SHINESA M K P

October2016

A Publication of Ang Mo Kio Primary School

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Dear Pupils of AMKPS,

In this issue of the newsletter, I would like to share with you the names of young leaders whom you can look up

to and admire.

Pakistani Malala Yousafzai, born on 12 July 1997, enjoyed going to school and developed a passion for learning since young. Under the Taliban’s rule in Pakistan, girls are banned from attending school at the age of eight. However, Malala and her father continued to speak up for the right to education despite receiving death threats. On 9 October 2012, a masked gunman shot Malala when she was travelling home from school. This led to a petition for a right to education signed by over 2 million people. In 2014, Malala became the youngest ever Nobel Prize laureate for her fight for the right to education and freedom from suppression (the worst kind of bullying) of children and young people.

Like Malala, there are many children and young people who spoke up for what they believed in or took actions based on their beliefs to help themselves and others. Richard Turere, a boy in Kenya, invented a device to scare lions away from his family’s cattles when he was only 11 years old. At 9 years old, Katie Stagliano, with the help of her parents and school, started Katie’s Krops - a project in which other children like her would take care of gardens to grow food that is donated to feed the hungry.

As pupils of AMKPS, you may not be carrying out projects that can change the world dramatically overnight but you can be a leader too. You can grow as a leader by believing that you are capable of doing the right things for yourself and for others. You have a VOICE and you have a CHOICE. In this issue of AMKP SHINES, you will find examples of how your schoolmates learn and act in ways that show true leadership.

Enjoy reading and continue to be inspired.

Mr Chew Mun Wai Principal

Staff Well-Being Workshop for Teachers

A workshop on Positive Psychology was held for all staff on 1 June. The focus of the workshop was on equipping

staff with simple tools and methods to enhance their well-being. This workshop was a follow-up to the workshop that was carried out in January. The next session in the series will be held in December.

Positive Psychology is the scientific study of how people can make use of their strengths in order to lead fulfilling lives, and enhance their experiences of work and play. During the workshop, the staff learnt how to manage their thoughts and

Our New Staff

This semester, AMKPS is pleased to announce that 10 new teachers have joined the school. We would like to

welcome the teachers as part of the AMKP family.

L to R (standing): Miss Nazreen Fathima d/o Jagabar, Miss Judith Lin Xiu (EL and MA teachers), Ms Suganthi Mariappan (SH Pupil Management/ TL teacher), Miss Renie Ashsyakirin Binte Adnan (ML teacher) L to R (seated): Miss Lim Ching Yin (CL teacher), Mr Marcus Victor Leong Weijian, Miss Sri Halikmawati Binte Mohamed Halik (EL and MA teachers)

Missing in the photo:• MdmNadzirah Binte Riduan (PE teacher)• MrSaatBinArifin (ML teacher)• MsSarahLoke (EL And MA teacher)

Katie StaglianoMalala Yousafzai Richard Turere

Young Leaders, You have a Voice

emotions during stressful situations, appreciate and live in the present and strengthen their relationships with colleagues and family members. In addition, they also learnt how to combat negative self-talk. As such, the workshop was a meaningful experience for all.

p Teachers engaging in group discussions

during the workshop.

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p An introduction to the countries that are part of ASEAN

p Selamat Hari Raya!

p Pupils enthusiastically participating during the quiz.

AMKPS commemorated International Friendship Day (IFD) on 8 April this year.

With the theme, ASEAN, pupils were given a deeper understanding and appreciation of Singapore’s relations with her neighbouring countries and beyond. It also helped pupils to nurture their spirit of friendship and collaboration among different nationalities

as well as to learn, appreciate and develop a love for other countries’ cultures. During assembly, pupils were introduced

to the ten ASEAN countries. There was also a skit put up by the Drama Club which tied in together with the theme. Follow-up classroom activities gave pupils the opportunity to participate and internalize the values and objectives behind the commemoration of IFD.

Hari Raya Celebration

In AMKPS, Hari Raya Puasa was celebrated on 11 July. A week before the celebration, information

about the festival was put up at the school foyer to raise awareness among the non-Muslim pupils and staff on the significance of the celebration and how the day would be celebrated after one month of fasting.

A concert item which was put up started with the reading of sajak (poetry) by our principal, Mr Chew, followed by a powerpoint presentation and quiz to test the pupils’ understanding. A video about compassion and an MTV recording of Hari Raya song and wishes from staff of all races were some of the highlights of the concert. The concert then ended with a finale where all staff and pupils who were involved in the concert came together to sing “Selamat Hari Raya”.

