' Investiture 2014 18 – 22

Act of Love 23 – 24

Sports Day 25 – 26

小一学生启程了! 27 – 29

小二课间音乐会 30

小三华文 文化营 31 – 32

P4 META Orientation 33 – 37

P5 Adventure Camp 38 – 41

Chronicles of My Daughter's P6 Journey 42 – 43

P6 BBQ Under the Stars 44 – 47

Touching Lives, Lifting Spirits 48 – 51

NYPS Professional Learning Communities 52 – 55

Taiwan Immersion Programme 56 – 61

School Immersion Programme for Pupils from 62 – 64

Raghubir Singh Junior Modern School

Editor's NoteViewers have always marvelled at our NYPS calendar for its list of

events. Yet all these activities gravitate around a single focus: our

students. In this issue, we focus on the various activities that have

contributed to the holistic development of our students. We are

certainly proud of how far they have progressed!

www.nyps.moe.edu.sg • May 2014

Principal's Message

在阵阵飞扬的马蹄声中，在暖

意浓浓的祝福声中，南洋辞别旧岁，

悠然展开新的篇章。新年伊始，人

们总会怀抱着新的希望，而我们最

期待的，莫过于盼望已久的新校舍

了。KRC校园的建校工程进展十分

理想，如果接下来一切顺利，我们的

T TC分校将于今年年底回到京士路校

园，最迟不会超过明年四月。经过两

年的“两地奔波”，一家人终于要团

圆了，而我们的室内体育馆也有望于

今年年底 竣工，明年就能投入使用，

这是多么令人高兴的事！

回首这两年长路漫漫，建校工程

给大家带来了种种的不便，我十分感

激家长们这一路以来给予我们的谅

解和合作。除此以外，学校也正在进

行粉刷和维修工程，我们已竭尽所能

地减少工程给学生带来的影响和不

便，也希望家长们能够了解和体谅学

校的局限。

校长的话

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学校的建设离不开家长们的支

持，无论是筹募建校基金、举行慈善

活动，还是学校的柬埔寨义工团，我

总能见到家长们忙碌的身影。正因为

有你们不遗余力的支持和奉献，南小

的莘莘学子才有了绿草如茵的新操

场，宽敞明亮的新课室，我们才能跨

越国界，开辟更广阔的天地让孩子们

去学习、历练和成长。

一向以来，我们都很注重培养学

生的领袖才干，灌输孩子们 热心为团

体和他人服务的精神，期望他们将

来能服务社会，发挥积极正面的影

响力。今年我们将给予学生更多的机

会，把这个平台扩展至课外活动，让

更多的学生从中受益。

百年树人，以德为本。今年南小

再次开办了《弟子规亲子课程》，家

长们的反应非常好，目前已有6 0 位家

长和 4 0名孩子报名参加。为了配合

家长的需求，《弟子规》的英文班也

将于今年7月开班。在教育界多年的

体会让我深深相信，古圣先贤的智慧

必将使孩子们获益终生，而家长们的

积极参与也让我感到十分欣慰，家长

是孩子的第一位老师，有了你们的言

传身教，孩子的幸福人生就有了最坚

实的基础。

过去的岁月，我们携手走过，而

此时此刻，在这温暖的晨曦中，让我

们继续怀抱希望，共同面对前路上的

阴霾和风雨，迎接那云破雾开的光明

时刻！

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As we begin another school year in 2014, many are anticipating the completion of the new school building and we are eager to see all our students back in one campus.

Many of the parents, students and teachers want to know more about the progress of the construction of the new school building. So far, according to our work schedule, the construction of the new school building is on track. The Indoor Sports Hall and Gymnasium are scheduled to be ready in March 2015 but the contractor is working hard to ensure that all the facilities are ready by the end of 2014 so that all students will be able to use the new facilities. We hope that there will be no delay in the construction as we are keen to bring all our students together under one roof.

Although many are looking forward

to coming back to KRC, the teachers and students who have been in TTC will miss the rustic ambience that they have enjoyed for the past two years. We are thankful that our P1 to P3 students had the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the natural environment of TTC. We hope that these beautiful memories will stay with them for a long time to come.

Moving to KRC will be a relief to many parents who have children studying in both campuses. It will definitely minimize the inconvenience to both parents and teachers who need to travel between the two campuses. Having everyone back in one campus will be easier on the management of the school and it will also cut down on the expenses of running two campuses. It will be easier for the school to plan and schedule activities for the students, teachers and parents alike.

Principal's Message

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The workshops on Character Development for parents are now in their fourth run. I would like to thank parents for placing emphasis on Character Development and giving up their time on Saturday mornings to attend the workshops. We are planning to conduct Di Zi Gui workshops in English in Term 3 and we hope that both parents and their children will be able to join us in these workshops.

Lastly, I would sincerely like to thank our parents for their support and partnership in making life in Nanyang Primary School a memorable experience for each and every child.

前人种树，

后人纳凉

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马年南洋三校团拜活动

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Celebrating theYear of the Horse!

