On 4 Jan 2018, our gradu-

ating cohort visited Temasek

Polytechnic at its Open

House. The day was packed

with exciting opportunities

for our students to learn

more about the 46 diploma

courses, with them engaging

in interactive projects and

speaking with lecturers and

students to find out more

about the various courses.

Besides, our students also

went on a guided tour to

the various academic

schools where they had

hands-on course-related

activities. The visit was

indeed a meaningful one as it

had helped the graduating

classes in setting their own

goals and making better and

more informed decisions

when selecting their post-

secondary school options.

Foreword I N S I D E T H I S

I S S U E :

Level Camps 2

SHINE Haptics

Workshop

3

STEP pro-

gramme

4

CCA Aesthet-

ics Showcase

4

LJ to National

Museum

5

Debating

Championship

5

Orator’s Tro-

phy

5

Graduating

Class VIA

6

BIND Wave 1 6

CNY Celebra-

tions

7

Parliament

House LJ

7

Total Defence

Day

8

Total Defence

Day LJ

8

Cross Country 9

JC Immersion

Programme

9

Cabin 10

Stimulated

Archaeological

Excavation

10

POBS 11

Wayang Kids

Movie Outing

11

Temasek Polytechnic Open House

In Touch M A R C H 2 0 1 8 V O L U M E 7 : I S S U E 2

Term One started on a high, with

us welcoming our Sec 1 students

into the BDS family and our 2017

graduating students achieving both

Performance and Character Excel-

lence in their academic and co-

curricular areas when they re-

ceived their GCE O and N Levels

results. We also had various activi-

ties organised at various levels

such as:

Mother Tongue Fortnight that

allowed us to appreciate our

respective cultures

cohort camps for us to forge

bonds with our classmates

Tokens of Love Project where

we recognise and appreciate

the migrant workers’ contri-

butions to Singapore

joint Total Defence Day and

Chinese New Year celebra-

tions with emphasis on the

importance of social defence

These and many more events are

part of our BDS experience, one

that will allow us to display the

ICARE values as well as live our

motto of ‘Success through Endeav-

our’.

All these rich experiences have

been made possible through the

efforts of our teachers and key

personnels (KPs) who have put in

tremendous effort to make our

students’ experience in BDS an

enjoyable one. Quietly but stand-

ing firmly behind teachers and KPs

are our non-teaching staff, who

constantly display excellence in

supporting the teachers to ensure

that these efforts are made possi-

ble. We also receive strong support

from our partners - the alumni,

Parent Support Group (PSG) and

School Advisory Council (SAC) -

who are ever-ready to support our

school programmes. These collec-

tive efforts from the staff and part-

ners are designed for our students

to appreciate the holistic school

experience, recognising that it is

not just academic excellence that

they should be striving for.

Term Two will be another mean-

ingful term with events such as

Careers Day which will allow our

students to explore different ca-

reer paths that may suit them as

well as Speech Day and Student

Leaders’ Investiture where we

recognise the different achieve-

ments of our students.

In the recent budget announce-

ment, the government has an-

nounced the financial support in

education that will be given to

students. These include increase in

Edusave contributions by the gov-

ernment from $240 to $290 for

secondary schools beginning in

January 2019; the adjustment in

the income eligibility criteria for

the Edusave Merit Bursary to allow

more students from lower- to

middle-income families from this

year to benefit from it; and more

meals to be covered for secondary

school students under the School

Meals Programme.

So to our students :

While efforts are made at school

and national levels, it is you who

will determine whether your edu-

cational journey will be enjoyable.

Do seize the opportunity to make

these experiences memorable for

yourself as well as those around

you.

You will soon be sitting for your

Mid-Year Examination. Do take the

opportunity to consolidate the

learning you have experienced

since January. Remember that you

are never alone in your journey in

BDS and that your teachers are

around should you need a listening

ear or guidance in your learning

and revision.

Have a wonderful Term 2.