Racial Harmony Day

In conjunction with Racial Harmony Day (RHD) on 21 July, pupils were exposed to a variety of events and activities throughout the week. A skit depicting the riots and

the aftermath of it was put up by our Mother Tongue teachers. Pupils were engaged in classroom activities during their Social Studies period. A short-film screening titled ‘Wa is for Wayang’ was screened. The film reiterated CCE values and racial harmony among Singaporeans. Recess activities for pupils included kolam drawing, making of bunga rampai and using chopsticks to pick up marbles. Cotton candy, ice-ball and assorted kueh stalls which represented various types of street snacks present during the 1960s were also made available especially for the pupils on that day. Teachers and pupils who were dressed up in their own ethnic or cross ethnic costumes showcased their costumes to the school. To mark the end of the celebration, complimentary awards for cross-ethnic dressing were given to teachers and a video montage featuring the week-long activities was shown.

u Mr Chew, the principal reading the ‘sajak’.

International Friendship Day

p Cross-ethnic costumes

p A performance by the EL Drama Club entitled ‘One World, Many Stories’

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Youth for Environment Day

Youth for Environment Day (YED) was celebrated from 11 to 15 April. It started off with an assembly talk on 11 April

by the Environment Club presenters. There was also a Zero Food Wastage competition for all levels which was aimed to create awareness on the unnecessary waste generated from food leftovers. A Mobile Heroes Exhibition by Singapore Power Service was held during recess on 13 April where pupils tried out the interactive activities on conserving energy. A poster drawing competition was also conducted for P3 to P5 pupils to create awareness on waste minimisation and energy conservation. There were 3 different themes, namely 3Rs for P3, Saving Electricity for P4 and Anti-Food Wastage for P5.

World Water Day

World Water Day was celebrated with water-related activities and games for the whole school. P1 and

P2 pupils participated in a poster design competition entitled ‘Save Water’ to remind their peers to conserve water. Games which focused on water conservation were created by the Environment Club members to promote awareness on the importance of conserving water. Pupils had an enjoyable time playing the games during recess.

p Mobile Heroes Exhibition by Singapore Power Service

p Bowling game created from plastic bottles

p The pupils identifying different ways to conserve water.

t Pupils were also encouraged to write pledges on saving water.

National Day Celebration

On 8 August, AMKPS celebrated the nation’s 51st birthday centred

on the theme ‘Building Our Singapore of Tomorrow’. Pupils and staff worked tirelessly for weeks in advance to prepare for the most important day on the calendar.

The day kicked off with a march past, bringing in the national flag by the flag bearers comprising prefects, Cub Scouts and Red Cross members. This was followed by the singing of the national anthem, reading out of the National Day message by the principal, citing of the recollections by the P2 pupils, a drama performance by the Drama Club members and a beautiful Sand Art segment by the Art Club members. Finally, the day ended with an energetic rendition of the National Day songs by all pupils and staff. It was a day that was filled with pride as everyone celebrated and commemorated Singapore’s journey and achievements in these 51 years.

p We love Singapore!

p Mrs Faroek leading the school in the singing of the National Day songs.

p Enthusiastic pupils holding up the Singapore banner.

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This year, 26 pupils from the AMKPS Track and Field Team

kick started Term 2 with a bang. To prepare for the championships, the athletes put in dedicated effort into their drills and runs. A few athletes shone in their own light this year. Eight of the athletes were honoured for displaying the various school values such as Excellence, Resilience and Respect during training sessions and the championships. Out of these eight, two of them were also awarded the Singapore Primary Schools’ Sports Council Sportsmanship Award for exemplifying the attributes of character, integrity, and sportsmanship. Our athletes should therefore be applauded not only for their performances this year, but also for the holistic growth that they have exhibited.

South Zone Primary Schools Table Tennis Championship

The four school teams, namely the Junior Girls, Senior Girls, Junior Boys and Senior Boys put up an intense

fight in the South Zone Primary Schools Table Tennis Championship held in April. The Junior Girls and Senior Girls, after having secured top four placings, went on to compete in the National Primary Schools Table Tennis Championship from June to July 2016.

To gear up for the National competition, the school teams continued to train very hard during the June school holidays. Besides the team event, the following pupils also represented the school in the individual event.

National Primary Schools Table Tennis Individual Championship

The school is especially proud of Wong Chiau Yee and Wong Zi En who secured an overall top 16 in the National Primary Schools Table Tennis Individual Championship amongst some 40 schools. A big pat on the back for all

the table tennis players, including the Junior Boys and the Senior Boys who competed in the zonal competitions!