金蛇飞舞辞旧岁，骏马奔腾迎

新年。2月8日，南洋三校在南洋小

学秀梅大礼堂同欢共庆一年一度的

新春佳节。

校友会及家校协会为大家精心

准备了现场包饺子、灯笼制作和挥

春等活动。大家在享用美食的同时，

也可以欣赏由南洋三校的学生、家

长为大家带来的精彩纷呈的表演。

校董事会主席黄美云女士出席

并发表 新年贺词。她祝福大家新春

愉快，马到成功！祝老师们工作顺

利，家长们事事顺心，孩子们学业

进步。

望南洋三校能在未来大放异

彩、更创辉煌！

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马年南洋三校团拜活动

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骏马奔腾喜迎春

华人农历新年，又名为农历新

年或春节，是每年最受期待的传统

节日之一。1月3 0日，同学们带着抹

布、旧报纸和小水桶等，尽心尽力

地为每间课室进行“大扫 除”。“大

扫 除”是华人的传统习俗之一，寓

意着扫 除晦气，迎接好运的到来。

看着学生们 轮流抹窗、擦桌子和整

理书架子等，那份浓浓的新年气息

早已传遍整个校园。

2月5日（大年初六）早上，所有

老师与同学们都穿上红彤彤的新年

服装，满心期待地踏进校园。每个

人的脸上，都挂着欢愉的笑容，一

声声的祝福，为校园增添了春节的

气氛。

升旗礼过后，首先由校长及董

事部主席黄美云女士为同学们 献

上新年祝词。接着，大家所期待的

舞狮表演随即登场。在一片锣鼓声

林可欣师

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中，大头娃娃带领着舞狮向学生们

拜年，祝贺他们在新的一年里，能

够快高长大、学业进步。舞狮的即

兴表演，为学生们带来了无限欢乐，

也把整个庆祝活动推向了高潮。

之后，四百多名四年级的学生

在学校的广场里集合，展开一年一

度的大型挥春比赛。学生们笔势雄

健洒脱地书写“春回大地”四个字，

仿佛一个个都摇身一变，成了堂堂

正正的书法家。当比赛如火如荼地

进行着时，礼堂也传来了阵阵悦耳

的贺年歌曲。原来，其他年级正在

礼堂里欣赏一系列的表演。参与武

术、舞蹈和华乐表演的学生，正努

力、认真地在台上表演，让台下的学

生看得目不转睛、掌声连连！观众

也在音乐老师的带领下，唱出一首

首贺年歌曲，让人听出耳油。接着，

每一班的代表有秩序地走上台，向

校长、副校长及老师们拜年。

他们手握一对象征大吉大利的

橘子，为师长们 献上祝福。拜年是

中国民间的传统习俗之一，是人们

辞旧迎新、相互表达美好祝愿的一

种方式。听到学生们真挚的祝福，

师长们都感动万分。

在节庆活动拉下帷幕之前，老

师们还向学生们简单地介绍一些常

见的新年习俗，以及其他各地华人

如何庆祝农历新年等等。这项活动

不但能够加深学生们对农历新年的

了解，也能让他们明白各地华人所

传承下来的一些传统习俗。

节庆活动在一片喧闹欢腾的气

氛中，圆满地结束。我们相信今年

的春节活动，将会在所有人的心中

留下一段美好、深刻的回忆。同时，

也祝愿大家能够在这新的一年里，

事事如意、心想事成。

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应新加坡教育部的邀请，南洋

小学合唱团于今年农历新年大年

初五晚上参加了在滨海湾浮动舞

台上" 春到河畔 " 的活动。学生们兴

致勃勃地为民众带来了三首新年歌

曲以及小六学生高雍虔的一首意大

利独唱歌曲《如果》。这次活动得

到了家长们的大力支持，他们 一致

认为，孩子们不仅增加了表演的经

验，而且还深切地感受到华人的浓

浓春节气氛。

春到河畔李 姿 师

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Every year without fail, our school organises a Chinese New Year Food Drive to collect food items which will be donated to the elderly residents staying on their own. Donations pour in generously from both pupils and parents. Every year, we have pupil volunteers to help in the checking of the donated food items as well as the packing of food items in bags for easy distribution. This year, we also involved the pupils in the distribution of food items to the elderly. The school partnered with Lions Befrienders (Mei Ling Street) in selecting recipients for our food drive. Below are the pupils’ reflections after the distribution of the food items to the elderly.

Chinese New YearFood Drive

We can do small

things with great love

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for granted. We cannot all do great things but we can do small things with love.

Shieh Wensy, Primary 5M

It was a good experience for me as I could help those in need. It warmed my heart when I saw the smiles on the faces of the people when we gave them the food. I would cherish this memorable experience and help other needy people in future.

Claresa Liau Jing Xuan, Primary 4J

To us, those few packets of food we each contributed might mean nothing much. Yet, to those who received them, the food meant a lot to them. While giving out the food, a scrawny old man came to collect his two bags of food. He took the food and walked away slowly, obviously because he had a hard time carrying them. Upon seeing this, my teacher and I offered to help him carry the two bags. When we got to his house, we realised that the door was spoilt and the old man had just locked it with a pad-lock. The man opened the door to let us in so we could put the food inside. The house was very small and he lived alone with no one to talk to. I felt sorry for him but I knew, at the same time, that I could not help much. All I could do was offer him a warm smile and some words of encouragement. I thought of how ungrateful it was of some of us to cry and shout when we did not get the toys we wanted and wasted the food we had because we didn’t like them. To those who received help, they really appreciate the little they received. I promised there and then to be more grateful and appreciative of what I have because things should not be taken

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The food drive for the elderly was a memorable experience. I had expected the food drive to be at a place near to our school but was surprised when we had to travel to Mei Ling Street to give the food to the elderly. Many of the food items in the bags were heavy.

When we got there, I saw that many of them were already patiently waiting at a big pavilion for the food that would be given to them. Many of them were scrawny and reserved, and I could not help but feel sorry for them. However, there was this particularly chatty lady who went around and mingled with us. She was very lively. She even stayed behind and clapped along to the songs that we sang.

One thing I learnt that day was that not everyone is as blessed as we are and we should be grateful for the food that we have. I also learnt that we should care for our parents when they are old and helpless. In conclusion, I felt the food drive was a meaningful project and I enjoyed that outing. Zoe Kwok, Primary 6J

Let's Care for our Community!