School Leaders

P A G E 2

Level Camps

Sec 1 The Sec 1 Orientation Camp was held on 10 - 12 Jan 2018. In line with the theme of the camp, 'Unity', the activities were de-signed to forge friendships within each class and build rapport between the students and their form teachers. The challenging outdoor activities - pioneering, swimming and pet rocket launching - provided opportunities for the students to collaborate with one another to complete the various tasks. The camp culminated in a cele-bration held in the school hall where all classes presented their performance items to their parents, teachers and peers. To our Sec 1 students: Congratula-tions for completing this camp! It was certainly a memorable way to begin your journey with us here in BDS.

Sec 2 The Sec 2 Camp Challenge took

place at the Dairy Farm Outdoor

Adventure Learning Centre from 11

to 13 Jan 2018. Instead of grouping

students by classes, the Sec 2 stu-

dents from different classes and

streams were grouped together.

For the very first time, the students

from the Express, Normal Academic

and Normal Tech classes were

given opportunity to work together

in teams in low elements, high

elements, problem-solving games

and outdoor cooking. During the

camp, the students took ownership

for their decisions and they were

allowed to make mistakes in a safe

environment so that they could

learn from them. The students also

had a mini campfire in their respec-

tive groups. Both students and

teachers found the mini campfire

sessions to be emotionally engag-

ing and uplifting.

.

Sec 3

The Sec 3 Level Camp held from

10 to 12 Jan 2018 was a 3-day

land expedition through the

Eastern Coastal Loop on bicycles.

The programme provided

platforms for the students to

experience expeditionary learn-

ing travelling over distances. The

expedition had helped develop

the students to be more confi-

dent, resilient and responsible as

they tackled challenges during

the cycling activities.

I N T O U C H

Sec 4 and 5 The Sec 4 and 5 Level Camp focused on developing a 'Growth Mindset' and 'Strengthening Mental Resilience' through

the activities planned for our graduating students. Some of the activities included a learning journey to Lifelong Learn-

ing Institute, breakout sessions to learn and gain inspiration from professionals as well as an Amazing Race to encour-

age the students to embrace challenges and persist in the face of setbacks.

P A G E 3 V O L U M E 7 : I S S U E 2

The Sec 4 ALP scholars who visited Berlin in 2017 organised a training session for Sec 1 and 2 form teachers to equip them

with the skills required to facilitate their respective classes in Project S.H.I.N.E later in the year.

The main objective of the workshop was to replicate the sensory design experience the students had experienced in Berlin

under the tutelage of Professor Masayo Abe. The scholars explained the meaning and rationale of haptics and brought the

teachers through the experience of cutting simple sheets of paper to form 3 different textures – sharp, bouncy and elastic.

Through this workshop, the teachers re-explored how young children learn by creatively exploring the sense of touch when

interacting with a physical item. The teachers were also taught the myriad uses of paper to create texture and they were in-

spired to let creativity take over when carrying out design thinking in their own classes.

S.H.I.N.E Haptics Training Workshop for Teachers

S.H.I.N.E Creative Gymnastics and Haptics Training Workshop for Lower Secondary Students

The Sec 4 ALP scholars facilitated a 2-day training workshop to equip lower secondary students with two important skills

they would find useful for this year’s Project S.H.I.N.E.

In the Creative Gymnastics component of the workshop, the students were brought around the school to be sensitised to

their surroundings as well as to improve their memory. Through this activity, the students were inspired to appreciate and

remember the finer details of natural and man-made structures found all around them. It also helped the students to

boost their creativity and stimulate their thinking process.

As for the Haptics component of the workshop, the students learnt how to make paper feel sharp, bouncy or elastic simp-

ly by cutting, folding and pasting it. They were also encouraged to explore other ways of creating different textures. With

these skills in mind and a dosage of creativity, the students came up with haptic book covers to explain the characters,

settings and emotions of found in children’s storybooks such as Winnie the Pooh and The Three Little Pigs.