57th National Primary Schools Track And Field Championships

S/No. Name

1 Wong Zi En 6 Integrity

2 Darius Loo 5 Care

3 Brennan Chia 6 Respect

4 Wong Chiau Yee 5 Care

5 Wong Kai Lin 6 Respect

p Senior Girls – 2nd in South Zone Championship

p The Eight Award Winners

t The Track & Field Team

P4 Inter-Class Football Competition

AMKPS held its first Inter-Class Football Competition for P4 pupils on 13 May. In line with the theme

“Everybody Plays, Opportunity for All”, the PE department encourages all pupils to keep fit by playing a range of sports available in the school.

Through this competition, the P4 pupils had a chance to demonstrate their skills learnt during PE lessons and master their fundamental skills in football. Pupils were

empowered to choose their team mates and strategize their own tactics. As a class, they made plans to optimally leverage on every team member’s strength. All pupils were required to display sportsmanship and teamwork. At the end of the game, they were encouraged to shake their opponents’ hands to signify friendship and appreciation in the game. The competition was also a platform for pupils to meet their peers from the same level for a time to foster friendship through friendly competition. Below is the result for the competition:

1st – 4 Responsibility 3rd – 4 Resilience2nd – 4 Excellence 4th – 4 Care

p Junior Girls – 4th in South Zone Championship

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p Congratulations to 4 Responsibility for winning the 1st place!

p The finalists for P4 Inter-Class Football Competition 2016

p Cheering for teammates at the sideline

P3-P5 Sports Education Programme (SEP)

In an effort to provide AMKPS pupils with more opportunities to be active through sports, the PE department has organised different sports enrichment programmes (SEP) for the P3, 4 and 5 pupils in Terms 2 and 3. These programmes

are partly subsidised by Sport Singapore, under the SEP fund, to support pupils in their participation in physical activities.

P5 Tchoukball SEP

The P5 pupils were given the opportunity to learn Tchoukball

which is a Swiss game that combines two different sports - volleyball and squash. It is also the fastest sports played today.

24 pupils signed up for the Tchoukball SEP in Term 3. They had the chance to participate in a fast-paced, non-contact sport suitable for both genders. The pupils had a good time playing in groups as they tried to outwit one another in order to score a valuable point for their team. They had to be quick on their feet and be ready to catch the rebound of the balls from the frames at all times. This activity taught them to be considerate towards the feelings of others and take responsibility for their own actions.

P4 Archery SEP

The P4 cohort was given

the opportunity to experience archery in Term 3. A total of 60 pupils signed up for the programme and they were treated to a fun-filled time of shooting at targets. After the 8-hour p r o g r a m m e , the experience gained was invaluable as it taught pupils to be more aware of their surroundings and to keep a look out for one another’s safety. Another lesson learnt was to be resilient when they were trying to hit the target with their arrows. They learnt to believe in themselves that they could do it as long as they persevere.

P3 Inline Skating SEP

The PE department organised the inline skating sports enrichment

programme for the P3 pupils during the month of April. A total of 58 P3 pupils signed up for the programme which was conducted over 4 sessions, starting on 1 April and ending on 29 April, with each session lasting 2 hours. Pupils learnt basic skating skills such as balancing, moving forward and stopping. They also learnt how to break fall as part of the safety aspect of the programme. The participants demonstrated resilience during the course of the programme as they made numerous attempts in keeping their balance.

p Keeping your two feet close together is the key to balancing.

Lower Primary Sports Carnival

The Lower Primary Sports Carnival for P1 & 2 pupils was held at the

school’s Basketball Court and Indoor Sports Hall where 7 diverse games were planned for each level. Each game required the pupils to execute skills that they had learnt during their PE lessons. A scorecard was issued to

every pupil to record their scores at each game station.

Throughout the event, pupils displayed the school values of Respect and Resilience where they had to wait patiently for their turn during the games and put in their best effort. At the end of the event, skipping ropes were given to every child to encourage a healthy lifestyle. Prizes were also awarded to the top 3 pupils from each class based on the scores that they received. Everyone is a winner in AMKPS!

p Pupils lining up and patiently waiting for their turns.

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The P3 pupils went to NEWater Visitor Center for their learning journey. From the visit,

they understood the science behind NEWater and experienced what it was like to be a water molecule undergoing treatment. They also went for the mini rain-garden workshop where they gained hands-on experience operating a ‘mini’ NEWater membrane plant. Pupils were given recycled materials and taught to build their very own mini rain-gardens. They also learnt about filtration and how rain-gardens helped to cleanse water without the use of chemicals. The pupils were totally immersed in a multi-sensory experience to tease their knowledge on NEWater and other water-related topics.

p Look! We are creating our own rain garden. It is so fun!

p Wow! It’s time to add the soil, let me help you.

t The pupils taking some time to learn about how NEWater is being produced.

p It is the time of the day to pen our thoughts down on what we have learnt today.

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p Pupils giving their fullest attention during the talk.

p Watch out!

p “I wonder what I’ll catch today!”

p A curious butterfly resting on the colourful hat.