We can extenda helping handto those in need

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The NSG was held at the ITE College Central to mark the start of Singapore’s largest annual youth sports event with an estimated 55,000 athletes participating in 28 sporting competitions. Mr Heng Swee Keat, Minister for Education, delivered the key address for the occasion. He firmly believed that participation in sports enabled students to develop character and values, cultivate positive attitudes and strengthen people skills.

Along with student representatives from other schools, Rachel Tan (6A) represented Nanyang Primary School on the 6th February 2014, at the annual National School Games’ Opening Ceremony (NSG) in taking the athletes’ oath. All the athletes of NYPS, along with their coach and teacher-in charge, also took their oath on 24th February 2014 before the school population during assembly.

NYPS @ National School Games' Opening CeremonyBy Mae Yang

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Nanyang held our first installation of CCA leaders on the 24th February 2014. During the ceremony, the various CCA teachers-in-charge handed a symbolic item that represented their CCAs to the newly installed leaders from the various CCA groups in Nanyang. This comprised 10 sports and games,

CCA Leaders'Investiture 2014

4 uniformed groups, 5 performing and visual arts and 9 clubs and societies. Led by Sarah Goh (5L) from the Chinese Speech & Drama Club, these leaders then recited the CCA leaders’ pledge to work as a team with their peers and lead by example.

Sarah Goh (5L) Leading the CCA leaders' Pledge

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The various CCA groups, and teachers-in-charge

Teachers- in-charge presenting their symbolic items to the leaders

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Prefects' Investiture 2014

Mrs Lee with the Exco Team 2014

Mrs Lee with our Head Prefect.

Exco Team 2014

The members of the Executive Committee 2014 sharing their visions and aspirations as they serve the student population of NYPS.

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When I was first informed that I was part of the Exco team, I was so happy that there were no words to describe it. To be honest, I was not expecting to be part of the ‘legendary’ Exco Team. I really just want to help Nanyang soar higher.

This is like my second home. I am very proud to be given this chance to help Nanyang. I felt honoured to be appointed the vice-head prefect. I aspire to do my best and contribute to make Nanyang a better place to study and grow in.

Megan Lai (6E)

Vice Head Prefect

I am very honored and proud to get a place in the Exco team this year. It inspires me to try for more leadership roles in the future. I have to be very responsible too. It gives me more chances to lead people in different situations. I feel that as an Exco team, we have to work closely together to be a bridge between the student body and the principal, teachers and adminstrative staff of the school.

Lauren Goh (6J)

Vice Head Prefect

The group photo for the new and senior P5 prefects

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I am very honoured to be elected by my teachers and peers to be in the Exco team, and to be given the opportunity to serve Nanyang Primary School. When I first found out that I had been selected, I had mixed feelings. I was both shocked and elated. Being in the Exco team meant that I would represent the school population to give suggestions and feedback to the school authorities in order to make Nanyang Primary a better school for us. I look forward to working closely together with the Exco team to improve Nanyang. Now that I have been selected to be in the Exco

team, my responsibility has become much heavier, but all of us will put in our best to complete the tasks that we have been assigned, ensuring that they are completed on time.

Claudia Low (6L)

Head Prefect

Claudia Low. the Head Prefect leading the prefects in reciting their Prefect's Pledge

We will do our best!

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I feel very honoured to be one of the 6 Exco members and I will definitely do my best to serve and contribute to the school. The Exco members and I have many ideas and I am sure that we will work together closely to make Nanyang Primary School a better place for everyone! We want and will strive to make a difference this year. We will try to learn from one another and put our different ideas into good use, so as to build a closer and more cohesive team. This is also an opportunity for me to get to know the other members better. Well, one thing's for sure - They are all funny, creative and hardworking. I am sure we will all make a good team. Once again, I am glad to be part of this team and I am sure that this is going to be one challenging and exciting road ahead for me!

Lin Jie Qi (6I)

Exco Member

Mrs Lee sharing her thoughts on leadership with parents, teachers and students

The senior prefects giving the sashes to the new prefects

I am glad to be in the Exco team. In my opinion, being in the Exco team gives me an opportunity to contribute more to the school, and I will do my best as an Exco prefect. I am confident that the Exco team will be able to work together as one. I look forward to working together with the student population and teachers to make Nanyang Primary a better school for all of us.

Dawn Lee (6K)

Exco Member

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I am very honoured to be part of the Exco Team this year, and I would like to thank my parents, my teachers and my fellow prefects and friends for making this possible. My parents helped me to think through what being a leader really means and to better grasp the concept of being an Exco prefect. My teachers were the ones who made me a prefect in the first place, and for that I should thank them. Also, my fellow prefects made me a candidate for

head prefect by voting for me, and made me an Exco prefect as well. I am really looking forward to working with the Head Prefect, the Vice-Head Prefects as well as the other two EXCO prefects, and I am sure that together we will all strive to make Nanyang a better school for all of us.

Lim Roo Yee (6K)

Exco Member

We serve with pride and honour!

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The NYPS Act of Love 2013 had the theme

“Small Act. Big Heart. Change The World.”

It was a timely reminder to students that we

could play a part to help the less fortunate in

a simple but meaningful way.

The event was held on 14 Nov 2013. It

began with an inspiring opening speech

by our principal, Mrs Lee in the basketball

court. There were several interesting and

fun activities. These included LEGO stacking

in the courtyard and buddy activities that

comprised the folding of Singtel Hearts and

reflection in the classrooms.

The various activities went smoothly. The

weather was good and the turnout was

excellent. The programs were entertaining

and educational. Those involved in the

events included P1-6 students, teachers,

and parent volunteers. It was also a chance

for the whole school to gather, as the Lower

Primary One & Two students also arrived

from their Toh Tuck Campus to participate in

this meaningful event.