The Creative Gymnastics and Haptics skills would be used later in the prototype stage of their Design Thinking process

during Project S.H.I.N.E lessons.

P A G E 4

CCA Aesthetics Showcase

Sec 3 Science Talent Management Programme – STEP

Programme On 10 Feb 2018, Yak Chin

Hue (Sec 3A), Kang Zi Wei

(Sec 3A), Ooi Ting Yi (Sec

3B), Lee Young, Jed (Sec

3B) and Rian B Naim (Sec

3E) graduated from the

STEP Sunburst Science

Educators Programme for

Youth. This volunteering

programme aimed to in-

crease students’ interests

in a variety of science top-

ics, allowing them to com-

municate and share their

passion for science while

developing relevant social

skills with an inclusive and

welcoming mindset to-

wards the society. The 5

students volunteered their

service at Science Centre

for at least 100 hours over

a period of 1 year. As sci-

ence ambassadors, they

were involved in commu-

nity outreach pro-

grammes, helping to set

up science booths within

Science Centre as well as

public spaces such as

JCube and community li-

braries. The students

found this programme

meaningful and enriching

as it trained them to com-

municate with the public

confidently while allowing

them to explore different

science topics of their in-

terests.

The CCA Aesthetics Showcase held on 19 Jan 2018 provided Sec 1 students and their par-

ents an opportunity to explore and engage with members of the various aesthetics CCAs.

The groups participating in the showcase comprised the Choir, Chinese Orchestra, Sym-

phonic Band, Malay Dance Ensemble and Dance Society. Through the performances, the

parents were able to observe how participation in these CCAs could develop not only their

children’s musical or dance skills but also their character. The performances were well re-

ceived and they had certainly inspired many Sec 1 students who were keen to join as aes-

thetic CCA members.

I N T O U C H

Sec 2 History Learning Journey to National Museum

P A G E 5 Volume 7: Issue 2

The Sec 2Exp and Sec 2NA students visited the National Museum in Jan to help them better understand Singapore’s history

during the Japanese Occupation.

Back in school, the students took their learning beyond their classrooms by examining a simulated Sook Ching mass grave

site which was planned by the Lower Sec History unit. They examined the personal belongings left behind by the victims of

the “cleansing” operation carried out by the Japanese during WWII. This experience allowed them to deepen their under-

standing of the war.

BDS is proud to have hosted the first round of the Singapore Secondary

Schools Debating Championships on 9 Feb 2018. It was an exciting event

with many schools taking part in the debate sessions. Our students were

thrilled to take on roles in chairing the event in which our BDS debaters

won the rounds against Evergreen Secondary and Bartley Secondary

School. On 24 Feb 2018, BDS debaters, Ho

Ying Yun (Sec 3A) and Tan Jia Xin

Calista (Sec 2A), participated for the

first time in ACJC Orator's Trophy, a

public speaking competition. They

put up a good fight, and though they

did not win any awards, they walked

away with new friendships and moti-

vation to spur them on in the up-

coming debate tournaments.

Secondary Schools Debating Championship

Orator's Trophy

P A G E 6

Graduating Class VIA For their class VIA project,

Sec 4E and 4F students

went on 5 and 12 Mar

2018 to Chee Hoon Kog

Moral Promotion Society

where they conducted

planned activities to enter-

tain the old folks at the

home. The activities in-

cluded performances and

a BINGO game with the

elderly residents.

As for the Sec 4Exp classes,

they collaborated with

PPIS (Malay Muslim Wom-

en Association Singapore)

which runs the Chai Chee

Family Service Centre

(FSC), to help organise its

carnival, Chai Chee Cares,

on 11 Mar 2018. The carni-

val was for the FSC to raise

awareness among the resi-

dents on the various gov-

ernment agencies that

they could turn to. Sec 4A

and 4B students construct-

ed the Tree of Hope made

up of recycled materials

for the residents to pin up

messages of hope to inspire

them to improve their lives.