Science Learning Journeys

In 2016, the pupils of AMKPS visited the Singapore Science Centre, the Singapore Zoo, and the Butterfly Park & Insect Kingdom to attend specialised workshops. The aim was to complement the school Science curriculum with

hands-on and inspiring learning experiences for every AMKPS pupil. Pupils were provided with experiences which were built upon their interests and stimulated their curiosity to learn more about Science.

P6 pupils had an enjoyable time interacting with nature in the Aquatic Plants and Animals workshop, while the P4 pupils sweat it out in the Science Centre Lab to focus on a physical science topic ‘Heat & Temperature’. The P3 cohort spent an entire day at the Singapore Zoo and saw the contents and concepts found on the pages of their Science workbook come alive before their very eyes. At the same venue, the P1 pupils, on the other hand, gained an in-depth understanding of one of the EL STELLAR units entitled “Short, Tall, Big or Small” by observing and studying the animals in their habitats. The P2 pupils embarked on a field trip to the Butterfly Park and Insect Kingdom at Sentosa. Through on-site observations, they were able to connect what they had learnt in the STELLAR big book “A Butterfly is Born”. This learning journey was made more meaningful with the integration of both the Science (Life Cycle of a Butterfly) and English Language (MLEA) curriculums. Not to be left out, the P5 pupils would soon be making a trip to the Science Centre for a hands-on session titled ‘Electric Carnival’ in Term 4, which is a topic covered in the P5 Science syllabus.

The Science department will continue to work with its valued partners in education so as to further enrich pupils’ learning experiences that go beyond the classrooms and the textbooks. With these authentic experiences, learning becomes more meaningful!

P2 LEARNING JOURNEY TO BUTTERFLY PARK & INSECT KINGDOM

P6 LEARNING JOURNEY – AQUATIC PLANTS & ANIMALS WORKSHOP

P4 LEARNING JOURNEY TO SCIENCE CENTRE LAB

p Inquisitive learners getting as much knowledge as they possibly can.

u “Look what I found!”

p Specimen found by the pupil

p What is the temperature of the water?

p Busy using the thermometer

p Pupils listening intently to the presenter.

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u ‘Books On Wheels’ – another activity that allows pupils to borrow books during recess

p Our dedicated PSG and their masterpieces

p Students enjoy doing printmaking despite getting their hands dirty.

Aesthetics Week

Aesthetics Week is a unique Arts & Music experience that aimed to bring out the talents and artistic skills of all

pupils in the school. The event was a joint effort by the various art groups namely the Art Club, Band, Dance Ensemble and the P1 choral group. Every pupil was given the chance to be an artist by showcasing their talents through platforms like AMKPS Budding Artists, Open Mic, SYF Band and Dance Ensemble performances. In the AMKPS Budding Artists competition, every pupil had the opportunity to compete within their level for the title of “Budding Artist”. Pupils were also given the chance to vote for the winners.

The Art Club members had started planning for the event since Term 1. During the Aesthetics week, some were involved in guiding their peers from the Art club and some Primary 2 juniors for the Art@Recess activities. Throughout the week, all pupils got to enjoy arts during pre-assemblies, assemblies and recesses. Everyone participated and had fun.

ReadFest by the EL Department

In April, the English Language department kick started the annual ReadFest by having a skit performed by pupils

from the English Drama Club. Adopting the theme “Today a Reader, Tomorrow a Leader”, the week-long event aspires to encourage pupils to read books from different countries all around the world. Throughout the week, pupils actively participated in the following fun-filled activities:

(1) ‘Alternative Story Ending’ competition for P5 & P6 pupils where pupils had to create interesting endings to the story entitled ‘Charlotte’s Web’, (2) ‘Book Character Parade’ competition for P1 to P4 pupils where pupils had to dress up as characters from storybooks of different genres such as fairy tale and fantasy, (3) Literacy-based classroom activities such as ‘Tongue Twisters’ (P1-2) and ‘Guess the Word/Idioms’ (P3-4) were conducted during EL lessons, and (4) ‘Books on Wheels’ was held at the foyer during recess to bring the books closer to our young readers. Recognising the importance of parents’ involvement, the EL department also organised a workshop entitled ‘Read with Me’ where a speaker from the National Library Board shared tips on how parents could cultivate a reading habit in their children.

On the whole, pupils have enjoyed the various activities conducted throughout the week and look forward to more exciting activities for ReadFest 2017.

t A ‘fairy-tale’ floor game that pupils can play during recess

t Pupils used recycled materials to create their characters for the Book Character Parade.

p Can you spot your favourite book character?

t Art Club members creating artworks for Aesthetics Week.

p Students with their hearts origami completed