Act of LoveSerena Lee Oh (6C)

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I was a Primary 5 buddy to a Primary

1 girl named Suryiani. I assisted

her with the LEGO Stacking in

our school courtyard. These were

actually plastic coin boxes that were

stacked to build a model of the

globe. The purpose was to show the

pupils that our small acts of love,

and that combined, could snowball

and make a huge, significant

difference. This activity enabled

my buddy and me to see that we

could literally help to build a better

Singapore and world.

We were also eager to participate

in the Buddy Activity in the

classroom where we folded origami

hearts using special advertisement

papers provided by SingTel. The

Fold-A-Heart activity was part of

Singtel’s charity programme to raise

donations to support children and

young people with special needs

in Singapore. I felt privileged to

participate in this activity as it was

a practical way of helping to raise

funds. My buddy and I also had a

great time, and we enjoyed each

other’s company.

I learnt several things through this

event. I learnt that despite our

young age, we were all able to play

a part in contributing to our society

and our homeland, Singapore. I

learnt that we should make efforts

to help the less fortunate whenever

we have the chance to do so. I also

learnt that it was a great and noble

thing to give back to society, as we

have received so much from it.

Small Act. Big Heart.

Change the World. 24

SPORTS DAYMrs Ang Lee Ping

Our Annual Sports Day was held on 14 March

at Bishan Stadium. Prior to our Sports Day, the

pupils practised the cheers with Mr Eugene Ng

before their flag- raising ceremony daily. Our

PE teachers also wore their house T-shirts in the

two weeks leading up to the actual day. These

practices revved up the house spirit.

On 14th March, our pupils donned their house

T-shirts and had a whale of a time cheering

their hearts out to support the runners from

their house. They were given balloon clappers,

pom poms and hand clappers and they cheered

with great enthusiasm. A cheering competition

was held and the Red House emerged as the

champion house for the event.

This year, the PE Department added 3 new

events for P3 students: 80m and 60m Shuttle

Relays. The P3 pupils were exhilarated to

represent their house in the sports meet and

exuded great teamwork in their relay. The Green

House emerged as the champion house for

Sports Meet 2014.

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Photo gallery

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时光飞逝，不知不觉我们已在

道德路的校舍度过一年，不论是学

校的设备或是行政工作，一切都已

上了轨道，您的孩子绝对能在最短

的时间内适应小学的生活。

开学第一天，钟校长与老师们

热烈欢迎孩子们的到来。钟校长

和孩子们亲切地交谈，各班的级任

老师也和孩子们分享“苹果”的故

事。在休息时，老师和家长义工们

也教导小朋友们怎么买食物，带着

他们了解学校的环境，让他们知道

一些重要场所的位置，如办公室、

礼堂、图书馆、厕所等等。

今年的农历新年来得比往年

早，校方特意邀请家长们来学校展

小一学生启程了！李友璋老师

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聚精 会神地在听 钟校长的金玉良言。

示或烘制各种过年食品，如鸡蛋

卷、黄梨塔、年糕等等。孩子们边

吃边学习，开心极了。

农历正月初六，校方也安排了

舞狮团到来祝贺，把新年的气氛

推上最高潮。除了两只漂亮威武

的狮子，还有一个非常可爱的财神

爷，拿着元宝向孩子们“撒钱”（糖

果）。孩子们看得兴奋极了，尖叫连

连。

最后，愿孩子们在新的一年

里“身体健康，名列前茅”。

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“我们是新加坡公民……”

“我们一起去参观校园，好兴 奋啊！……”

“肉干！我的最爱！！！”

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自己做的黄梨塔最 好吃！

“这是 什么？看起 来好好吃哦！”

祥 狮献瑞喜迎春！这个财 神爷很摩 登吧？

小二课间音乐会

2月27日，2 8日在道德校区礼堂举

办了为期两天的“小二课间音乐会”。有

近26位同学自愿报名参加演出，其中有

钢琴，小提琴，笛子，还有独唱。这次活

动是南洋小学音乐部本着挖掘学生音

乐才能为原则，旨在培养学生的音乐兴

趣爱好，希望达到为学生提供展现自我

表现空间的目标。因此，无论你的专长

是吹拉弹唱，也不管你的程度深浅，都

可以站在舞台上为大家表演，以此树立

学生的自信心。

李 姿 师

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一年一度的小三华文文化营已

经圆满落幕。本次的文化营安排了

多项有趣的活动，包括制作风筝、

泥塑、绘画以及中国的传统游戏。

学生们在老师的带领下，不仅能够

在文化营学习华族的传统文化，还

体 验了各种不同的趣 味游戏。

在制作风筝课上，从构图、裁剪

到制作都由学生亲力亲为，引起了

学生们的极大的兴趣。

学生们对传统游戏都津津乐

道，如：踢毽子、丢豆包、跳绳、掷

箭等游戏。其中最新奇的游戏是滚

铁圈。它既是一项体育运动，也是

一种儿童游戏。玩者必须让铁圈沿

着地面滚动，保持铁圈直立很长一

段时间，做出各种花样。

小三华文文化营

31

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在泥塑课中，学生们小 心翼翼 地捏着泥

土，制作可爱的小马，享受着自己动手的

快乐。

P4 META Orientation

Welcome to the Nanyang Family.

The META Orientation programme and Amazing Race was designed to allow Primary 4 students to intermingle, work in teams and have fun!

The Multiple Enrichment & Teaching Approaches (META) programme aims to provide a conducive learning environment for pupils in the Gifted Education Programme (GEP) to intermingle with pupils from the mainstream classes.

Writing down our goals for 2014

Five of us using one marker to write a word?! How???

The META Orientation programme was held over the first three days of school. The aim of the programme was to introduce the pupils to their new classmates, some of whom had been transferred from other schools because of their admission into the GEP, and also to the differentiated curriculum that they would embark on.

Miss Doreen Thiam

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Our masterpiece

Listening to instructions

Comments from P4 META Students

It also gave the teachers a chance to interact, bond and get to know their charges better before they started on their learning journey together.