Sec 4C and 4D students, on

the other hand, planned

and managed the game

booths at the carnival. The

students had a meaningful

experience and learnt how a

carnival could be organised.

Their interactions with the

residents had also made

them more aware of the

needs of the less fortunate

ones.

I N T O U C H

BIND 2018 Wave 1 The first wave of the BIND

trip was held from 8—11

Mar 2018. Sec 3E and Sec

3F students were engaged

in various cultural activities

such as batik colouring and

ketupat (rice dumplings)

weaving. They also learnt

about the historical signifi-

cance of the places they had

visited such as Jonker Street

and Stadhuys in Malacca for

the Sec 3F students and the

Negeri Sembilan State Mu-

seum for the Sec 3E stu-

dents. The students were

also hosted by local schools

and they had a meaningful

and enriching experience

interacting with the Malay-

sian students. A visit to an

orphanage as part of the

VIA programme allowed the

Sec 3E students to engage

in meaningful and interac-

tive activities with the or-

phans. As for the Sec 3F

students, they also partici-

pated in a meaningful VIA

activity in a secondary for-

est by planting saplings in

the forest, thereby demon-

strating their care for the

environment.

P A G E 7 V O L U M E 7 : I S S U E 2

The school welcomed the year

of the Dog with enthusiastic

performances from the Chi-

nese Orchestra, Choir and

Dance Society. In addition,

teachers from the Humanities

Department as well as the

Physical Education Depart-

ment surprised the audience

with their impressive musical

talents and energetic perfor-

mances as they sang and

played various musical instru-

ments to liven up the atmos-

phere. The finale was a real-

time inter-class quiz where

students and form teachers

worked together to compete

for the top class prize of the

year. It was truly a memorable

celebration for everyone.

watch the ministers and Mem-

bers of Parliament engage in

lively debates about issues

related to Budget 2018. They

followed parliamentary proto-

col, bowing to the Speaker of

Parliament, Mr Tan Chuan Jin,

as they arrived and when they

left the parliamentary session.

Such authentic out-of-

classroom experience

On 27 Feb 2018, the Sec 3Exp

Social Studies students went

on a tour of Parliament House

where they learnt about the

history of the parliament and

the unique features of Parlia-

ment House itself. They were

also lucky to watch a live par-

liamentary sitting. Seated in

the ‘Strangers’ Gallery’, the

students had the chance to

would certainly be valuable for

the students who would be

engaging in their own Moot

Parliament in Term 2 as part of

their Issue Investigation Pro-

ject.

Social Studies Issue Investigation Parliament House Learning Journey

Chinese New Year Celebrations

P A G E 8

Total Defence Day Learning Journey for Sec 1 and 2 students

Total Defence Day This year’s Total Defence

Day fell on the eve of the

Chinese New Year. The

theme was ‘Together We

Keep Singapore Strong’.

The commemoration pro-

gramme, which was

planned, prepared and

carried out by students,

kicked off with a short skit

by Sec 1B students about a

village’s fight against ter-

rorists. Next, the various

uniformed groups jointly

put up a presentation on

the 5 aspects of Total De-

fence. In the final segment

of the programme, all the

students went back to

their own classes where

their respective CCE lead-

ers facilitated a short dis-

cussion on Total Defence.

zones to visit the different

booths where they not only

learnt about the vehicles

and weapons used in the

Infantry Regiment but they

also had fun trying their

hands in shooting and cam-

ouflaging themselves.

Through this learning jour-

ney, the students had a

better understanding of the

On 23 Feb 2018, all Sec

1 and 2 classes went on

a learning journey to 3

SIR Selarang Camp. After

a welcome speech from

the officer-in-command,

two staff members from

the camp were attached

to each class. The stu-

dents were taken on a

tour to the various

important role of Total

Defence in keeping Singa-

pore safe. They also appre-

ciated the effort and sacri-

fices made by the military

personnel to keep Singa-

pore safe.

