Reading Roads (Pg 5)

Seventeen year old, Marc Ong, from Hwa Chong Institution has published an illustrated road safety book, “How to Read the Roads”. The cartoon illustrated book introduces readers to traffic rules through instructions and illustrations. Marc hopes that the book will help him share his knowledge of road safety and  reduce the frequency of tragic road accidents involving children.

The teenager will also give all net proceeds to The Straits Times School Pocket Money. He was inspired to do so when he remembered witnessing a primary school friend of his who often could not afford to buy food from the school canteen and he wanted to help others in similar straits. 

(1)  Share some road safety rules that you abide by.

(2)  How has Marc shown examples of compassion and commitment (our school values) when he wrote the book?

(3) Given the opportunity, would you like to write a book to help young people too? What would 

      the book be about?

‘Truths’ with a Pinch of Salt (pg 12) - 5 Charity and 5 Joy

It was reported that some individuals intentionally spread rumours during the recent haze and caused unnecessary anxiety. This incident highlighted the fact that the information we receive or come across is not always reliable. Hence, it is important that we think carefully before accepting what we read or are told to be true, especially when the source of the information is unknown or dubious.

(1)  Why do you think people resort to spreading rumours?

(2) Choose one of the rumours cited by Minister Yaacob Ibrahim in the article and discuss how 

      the spread of such rumour could have affected Singapore as a nation.

Young and Neighbourly (page 6) - 5 Faith and 5 Humility

Issue: 9 July 2013 

"Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” ― Mark Twain 

Being neighbourly is not something that only adults can do. Everyone, regardless of age, can demonstrate acts of kindness. Three primary school pupils were among 11 recipients of the HDB Good Neighbour Award at the recent HDB Community Week, held between May 29 and June 9. The annual award, organized by HDB, honours the community spirit shown by those living in their HDB estates. The awardees shared their charitable acts with readers which include, lending elderly neighbours a hand with their groceries, helping neighbours to clean their houses, helping classmates with their schoolwork, among other things.

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(1) What are the acts of kindness you can show to your neighbours? [Remember, no act of kindness is too small when it is done from the heart.] 

(2) Besides our neighbours, who else can we show kindness to and what can we do to live out one of our school values - Compassion?

National Day is just round the corner. This year, you get to have a say in which National Day Theme Songs we will sing during our National Day Celebration on 7 August. Listen to the following songs and vote for your favourite one in the poll below! Voting ends on 26 July 2013!

customer surveys

National Day Theme Song 2013 - One Singapore





National Day Theme Song 2012 - Love At First Light






National Day Theme Song 2011 - In A Heartbeat






National Day Theme Song 2010 - Song For Singapore






National Day Theme Song 2009 - What Do You See






National Day Theme Song 2008 - Shine For Singapore






National Day Theme Song 2007- Will You






National Day Theme Song 2006 - My Island Home






National Day Theme Song 2005 - Reach for the Skies






National Day Theme Song 1998 & 2004 – Home (1998 version)






National Day Theme Song 2003 - One United People






National Day Theme Song 2002 - We Will Get There






National Day Theme Song 2001 - Where I Belong

Lend Me Your Ears (4 Humility & Charity)

LRD 21 May 2013

With thousands of maids from other countries working here in Singapore, a helpline has been set up. This service, in English and Bahasa Melayu, will be ready next month and maids can call the line at any time of the day. They can call for information on issues such as their day, work permit matters and also to discuss personal problems. They can even call simply because they need someone to talk to, a listening ear.

Imagine you are a maid. What would you call the helpline about?

On 30th April 2013, the war memorial in Connought Drive was vandalised.
The suspect was accused of spray-painting the word 'democracy' on the Cenotaph and scrawling a big red 'X' on the memorial, cancelling out the years 1914 to 1918.

The word 'democracy' means 'government by all the people, usually through elected representatives'. This means that the people are allowed to vote for whom they want to represent them in the government.
We recite our pledge in school every week day and pledge to build a democratic society, based on justice and equality, so as to achieve happiness, prosperity and progress for our nation.'

What do these words mean to you personally? How do you think these words are translated to actions in your daily life? How do you build a democratic society every day?

Kids Turn Entrepreneurs (5 Charity and 5 Joy)

Approximately 80 children turned entrepreneurs each day for a duration of nine days when the Sentosa Kidz Flea Market was held during the last March holidays. The items that were put up on sale were either donated or made by the children. While some of the proceeds from the sale were used to buy treats for the children themselves, the rest went to Hospice Care Association (HCA). It was an enriching learning experience for the children and they got to learn perseverance (such as to keep up their energy for the duration of the sale) and how to count the money collected from the sales, just to name a few.

Post your comments on one or more of the following questions:

(1) Why do you think the children donated part of their proceeds to Hospice

      Care Association (HCA)?

(2) Which of our school values do you think the children demonstrate?

(3) What are some of the things which you can do to give back to the society /

      to reach out to others?

Vote for us!

YouthchaNgE 3.0 gave some P6 multimedia girls a platform to make a video about the place in Singapore they call home. Look at group 9 and group 10. Like the video and vote for them! 

Group 9
http://www.nma.sg/youthchange/2013/03/group09-canossa-convent-primary-school/

Our Home
This group chose their school, Canossa Convent Primary School as their home. They brought us to the heart of the school, a garden where they spend time with friends. They later compared the school hall to a living room where everyone gather and watch ‘TV” - assembly programmes. Lastly, they bring us to their “bedroom” – their class, P5 Faith where they learn new things.

Contributed by
Perez Ariane Balasta, Lin Michelle Mercado, Christine Chia Kim Moy, Insyirah Bte Iryadi and Deborah Ann Punnoose George

Group 10
http://www.nma.sg/youthchange/2013/03/group10-canossa-convent-primary-school/

Our School, Our Home
This group chose their school, Canossa Convent Primary School as their home as they learn lots of things and skills through activities as they would in a home. In this short video, they featured the computer lab and the indoor sport hall. They feel that these skills picked up through activities are essential as it would benefit them in the future.

Contributed by
Shama Juwairiyyah Bte Subhan, Lim Jia Hui, Ashley Crystal Chia Sze Min and Lechmi Rajendran

Neighbours Who Became Friends (on behalf of P6Humility)

LRD: 26 Feb 2013

Simple acts of kindness go a long way in strengthening relationships among neighbours. Examples of such deeds include helping one another out and greeting one another. It is important to have good relationships with your neighbours and the first step to doing so begins with us.

1. Do you think it’s important to have a good relationship with your neighbours? Why or why not?

2. How many of your neighbours do you know and how did you get to know them?

3. What are some things which you can do to strength your relationship with your neighbours?

Using Clay to Recycle Water (P6Hope)

LRD: 26 Feb 2013

In 2012, a group of students from Anderson Junior College (AJC) developed a method to use bentonite clay to clean soapy water without creating waster by-products. Their findings are made use of by PUB, Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s Environmental and Water Technology Centre of Innovation in a nine-month trial to recycle water. Should the trial be successful, there will be an alternative to treating laundry waste water. Currently, the methods that are being used produce hazardous waste.

Post your comments on the following questions:

• Should the trial be a success, what positive impacts could there be on the environment?
• Do you think it is important care for the environment? Why or why not?
• What are some things you can do to care for the environment?