During the Amazing Race, some game stations proved to be challenging! Teamwork, creative thinking and strategies were required to complete the tasks. While all classes aimed to win the top prize, they valued the fun and process even more.

For teachers, it was a great time to bond with the pupils and see them demonstrate values through the teambuilding games.

We trust that our new charges will continue to build wonderful memories as they embark on their learning journey.

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I enjoyed the orientation programme very much, especially the Amazing Race. The race taught me that friendship should come before winning as we should not quarrel with one another just to win a race or a competition. It also taught me the value of co-operation. At one of the stations, if one person in the class made a mistake, the whole class would need to carry out the activity all over again. My class had to do the activity many times over because we had not learnt how to co-operate.

Jiang Xinnan 4N/Responsibility

I enjoyed all the activities catering to P4 students new to to Nanyang Primary School. My favourite activity was ‘Who-can-build-the-tallest-tower?’ challenge in the The Amazing Race. We were supposed to build a standing tower using spaghetti, scotch tape, pieces of string and a small ball of plastercine. It was a lot of fun and it helped us unleash our creativity.

Crystal Phoon 4N/RespectWe have the tallest tower!

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When I entered the school gates on the first day of school, I was nervous because I did not know anyone. However, the teachers conducted many activities in class that allowed me to make friends while learning. Although most of the activities were interesting, I enjoyed The Amazing Race most. I did many fun and enjoyable activities that I had never done before and worked together with my new classmates. The Amazing Race also gave many of my new classmates who came from other schools a chance to get to know the school better. With all these interesting activities, the orientation programme at the start of the school year was an enriching and a memorable event that I will treasure.

Nadia Ng 4N/Responsibility

We are a team!

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I was very happy during the orientation programme because I made lots of new friends in NYPS. I liked all the games and they helped me bond with my new friends. I enjoyed ‘The Longest Line’ activity the most as it was very exciting. There, while passing our things to one another to make the longest line and complaining about the boys’ stinky socks, I made many friends, most of whom are now my good friends. I liked the Orientation Programme because it helped me fit into Nanyang

Tan Kay Lyn 4M/Respect

From the moment I stepped foot into Nanyang to the start of the orientation programme, I was extremely excited and nervous. During the orientation programme, we had many different activities. They were all very interesting. The activities helped me to better understand and learn more about my new school and gave me an opportunity to make new friends. Overall, I think it was a fun-filled and interesting orientation programme.

Evelyne Chua 4M/Responsibility

The orientation programme was fun and exciting as I got to learn more about my new school and make new friends. My favourite part of the orientation programme was “The Amazing Race” as I got to know my new classmates better while we tried to complete the race. It was a fun and interesting experience for me.

Nathan Ong 4M/Respect

What is the big picture?

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P5 Adventure Camp

The P5 Adventure Camp was held at Sarimbun Scouts Camp this year. For many students, it was their first time spending two nights away from home. The camp helped the students get to know their new classmates better and strengthen existing friendships. Students participated in various physical and mental challenges, and also contested in an expanded version of Captain’s Ball. They even tried their hand at outdoor cooking. Students were also brought to Sentosa where they built sandcastles and experienced water rafting. These activities helped students to build teamwork, develop confidence and respect one another. The skits and performances during the campfire showcased the wide array of talents of our students.

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For most students, it was a memorable experience. Here’s what they have to say:

On Wednesday, we arrived at Sarimbun Scout Camp. I was in Group 17. We were sent to our huts to unpack. Although small, it was rather cosy. At night, we played ‘Search and Rescue’ and I learnt to cherish my friends.

I did not sleep soundly. When we woke up, my classmates, Aser and Dominic kept “invading” our hut. At Sentosa, activities such as sandcastle-building and water rafting were fun. During the challenge at the Low Elements, we learned how to support and help people through tyres and hoist one another up walls. By the end of the camp, we were all so tired and sluggish!

Zachariah Egan, Class 5 Care

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Photo Gallery

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It was a very fun, educational and exciting camp. The activities that the instructors planned for us might have been tiring but still, my class managed to complete them all with determination. We were resilient and worked together harmoniously. Although we quarrelled a few times, we did not take it too seriously and eventually forgave one another.

In my opinion, the ‘Multi-level Captain’s Ball’ was the most enjoyable. There were different balls that, when scored, were worth different points. During a part of the game, nobody wanted to get the netball worth 1 point. My group thought that if we aimed for the netball, we would have an advantage of scoring easier goals. In the end, we scored 7 extra points with the

netball and won the game. We had a good strategy and planned it out well.

The dormitory that we stayed in was not comfortable as the floor was hard and cold but nobody complained as we knew that it was a camp, not a holiday. The Sarimbun Scouts Camp was definitely not in our comfort zone but during those 3 days, we got used to it and learnt how to survive outside our comfort zone. The most important lesson learnt during the camp is ‘What is Teamwork?’ We learnt to work together harmoniously, care for and respect one another. I hope that we could have another enriching camp.

Mindy Foo Ziyi, Class 5 Harmony

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Chronicles of MyDaughter's P6 JourneyMr Dennis Chan

If there is one word to encapsulate the life of a pupil entering his or her Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) year, it is bittersweet. It was certainly true for my daughter, Nicole Chan Yanrong, who was in 6M in 2013.

Life was indeed "bitter" in the first nine months of the year as she had to complete her projects as well as prepare for the PSLE. I can recall the many nights when Yanrong had to burn the midnight oil to meet her homework deadline. There were times when she had to drag herself up from bed for school.

However,these tough times did

not last. Deliverance came on 2 October 2013, when Yanrong took her last paper. And with it, school life was instantly transformed. All that was bitter turned saccharine sweet. For the next six weeks, going to school was a pleasure. Gone were the practice paper drills and the accompanying stress. Classes became fun, with learning done through excursions and little homework.