I N T O U C H

Cross Country 2018

P A G E 9 V O L U M E 7 : I S S U E 2

In the early morning of 1 Mar

2018, the assembly area at

Bedok Reservoir was filled

with BDS students awaiting

the start of the annual cross

country event. This year, the

school included the class flag

competition to promote cama-

raderie and esprit de corps

amongst the students. The

whole cross country event saw

students competing against

one another to clinch the top

titles. Some of the top 10 win-

ners were invited to represent

the school in the National Inter

-School Cross-Country Champi-

onships which would be held

on 21 Mar 2018. The annual

event ended with the students

doing their part for the envi-

ronment by cleaning up the

park.

and relevant subject-

combination briefings.

Through this experience, the

Sec 4Exp students had a better

understanding of the rigour

and requirements of a junior

college education. The experi-

ence had also inspired them to

work hard in order to qualify

for a place in a junior college.

On 26—27 Feb 2018, 38 Sec

4Exp students took part in a 2-

day immersion programme in

Temasek Junior College and

National Junior College. The

students had the valuable op-

portunity to partner with the

junior college students and

they attended tutorials, lec-

tures, co-curricular activities

JC Immersion Programme

P A G E 1 0

I N T O U C H

Stimulated Archaeological Excavation In Jan 2018, the Sec 1 Exp and Sec 1NA students had the opportunity to

engage in hands-on learning for their History topic – What was Singapore

like before 1819. With much enthusiasm and focus, the students accom-

plished their first archaeological dig within the school compounds. In

groups, they dug up artifacts buried in pots and learnt how to measure

and describe them. They also applied the skills taught in class to infer the

origins of the artifacts. The experience had definitely piqued the students’

interest in archaeology.

Sec 1 Welcome Event @ Cabin Project CABIN is a school-based drop-in community project by Singapore

Children’s Society. Through collaboration with secondary schools, a youth

drop-in centre is set up in each school to reach out to youths by engaging

them in enriching activities after school hours.

A welcome party for Sec 1 students was organised in Jan by Project CABIN

to introduce the new students to the youth workers as well as the pro-

grammes and activities offered for them after school on every Tuesday and

Thursday.

Inter-School Parliament of Bedok South

P A G E 1 1 V O L U M E 7 : I S S U E 2

The inaugural Parliament of

Bedok South (POBS) was

launched on 12 Mar 2018.

POBS is a Moot Parliament

activity organised to provide a

platform for students of di-

verse backgrounds to actively

and critically engage in social

issues in a parliamentary

setting. BDS was honoured to

welcome 7 teams from schools

such as Dunman High School,

Temasek Junior College, Hai

Sing Catholic High, Jurong

West Secondary School and

Ngee Ann Secondary. These

teams all presented different

perspectives on issues like

xenophobia and the use of

Singlish. Entirely student-

facilitated, the parliament was

chaired by the Humanities

Stretch Programme students

as Master/ Madam Speaker.

They, representing different

profiles, also participated in

the debates. Rich learning was

certainly evident from the

thoughtful and lively debates.

Besides, new friendships were

also forged amongst the par-

ticipants.

Wayang Kids Movie Outing In 2016, Brainchild Pictures se-

lected Bedok South Secondary

to be the primary location for

the filming of the movie entitled

‘The Wayang Kids’ which was

supported by Lee Kuan Yew

Fund for Bilingualism. On 3 Mar

2018, Sec 3 students were given

the privilege of watching the

movie at NEX Shaw Theatre. The

movie not only helped raise the

students’ awareness of special

needs children and the im-

portance of inclusiveness but

also it had exposed them to the

different cultures in Singapore

as well as the Mother Tongue

Languages. As the post-movie

activity, the students were en-

couraged to write their movie

reviews for The Wayang Kids

Young Movie Review Contest.

The school is proud to have Isis

Eka Kesuma and May Thet

Khine, both from Sec 3A, among

the 8 winners for the contest.

They attended the prize presen-

tation ceremony graced by Mr

Ng Chee Meng, Minister for

Education (Schools), on 16 Mar

2018.