NYPS organised trips for Primary 6 pupils to Snow City, Science Centre, the zoo and parks. On days when no outings were planned, the pupils were kept busy planning a charity bazaar. The girls made their own bracelets, earrings, files and other knick-knacks and sold them at the bazaar. It was noisy. It was messy. It was fun. For Yanrong, the highlight of the activities was an overnight camp that featured a barbecue followed by a movie marathon. It was easily the best six weeks of school for Yanrong.

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Those carefree days culminated in Graduation Day on 15 November 2013. It was a special occasion as parents were able to witness and participate in a key milestone in the life of his/her child. It was a joy for every parent to see his/her child go up on stage to collect the graduating certificate that signalled formally the end of primary school education. Naturally, the turnout was overwhelming, so much so that some parents had to be accommodated in the viewing gallery at the back of the school hall where the ceremony was held. NYPS principal, Mrs Lee Hui Feng, gave a fine speech on gratitude, in the form of a parable about a boy and his tree friend. Although a simple story, it was full of nuances that emphasized values such as gratitude, steadfastness, loyalty, sacrifice and contentment.

On the other hand, Guest of Honour, Mr Christopher De Souza, Member of Parliament for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, chose to share a true life story about grit and determination in his speech. It was about a man (let's call him Mr A) who lives in a rental flat in Mr De Souza's constituency. Despite coming from an underprivileged background as well

as suffering a personal tragedy, Mr A has persevered in educating himself for a better future. But he could not do it alone. Mr De Souza gave Mr A strength and encouragement when he discovered Mr A had lost heart in his bid to improve his lot. Let's be clear. Mr De Souza did not move mountains for Mr A. Indeed, Mr De Souza himself made no such claim. All he did was to help a fallen man pick himself up.

The lesson of Mr De Souza's narrative, therefore, was not just about an individual overcoming his adversities. It was also about the poor and downtrodden improving their lot if society was willing to lend them a helping hand. Such help needed not be an expansive or expensive gesture.

I hope I have not inadvertently conveyed that Graduation Day was a sombre affair. In fact, there was a festive air about the occasion, particularly, during the tea reception that followed. My wife and I hunted down teachers who have taught Yanrong to get them to pose for photographs. They did so gamely. Though Yanrong's stay in NYPS was fleeting, her memory of and affection for the school will last a lifetime.

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P6 BBQ Under The Stars

P6 BBQ Under the Stars is an event organize yearly for our graduating classes which aims to provide an opportunity for all our P6 pupils and their teachers to bond and have fun together through activities such as Teachers Vs Students Games, Mass Dance, a BBQ and an overnight stay in the school.

Last year, the event was held on 7 November 2013.The night kicked off with Teachers vs Students’ challenge in Captain’s Ball and Ultimate Frisbee. Pupils and teachers pitted their skills on the court and had a great time ‘snatching’ the ball and Frisbee. This was followed by a great workout of Zumba led by an external instructor. Pupils and teachers helped themselves to a scrumptious BBQ dinner under the stars. Each class was given a BBQ pit to barbecue an assortment of finger food and marshmallows. The night then concluded with the pupils playing board games and enjoying a movie until 12pm.

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Mdm Tee goes for the kill

How low can you go?

Ain't gonna get past me

Students pit their skills against the teachers– Mr Numayama tips the frisbee out of a Sixer's reach

ROAR~!

45

It was the best time to bond and get closer

to our buddies. Definitely, the BBQ under

the stars was the best. The food was already

cooked so we only had to heat it up at a pit

that each class got. The most entertaining

part was when our classmate, Yik Jun,

accidentally set a piece of tissue on fire. The

flames licked at the tissue just once and the

whole thing was up in flames! Luckily, he was

calm and managed to put it out. At night,

a movie marathon took us through to one

o’clock in the morning. That was the latest

I have ever slept! Overall, the BBQ under

the stars was a good experience and I really

enjoyed it. Thank you Nanyang!

By Brienna Lau (6B/2013)

Primary 6s learning dance choreography on the spot –Ending pose to "Wings"

A team of Primary 6s huddled closely to strategize and prep talk before the games

46

The P6 BBQ under the stars has been a

wonderful experience for me personally.

I feel that through this event, we have

learnt a lot more about one another. I

enjoyed myself a lot, being able to spend

the last days of my primary school life

with my classmates. The teachers have

put in a lot of effort to do this. I feel

that these activities can also be carried

out by our Junior Alumni. I came from

Chinese Orchestra, where they have an

annual camp. The teachers would invite

the seniors back to the school to be our

“facilitators”. Another advantage of doing

this is that P6 students will be able to

interact with their seniors and learn more

about the transition from primary school to

secondary school

Ridge Pang 6D/2013

Primary 6s experiencing a Dance Battle during DanceOut

Primary 6 getting into the DanceOut groove with instructor Venn along with his dancecrew.

Primary 6s got up on stage to try

their hand at leading

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I remember leaving the “Meet the Parents” session in January 2013 hoping that I would get a slot in the next overseas community service trip. So when Mrs Nancy Lum put up the notice on the school blog, I was amongst the first to send in my cheque. Then, the questions from the extended family came, “Is the place safe? How many people are going? Who is responsible?”

Three months before the actual departure, the team met for the first time and was briefed by Joyce Yu, the person-in-charge from YMCA. As this was her 3rd trip with NYPS, she succinctly reassured us about the expedition we were embarking on, outlining the trip, its purpose and the “dos and don’ts”.

There was a frenzy of activities in the following few weeks. We were busy preparing, acquiring donations and packing for the trip.

Touching Lives,Lifting Spirits

Team memeber receiving vaccinations two weeks before the departure

Getting hands dirty with hard work under adult supervision

Dr See Hui Ti

48

The day finally came on the 1st December 2013. Things fell into place with almost military precision. All the team members communicated through a “what’s app” group, and off we went to Cambodia.

At the first meeting, Joyce reassured us that all things would be well taken care of and there was little for the parents to worry about.

The first day was reassuringly cordial as we headed off with our luggage in the tour bus (that arrived on time and had a very good air-conditioned system) to a local “get-to-know-you” dinner. The food was good, clean and they even catered for vegetarians.

The hotel was also clean, comfortable and had daily change of towels. Breakfast was adequate and supermarkets were very near. Phnom Penh also had a number of pharmacies near to the hotel for emergency supplies.

On the second day, we headed off to UNACAS Orphanage in the tour bus and started our week long service learning program. For the next three days, we helped to clean and paint the concrete fence at

the local primary school. Instead of the expected hard work, there was actually a whole lot of siesta time. The pace of work, at least for me, was very slow as compared to that in Singapore. There was plenty of time for the children to interact with the UNACAS children. Language was not a problem as most of the children spoke simple English. All they needed was a basketball, a plastic toy gun and sweets to break the ice and build bonds. The opportunity to play in the school and orphanage compound with no agenda and no time constraints made all our children so happy.

The team members had only known one another for less than a few hours (though we met twice in the previous pre-trip meetings), but the camaraderie was intense.

English classes in the evenings

49

We all worked very well together (even with the children) with minimal briefing and no formal team-building sessions.

Our team managed to complete 80% of the painting of the fences, leaving the rest to the workers. While we were proud of what we were capable of doing, we never expected the job of painting to be so tedious. It took only a day or two for our kids to increase their respect for our foreign workers in Singapore and appreciate their hard work.

Through our interactions with the locals, our children were able to understand the daily difficulties that they faced and began to appreciate their lives back in Singapore.

Photos speak a thousand words. From the looks on our faces, I am sure you can see how much fun we had. This trip is indeed memorable and meaningful for all of us.

We went, with our hearts beaming with the hope that we would bring joy and supplies to the children at UNACAS, hopefully to touch them in a meaningful way. In the end, it was our children’s lives that were touched and our adult spirits that were lifted.

Meal times

What an enriching

experience!

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Touching lives and lifting spirits.

Plenty of bonding time

with our family members

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NYPS Professional Learning Communities

Nanyang Primary School’s Professional Learning Community journey started in 2012 with the gradual introduction of the principles behind PLC and the formation of the Coalition Team. In 2013, 30 Learning Teams were formed across levels in the

mainstream and the gifted education programme. Each Team is anchored with a Senior Teacher to provide professional knowledge, expertise and experience. A Level Head or Subject Head served to guide the team while a Head of Department provided advice. This manpower

Mr Ting Huat Seng & Mdm Tee Guat Hwa

Our teachers with Dr Yeap Ban Har at the World of Lesson Studies (WALS) Conference in Sweden

52

allocation and deployment ensured a smooth implementation.

In order to lay a good foundation in the implementation, Marshall Cavendish Institute was engaged to give professional expertise and guidance. A school-wide learning and development programme was customised for NYPS. This included Key Learning Programme learning and development activities such as Lesson Study Facilitation and Learning Circle. Trainers led teams through a 6 stage Lesson Study module as the team worked on authentic research currently being carried out. Working with such expertise helped teachers to

sharpen their use of research tools as well as promote collaborative learning using the PLC platform. To meet the learning needs of Chinese Language teachers, trainers from SCCL conducted Lesson Study refresher training in June 2013 to deepen the understanding of Chinese Language teachers.

To enhance communication and collaboration, a PLC Goggle website was in operation since 2012. The website served as a platform to store training resources By having a central depository, collaborative learning among teachers in the school was further enhanced.

Trainers from Marshall Cavendish Institute giving professional expertise and guidance to our teachers

53

In a concerted effort to expose staff to best practices of Lesson Study research, 2 key personnel from the Mathematics department participated in the APEC-TSUKUBA International Conference VII in Japan, where Lesson Study is very much ingrained into the educational landscape.Our two key personnel learned innovative strategies in the teaching of Mathematics when they participated as observers in authentic large scale Lesson Study Public Research lessons during the conference. Teachers attended the Lesson Study Symposium organised by the Academy of Singapore Teachers. They had an invaluable opportunity to learn from other practitioners, especially about leading Lesson Study projects in schools.

As of 2013, 30 Learning Teams had already embarked on the implementation of Lesson Study cycles with 16 Learning Teams having completed the Lesson Study cycle. Three Learning Teams presented their findings at the World of Lesson Studies (WALS) Conference 2013 which was held in Sweden from 6th to 9th September. P6 Chinese teachers also presented

Our teachers presenting their findings at the World of Lesson Studies (WALS) Conference

Teachers presenting at our annual Nanyang Conference

Teachers listening intently to the speaker during the NYPS Conference

54

their Lesson Study project in the International Conference for the Teaching and Learning of Chinese organised by SCCL on 12th September. Nine Learning Teams, each led by a Senior Teacher Mentor, presented their Lesson Study project findings at the annual Nanyang Conference on 20 November. We also invited the Lead Teachers and Senior Teachers from Pei Chun Public School, Xingnan Primary School and W5 cluster schools to present and participate at the conference. Sharing of this nature helped to enhance teachers’

Mdm Tee presenting her findings at the World of Lesson Studies (WALS) Conference

professional development which in turn would lead to improvement in pedagogical approaches to bring about better student learning.

A completely new life opened its doors to me.

55

华乐团台湾音乐交流之旅

Our visits to the two schools in Taipei and Taichung were good exposure as we got to learn about their school culture. Mandarin is their first language and I noticed that Hokkien is used often as it is the main dialect used in Taiwan. It was a very good experience to have the

From 19 to 23 November 2013, a group of 26 members from the Chinese Orchestra

went to Taiwan for a Music Exchange Program. They visited two schools and factories as

well as attended a few workshops. It was a very fruitful trip. Let’s hear from some of our

members on their trip.

opportunity to perform in a foreign country.

The next interesting place was the ukulele factory. We were shown how the ukulele was made and given a free lesson on how to play the instrument.

Outbound Immersion Programme for NYPS

Chinese Orchestra

56

We gained insight into how a piano was made and learnt how the musical notes were created during our visit to the piano.

-Damien Low Schools in Taiwan are different from those in Singapore. Food is served in the classrooms whereas in Singapore, students get their food from the canteen. This trip gave us an opportunity to learn from and interact with students in Taiwan. -Sharamine Lim

这是我第一次没有爸爸妈妈随

行和妹妹一起出国。

在这次交流活动中，我认识了

一些台湾的传统文化习俗。在与台

湾的学生交流中，我发现他们对乐

器的掌握和演奏的水平很高。其实

他们的年龄也和我们 一样，应该是

下了很多苦功，我们应该向他们好

好学习。

我们也参观了博物馆，了解台

湾的历史文化。我结交了很多新朋

友。我最喜欢去当地的学校参观交

流。我很希望明年还有机会参加这

类活动！

- 陈慧欣

57

在台湾的几天，我们到了很多

地方，有人头攒动美食遍布的夜市，

有自然风景美不胜收的九份，有神

奇莫测的科学馆……然而最让我

记忆深刻的还是充满乐符的音乐之

旅— 参观U KE LE LE 的制作工厂。

U KE LE LE（尤克里里）是一种

夏威夷四弦琴。尤克里里有四根

弦，体 积小，便于携带，容易弹奏，

也便于和弦。叔叔向我们介绍了尤

克里里的制作过程，还教我们如何

弹奏，我一下子就喜欢上了这个小

东西。小小的身体，竟然会发出如

此清亮剔透的声音，是如此轻快活

泼，去感动每一颗爱音乐的心。最

后我们大家在尤克里里的伴奏下齐

声欢唱，为快乐的一天又加多了一

个跳跃的音符，我爱尤克里里。

- 李诗颖5M

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about the history behind these local delicacies. Finally, we went to the Gold Ecological Park to find out more about the history of gold mining around the town of Jiufen. We strolled down Jiu Fen Old Town to understand the local culture and heritage behind the nostalgic town which overlooks Taiwan’s east coast. -Woo Wan Zhen

I liked the gold mining experience. I could not imagine myself finding gold! I filled the container with the gold I "found". Unfortunately I found only a little bit. -Lim Bing Yang

I enjoyed myself at the “Music-For-Fun” factory. I saw what was inside the piano and it was very interesting. The guide took us to a place where many household items such as pails and sticks were turned into drums, bottles and magnets. We played instruments made out of them and had a lot of fun. -Eliza Poey On Day 4, we went to visit the Chiang Kek Shiek Memorial Hall to take part in the Yuka Exhibition and to observe the spectacular guard-changing ceremony. Then, we visited Vigor Kobo for an exclusive DIY experience of making pineapple pastries and at the same time, learnt

59

One of the most meaningful things we did in Taiwan was making pineapple tarts. Instead of buying pineapple tarts as gifts for our family, we made them!

I love Taiwan as it is a beautiful country. I learnt to be independent, made new friends. What I liked about Taiwan is the schools’ orchestra. I think their orchestra are very good and we should learn from them. I also liked Taiwan's Jiufen Old Street. I think it is very beautiful. It is also very crowded as it has many shops selling snacks. -Herman Goh

making pineapple

tarts is quite fun!

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这次去台湾的学校参观，我发

现他们的华乐队在没有指挥的情况

下，演出时表现却很好。学校里没

有卖零食的摊位，只有健康午餐。

我想自己应该向他们学习，少吃零

食。台湾的同学非常喜欢我们去访

问他们，他们都很友善。

我很喜欢台湾的食物，因为很

好吃。这次浸濡，我还学会了照顾

自己。那里的天气很冷，但是老师

们很照顾我们，我要谢谢老师们。

希望还有机会和华乐团出国。

- 陈慧琪

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Inbound Immersion Programme for

Pupils from Raghubir Singh Junior

Modern School

On 5 February 2014, a group of 34 pupils and 2 teachers from Raghubir Singh Junior Modern School (RSJMS) arrived in NYPS for a week long immersion programme. They were accompanied by their headmaster, Mrs. Manju Rajput. RSJMS is no stranger to NYPS as the school has been sending about 25 to 30 pupils to our school every February since 2008.

We could see the excitement in their eyes when they got off the bus the moment it reached our school gate. The pupils were so excited to meet their Skype buddies face to face. These RSJMS pupils had been communicating online with a group of NYPS pupils since November last year. Pupils from both schools had collaborated in a project on two important leaders of both countries

Mdm Siti Nurbaya M. Jumain

Mrs Manju Rajput, Principal of RSJMS joining us in our CNY celebration

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Pupils invovled in the collaborative project between the two schools, put up skits on the two great leaders from India and Singapore.

i.e. Mr Gahatma Gandhi and Mr Lee Kuan Yew. The project started off with online discussions via Skype between pupils from the two schools. The pupils would then put up skits on the two leaders together.

Both groups of pupils immediately started to rehearse for their skits when RSJMS pupils arrived in NYPS. Despite the short timeframe for rehearsals, the pupils from both school nevertheless put up a brilliant performance during the P5 assembly.

The process that they had gone through together had indeed strengthened the bond between them. It was truly an enriching experience for everyone.

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Photo Gallery

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What were your

best moments

in school?

Activity Sheet

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